Friday's Cowboy Hunk and RT Day Two!

There are a bajillion pics in this post, so it might take a while to load, but so much happened today, I hate to leave anything out!

Our day began with a morning mixer hosted by the mystery writers, but I had to leave after I ate my bagel and yogurt to go to the Sourcebooks Spotlight. Turns out my editor didn't know I was coming, and didn't realize that was me sitting out there in the audience until she came to my books in her powerpoint presentation and Judi Fennell pointed me out to her. Then she put on her glasses and said, "That IS you! I thought we had a Cheryl Brooks lookalike sitting out there."

After the presentation, she took us to out for coffee (I had herbal tea) and we talked for a bit until it was time to leave and go to lunch at Schmidt's restaurant for lunch with the Ohio chapter of RWA. Caroline (my roomie) had been invited and was told she could bring a friend. The food was great, but guess who else was there???



























That's right! Charles Paz! After took a group picture with him, during which I suggested that Charles needed to lose the shirt (which he did not do! *heavy sigh*) I asked Charles for a picture of him by himself. Another lady offered to take a picture of us together, but I already had one like that. Just wanted Charles all by his lonesome and he was happy to oblige. He had some prints, too, and I got one signed, which I will scan in and post when I get home.

On the way out, Caroline and I took pictures of each other as little German girls.



























Being a blonde, she looked the part more than I did, but it was great fun.



























Then it was back to the conference for more workshops. One was an agent panel, which was very interesting, and the other was a publicity agency's presentation.

I went looking for a T-shirt for Sam after that, but didn't find one, so it was back to the room to rest up (and blog!) and get ready for the Fairy Ball and dinner which started at 8:30. Caroline relaxed, reading a book and eating chocolate, while I blogged,





















and then I just had to take this picture of the smoke stack outside our window. Kinda looks like the Whopping Weasel to end all Whopping Weasels, doesn't it?





















The Fairy Ball was quite an event. We had steak for dinner and hunks for dessert! LOL! Not really. Caroline looked quite lovely. I loaned her my lace shawl for the evening, and I'm glad I did. She was cold and I was quite toasty, aside from the fact that eating dinner with lace cuffs is a real challenge!



























The headpiece was great, Donna. I was complemented more than once on it and was very proud to say that one of my readers had loaned it to me. Thanks again!



























I should probably do a separate post for some of these other pictures. There were so many great costumes, but this one was one of the most interesting of all.



























And now, on with the Cowboy parade!

This one almost looks like he could be a real cowboy.... almost.....























This one I'm not so sure about.



























And I have some serious doubts about these guys!



























Enjoy your Friday!

Thursday's Cowboys and RT Day ONE!

The RT Convention began with the morning mixer where we were supposed to wear hats. My roomie, Caroline Fyffe, got a terrific hat, but she lives in Louisville, where Kentucky Derby hats abound at this time of year, but in my neck of the woods, great hats are impossible to find. I tried on her hat, but it didn't look anywhere near as good on me as it does on her. Fortunately, they had little "mini" hats that they gave to the hatless. You can see it a little better in this picture, but it's still pretty tiny!



























We then went to a couple of workshops, after which I had my picture taken with all of the Mr. Romance contestants. I won't get that one for another week or so, but I'll post it as soon as I can. Last year's Mr. Romance, Charles Paz, was hanging around, so Caroline took this picture of us. I told him I was supposed to make him purr, and he growled in my ear very nicely!



























After lunch I went to a few more workshops: one on writing erotica, one on sci-fi, and another on making the leap to writing full-time. Still not sure I can make that leap, but we'll see!
Caroline and I went to Martini's for dinner. I had a peach and elderflower martini, which was pretty tasty. I got their chicken piccata, which was quite good, but I still like mine better. ;-)

Then it was back to the room to get ready for the Ellora's Cave party. The dancing cavemen were pretty hot, but, as you might expect from the Cat Master, I got my picture taken with the best-looking one of the bunch, who is on my right in this photo. He said he'd be coming up to my room later, but so far he hasn't shown up, so I guess I'll just go to bed.
*sigh* Maybe if I'm lucky I'll have another dream about Val Kilmer. . .



















And, now, back to the cowboys!

