Sherry Ellis's Blog, page 24
June 22, 2016
Skating Rink for Schultz
We recently got the hard-wood floors in our house refinished. They look fantastic, but whatever was put on the floors to seal them, has made them really slippery! Everyone has slipped a little. But no one has slipped more than Schultz, our hundred pound German Shepherd.
The quadruped can't seem to control his speed. He goes fast. Unfortunately, that doesn't work so well on slippery floors. He loses his balance and falls on his nose. Or he crashes into the wall.
"Dog, slow down!" I said after his last crash.
He looked at me with his big, brown puppy eyes. Then he walked slowly to the front hall where we have an area rug. When he spotted the rug, he wagged his bushy tail. Then he ran and pounced not- so-gracefully onto the rug. That thing slid across the hall, but he managed to remain upright.
He looked very pleased with himself. Since then, he has done it several more times. He now has a new mode of transportation for navigating our slick rink - his very own magic carpet ride.
The quadruped can't seem to control his speed. He goes fast. Unfortunately, that doesn't work so well on slippery floors. He loses his balance and falls on his nose. Or he crashes into the wall.
"Dog, slow down!" I said after his last crash.
He looked at me with his big, brown puppy eyes. Then he walked slowly to the front hall where we have an area rug. When he spotted the rug, he wagged his bushy tail. Then he ran and pounced not- so-gracefully onto the rug. That thing slid across the hall, but he managed to remain upright.
He looked very pleased with himself. Since then, he has done it several more times. He now has a new mode of transportation for navigating our slick rink - his very own magic carpet ride.
June 16, 2016
Daddy's Got Talent
So, my husband has decided he is going to audition for America's Got Talent.
"Wait a minute," I said. "You've got talent?"
After living with him for over 15 years, I had no idea.
"Yeah. I've got talent."
"Doing what?"
"Singing."
I looked at the guy. I've heard him on occasion singing in the shower, and let me tell you, it's nothing to write home about.
"You sure about that?"
"Yep." Then he showed me a video. "This guy is my inspiration."
I watched as an 82 year old dude audition on American's Got Talent. My jaw dropped to the floor.
"Uh, okay."
You can see the video here.
The thing is, I can totally see my husband doing what the old dude did.
"Wait a minute," I said. "You've got talent?"
After living with him for over 15 years, I had no idea.
"Yeah. I've got talent."
"Doing what?"
"Singing."
I looked at the guy. I've heard him on occasion singing in the shower, and let me tell you, it's nothing to write home about.
"You sure about that?"
"Yep." Then he showed me a video. "This guy is my inspiration."
I watched as an 82 year old dude audition on American's Got Talent. My jaw dropped to the floor.
"Uh, okay."
You can see the video here.
The thing is, I can totally see my husband doing what the old dude did.
June 10, 2016
A Cure for Everything
Before I begin my story, I want to let you all know that I'm giving away copies of each of my three books (That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN, That Mama is a Grouch, and Ten Zany Birds). If you're on Facebook, you can follow this link, and it will take you to the page where the giveaway is. Just leave a comment for your chance to win. The giveaway will be up through Sunday.
And now for the story.
"Mama," my twelve-year-old son said. "I'm going to invent a cure for everything."
"You are?" I asked. I couldn't wait to hear about this.
"Yes. Do you know how?"
"I have no idea."
"I'm going to take every vaccine that was ever created, and mix them together. It'll be a super vaccine."
I raised my eyebrows. "You're sure that would work?"
He nodded. "Pretty sure. But I'd test it on chipmunks just to double check."
Okay. I think Alvin and the gang had better run. My mad scientist has big plans!
(I wonder if it would cure hiccups.)
And now for the story.
"Mama," my twelve-year-old son said. "I'm going to invent a cure for everything."
"You are?" I asked. I couldn't wait to hear about this.
"Yes. Do you know how?"
"I have no idea."
"I'm going to take every vaccine that was ever created, and mix them together. It'll be a super vaccine."
I raised my eyebrows. "You're sure that would work?"
He nodded. "Pretty sure. But I'd test it on chipmunks just to double check."
Okay. I think Alvin and the gang had better run. My mad scientist has big plans!
(I wonder if it would cure hiccups.)
June 3, 2016
Question of the Month and Sisterhood Blogger Award
It's time for Question of the Month hosted by Michael D'Agostino. This month's question is:“ Of all the places in the world that you haven’t yet been to, where would you like to go next?”
