It's New Year's Eve!

Break out the bubbly and grab a hunk, it's time to celebrate the coming of the New Year!

But before we say goodbye to 2010 forever, I'd like to take a few moments to reflect on the changes that have been wrought to our lives during the past year.

These words are not mine, Diva Donna sent this list to me in an email, but all of you who have received forwarded emails from well-meaning friends should be able to relate to this little rant:

As we come to the end of the year 2010, I want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails this year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.

I no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, or have the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.
I can’t use the remote in a hotel room because I don’t know what the last person was doing while flipping through the adult movie channels.
I can’t sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.
I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one’s nose.
Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of Trans fats I have consumed over the years.
I can’t touch any woman’s purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.
I MUST SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS to whoever sent me the one about rat poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.
ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.
I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die for the 1,387,258th time.
I no longer have any money, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.
I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa’s Novena has granted my every wish.
I can’t have a drink in a bar because I'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with my kidneys gone.
I can’t eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers.
I can’t use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.
THANKS TO YOU I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.
BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
I no longer buy gas without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer doesn’t crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up.
I no longer drink Pepsi or Fanta since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put ‘Under God’ on their cans.
I no longer use Cling Wrap in the microwave because it causes seven different types of cancer.
AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW I can’t boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face. Disfiguring me for life.
I no longer go to the movies because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS when I sit down.
I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.
I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al Qaeda agents in disguise.
And I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica , Uganda , Singapore , and Uzbekistan.
THANKS TO YOU I can’t use anyone’s toilet but mine because a big black snake could be lurking under the seat and cause me instant death when it bites my butt.
AND THANKS TO YOUR GREAT ADVICE I can’t ever pick up $2.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was
placed there by a sex molester waiting to grab me as I bend over.
I no longer drive my car because buying gas from some companies supports Al Qaeda, and buying gas from all the others supports South American dictators.
I can’t do any gardening because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off.
If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, and the fleas from 120 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor’s ex-mother-in-law’s second husband’s cousin’s best friend’s beautician . . .
Oh, by the way.....A German scientist from Argentina , after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.
Don’t bother taking it off now, it’s too late.
P. S.: I now keep my toothbrush in the living room, because I was told by e-mail that water splashes over 6 ft. out of the toilet.

Okay. After all of that, we need a hunk!!! Badly!!!!

Thursday Thoughts

As I write this post, my new robot vacuum, whom I've dubbed Klog, (a name you may remember from Fugitive), is vacuuming my room. That little bugger goes places I haven't cleaned in a long, long time, bringing out lost receipts and those little rings from the tops of milk jugs that the cats like to play with for a while and then you never see again. Anyway, promptly at 9 am, as programmed, Klog beeped and started cleaning. Too bad he's not completely autonomous. You have to empty him frequently, and though having him around is sort of like having a maid, he's also a bit like a dog or a small child because you have to Klog-proof your house. He tried to eat the Christmas tree skirt, a very small wire to the PS3 (it can handle most larger wires), and knocked over Budley's portable desk that leans against the wall when not in use.

Right now, he's visiting Mikey, who is still asleep. I'm hoping that someday he can get the floor clean enough that I won't have to empty the dustbin so often, but I'm not sure we'll ever get to that point with a woodstove and three cats, not to mention the cedar chips from Peaches' house that she scatters all over the porch and are subsequently tracked into the house. If she would just leave the cushy little dog mats inside her house instead of dragging them all over the yard, we wouldn't have that problem. But that's Peaches for you.

So, right now, we're in that lull between Christmas and New Year's. I'm off New Year's Eve this year, but I'll probably spend that evening the way I always do, writing, editing, and blogging. The only difference will be that instead of checking to see that my blog posted correctly at midnight, I'll be watching the ball drop in Times Square. Then I'll check on my blog and go to bed.

Okay. I guess I'd better post a nice, naked hunk now, or you'll get depressed that the only thing I have to blog about is a vacuum cleaner.



























Ah, the glamorous and exciting life of a romance writer!

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful birthday wishes! I had a great birthday. The guys gave me some exotic cheeses (I couldn't think of anything else I wanted) and we went to Bloomington, bought Sam a new mattress, then saw Tangled, which was very funny, and had dinner at Red Lobster. Our waiter acted like he really wanted to sing Happy Birthday to me, but, alas, I had no room left for dessert. It's not like I needed it anyway.

We were going to see Tron, too, but dinner took too long, so we came home early. Sometimes just being home is the best gift of all.

