Be Careful What You Wish For (Out Loud)

by Deb

While walking a local trail recently, I had a nostalgic moment, remembering the times when my kids were young and we went camping. Those were the days! Crackling fires, the fresh smell of the great outdoors, sleeping under the stars, marshmallows and chocolate smores. Suddenly, I really, really wanted to camp again after having absolutely no desire to do so for the last ten-plus blissful years of temperature-control and linens. Where did this wildly primal urge come from?

We still have most of our camping equipment although my college kids have been borrowing, which means some of the tent parts are missing and unidentifiable organisms are living in the pots and pans since they didn't clean them before packing them away again. The Coleman stove is there. So are those little clips that hold down the vinyl tablecloth, although the red-checkered tablecloth is missing. Going through our supplies brought back even more precious memories.

If I hadn't verbalized my thoughts, I'd have been able to stuff them back into dormancy. But the camping-again words left my mouth and landed somewhere in my husband's brain, causing his eyes to light with surprised delight. Yes! Lets! he said. Wow, this is going to be so cool! Somewhere in all the joy, we decided to get more camping equipment for each other for Christmas.

So I'm committed for 2010. We're going camping.

But now I remember much more - freezing cold, downpours, heat waves, leaky tents, wet sleeping bags, midnight visitors, creepy crawlers, smelly outhouses, dirty hair, flat air mattresses, achy bones.

What have I done to myself??

Interruptions

Last week was a bit of a challenge. I'm writing busily away on this new 1890 Washington DC mystery, but stuff kept slowing me down. Every morning from Monday through Friday was consumed with business-type stuff. None of it was writing business, strangely. It was everyday-world type business. Mostly for me. But I even had to take care of a situation that impacted my elderly mom's finances, as well. Of course, all this time spent "taking care of business" so to speak was frustrating, because it seriously cut into my writing time. And you all know how cranky we novelists can get when our writing time is infringed upon.

One task that took a little over two hours last week was changing an airline reservation. I'd never had to do that online before, and it was time-consuming. Of course, I was changing both return date and return city I'd be flying out of. Sufficiently confusing for even the software, so I wound up having to use the 800 number to make sure my tickets were changed correctly. AND, that's not mentioning price. Oh, yeah. I had to pay an airline change fee, a website change fee, and the price differential. A little over $300 in total. Hefty enough, but nothing like the cost of trying to add a flight to and from Denver to WashingtonDC (Dulles) during Thanksgiving week. Those flights on every website were horrendous in cost. Of course, that's due to the proximity of the approaching Thanksgiving holiday.

My original flight took me to New York City Friday, Nov. 20th to visit my daughter Melissa and do a "Book Party" while there. Afterwards, I was scheduled to fly back to Colorado on Monday, Nov. 23rd. I've never tried to change a flight around a holiday before, but this time it was very important. I'd just learned that all four of my daughters would be at daughter Christine's house in Northern Virginia (Fairfax) for Thanksgiving. Since the youngest daughter Maria has been an officer with the US Navy for nine years until recently, her Thanksgivings have been spent all over the globe--literally. This is a special time. It's been TEN YEARS since I've been together with all four of my girls at Thanksgiving. So, there was no way I was going to miss it.

It took over two hours but I did it. I changed my return flight to late Friday night, Nov 27th flying out of Washington Dulles airport back to Colorado after I've spent a great Thanksgiving with my girls and lots of family. Meanwhile, I'll just huddle up and write in daughter Melissa's NYC apt on the days preceeding holiday. I'll have Sid the cat and lots of hot tea. Plus, I even get to use use Melissa's gym to work out in the mornings. Melissa and I will travel to Washington, DC, the Wednesday before turkey day. Works for me!

There was a treat at the end of the week, though. Last Saturday I had a great booksigning at the "real" Lambspun fiber shop here in Fort Collins. The owner, Shirley, was having one of her great Holiday sales, and the shop was full of people. Lots of fun. I love meeting new people. In fact, I stayed longer than planned because I kept meeting such great people.

What kind of interruptions have you had this week? Good ones or challenges?

If An Oxygen Mask Drops From the Ceiling....

