Kate Collins's Blog, page 293
September 10, 2011
The REAL Writers of Cozies
by Leann
Although this is 9-11 and we are remembering--and boy could I tell a story or two since my daughter had just moved to NYC in 2001--but sometimes we can get overloaded by looking back. Especially with all the media coverage. I will let others blog about it today, probably far better than I could, while I go for some lighter fare. Maybe distract us for a moment or two with a smile. So here goes:
Unlike the real housewives of ANY PLACE, the real writers of cozies are about as glamorous as cement. We don't do lunch, we don't go out to fancy restaurants for dinner, we don't get drunk and fight with each other, we don't get our nails and our hair done much, in fact--correct me if I'm wrong any cozy writers out there--we often spend the day in rather unattractive pajamas or sweats while we write. Here's a fun fact. I was getting to write the final chapters but I had to leave my computer for an hour. See, I desperately needed to visit the chiropractor. Neck, hands, arms, back--all screaming for relief. I entered the office and as I was waiting to see her, I looked down and realized I was still wearing my slippers. I immediately did a quick body check to make sure I was wearing clothes and NOT the pajamas. Thank goodness no PJs.
In other words, the real writers of cozies are not rich and famous and looking for drama. We're just ... dedicated? Is that the right word? My husband would say dedicated to a fault since he hasn't seen a home cooked meal in two months. Why am I writing about this today? Because I just finished a book and now, back in the real world, I am confronted with the monstrosity once known as MY HOME. It is a certifiable disaster zone. Usually after finishing a book, I am too exhausted to do much of anything for at least a week. But this time, my sister was coming into town and I was forced to face the mess and deal with it quickly. At least rearrange piles of junk so she could wheel her suitcase into the guest room.
After finishing this manuscript, I realized I was like a prisoner coming out of "the hole." You know--solitary confinement. Then I was forced into "punitive work detail" to complete my punishment. Laundry, dishes, grocery shopping and maybe even cooking something. I did not clean the bathrooms with a toothbrush, but they probably could have used it. When was the last time I didn't eat out of a box or a can? I cannot remember. So, perhaps tonight I will make real food--with my sister's help of course. In fact, I'm going to put that woman to work as soon as I finish writing this. :-)
When was the last time you ignored the daily chores and submerged yourself in something that you knew took priority? Was it for your job or to finish a project? Tell us about it!
Although this is 9-11 and we are remembering--and boy could I tell a story or two since my daughter had just moved to NYC in 2001--but sometimes we can get overloaded by looking back. Especially with all the media coverage. I will let others blog about it today, probably far better than I could, while I go for some lighter fare. Maybe distract us for a moment or two with a smile. So here goes:
Unlike the real housewives of ANY PLACE, the real writers of cozies are about as glamorous as cement. We don't do lunch, we don't go out to fancy restaurants for dinner, we don't get drunk and fight with each other, we don't get our nails and our hair done much, in fact--correct me if I'm wrong any cozy writers out there--we often spend the day in rather unattractive pajamas or sweats while we write. Here's a fun fact. I was getting to write the final chapters but I had to leave my computer for an hour. See, I desperately needed to visit the chiropractor. Neck, hands, arms, back--all screaming for relief. I entered the office and as I was waiting to see her, I looked down and realized I was still wearing my slippers. I immediately did a quick body check to make sure I was wearing clothes and NOT the pajamas. Thank goodness no PJs.
In other words, the real writers of cozies are not rich and famous and looking for drama. We're just ... dedicated? Is that the right word? My husband would say dedicated to a fault since he hasn't seen a home cooked meal in two months. Why am I writing about this today? Because I just finished a book and now, back in the real world, I am confronted with the monstrosity once known as MY HOME. It is a certifiable disaster zone. Usually after finishing a book, I am too exhausted to do much of anything for at least a week. But this time, my sister was coming into town and I was forced to face the mess and deal with it quickly. At least rearrange piles of junk so she could wheel her suitcase into the guest room.
