Amy Lane's Blog: Writer's Lane, page 127

Itinerary...

*  First thing on Itinerary-- Post blurb for Immortal!







When Teyth was but a child, a cruel prince took over his village, building a great granite tower to rule over the folk. Greedy and capricious, the man will be the bane of Teyth’s existence as an adult, but as a boy, Teyth is too busy escaping his stepfather to worry about his ruler. 

Sold into apprenticeship to the local blacksmith, Teyth finds that what was meant as a punishment is actually his salvation. Cairsten, the smith, and Diarmuid, his adopted son, are kind, and the smithy is the prosperous heart of a thriving village. As Teyth grows in the craft of metalwork, he also grows in love for Diarmuid, the gentle, clever young man who introduces him to smithing. 

Their prince wants Diarmuid too. As the tyrant inflicts loss upon loss on Teyth and Diarmuid, Teyth's passion for his craft twists into obsession. By the time Teyth resurfaces from his quest to create immortality, he’s nearly lost the love that makes being human worth the pain. Teyth was born to sculpt his emotion into metal, and Diarmuid was born to lead. Together, can they keep their village safe and sustain the love that will make them immortal?

Okay-- that's done… now, on to the rest of the itinerary...

* Call credit card company

* Check on artwork for new logo
*  Order swag depending on artwork
*  Find some decent shoes because nothing I own is working
*  Plan to shop for accessories in May, before the 11th.
*  Remember to promote  Food for Thought which is out today!!





*  Pick up kids in 40 minutes. 
*  Go to the bathroom. No, now. NOW, DAMMIT, YOU'VE HAD TO GO FOR TWENTY MINUTES! 
* Do laundry on the way back.
*  Mental note: We need laundry soap.
*  Other mental note: We also need shampoo and conditioner
*  Mental side note: What are we having for dinner tonight?
*  Back to itinerary.  Put away vegetable delivery.  
*  Address mental side note:  Apparently we are having something with vegetables. Thug kitchen here we come.
* Look around house and boggle at family's ability to just drop shit anywhere.
*  Remember there is a blog and we were doing something.
*  Was it writing Quickening?  No-- that's tonight.
*  Was it editing Bitter Taffy?  Oh hell-- I have an edit on my desk top. Oh my God-- when the fuck was the deadline?
*  *takes deep breaths*  Remembers the deadline was the 12th. Four more days.  We got this.
*  What were we doing again?
*  Oh yeah!  Cover reveal!  Does everyone like my cover for Immortal ?  And the blurb?  It's out on May 8th.  *cries*  I want you all to love this story as much as I do.  Is there room for that on my itinerary? Where would it go? Under shampoo? Before laundry?  *shakes interwebs*  WHERE DOES THAT GO ON MY LIST?
* *calms down*   *takes deep breath*  *looks at clock and panics because Children must be picked up in TEN MINUTES now that blog is done*  
*  Wishes everyone a good day!  (It's pretty, isn't it?  Immortal? So pretty… we loves this book… we do… all mine.  Shampoo, laundry, this book… mine… precious….)  
*  (Doesn't everybody list psychotic breaks in their to-do lists?  I know it saves stress if I just budget for mine at the beginning.)

I don't cook in Thug Kitchen!