Most of you have traveled by plane. I think that’s a fair assumption. And most of you have seen the pre-flight video on what to do in an emergency situation so often that you now tune them out. You know the video I mean, in which people have masks fall out of the ceiling onto their heads and don’t blink an eye. Their facial expressions range from totally bored to mildly interested as they don the masks and pull the elastic to tighten them around their faces.

Then they calmly take their orange life vests, which have magically appeared, and put them around their necks, then sit back in a totally calm state, as though such a situation was an everyday occurrence.

The other day my sister and I were on a plane, not paying attention to the video, until I pointed out the expressions on the faces of the actors, and we began to joke about them. We glanced around the plane and noticed that no one else was paying particular attention to the video either. It was then that we came up with a brilliant idea. So brilliant, in fact, that we plan to email a link to this blog to various airlines.

Here it is: Make a comedy video. Show what NOT to do in an emergency situation.

When the masks drop down, instead of bored expressions, you’d see people in full blown panic mode, mouths opened in silent screams, clawing at the elastic straps, unable to get them over their heads. Or pulling the cord of their life vests before exiting the plane, filling up the interior with a herd of orange doughboys trying to get out of those tight little seats and down the narrow aisles.

Then there’s the part of the video that warns about walking past a bathroom door when it’s occupied, in case someone should step out. In our video, instead of the man stopping before walking past the door, waiting for the woman to exit, he would continue up the aisle and when she opened the door, he’d run into it.

Who wouldn’t watch a video like that? Seriously. Would you ever get bored seeing that guy get smashed in the nose?

Plus, it would start off the trip on a jolly note, something that rarely happens, especially when you have people boarding the plane who do not understand that they must shove their bag in the overheard compartment quickly, then STEP OUT OF THE AISLE so everyone else can get by. You know who I’m talking about, Mister. You, the guy with two huge duffle bags that you kept stuffing into the compartments around you (one of them above my head, squashing my small bag and coat in the process), then couldn’t figure out why people were glaring at you.

Don’t you love flying?

Kate, on yet another rant

Jumping The Gun On The Season

Okay, so it's November 7th and I've been decking the halls all week. Okay, not literally. I have not put up one Christmas decoration. Then again, I really don't need to. I have over 200 Christmas figures from the 1940s-1960s in a cabinet in my office. Any time I need a bit of holiday cheer, I just gaze into my cabinet and sigh. But it takes a bit more than that to get me into the holiday swing, so I've been listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies. Okay, I've been watching ONE Christmas movie: The Santa Clause.

Because it is so early in the holiday season (although the grocery store started hauling in the decorations back in mid-October, later than usual, I might add), I've spared my hubby from listening to the Christmas CDs with singing. But the instrumental CDs have been going for about two weeks. (I'm allowed to play the others as of Thanksgiving.)

Several years ago, I bought a piano CD from Target that I really loved. (To tell you the truth, I'm surprised it's not worn out.) I decided to buy as many piano CDs as I could after that, so now I've got quite a repertoire, for just about every occasion (and I got a bunch of them at The Dollar Tree). I've got piano music to read by. Piano music to sleep by. Piano music with rain in the background. Piano music with birds cawing. Still, I like my Christmas piano CDs the best.

I watched (or rather listened--I was busy on the computer during) The Santa Clause twice this week. My husband had been out doing an errand, walked into his office (without seeing the TV in mine next door), heard one line of obscure dialogue and said, "Are you watching The Santa Clause AGAIN?" Well, I couldn't lie. There was the evidence (the empty DVD cover) sitting on top of my printer.

I'd never been a Tim Allen fan (couldn't stand his TV show), but I love this movie. The story of how the love of a little boy turns a not-so-great Dad into Santa. Sniff. (Did I mention that I love sappy stuff like that?)

I've got seven more weeks of the Christmas season left to keep enjoying movies (hey, I've still got The Santa Clause II and III to go through, Elf, A Christmas Story, Polar Express, White Christmas, Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph, too), CDs, and did I mention the 30 or more coffee table and recipe books I have based on the season?

Okay, I'm a glutten for all things Christmas. How about you?