And speaking of gifts, here's a special something for all the Yah-Yahs from me to you--with a little help from Rafael!

Enjoy your Wednesday in style!

Tasty Tuesday!

First of all, I must take time out from the yumminess of Tasty Tuesday to wish myself a Happy 55th Birthday.

And now, for someone to help me celebrate it in style. Hmm... Let me see now...

Oh, NO!!! Have I actually used up all the best hunks and left none for my own birthday?

*sniff* I believe I have.




Thank goodness Donna sent one with this recipe!

And no, that's not a kilt.

Captain Jerods' Death Roast


A Roast so delicious that you will question ever making anything different ever again.

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) can pineapple tidbits with juice
• 2 pounds boneless pork loin roast
• 1/2 cup spiced rum (such as Captain Morgan's®)
• 1 large orange, sliced
• 4 canned pineapple rings
• 4 maraschino cherries
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar, or to taste

Directions

1. Spread the pineapple tidbits and juice evenly over the bottom of a slow cooker. Stab the pork roast as many times as you like with a fork to puncture so the flavors will penetrate the meat, then place into the slow cooker. Pour the rum over top, and arrange the orange slices around the pork roast. Place the pineapple rings on top of the roast, and place a maraschino cherry into the center of each ring. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
2. Set the slow cooker on Low, and cook until the pork is fork tender, 6 to 8 hours. If desired, turn the pork over after 2 hours, then again at the-5 hour mark.

---

I found a few other pics of him. Oh, yes! He will do very nicely!



























Happy Birthday to me!

Monday Moons!

Christmas is over. Time to get to work and firm up those buns!

Perhaps it's time I got back on my treadmill and tried to lose some weight. I did a bit of portion control a couple of weeks ago and was losing a pound a day.

Then I re-zeroed my scale and it all came back.

Doncha just hate that?

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

Just had to post one last Christmas hunk.

Interestingly enough, I tried flipping this picture, but he looks better upside down. Go figure. . . .

Merry Christmas!!!!

Thought I'd share with you the view from my chair in the living room on Christmas Eve. Outside, it's snowing, but here in the house, it's warm and cozy. Budley is brewing coffee while I sip my cup of chai. Mikey is in his room loading up Sam's new iTouch with apps so it will be all ready to go tomorrow morning. Scented candles are burning, and there's a fire in the woodstove, warming my toes. The roast beast is baking in the oven, John Denver is singing Christmas songs on the stereo, and Sam is in the kitchen eating a Cheese Lover's pan pizza--his idea of the perfect Christmas Eve fare.

Later on, I'll be baking the Yorkshire pudding, lemon bars, and pumpkin bread, and this place will smell downright orgasmic. LOL! It smelled so good in here earlier, the aroma even got Mikey out of bed.

And now, for your Christmas viewing pleasure, I present today's hunk!

He may be sitting by the fireplace, but I don't see any fire, so he's bound to be a bit chilly.

Warm him up, Yah-Yahs, and have a


VERY


MERRY

CHRISTMAS!

Friday Fun on Christmas Eve!

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
















The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,





















In hopes that St. Nicholas, soon would be there.

The Yah-Yahs were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of Christmas hunks danced in their heads. The Cat Master in my nightie, and DH in the sack, had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window, I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, gave a luster of midday to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer....






















With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment, it must be St. Nick.

More rapid that eagles, his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name."Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of hunks, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of goodies he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His succulent mouth was stretched into a grin,
And he looked like a romance about to begin.

His shoulders were broad, as a good hunk's should be
And his arms were well muscled. What a nice sight to see!
He had a cute face and a tight, washboard belly,
That rippled when he laughed, made my knees turn to jelly!

He was handsome and ripped, a right hot jolly elf,
And I swooned when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all Yah-Yahs, and to all a good-night!"

Thursday Thoughts

I'm writing this on Tuesday night, my last night off before going back to work on Wednesday. I've been off for a week, and today I finally reached a point of non-panic over everything that needs to be done. The Christmas presents are all wrapped, the cards have been mailed, and I've even filled the stockings already. Remember when I cleaned house the day after putting up my Christmas tree? Well, I did it again. I vacuumed and mopped the floor. I don't even want to think about how long ago it was that I did that twice in one month.

Since it was supposed to ice up again last night (it didn't), I canceled my riding lesson and planned to spend the day at home. I made pumpkin bread and Chicken Piccata, (if you want the recipes, they're listed under Labels on the sidebar) both at Mikey's request. Actually, he asked for the pumpkin bread when he was home for Thanksgiving, but I didn't have time to make it. The house smells fabulous and dinner was delicious. The floor is clean. I'm working on two stories at once and though there was a momentary lull, I got going again eventually.

