M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 32

Favorite Movies of 2012

I remember last year at this time, my son was apoplectic with joy at all the good movies that were coming out. I saw quite a number, but still have several on my list that I’d like to see–Skyfall and Lincoln being the top 2. But I saw a lot, more in theaters than usual, and a ton of DVDs and Amazon rentals.

Here are my favorites:

1) The Hobbit

2) The Avengers

3) Brave

4) Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

5) The Woman in Black

6) What’s Your Number?

7) Bourne Legacy

8) Hunger Games

9) Life of Pi

10) Dark Knight Rises (SO dark, though!)

What movies did you love in 2012?

Bundle Cover Choices

I have to find a cover image to tie my three Bluestone books together for a bundle cover. I do best when I can look at them side by side.

Which ones do you like?

Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2013

I’m so behind on my reading and my Nook is so overflowing that I feel weird adding more books! Some of my auto-buys aren’t auto-buys anymore, and I really am overwhelmed with series. I’m behind in almost every series–the Jill Shalvis one, the Cindy Gerard one, the Robyn Carr one, so I’m reluctant to start reading any others!

First and foremost, my friend Kris Fletcher’s very first Harlequin, A Better Father, coming out April 2.

Nora Roberts’s new hardcover, Whiskey Beach.

Shannon Stacey’s All He Ever Dreamed–Josh’s story. This is one series I can keep up with!

Trish Milburn’s Her Perfect Cowboy in May. And her first Nocturne in December!

Meg Benjamin’s Medium series coming in August! (I KNOW I said no more series! But I read the first part of the first one way back when and have been DYING for these!)

Here Be Monsters by Meljean Brook. I’m pretty sure it’s the next Iron Seas book, and I should be caught up by the time it comes out in October.

The new Carolina book by Virginia Kantra. I have always loved her books and am glad she’s back to writing contemporaries.

What books are you looking forward to in 2013?

STOP THE PRESSES: A New Favorite Book for 2012

I knew I posted my Best Of list too early. I read a Christmas novella today called IF YOU BELIEVE IN ME and it was SO GOOD! It’s by my friend Natalie Damschroder, which is why I bought it but not why I love it. It’s a Christmas reunion story that sounds sadder than it is: a missing soldier, the girl left behind. Everyone has given Kale up for dead except for Amber. The Army has declared him missing, and no one has heard from him for months. But Amber won’t give up hope. The tension as the holiday approaches is just wonderful, and her superstitions are so sweet. It’s just a wonderful story. Go read it!

Favorite Books of 2012

I’ve read 76 books in 2012 and found some new authors that I hope I can keep up with!

1) 11/22/63–took me 2 months to listen to it but sucked me in every single day. I bought it in ebook format recently, too.

2) Can’t Buy Me Love by Molly O’Keefe–great characters. Just amazing.

3) Firefly Run by Trish Milburn–loved the setting, the conflict, a perfect romantic suspense

4) Untraceable by Laura Griffin–more suspense than romance but a great heroine and reluctant hero.

5) The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis–read on the plane to San Fran. Laughed aloud several times.

6) Slow Summer Kisses by Shannon Stacey–just a really sweet summer romance

7) The Woman Who Loves Jesse James by Cindi Myers–real characters, real situations, terrific personalization. I got hooked on all things James there for a bit.

8) Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr–unexpected, since it’s about the preacher and his assistant, but I really loved it.

9) Tainted by Temptation by Katy Madison–a historical Gothic. LOVED.

10) Unholy Night by Seth Grahame-Smtih–checked it out from the library after reading about it in EW, about the 3 Wise Men. Not at all what I expected, but I devoured it.

What did you read this year that you loved?

Christmas Traditions from My Childhood

1) Baking like a fiend for weeks. This year I did it in two days. That was not better, though really, just one mess.

2) Opening presents Christmas Eve–my grandfather was in charge of distracting us so Santa could arrive early. Was a bit confusing if we saw the news later and the reports that Santa was on his way.

3) Eating sandwiches on Christmas Eve, usually on red and green bread. And chips. And cookies. Oh, so many cookies.

4) Watching Christmas shows on TV trays while the grown-ups ate in the dining room.

5) Getting up early to go to Mass–we didn’t start going to Midnight Mass until I was a teenager, I think. Was long and crowded. Not so bad these days.

What are some of your traditions? I need to fulfill 2 of mine–watch Elf and Christmas Vacation today, since A Christmas Story will be on tomorrow.

Goals for the Week of CHRISTMAS

Christmas always makes me a little sad–so much anticipation and then it’s over. I love the anticipation.

My husband is on vacation this week, and my son is home, so my goals may be ambitious.

1) Celebrate!

2) Call Cindi on her birthday (today)

3) Take down Christmas decorations on Wednesday.

4) Revise 15K on the NaNo book

5) Follow up LASIK appt on Friday.

6) Go see Skyfall, hopefully.

7) Finish last batch of cookies

Day After LASIK Day

Sooooo…..LASIK. Let’s just say not everyone has the same experience. For example, my brother (who is admittedly half my age) said he could see things come into focus immediately after surgery. Me, I felt like I was underwater until after my nap. I had to get Josh to show me which eye drops to use because I could see neither the paper nor the label.

Some people (my brother) don’t have pain. After my nap I was ready to claw my eyes out. You know the feeling when a contact isn’t in just right? That’s how it felt, only double that. The numbing drops they sent home worked for about a minute. Thank goodness I still had pain killers, so I took one of those and went back to sleep. In fact, I slept most of yesterday and all last night.

This morning I drove myself to the appointment because the counselor told me she had done. So I could see past the end of the car, the speedometer not so much. Add to that, I went to HEB (no reading glasses), Target (closed), and finally Walmart where I got reading glasses so I can see 2 feet in front of me. Went back to Target after the appt and got sunglasses. Let me tell you, I’ve not had sunglasses in years and when I finally get to buy them they’re these ugly 1970s Brigette Bardot glasses. WTH? I found some that looked like Tom Cruises’s from Risky Business. They’ll do for now.

So, bottom line? Still need glasses to see within 2 feet of me, which is pretty much where everything I do is. It may get better–they said I’m normal for one day post-procedure. But it’s not the miracle I was hoping for.

LASIK Day!

Yes, I’m not at school on the last day before break (AKA CRAZY DAY) so I can have LASIK done. And yes, I only went to the initial exam yesterday after school. I’m anxious, but mostly about the post-op stuff, like not reading or watching TV the rest of the day. I have no idea how to entertain myself.

My son is dropping me off, and will pick me up. I should have taken him to breakfast, but I’m pretty nervous. But tomorrow I should be glasses free, though I probably still need cheaters. It will be lovely, though, to be able to see. I’ve worn glasses for 25 years!

But I miss my kids and I’m sad I didn’t say goodbye to everyone before the break.

Okay, signing off the computer for 24 hours!

Goals for the Week Before Christmas Break

This will be a topsy-turvy week. For one, the boy comes home today for a month. I still have presents to get, a late night at school and my preliminary LASIK exam. AND I’m going to try to enter a video contest I learned about last week. The deadline is Friday!

1) Student Showcase Tuesday night

2) LASIK exam Thursday after school. In the form, it said if the schedule permits, they might do the procedure that day. I doubt it since my appt is at 4, but I’m going to cover my bases in case. Not even sure I’ll qualify.

3) Video with my choir

4) If no procedure, get with my choir to change the words of “Gangham Style” for another video contest.

5) Breakfast with the teachers Friday morning.

6) Cook as many home-cooked meals for the boy as I can.

7) Revisions on NaNo book

8) Straighten house before the lady who cleans my house gets here, lol!