Julia London's Blog, page 51

My Super-Secret Santa Wish List

I don't have anything on my official Christmas list, because I have everything I need.  But I do have a super secret Santa list.  These are the things you know you want, but wouldn't put down on any list, because no one is going to get them for you.  Or, you could never say out loud you wanted them.  Like:

1.  A skateboard.  I used to ride one as a kid, and now I see these teenage boys who ride them up and down drainage culverts, and they jump and twist in the air, and in my head, I think I can do that.  I can actually see me doing that in my head.

2.  I would like to be Ricki Lake for a day and dance with Derek Hough.  And have him lift me.  Yes!  I want Derek Hough to lift me!

3.  A trip to an Ashram.  I don't even know if I spelled that right.  But okay, I practice yoga, and on a good day, I am lucky if I can touch my toes.  But there is this man, my age, who can bend in any direction.  He's been to an Ashram.  He also took ballet.  He wants to be a yogi.  The only Yogi I know is a bear, but listen…if that guy can do it, I want to do it. I want to stand on my head.

4.  I want a list of twenty high-concept ideas so all I have to do is pick one and write it.  I don't want to spend brain power thinking up book ideas anymore, I want them at my fingertips.  Is that really asking so much??  Really??

5.  A peace symbol charm for my bracelet.  From Tiffany's.  No one is going to get me this because it's almost $200, and the practical people in my family all shout, "WHAT?  TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A PEACE CHARM?"  Yes.  $200.  Hey, it's my wish list!

6.  Peace and prosperity for all.  This is not a gratuitous throwaway line.  I mean it.  I want it for all of us.  I think we've had enough hard knocks the last few years and it's time we all got to kick back and enjoy life and stop worrying.

What's on your super-secret wish list?

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IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS…

I had my monthly book club meeting last night, and even though we meet in the evening, I turned the outing into a full day Christmas shopping extravaganza because my other four book club mates all live near my old neighborhood—translation: an hour and a half away from where I now live.

It's been quite a while since I've been to a mall and I have to say, I had a blast.  It was pretty crowded, but I loved it.  Loved all the holiday songs, the decorations, the twinkly lights, the shoppers lugging bags, the scent of pine and "Christmasy" stuff.  And the holiday chocolate/peppermint cake pops at Starbucks?? To. Die. For. (seriously—leave your house RIGHT NOW and go to Starbucks and get yourself a chocolate/peppermint cake pop.  You'll thank me.  Really.).

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Chocolate brownie peppermint cake pop. You want this. You really do.

I bought a few things (besides cake pops), but not too many—I've actually done most of my shopping online.  The only person I haven't finished shopping for is the DH.  When I asked him what he wanted, he said he thinks we should go shopping together and get ourselves iPhones!!! Yay!  I'm very excited to get one.  Of course it will take me MONTHS to figure out how to use all the bells and whistles, but I'm more than willing to learn.

As for the other gifts I bought, I can't reveal here what they are because all my peeps read this blog, LOL!  Quit peeking, peeps—I'm not telling!

Have you been to the mall to shop this holiday season, or do you avoid it like the plague?  Do you shop online?  Are you all finished shopping?  How about shipping? (that's my next step—wrap and ship!).  What are you hoping to get this holiday season?

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random thoughts and kitty sexual frustration

Note the butt-up-ness of little Izzy kitty.....

Oops. We waited way too long to get our little girl kitten spayed. How do I know we've waited too long? Because this cat has a serious itch that she can't scratch (and her best buddy, another female who was spayed by the human society at about 1 week old has no clue what's going on!).

I should have known better. I should have planned ahead. I should have put a date on my calendar and taken the cat in. But I've been busy and stressed (more on that later). So I ended up finding out about the kitty when the girls told me that "Izzy's acting funny." Um, yeah, she is.

That was my first foray in trying to explain what "heat" is to young kids. They got the basics (which Isabella understands as no baby kittens coming to our house, a fact which depresses her mightily). Gee, that was fun!! (And OMG, is this kitten horny. Off to the vet this morning to solve that little problem.)

Would that all problems could be so easily addressed. As you may or may not have noticed, I've been pretty absent from the blog (and from the net) for a while. Unfortunately, I'm dealing multiple hospitalizations with my mom that have ended up with her going into a nursing home. On the upside, I won't have to worry about her living alone anymore, falling and hurting herself. On the downside…well, no one wants to see their parent's health decline or anyone lose their autonomy. And all the dang paperwork. But I'm pleased with where she is, both the physical place and the care/staff. So that's good. Still, I think it's fair to say that I'm a bit stressed out lately. (And determined to get long term care health insurance.)