After finishing this manuscript, I realized I was like a prisoner coming out of "the hole." You know--solitary confinement. Then I was forced into "punitive work detail" to complete my punishment. Laundry, dishes, grocery shopping and maybe even cooking something. I did not clean the bathrooms with a toothbrush, but they probably could have used it. When was the last time I didn't eat out of a box or a can? I cannot remember. So, perhaps tonight I will make real food--with my sister's help of course. In fact, I'm going to put that woman to work as soon as I finish writing this. :-)When was the last time you ignored the daily chores and submerged yourself in something that you knew took priority? Was it for your job or to finish a project? Tell us about it!
And the house came crashing down
by Lorna Barrett / Lorraine Bartlett / L.L. Bartlett
A little less than a year ago, a house not too far from us blew up.
Kaboom! Gone!
What makes it even scarier, is that I knew one of the owners. Years ago, my mother had been a volunteer at our local library and met Pat. I got to know her after I was a published author because she invited me to several events at the library.
Pat was folding sheets from the dryer when . . . KABOOM! She was badly burned, but she made it out and so did her husband and their dogs. The house was leveled. I'm not kidding. We drove by two days later and the only thing identifiable was half of a toilet. The rest was rubble (and only about a foot high, too.) The siding on the neighbors houses melted. The flames had gone up about 30 feet in the air. What was once the prettiest house on the street was gone.
So what's this got to do with me?
This week we had a natural-gas generator installed. It's something we'd been thinking about for years and even before Hurricane Irene hit, we set the plan in motion. It's a beauty and now that it's there we hope we never have to use it.
What an ordeal! First three guys came on Tuesday to dig a trench to bury the pipe. Tuesday the guys arrived to put in the generator. That took ALL of Wednesday and half of Thursday. Generator guys thought they smelled gas on Wednesday. It was Thursday morning when they found the leak. It wasn't on our end, it was on the gas company's end -- before the gas entered the house. But, being thorough, they just went ahead and fixed it.
Whew. Catastrophe averted. How long had that gas pipe been leaking? Could a stray spark have ignited it and KABOOM! our house would be gone? Maybe because the leak was outside it never would have ignited. But I'm sure glad it was found and fixed.
I feel very lucky.
Anything like that ever happen to you?[image error]
A little less than a year ago, a house not too far from us blew up.
Kaboom! Gone!What makes it even scarier, is that I knew one of the owners. Years ago, my mother had been a volunteer at our local library and met Pat. I got to know her after I was a published author because she invited me to several events at the library.
Pat was folding sheets from the dryer when . . . KABOOM! She was badly burned, but she made it out and so did her husband and their dogs. The house was leveled. I'm not kidding. We drove by two days later and the only thing identifiable was half of a toilet. The rest was rubble (and only about a foot high, too.) The siding on the neighbors houses melted. The flames had gone up about 30 feet in the air. What was once the prettiest house on the street was gone.
So what's this got to do with me?
This week we had a natural-gas generator installed. It's something we'd been thinking about for years and even before Hurricane Irene hit, we set the plan in motion. It's a beauty and now that it's there we hope we never have to use it. What an ordeal! First three guys came on Tuesday to dig a trench to bury the pipe. Tuesday the guys arrived to put in the generator. That took ALL of Wednesday and half of Thursday. Generator guys thought they smelled gas on Wednesday. It was Thursday morning when they found the leak. It wasn't on our end, it was on the gas company's end -- before the gas entered the house. But, being thorough, they just went ahead and fixed it.
Whew. Catastrophe averted. How long had that gas pipe been leaking? Could a stray spark have ignited it and KABOOM! our house would be gone? Maybe because the leak was outside it never would have ignited. But I'm sure glad it was found and fixed.
I feel very lucky.
Anything like that ever happen to you?[image error]
September 9, 2011
My New Best Friend
By Heather Webber / Heather Blake
Let's just say that I'm a crafter wannabe. I love the idea of making things. Knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking...
Honest truth, though? I'm not very good at those things.
And really not good at sewing. A few years ago I got it into my head that I wanted to learn how to sew. To be able to make curtains, blankets, and maybe fix a seam properly. That phase didn't last too long. Now I have a cute little sewing machine in my closet just gathering dust.
