So, tomorrow is my birthday (we won’t discuss years ) and I’m hoping to catch a movie at some point this weekend if I get to feeling better. I was supposed to attend a signing in Cincinnati this weekend but please note I will NOT be at Romancing the Holidays. What kind of holiday would it be if I coughed all over my readers and made them sick for Thanksgiving?

Thanks for the well wishes. They’re working. The antibiotics I drank last night are beginning to kick in. Problem now is that I’m feeling better but I’m so tired! I wear out easily, which is why I had to withdraw from the Cincinnati gig. Two hours there, two hour signing and two hours home would leave me sitting by the side of the road in a stupor. I just don’t have the energy. But I’m sounding much better today and actually have a voice. Yesterday, not so much.

Do you have any plans for the weekend? Doing anything special? And how’s the Christmas shopping coming along?

Kay

With being sick I’ve had some time to veg on the couch and check out the television because I haven’t felt like doing much of anything else. What I discovered is that I love the good old stand-bys when it comes to shows. Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queens and Two and a Half Men. These shows aren’t new by any means and three of them are no longer on the air except in reruns. But what makes them favorites?

My guess? Characters. The characters on those shows are characters we can identify with. Each of the friends and their problems. Living close to the inlaws, the orneriness of Two and a Half Men. Fun.

What are your favorite shows?

Kay - needing potato soup (yes, I’m potato soup sick now )

UGH! Someone pass the tissues, would you?

DD’s germs have jumped ship to me and I’m coughing and hacking and miserable. I spent all day today on the couch surfing the movie channels. Haven’t done that in quite a while. Hopefully tomorrow will be better because I don’t want to get behind, especially not this time of year. Yesterday I managed to get a few decorations set out and I’m feeling pretty festive.

As to the winner of last week’s earrings? Kathleen! Kathleen, please email me privately with your shipping instructions.

As to my question of the day… When you love a book, or hate it, do you write reviews? It seems as though so many people either write glowing praise or else they rant and rave. Do you post reviews or do you read a book and set it aside?

Kay

It’s been raining all day today. A foggy, rainy, lazy day that I spent on the road to Lexington to speak and back home again. Needless to say, I’m tired! Mostly because on days like today I like to stay home, snuggle up and read/write.

What did you do today?

Kay

Do you remember the days before internet and cell phones? Remember when you’d get in the car and go somewhere and not worry if someone was trying to reach you because if they needed you, they’d call back or call someone else?

After basically unplugging myself from reality to get my last book finished on deadline, I’ve discovered that I like being unplugged. I really, really like it. LOL It’s amazing what you can get done when you’re not surfing the net, the writers’ loops, the discussion boards and all the other places that just eat away your time. Then I got to thinking, am I the only one feeling this way? When does it all feel like a little too much? Do you stay plugged in all the time or do you take breaks?

BTW, the hugs and prayers worked. DD is feeling much better today. Thanks for the good thoughts!

Kay

So, when I was growing up, anytime I was sick and didn’t want to eat, my mother would make potato soup. Why? I loved it and it’s the only thing I could usually stomach when I was feeling *that* bad.

My daughter’s cold has turned into walking pneumonia. The P word is scary enough, but no matter their age or size, every mother out there knows your baby is your baby. I’m no different.

So today when I was trying to get my baby to eat, I asked what she wanted. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Finally I said the first thing that came to my mind when I think of being sick–and she wanted it. Yup, she’s potato soup sick, which means–she’s truly feeling yucky.

Hopefully the meds will do their trick when combined with the magical elixir of potatoes. But that brings me to my question: What do you crave when you’re sick and don’t want to eat anything?

Kay

As I’ve said many times before, I’m not much of a cook. I can cook, I just don’t like to. But with the upcoming holiday season fast approaching, I’d love to get some easy, quick recipes for everything from appetizers to main courses to dessert. Anyone willing to share?

I just finished the first three chapters of Alexandra Tulane’s story (yay! ) and hope to edit/polish it today and get that turned in. The upcoming weeks are BUSY as I know they are for you, too. Which brings me to my next question (please don’t forget to share those recipes!), shopping. What are you getting your loved ones for Christmas?

My family is fairly large so we’ve changed things this year. We’re each bringing a $10 gift, putting everyone’s name in a hat and playing Bingo where you get to pick a present from beneath the tree or steal a present that’s already been unwrapped. It’s fun and always good for lots of laughs.

My problem purchase is always my dh. How many tools does a man need? How many gadgets (says the woman who likes gadgets herself!)? Any suggestions?

