Megan Cyrulewski's Blog, page 3

Virtual Book Tour: "Dos Angeles" by Michael O'Hara

The author will award a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter.  (See below)​


BLURB:

Dos Angeles, the first in a franchise of mysteries featuring Paco Moran, puts the multicultural thirty-something ex-LAPD homicide detective turned reluctant private eye on the trail of a beautiful young Latina on the run with ten million dollars in cash. Half Anglo and half Mexican, Moran is a transitional character equally at home working in Beverly Hills or blue collar Boyle Heights, the tough East Los Angeles neighborhood where he was raised by a single mom. In his debut case Paco quickly learns he will be the fall guy if he doesn't track down the young immigrant who allegedly stole a small fortune from a sleazy Hollywood producer secretly laundering money for a notorious drug cartel. Paco's frantic search takes him on a roller-coaster ride through a shadowy place he calls Dos Angeles a city within the city and a virtual country unto itself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

Then, the day before the Pirellis were due home, something unexpected came up that needed her immediate attention. On hearing what she thought was the sound of a toilet running she first checked downstairs before heading up to the master suite. Inside the gaudy all gold and marble bathroom she discovered a puddle of water seeping out from inside the extra-long double vanity. Opening the main cabinet doors she saw one of the stainless steel hoses was leaking badly. She tried to tighten the connection but it had no effect. Afraid she might make matters worse, she turned off the valve and hurried downstairs to call a plumber on the approved contact list.

A half hour later Sid Kantor showed up and Maria was immediately intimidated by his off-putting physical presence. Short and obesely overweight with a large shaved head, a Quaker-like beard, and dull, hooded eyes, Kantor reminded her of El Malvado, a cartoon villain that used to terrify her as a little girl in Oaxaca. Because of that and his gruff, unfriendly manner, she quickly sensed he was one of those aggressive white foreigners who only saw Mexicans as workers, never as equals.

Not about to give him the satisfaction of staring at her shapely bottom on the way up the steep winding staircase, she politely stepped aside and gestured for him to lead the way. By the time they reached the second floor landing he was grunting and panting so much she feared he might have a heart attack.

“Are you okay, sir?” she asked with genuine concern.

“Ya, ya,” he muttered, wiping his brow with his shirt sleeve. “It’s dis damn heat.”

Minutes later Maria stood by patiently as Kantor awkwardly maneuvered his way under the sink to remove and replace the faulty hose. When he finally finished he turned the water back on to test it.

“Dat should do it,” he said in a heavily accented, non-American voice. “Let run five minutes to make sure.”

After struggling to get back up on his feet Kantor gestured with the flashlight he’d been using, illuminating the inside of the cabinet.

“You know what behind dere?” he asked, focusing the light on a small pocket door under the sink.

“Behind where?” Maria was confused.

“Dere, dere!” he growled, swirling the light around to emphasize what he was talking about

“I don’t know,” she shrugged.

“Strange. Hah?” He pointed the flashlight at the door again. “Must be something back dere.”

Since Kantor was obviously way too big to crawl through himself, Maria volunteered to take a look while he was still there. 

“No time,” he said, tapping on his watch. “Late for next appointment.”

He handed her a business card. “You call if any more problems.”

She promised she would and saw him out.

After he left, she decided to return upstairs to check behind the cabinet to make sure there were no hidden pipes that could be leaking. When she slid open the mystery door, she was startled to discover a secret room. “Dios mío!” she whispered.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Emmy nominee Michael O’Hara-- who has written and produced some of the highest-rated television movies and miniseries in recent memory – is adding author to his resume with the August, 2015 the publication of his first novel,  Dos Angeles.

The book, featuring a bilingual and bicultural private eye named Paco Moran, centers around Moran’s desperate search for a beautiful young Latina immigrant who stole ten million dollars from the mob. In a pre-publication review American Book Award winner Peter Quinn said: Paco Moran’s debut in Michael O'Hara's Dos Angeles is fast-paced, finely crafted, and full of surprises. It's noir fiction for the 21st century, a helluva ride from the first page to last. Here's hoping O'Hara brings Paco back very soon. I can't wait!

A former award-winning journalist and NBC Vice President of Media Relations, O’Hara made an auspicious debut as a writer/producer with “Those She Left Behind,” a critically acclaimed family drama that continues to be the highest-rated TV movie (25.1/38 share) on any network in over twenty years. It starred Gary Cole and Colleen Dewhurst (who won an Emmy Award for her performance). That success was followed by the widely praised NBC movie “She Said No” which won an American Women in Radio & Television Award for Best Television Dramatic Special.

O’Hara next wrote and executive produced “Switched at Birth,” the blockbuster NBC miniseries that earned an Emmy nomination as Best Dramatic Special and remains the highest rated (22 rating/33 share) miniseries on network television since its initial telecast over two decades ago. He was also the writer and executive producer of “Murder in the Heartland,” a celebrated ABC miniseries which garnered a Casting Society of America Award and two Emmy nominations. Right after that he created and executive produced the first of 22 “Moment of Truth” movies for NBC, establishing one of the most successful film franchises in TV history.

O’Hara also wrote “She Woke Up Pregnant,” the pilot for ABC’s ‘Crimes of Passion’ franchise. It scored an impressive 13.4 rating and 21 share, making it the highest-rated ABC movie of the year. He went on to write “One Hot Summer Night,” another ‘Crimes of Passion’ thriller that was ABC’s highest-rated Thursday night movie of the season. Other producing credits include two CBS projects: “Twilight Zone – Rod Serling’s Lost Classics” and “A Child’s Wish,” which was filmed in the Oval Office and featured a cameo appearance by then President Bill Clinton. In addition he wrote and executive produced NBC’s “In His Life: The John Lennon Story” and “1st to Die,” a two-part NBC miniseries based on the best-selling novel by James Patterson. 

