Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, find a soldier or a veteran and give them a big hug!

We owe them a lot. I only wish we didn't need them to fight for us anymore.

That's my Memorial Day wish; an end to war.

I wonder if it will ever come true.

Sunday's Dangling Participle of the Day!

I know I've been promising you this one all week.


I know you've waited patiently.


I know you've dreamed and imagined.


Now, here they are.
















When you're finished playing with the balls, come on over to Wickedly Romantic.

Have a ball this Sunday!

Saturday's Hunk of the Day!

Have a swinging good time this Saturday!

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

I know you wanted a man in gauze of your very own to unwrap, so I did a bit of searching and came up with this one. It's not gauze, but I didn't think you'd mind.


















And because it's Dangling Participle Week here at the CBEB, here's one just for you!





















Be sure to take a little time to enjoy the great outdoors on your birthday!


























Or the great indoors, as you choose!

Thursday's Thoughts

He's actually more pushed than dangling, but I think we can forgive him for that.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to why we all seem to find those parts so hot? Is it the whole "He's got some serious balls!" thing, or what? Could it be that it is simply our feminine nature telling us which is the most potent male, and is therefore more likely to impregnate us?

It seems that most male/female behaviors can be traced back to procreative biology, so it must be something like that. It's not that they're all that attractive in the physical sense. I'm not sure I've ever heard testicles being described as beautiful, but there must be some sort of appeal.

Hmmm, I dunno... These could almost qualify as beautiful.



























What are your thoughts?

PS: I'm blogging on Casablanca Authors today. Come on over!

Holy Whopping Dangling Balls and Weasels, Batman!

I haven't used Leo in a while, and that's unfortunate. There are, according to at least one comment on a blog that I read, certain gay men who dream about Leo Giamani's balls. I think it's safe to say that a fair number of women probably do, too. Dreams about the yummydoodle possibly occur more frequently, but there's a lot to be said for his other dangly bits.



























For sheer Italian hotness, he's pretty hard to beat.

Tasty Tuesday Chocolate Pie!

This pie has been my claim to fame for many a year. There was a time when I couldn't show my face at a pitch-in or family get-together without one of these in my hand, but times have changed, and I don't make them as often as I used to. I still make them when I go to the lake with the girls, though Suzie and Terri prefer the coconut version.

The meringue recipe was given to me many years ago by a friend who had gotten it from her grandmother. Where it came from before that is a mystery.

The pie filling recipe comes from Joy of Cooking, but I've gotten a bit lazy over the years, so the pie crust, which I used to make from scratch, now comes from Pillsbury. You know, the roll out and bake kind?

Start by making the cornstarch mixture for the meringue so it can be cooling while you make the pie filling.

Cheryl's Famous Chocolate Pie

Bake a 9 inch deep dish pie shell according to your favorite recipe or package directions.

Pie filling:

In a double boiler, mix together:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk (add about 1/2 cup first and stir until the sugar and flour are completely moistened, then add the rest of the milk)
2 squares unsweetened baking chocolate

Cook over the boiling water, stirring frequently until thickened and the chocolate is completely melted. In a separate bowl, mix two large spoonfuls of the chocolate mixture with 3 egg yolks and then return this to the double boiler with the rest of the filling and cook a few minutes longer until very thick. Remove from heat and add 2 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tbsp butter. Stir until butter is melted and pour into baked pie shell.

Top with:
Meringue that won't weep

Mix together:
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup water

Cook until clear (I do this in the microwave. It takes about 2 minutes on high, stirring every 30 seconds or so)
Then cool to room temperature (I stick it in the freezer for a few minutes)
Next:
Beat 3 egg whites until foamy, then add 1/4 tsp cream of tartar and a pinch of salt and continue beating until egg whites form stiff peaks. Then add the cooled cornstarch mixture to the egg whites and beat until well incorporated. Next, add 4 Tbsp sugar, one at at time as you continue beating the egg whites. Top pie with meringue, sealing the edges.

Bake at 325 for 20 min. Refrigerate until well chilled (2-4 hours) and enjoy!

And now for today's Dangling Participle!

The trouble with this type of pic is that sometimes they show a little more than you really need to see. This one is borderline, but it does have many other redeeming qualities, as I'm sure you will agree!

Dangling Monday Moons!

Well, ladies, I believe it's time for dangling participle week. I have a total of nine in my stash of hanging balls, and I've got one that is the end-all be-all of swinging nuts, which I will post on Sunday. In the meantime, if any of you have some good pics like this one, send them my way!

I'm still working on Virgin and trying to get as much done before my vacation starts. Of course, this long work weekend doesn't help much, plus I've got a few other things I need to write. Seems like everyone wants me to write something these days! Whatever happened to the time when all anyone wanted from me was a chocolate pie?

