Carly Phillips's Blog: Carly's Web Blogs, page 102

RIP

Buddy

4/23/98 – 1/3/11

I'm not sure how to post this … can't find the words. They say a dog is man's best friend – and that's true. But some dogs are something more. Buddy was that dog. He epitomized love and you saw it in his eyes, felt it the way he curled into you and everyone he charmed everyone he met and they fell in love. A piece of my heart is forever empty as I had to help him over the bridge on Monday. I don't want to go into the details of why. It doesn't matter. What does is that he was at peace at the end, loving and sweet until his last breath. I held him until the end. Now my heart's breaking and I'm trying to find a way to go forward without my best boy.

I used to tell Buddy, "you're on the not allowed list" – not allowed to get sick, not allowed to die. I think he listened because he gave me 12 1/2 years. I can look back now and see the last six months he wasn't my Buddy. He was skin and bones, his ribs stuck through, but he was bright eyed and I wanted to believe there was more in him. In the end, I think we did this before he started truly suffering but after the true ending began. I'm trying to find some peace. It's going to take awhile. My girls are devastated and my husband tries not to show it, but every time we all look at each other we start crying all over again.

I'm coming to hate the word "Time" – Time heals, time will tell, Bailey does need time, as do we all. It's just that when are dogs are with us, time goes too fast, and when they're gone, time seems to drag.

RIP Buddy Boy. You will always be loved.

New Year's Eve Deja Vu

Ok here go go again. Tomorrow night is the overrated, pressurized NEW YEAR'S EVE. I, for one, have stopped caring or pretending that staying up till Midnight to either a) party or b) watch a ball drop in freezing cold Times Square will change my life in any way – Hello, I live in NY I KNOW it's cold! I'd rather wake up the next day refreshed and feeling good to start the next year! This isn't me being Scrooge. It is probably me showing my age. Still, I encourage anyone who loves to party to go out and have fun (just be safe!). But as for me, I will be home. In bed. Probably sleeping. And very happy, thank you very much, LOL! But I do want to wish everyone a happy and a healthy!

So … what are YOU up to this New Year's Eve?

All Work Some Play? All Play No Work?

Well, I'm off. To Florida. For a (working) vacation. Actually ALL my vacations are working vacations. What can I say? I feel more energized and I want to write when I'm out of the stress and craziness of the home routine. That's one lucky thing about being a writer – you're always in your head – it's also an unlucky thing because it's almost impossible to put the story out of your head and relax completely! No wonder so many writers are insane. Kidding. I think. Anyway, I'm taking with me some books to read on Kindle, a scarf that I'm knitting, and of course my family.

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I'll see you all in 2011 – a NEW YEAR with NEW BOOKS and hopefully a happy, healthy one for all!

So how about you? When you get away or have a week off from work or school, are you able to take a real, honest to goodnes, no work, just relax vacation? Or like me, are you always "doing something" and unable to shut off completely?

The Power of Prayer

I don't often share my personal personal life here – I'll say I'm going through a bad time, or generally explain what's happening, but in a lot of ways, I'm very private. I'm also not a particularly religious person as far as "rules" go. I am a very spiritual person as far as faith goes. I believe in my faith and I'm 100% open and believe everyone should have the right to do and think what works for them. That said, I want to talk about the power of prayer. Any prayer to any spiritual being (or thing) IMO = the power of positive thinking. I believe in it no matter where it comes from. And keeping in mind that yes, bad things happen to good people, and yes sometimes no matter how hard you pray, you can't change an awful outcome. But sometimes, enough people pull together and good things happen. So today I want to thank every single person who said a prayer for my dad when he was diagnosed with lymphoma (no, I never stated the disease until today), everyone who lit a candle, who thought about him in a positive way. For right now, the treatment is working and there is no longer a malignancy. Make no mistake, he has 3 more months of treatment and really, who knows what the future holds. But right now things look very good. And for that I am truly grateful going into the holiday season and the New Year.

And for my favorite boy Buddy, he has started a new medication for his stomach issues and at 12 and a half, he also seems to have taken a more positive turn. It's definitely been a rough 2010 but we're looking ahead to a good 2011, I hope!

In case you're worried that things are TOO good at Casa Carly, never fear. I was hit by an awful stomach bug last weekend. Whether it was food poisoning or a virus, all I can say is I THOUGHT I DIED. Seriously. I lost almost 2 pounds and I do not advocate the method to anyone. As I am writing this on Tuesday night, it's been four days and I'm STILL not myself, still not eating all foods, still exhausted, light headed and occasionally queasy. I STILL owe a couple of author quotes to authors I truly love (and this is a good thing because I get to read books early), I STILL am trying to get into the as of yet untitled Serendipity Book 2 and we all know my writing process in the beginning is ugly, and I STILL have a kid to get ready to leave for college in January.

But given the news in paragraphs 1 and 2 above, I'd say for the moment, all is right with my world. Oh and in Weight Watchers, I've lost 4.6 pounds since the beginning of November. Slow and steady but progressing.

Whew. It's nice to have good news for a change. Even if I'm still not feeling all that well!

Winners!

The winner of Carly's Friday Jungle Madness contest is…

DENISE! Comment # 56

Please write to carly phillips @ mac . com (no spaces) with your contact information so we can get our prize out to you asap.

And the winner of Brenda Jackson's One Thing backlist book giveaway is…

LINDA HENDERSON! Comment # 3

Please write to julie @ julieleto . com (no spaces) with your contact information as well.