This one is just asking to have his tattoo tickled,

















but there's nothing quite like a happy cowboy with a great big smile and a whopping YUMMYDOODLE!!!!

Western Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

I know this is Cowboy Week, but I couldn't find a pic of Derrick both with the horse and wearing the hat, so I had to compromise and use two pictures.

I know you'll all be terribly disappointed by this, but none of my other whoppers were wearing hats--at least, none of the good ones, and Derrick, as we all agree, is one of the best!











Just imagine him wearing a nice, big, black Stetson, and you'll get the the idea.



























The RT convention starts today. I've got the internet working in my room, and hopefully I'll have some pics to post tomorrow. If not, the rest of the week may be nothing but hunks!

Please, try to control your disappointment....

Tasty Tuesday Cowboys!

Donna sent me this one, which is probably something I should NEVER eat, but it sounds plum scrumptious!

Chef John's Bottle of Pop Pie

Crust: 1 ¾ cups graham cracker crumbs 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, firmly packed Pinch of regular or sea salt 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted Crisco butter flavored cooking spray Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray pie plate with cooking spray and set aside. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Using your fingers, mix together. Add the butter and incorporate well, mixing first with a fork, then with your hands, rubbing thoroughly to form evenly dampened crumbs. Spread the crumbs evenly and loosely in the pan, pressing them into the bottom and up the side. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on a rack. Refrigerate 15 minutes before filling. Makes one 9-inch graham cracker crust. Filling: 2 ¾ cups Coca Cola soda 1/3 cup granulated sugar 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin 1 tablespoon gourmet cola extract 2 large egg whites, at room temperature 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream 1 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted In a mixing bowl, combine soda and sugar. Let rest for 10 minutes. Put ¼ cup of soda in a medium-sized bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over it. Set aside for 5 minutes to dissolve. Meanwhile, heat ½ cup of the soda in a small heavy bottom saucepan over medium heat to a near boil. Whisk the hot soda into the dissolved gelatin. Pour the remaining 2 cups soda into a large bowl and stir in the gelatin-watermelon juice mixture. Stir in extract. Place in the refrigerator. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites in a medium-size mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Set aside. Clean and dry the beaters. Using a chilled medium-size bowl and chilled beaters, beat the heavy cream with the mixer until it hold soft peaks. Add the confectioner’s sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate. When the cola mixture starts to firm up, add about one-quarter of the whipped cream and beat with the electric mixer until smooth. Add the beaten egg whites and remaining whipped cream and gently fold them in with a large spatula. Use a whisk, only if necessary and gently, to smooth the mixture. Pour the filling into the cooled graham cracker crust. Place in a tightly covered pie keeper or with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferable overnight. Serve with Sweetened Whipped Topping and slices fruit or cherries. Serves 8-10 I'm heading to Columbus this afternoon for the RT Booklover's Convention. Should arrive about 5 or so, but I may not be online for a while. In the meantime, enjoy your Tuesday!

Monday Moons Western Style!

I'd be willing to bet that none of these fellows has ever been a working cowboy. Case in point, the wrangler by the pool has a hat that doesn't fit very well. He'd lose it the first time he got on a horse, let alone roped a calf. Still, he has some very nice buns that would look fabulous in the saddle--or out of it!

I have one other great cowboy buns pic, but I'm saving it for Dangling Participle Week! *evil grin*

Many of you have lamented the fact that you've never seen a real cowboy. For you, I have but one word:

RODEO!

That's all you have to do! Go to a rodeo and you will find cowboys galore. Sooner or later, one will be held in your area. Keep your eyes peeled or do an internet search and your persistence will be rewarded.

That being said, getting the guys to strip down to nothing but their hat, boots, and chaps might be a little more difficult, but I have faith in the followers of the CBEB. You will prevail!

I'm out running errands and doing some last minute shopping today before heading out to the RT convention tomorrow. Seems I need a hat. Now, I do happen to have a very nice black cowboy hat, but somehow, I don't think it will be appropriate for this event. No telling what I'll find out there. My roomie, who lives in Louisville, got a hat on sale at Macy's, but finding great hats in Louisville during Derby week is easy to do.

I'm thinking something like this one. What do you think?

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

I know that everyone loves cowboys, so here's another one!