Overall O’Hara has produced four miniseries and 33 Movies of the Week. Besides his Emmy nomination, other honors include: a Christopher Award (“A Child’s Wish”); a Prism Award (“The Accident”); a Humanitas Award nomination (“Heart of a Child”); a National Easter Seal Society Award (“To Walk Again”); an International Health & Medical Film Award (“Heart of a Child”); and the Media Award from The National Council on Problem Gambling (“Playing to Win.”)


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dos-Angeles/1143487899001779

​https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14203330.Michael_O_Hara

http://Michael-ohara.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Biggest Vulnerability - and I'm Sharing it With Social Media

This is, by far, the hardest post I have ever written for my blog.  I’m about to share my most vulnerable side and it scares me.  So why do it?  Because I have to stay true to myself.  From the beginning, I have stated time and time again that I use my blog to make people laugh, introduce new authors and artists but most important, to make people understand that they are not alone.

Two years ago, I wrote a post about living with your parents as an adult.  I can’t even tell you the number of people who visit that post every month and that makes me smile.  That’s why people use the internet.  For validation.  For comfort.  For company.  For courage.  And if I have to share my story to help others feel they are not alone, then so be it.  I’m not trying to a martyr or attention.  I’m just trying to live my life to the best of my ability and trying to turn the negatives in my life to positives.  So…here we go.

I weigh 272 pounds.  Yep – I said it.  (Holy shit I’m having trouble breathing.)  I would rather share my debit card PIN number than my weight, but there it is.  For those of you who didn’t know me back in high school or college, here’s a little background story:

I hated academics but loved softball and dance.  I weighed 130 when I graduated high school and 112 when I graduated college.  I’m 5’9 and didn’t have any trouble finding dates because hell – I’m tall, was skinny and wore size 4 or 6 fashionable/trendy/sexy clothes.  I was rocking my body.

I got married and as most of us do, gained the “happy marriage” weight.  You know, the weight you gain because you’re not trying to impress anyone anymore.  My ex-husband and I actually gained a little too much happy weight so we both went on a diet, monitored by my doctor; and we both lost 30 pounds.  I bought a while new wardrobe in a size 10.  Aaaaaannndddd then I got pregnant two months later.  Oops.

I took full advantage of the whole eating for two concept.  At my highest, I weighed around 250.  When Madelyne was born and didn’t weigh 50 pounds, it was shocking….

Well, through the combination of hospilizations for the c-section, subsequent infection, taking care of a newborn so eating/showering/sleeping/life is impossible and a crumbling marriage, my weight bounced back to right where it was before I got pregnant…and that’s when the trouble started.

I had severe postpartum depression.  I’m talking severe-psych-ward-seven-different-medications postpartum depression.  I was on 6 different SSRI meds.  And just to clarify for those who don’t know what SSRI meds are, they are used for anxiety and/or depression – and cause weight gain, slow metabolism, etc.  A lot of people (including myself) literally have to choose between being overweight and sane or skinny and insane (i.e. depression, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts).  To some of you the choice sounds easy.  To someone like me who lost a good friend because he chose the latter, it’s not.

So within 6 months of taking these meds, I gained 25 pounds.  I stayed on that drug regime for two long years gaining more weight.  Now I admit, there were times I did not make the best food choices, however, my problem has never been overeating.  My problem is replacing my beloved popcorn with healthier choices.  Anyway, over time, my doctor and I were able to wean me from 3 out of the 6 SSRI medications.  That still left 3.  At this point, my weight hit a plateau.  I wasn’t gaining, but I wasn’t losing.

Fast forward to 2014.  What started out as a decent year ended up in a pit of stress.  Without getting into details, by the end of the year my meds looked like this:

-200 mg of Zoloft

-60 mg of Cymbalta

-30 mg of Restirol

-.5 mg of Xanax (sometimes twice a day)

-Imitrex for migraines

Oh and the Endometrial Ablation I had in July 2014 that was supposed to help with girlie problems (I’ll spare you guys that are reading this) – yeah, by the end of 2014, it was like I never had the procedure. 

Now, let’s stop here for a moment.  I know that a lot of you are probably rolling your eyes thinking I’m full of excuses.  I need to shut up, get on a diet plan and exercise, right?  There’s just one itty bitty problem with that – I was on a diet and exercising 5 times a week.  Guess how much weight I lost during the 6 months I was diligently drinking protein shakes and sweating for at least 30 minutes almost every morning?  8 pounds.  Yep – you read that right.  8 measly pounds.  8. 

As you can imagine, at the end of six months, I was frustrated enough to say, “screw it” and plow my way through a million Reses’ Peanut Butter Easter Eggs.  That didn’t help the weight process much – but they were damn good!

So, here I am today at 272 pounds.  I knew I had to see my OBGYN again because the ablation didn’t work.  But thanks to Obamacare (I’m not debating politics, just pointing out that insurance sucks) I had to see a new OBGYN because my old one didn’t take my new insurance.  I had blood work and an ultrasound.  I wasn’t surprised with the ultrasound results – fibroid tumors, which meant a hysterectomy – but I was surprised with the blood work.  Some of my levels were WAY off.  MY OBGYN scheduled me for a biopsy (this Thursday) but before I came back for the appointment, she wanted me to see my primary care physician.   

I have avoided my primary care physician for 2 years because she holds me accountable for my weight gain, which is good for me.  Simple fact is that I was too embarrassed to see her and I finally had to put my pride aside.  Needless to say, she was not happy with the weight gain and was also shocked at the abnormal blood work results.  So, we made a plan.  For the next 7 days, I was to eat 1200-1400 calories, no junk food, portion control and exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.  We scheduled a follow-up for exactly a week later.