Hmmm. I guess Australia. There are a few things on my bucket list that can be done there. I want to see a concert at the Sydney Opera House. I want to dive/snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, and I want to hold a koala bear. Plus I would like to visit every continent. Australia would be one off the list.
Maybe I'd hop over to New Zealand after that. I've heard that place is gorgeous.
Where would you like to go?
Second, Tracy Terry nominated me for the Sisterhood of the World Blogger Award.
Thanks, Tracy! I have to answer some of her questions, now. What old object to I have stashed away collecting dust? Well, we'll have to make that plural. I have a huge collection of Nancy Drew books. Several were my mom's when she was a kid. They might even be first editions. They're probably worth a lot of money. I'll probably end up passing them down to my daughter.
Which childhood programs would you like to see again? I didn't really watch too much TV. What I did watch was Sesame Street and Mister Rogers. I don't know if either of those are still playing. If not, those are the ones I'd like to see.
When you think of an iconic film, what comes to mind? Gone with the Wind. That's pretty iconic.
What other names am I known by? Mama. I'm sure you can figure out why.
If I ordered a main meal, would I start with an appetizer or pudding? By "pudding" I would assume that means dessert. Tracy's from the UK, and I think that's how they talk there. I generally do not eat appetizers or desserts. I just eat the main meal. Usually, I'm too full to fit anything else after that. If I had a choice between appetizer or dessert, I'd probably take the dessert. I have a sweet tooth!
If I had to go to a fancy dress party, what would be my costume of choice? I'm a girly-girl, so I would choose a floor-length evening gown - probably red, because red is my favorite color.
Superstitious? No.
Which person or animal would I be able to impersonate? I can't say this is question I've ever considered. I suppose I'd be good at impersonating a chicken. Please don't ask me to demonstrate!
What character in a book would be my imaginary friend? Goodness. Another tough one. Okay. I think it would be Annie from the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. She's a fun little girl with a great sense of adventure. We'd have a good time together.
Lightening round: Tea or Coffee? Neither. Water. Sweet or savory? Sweet. Clean shaven or with a beard? Clean shaven. Whiskers are too scratchy, but I will say, some guys look better with a beard.
Now, I'm supposed to pass this on to ten people and provide ten other questions. I'm really bad about picking people, mostly because I know many of you have received a bazillion of these awards and don't want to do them anymore. But in case you haven't, and you want to do this, consider yourself nominated. (This is an award for the ladies. You men will have to find your own brotherhood award.) If you choose to accept, here's what you're supposed to do: mention you got it from me, answer the questions, provide ten more questions, and nominate ten more people.
As far as the questions go, you can use Tracy's or these:
1. What's your favorite gemstone?
2. If you were a historical figure, who would you be?
3. What's your favorite genre of film?
4. What was your favorite toy as a child?
5. What was the last book you'd recommend?
6. What was the best piece of advice you were ever given?
7. Who would be your dream dinner guest, and why?
8. Day or night?
9. If space travel was a reality, where would you go?
10. If time travel was real, what period would you travel to?
June 2, 2016
Shell-shocked
My daughter went to Hilton Head beach this past week. While strolling along the beach, she found a particularly beautiful shell. After taking a selfie with it, she decided to bring it up to her hotel room. There it stayed, causing no trouble at all.
But then at midnight, the strangeness began. My daughter was awakened by the sound of scratching. It freaked her out. "Wake up!" she called to her friend.
The friend groaned. "It's midnight. Quit playing with your makeup!"
"I'm not playing with my makeup! Something is making a noise!"
The girls grabbed their flashlights and investigated. And what do you think they found? A hermit crab! The shell had come to life and was rummaging through my daughter's makeup pile.
The girls screamed.
Their screams awakened the grandparents. "What's going on here?"
The girls pointed at their visitor.
The grandfather laughed, grabbed that thing, and placed it in a cup. That's where it stayed until morning, when it was released back into the ocean.
So much for the pretty shell.
But then at midnight, the strangeness began. My daughter was awakened by the sound of scratching. It freaked her out. "Wake up!" she called to her friend.
The friend groaned. "It's midnight. Quit playing with your makeup!"
"I'm not playing with my makeup! Something is making a noise!"
The girls grabbed their flashlights and investigated. And what do you think they found? A hermit crab! The shell had come to life and was rummaging through my daughter's makeup pile.
The girls screamed.