Oh-- first, I posted Amy's Lane on the website today, so by all means check it out!  And now, for the post…
So, I had a sort of meltdown on Mate right before Easter-- he'd been working a lot, and I'd been doing birthday and Easter things, and I was overwhelmed.  
Mate--being a good Mate-- agreed to do the cooking for the family dinner at my dad and stepmom's on Easter, while I went and visited my mom in the crappy part of Sacramento.  (I have been doing this more often, with less people with me--she is happy because she gets visits, and my family is happy cause it's a long drive they are not obligated to take.)
Anyway-- I got home two hours later and the cooking was underway… but it was not done.
Part of this is my fault. He was making deviled eggs and garlic potatoes, and we use mayonnaise, never. So he got the mayo out, and it appeared to be from the paleolithic age, and he thought maybe best to go to the store.  
But part of it was just that he is Mate.
He didn't know how to make garlic mashed potatoes.  He needed to look it up.  
Yes-- I know some of you just read that and laughed.  Because… garlic mashed potatoes… there's, you know… garlic. And cheese. And a little salt and some pepper and some… whatever makes it taste good, right? (Cause potatoes are one of those things-- garlic and cheese and then you cannot possibly fuck them up.)  But he promised me, and he's an engineer.
He needed a recipe.
Also, he needed a recipe for the deviled eggs.  (Stop laughing! He was serious!)
I was eternally charmed.
Because he took this seriously, and because he wanted to make it right and good, and because he didn't want me to help because I asked him if he could help me and he wasn't going to mess up.  The garlic mashed and the deviled eggs were wonderful. Not my recipe-- but definitely a recipe--and I was so grateful.
Anyway-- I told my friend (and aqua instructor) Trina about it, and she had two things to say. A. Is this an engineer thing, because my husband is just like that!  And B:
THUG KITCHEN. 
This is a cookbook after my own heart, and since there's about to be a bunch of stuff floating about me and cooking with the release of Food for Thought, I thought I'd share.  (No-- I'm not vegan-- I have plenty of chicken I can cut up and put in place of cauliflower, thank you. But it's healthy, and it's supposed to be tasty, and it uses the word "fuck" a lot, so I'm calling it a win!)
And speaking of the stuff going up on the net…
Following is the blog tour schedule, starting tomorrow.  Squee!!  I'm actually pretty proud of my guest-post spots.  They're fun stuff! For me, bitching about cooking NEVER gets old!  (It might for you after a week, but honestly, I had so much fun that's okay ;-)
Pay particular attention to April 13th, when I'm over at the ARe Cafe, cause that's an especially cool venue and it gives me the giant happies!  



April 8 SpotlightRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
April 8 ReviewBFD Book Bloghttp://bfdbookblog.net/
April 9 Guest BlogThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
April 10 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
April 13 Guest blogARe Caféwww.arecafe.com
April 14 ReviewParanormal Romance and Authors That Rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
April 14 SpotlightHouston Havens  https://houstonhavens.wordpress.com
April 15 Guest blogErotica For All http://eroticaforall.co.uk
April 15 SpotlightSapphyria's Books http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/

Kermit Flail Monday-- April!

Hey all! I hope you had a lovely spring break, equinox, Oestre, Easter or sleepy Sunday-- I know mine was pretty busy, and pretty damned awesome.  
But boy, will I be glad to get back to work!
Anyway-- today is *kermit flail* And we have some SWEET reads!  We're gonna start with our guests today, the sweet and adorable K-Lee Klein and the kind and funny C. Kennedy (which is the YA pen name of Cody Kennedy, who rocks SO hard!) Both of them have new releases, and they look amazing!
Let's give both folks a fantastic, warm, enthusiastic HUZZAH!  And welcome back folks to *Kermit flail* Monday!  YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!



Love Between Peace & War.by K-Lee Klein
Philip Dunlop grew up in a traditional family with a strict former-military father and a full-time homemaker mother. Now he’s graduated from the Air Force Academy with a promising military career ahead of him. 
Dusty Baxter’s upbringing was far more unconventional, with a free-spirited single mother who encouraged Dusty to follow his heart and forge his own path in life. So he does, wearing his hair long, writing songs of peace, and going with the flow in a world at odds with itself. 
In spite of their different backgrounds, Phillip and Dusty formed a firm bond of friendship as kids, a friendship that inevitably grew into love as they, and their relationship, matured. Now, Phillip’s family wants him to focus on his military career and settle down with a nice girl. They’ve known Dusty forever, but he’s still the very definition of everything they think is wrong with the turbulent world of 1970. As Phillip’s friend, Dusty’s politely tolerated. But if the truth of Dusty and Phillip’s relationship comes to light, the revelation just might be the wedge that tears apart not only Phillip’s family, but Phillip and Dusty as well. 
In a time of war-mongering and peace signs, can best friends find enough common ground to save their love and move forward together into the future?
BUY HERE

