Julia London's Blog, page 88

SECRET FIXES!

I love those articles on household/cleaning/remedy tips.  You know the ones that tell you stuff you'd never otherwise know—like you can keep ants away by sprinkling a barrier of pepper or cinnamon or any "hot" spice.  The ants can't take the heat!  Who knew??  I haven't been plagued by ants (thank goodness!), but if I ever am, you can bet I'll be sprinkling pepper all over the place!

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Yikes!! Is that pepper?? RETREAT! RETREAT!

 

One of my fave tips is to put a spoonful of water in candle votive holders before you put in the candle.  You'll never again have wax stuck in the bottom of the votive holder!  Another fave is if you get a spot on your clothes (especially if it's greasy), cover the spot with a thick coating of body (or baby) powder–it absorbs the stain great!

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I get out grease stains AND keep those baby butts soft and dry!

One tip that really helped me just the other day was to put soy sauce on a burn.  I have no idea where I read that, but I swear it works. I burned two of my fingers on the iron (that's what I get for ironing–ha!).  While muttering MANY bad words, I raced into the kitchen, grabbed the soy sauce from the fridge and poured some over my fingers. I then put some soy sauce in a bowl and soaked my fingers for about 3 minutes.  The sting and burn went away and I didn't even get a blister.  I don't know why it works, but it does.

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Do you know any helpful tips?  Or any that are supposed to work but don't?  And don't forget–by leaving a comment, you're entered in our contest to win a Kindle and a gift card!    

Spam! It's not just for breakfast anymore!

[image error]Okay, that headline makes no sense, but I'm cleaning out my SPAM folder at the moment, and trust me, most of the things in there make no sense either.

Mr. Wang Shu, for example, wants me to keep his proposal top secret. Apparently, he would like me to contact him about "details as regards to the transfer

of $6,500,000.00 to you. This money initially belongs to

a client who died and had no next of kin in his account-opening

package." Man, that poor client. And $6.5M to open an account. And now I have the chance to have all that money transferred to me. I'm overwhelmed. Truly. By Wang the wanker's generosity.

Mr. Charles Brown, Esq. was more, um, thorough in his vetting of me before offering to send me the big bucks:

I am Mr. Charles Brown, a Canadian attorney based in United Kingdom .I am reaching out to you in respect of an investment opportunity.

I am soliciting your assistance in repatriating the funds and property left behind by my late client before it is declared unserviceable by the bank where the huge deposit is lodged and confiscated by the government.

On the 3rd day of January 2004, my client and his wife along with their two children were among the victims of Boeing 737 Egyptian Airliner that crashed into the Red Sea. You can read more about the crash by visiting this website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/po...

Do note that your identity or country of origin does not matter. I will give you more information upon your response.

If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly email your following information to me:

A. Private telephone and fax numbers.

B. Your postal/residential address.

C. Identification/Occupation.

Yes, indeed, Mr. Brown, sir. I'll be getting right on that.

Of course, not all my spam is financial. There's quite a bit of medical related spam, too: Apparently I can get codeine and viagra without a prescription (presumably, having one doesn't mean you require the other), and if I really, really want, I have just a whole multitude of options for enlarging my penis. (I'll be getting right on that, too….)

Then again, some are slightly intriguing. Emery Cat, for example (yes, my cat could do with having her nails trimmed). And the Mystery Shopper spam. I could be a mystery shopper. Oh, yes. I could….

And the spam that really cracks me up: the messages from myself. Legit messages that I've bcc'd myself on. Hello? THAT's spam?

So how about y'all? What's your funniest spam message? Most persistent? Most freaky?

Muppets Go Viral

Guilty pleasure admission time: I still watch Sesame Street on occasion. My daughter and I will watch together. It makes us smile. She is convinced Elmo is evil and narcissistic and has tried to take over Sesame Street. I have no beef with Elmo, but we're both partial to Grover. I've loved Grover since I was a kid (The Monster at the End of This Book- classic!) and who doesn't love his lesson on Near and Far? Elissa and her friends all love that one on YouTube.

So it came as no surprise when he spoofed the Old Spice guy commercial and it went viral. Nearly six million hits!

But then, of course, Elmo had to cause a controversy with the scantily-clad Katy Perry. Another viral hit- 8 million plus hits!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I had no idea this thing between Elmo and Grover was a real rivalry until my editor (the dynamic and brilliant Jennifer Heddle) posted something about Sesame Street on her Facebook page and there was a little bit of back and forth between the Elmo and Grover fans. Team Grover! And now, Cookie Monster is grabbing his own spotlight with his audition tape for SNL.

Click here to view the embedded video.

A million hits and growing fast! I love Cookie Monster almost as much as I love Grover… but way more than I love Elmo (sorry Elmo, you just weren't around when I was a kid). Wouldn't it be awesome to see Cookie Monster host Saturday Night Live? Fingers crossed.