Life's Backdrop

I was looking over my son's shoulder the other day while he was on Facebook, visually eavesdropping, which drives him nuts, but satisfies my need to snoop. He was visiting his friend's page, and that friend's profile picture was of him and his date at the recent homecoming dance. They made a cute couple, but what really struck me at the moment was the pose.

They were standing in front of the fireplace.

I can't tell you how many pictures we have of our family in front of our fireplace. Every big event has been captured with us in front of the bricks, the mantel. From baptism pictures to Christmas card pictures, to first days of school, first dances, awards, graduation. The fireplace is definitely one of our go-to backdrops for picture taking.

And it's not something new. When my husband and I were dating, we had senior prom pictures taken in front of my parents' fireplace. Some of our wedding photos were taken in front of his parents' fireplace.

What is it about fireplaces?

Though I have to confess, our front porch, in recent years, is vying for the top picture taking spot. Especially in the summer when the flowers are in bloom. It's just a nice little place to capture a moment in time. I've even had author pictures taken out there.

The son I was peeking on has yet to go to a prom or homecoming, but I'm sure when he does, we'll be in front of that fireplace...

Do you have a favorite backdrop? Is it, by any chance, the fireplace?

~heather

Is H1N1 Worthy of the Hype?

I feel qualified to answer this question because as this is being posted, I am on Day 4 of this flu. In many ways, it’s like any other flu. There’s a fever, sore throat (that soon develops into a nasty, wet cough) and muscle aches.

After the first two days, it doesn’t feel as severe as it did during those initial 24 hours, but it also doesn’t seem to let up. I had Mono once in high school and this flu reminds me of Mono because I’m tired all the time. If I fold a load of laundry I have to rest afterward. If I write a paragraph I have to rest afterward. This blog post will set me back days!

My son also has H1N1. He was diagnosed on Halloween and the doc said, “No trick-or-treating for him.” Yeah right. I could not do that to the kid. He’s a six-year-old boy. Running around taking handouts of free candy is his idea of heaven. How could I deny him? I didn’t. (That's him in the photo. He was Swine Flu Indiana Jones). I made him wear a mask, had my husband ring the doorbell and collect the candy, and refused to let him near another human being. Did he still have fun? Heck, yes! He got 80 pieces of candy and told me it was the best Halloween ever!

I think the media has spun this illness beyond the bounds of reality. I know adults and children alike have lost their lives from this flu and that others have had some major scares (the children of two friends had fevers reaching 104 degrees. That’s scary!), but is this flu really worse than other strains? Does the fear do us any good?

Perhaps I’ll answer my own question by saying that our public school phoned last week with a recorded message detailing exactly how our children should be washing their hands (warm water and soap – can you imagine?). I had my son listen. Afterwards, he went into the bathroom and followed the recording’s steps. When he emerged, he proclaimed, “Now when I pick my nose my boogies taste like lemon.”

And that’s how he got H1N1! Anyone out there had it? Do you think it’s worth the hype?

Mastering the Art

Yesterday, my husband came home with two things. The first--an order from the doctor to shape up. Seems like just about everything was slightly elevated (blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol) and with his family history, in the coming years, he could be...well...history. He needs to cut out salt and fat, get on an exercise program, and cut down on those martinis he loves so much. Fat chance.

His idea of watching out for his health involved switching from butter to margarine, something half of the world (the female half) knows isn't going to mean a thing because they are BOTH equally bad for you.

Did I mention the second thing he brought home. Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. He thought we could cook some healthy meals together. Let me tell you, there is almost nothing in that cookbook that doesn't involve cream or butter or both. Let's talk heavy sauces, egg dishes, tarts, and rendered pork fat. Every soup has a healthy dollop of whipping cream. Think black butter sauce, a la cream, cheese gratines browned with cheese, eggs sauteed with chicken livers and sausages, even a simple steak is served with a hearty topping of flavored butter.

My husband wants to make Boeuf Bourguignon like in the movie, Julie & Julia. First ingredient = 6 ounce chunk of bacon. Although the 3 cups of young red wine sounds lean and lovely. We will serve it with haricots verts a la creme (page 445) with (surprise) softened butter and 2 cups of whipping cream and top it off with some kind of custard that involves (can you guess) butter and cream.