Slaying Isidore's Dragons
by C. Kennedy
Follow the burgeoning love of two teens during the worst year of their lives. Irish-born Declan David de Quirke II is the son of two ambassadors, one Irish and one American. He is ‘out’ to his parents but to no one else. French-born Jean Isidore de Sauveterre is also the son of two ambassadors, one Catalan and one Parisian. His four half brothers have been told to cure him of his homosexuality. Both teens have lost a parent in a London car bombing. 

Declan and Isidore meet at the beginning of their senior year at a private academy in the United States. Declan is immediately smitten with Isidore and becomes his knight in shining armor. Isidore wants to keep what is left of his sanity and needs Declan’s love to do it. One is beaten, one is drugged, one is nearly raped, one has been raped. They are harassed by professors and police, and have fights at school, but none of it compares to running for their lives. When the headmaster’s popular son attempts suicide and someone tries to assassinate Declan’s mother, they are thrown headlong into chaos, betrayal, conspiracy, allegations of sexual coercion, even murder. And one of them carries a secret that may get them killed.
(This is a Harmony Ink YA Title)
BUY HERE


Okay-- so those were pretty amazing, right?
But we're hitting April, and April is the month of Tales of the Curious Cookbook, the e-book collection/paperback anthology from Dreamspinner Press, so there's way more.  
Isn't it pretty?
I love the banner (RJ Scott's idea!) and the cover art, and the stories!  All of the tasty, delicious story confections we put out with love. We were just so happy to work together!  
Now, I'll have some blog tour stops this week, and I'll be sure to post them as they come up, but in the meantime-- hello, Tales of the Curious Cookbook!  YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!

*Note-- the first two titles here are up on amazon.com for sales, and that's the link I included. The other three will be up on amazon for presales about a week before their release date. I included their DSP link, so you can pre-buy them there :-)


For a Rainy Afternoon - RJ Scott - April 1
Robbie MacIntyre runs a small Post Office made from a converted Station House in a village northwest of London. He is stunned when a close friend leaves him the property as an inheritance after her death.
She owned the shop and has left everything to him. Not only that but she has left the place she lived, Apple Tree Cottage, to an American - a stranger who has recently moved to Barton Hartshourn.
The sealed box that they inherit includes several rare first editions and a cookery book. Only when the secrets of the ingredients in a particular recipe are finally revealed does everything begin to make sense... and a love story that began seventy years ago is finally uncovered.
Buy Link

Food for Thought - Amy Lane - April 8
Emmett Gant was planning to tell his father something really important one Sunday morning—but his father passed away first. Now, nearly two years later, Emmett can't seem to clear up who he should be with—the girl with the apple cheeks and the awesome family or his snarky neighbor who never sees his family but who makes Emmett really happy just by coming over to chat.
Emmett needs clarity.
Fortunately for Emmett, his best friend’s mom has a cookbook that promises to give Emmett insight and good food, and Emmett is intrigued.  After the cookbook follows him home, Emmett and Keegan Malloy, his neighbor, decide to make the recipe “For Clarity” and what ensues is both very clear—and a little surprising, especially to Emmett's girlfriend.  Emmett is going to have to think hard about his past and the really important thing he forgot to tell his father if he wants to get the recipe for love just right.
BUY LINK