I went from my doctor’s appointment to the fruit market.  Loaded up on fruit, veggies, and Skinny Pop Popcorn because I had to have SOME popcorn (but it’s only 35 calories a serving!)  I tracked my daily food intake and exercise on an app.  I took walks with Madelyne almost every night and practiced Yoga the other days.  I went back to my doctor a week later with my food and exercise log in hand.  Guess how much I lost?  Seriously…I’ll give you a minute………………………………..

Ready?  1 pound.  1200 calories a day, 30 minutes of exercise a day for 7 seven days and I lost 1 pound.  My doctor said that was impossible.  I said, “welcome to my world” because I had been dealing with this for almost 2 years.  I physically can’t lose weight and despite my best efforts, when I step on that scale, I feel like a failure every time and break down in tears.  I’m actually crying right now as I’m typing this.

So then, why AM I typing this?  I don’t want pity but I am sick of judgment.  I’m not trying to make excuses for my weight gain and then scarf down a bag of Doritoes and say poor me.  I physically can not lose weight and until that happens to you, I don’t feel you have a right to judge me at all.  In fact, no one has a right to judge anybody because no one truly knows the struggles a person faces.

I subscribe to many blogs and a current theme is weight; and I see both sides.  Some women are naturally thin and people ask them all the time how they lost weight. These women are sick of hearing that question because again – we don’t know their personal struggles. 

I used to have a gym membership.  I saw women and men sweating like beasts on the treadmill or elliptical.  I remember thinking, “settle down there, champ.  Stop showing off.”  What a bitchy thought.  Maybe that person used to be overweight and is working his or her ass off to maintain the weight.  Maybe that person is training for a 5k or marathon.  Maybe that person is working out aggression at the gym and the punching bag is a replica of an ex/boss/friend.  Again, we don’t know their personal struggles.

And then there are people like me: overweight and now shopping at Lane Bryant instead of The Limited.  Feeling judged by others when in fact, our biggest judge is ourselves.  Feeling unhappy even though there are legitimate medical reasons why we are overweight. 

Thankfully, I have awesome doctors who are all working together to help me.  In the upcoming weeks, I have a biopsy that will hopefully come back as benign, a hysterectomy (scheduled for November), weaning off one more SSRI and weekly appointments with my primary care physician as we start experimenting with thyroid medications because as my blood results show, my thyroid is basically useless right now.  My thyroid levels are low, hemoglobin levels are low, vitamin D levels are low, and a bunch of other low numbers that are all contributing toward a useless thyroid and a stalled metabolism.  As of right now, I have to be on a strict diet and exercise program just to maintain my weight.  My doctor told me not to expect a significant loss of weight until we find the right combination of meds.   

What’s the point of this post?  Some of it is selfish, I admit.  I don’t want to feel embarrassed anymore if I run into someone that I haven’t seen in a while.  But more importantly, the judging needs to stop.  It’s time to see past the outside of someone. 

I have an awesome sense of humor.  I am a damn good mother.  I love meeting for coffee and just chatting about life.  I love to travel.  I am extremely loyal to my family and friends.  I’m as honest as they come.  I’m here if you need to talk or hug you if you need to cry.  And if you don’t want to talk to me, be my friend, date me, or get to know me because you can’t see past my weight, that’s okay.  You won’t hurt my feelings anymore.

Do you remember that woman with the awesome 6-pack and three kids and posted a picture with the #whatsyourexcuse?  I’m going to change that:

#whatsyourreason:  thyroid, fibroid tumors, abnormal blood work

Share and ask others: #whatsyourreason

Let’s stop judgment and start acceptance.

Cast Suggestions for Season 22 of Dancing With the Stars

I haven't watched DWTS for a long time.  I think my love for the show started going down the drain the season that Brooke Burke won.  She was obnoxious.  And then, even though no one really liked her, she took over for Samantha Harris.  She was even more obnoxious, which I didn't think was possible.  

I've tuned in off and on for the last few years only because I, like so many others, love Derek Hough.  Unfortunately, even he couldn't get me to watch the show this year.

Who the hell are the people on the show?  I know 2 of the "stars" and 1 of them (cough...Paula Deen...cough) I don't even like.  

Let's start with the Vine kid.  Is it Vine or YouTube?  You know what?  I don't even care that much to look it up.  What is vine?  I thought it was part of Instagram because...actually I have no idea why I thought that.  All I know is that there is a kid who is famous on Vine and he's 15-years-old.  What could he possibly do at 15-years-old to be famous enough on Vine, which led to him being on DWTS?  I'm so confused.  

Last season they had a Youtube "star."  Can someone please explain to me what the hell is a youtube star and how do you become one?  I've seen a couple of these star videos and it's a person talking to the camera.  Maybe the person takes it a bit further and walks with the camera.  I mean, crazy, right?  And I'm going to sit and watch a 6-minute video of a person walking around with a camera because...why?  

And then we have the guy who was a hero on the Paris train.  Before you jump down my throat, my rant isn't about him.  He's a hero, no doubt about it.  He put himself in danger to save others.  There should be more people like that.  HOWEVER - didn't the train incident happen, like, two days before the announcement of the cast?  And once they introduce him on the show as a hero, what else are they going to talk about?  

Also, I worry about the crazies that are watching the show that are like, "Dude - if I do something good, I might be on DWTS."  Can you see it now?  Some innocent woman walks out of the grocery store and the alarm goes off.  Out of no where, a guy in line leaps across the conveyor belt, tackles the poor person and triumphantly sits on him while waiting for the news reporters.  Except that the only person that comes is the store manager.  And the alarm went off because some kids thought it would be funny to put a security tag on a box of tampons so that the alarm would blare.  (Yes, that happened to me.  Let's not talk about it.)