The poor guy! He doesn't have a clue.

Having Fun

I had a lot of fun last week. Different kinds of fun. First, I arrived home in time for the BIG snowstorm that rolled into Colorado. Due to hit last Wednesday. So, Tuesday, while out doing errands I made sure to buy some of the last of the butternut squash and some apples and other stuff to cook while I holed up with the doggies.

Well, snowstorm came right on schedule, actually started when I was driving home Tuesday night from the regular Lambspun knitting shop Tuesday night sitting around the table with various fiber projects and talking. Lots of talking. Also, sampling whatever treats people brought in. When I left, there was already a nasty snow and rain mix coming down fast. Changed to snow middle of the night and we all awoke to at least four inches of snow Wednesday morning. And that was just the beginning. It snowed all day Wednesday, all night Wednesday, and all day Thursday, not stopping until late Thursday afternoon. I measured my table on the back patio where I always watch snow accumulate and there were 18 inches. Yep. My neighbor had tried to clear driveways on Wednesday, only to have to do it again on Thursday. Bless his heart. He got some homemade applesauce.

Meanwhile, doggies had a great time bounding about in snow that was up to Max's chest and Katie's chin. And I had a great time making butternut squash soup and applesauce with spices. Yum. Makes hunkering down during a snowstorm fun. Plus, I got to sit with my laptop and write while it snowed. That was actually fun. And it was a lot of fun to watch ALL of that snow melt on Friday. Well, almost all. Friday did what Colorado always does after a big storm. Sunshine comes out strong and brings temps back to 45 degrees and all those inches and inches of snow start to melt. Fun to watch, and convenient, too, because I had an appointment at 12 noon. And errands to run.

Saturday, I had more fun at my booksigning at the Fort Collins Barnes & Noble for my latest, DROPPED DEAD STITCH. It's always fun to meet new readers and greet readers who've become friends. I'm overwhelmingly grateful for the reader response which kept DROPPED DEAD on the B&N Hardcover Mystery Bestseller list for five months. Thank you, everyone!

This signing was made even more fun because all the bookstore staff were dressed in Halloween costumes as were some of the customers. And--they had a costume parade where I was supposed to choose the winner. Now, that was hard, especially after one contestant dressed as Luciano Pavarotti serenaded me. Honest. But I finally went with the great twosome who came dressed as Anthony & Cleopatra. In real life, Gary Nelson and Marissa Garnica. See above photos.

Halloween night was finished off with giving away candy to neighborhood kids then going to a friend's Halloween party till midnight.

How did you spend Halloween? Trick or treating with your kids? Hiding in a darkened basement watching tv and the doorbell rang? Going to a party?

Oh No! Not ---- (Drum roll please)– the FLU!!

When I was a kid, getting the flu every year was as normal as having a cold. We’d get a sudden fever, puke for a day or two, shake like a leaf under a mountain of blankets, and emerge a bit pale but still raring to go. Nowadays, there seems to be this mindset that the flu MUST BE AVOIDED – especially the swine flu – I mean the “H1N1" flu, which, according to the hype, is TERRIBLE. It kills people!

You know what? The seasonal flu kills people, too. Lots of people. Tens of thousands a year. So what’s so special about the H1N1? It’s just a virus -- something our immune systems are built to deal with – sometimes by puking those little bugs out.

So what’s behind this big push to scare us into getting a vaccine? To keep us from dying from a “flu RELATED death?” Like the way I’m related to one of the eleventh century kings of Ireland? So if I end up in the hospital due to dehydration from the flu and then catch something going around the hospital – or even worse, because of medical malpractice, does that count? You bet.

What about the dangerous levels of mercury and squalene in the vaccines? Did you know the pharmaceutical companies are protected by our government from any lawsuits arising from serious illnesses caused by the vaccines? And yet they are pushing pregnant women to be injected with those toxins. Seriously.

You just know what’s coming, don’t you? Vaccines for colds. Ear aches. Sprains. Sneezes. Fear of flying. If you’ve got it, they’ll invent a vaccine for it. Mark my words. It’s about money.