Their screams awakened the grandparents. "What's going on here?"
The girls pointed at their visitor.
The grandfather laughed, grabbed that thing, and placed it in a cup. That's where it stayed until morning, when it was released back into the ocean.
So much for the pretty shell.
May 31, 2016
Fancy Feast
I hate to admit it, but my cat has terrible table manners. He exhibited his rude behavior when my son tried to enjoy a picnic at the table on our outside deck.
As soon as Bubba sat down with his bowl of chicken soup and glass of milk, Bootsy the cat jumped up onto the table and began investigating. Apparently, Bootsy thought the soup smelled pretty good. He tried to stick his head in the bowl and take a few slurps.
My son would have none of that. He pushed the cat away. Undeterred, the cat tried again. And again, he was pushed away. After several attempts, Bootsy finally figured out that the soup was not for him.
So what did he do? He tried the milk. Or at least he tried to try the milk. Same thing. Bubba pushed him away. Finally, the cat gave up. He parked himself at a spot on the table and lay down on his back with his tummy facing up. Yes, the cat wanted a tummy rub.
"Bootsy," my son said. "You're not getting anything from me! No soup. No milk. No tummy rub."
So much for the fancy feast. Poor kitty!
As soon as Bubba sat down with his bowl of chicken soup and glass of milk, Bootsy the cat jumped up onto the table and began investigating. Apparently, Bootsy thought the soup smelled pretty good. He tried to stick his head in the bowl and take a few slurps.
My son would have none of that. He pushed the cat away. Undeterred, the cat tried again. And again, he was pushed away. After several attempts, Bootsy finally figured out that the soup was not for him.
So what did he do? He tried the milk. Or at least he tried to try the milk. Same thing. Bubba pushed him away. Finally, the cat gave up. He parked himself at a spot on the table and lay down on his back with his tummy facing up. Yes, the cat wanted a tummy rub.
"Bootsy," my son said. "You're not getting anything from me! No soup. No milk. No tummy rub."
So much for the fancy feast. Poor kitty!
May 25, 2016
The Soup Project
Last night, after I came home from work, my son came up to me and said, "Mama, we need to boil some potatoes."
I looked at the kid. "Boil potatoes? Why?"
"I have a school project that's due tomorrow, and I have to make Russian potato soup."
I couldn't imagine why in the world he'd have to make such a thing. "Okay. You need to back up. What kind of school project involves Russian potato soup?"
"I have to teach the class how to do something, and I wanted to teach them how to make that."
"Why couldn't you teach them how to write a program for video games? You know how to do that."
He frowned. "Because I'm Russian, and Russian potato soup is good."
Right.
"So, Bubba, do you know how to make Russian potato soup?"
He nodded. "It's all in my head."
I thought I'd test that theory. "What are the ingredients?"
"Potatoes."
"And?"
The boy shrugged. Just as I thought. He had no idea of how to make Russian potato soup.
I sighed and pulled out the ingredients, which he was very lucky that I happened to have. At ten o'clock at night, it might have been a little tough to find a grocery store that was open.
"Okay, Bubba. Start peeling."
He took the peeler and attempted to do the job. He had no clue how to peel a potato. So I showed him. I ended up peeling the potatoes, because he claimed that the cast on his arm made it difficult. This may or may not be true, but I wasn't going to argue about it, because I just wanted to get it done.
I showed him how to make the soup. When it was done, I asked him how he was going to get it to school and serve it.
He shrugged. "You'll figure it out."
Of course. Mamas always figure it out!
I looked at the kid. "Boil potatoes? Why?"
"I have a school project that's due tomorrow, and I have to make Russian potato soup."
I couldn't imagine why in the world he'd have to make such a thing. "Okay. You need to back up. What kind of school project involves Russian potato soup?"
"I have to teach the class how to do something, and I wanted to teach them how to make that."
"Why couldn't you teach them how to write a program for video games? You know how to do that."
He frowned. "Because I'm Russian, and Russian potato soup is good."
Right.
"So, Bubba, do you know how to make Russian potato soup?"
He nodded. "It's all in my head."
I thought I'd test that theory. "What are the ingredients?"
"Potatoes."
"And?"
The boy shrugged. Just as I thought. He had no idea of how to make Russian potato soup.
I sighed and pulled out the ingredients, which he was very lucky that I happened to have. At ten o'clock at night, it might have been a little tough to find a grocery store that was open.