That being said, I do have some sewing skills. I can sew on a button and a Girl Scout badge like no one's business. And I can fix a seam without the sewing machine. I'm an excellent needle-threader AND I tie a fabulous knot.
So, when my daughter came to me with a hemming project, I was ready to tackle it head on. How hard could it be?
Oy. What was I thinking?
See, my daughter is in a concert band that requires her to wear a floor-length flowing gown. This gown was a good four and a half inches too long. I've never tackled a hem that long. So, I measured once, twice, three times. So many times, not because I'm a measure twice cut once kind of person, but because I kept measuring wrong!
Finally, I got the right measurement, and then I turned to my new best friend. Hem tape. Oh, how I love thee, hem tape. I simply tucked the tape into position, ironed, and voila! Instant hem. Then I trimmed the excess (4 inches) fabric.
Daughter and I were quite impressed. The dress fits perfectly. Which was wonderful—because for a while there I was afraid I'd have to dust off that sewing machine.
So tell me, have you tackled a do-it-yourself craft project lately?
--
Confession: In reality, Mr. W is my best friend, but I have to tell you, that hem tape was trying to edge him out this week...[image error]
Let's just say that I'm a crafter wannabe. I love the idea of making things. Knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking...
Honest truth, though? I'm not very good at those things.
And really not good at sewing. A few years ago I got it into my head that I wanted to learn how to sew. To be able to make curtains, blankets, and maybe fix a seam properly. That phase didn't last too long. Now I have a cute little sewing machine in my closet just gathering dust.
That being said, I do have some sewing skills. I can sew on a button and a Girl Scout badge like no one's business. And I can fix a seam without the sewing machine. I'm an excellent needle-threader AND I tie a fabulous knot.
So, when my daughter came to me with a hemming project, I was ready to tackle it head on. How hard could it be?Oy. What was I thinking?
See, my daughter is in a concert band that requires her to wear a floor-length flowing gown. This gown was a good four and a half inches too long. I've never tackled a hem that long. So, I measured once, twice, three times. So many times, not because I'm a measure twice cut once kind of person, but because I kept measuring wrong!
Finally, I got the right measurement, and then I turned to my new best friend. Hem tape. Oh, how I love thee, hem tape. I simply tucked the tape into position, ironed, and voila! Instant hem. Then I trimmed the excess (4 inches) fabric.
Daughter and I were quite impressed. The dress fits perfectly. Which was wonderful—because for a while there I was afraid I'd have to dust off that sewing machine.
So tell me, have you tackled a do-it-yourself craft project lately?
--
Confession: In reality, Mr. W is my best friend, but I have to tell you, that hem tape was trying to edge him out this week...[image error]
September 7, 2011
Ellery's Mystery Cozy Contest! Back to School Bonus!
By Ellery Adams
It's that time of the month again - your chance to win a gift certificate to Mystery Lovers Bookshop (you can use this online). And because it's back to school month and I'm thrilled to have more time to write, this month's gift certificate is worth $40! That'll buy you a few books!
I'll give you one line from a contemporary cozy and you have six days to email me the title and author at elleryadams@verizon.net.
Please DO NOT POST the answer. You can certainly post a comment, but no title or author name in the comments, okay?
Here's the line: "Leaving Mike Quinn's big, warm body felt as right as pouring a fresh-pressed pot of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe down the drain."
Ellery's hint: I am highly addicted to the food featured in the titles of this wonderful series!
It's that time of the month again - your chance to win a gift certificate to Mystery Lovers Bookshop (you can use this online). And because it's back to school month and I'm thrilled to have more time to write, this month's gift certificate is worth $40! That'll buy you a few books!I'll give you one line from a contemporary cozy and you have six days to email me the title and author at elleryadams@verizon.net.
Please DO NOT POST the answer. You can certainly post a comment, but no title or author name in the comments, okay?
Here's the line: "Leaving Mike Quinn's big, warm body felt as right as pouring a fresh-pressed pot of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe down the drain."
Ellery's hint: I am highly addicted to the food featured in the titles of this wonderful series!