Lost Along the Way - Marie Sexton - April 15
Three months after losing his parents in a car crash, Denver weatherman Daniel Whitaker returns to Laramie, Wyoming. It’s bad enough dealing with the death of his parents and his failing relationship of fifteen years, but when he finds his childhood home full of clutter, Daniel is at a loss. He enlists Landon, his parents’ sexy neighbor, to help him sort through the mess.
Landon Kushner is a study in contradictions. He builds wind sculptures out of scrap metal and loves the outdoors, but he also rides a mint-green Vespa and has an affinity for knitting and fortune-telling. He's been friends with Daniel's parents for years, and he's more than willing to lend a hand.
Their plan is simple: clean the house so Daniel can sell it and get back to his life in Denver. But when a strange cookbook comes into Landon’s possession, Daniel begins to realize that the universe – and Granny B – may have other plans.
BUY LINK

Cookies for Courting - Amber Kell - April 22
After his sister’s death, businessman Marshall Hunter gains custody of his niece. Unused to children, Marshall struggles to connect with her. In an effort to make her more comfortable in her new home, he hires professional muralist Pace Barlow to personalize her room.
Pace is intrigued by his tiny client, and even more interested in her handsome uncle, but Pace isn’t certain he’s ready for the commitment of an instant family.
When Marshall decides to move for the sake of his niece, will he be able to keep his relationship with his young artist, or will he have to give up love to become a good father for a lonely little girl?
The love baked into an old-fashioned recipe might bring the two men together, but some things take more than magical cookies to fix.
BUY LINK



Just Desserts - Mary Calmes - April 29
Boone Walton has tried hard to create some distance between himself and his past. He's invested in his new life, his New Orleans art gallery, and in his friendship with Scott Wren. Things finally seem to be settling down to normal, and Boone couldn’t be happier.
Chef Scott Wren wants much more than normal with Boone. He wants to raise things to the next level, but Boone is terrified—and not because of the ghost in Scott’s apartment or Scott’s relatives. No, Boone's past is about to pay him a visit, and the only thing that can get between Boone, Scott, and a hinky recipe for chocolate mousse found in a curious cookbook is the river of pain Boone had to swim to get to this side of The Big Easy. There’s a secret behind the ingredients, though—one that might reveal the trust and love that have been missing from Boone’s life.
BUY HERE
And all of those were the e-books-- this is the paperback collection :-)













Description:It’s called comfort food for a reason.

Not much is known about the cookbook, except that years ago, the mysterious Granny B collected a set of magical recipes and wrote them down. Over the years, each book has been modified, corrected, added to, and passed down through the generations to accumulate its own unique history. The secrets behind these very special recipes are about to find their way into new hands and new lives, just when they’re needed the most.

Food created out of love casts a spell all its own, but Granny B’s recipes add a little something extra. This curious cookbook holds not only delicious food, but also the secrets of love, trust, and healing, and it’s about to work its magic once again. 

BUY HERE

So there you go-- this month's *Kermit Flail*!  I hope everyone enjoys!  I'll be sure to post the blog tour stops-- I hope folks enjoy the articles. If you really wanna see something funny, watch me talk about the one thing I know the least about but am forced to do the most often: cook.  
Chow! I mean Ciao! 

Happy Spring

 So, Squish's B-day party yesterday, and Easter tomorrow.  I am shopped and planned out, and grateful that I only have two places to go tomorrow and one dish to cook.

But it's been a good spring break-- time with Chicken, time for her to be with her siblings, not too much time lazing about and not too much time running around like, well, headless chickens.

Yesterday's b-day party went well (and we got quite a few pix of the kids all together, which happens NEVER these days!) and we finished it off by going to see Home, which I really loved.  Tonight is all about stuffing Easter baskets (and hoping the dogs don't eat them!) and we have enough leftover pizza to sustain us for the rest of the day.  All is well.

We dropped Chicken off at the airport an hour ago, and the family is engaging in a Saturday afternoon coma. Everyone with me?  Ahhhhh….

That being said, I'll chat with y'all again probably on Monday, unless the kids do or say or wear something really adorable.  It's been known to happen!  So, see you at Kermit Flail, y'all-- have a Happy Oestre, Easter, Sunday afternoon...

I'm looking forward to mine!

Happy Squish-day!

So Squish turned nine today.

