Catherine Coulter's Blog: I'm Baaaack!, page 101

February 4, 2016

Lovely Thursday, the 4th of February -- Glad you liked the "Alien Sunrise" -- no, no, truly, it did look otherworldly. You looked at it and sort of shivered, it was so intense. I didn't post the photo of how it looked thirty seconds before -- the thick cloud over it was black, sort of roiling around, sort of like black blood, maybe nearly dripping, bloating up, only to fountain out in a few minutes -- okay, pull it back. Photos: You have 3 minutes max, if you want the most dramatic sunrise.
Lots of you wrote about working your quads and telling me why you couldn't. Okay, some of you had good excuses (like two broken legs) but some of your reasons didn't fly, so it's possible the discipline minion might be paying you a visit. The DM does, however, like chocolate chip cookies, and could probably be seduced if you made the offer. Those of you who have the winter flu, do stay in bed and eat chicken soup, have a box of Kleenex next to you, and a quart of hot tea with honey or ginger. That's all from Doctor Mom.
For those of you not felled by illness or other assorted crappy problems, do uumph yourselves. Even though you don't work out hard enough to get an endorphin rush, you will feel good. You will feel virtuous. You will feel superior, and that is nice. So go out there and cardio your brains out. Well, not exactly your brains, but get your heart rate up there, maybe even sweat a bit (although I really hate to sweat) --

February 3, 2016

Feb. 3rd -- pink-sky Wednesday. I immediately took pictures, if any are incredibly outstanding, I'll post.
Everyone asks, What is a New Cow? Many of you think it's insulting, many of you wonder where that phrase came from. Well, here it is: Long ago in a galaxy far far away there was a writer (me) who signed with a new house but the news couldn't be released at that point in time so she (I) was put in a file named Brown Cow, this name given to the file by the very famous, very incredible publisher Phyllis Grann for no good reason she can remember. When the writer (me) heard this designation much later, she said, "I want to be a new cow. I like that better." It caught on and lots of authors now use it. An old cow becomes a new cow. There is no gender denoted here -- a guy is never a new bull. He's a new cow too. It's a fine thing to be a new cow, trust me.
You asked about Simon & Schuster. They have a rep as straight shooters, they know their business, and they're bullish, all excellent. The Gallery Imprint is run by an executive I've known since nearly the ark. Talk about the sharp tack in the drawer -- So all is good. INSIDIOUS will be out only two months later than usual (July now moved to September) This is fantastic, something I hadn't expected, but they're that good. I'll let you know when The Devil's Triangle will be published when I find out.

February 2, 2016

February 2nd -- TUESDAY, El Nino is sprinkling on us, a lovely rain, light and constant, not expected to be a "gully washer" -- has anyone every heard that phrase before? I think it's from the South. But I could be wrong.

Big Announcement: I'm now with Simon & Schuster , the Gallery Imprint. INSIDIOUS (the 20th, can you believe it?)will now be out in September (no more the July date). I am very excited about this. Be excited for me. A great number of excellent people. As for Nicholas Drummond's 4th thriller, The Devil's Triangle, it'll be out early next year. I'll let you know as soon as I do. I'll tell you more as I settle in --

Oh yes, when an author moves to a new publishing house, they become a NEW COW. Can you imagine what this means? In publishing terms?

January 28, 2016

The sky is pink, amazing -- Thursday -- this morning I finally had time to read/respond to your comments -- thank you for hanging in with me.

Today is lunch out with friends at the Spinnaker, a restaurant in Sausalito that is right on the water, looking back at the city -- the food is always good and the views spectacular, as you would imagine. How about shrimp spaghetti and some bruchetta? I always order that since I'm not a "fish" fan. And do you know what? I don't like big chunks of meat either, like a big steak. but you put some lean ground beef in a taco and I'll jump over people and tables to get to it. Mind you, the taco shell has to be really crispy and the lettuce/tomato fresh as the first morning rose. So, who isn't a fish lover out there or do you think I'm just plan nuts?

January 27, 2016

No rain today, El Nino is sending me flowers. I requested azaleas, but alas, there are none around. Who doesn't like azaleas? I mean, they're perfect, full and fat, gorgeous colors and their pots with them in it are replanted in the garden and continue to flourish forever. Well, maybe not that long, but you get my meaning.

Work today. Always work, no way around it and I've decided it's the way you think about it, the way you decide whether or not to scream or smile or just trudge and slog through it. It's a choice you have to make every single morning. Even though I might want to whine or say "poor me", the fact remains that work always happens, so I decided long ago -- why not simply go with it? (sometimes I need reminders) I mean, what's the point of frowning or being depressed? Why trudge and slog? If your work situation is really nasty, then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. You don't want to waste your valuable time here on this beautiful earth. So smile, guys, yell out bring on the day, or take definitive steps to make the workday better.