Also, is there a line that shouldn't be crossed?  Should Paula Deen really be on the show?  I'm pretty sure that when you not only get caught being a racist but then you get dropped by pretty much every sponsor you've ever had because you repeatedly used the n-word (I know, she's from the South and that's the way she was raised or something like that) DWTS shouldn't be knocking at your door.  

I think that next season should just be open to those Republican candidates running for President.  Why not?  Slap some sequins on them, watch them whine about how they've never danced and the pro dancer is being just so darn mean, and whittle the field of candidates down.  Whoever wins the mirror ball trophy should become the Republican Party Nominee.  

If the Republican Party Candidates idea doesn't work, then I think this should be the line-up for next season:

Kim Davis - nutbag County Clerk standing up for religious freedom because she's better than SCOTUS.

The Sam guy on Youtube - He took a pregnancy test with his wife's urine that sat overnight in the toilet and "surprised" her with a positive result.  Except that two days later, they miscarried a 4-week-old embryo and were devastated because they felt the heartbeat.  (Umm...did anyone tell them that the mom doesn't feel a baby's heartbeat until the baby is actually outside of the mom's body?)

Josh Duggar - Total shoo-in.  Screw the pro dancers and just pair Kim Davis and Josh Duggar together.  Marriage number 4 anyone???

Farrah Abraham - She did not make a sex tape, people!  She hired a company to tape her so she can watch it in 40 years and remember how sexy she was.  Duh!

Lance Armstrong - He did not take performance enhancing drugs.  Wait, he did take performance enhancing drugs.  DWTS might want to start conducting random drug tests.

Bill Cosby - But don't give him a female pro partner to dance with.  In fact, let him dance with his wife since she's the only female in the world who actually believes he did nothing wrong.

Ariana Grande - Just keep her away from the donuts.

Rob Ford - Former Toronto Mayor who loves his crack and pot.

Kanye West - Mainly because I want to see him interrupt Tom Bergeron with, "I'm gonna let you finish, but I'm the greatest dancer of all time."  Drops mic, grabs trophy and walks out of the building.

Who would you like to see next season?


 

  

VBT: "Diary of a Single Wedding Planner" by Violet Howe

Violet will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



BLURB:
Wedding planner Tyler Warren left heartbreak behind when she ran away from her small Southern hometown and started a new life in a big city. Years later, she wants to believe in the fairy-tale endings her job promotes, but the clients she meets day after day seem to be more “Crazily Ever After” than “Happily Ever After.”

Meanwhile, her own attempts at romance play out as bizarre comedies rather than love stories, and she’s starting to think Prince Charming either fell off his horse or got eaten by a dragon. When unresolved issues from Tyler’s past complicate things even further, she discovers she may yet have some things to figure out before she can find her own happy ending.

This delightful first book in the Tales Behind the Veils series chronicles Tyler’s wacky misadventures, both personal and professional. Whether she’s getting insane requests from brides or outlandish requests on dates, you’re sure to be charmed and entertained by the Diary of a Single Wedding Planner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:

I laughed at Mel and cringed at the memory she referred to. I was probably sixteen at the time, and my mother’s best friend had insisted I go out with her nephew. Doris described Sammy as a “long, tall, good-lookin’ drink of water.” She would drawl out long and tall into pretty much two-syllable words and then rush through good-lookin’ drink of water like she was running out of oxygen.

He was tall alright, but evidently Doris and I have vastly differing opinions on what constitutes good-lookin’. Of course, it didn’t help that he showed up barefoot to take me out to dinner. I opened the door in my brand-new dress to greet a scrawny giant of a boy wearing a rebel-flag tank top, a pair of cut-off denim shorts, and no shoes.

He smiled down at me, revealing a large gap of two to three teeth missing on the bottom and a couple of top teeth ready to jump ship at any moment.

I decided right then and there I’d need to see someone up close and in person before I ever let anyone set me up on a date.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Violet Howe enjoys writing romance with humor. She lives in Florida with her husband, who is her knight in shining armor, and their two handsome sons. They share their home with three adorable but spoiled dogs. When she’s not writing, Violet is usually watching movies, reading, or planning her next travel adventure. You can follow Violet’s ramblings on her blog, The Goddess Howe.

Author Website:  http://www.violethowe.com

http://Facebook.com/VioletHoweAuthor

http://@Violet_Howe

Blog:  http://www.thegoddesshowe.com

http://Facebook.com/TheGoddessHowe

http://@TheGoddessHowe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


a Rafflecopter giveaway

VBT: "The Extraordinary Days Series" by Polly Becks

Polly is awarding one randomly chosen winner via Rafflecopter one 3-foot long stem rose in a glass vase from TheUltimateRose.com or similar florist; US only

A percentage of the sales of this book will be donated to Children's International, a not-for-profit organization very close to the author's family's  heart. Past books in the series have benefited The American Red Cross, The American Cancer Society, Tuesday's Children [a 9/11 charity], and The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.


BLURB:

In the late spring of 1991, a flood and fire of historic proportions tore through the pretty resort town of Obergrande, New York, in the central region of the Adirondack mountains.

The twin disasters destroyed a large part of the east side of the town that bordered the Hudson River and Lake Obergrande.

In the aftermath, a new dam was built, and that damaged part of the town “drowned,” covered by the new, larger lake.

During that terrible flood, five kindergarten girls were trapped in their drowning school, huddled together as the water rose higher, rescued just in the nick of time. The nightmare bonded them, and three others like them, to each other for life.