Hmmm, maybe it's time to post that recipe....

Tune in tomorrow!

Sunday's Wet Hunk of the Day!

This one is almost as good as Mary G's favorite man in gauze.

Almost. . . .



I'm blogging on Wickedly Romantic today. Rip his T-shirt the rest of the way and then come on over!

Saturday's Wet Hunk of the Day!

Now, this one gives you something to work with, doesn't he?

Wet Friday Fun!

These two are being total teasers. I mean, they're wet, but you can't see a damn thing!

Frustrating, but strangely intriguing, don't you think?

Happy Birthday, Leslie!

For your birthday, I thought you might enjoy this man in gauze that Mary G likes so well. He's not wet, and it's certainly not underwear, but I'm sure you won't mind! Have fun unwrapping him!


















And we now return to wet underwear guys! Not sure if this is underwear or not, but it might as well be. Do you think he's taking those undies off, or just trying to get the sand out of them?


I recently wrote a sex scene for Virgin that takes place in the ocean, and I know we've discussed the difficulties involved with having sex on the beach (sand) and in the water (washes away the natural lubricants), but since my heroine, Ava, is half Aquerei, an aquatic humanoid species, the lubrication problem is, well, not a problem. It was great fun figuring out things she could do with Dax, a Zetithian hunk who really doesn't like being in the water and can't swim.

So, you see, you never know when a blog discussion will give birth to a scene in a book!

Oh, and BTW, it was a nude beach. . . .

Keep those ideas coming ladies!

Whopping Wet Weasel Wednesday!

How about this one, Nancy! Does it wet your whistle?

I'm moving along on Virgin (still can't quite get used to calling it that!) and I'm up over 75,000 words. I also got an email from my agent that they're sending me the advance check for it, too, so it's all good here. I'm going to do my best to get it done on time, but it's gonna be close!

I've updated my website a bit, adding the new cover and a short blurb about the new book. Seems like I don't update it nearly often enough these days, but I'm trying!

Enjoy your Wet Underwear Wednesday!

Tasty Tuesday Tuscan Cheese!

I made my usual cookout goodies for Mike's graduation party on Sunday, but my sister-in-law said that this was the best thing on the table. I happen to agree. I figured this one out by reading the ingredients on a label and coming up with my own version. I don't have any pictures of it because there isn't any left to photograph!

Tuscan Cheese Spread

6 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
6 oz Gorgonzola cheese (room temperature)
2 tsp pesto
2 Tbsp chopped sun-dried tomatoes (I use the kind that's packed in oil with herbs, but the dry kind is okay, too)
2 Tbsp chopped roasted red bell peppers (I use Merzzetta)
Two or three dashes of salt, pepper, and garlic powder
Mayonnaise

Mix well, creaming the cheeses together and then add enough mayo to make it a good spreading or dipping consistency. This is great on any kind of chips, crackers, or bread, but I like it best on those little pretzel twists. It's also good on a hamburger or a sandwich.

And in honor of Queen Yah Yah's return to the CBEB, we begin wet underwear week!

Monday Moons and Mr. Romance Contestants!

One last pic from RT and now it's really over. I had to download this one and I kept forgetting to do it!

The next stop after the family vacation in Myrtle Beach is Orlando for the RWA Nationals! I was so looking forward to being a guest at the Opryland Hotel, but I guess that will have to wait for a while. I really feel for the folks in Nashville. Flooding is one of those things that leave you feeling completely at the mercy of the weather and the recovery could take years. I'm thinking RWA will be held there again eventually, but no telling when it might be. In 2011, Nationals will be in NYC, which I was a bit leery about, but Kendra Castle and Marie Force have promised that they'll look out for me in the Big Apple.

Of course, if it's like any of the other conventions I've attended thus far, you rarely set foot outside your hotel. My "tour" of Washington, DC consisted of the cab rides to and from the airport. We went to the Sourcebooks dinner in a limo, but if you've ever ridden in one before (I never had) you don't see much in the way of scenery.

So, instead of the Opryland Hotel, we'll be staying at the Swan and Dolphin resort in Disney World. Our room will be in the Swan, though the convention center is attached to the Dolphin. Guess the Cat Master will get the opportunity to walk off a few pounds, which isn't a bad thing at all. Like I told Marie (who will be my roomie), we will prevail!

For those of you who might have missed it on Wickedly Romantic yesterday, the title of Renegade has been changed to Virgin, and here's the cover!



























And because this is Monday, there must be moons! Enjoy!

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

This one begs the question:

"Why bother?"






















And this one is for Suzy, courtesy of Diva Donna!



























Enjoy your Sunday!

I've got a surprise for you on Wickedly Romantic today. Come on over!

Saturday's Hunk of the Day!