So now, I want the muppets to do my next book trailer. Imagine Prairie Dawn as Jane Slayre, going after the Count? One bloody stake, two bloody stakes… mwahahaaaa, oof! Sesame Street, are you listening? She doesn't have to stake him. They could just count together. How cute is that idea? Team Prairie Dawn, call me.

Did you love Sesame Street? Do you still? Who is your favorite? Kermit? Elmo? Grover? Oscar the Grouch? Big Bird? So many choices. Have you seen any muppet viral videos before today? Have any guilty pleasures to confess?

Thanks for the Memories

[image error]So been thinking about e-readers lately — As in hoping to get one for Christmas.  It's past time for me to jump into the new world.   And that has of course made me think about books.  A couple years ago Sherri sent me a Facebook note (still haven't worked out exactly what those do) asking me to list my top fifteen books just off the top of my head.  Here is my list.

1. A Wrinkle in Time – Madeline L'Engle – A novel about the ties of love

2. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis – Lucy, wardrobe, Mr. Tumnus – 'nuf said

3. My Brother Michael – Mary Stewart – love love love this book

4. The Moon-Spinners – Mary Stewart – my second fav

5. To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee – in my mind the perfect novel

6. Alice in Wonderland/Looking Glass – Lewis Carroll – it's so much fun[image error]

7. Go Ask Alice – Anonymous – an anthem of the times (sadly)

8. Lord of the Rings trilogy – JR Tolkien – read it summer of my junior year

9. The Bourne Identity – Robert Ludlum – love the whole series

10. The Andromeda Strain – Michael Crichton – brilliant writing

11. The Winds of War – Herman Wouk – this and the sequel War and Remembrances

13. The Shivering Sands – Victoria Holt – one of my first gothics

14. The Guns of Navarone – Alistair McClean – best action book ever — FABULOUS

15. Two From Galilee – Marjorie Holmes – this effected me greatly at the time – 8th grade

How about you?  What's on your list?  Any of mine that would have made yours?

And don't  forget that we Whiners are giving away a Kindle at the end of the month.  To be entered to win just comment!

The Year of Living Scandalously

[image error] In 1792, the village of Hadley Green executed a man for stealing the Countess of Ashwood's historic jewels. Fifteen years later, questions still linger. Was it a crime of greed—or of passion?

When Declan O'Connor, Earl of Donnelly, arrives at Hadley Green to meet with Lily Boudine, the new countess of Ashwood, he immediately recognizes the lovely woman who welcomes him. Pretending to be her cousin Lily in an attempt to avoid an unwanted marriage, Keira Hannigan is staying at the estate while Lily is abroad. When Declan threatens to expose her, Keira convinces him to guard her secret, then enlists him in her investigation of the missing jewels, for she now believes an innocent man was hanged.

Unable to deny the beautiful, exasperating Keira—or their simmering passion—Declan reluctantly agrees. But neither is prepared for the dangerous stranger who threatens to reveal Keira's lies . . . and Declan knows he must protect Keira at all costs, for she is the woman who now owns his heart.

Read an Excerpt right here

The Post-Holiday Blahs

[image error]I have them bad.  I have been a gone a full week in which I didn't have to do anything but eat other people's food, watch TV, and shop.  I had no responsibilities.  It was wonderful.

Alas, I am home.  Today, I went to the grocery store because I left my larder empty.  I figured I should get that out of the way so I could get right to work tomorrow.  Yeah, that's right…I am going right to work tomorrow on stuff that was neglected while I was gone.  Like paying bills.  And they are December bills, so I am reminded that I need to also pay some taxes.  That's always a real bummer, because I am self-employed and have to write ginormous checks to the US Treasury.  Somehow, it doesn't hurt quite as bad when they take it out of a pay check.  When they take it out of your check, you never deposit it like I do.  You never think, "wow, look how much money I have," and chortle with glee, then  in the very next breath think, "Wow.  Look at my tax bill!!  Geez, what is the point if they are going to take that much!  Look at ALL these bills that have been stacking up while I was gone."

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And then there is laundry.  What is it about being out of town that makes me go through articles of clothing? Where exactly in that schedule of eating, watching TV, and eating some more, did I manage to get clothes dirty?  But I did, and now I have to wash them.  I have more laundry to do now than I did before I left.

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Let's not forget the email.  You know, the email you might have seen on your smart phone but didn't want to deal with because you were on vacation, and now need to do something about.  Fan mail, friend mail, family mail from the industrious ones who already need to know what we are doing for Christmas, and who is bringing what.  Somewhere in here I have become conscious of work, and how much I didn't do last week, and how I really should get caught up so I don't put myself in that horrible cycle of slamming up against a deadline, but I can't really think of that because I HAVE TO THINK OF CHRISTMAS.  I have to plan shopping, and getting things sent before offices close for the holidays, which means now, and what exactly I am getting for people.