Where are your favorite places to shop? Do you do any online shopping? Living in the middle of nowhere where I live, I’m discovering the magic of online shopping. No gas needed, I can wear my pj’s (always a good thing!) and they ship it to me. That rocks.

Kay

I looked out my bedroom window the other night and noticed our neighbor had lights on in their window–Christmas lights. Their tree was up!

Can I just say now how totally jealous I am?

I like putting my tree(s) up early. In the past we’ve put up several trees throughout the house and I’ve started on them upstairs as early as October 15. Now, that’s not to say that I turn them on, just put them up and begin the decorating etc. After Halloween is over, I then work on the downstairs. Well, that was before publishing. Now I’m lucky if I get a tree up. LOL

*sigh*

I miss going all out on my Christmas decorating. But who has time? I need Christmas elves willing to come in and do it all while I sleep.

What about you? Are you an early Christmas tree person or a late one?

The winner of last week’s earrings is Daphne M! Daphne, please email me privately with your shipping instructions.

Kay

I’m not a public speaker. Never have been, never will be. But, it’s one of those things that I’m trying to force myself to do. Practice makes perfect, right?

*sigh*

I’m thinkin’ maybe I need to give up now. I was part of a panel discussion today (thank God there were other authors there who did a fabulous job!). I was fine when I got there and wasn’t even that nervous, but then I wound up being the third from the last to speak and by then I could barely breathe. Not exactly the way you want to give a speech. *bigger sigh*

I’m afraid I sputtered my way through an incoherent speech on writing emotion that had everyone’s eyes glazing over. Since I feel the need to focus on the positive, I’ll say the day was saved–by the little bit of Christmas shopping I got done at some nearby stores.

Do you mind speaking in public? Have any advice for how I can get over my nervous jitters? I keep thinkin’ I’ll get better but so far? Gotta say that’s a NO.

Kay

I first posted this blog about a year and a half ago or so but I’m recycling it because I’ve been thinking about it a lot recently. So, here it is. I hope you’ll post your mantra!

******

I’m reading a book called The Secret. Yeah, I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It was on Oprah, is on every bookstore shelf, and supposedly contains the secret to life. The secret? The power of positive thinking. The book contains quotes from people practicing a variety of theologies, but it boils down to thinking, believing and as a result, receiving, good things from life. I was glad to note they pulled references from the Bible. Matthew and Mark, anyone?

But I digress… How many times do we let one bad thing happening to us snowball into an avalanche? You get up in the morning and stub your toe. That leads to breaking a dish at breakfast, you’re late for work, your boss is in a mood, your lunch order is wrong, blah, blah, blah. We’ve all been there. But what if there was a way to change that cycle? The Secret says it’s possible. How? According to the book, by simply changing our thoughts we can change the rest of our day or, better yet, set a positive course for our day before we ever get out of bed and have that first mishap. Crazy? Or true? Could doing so really be as simple as maintaining the right attitude?

Through the years I’ve met several people who liked to use mantras. You know what I mean, little sayings or words of wisdom that can be pulled from your mind when you need them most. Some see them as self-describing rather than uplifting, some use spiritual verses–whatever’s needed to get them through the moment.

For instance, to combat self-esteem issues and difficult problems or situations, it’s recommended that a person create a mantra of strength to showcase and remind them of their good qualities when they’re feeling down on themselves and the many pressures put on us by society today. Strength mantras focus on inner beauty versus physical beauty, characteristics that won’t fade over time but that will give the person strength of conviction by simply saying the words. It helps them focus on the positive rather than the negative as most of us tend to do.

Since beginning to read The Secret and remembering just how many people I know who use mantras, that got me thinking (scary, huh? ) What would my strength mantra be? What qualities should I focus on as a person, writer, wife, mother? (Can we say procrastination? Blog material is blog material.

Anyway, I’ve given it some thought and am willing to share–hoping that you’ll share yours in return. Don’t have one? Maybe now is the perfect time to dig deep and find the good things inside you that have nothing to do with the physical and everything to do with your internal, spiritual side.
My strength mantra is:

I am a child of God. I am kind, loving, and thankful for all that’s been given to me. I am strong, faithful, healthy, and a good person, not only to my family but to others.

It needs tweaked ( LOL Where’s an editor when you need one? ), but what do you think?
And so I’m sending out an official Pink Ladies Blog invitation right now to all of you—please, tell us who *you* are. What’s your strength mantra?

I’m soooo looking forward to reading your responses!