"Okay, Bubba. Start peeling."
He took the peeler and attempted to do the job. He had no clue how to peel a potato. So I showed him. I ended up peeling the potatoes, because he claimed that the cast on his arm made it difficult. This may or may not be true, but I wasn't going to argue about it, because I just wanted to get it done.
I showed him how to make the soup. When it was done, I asked him how he was going to get it to school and serve it.
He shrugged. "You'll figure it out."
Of course. Mamas always figure it out!
May 23, 2016
Surprise Party
When you think of surprise parties, you think of some guest of honor arriving at a location and being unexpectedly greeted by friends and family. That's the way they should be. But the one that happened at my place was nothing like that.
I came home a couple of days ago and found my house decorated with balloons and other party paraphernalia. "What's going on here?" I asked my daughter who was busy with the preparations.
"We're having a party."
"We are?" Somehow I had missed that memo.
"Yeah," my daughter said. "It's my friend's birthday, and her house is under construction, so her mom asked if we could have the party at our house."
I looked around. "Obviously you said, 'Yes.' How many are we expecting?"
"Five. And it's a sleepover."
Guess that surprise was on me!
(In case you're wondering, the party was just fine. My daughter had it under control. All I had to do was supervise.)
I came home a couple of days ago and found my house decorated with balloons and other party paraphernalia. "What's going on here?" I asked my daughter who was busy with the preparations.
"We're having a party."
"We are?" Somehow I had missed that memo.
"Yeah," my daughter said. "It's my friend's birthday, and her house is under construction, so her mom asked if we could have the party at our house."
I looked around. "Obviously you said, 'Yes.' How many are we expecting?"
"Five. And it's a sleepover."
Guess that surprise was on me!
(In case you're wondering, the party was just fine. My daughter had it under control. All I had to do was supervise.)
May 19, 2016
Drippy Nose
There was a drippy nose in my household, and it wasn't mine. It wasn't my husband's, or my daughter's, or even Bubba's. It was Schultz's! He's our hundred-pound German Shepherd.
The hairy beast had apparently contracted a canine cold. He kept trying to wipe his nose with his paw. It wasn't working so well. My daughter saw this, and decided to help him out. She grabbed some tissues and wiped his big, black sniffer.
He thought this was some kind of game. He rolled on his back and tried to eat the tissue.
"Schultz!" my daughter yelled. "Cut it out!"
He didn't. Soon the tissue was in shreds.
My daughter got up and huffed, "Fine. Have a drippy nose. See if I care!"
What did Schultz do? He got up, walked over to our sofa, and used it as his personal hanky.
"Schultz!" I bellowed. I gave the beast my meanest Mommy look and banished him to his crate.
Ugh! Yet another job for the steam cleaner.
The hairy beast had apparently contracted a canine cold. He kept trying to wipe his nose with his paw. It wasn't working so well. My daughter saw this, and decided to help him out. She grabbed some tissues and wiped his big, black sniffer.
He thought this was some kind of game. He rolled on his back and tried to eat the tissue.
"Schultz!" my daughter yelled. "Cut it out!"
He didn't. Soon the tissue was in shreds.
My daughter got up and huffed, "Fine. Have a drippy nose. See if I care!"
What did Schultz do? He got up, walked over to our sofa, and used it as his personal hanky.
"Schultz!" I bellowed. I gave the beast my meanest Mommy look and banished him to his crate.
Ugh! Yet another job for the steam cleaner.
May 17, 2016
Guest Author, Chrys Fey, and a Giveaway
Today I have special guest, Chrys Fey, talking about her awesome new book, Seismic Crimes.
How did you come up with the idea to write a series involving natural disasters, crime, and romance?
At first I didn’t have the idea. I published Hurricane Crimes and thought that was it. Then a couple readers expressed wanting to know what happened before and after Hurricane Crimes. I pondered a sequel and realized that the story wasn’t over…a killer was still at large. As soon as I thought of the second book, the idea of a series bloomed, and I knew they would all feature a different disaster and contain what I love about romantic-suspense stories: crime and romance.I'm so glad you decided to continue the series. Book 2 is just terrific!
The earthquake scene was so realistic. Have you ever experienced an earthquake firsthand?
I have never experienced an earthquake. The closest I got to this was the Disaster! ride at Universal Studios. While you’re sitting in a subway train, there’s an earthquake and a water main breaks, sending a wave of water toward you. I remember sitting on the side where the water comes and thinking it was going to go over my head.I've never been on that ride, but I have been in two earthquakes. Not fun! You did a great job with the scene, because it pretty much matches the reality of what happens during an earthquake.