As I traveled in Europe this summer, a Greek tour guide made a joke about our fear of the swine flu. She said, “Next year they will come out with a vaccine for the alien flu, you know, from outer space.” She thought that was quite funny. Actually, I did, too. At the same time, it exemplified how they view us – as suckers who depend on big pharma to protect us from what our bodies already know how to deal with. Know what people all over Europe are being told to do to avoid the swine flu? Wash their hands, get plenty of sleep, eat veggies, and take Vitamin D. Trouble is, there’s not much money to be made in that.

This is Kate, on a rant, signing off. Stay well!

Back in the writing groove

My life has been a roller coaster of late, with a LOT more downs than up. The biggest down came 11 days ago when I lost my Dad. Now it's time to find what a friend of mine called "the new normal" after she lost her Dad earlier this year.

For the past three months, there was no normal. I stuck pretty much close to home as I was needed by my family. Now suddenly I'm free, Free, FREE to do whatever I want. Well, not really. I've got a new book coming out on Tuesday--Bookplate Special, and I've got a blog tour to do. (I've got most of the posts written--just need to tweak them.) I've also got a lot of signings to do in the next six weeks. (Those of you on my newsletter list will get an update on Monday. And if you're not on my newsletter (e-mail) list, WHY NOT? (Hey, you can join here. )

And a major, MAJOR thing I'm involved in is polishing the first book in my new Victoria Square Mystery series (being written under the name Lorraine Bartlett). A Matter of Murder will be published in February 2011 (unless they change the date--hey, it happened with Bookplate Special, which was originally supposed to come out later).

The thing about A Matter of Murder is . . . I finished the last draft of it a while back. (Okay, we're talking a YEAR ago.) I knew it was short on word count then, but I figured it would be so easy to tweak it and get up to word count in no less than two weeks. And then my Dad got sick. I have four weeks left until deadline, and I'm still 11,000 words short.

What's the problem? I know a lot of authors have said that when they've lost someone close to them, they shut down in a funk and can't write. But my Dad always encouraged me. When I'd come to see him, the first thing he'd ask was: "Did you get your words today?" He was very proud of me for A.) getting published at all, and B.) when I hit the NY Times list. Nobody (not even in my wildest dreams) thought that would happen. And then it did.

Getting back into the manuscript has been a bright spot for me. Except . . . what's an author do do when she thinks her words are golden? I'll be reading along and say to myself, "Hmm. I like this. Why do I need to change it?" I'll tell you why, because YOU'RE ELEVEN THOUSAND WORDS SHORT OF YOUR WORD COUNT!!!!!

The other problem is--I don't want the book to read like it's padded. Therefore, in pops a new subplot--maybe two. Did I follow up on that clue back in Chapter 3? Where's Katie's candy dish now? How about the apathy factor in Artisan's Alley? I have a million little details and notes to myself (boy, do I like to make notes to myself--and then, inconveniently, seem to misplace them) to make sure I add clues and texture to the manuscript. And just where are the holes in the story?

Getting back into the manuscript is like riding a bike after a long absence from the sport. I was a little wobbly at first, but now I'm pumping the pedals and will maybe even go no-handed in another week or so. And at the end of the day I know I'll be able to answer that question: "Did you get your words today?" with a resounding YES!

Looking Back

I was sitting in a North Carolina church last weekend, trying to pay attention (my mind wanders), as four babies were being baptized. I watched each of the families as they lovingly held their infants over the font, as the holy water was poured over little tawny heads. And I remembered when my own kids were baptized. When I worried if they would cry or be fussy (now I love when the babies cry when they're baptized) or if they'd spit up on their adorable white outfits.

Then I glanced next to me, where a little girl, about five years old, was tying her sneaker. And I remembered trying to teach my kids how to tie their shoes. Two loops, over, under, through. How I spent days and days and days trying to teach it before it clicked.

I was struck by milestones and how they define a childhood. The baptism, the first step, the first time in a bed, the first lost tooth, bike ride, set of x-rays. Braces, school dances, broken hearts. Driver's licenses, speeding tickets, SATs.