These are their stories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

EXCERPT:

Excerpt if from the 3rd book in the series: Tuesday's Child: Full of Grace

In the blue light and wisp-thin clouds of this late June morning, Donovan Farrell, a wide-shouldered man in a leather motorcycle jacket and jeans tucked into heavy boots, came out of his motel room, his helmet in one gloved hand, directions in the other, a string-banded rollpack across his back.

He stopped, absently admiring the color of the sunlight on the clouds at the horizon, and took a deep drink of the morning air.

His hair, hanging long in dark brown waves that matched his heavy, somewhat unkempt beard, caught the wind and danced around his head for a moment.

Donovan, known as Van to the few people who knew him, set his helmet down on the bike that was parked outside his room, a Yamaha FZ6 in the same gleaming black as the full-face helmet, and stuck the paper on which he had jotted down the directions inside it for the moment to keep it from flying away in the breeze.

 
He drew his hair back in a hair tie so that it was out of his face, retrieved the paper, then pulled the helmet on.

           
Scanning the directions again, Van made a mental note of the route he planned to take, as he did each time he got on the bike.

 
He was avoiding the New York State Thruway, partly because of the expense, partly because the eastward drive by way of Route 20 was more scenic and offered more opportunities to stop, stretch, and eat over the course of the day.

 
And partly because, unlike the Thruway, Route 20 was quiet and mostly empty.

           
It added a couple of hours to his trip, but Van was not in a hurry.

           
He had nothing but time now.

           
He looked at the destination, which he had underlined several times upon writing it down.

           
Obergrande, New York.

           
And exhaled.

           
Then he got on the motorcycle, started it up, and headed east.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Polly Becks has been making her living writing for more than twenty years, as well as working as an editor, curriculum developer, and teaching secondary-school Spanish. She has more than 350 books to her credit, mostly educational materials, as well as professionally published fiction in both the adult and YA market in a variety of genres, plus more than 30 Children’s books. She is excited about exploring the digital literature frontier and is honored to be the launch series for GMLTJoseph, LLC. - See more at: 


http://www.pollybecks.com/author/#sthash.pEZ6f3xO.dpuf

http://www.pollybecks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PollyBecks

Twitter:https://twitter.com/PollyBecks

Buy Polly’s books: http://www.amazon.com/Polly-Becks/e/B00QDYJ72Y/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1433266673&sr=8-1

the Rose contest:  http://www.pollybecks.com/the-rose/

blog post on release: http://www.pollybecks.com/meet-elisa-our-next-heroine/

Order link:http://www.pollybecks.com/books/thursdays-child-far-to-go/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just Make It Stop!!!!

If for some odd reason that I ever thought of having another child, that idea was thrown clear out the window yesterday.  Now homeschooling makes sense!  And all those wacko families on Wife Swap who live off the grid are really the smart parents.  Why?  Because if I see one more piece of paperwork in my child's school enrollment process, I will flip the eff out.

I posted a blog about this a month ago.  I have very rarely posted the same topic twice.  But as I sit here and look over the ridiculous amount of extra paperwork I received from Madelyne's preschool orientation yesterday, I'm crying on the inside while yelling, "Dear GOD. Jesus, Mary, and all the apostles please have mercy and make this stop!!"

I literally turned in 14 pages of paperwork yesterday.  I was damn proud of myself.  Even the preschool teacher complimented me on my organization skills.   As I looked around the room at parents who were rapidly filling out paperwork, I thought, "good job parents.  Waiting until the last minute.  Great example."  And that's when I saw it.  They weren't filling out the old paperwork. They were filling out NEW paperwork.  I.  Just.  Can't.

I swear to GOD my Bar application wasn't this complicated!  For two hours this morning, I worked on a case for a client involving an LLC.  I HATED business organizations in school but just now, after only 10 minutes of trying to navigate through the gates of paperwork/internet enrollment hell, I would gladly take business organizations class all over again then fill out one more piece of paper.

Not only is there paperwork, I have to register on three different websites!  I almost went off on my mom when she said that, "they made things so much easier now with computers."  REALLY MOM?  You want to go there?  When I started school, you probably dropped me off with a piece of notebook paper that you probably ripped out of the notebook that morning and scrawled my name across it so the teacher had an idea of who I was.

Thirty years later, my child has a fricken school ID number.  IN PRESCHOOL!  I need this number to do anything within the school district website.  After a while, I'm probably going to forget Madelyne's name and just recite her ID number.  

I have to put money on her lunch "credit card."  Isn't that cute?  She has a little credit card.  What's going to happen when she tries using it at McDonald's?  AND lunch is NOT cheap!  It's $2.40 for lunch.  And is it just one item on the menu?  Noooooo - kids have options now.  On just one day, this is what the menu looks like:

Choices:
-Cheese or Pepperoni pizza
-Soybutter and Jelly sandwiches
-Chicken Ceasar Salad & Breadstick
-Mixed greens
-Baby Carrots
-Celery Sticks
-Grapes
-Banana

In my day, a lunch tray consisted of the following:
-One square pizza slice that was missing half the cheese
-Every vegetable in the world mixed together for the "health" portion of lunch
-A carton of milk that never opened the right way so you had to try to make a hole to put your straw

That's it.  If you didn't like lunch, you were shit out of luck until you got home.  

I also have to register for the Parent Contact Manager Account.  Huh?  Why are you contacting me?  Unless my child is bleeding, in huge trouble or did something so utterly horrific that warrants a phone call, I'm good with dropping her off at school without knowing anything.  I'll ask her at dinner how was her day, she'll say it was fine, and we'll talk again at her high school graduation.