Fortunately, tonight I have a destress event as I'm having dinner with Julia London! I see a glass of Malbec in my future.

Actually, I'm doing a lot of destress stuff lately (not just red wine related). I've finally discovered an exercise regimen I can live with. 1 or 2X/week of lifting weights to failure (it takes less than 10 minutes) and 2X/week of sets of Tabata sprints on the bike and 1 set around the indoor track at my gym (that's a grand total of about 15 minutes, including breaks b/w sets). Sometimes I do more, but that's enough to keep me in shape, and it's easy and stress relieving. (Tabatas are pretty cool. 20 seconds of going like gangbusters, then 10 seconds of rest. Eight repetitions. Then I do 3 sets of that. Has awesome cardio and fat-burning results.)

Living in a reasonably small town is also nicely destressing. Catherine was in the Christmas parade, and it was so easy to get her there and then go stroll the square while we waited for the parade to start. We saw folks we know as we do every year. The only downside of my town is that it has a hard time keeping restaurants. Our favorite shut its doors recently, but the Uptown Social Club is moving in soon. Fingers crossed it's a good place for dinner and drinks!

It's finally not an oven here in Central Texas. In fact, today Don had to scrape ice off his car. Guess it really is the Christmas season. So I'll end my rambling post with a little Christmas cheer. Here's the video of my daughter Catherine and her Glee Club singing at a Breakfast With Santa event. Catherine sings second ("If you need help believin'….) and is the tallest of the group. I thought they all did fabulously!

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The Eye(brow)s Have It!

I'm attracted to men who can raise one eyebrow. Weird, right?

Like this:

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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

This:

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Jason Momoa

Yes, even this:

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Stephen Colbert (yes, it's true- that brow gets me).

While researching this article (yes, I research!) I discovered a link to a list of actors who act with their eyebrows. Leonard Nimoy was # 1, but I think Ryan Reynolds should be on it. He has the most expressive eyebrows. Love him. Oh, and Bill Hader.

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If I used a picture with his shirt off, you would not be noticing his eyebrows. Sorry.

Eyebrows can be so expressive. But on women… they're another thing that can apparently make us look older if they're not maintained. Of course! Our work never ends. An eyebrow expert on the Today show said that over-plucking is the number one thing that makes women look older. Sparse brows are a Don't. Be careful when you moisturize– getting lotion in your pores will block hair growth.

More eyebrow tips here:

Daily Glow

And here:

Eyebrowz

Apparently, my brows should be arched to elongate my round face. But my eyebrows are so light that they barely show up. I should consider brow darkening. I think I'll stick with cosmetic enhancements for now. Or, just leaving them be, which is honestly what happens most often. But of course, I might start looking older. If I listen to the brow mavens.

Do you shape your brows? Have you tried eyebrow threading? Waxing? Eyebrow coloring? Does the one eyebrow arch thing get you, too, or am I alone in that?

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Christmas Lights

Tis the Season!

I live with a family of Grinches.  I love Christmas decorating.  If I had my way, my financial means, and my 'can hang anything' druthers, our house would be decked, decked, DECKED!  However, my decorating preferences "embarrass" my family.  They think I "go overboard" and "am tacky".  Ha!  Christmas decorations can never be tacky.  Not even our rocking Mr and Mrs. Santa, wherein the Mr. Santa has lost his wig and is bald. Not even our Santa who swivels his hips and sings "Rockin Round the Christmas Tree."

This year, I went down to find the outdoor lights, but they were not to be found.  Nor the timer devices that turn them off and on.  I poked around at the top of the garage.  I went through all the boxes in the basement, but no lights.  Two days ago, my daughter was trying to talk me out of hanging the lights outside.  She said they were bad.  Little did I suspect the devious method to my family's Christmas madness.  They have stolen our own Christmas lights.  Stolen our presents, went to the ice box and stolen our pheasant.  They have taken my presents, the pop guns, the bows.  They have taken the train that sits under the tree, they have taken my Christmas…

or so they believe.

I have concocted a plan, a splendiforous plight, I will visit Home Depot and buy me more lights!  Red lights and blue lights and gold ones that blink.  I will buy the flamingo, the skinny one in pink!  I will buy the white snowman to plant on the lawn, and a lawn full of reindeer, Mommy, Daddy, and Fawn!  I will buy the oversized snow globe, (TSA Not approved), and put it under the trees.  I will buy some white snowflake lights, and hang from the eaves.