I think what I'm trying to say here is that some of the best vacations are spent at home. I'm sure I'd go stir crazy eventually, but it sure is nice not having to go anywhere, whether it's snowing or not. There truly is no place like home, especially when there's a hunk like that snoozing in the barn. Guess I'd better go wake him up before he gets too cold. . . .

Only TWO more shopping days until CHRISTMAS!!!!

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

Considering how much greenery it's taking to cover it up, this MUST be a whopper.



























But since I've had you ladies use your imaginations way too much lately, here's another pic.



























I suppose I could ask Mikey to Photoshop the Santa hat on him for me, but I think he'd have a mental meltdown.

There's only so much a mother can ask of her son. . .

Only THREE more shopping days until Christmas!

Unfortunately, I have to work two of them. :-(

Tasty Tuesday Salisbury Steak!

Donna has been in the kitchen again and sends us another great recipe!

This is a classic Salisbury steak in beef and mushroom gravy. This is my husband's all-time favorite meal. This recipe makes plenty gravy, so serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles. And goes great with a nice glass of wine.

And as a side-dish for us ladies I had to find a Manly guy worthy of accompanying Steak.

So
I chose Matt "Jett" Shaefer, he just had that body that was prime cut of Meat. Too delicious not to savor, lick, and go back for second helpings!

SALISBURY STEAK

Ingredients(serves 6)ready in 35 min.

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons crushed buttery round cracker crumbs
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 2 (4 ounce) cans sliced mushrooms with juice
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 3 cubes beef bouillon

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, egg, cracker crumbs, onion, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning using your hands. Shape into 6 patties about 1 inch thick.
2. Fry the patties in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until browned. Drain off grease, and remove patties to a platter; keep warm.
3. Melt the butter in the same skillet, and add the mushrooms. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over, and mix in until blended. Stir in the milk and beef bouillon. Cook and stir over medium heat until smooth and starting to thicken. Return the patties to the gravy and cook over low heat, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

For your Christmas enjoyment....

This is the picture I was telling you about, Alicia. Good luck finding the YD. I've tried, believe me, I've tried!

Spent most of yesterday feeling really crummy. Guess it was that tequila on the rocks I had with dinner on Saturday night. It's not my usual beverage of choice, but it's difficult to make a margarita when there's tequila and no limes.

It seems that my friend Marie Force has put a couple of her unpublished books up on Amazon and her earnings so far have been very encouraging. She's been telling me I need to put my unpubbed stuff up too, but I'm wondering just how many of you read books on Kindle or other electronic formats. Can I see a show of hands?

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

Is it just me, or does he look a bit chilly in that outfit?

Warm him up, Yah-Yahs!

I'm blogging on Casablanca Authors today. Something about endings, I think. Not sure. Wrote it at about 1 AM on Friday night. Could be about anything....

Saturday's Hunk of the Day!

Would anyone care to ring his bells?

I'll be out most of the day today, visiting the relatives in Louisville.

I spent yesterday baking cookies and pies and trying to melt some of the ice on the porch and the driveway. My driveway adventure began early after Budley decided to go to work. He made it out, but at the end of our driveway is a relatively steep slope to the road, which is on a slightly gentler slope. This spot has been the bane of our country living existence for the past twenty-one years, and we have yet to come up with a way to manage the ice. I have driven home through snow deep enough to belly-out under my car, only to be brought to a screeching halt when attempting to enter the drive.

In the past, I have used rock salt, a snow shovel, and cat litter, but this year, Budley had an idea. Now, as idea men go, Budley is one of the best. Unfortunately, I am usually the one who implements these notions. His idea was to dig out a wheelbarrow full of used cat litter, which Sam has been piling up along the edge of the woods for the past several years to the point that it has taken on the appearance of an Indian burial mound, and cart it down to the road and spread it out over the ice.

So, in true intrepid Cat Master fashion, I dutifully emptied the manure from the wheelbarrow onto my rose bed after cleaning the barn, gathered up a shovel, and set off for the mound. The ice and snow covering was easy enough to break through, and as the cat litter wasn't frozen solid, it was relatively easy to shovel out. In short order, I had filled the barrow to the brim with damp cat litter.

Has anyone spotted the problem with this idea yet? No?
Very well, then. I shall continue.