Looks like I'm starting cowboy week, huh?


I'm blogging on Wickedly Romantic today. Come on over and set a spell!

Saturday's Hunk of the Day!

Nancy sent me some pics of this guy during the Hero ARC contest. If there had been a category for best cowboy, this one would have been the hands down winner.

Speaking of Hero, have any of you winners read it yet? I'd love to hear some feedback!

I'm blogging on Casablanca Authors today. Round up the strays and come on over!

Friday Fun!

Not much to say today. Not sure I need to. These pics should provoke plenty of comments without any from me, don't you think?

Thursday Thoughts

It's funny how I can crank out a whole week's worth of blogs here on the CBEB in no time at all, but the ones I have to write for WR or Casablanca are like pulling teeth. Perhaps it's the naked hunks, but I'm thinking it has more to do with the fact that I feel more like I'm talking with friends here and don't have to create a great work of literature. Not that my other blogs are all that great, but these seem to flow better for some reason.

Sort of like Renegade has been doing. I worked hot and heavy on the synopsis a while back, inserting needed scenes here and there and playing with the order of events. It was sort of like writing revisions: at least I had a clear outline to follow. Not that revisions are always that clear. It's best when you come up with them yourself, rather than having your editor suggest them, because you have a better understanding of your own ideas than you have of what's in someone else's head. Sometimes my editor's suggestions are very specific, but often they are quite vague and it's difficult to grasp the concepts.

I've never written a book before that had quite so much prep work done prior to the writing, which is, according to some, the only way to write. I must admit, the process of writing is much faster when you know exactly where a story is going and how to get there, but there are still some fun things to discover along the way.

One thing I don't get is feedback from readers at every juncture. With the exception of a few things that my friend and unofficial critique partner, Marie Force, has read, the writing all takes place in discussion with myself, and perhaps a few things I mention to my DH from time to time. He doesn't read any of it, but just explaining it to someone helps for me to understand the plot a little better myself.

Another nice thing about writing a synopsis first, is that you can spot the holes in the plot before you waste time writing the book. If it doesn't work in the synopsis, it probably won't work anywhere else, and I know I'll just end up rewriting it--which is something I hate to do. I really prefer to get things right the first time.

This whole writing thing has been a learning process, and I hope I've learned a few things. It amazes me how quickly some writers are able to write book after book in rapid succession and have them turn out well. It's a skill, one that is developed over time just like any other. I'm getting better at it, and hopefully this new process won't screw with my creativity.

Now, if I could just blog faster....

Smiling Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

Isn't this what you want to see? A big smile to go with a big whopper! Seems like most of these guys are so serious. They're looking at you like they're trying to be so tough and macho and cool, when all they really should be is delighted that they have a dick that big. I mean, really, they should be smiling all the time! They can earn a living based on that sucker forever!!!!!

The other version is the guys who look like all their emotion has been drained out of them to fill the recesses of those massive members. Sort of like, "Ho, hum, here it is, folks. Take a good long look and then forget about it."

Others, as we know, are staring at the thing as if expecting it to speak. Now, I've heard guys refer to their penis as their best friend, but really, staring at it will not encourage conversation!

This man has some seriously long fingers, too. Never did a correlation study between those two characteristics, but I'd be willing to bet it's about as good as the large nose or shoe size thing, though this fellow's nose isn't what I'd call huge, and certainly not proportional to the humongous cock.

I'm still collecting pictures for some theme weeks in the future. I've got several cowboys, a few bad boys, but only a couple of dangling participles, which are my particular favorites. If you run across any, send them my way!

Tasty Tuesday Spaghetti Sauce!

Well, at least Donna is cooking these days and sends us another great crockpot recipe!

MEAT LOVERS slow cooker spaghetti sauce

Tastes like you slaved all day. And gives you free time to Enjoy your favorite Men.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 small onions, chopped
• 1/4 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 (29 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon white sugar

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onions and Italian sausage until the sausage is browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer the sausage and onions to a slow cooker. In the same skillet, cook and stir the ground beef, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and marjoram, breaking the meat up as it cooks, until the meat is browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer the ground beef into the slow cooker.
2. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, thyme, basil, oregano, and 2 teaspoons of garlic powder. Set the cooker on Low, and cook the sauce for 8 hours. About 15 minutes before serving, stir in the sugar. Serve hot.
3. Fun Option: Leave out the spaghetti and serve the slightly cooled sauce on this guy and enjoy!
   