They will not stop my Christmas, not with their grinchy tricks.  My Visa card and I will be more than a fix!  We will dash through the store, tossing lights in the cart, and my family will see that Christmas must stay in the heart.

And when the night falls and the house is all black, I will flip on the switch, and yell, "Christmas is back!"

So, are you a big decorator, a small decorator, do you have a festively decked golf cart (bet Jacquie does)?  Does your family approve of your holiday traditions, or like me, do you have to suffer with a family of Grinches?

And P.S. this weekend, the "ScatMat" arrived, a long plastic mat that has imbedded electric wires, and will emit a few volts when something (i.e. naughty cat) steps on it.  We placed the mat on the counter, and after one air-twisting double-twist flip in the air (seriously, the Olympic judges would have scored it a nine, the cat has stayed away.).

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Just Give In…

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Everything In Its Time

An earring, a murder, a legend…

Years ago while vacationing in Scotland, Katherine St. Claire believed she'd found the love of her life. She shared a night of passion with a stranger, in a hotel castle called Duncreag. But come morning, her lover had disappeared. And she has spent the last eight years trying to convince herself it was all a dream…

Living in the 15th century, Iain Mackintosh remains haunted by the memory of his greatest love. Eight years ago, she disappeared, leaving behind a cairngorm earring as the only evidence of her existence. Iain's family wants him to stop pining for this fantasy woman and submit to a sensible marriage. But Katherine suddenly returns to him and reveals to him where—and when she's from…

I'm so excited to announce the re-release of my very first novel, Everything In Its Time.   First published in 2000, it has been out of print for almost ten years.  So whether it's for the first time or the tenth, I hope you enjoy reading Katherine and Iain's story!  Buy it now from:  Kindle, Nook, Smashwords And check out www.deedavis.com for reviews, excerpts and more.

 

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Saturday Books: Back to the fifteenth century…

My journey to become an author reads like a Cinderella story.  But that doesn't mean there weren't road bumps along the way.  It all started when, a little over ten years ago, I found myself at loose ends.  We'd just moved back to Texas from Austria, my daughter was going off to kindergarten and my pre-pregnancy career in association management required long hours and a lot of away time.  I wanted to be home for my child, but I also wanted regain some identity beyond 'mom' and 'wife'.   And so I sat down and made a list.   Rock singer, Broadway star, secret agent, write a book.   You know, totally practical choices.

Well, reality sank in quickly, and I realized I talked to much to be a spy, I was a little too old and a little to rotund to live in spandex, and today's Broadway stars all sing and dance.  I can sing.  But man, you don't want to see me dance.  Which left 'write a book'.  Writing is something I've done my whole life.  I've written stories ever since I was old enough to put fingers to pencil.  But I'd never seriously considered the option.   And writing could be done anywhere and anytime.  Wherever my husband's adventures took us next, whatever hours my daughter's life demanded.  And I could live in jeans and sweats.  It seemed a win/win situation.  Only I'd never written a novel before.

So I took a deep breath, rolled up my sleeves and being a little obsessive/compulsive, started researching.   Both the idea for my story, and the genre I'd chosen to write in.  Romantic suspense.  Now that one was a no brainer.  I've always been a romantic at heart.   I love a happy ending.  Cried when I didn't get to see Cinderella's wedding.  Wanted more from Meg and Calvin in A Wrinkle in Time, and always loved a good romantic hero – like Mr. Darcy.  And as a lover of suspense, I liked the idea of integrating the suspense plotline with the romance.

So after reading something like four-hundred novels over a three month period (my husband had no idea what I was doing, and thank goodness was wonderful enough not to comment), I opened the proverbial blank computer page, and started to type.  About five months later, I wrote THE END and cried and drank champagne, and being an over achiever, joined RWA, entered a contest, started the second book, and began Agent Quest.

Now there's a task not suited for the squeamish.  Anyway, six months later, I got a call (next best to The Call) and after singing eight rounds of the Hallelujah Chorus and doing a victory dance that would make Snoopy proud, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and signed with my agent, (which doesn't say a lot for my signature.)