So unlike my fellow Whiner, Kathleen, who is already experiencing the joy of Christmas (particularly when her kids and hubby did the decorating), I am trying to find my big girl panties in all that laundry and gear up.  Color me post-holiday gray.

How do you deal when you come from vacation?  What is the one thing you must deal with this week that you don't want to deal with?  How is your week starting?  YOUR week should be off to a great start, because if you comment here, you are putting your name in the running for a Kindle!  That's a post-holiday boost!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas….

We did it.

This year, we are one of those families that put up their holiday decorations right after Thanksgiving. I know, hate me. Hate my tribe, but it had to be done, and THIS TIME, I wanted it done now, on a lazy holiday weekend, rather than mid-December when there are concerts and parties and shopping and getting ready for visitors and shopping and DEADLINES and shopping.

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So, I prepped the family in advance. On Thanksgiving night, I made them all take up the boxes from the basement. No one was happy about it, but I was firm.

On Friday, the plan was do a bit in the evening. Maybe the mantel, maybe some of the window lights, maybe the 20 year old humming Guffy that sings "Deck the Halls". However, my little elves did something extraordinarily lovely. They decorated the house while I was at the gym.

I was floored. I was touched. I gave my little elves the sort of squeezy hugs that they hate ("Very annoying, Mom!").

I needed to share.

So, what's everyone elses plan? Do you decorate for the holidays or do you ignore them and wish everyone else would go away? And don't forget! COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT! One lucky winner will get the Kindle plus gift card on January 1!

Black Friday, Gray Friday, White Friday

Who are these nut jobs?  Who would get up before dawn the day after Thanksgiving and crowd in with these people to get in a store?  [image error]

And speaking of crazy people, why does Target think this chick is such a great lure?  I think she needs medication and I don't want to be in a Target anywhere near her.  I do find her a bit much and not funny, which is what I think they intended.

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This is Black Friday in America, when shoppers across the nation freak out and flock to stores.  Okay, maybe they don't freak out.  Maybe they take advantage of having the day off and get some Christmas shopping done, but it's retail insanity.  Are you a Black Friday shopper?

Or are you a Gray Friday shopper, who sits in Starbucks with your shopping app on your smart phone or lap top, ordering in the Christmas goodies as you order your latte?

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Or are you a White Friday person, like me, who thinks tomorrow is another day, and why face the craziness when you can put it off until Christmas week?  Because you're in Phoenix, where the sun is shining, and as we all know, Christmas week in Austin isn't crazy at all.  Christmas week is calm and serene and perfect for holiday shopping.  Right?

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Whatever you are doing today, wherever you happen to be, I hope all is sunny and bright and stress free.  Happy Thanksgiving, Whiners!

GIVING THANKS

Since today's a holiday, I'll keep this short.  Thanksgiving is a day that reminds me of all the things I'm thankful for–my husband, my son, my family, our health, my friends–I'm very fortunate.  We're sharing today with new friends in our new neighborhood.  I'm in charge of the side dishes. I'm making a LOT of different vegetable sides—I figure if one or two don't come out good, we'll still have plenty. 

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I'm also attempting a carrot cake for the first time.  It's my sister's recipe and she makes the best carrot cake on the planet.  Fingers crossed I can do it justice.  But before the cooking and baking begins, we always watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  It's tradition.

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What are you doing today?  What's your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?  Hope you have wonderful turkey day! xox

Well, now I've gone and done it…

[image error]I felt like cr** on Monday (nasty stomach bug or something) and wanted a break in the evening, and so I texted hubbie and asked if it'd be crazy to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I mean, I figured I'd get next to no work done in the evening, right?

He said that yes, it would be crazy, but why not. And so we dumped the kids at my mom's and off we went.

And, yes, I loved it. (Those kids have SO grown as actors). Deathly Hallows–while I did love it–was a loooooooooong book, and my fear was that they were going to turn it into two loooooooong movies when it would move better as one tight, albeit longish, movie.

But I think they did it right.

I teared up at the opening, jumped at surprises, and generally had an awesome time (with the exception of the end, because now, dang it, I have to wait until July for the rest!).

So kudos to Rowling and the team in Hollywood!

But what have I gone and done? Well, now of course I want to reread all 7 of the books. I mean, I *really* want to. I've read the first one a gazillion times, the 2nd a few gobzillion less, etc. etc. in diminishing returns until number 7, which I've only read twice. Nice, in a way, as I had forgotten some things that were coming in the film and wasn't bugged about the inevitable cutting of things I liked in the book (as I don't remember what they were).

Alas, I'm on deadline and don't have time. But come December 15, I'm digging in-and that's despite the pile of books on my TBR pile. Sometimes, you just crave a comfort read, and for me, the HP series is just that!

What are y'all's favorite comfort reads? Are you a re-reader?