She got a cotton dress for her birthday, her favorite type, and automatically put on the cardigan, cause she knew it would match.

Of course it would match.

Chicken got some work clothes for Easter (early since she leaves tomorrow) and Squish got the dress, and without even asking they both put them on early.

I had to get a picture.

Squish's friend, we shall call her Banana Jello, stayed the night-- there was going to be three girls doing the overnight thing, but, well, it's the Friday before Easter-- not only did she only get one (and on the wrong day) but she also will only get one other friend at her pizza party.

It was sort of funny. I was telling her about the small turnout this morning, and I felt bad. It sucks to throw a party when nobody can come.  And while I was dealing with that, I was also dealing with trying to explain my cover vision to my cover artist and publisher, and realizing that even if they could put exactly what was in my mind onto the page, it wasn't going to be the way I dreamed.

Her eyes got really hurt and shiny, and I started to cry-- completely unexpectedly.

It was like, just that sudden, I knew exactly what it was like to have a perfect picture in your head of what something wonderful was supposed to be, and have the real world tell you it can never be like that.  In that moment of frustration, I was nine, and hurt because the world wasn't the way I thought it should be, and the disappointment was acute and real.

Then Squish pulled back from the hug and smiled. "Mom, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, hon. You'll have a good time.  Next year, we'll have the sleepover not during spring break."

And the smile turned to sunshine.  "Okay.  It will be good. We can have a sleepover this summer maybe. That should be good too."

When Zoomboy was born and we had the "when do we shut down the baby machine" discussion, we decided to shut it down at forty. We were, at the time, thirty-six. It didn't occur to us that we would shave a baby between thirty-six and forty, (because we're stupid) but when we came to the decision that we would stop at three, I had this dream of our family in a snapshot, and of the shadow of a red-headed blue-eyed freckled toddler, fading from the picture like the brother and sister in Back to the Future. I remember crying in the dream, because I missed that vision of a child so much.  When I got pregnant, I knew that baby would be Squish, and yes-- Squish looks exactly like I envisioned, the only baby to do so.

But unlike the visions of book covers and birthday parties, Squish has never been less than that vision. She has always been gloriously, imperfectly, awesomely more. She has always exceeded every expectation I've ever had of a child. No, she doesn't always brush her teeth, and she tries to get away with as little work as possible-- but that's every child. As a happy, bright, truly individual ray of sunshine, Squish is better than any picture, any vision, any anticipation of what a kid should be.

Happy Birthday, Squishy.  You'll never know how much I love you, until you have a child of your own.

A sweet day to sleep in and cuddle...

Zoomboy, with manic smile on his face: Guess what mom! The cat is dead!

Me, watching the cat wander by, ignoring us both: Worst April Fool's joke ever.

* * *

Chicken, before running an errand in the new car: So, remember Mom-- if I come back and there isn't a scratch on the car, that means I have done nothing wrong. You understand that? No scratches means no proof.


* * *

Squish: What's the best April Fool's joke you've ever had played on you?

Me: Nine years ago, I went into labor on March 31st.  April Fool's! Your birthday is on April 3rd.

Squish: *iz laughing too hard to reply*

* * *

And it's a beautiful spring day outside-- may you all be surrounded by sunshine and flowers. (My friends in Australia, may you be surrounded by brisk fall breezes and the promise of rain.)

Happy April-- not fooling!

So, I know-- it's all book news all the time right now, but this is still exciting.  Tales of the Curious Cookbook is available for pre-sale as a complete volume, and that's exciting.  RJ Scott's  For a Rainy Afternoon is on sale today--so the release cycle has begun!

We're releasing one book a week until the end of April, and yes-- they're all awesome!  (At least I hope mine is awesome-- I've already explained that I have no objectivity here ;-)  But all the rest are awesome-- and that's not just cause Reese Dante's covers are pretty… oh so pretty…

Anyway-- here's the schedule, and huzzah for shared endeavors!
Food for Thought-- April 8
Lost Along the Way--April 15
Cookies for Courting--April 22
Just Desserts --April 29



So SWEET!