When does it end?  Madelyne is 4 and she already has a paper trail!  I pretty much want to crawl into a fetal position and rock myself while I cry.  Seriously.  

"Haha" is the new "lol?" I don't get it...

Recently I've noticed that a lot of people are now using "haha" instead of "lol."  I thought it was a little weird but figured, to each their own.  But this past weekend while I was catching up on work, I happened upon a People Magazine article that said something like FB decreed that "haha" will launch "lol" into oblivion!  (Okay, maybe I'm over exaggerating a bit.)  Anyway, it was one of those moments where I just stared at my computer and thought, "huh?"

I know this may come as a shock to many of you, but I am not cool.  It's okay - take a minute for that to settle in...

Apparently, according to this People article, "lol" is not cool anymore.  So, if I keep using "lol" does that mean I'm even more uncool than before?  I just can't deal with these changes!  "Lol" and "OMG" are pretty much the only text acronyms I know!  When #TBT started taking over social media, I had to look up what that even meant.  And don't get me started on the whole hashtag pandemonium.  

Some people on FB hashtag the shit out of their status:  "It's Monday."  #caseofthemondays #hatework #neednewjob #bossisadick #friendswithbossonFB #bosssawmystatus #gotfired #cleaningmydesk #securitykickedmeout #sittinginmycar #neednewjob #totallyfunny #hahaisthenewlol.

And if that wasn't bad enough, one time I clicked on a hashtag, which took me to a whole new page of other statues who have used the same hashtag!  Why do I want to read status updates from a bunch of people I don't know but who are all lumped together because of the same hashtag??  

Look, for someone whose first email address was in college (1996), I think I've done pretty well navigating social media.  I have a Twitter account.  I have absolutely no idea how it works or why I even have it.  In fact, I don't even remember the last time I checked it.  I think I have over a 1,000 followers and I might know 2 of them.  

Apparently when I created my own website, a gmail account was also created in my name.  I created my website in November 2013.  I found out about the gmail account around October 2014. There were a little over 1,700 emails.  I clicked on the "x" in the corner to close the page and haven't been back since.

The problem for me is that I don't like change even though change is necessary throughout life.  But to change "lol" to "haha" overnight when I was just getting comfortable with "lol" or if something is REALLY funny, "lmao" is just plain cruel! 

I sometimes have dreams (or nightmares depending on how you look at it) that I can't figure out how to use my phone.  I'm dead serious.  It's a recurring dream: I can't figure out how to open my contacts list or make a phone call and I get to the point where I'm hysterical and pounding on my phone.  It's ridiculous.  

What happened to the old Apple computer when we played The Oregon Trail and all died from dysentery?  Or answering the phone was fun because we didn't have caller ID?  Now, even Madelyne (my 4-year-old daughter) knows when not to answer the phone:

Phone rings.  Caller ID says in a monotone computer voice:  "Toll Free Call."  My parents ask who it is because they can't hear the Caller ID (even though it's on the highest volume) and Madelyne yells out, "It's just toll free" and she goes back to eating her snack and watching My Little Pony.    

I like simple so I've decided since I'm not cool anyway, I'm just going to keep using "lol."  I understand what it means, i'm comfortable with it, and it's an easy comeback on a text when I don't know what to say.  Am I right or am I right?  Lol?   

Living with your parents when you're an adult

(UPDATED)
I wrote this post in December, 2013 and it has become, by far, the most read post on my blog, which goes to show that living with your parents as an adult is more common than you think!  

It is now August 2015 and my daughter and I are still living with my parents.  We moved to a bigger house (one that added an extra 2,000 sq ft) and I honestly couldn't be happier.  I'm a single mom and I am so appreciative of my parents helping me to provide the best environment possible to raise my daughter.  She is happy, carefree (as seen above) and my favorite person in the whole world - and that's coming from someone who never thought I would have kids!  At this point, I couldn't imagine raising her any other way.  

I'm lucky that I have my support system and believe me, I do NOT take it for granted.  But living with my parents has also given me the freedom to pursue my dreams too.  I started my own mediation practice this past February.  As with any growing business, it takes time and time is something I wouldn't have if I wasn't living with my parents.  I would probably be stuck in a job I hated and becoming more miserable by the day.  

Instead, I am doing something I absolutely LOVE and couldn't imagine doing anything else.  As I've learned this past year, life is way too short to be miserable.  Don't let pride stand in the way of your dreams.  If moving in with your parents makes sense for you and them, then do it and who cares what other people think?  

I'm glad to be able to share my experiences with social media so that others in similar circumstances know they are not alone.  Thanks for stopping by my blog and feel free to leave a comment below!

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Original post from 2013:


If someone told me when I was high school, that at 35 I would be living with my parents, I probably would have cried…and they wouldn't have been happy tears.  I have been living with my parents for the last three years.  I moved in with them two weeks after my daughter was born because my ex-husband decided he didn't give a crap about his daughter. Two months later, I filed for divorce.  So there I was…with a newborn, getting a divorce and about 2/3s of my way through Law School.  When you add postpartum depression, anxiety, and a vengeful ex-husband, I knew I wasn't going to be moving out anytime soon.  However, I have found that children who have moved back in with their parents isn't such a rarity anymore.  So, I have decided to offer some tips to those of you who moved back home to help ensure that you don't find yourself on the brink of insanity and the thought of moving into the psych ward at your local hospital actually sounds like a vacation.  

First and foremost, before I start, I just want to say that those of us who have moved back in with our parents are extremely lucky to have family to support us.  At least we have a roof over our heads.  So please don't think of us as ungrateful or unappreciative if we do start to whine a little.  But no matter the circumstances that lead us to move back in with our parents, it is still a huge adjustment.