September 6, 2011
Staying Positive
by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed
With so much NOT right in the world, both with natural disasters and man-made mayhem, sometimes it's hard to stay hopeful and upbeat. But we all have to take time for our own mental health, to realize that no matter what happens, we'll get by. It's about finding balance, about not letting the bad stuff get us down.
Here are a few of the things I do to get my groove back:
Read a funny bookTake a walk and concentrate on what's around me, not what's churning insideListen to rock and roll, all those wonderful musical blasts from my pastIf only for a few hours, surround myself with positive people and avoid the doomsayersWhich means no national/world/local news at all
courtesy of Adam Baker A picture is worth a thousand words, so I find happy ones (for me that usually means cute animals)What do you do to stay positive?
With so much NOT right in the world, both with natural disasters and man-made mayhem, sometimes it's hard to stay hopeful and upbeat. But we all have to take time for our own mental health, to realize that no matter what happens, we'll get by. It's about finding balance, about not letting the bad stuff get us down.
Here are a few of the things I do to get my groove back:
Read a funny bookTake a walk and concentrate on what's around me, not what's churning insideListen to rock and roll, all those wonderful musical blasts from my pastIf only for a few hours, surround myself with positive people and avoid the doomsayersWhich means no national/world/local news at all
courtesy of Adam Baker A picture is worth a thousand words, so I find happy ones (for me that usually means cute animals)What do you do to stay positive?
September 5, 2011
At the Movies
For most of July and August, I've tried to catch up on seeing friends and catch up on movies. Since this summer stayed longer with hot temps thoughout August, there was ample time to enjoy the beautiful summer weather. This past August was the 4th hottest in Colorado record books, with temps in mid 90s hanging on until last week. Now, we've got a few days of cooler temps with some rain showers scheduled. . .I hope.
Meanwhile, I've enjoyed catching up with movies. We'll start off with the biggie:
HARRY POTTER and the DEATHLY HALLOWS wrapped up the seven-book series very nicely, I thought. It's been so much fun watching those child actors grow up these last few years. They've done a great job. And I'm hoping J. K. Rowling will gift us with a future sequel way of what's happening in the characters' lives. It was fun watching the "aging" of the young cast in the last movie, but I'd still like a sequel one of these years.
TRANSFORMERS---This movie franchise can always be counted on to provide good slam-bang cyborg "blow-em-up" action. Don't overthink these movies, folks. Just enjoy the "good guy" machines fighting the "bad guy" machines.
SUPER 8---I mentioned this in an earlier post, but it's so good it deserves another mention. This is great sci fi/fantasy action with a scary alien monster. Great characters, but mostly action. Just go with it. If you want your intellect engaged, download THE HOURS on Netflix. It's a great flic. Timeless.
COWBOYS AND ALIENS---Yes, you read that right. And it's a great, old-fashioned Western with a twist. It's got a troubled hero, a brave heroine, a good guy sheriff, stupid outlaws, a cute kid, and. . .the Bad Guys are the Aliens. In spaceships, yet! Even the local Native Americans join the townfolk in the fight. Plus. . .with Daniel Craig as the hero and Harrison Ford as a crusty cattleman with a grudge, you gotta love it. :)
THE HELP----Run, don't walk to see this movie. It's excellent. You won't regret it. The perfomances are wonderful. It takes place in a small city in the South as the fight for Civil Rights begins. I'm a 60s girl, so I have all those images in my head. MLK marching, standing on Pennsylvania Avenue beside my mother as JFK's funeral profession went by, Jacqueline Kennedy and all the foreign leaders walking beside her, shoulder to shoulder. I was a young girl and Washington, DC was my hometown during those tumultous times. The movie will touch you deeply.
Next up, I want to see THE DEBT, a spy movie with the always-excellent Helen Mirren, and then THE RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Have you seen any of these movies? What did you think?
September 4, 2011
The Great Food Truck Race?