Also available today is Foolish Encounters.  This anthology got its start as a favor for a fan-- we were all asked to write a prompt for an April Fool's story.  My prompt was a delivery guy, delivering certain, uhm, packages to a hot guy's doorstep.

The result was…

Okay, so you know how I've got two cats and two dogs? Gordie and Steve, and Johnny and Geoffie?

Let's just say remember those names.  (Let's also say Chicken read this one and was in hysterics.  "It's an alternative universe fiction based on THE LIVES OF OUR PETS!" I was like, "I wasn't aware our pets' lives were canon."  She was like, "I can't believe you made my cat bottom!"  I was like, "That cat was born to bottom."  And, well, the conversation devolved from there.)

So, my story (not all of them) was pure fun. It's hot fun, but seriously-- pure happiness. Steve the Delivery Guy is just as goodhearted as Steve the Cat, and Gordie is just as handsome.

Enjoy this confection collection-- I'm not a big fan of practical jokes, so this is as close to April Fools as I get ;-)

Wounded I & II-- Cover Reveal

 So this started out just being a cover reveal for Wounded Volume 1-- and then I realized I should probably show you Volume II even though it's not available for presale yet, just so you see the difference.

And, cause double the Bracken is double the frickin' FUN! *swoons*

He's beautiful, isn't he? And oh my God-- Bracken is #1 in my list of characters who took over and made me fuckin' love him. I was not expecting all of that dangerous smoldering sex appeal mixed in with a heart of tenderest gold. *happy sigh*  I love Bracken so much, I'm thrilled to have two of him!  (Even though that's not really why we decided to break up the book into two volumes. We decided to break up the book because it's a long frickin' book, and between pre-production and post-production, it was taking a really long time, so a broken up book made that go faster, and made the book a little cheaper, and, well, was just generally a good idea!

So, Wounded Volume I is available for presale HERE, and here's the blurb!

Cory fled the foothills to deal with the pain of losing Adrian, and Green watched her go. Separately, they could easily grieve themselves to death, but when an old enemy of Green's brings them back together, they can no longer hide from their grief—or their love for each other.  
But Cory's grieving has cut her off from the emotional stability that's the source of her power, and Green's worry for her has left them both weak. Cory's strength comes from love, and she finds that when she's in the presence of Adrian's best friend, Bracken, she feels stronger still. 

But defeating their enemy is by no means a sure thing. As the attacks against Cory and her lovers keep coming, it becomes clear that their love might not be enough if they can't heal each other—and themselves—from the wounds that almost killed them all.
*hums with happiness*  
Oh, I am so excited!
Also, there is an excerpt for Quickening posted RIGHT HERE!  So, you know-- HUZZAH! Now that Vulnerable is back in town, our Little Goddess is open for business and charging right along!

Keys!!!

So, Squish's birthday is on Friday, and Easter is on Sunday, and we are rapidly approaching one of those weird periods where I'm living my life instead of blogging it, and no writing gets done.

Yeah, it scares me too.

Anyway, don't be afraid when nothing pops up on my feed for a couple of days (I can't yet determine when it's going to happen-- it could be on shopping day, it could be the day I get my hair done, it could be Friday, when we're running around the house cleaning it and screaming, "Oh hell! When do we have to be at the pizza place?"

Either way, I foresee an avalanche of domestic need dumping down on my head, and, well, I love y'all, but you're the first to go.

Anyway, just be aware, it won't last long-- I'll be back soon.

And as for what I did today? Well, I found my keys, which is a big deal, because apparently you have to forfeit a child or a pet or something when you lose your keys these days. Yeah, it's terrifying-- I left my keys and Chili's on Friday and the poor girl at the kiosk was like, "But you have to tell me what make and model the car was, or I won't be able to give you the keys and they're so expensive!"