Our driveway is perhaps fifty yards long (I've never measured it, but half the distance to the end zone seems applicable) and there are two steep slopes, one gentle rise, and an almost 90 degree turn right before the last slope to the house. The driveway is covered in ice--slicker in the tire tracks, but only snow and ice-covered in the center. This is the path I took. First to empty a bucketful of hot coals from the woodstove on the end of the drive (which was totally inadequate, BTW), and then to push the load of cat litter. My first effort to move the barrow demonstrated the problem.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH A WHEELBARROW FULL OF DAMP CAT LITTER WEIGHS?????

A lot. I accomplished my task, but I am now feeling the effects. My back is in a spasm and my right hip hurts from where I fell on it. I was standing still at the time, which should give you an idea of just how slick that spot is.

But it was worth it. My guys are now home, safe and sound, and their cars are not stuck in the drive, keeping us cut off from the outside world until spring.

Only SEVEN more shopping days until Christmas!

Friday Fun!

Ginger O'Brien sent us this link. So, take a little time out from your Christmas preparations (only eight more shopping days until Christmas!) for a little fun and enjoy your Friday!

PS. It's underneath the hunk!

http://gpsinformation.info/main/merryxmas.swf

Thursday Thoughts

Like just about everyone else, I'm still trying to get stuff ready for Christmas. I haven't done anywhere near enough shopping, and I haven't even started on my Christmas cards.

We're going to visit friends and family on Saturday, which is the toughest part because to see everyone, we can't stay anyplace for very long. Just about the time you get into a good discussion, it's time to move on.

We started doing this after we moved away from Louisville twenty-one years ago. At first, we spent Christmas Eve in Louisville, once even getting a hotel room. Then things changed. The nieces and nephews grew up and moved away and getting together on Christmas Eve became unfeasible.

I must say, I do like being home on Christmas. This year, I'm planning to fix roast beef and Yorkshire pudding on Christmas Eve, and then Christmas night, I'll be at work. The best part, though, is that Mikey comes home from Purdue today. Now maybe I'll be able to pump him for gift ideas. I haven't bought a thing for him so far, though he's not too hard to please. A couple of pairs of flannel sleep pants, and he's happy.

*sigh* And now, we only have nine shopping days left until Christmas. Time to break out the Christmas hunks, don't you think?

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

Some of these guys have been in my WW file for so long, I'm starting to think of them as family. Some, as I've mentioned before are just plain scary, but this relative newbie seems fairly approachable.

Yikes! Only ten shopping days left until Christmas! I'm SO not ready....

Tasty Tuesday Tourtierre!

Today's recipes are courtesy of the Sextet's own Ginger O'Brien who was telling us about tourtierre when we got together last weekend. It sounds like just the thing for keeping warm on cold winter nights!

The hunk was added by the Cat Master. He could keep you warm too.

Enjoy!

TOURTIERRE

Pastry for double crust 9 in. pie.

Filling:
1 1/2 lb. ground pork (you can also use a mixture of ground veal and pork, too)
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp. dried savory
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup water
pinch allspice
2 tsp. dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 potato, cooked and mashed

Place all filling ingredients except potato in a pot. Mix well. Simmer covered for 45 min., stirring occasionally, until pork is cooked. Add the mashed potato and mix well to eliminate any lumps. Taste for seasoning, adding salt, pepper, or spices as needed. Cool.

Preheat oven to 375 deg. F.

Divide pastry in half. Roll out to fit a 9 in. pie plate. Add the filling. Cover with the remaining pastry. Make 3 or 4 incisions on top of the pastry to allow steam to escape.

Bake 45 min., or until the pastry is golden. Serve hot. Serves 6

We like it with a cheese sauce over the pie but if you have another favorite hot sauce recipe, it would probably work, too.

PLATTER SALAD

Layer on platter:

1 head of iceberg lettuce torn into bits.
2-3 stalks of celery, cut diagonally
sweet onion - cut into rings (as many as you like)

Mix together well for dressing and drizzle over the greens:

1/2 pint (1 cup) of sour cream
1/2 cup sugar

Mix together 1/2 cup mayonnaise thinned with 2 to 3 tbsps of white vinegar, and drizzle over preceding ingredients.

Sprinkle over salad: 1/2 cups chopped bacon bits (tastes best with real bacon)

Cover entire salad with finely grated Parmesan cheese (fresh is best).

Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate salad for 2 to 3 hours before serving to let flavors and dressing blend.

All I want for Christmas is a clean house. . . .