Here's the front side of those great muffin buns from Tuesday's recipe.

Not nearly as revealing as the rear view, is it?

Friday Fun with Donna and the DNR!

Ruh-roh! Donna has been getting into trouble again.

She writes:

The hubs was done fishing for a couple hours and went back to the cabin to take a nap. So what was I to do? Take the boat and go out and set anchor and read. Right?

















Well, After a about a hour of good reading, the DNR came up along side the boat and said: "What are you doing?"


















"I'm reading," I replied. "What does it look like?"

"Well, ma'am, I'm sorry, but you have all that fishing equipment in the boat. Can we see your Fishing License?"

"I'm not fishing," I protested.

"But you have the equipment, so we have to fine you."

I scratched my head. "Well, then, I'll just have to file a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit."

The Officers were surprised and said, "But, we didn't make any sexual advances towards you."

I pointed at their Crotches. "But you have all the equipment."

They laughed and said, "You've got a point. Enjoy your Book!"

The moral of the story is this:

Never mess with a romance reader!!!!

Thursday Thoughts

As you may have seen on Facebook last night, I finally finished the last edits of Hero, which will be out in August. It's a little scary sending a book in for the last time. I'll never be able to change anything in that book again. It is now, for all intents and purposes, carved in stone.

I hope I got it in soon enough that the books will be back from the printer in time for the booksigning in Orlando, but you never know how these things will go. I should have had them in by the 6th, but they sent them to me the day before I left for RT and I worked three nights in a row when I got home. I took that last day at RT to work on it, but one run-through is never enough (I prefer three). However, just as I finished the second pass, I got an email from Sourcebooks wanting to know when I'd have it finished. It was one of those "what the hell" moments that come to writers from time to time. You feel as though you've done all you can do at this point and it's time to run that book up a flagpole and see who salutes it.

One thing about those final edits is that you see so many things you'd like to change. A writer's technique evolves (at least, mine has) over the course of several manuscripts, and what seemed perfect three months ago isn't so perfect anymore. By perfect I don't mean spelling corrections. There was only one mistake in the galley they sent me, which was that the name of Jack's ship wasn't formatted in italics in one place. Aside from that, it WAS perfect. But there were also some things that were deleted in the last rewrite that needed to be added back in. In that way, leaving something for a few months helps you to realize those things, plus, some of the workshops at RT jarred my memory for things that needed tweaking.

The trouble with those last edits is that you can't change a whole helluva lot. A sentence, word, or phrase here and there is fine, but this is not the time to make major revisions. I did notice that I tend to overuse dialog tags. Now, this is something that the reader may not notice if they only read the book once, but after you've read a story through fifty times (and this is probably not an exaggeration!) those things tend to pop out at you. I deleted a few and changed a few, but most of them I left as they were. The next book should reflect a more sparing use of them, but when you've got six characters in a scene, they're tough to avoid.

Now it's back to writing Renegade, which was originally due the end of June, but my editor made a comment at RT that I may have more time, which is a good thing. She finally realized that having all manuscripts for a season due at the same time makes no sense because she can't read them all at once. I know how it feels on this end; I bust my ass getting it done on time, and she doesn't get around to reading it for another two months. Sometimes I'm actually finished on schedule, but there have been times when I could have used those extra weeks to smooth things out a bit more. Still at some point you must say, "It's finished!" and be done with it.

And I am. Yay!!!!!

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

Hunk: I think they're over that way.
Dick: No, you idiot! They're over that way.
Hunk: There's nothing over there but a bunch of cute chicks.
Dick: Which is why we need to go that way!
Hunk: But I have to save the world.
Dick: No you don't! All you really have to do is reproduce. THEN you can sacrifice yourself in the quest for world peace.
Hunk: But if I don't fight the bad guys, I can't be a hero.
Dick: Being a hero is highly overrated. Better to be a good lover.
Hunk: Whose side are you on?
Dick: Yours. Trust me. Spending time with the ladies is much more fun than fighting evil.
Hunk: Maybe, but first things first.
Dick: Where the hell are you going? Wait! Not that way! In case you haven't noticed, you're buck naked and unarmed. Those dudes have guns!
Hunk: So what? I'll fight them with my bare hands.
Dick: Not a good idea, son.
Hunk: Holy shit! They're shooting at us!
Dick: I tried to tell you, numbnuts. Why don't you ever listen to me?
Hunk: Quick, think of something!
Dick: You're the one with the brain, big guy. I'm just a dick with a head and a one track mind. Though it might be prudent to run at this point.
Hunk: Where to?
Dick: Well, duh! To the girls! Where else?
Hunk: Okay, you win.
Dick: You might be too late. Oh, no! I'm melting! The girls will be so disappointed. One Whopping Weasel going down. . . .