I was like, "Uh, two lanyards, one with Dreamspinner Press and one with Beneath the Stain and a Gandalf Lego keychain and a Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny's Lair keychain and…"

She's like, "The type of car."

"Oh yeah. Odyssey."

"Here you go. YOu had me scared for a second."

She was very sweet, and I almost said Dodge Caravan. Which would have been fine, I guess, because those keys are still on there-- a last gasp of denial.

Anyway-- till tomorrow!  Oh-- and speaking of tomorrow, I've got a couple of releases on their way, one of them Wednesday. Keep an eye out for Foolish Encounters at amazon-- it's a collection of April Fool's Shorts, and yes, I swear mine is funny and light. (Those of you who read Nascha may doubt me-- I understand, but it's true.) So anyway--it's out at Wilde City already, and I understand a lot of the stories are quirky fantasy/sci-fi, so it sounds really enjoyable!

Free verse? Show some Whit, man!

Me to Chicken: Do you like my new favorite meme?

Chicken: What does it even mean?

Me: Who cares! It's ADORABLE!

* * *

Mate,  looking through the cupboards this morning: You did a bad bad thing!

Me: What? Wha'd I do?

Mate: You bought bad things!

Me: (looking at the four boxes of Oreos) Well, you know. Four kids, two grown, no school for a week…

Mate: (flicking me on the head) Well I'm sure all they'll eat now is Oreos!

Me: Well I also bought acres of fruits and veggies. (I am very self-righteous as I say this.)

Mate: Which I"m positive they'll eat instead of Oreos!

* * *



We picked Zoomboy up from his school Yosemite trip the other night. Imagine thirty unwashed eleven- year-olds wandering around grabbing their gear and trying to reconnect with all their parents. In short… chaos.

But it did feature this one moment:

Zoomboy, grabbing my arm and looking into my eyes with all earnestness: And we saw a bobcat and we hiked to Vernal Falls and now you know I can hike a long way because we kept going and going and going…

Towheaded kid I don't know, grabbing my arm as ZB is speaking: And we did--we hiked all the way to the top of the falls, and it was wonderful and it was six and a half miles and we did it-- we had so much fun and--

Zoomboy: And we had to hide our stuff from the bears and we used the heater in the cabin so I didn't need my long underwear and…

Me, watching the towheaded kid wander off to find his parents: Was that your friend?

Zoomboy: Yes. We hiked together in the woods. And we didn't see any bears even though we had to hide our stuff from the bears and the thing on my wrist was so I could eat and…

Me: So when's the last time you bathed?

Zoomboy: Uhm…

Me: Let's say it's tonight!

On a general note, I'm saying the money for sending them on a "character building trip"was money well spent. He is even more of a character now than he was when he left.

And that towheaded kid ain't bad either.

*  *  *

Big T: The little kids and I have a plan. We're going to watch The Breakfast Club.

Me: Penguins of Madagascar? Peabody and Sherman?

Big T: (laughing) Well, yeah. Those look good too, but I think they'll like The Breakfast Club. 

Me: Okay. The minute their eyes glaze over, you go ahead and put this in. Trust me. It'll go over better.

As it turns out, Mate and I sat down with Big T and watched Breakfast Club, while the little kids cleaned their rooms. Which meant that we saved them the opportunity to be cynical and hate their elders at too young an age. Go us!

*  *  *

Mate: You were good-- you wrote, you did laundry, you went shopping and cooked. I spent the morning watching… God. I can't even remember what I watched…

Me: That's because it was White House Down!

Mate: Heh heh heh… oh yeah. Yeah. Who wants to remember that?

Me: And yet, you keep watching it.

Mate: Shit goes boom.

Me: Of course.

* * *

And the cartoons of Crowley and Azraphel from Good Omens? Those are Chicken's work. She also designed my new avatar (which, alas, is temporary) so if anyone is interested in purchasing an avatar or art work from her, by all means visit THIS LINK.  And besides her own art, she also publishes VERY funny .gifs and art from friends :-)