The tree is up, the house is clean, and the Cat Master is about to keel over.

I'm writing this Saturday afternoon after putting up the tree Friday night and cleaning all day Saturday. Funny how decorating for Christmas will make you see things that are in desperate need of cleaning that you somehow manage to ignore the rest of the year. I cleaned things that haven't been touched in fifteen years.

Then I look at the bookshelves and wonder, why do I have two copies of Chuck Yeager's autobiography? Why do I still have nursing books that were probably outdated when I bought them??? Why do we have repair manuals for cars we no longer own?

Oh, yes, and another thing I never use. The CD player in the living room. The receiver was purchased by my DH when he was still selling shoes. Just to give you an idea of how long ago that was, I've known him since 1976, and he wasn't selling shoes then and hasn't since. Anyway, while I was decorating the tree, I decided I needed a little Christmas music. I turned on the CD player, and--lo and behold!--there were five CDs still in the player, right where I left them last Christmas, though I think they'd actually been in there for the past two years. I did replace a couple of them with some different albums, but, yeah, they're still in there.

I'm going to our ICU Christmas party tonight. We didn't draw names last year, but this year someone decided to revive the tradition. One of my buddies asked me to be sure to put something on the wish list we have posted in the med room because whoever drew my name had exclaimed, "Oh, no! Cheryl's so hard to buy for..."

I'm not, really. I just don't want anything that can't be used up. So every year I ask for soap, tea, and extra extra dark chocolate. Nothing to find a new place for on the book shelf or in the cabinets. Nothing to stash in the garage because there's no room for it in the house. Just stuff I can use.

I think it's a function of age. After a certain point, you pretty much have everything you need and most of the things you want, which is probably why Christmas and birthdays are so much more fun when you're young and there's always something new and exciting to wish for. When you're older, it doesn't matter so much.

Actually, right now, I just wish for a body that doesn't hurt all over from crawling around scrubbing floors on my hands and knees. I was already getting pretty tired when I decided to wash the front of my kitchen cabinets. I'd scrubbed two sets of doors when I got a little too forceful with the lazy Susan and knocked over a bottle of capers, which got stuck and leaked vinegar all under the shelf while I was trying to get it out.

No doubt about it, I should've listened to Sam when he told me I needed a break, but, hey, at least today's hunk looks nice and clean. . .

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

This one is really asking for it, isn't he?

Bet if you were really quick and sneaky, you could grab him before he could stop you.

Go get him, gang!

Saturday's Hunk of the Day!

This is another one of those slightly scary hunks who's been lurking in my files for a while. Though he appears to be in a doctor's exam room, I think his problem is obvious:

He doesn't need a doctor.

He needs the Yah-Yahs!

Friday Fun!

Sad what women must go through to get a bit of male attention when they get on in years, isn't it?

Of course, with my luck, I'd get a female security guard...

Which is why we mature chicks need the internet. At least we can look at hunks, even if we can't actually get our hands on them.

I sometimes think it grossly unfair that hunks can get their hands on themselves whenever they like, while we are denied that privilege.

*sniff*

It's not right. . .

It's just not right!

Thursday Thoughts

Well, ladies, I've got good news and bad news.

I was recently asked to read Olivia Cunning's upcoming book, Rock Hard, and provide a cover quote. Having read Backstage Pass, I was more than happy to do so, and let me tell you ladies, it's plenty hot! If you enjoyed Backstage Pass, you'll like this one even more because you learn more about the guys in the band and what makes them tick. That's what makes Olivia's books a cut above a lot of erotic romances; they've got great characters and a good story to go along with the steamy stuff.

That's the good news.

The bad news is it won't be out until April 2011.

Sorry.

Here's a nice hunk to cheer you up!

Whopping Weasel Wednesday!

Though he is definitely hairy and possesses all the necessary requirements for a Wednesday guy,
I've always thought this one was a little on the scary side.

However, while scrolling through my files this past weekend, Sextet authors Annie Morgan and Paige Matthews seemed to think he was pretty hot.

What say you, Yah-Yahs?

Tasty Tuesday WW Mexican Meatloaf!

We have a new recipe contributor! Judy sent this one for those of us who are (or, as in my case, should be) watching our weight.

WW Mexican Meatloaf

POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 65 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Cook this spiced-up meatloaf on a broiler pan so any excess fat can drip away. Line the bottom of the pan with foil for speedy clean up.