I also want to stress that these tips are for those who are looking forward to the day you move into a place of your own.  So if you are 35 and are still living in your parent's basement stuffing your face with Cheetos while playing video games everyday, then you need different advice.  

Okay…so you moved back in with your parents.  Now what?  Well, that depends on what made you move back in with them in the first place.  Did you lose your job?  Divorce?  Foreclosure?  Whatever it was, you have to let it go.  I moved back in with my parents because I didn't have any help with my baby.  Then I went through a divorce.  Then I had to finish school.  Then I had to study and take the Bar.  Then I had to wait for my results.  Then I found out I failed so I needed a back-up plan.  Yadda yadda yadda.  After each set-back, I cursed my ex-husband for the circumstances that led me to move back in with my parents.  But after a while, I realized the divorce was over and I needed to stop using that as an excuse.  So I asked myself, why two years after the divorce, am I still living with my parents?  Because living with my parents gave me the freedom to pursue my dream.  

Huh?  Living with my parents gave me freedom?  Absolutely!  When I graduated from college, I fell into my career because I wanted a job so I could move into a place of my own.  I spent 8 years in a career I hated with a passion, but I needed an income so I kept working.  Moving back home gave me the opportunity to explore other options.  I wrote a book, which was a dream of mine since I was a little kid.  Now, I am working from home as a freelance writer while I wait for my first book to release next year.  So now instead of cursing my ex, sometimes I mentally thank him for being a jackass because not only did it give me great material to write a memoir, but I am actually doing what I love.  

Tip #1:  Pursue your dream
Use this opportunity to switch careers or go back to school.  When is the next time you will not have to worry about a steady income, groceries, a mortgage or rent payment?  This is your chance to leave the job you loathe and do something that makes you happy.  If you think your parents won't support you, then why did they let you move back home in the first place?  

Tip #2:  Have a goal
Once you decided what you are going to do, pick a date when you want to move out.  It doesn't have to be a specific day.  For example, I know I want to move out before my daughter starts kindergarten.  She's 3, so I have 2 years to make that happen.  I really hope to be in our place by next summer, but the 2-year goal gives me some wiggle room.  If you give yourself a goal date, then you are telling yourself that this situation isn't permanent.  You will move out of your parents house.  I promise.  

Tip #3:  Chip in with Chores
Just because you moved back in with your parents, that doesn't mean mommy is going to start doing your laundry again. (I don't think you really want your mom to wash your underwear anyway.)  Act like you still live on your own.  Clean your room, make your bed, and pick up after yourself.  Respect the rules of the house.  My mom hates clutter.  Everything has to be neat and orderly.  I, on the other hand, don't mind a little chaos, but it's not my house.  So every night, I do a quick walkthrough to make sure I picked up after myself and my daughter.  Also, help your parents with the chores.  Regardless if you are living at home for free or giving your parents rent every month, they welcomed you back home.  So don't make your 70-year-old father snow shovel in the winter or cut the grass in the summer.  Just do it yourself.  It may not seem much, but your parents will be very appreciative.  

Tip #4:  Dating while living with parents
Ahhh yes…the dating game.  Let's face it.  For those of us who have divorced, the thought of going back into the dating world just plain sucks.  But dating when you live with your parents?  That's a whole other ballgame.  First, the dating part. Be upfront with the person.  You can tell him or her you live at home but you don't have to go into detail.  If the person doesn't want to date you because you live at home, then he or she is not worth it in the first place.  Second, the sex part.  So you met someone and you want to have fun…and not playing Scrabble kind of fun.  I hate to break it to you, but guess what?  Your parents know you have sex.  WHAT?!  I know, it's crazy.  But when you come home from a date at three in the morning, unless your parents are in denial, they know exactly what you were doing.  So again, be upfront.  I mean, you don't have to go into detail with your parents because that's just weird.  Instead, pack a bag and tell them you're staying at so-and-so's place that night.  Don't make it into a big deal.  You're an adult.  You are allowed to have sex.  

Tip #5:  Bringing your kid with you
Not only have you moved back in with your parents, but you brought your kid(s) with you.  If your children are old enough to be in school, then you really shouldn't have any problems.  But if you move in with a baby or toddler (like myself) the situation does get dicey at times.  The biggest problem I have encountered with this situation is that there are three adults in the house with three different parenting styles.  My Mom is strict, my Dad is a softie and I'm right in the middle.  My advice is to pick your battles.  Sometimes I just have to roll my eyes when my Dad doesn't let my daughter jump on the bed.  (Apparently he didn't care if my brother or I fell and suffered brain damage when we were little.)  Or if my mom wants to break out my daughter's winter coat when it's not even below freezing yet.  Those things are minor and I just let it go.  But at the end of the day, I am still the mother and sometimes, even though I avoid confrontation like the plague, I have to stand up for what I believe is right for my daughter.  Also, always remember that just because you live with your parents doesn't mean they are automatic babysitters so you can go out every night.  If you have plans, "ask" them first.  And when I say "ask," say it like this:  "Do you mind if I have a girls night this Friday?"  Which really translates to:  I want to do something with my friends so is it okay if you watch my daughter that night?  When you give your parents a heads-up, then usually it's not a problem.  Plus, you don't have to pay for a babysitter!

Finally, don't worry about what other people think.  Yes, you will be judged at some point because you live with your parents.  Those who judge you, however, probably don't know why you moved back home in the first place.  It wasn't because you suddenly woke up one day and thought, "I'm 35 and I'm going to live with my parents."  You are living with them for a reason and you don't owe anyone an explanation.  It may take some time, but you will eventually move out.  And when you do, you can invite your parents over for dinner…and then they can leave because you aren't living with them anymore.  