To pass the time (as you are no doubt aware, this is not a fast moving business) and because all the really great writers I admire said so, I kept writing, and eight months after that,  I got The Call. This time I was paralyzed from the mouth down and only managed to say things like "Wow!"  "You're kidding" "You're sure?"  "Me?" —you get the idea. And then, so excited I was physically shaking, I hung up—before finding out which publisher had bought the book.  Everything in its Time (by Berkley) was published in July of 2000.

And here I am eleven years later recalling the day I first held my first book in my hands and checked inside to make certain the words were really mine.  It's been an amazing ride.  Full of the ups and downs that are part of any career.  And it is with the exact same excitement and pleasure that I announce the re-release of that very first book.   Everything in its Time is now available on Kindle, Nook, Smashwords, and other e-book sources.

There's something so special about a first book.  So you can just imagine how excited I am to have it out there again!   And later this month watch for the re-release of the second book in my time travel trilogy.  Wild Highland Rose.

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Herding Cats

This is our first Christmas with cats, and it brings with it new sights, new opportunities, and yes, new disasters.  Cat's love Christmas trees.  Did you know that?  I didn't know that.  We have a fake tree.  It's pre-lighted, assembled in three pieces, and we bought it at a grocery story.  Doesn't get more "Made in China" than that, but to the cats, it's like unchartered wilderness.  They climb up the center pole (probably coated in timberline green lead paint), and get all excited.  I don't have the heart to tell them that it's fake, it's like telling your kid there is no Santa.  It just isn't done.

And then there's the ornaments.  We got smart about that.  No breakables.  Plastic only, and the good stuff goes up at the top.  I held off on the star because that is pretty irreplacable, so I wanted to see if the kitties would topple over the tree (happened to our neighbor with their cat) before I put it up.  I still haven't put it up.  I think it's like putting up a lightning rod in a storm.  It's going to get burned.

I have no ideas about the presents.  Our family shakes, sniffs, pokes, and x-rays for presents (except for me, who actually has patience), but I fear the cats are going to rip, claw, and bat across the room, and will that might work with say, a gift-wrapped basketball, it won't work for a cashmere sweater.

Any ideas on cat-proofing the holiday home?  Am I doomed?  What's the plans for this weekend?  I bet that Julia London is out goofing off again.

 

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The Downhill Roll from Deadline

Last week, I finished a book–finally!!–and I found myself with a few days off.  I had a solid plan for those few days:  I was going to knock off some chores and get a running jump on the next project.  Here was my Monday chore list:

Pay bills

clean office

do laundry

get out Christmas stuff

pack up old books to be handed off to Goodwill

Run, go to Yoga, and do some Christmas shopping

Monday has come and gone.  I ran.  I went to Yoga. I finished reading a book, which wasn't even on the list.  And then I went to a movie, which was also not on the list (J.Edgar.  Interesting, and Leo DiCaprio is great…but get it on DVD).

So I put all those Monday chores on my Tuesday to-do list, which included these:

File some travel documents

Send my sister a check for some money I owe her

Sketch out some series ideas

Write a bunch of blogs and have them ready to go

upgrade my operating system.

I did the travel documents.  I sent my sister a check.  I ran.  I actually gathered the laundry into one central location and left it there.  And then I went to another movie (The Descendents.  Good movie, but kind of a downer).  Wednesday wasn't much better.

I thought about paying some bills, but that seemed like it would take too much time–time I didn't have, if I was going to squeeze in another movie.  And then there's the trip to the post office to mail some of the bills, which is a huge time sink that cuts into the time I need to run by Starbuck's.  And if I go there, the pool supply store is next door, and I think, as long as I'm here, I ought to pick up some stuff for the pool.  But I definitely don't want to go off in that direction because I need to pick out a new book to read and pool chores cut into the time I need for that.   I can't just pick a book willy-nilly.  It requires some thought and reading a few pages.

I always dream of having time to do chores  around the house AT MY LEISURE, but it seems like when I have the time, I can't make myself.  I guess I really do best when those chores are shoved in between work.   When I have a days off and I really don't have towrite or promote my books or respond to editors or agents, I feel like I should be doing something constructive.  But my heart will not cooperate.  It tells my mind to take a break, to see some movies and read some books.  There will always be time for laundry and paying bills and cleaning offices.  Right?

What do you do when you have a few days off?  Do you fill it with chores?  Or do you really take time for yourself?  When you finish reading a book, how do you choose another one to read?  Do you have several to choose from, or do you know what the next one is going to be?

And a bonus treat today!  Some friends of mine (including Sherri and Jacquie) have penned a book of short stories called Masters of Seduction.  You can download it here from Amazon.

 

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