CONGRATULATIONS to you both!

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And now, since Hanukkah has just ended, here's a little gentle holiday humor…

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!

TOP 8 REASONS TO LIKE HANUKKAH

8. No roof damage from reindeer.

7. Never a silent night when you're among your Jewish loved ones.

6. If someone messes up on their gift, there are seven more days to correct it.

5. Betting Hanukkah gelt (the chocholate coins) on candle races.

4. You can use your fireplace.

3. Fun waxy buildup on the menorah.

2. Cheer optional.

1. No Irving Berlin songs.

Carly Contest!

My Everything Carly Cafe Press site is undergoing a slow overhaul and I hope to unveil new products soon, then use those items on giveaways! For today, post for a chance to win a Carly Gift Pack – a Fan Tote bag* and Notepad!

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How about this for a question to answer when you post … what are you read NOW (if anything). Saying nothing counts as an entry too! I know it's a busy busy time of year!

Note: on the Cafe Press site there are TWO totebag styles – winner can choose!

**Normally it's Leslie's day but I'm standing in for her and we'll switch!

Hot … Cold … Hot FLASH?

Without revealing my age, let's just say that I'm at THAT point. YOU know. The point in a woman's life where it's too early for pre-menopause and yet somehow, you're going through phases. You sweat for no reason. You're hot all the time. You wake up soaking wet in the middle of the night. And then the cold weather comes and the real trouble begins. You're freezing so you wear the heavy sweaters you love or the soft cashmere feeling ones that keep you warm and suddenly, not five minutes after putting on the clothes and layers in the morning, you're dying of heat. Flushing, sweating, feeling like if you don't take these heavy, itchy, damned clothes OFF you're going to kill someone. So you strip. And then you find yourself wearing a tank top in 30 degree weather and because you can't go out like that without fearing someone will report you and put you in a loony bin, you begrudgingly add on a layer. A light cotton long sleeve layer. You get into the habit of always wearing light enough layers so that you can throw on a scarf if you're cold or strip down (even in public) if you're warm. But wait! THEN one day, you're freezing. So cold that if you don't put on a heavy heavy sweater, you may never be warm again. So you dig the sweaters out of your closet and put them on and YUM, you're in heaven. For five minutes. Until you're dying of heat. Flushing, sweating, feeling like if you don't take these heavy, itchy, damned clothes OFF you're going to kill someone. Wait! Sound familiar? You're repeating yourself and your actions! And forgetting things. Constantly. Whole words you should know. Things you did that you can't remember! And NOW you're thinking, either you're a) insane; b) starting early Alzheimers, God forbid, or … you're just paying for Eve's sin of eating that damned apple! Don't you LOVE being a woman?

Happy Hanukkah – Why are gifts so hard to buy?

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So last night was the first night of Hanukkah. I love the holiday. I loved it as a kid – my favorite memory was my parents putting all our gifts on a long table in the den (we got them all at once instead of one a night) and opening them. I remember favorite pajamas, a Neil Diamond 45 Record (I hope people know what that is!) and the songs were Long Fellow Serenade and Desiree and I was SO happy! Sometimes it really is the little things and the memories.

So why is buying gifts for my kids so hard? I LOVE gift giving and it's not that they're difficult or even ungrateful but sometimes you just know when you've disappointed them – or on the other hand really hit it out of the ballpark. I find the older they get the harder this gift buying business has become. Now they're 18 and almost 15 years old. I've done makeup gift cards to their favorite store, and some other things they picked out, but I need more things … and it's hard!

So what about your holidays? For Hanukkah or Christmas do you find choosing gifts as difficult as I do?

Happy Turkey Day!!!!

May you enjoy the day with family and friends and those you love!

We're thankful for all of YOU!

xoxoxo

Carly, Janelle, Julie and Leslie (not in any particular order!)

Thanksgiving Graphics provided by MySpaceGraphicsandAnimations.com

Healthy Thanksgiving …

Is there such a thing? You all know I started Weight Watchers. I'm NOT a foodie. I'm basic. I'm not a good cook. I'm simple. I want easy recipes (very few ingredients, very short prep time). So let's share! A traditional Thanksgiving menu that is healthy … sweet potato (with marshmallows!) … pecan pie … veggies … turkey … the works! I'll go first.

TURKEY RECIPE

Turkey (minus giblets/insides and of course clean and wash your bird!). Place turkey in sturdy tin (double if necessary).

Preheat oven to:

Ingredients:

Canola Oil

Garlic Powder

Paprika

Salt

Pepper

Early Thanksgiving morning – place turkey breast side down first and season with garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper … it's a gut thing how much of each. You want the turkey to taste good and you don't want it to look pale, hence the paprika! Pour canola oil into a cup for easy finger dipping – dip four fingers into canola oil and rub it on seasoned turkey – continue until side of turkey is liberally greased and seasoning is spread around. Again it's a gut thing. Not too greasy or you ruin the point of the healthy turkey but not too little oil or it's dry. Don't forget to get into crevices, wings, legs, etc. Turn turkey over and repeat process on other side until entire outside of turkey is seasoned!

Cover turkey with tinfoil – tent foil over turkey so it doesn't rub off the seasoning you worked so hard to get right! Cook with foil cover at 325* for an hour, remove foil, then cook – at twenty minutes per pound.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Now please supply me with other healthy ideas for Thanksgiving!

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