Virtual Book Tour: "Tight Laced" by Roxy Soule

a Rafflecopter giveaway The author will give a randomly drawn commenter a $25 Amazon/BN GC. 

BLURB:


Roxy Soulé’s debut Dragon Duchess series explores the spicier side of late Victorian England, and centers around a family of headstrong, sexpositive women who defy period stereotypes.

Oh, yes, there are Alpha Dukes aplenty, and a bevy of villains who continually torment and thwart, but at the end of the day, these heroines create their own Happily Ever After, sometimes with their lovers and sometimes despite them.

These rather short, hot books may be a bit bold for the tame reader, but if you like your stories with heat and heart – with a bit of sass, humor and spark – perhaps you will enjoy these.

TIGHT LACED (Book One of the Dragon Duchess series) releases August 11th!

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Excerpt:

Lady Lacilia found herself in her chambers before she realized that she still clutched the duke’s handkerchief in the palm of her hand.

She lay upon her bed, her head pounding from weeping. She brought the square of cloth to her face, and gently wiped her eyes, and then drew it down her face, pausing at her nose. The smell was something new. The scent of deep forests. Tree bark after heavy rain.

Lacy closed her eyes and drew in a lungful of air. The duke’s scent played with her, tickled her, like a vague memory of some delicious confection she couldn’t quite name.

The tall, brusque duke had offended her, certainly, but when he’d placed his arm round her shoulder – a drunken gesture, but a comfort none-the-less – she’d felt the floor beneath her feet more solidly than she had since learning of her father’s death.

The man had such audacity, however. Coming here the way he did and enjoying spirits in the receiving room before leisurely nodding off. Most improper, really.

And at this very moment, two floors below, her stepmother and half-sister were filling his mind with who knew what. Lacy imagined they were maligning her:

Please excuse the Lady Lacilia. She’s quite mad. We generally keep her locked away!

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Roxy Soulé’s debut Dragon Duchess series explores the spicier side of late Victorian England, and centers around a family of headstrong, sexpositive women who defy period stereotypes.

Oh, yes, there are Alpha Dukes aplenty, and a bevy of villains who continually torment and thwart, but at the end of the day, these heroines create their own Happily Ever After, sometimes with their lovers and sometimes despite them.

These rather short, hot books may be a bit bold for the tame reader, but if you like your stories with heat and heart – with a bit of sass, humor and spark – perhaps you will enjoy these.

 

Release dates:
TIGHT LACED August 11th
TIGHT LIPPED September  15th
TIGHT FISTED October 13th
With more in the queue!

 

Available through Amazon (initially) – link through http://roxannesoule.com/daring-duchess-series/

FB https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.soule.79

TWITTER https://twitter.com/roxysoule

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Book Blast Virtual Tour: "The Maid's Quarters" by Holly Bush

Holly will award a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter.  (Enter below!)



BLURB:

1893 . . . Alice Porterman is released from her duties as a maid and travels home to help her mother care for her sickly brother. But her mother and brother are not in their family home when Alice arrives and she learns the landlord, Albert Donahue, has evicted them into the harsh Boston winter. Alice goes in search of him and is surprised at what she finds. 

Albert Donahue, an up-and-coming member of Boston’s elite, made his fortune through hard work and shrewd business deals. But his dreams of a family to share it with have not come true, perhaps until an impertinent young woman enters his home and won’t leave until she speaks to him.

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EXCERPT:

Boston 1893

Chapter One

Alice Porterman looked at Mrs. McKinnell. “What do you mean Ma and Jimmy aren’t living here anymore? It is our house!”

“They’re living in two rooms at the back of the church, Alice. I would have taken them in here, but I have no room, none at all,” Alice’s mother’s closest neighbor said to her. “You better get them, girl. Jimmy wasn’t doing well the last time I stopped by. Your mam can hardly leave him to get victuals or go to work. I’ve been shopping for her when I can.”

“Thank you, Mrs. McKinnell. I’ll go right away.” Alice turned and looked at the narrow two-story home where she’d grown up. “I’ll just put my bags in the house,” she said, and started down the walk that separated the Porterman and McKinnell homes as she had just arrived from the train station coming from Washington.

“Nay, you can’t, girl. They’ve changed the locks. Your mam couldn’t even get back in to get your brother’s medicine. Leave your cases on my porch. I’ll have one of the boys carry them in and we’ll keep them here until you’re settled somewhere.”

“Thank you, Mrs. McKinnell,” Alice said, red-faced. “I will get them as soon as I get this straightened out.”

“Don’t worry, Alice. Just get your mother and brother back home where they belong.”

Alice nodded and kissed the plump, red-headed woman’s cheek. “Thank the Lord you were here to help Ma.”

“It’s nothing. Neighbors do for neighbors. Your mam would do the same for me, she would. So, your mother had Jimmy read me the letter she got from you that those rich nobs are paying you without you even working for them. La-de-dah! And look at them skirts of yours! That is fine wool, is it not, with them lacy petticoats sticking out? And a pretty little hat to boot!”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Holly Bush writes historical romance set on the American Prairie, in Victorian England, and recently released her first Women’s Fiction title. Her books are described as emotional, with heartfelt, sexy romance. She makes her home with her husband in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Connect with Holly at http://www.hollybushbooks.com and on Twitter @hollybushbooks and on Facebook at Holly Bush.

 

http://www.hollybushbooks.com

Twitter - @hollybushbooks

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Holly-Bush/247399131941435

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D381HR6/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

http://www.amazon.com/Holly-Bush/e/B006ZDTQ1A/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1
 
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TOUR DATES:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-blast-maids-quarters-by-holly-bush.html


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GIVEAWAY 




a Rafflecopter giveaway