January 26, 2016

Overcast Tuesday -- All of you on the east coast, did you survive the 8,000 feet of snow? Well, something awesome like that. It was an amazing mess if you were trying to fly, as were some friends, back to Washington. They're still traveling today.

FOOTBALL CONTEST: If you have not sent me your final tally for the 2015 NFL season (wins/losses), do it TODAY or TOMORROW -- I'll announce the top three winners on Friday.

We've got all the rain we want, thanks to all your splendid dances, but you know what? I think It's all El Nino's doing. He wants to marry me and I'm thinking about saying yes given how splendidly he's been courting me. I mean, he sends me rain for two days, then sun to dry out the ground so my roses don't give up the ghost. Or, if I don't marry him, then I say we elect El Nino for president.

January 14, 2016

The 14th, Thursday -- I hear a seal or maybe even a rare sea lion honking outside the window. I'll bet he wishes the sun would magically appear, maybe as much as I do. Can't he see the fish to snag them? Is it a a special honking mating call?

It's Thursday, a day of tumult since I'm off tomorrow early for St. Lucia (well, Miami first) -- I've heard from some of you about things to see, places to visit and eat -- thank you.

I am in love with El Nino. He wets us down then retreats so everything can dry out, then visits again. It's perfect. So, El Nino, you want to tie the knot?

January 13, 2016

No, it's not Friday the 13th, it's Wednesday the 13th and that just sounds odd, don't you think? Sounds like most of you have lots and lots of snow -- well, cleaning off your driveway will give you all the upper body you need for today. And thanks for the info about non-stop flights to Miami via American and Alaska -- I don't remember seeing any. Oh well -- a day in airports is a lovely way to pass the time --

I'm still working on Insidious -- super edit -- this will go on another month or so -- then it's off to Putnam. So think good creative thoughts for me.

January 8, 2016

Friday, January 8th. My post from yesterday, the 7th -- it simply disappeared. Why? I ask, but there are no answers from space or Facebook. I've committed no huge sins, called no one bad names, (okay, maybe one or two, but deserved -- well, maybe I did it in my head) So what's going on? Why does Facebook hate me? It wasn't a bad post either.

But today, ah, today, it's blooming Friday and we're going to see a friend's new houseboat, work, work, work, and a lovely afternoon and evening planned (dinner at the Spinnaker, right on the water, gorgeous view of S.F. and the food ain't bad either).


Playoffs on Saturday: Here are my picks:
l)Chiefs over Texans
2)Bengals over Steelers
3) Vikings over Seahawks
4) Packers over Redskins

Yes, yes, I know, I tend to go with my heart over my head, but nonetheless, whatever happens, it'll be great games (I hope). I heard Chip Kelly interviewed at the 49ers. Please, no, please no, not him, anyone but him. Please!

All of you, smile because it's Friday, maybe do a little skip, a little dance step or two and sing the first line of your favorite song (alas, no one knows much more than the first line). Then give it you all for work, just as you will give it your all working out -- Big push to celebrate Friday, to reward yourself for putting in a full great week -- Cardio your brains out, stretch until you can very nearly touch your toes, do those crunches slow, concentrate on what you're doing -- never just go through the motions, always pay attention --

January 6, 2016

Wednesday: Black skies, heavy rain a.m. here -- the 6th of January -- amazingly, we're still low on rainfall and it's really dumping on us. El Nino has arrived, vigorous and enthusiastic. I rarely wake up when it rains, but I sure did last night -- naturally there's a leak -- been there a month, still trying to find "origin" --
All of you in the cold and snow, do you love it? If not, is it possible to move to warmer climes?
One of you mentioned not wanting to retire -- You want my opinion? Here's a fact: You have to have a reason to put your feet on the floor every morning. Given that, even if you do "retire" in the traditional sense, you want to begin making plans for what you will do after you get the magic gold watch with your initials on it.
Do this BEFORE you retire. List out things you've always wanted to try, things that have always interested you, but no time, no time. Be specific -- list out at least half a dozen things. Don't simply write "I want to travel" (that's good but you don't want to travel all the time -- but be specific) "I want to counsel people on money matters" That's good, but what specifically? "I want to volunteer." That's very good too -- be specific -- where?
The thing is, now you can do what you want, hopefully, but that means you've got to face up to it and not sag over like a so many retired people I've seen. Enough preaching, but I would like your thoughts on this --