Monday Moons!

In a little over a week, I'll be heading to Columbus, OH for the RT Booklover's Convention, but I bet I don't see a single set of bare buns while I'm there. I'm sure the cover models are hot, but I'm guessing that shirtless is as far as they're willing to go. *heavy sigh*

Not sure the Booklovers are ready for a nude male review, anyway, but wouldn't it be fun? I'm sure if there was one, it would be standing room only--either that or everyone would be standing out in the hall, too chicken to go inside!

For myself, in preparation for RT, I'm trying, unsuccessfully, to get my fingernails to remain at a decent length. Normally, I don't give a damn about such things, but it's amazing what you start thinking about when you're planning to wear nail polish to an event.

You see, for me, the nail polish really means I'm dressing up. That and pantyhose. Knee highs are best, if you can get away with them, but then there's that inner thigh rub thing if you're wearing a skirt. I managed to escape that fate when I went to DC last summer by buying gaucho pants to wear with my fancy jacket, but this time, there are two events where the pantyhose are not optional. I was encouraged last year to wear thigh highs, but one trial run was enough to convince me that wearing a suit of armor would be preferable. Again, the thigh rub thing, which I thought I left behind forever when garterbelts and hose were replaced with pantyhose, surfaced. I can't think of anything more uncomfortable unless it's a girdle or perhaps a bra with a broken underwire. UGGGHHH!!!!!

Anyway, what about you? What is the most uncomfortable thing that fashion has dictated that you MUST wear?

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

Shh! Don't wake him! I've almost got his undies off!



I'm blogging on Wickedly Romantic today. Grab some breakfast and come on over!

Saturday's Hunk of the Day!

I don't know his name and don't particularly care. I just have this overwhelming urge to jerk his chain and see what happens.


Enjoy your Saturday!

Nature Walk part 2

Peaches lost interest in the flowers pretty quickly, but Snake stuck with me the whole time. She's my favoritest cat, but don't tell the others that.

















Tulip Magnolia. I think mine doesn't get as much sun as it would like because it seems like other trees bloom much more profusely than mine does. Stupid me, I planted it about as far from the house as it could possibly be, and it's practically in the woods. I planted another one closer and in full sun last year, but it's just a baby. Not many blooms yet.



























Virginia Bluebells. These little buggers will spread, which is a trait I admire in a flower. The more volunteers I get, the better I like it!




















Celandine Poppy. I forget just where I found these, but I dug them up somewhere and then set them out in various places. This one is next to the house, but there are others in the woods, which is what they like best.


















Then on Wednesday, I took this one of the lilacs. In full bloom, they smell like love!

























Tomorrow it's back to the hunks!

I know. It'll be such a let-down after the flowers....

Nature Walk part 1

Peaches and I went out and took some pictures a few days ago. Forgive me for the lack of hunks, but there are just so many pretty things in bloom, I don't have room to post them all.


More tomorrow!


Apple blossoms. This tree is always beautiful, but it has the sourest apples you've ever tasted in your life. I'm talking SERIOUS pucker power!




















Flowering almond. The blooms are actually quite small, about the size of a quarter, and the shrub itself is only about 2 or 3 feet high. Unfortunately, it doesn't bloom for very long.





















Bleeding Heart. This is one of my favorite flowers and a very reliable perennial--which is about the only thing I have time to grow anymore. This spring has been pretty busy so far. I might get some annuals planted, and, then again, I may not. If it comes down to planting flowers vs finishing Renegade on time, well, you know which one will win....

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

Donna sent me several of this guy, and I couldn't decide which one epitomized the whopping weasel criteria best, so I'm posting all of them. Unfortunately, this seriously depletes my store of whoppers.

Whatever shall we do?

I've been working a lot on Renegade, squeezing it in along with everything else that goes on in the spring. I tilled the garden on Monday, but I haven't planted anything yet. It's still too early and Peaches is already out there digging up the chickweed. She'll probably just adore digging up broccoli plants.

I'm seeing fewer vegetables in my future.