What's your favorite scene in the book?
The fight between Donovan and the killer. It is intense and brutal. I wrote it all in one sitting while listening to some rock music.That was seriously intense! I guess listening to rock music would really set the mood.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I am fascinated by disasters, so I enjoyed learning all about earthquakes: the science behind them, real firsthand accounts, and the aftermath to cities. I created pages and pages of notes.You did a great job on the research, because like I said before, the earthquake scene was very realistic.
What are your future writing plans?
I’ve submitted Book 3 in the Disaster Crimes to my publisher for consideration. The disaster in this one is a tsunami. The stakes raise like never before!
And I am currently writing Book 4!Excellent! I can't wait to read them!
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Garden. Read. Relax. Go to local libraries. Take nature walks. Anything that gets me out of the house or helps me to unwind.That's a big contrast from the crime fighting books you write!
If you had one super power what would it be?
I’d like to be able to talk to animals, and even plants. I’d never be lonely. I could have full conversations with my sunflowers and my cats!That would be pretty cool, although I'm not sure I'd really want to have a conversation with my dog. He's nuts!
What is one place you want to visit that you haven't been to?Ireland. Going to Ireland has been my dream since I was a little girl. I’m saving up for it…one dollar at a time. ;)I hope you get there. I've heard the castles are fascinating. But watch out for ghosts. :)
Where can we find your book?
Digital:
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B01CRJSPIU
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CRJSPIU
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01CRJSPIU
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seismic-crimes-chrys-fey/1123508790?ean=2940158028380
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/seismic-crimes
All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-seismiccrimes-1999825-153.html
The Wild Rose Press:
http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6740
Print:
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/1509207252
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1509207252
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1509207252
The Wild Rose Press:
http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=6793
BLURB:
An Internal Affairs Investigator was murdered and his brother, Donovan Goldwyn, was framed. Now Donovan is desperate to prove his innocence. And the one person who can do that is the woman who saved him from a deadly hurricane—Beth Kennedy. From the moment their fates intertwined, passion consumed him. He wants her in his arms. More, he wants her by his side in his darkest moments.
Beth Kennedy may not know everything about Donovan, but she can’t deny what she feels for him. It’s her love for him that pushes her to do whatever she has to do to help him get justice, including putting herself in a criminal’s crosshairs.
When a tip reveals the killer's location, they travel to California, but then an earthquake of catastrophic proportions separates them. As aftershocks roll the land, Beth and Donovan have to endure dangerous conditions while trying to find their way back to one another. Will they reunite and find the killer, or will they lose everything?
MY REVIEW:Investigator, Donovan Goldwyn, was framed for the murder of his brother. The only person who can help clear his name is Beth Kennedy, a young woman who helped him during a hurricane. As the two become romantically involved, they find themselves travelling to California, where they endure yet another natural disaster: This time, an earthquake. It's a life and death battle, struggling to survive the earthquake and avoid being killed by the dangerous criminals.
Seismic Crimes is an action-packed novel that contains a little bit of everything. There's the suspense of a crime-fighting story, the adventure of surviving natural disasters, and the passion of romance. Just when you think the protagonists will get a break, something else happens. The action continues all the way into the last chapter. The chapters where the earthquake occurs are very well-written. Readers can easily picture the dangerous scene that unfolds. Fans of romantic suspense novels will enjoy this book. (5 stars)
BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes, Book One in the Disaster Crimes series, as well as these releases from The Wild Rose Press: 30 Seconds, Ghost of Death, and Witch of Death. She is an administrator for the Insecure Writer's Support Group and has participated in the Blogging from April A to Z Challenge.
When Fey was six years old, she realized she wanted to be a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen.
Fey lives in Florida and is always on the lookout for hurricanes. She has four adopted cats who keep her entertained with their antics, and three nephews who keep her entertained with their antics. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and through her blog, Write with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers!
AUTHOR LINKS:
Website www.ChrysFey.com
Blog www.writewithfey.blogspot.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/chrysfeyTwitter https://twitter.com/ChrysFey
HURRICANE CRIMES 99¢ SALE!
DIGITAL LINKS:Amazon US / Amazon UK Amazon CA / NOOK / KOBO All Romance eBooksThe Wild Rose Press
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