The moral of the story: Always follow your dick. It won't steer you wrong.

Still working on the edits to Hero and trying to get ready for Mike's graduation and saving lives at the bandage factory (as my dad used to call the hospital). Oh, yes, and today is my 31st wedding anniversary. Therefore, I don't have time to write much else besides a lame dick joke.

Get it? Lame dick?

Oh, I hope not. . . .

Tasty Tuesday Muffins!

Donna sent me this recipe a while back, and since the Cat Master has done nothing creative in the kitchen for some time now, I was glad to have it ready to go!

Now, I know that last week was underwear week, but Donna sent me this pic that seems appropriate for a muffin recipe for some reason. Dunno why. . .

Easy Morning Glory Muffins (Healthy Recipe) That My Men like

"These easy and tasty muffins are a glorious way to start any day. They combine the great taste and chewy texture of carrots with the wonderful flavors of apple, raisins, coconut, walnuts, and cinnamon." Cook Time: 20 Min Ready In: 45 Min. Makes 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
• 1 apple - peeled, cored and shredded
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil (Substitute 1 cup unsweetened applesauce)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the carrot, raisins, nuts, coconut, and apple.
3. In a separate bowl, beat together eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir egg mixture into the carrot/flour mixture, just until moistened. Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.
5. Butter him, I mean, them, up and enjoy!
   

Monday Moons!

Yes, I know underwear week was last week, but when a picture like this falls into my lap, I must use it!

Lisa found this one, and being that those are Benji's naked buns, (the first we've seen of them, I believe) underwear week must continue a bit longer!

In other news, it's crunch time. I've got until the end of June to finish the next book, and I've got at least 20,000 words left, so I've got to get busy. The fact that my family vacation is coming up between now and then means that, as usual, I will be doing some work while I'm in Myrtle Beach. I may be a bit scarce for a while, but never fear, the hunks will hold the fort for me.

I'm blogging on Casablanca Authors today. The theme is motherhood this month, so come on over!

Sunday's Underwear Hunk of the Day!

To end underwear week, what do you say we hit the beach?



























Or perhaps you'd prefer a bath to a swim. . . .


























Or maybe breakfast in bed?

























Nice to have a man who's handy in the kitchen, isn't it?



























Happy Mother's Day!

I'm blogging on Wickedly Romantic today. Come on over for a visit if you can tear yourself away for a moment.

Saturday's Underwear Hunk of the Day!

Well, I think he has on underwear. . . sort of. Not sure.

Better take a closer look.


I'll let you know what I discover.


In the meantime, enjoy your Saturday!

Friday Fun Underwear Guys!

LOL! I think we should just call these two athletic supporters and be done with it.



























Although, just what type of athletes would wear them is the question of the day.



























Then there is this one, which says it all!

Thoughtful Thursday Underwear guy!

Well, it looks like the RWA Nationals won't be at the Opryland Hotel, which is closed due to flooding. I received the cancellation email on Monday night. Not sure what they'll do about relocating the event, but if I can't drive there, I may not go. We'll see. I was really looking forward to staying in that hotel after our tour of it in February, too.

It's the sort of thing no one expects to have happen, and I'm sure the folks in Nashville are still having a tough time of it and will have for some time to come.
Recovering from a flood is not an easy task. My thoughts are with them.

Whopping Weasel Wednesday. . . with underwear!

It may not be the biggest one we've ever seen on a Wednesday here at the CBEB, but he's got on underwear! In addition to that, his yummydoodle is very nicely shaped and the rest of him ain't bad either. I think I'll keep him!
















I spent yesterday trying to catch up on emails, bill-paying, and such, but OMG!!! my yard has turned into a jungle while I was gone! Some parts of it are very pretty, but, though Budley got a bit of the grass cut between showers on Monday night, it's still quite a shock. I had things under control when I left, but it's amazing what will happen in just a few days this time of year. These woods were just getting good and green when I left, but now, the trees are leafed out completely.





















It was nice to head north and see more of the things that have already bloomed and faded here. You wouldn't think there would be that much difference between Bloomfield and Columbus, but their redbuds were still in bloom and on the way home, the black locust trees were going strong, though mine have faded a bit.




















Sometimes Mother Nature gets a bit out of hand, but you have to go with the flow on these things. Normally, I plant marigolds around my composter, but I don't think it's going to happen this year. There are volunteer hollyhocks on one side and the lemon balm has taken over the other. There's a little path between the composter and the deck, but I don't think anyone will be using it because there are volunteer cosmos coming up between the paving stones and the hollyhocks are crowding in from both sides.




















But there are nice surprises, too. The rhododendrons bloomed while I was gone, and Peaches is still her same crazy self.
*sigh* Some things never change. . . .





















Oh, and BTW, Happy Cinco de Mayo!