By Kate CollinsThanks to my niece, I have a new favorite form ofmindless entertainment – "The Great Food Truck Race." She introduced it to methis week, and since then, I've watched about four hours of it and can't waitfor more. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the competition. Maybe it's watchingother people deal with deadlines. Maybe it's salivating over the yummy foodthey prepare. Maybe it's because I can write my blog while it's on and it doesn'tdistract me. At any rate, it makes me wonder who thinks up these shows. A foodtruck race? Really?
My son and daughter have their favorites. One likes "Pickers."The other likes "Say Yes to the Dress." My all time favorite is "Dancing With the Stars," and I don't care who the stars are as long as my favorite Pros are on (especially Maxim. Yum). For me, it's about the dance, not the personal lives of the stars. Right up there with DWTS is HGTV's "HouseHunters International," because I love to see what kind of living quarters areavailable all over the world. I've been awed by the gorgeous, modern houses ina place like Bali, and horrified by abodes in Italy.
Why do we have such a fascination with these shows?Are we a society of Peeping Toms? Do we like to live vicariously, or, on the otherhand, gratefully?
What is your favorite reality show and why? Why doyou think they're so popular?
Happy Labor Day!
September 3, 2011
Fall Means Returning TV Shows!
by Leann
Even though on the Texas Gulf Coast, September means summer goes on, unabated and we watch the weather for tropical storms and hurricanes, it also means shows I've missed return and new shows I might like are premiering.
I miss Ellen a lot and wish her daytime show went further into summer. I need a good laugh everyday, and she delivers. Laughing, they say, is as good for you as exercise. Since I am limited as far as exercise, I consider her show "doctor's orders!" (Me being the doctor, of course.) I am a crime show junkie and CBS has always given me plenty to watch. Are any of you looking forward to Ted Danson bringing something extra to CSI this season? I sure am. Loved him in Damages.
A late entry on ABC last year was Body of Proof. ABC tends to cancel every show I enjoy, so I am glad this one will be coming back. They did keep Castle, so I can't complain too much. Castle may be short on facts as far as crime solving and police work, but it's a very fun show with good chemistry between all the actors. As for new shows, I'm intrigued by Person of Interest and Unforgettable.
I have more favorites, NCIS and Criminal Minds among them, but let's here from you. What shows are you looking forward to this fall?
Even though on the Texas Gulf Coast, September means summer goes on, unabated and we watch the weather for tropical storms and hurricanes, it also means shows I've missed return and new shows I might like are premiering.
I miss Ellen a lot and wish her daytime show went further into summer. I need a good laugh everyday, and she delivers. Laughing, they say, is as good for you as exercise. Since I am limited as far as exercise, I consider her show "doctor's orders!" (Me being the doctor, of course.) I am a crime show junkie and CBS has always given me plenty to watch. Are any of you looking forward to Ted Danson bringing something extra to CSI this season? I sure am. Loved him in Damages.
A late entry on ABC last year was Body of Proof. ABC tends to cancel every show I enjoy, so I am glad this one will be coming back. They did keep Castle, so I can't complain too much. Castle may be short on facts as far as crime solving and police work, but it's a very fun show with good chemistry between all the actors. As for new shows, I'm intrigued by Person of Interest and Unforgettable.
I have more favorites, NCIS and Criminal Minds among them, but let's here from you. What shows are you looking forward to this fall?
It's that time of year
by Lorna Barrett / Lorraine Bartlett / L.L. Bartlett
It's September! That always surprises me. This spring was so cold and wet we couldn't wait for summer to come and dry us off. It came all right, with far too many days that were dry and HOT. Very HOT. Because we have two very big trees, the grass in our yard was shaded and didn't go brown, but all around us (except for the neighbors who couldn't bear to see their grass wither) the grass was brown, and dry as straw.
The L-O-N-G hot summer dragged on until I forgot what it was like to spend any time outside. And then suddenly, it was over. Oh, it's still hot, but we've had rain and now it's September. It seems like it was just April . . .
When I was a kid it was unheard of for school to start before Labor Day. This year two school districts in our area did just that.
Will we see any more hummingbirds? Usually they up and leave for places south by Labor Day, which just happens to be Monday.