Ingredients

1 spray of cooking spray
1/2 pound raw extra lean ground beef
1/2 pound lean ground turkey
2 large egg whites
2 oz cornbread Stuffing dry mix, (about 1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
4 oz canned green chili peppers, diced
8 oz canned enchilada sauce
Instructions
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a broiler pan with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, mix beef, turkey, egg whites, stuffing mix, onion, chili powder, cumin, chilies and half of enchilada sauce together. Shape into an oval with your hands and place on prepared broiler pan.
• Cook for 1 hour, top with remaining enchilada sauce and bake for 5 minutes more. Slice into 6 pieces and serve.
Cook this spiced-up meatloaf on a broiler pan so any excess fat can drip away. Line the bottom of the pan with foil for speedy clean up.

And where would Tasty Tuesday be without an adorable hunk to share the goodies with? Just a moment... He's getting UNdressed for dinner!

Sextet Writers and Monday Moons!

The Sextet gang and I were planning to go to the INRWA Christmas party together and then spend the night at Paige's house to work on our erotic short stories, but since the roads were kinda bad, we opted to stay put. Though we probably would've made it there okay, the trip home could have been a little dicey.

We had our own little party and then did a group critique of our current works in progress Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday morning. We were working, but the great thing about a group critique is that it doesn't feel like work. We each had the story on our computers, following along while we took turns reading it aloud. We'd all chime in with corrections, comments, and suggestions--which, when you consider what we're writing, makes for a ton of laughs. We even acted out a fight scene.

And, yes, we did look through my hunk files a bit. This fellow was very popular with the ladies of the Sextet--especially his dimples!--but Paige kept pulling up the pic of Sunday's hunk and enlarging it. She's incorrigible!

Mellanie Szereto gave us all gifts from Cirilla's. Paige received a chocolate willie. . .
























and I got a box of Penis Gummies, which are so tasty, I can't stop eating them!





















Mellanie also brought along another purchase, which she refers to as Reliable Richard. He never fails, even if his batteries go dead!




















She's got everything an erotic romance writer needs, doesn't she? Laptop, comfy chair, bag of goodies, big smile, plastic dick. . . .



























And then there's Ginger, who obviously knows how to keep Richard happy!

Sunday's Hunk of the Day!

Sam's had a tough time at the office this week.

He even had to work on Saturday.

He needs your assistance in helping him unwind.

Go for it, Yah-Yahs!!!!

Saturday's Hairy Hunk of the Day!

I leave the rest of him to your imagination!

Friday Fun!

Okay, here it is again in another version:













When you pull on the corners of your eyes, you should be able to read it.

Now that we know your eyes are okay (and I'm sure they are) here's another test:

Is this guy hairy enough for Hairy Hunk Week?

Thursday Thoughts

The copyedited manuscript of Virgin is due back today. It's very difficult to try to read through something that I know has been altered when I can't tell who did it or why, but once I finally got a version that had the edits tracked and was able to correct and change it as I saw fit, I was much happier.

Unfortunately, in the course of the editing process, several discrepancies were created by the edits, and there were two other discrepancies that no one else spotted until I read through it myself.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that authors have the best knowledge of their stories, and when someone else takes it upon themselves to start messing with the content, mistakes will be made. It took me until Fugitive to convince my editors that the entire CSC series takes place within our own Milky Way galaxy and to get them to stop adding the word "intergalactic" in wherever they saw fit. In the Star Trek series and subsequent movies, the Enterprise never left our galaxy, and I hold firm in my belief that mankind will never venture that far into space. Reaching the next solar system will be difficult enough, which is why I set my series 1000 years in the future, and even that may not be enough time.

Speaking of time, when I entered Stud in my local RWA chapter's "members only" contest, one of the judges wondered what year the book was set in. Now, I realize that I've never used exact dates in any of my books, the reason being that our own planet cannot expect the entire galaxy to base its calendar on the birth of Christ. In Star Trek, they used stardates, but I've never been sure exactly what they were based on. However, having no point of reference other than our own, I came up with this timeline.

2964 Cat (hero of Slave) born
2972 Tarq (hero of Stud) born
2982 Dax (hero of Virgin) born
2984 Zetith destroyed
3004 Slave
3005 Warrior
3006 Rogue
3007 Outcast
3008 Fugitive
3009 Hero
3015 Virgin
3017 Stud

It's not terribly important, but may be an interesting bit of trivia for you CSC readers. I set the destruction of Zetith in 2984 as a sort of tribute to George Orwell's 1984, and went from there.

Okay, after all of that, I need a nice, hairy hunk.