And why do I still feel doomed by the coming of September? September always meant SCHOOL. I loathed school. Except for learning to read and to type, it seemed like such a waste of time. (And what is my current job? Writing--I like to think of it as enhanced reading--and ... typing that writing.) New schools. New clothes that are too hot for the first couple of weeks but you wore them anyway because they were NEW.I haven't had to go to school for (mumble, mumble) years now, but September still seems to loom over me.
It's also the end of cottage season. Time to close up the place for another year. (Although now that we have baseboard heat and municipal water, we've extended the season by 2-4 weeks on either end of the summer.)
Yes, I love the colors of autumn, and the harvest. (Time to hit the Farmers Market!) But already I feel another long, hard winter drawing near.
How does the changing of the seasons affect you?
It's September! That always surprises me. This spring was so cold and wet we couldn't wait for summer to come and dry us off. It came all right, with far too many days that were dry and HOT. Very HOT. Because we have two very big trees, the grass in our yard was shaded and didn't go brown, but all around us (except for the neighbors who couldn't bear to see their grass wither) the grass was brown, and dry as straw.The L-O-N-G hot summer dragged on until I forgot what it was like to spend any time outside. And then suddenly, it was over. Oh, it's still hot, but we've had rain and now it's September. It seems like it was just April . . .
When I was a kid it was unheard of for school to start before Labor Day. This year two school districts in our area did just that.
Will we see any more hummingbirds? Usually they up and leave for places south by Labor Day, which just happens to be Monday.And why do I still feel doomed by the coming of September? September always meant SCHOOL. I loathed school. Except for learning to read and to type, it seemed like such a waste of time. (And what is my current job? Writing--I like to think of it as enhanced reading--and ... typing that writing.) New schools. New clothes that are too hot for the first couple of weeks but you wore them anyway because they were NEW.I haven't had to go to school for (mumble, mumble) years now, but September still seems to loom over me.
It's also the end of cottage season. Time to close up the place for another year. (Although now that we have baseboard heat and municipal water, we've extended the season by 2-4 weeks on either end of the summer.)
Yes, I love the colors of autumn, and the harvest. (Time to hit the Farmers Market!) But already I feel another long, hard winter drawing near.How does the changing of the seasons affect you?
September 2, 2011
They Know Me So Well
by Heather Blake / Heather Webber
As some of you know, my birthday was earlier this week. As I get older, my b-days don't bother me near as much as my kids' birthdays. The upside to getting melancholy on their days is that I really enjoy mine. I love cake and cards and hearing from friends. And I love seeing what presents my family picked out for me.
My absolutely favorite thing to get from my kids is their handmade cards. I kind of hope that even when they're older, and have families of their own, that they still make my cards (I can dream, right?).
This year I was lucky enough to receive a few nice gifts from my family, but one really stands out—and shows just how well they know me.
I got this:
Seasons 1 & 2 of Quincy M.E.! And if you don't already know why this is so meaningful to me (because I tell the story often enough) you can read all about it here: http://www.thelittleblogofmurder.com/2006/03/06/calling-jack-klugman/
I can't wait to start watching these old episodes—and getting my kids hooked on Quincy, too. Maybe one day it'll be a reference in one of their cards...
So tell me, what's the DVD set you'd like to receive as a gift?
As some of you know, my birthday was earlier this week. As I get older, my b-days don't bother me near as much as my kids' birthdays. The upside to getting melancholy on their days is that I really enjoy mine. I love cake and cards and hearing from friends. And I love seeing what presents my family picked out for me.
My absolutely favorite thing to get from my kids is their handmade cards. I kind of hope that even when they're older, and have families of their own, that they still make my cards (I can dream, right?).
This year I was lucky enough to receive a few nice gifts from my family, but one really stands out—and shows just how well they know me.
I got this:
Seasons 1 & 2 of Quincy M.E.! And if you don't already know why this is so meaningful to me (because I tell the story often enough) you can read all about it here: http://www.thelittleblogofmurder.com/2006/03/06/calling-jack-klugman/
I can't wait to start watching these old episodes—and getting my kids hooked on Quincy, too. Maybe one day it'll be a reference in one of their cards...
So tell me, what's the DVD set you'd like to receive as a gift?