Little moments that add up to a lifetime. It amazes me how fast time goes by (it's a cliché for a reason). In a blink, my kids have gone from babies to near adults (one is, actually). My memory is terrible, yet I can remember the day my son fell off his bike and came limping home, half the skin torn off his leg like it was yesterday. It was ten years ago. And the day my daughter fell and chipped her front tooth on the rim of the bathtub. The tears, my fears, the quick run to the dentist. Thirteen years ago.

Most of which they'll never even remember--but I will, I do. Do you have moments that are forever etched in your memory? For me there was also the time my son decided to drive his grandfather's truck down the driveway. He was six. I'm pretty sure that was the start of me getting gray hairs.

And I'm pretty sure my mind wandered in this direction because I was homesick. I'm a homebody at heart and being away four days is really hard on me. But I can definitely say I'm looking forward to what milestones lay ahead. And I know I'll still worry about the little things, but I could do without more grays.

Breakfast For Dinner

Last night I took my kids out to the diner for breakfast. My son gets chocolate-chip silver-dollar pancakes with a side of bacon, my daughters gets scrambled eggs, hash browns, and strawberries, and I get two eggs (sunny-side up), bacon, and bites of the kids' meals.

I remember my mother making us breakfast for dinner on nights my father was working too late to make it home for dinner. They were some of my favorite meals. Her French Toast was to die for and the thought of blueberry pancakes or crepes covered with powdered sugar and syrup just seemed like such a rule-breaker kind of dinner!

Have you had breakfast for dinner lately? What's your all-time favorite breakfast food? You know, the one you've eaten since

childhood.

Vampire Fever

Vampires are hot right now. But, ya know what? They always have been. Since 1819 and John Polidori's The Vampyre to Charlaine's Harris' Sookie Stackhouse vampire series now an HBO hit called True Blood.

Remember Dracula? Dark Shadows? The Munsters? Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles?
How about more recent - Buffy the Vampire Slayer? the Twilight series? authors like LA Banks, Laurell Hamilton, Anita Blake, Kim Harrison?

We love the undead. Some of us even think we are vampires. Go to www.vampires.com and learn about fang implants (not those plastic thingees) or find out the ten things to do now that you're immortal.

All I can say to you vamps out there is... you've come a long way, baby!

Filled up with Fall

It's always great to return home to Colorado, no matter where I've been traveling. This last trip look me into Indiaina for a conference plus a visit with old friends. Then, I headed East to visit family and friends. Last week, I waxed poetic about the gorgeous autumn display I savored in Indiana. Well, my visit back to Northern Virginia where I grew up and my daughter and her family live and work was also filled with color.

Thanks to my travels, I think I'm filled up with Fall. Great timing, because I arrived late last night (that's why this post is delayed) and learned this morning that a new storm front is moving across the West and will hit Colorado late tonight---bringing snowy rain mix and cold temps down in 30's. I guess my instinct about Old Man Winter chasing Fall into the bushes early this year was right. All the flowers were killed off in our October 8th six inch snowfall and 16 degrees temps. Plus, all the pretty leaves started curling up and dropping to the ground. I took a good look outside this morning in the light and saw the bare tree limbs. Leaves all over the ground. And it isn't even November yet.

Guess I'd better pull my winter coat out of the closet. Are YOU ready for an early winter?

Halloween Costumes - Made or Bought?

When I was a young mom (read: one child, career on hold), I made the decision to bypass the store-bought costumes (with those cheap masks that cracked and broke and made me sweat) that I'd had to wear as a child, in favor of the homemade variety.

So I took a white sheet, cut eye-holes in it, glued black felt around the outside of those holes, draped it over my four-year-old's little body and cut it off at the ankle. It was even roomy enough for a coat underneath. Perfecto, I thought. Well, almost.

Okay, not even close.

I didn't allow for little feet that might get caught up in all the folds of the sheet as he walked up and down porch steps. I also didn't allow for the loose sheet shifting away from his eyes as he grabbed the folds to hold them up so he could traverse those treacherous steps. It was a total disaster. He couldn't walk for all the material, and he couldn't see anyway. I ended up giving him the candy I'd bought for our trick-or-treaters.

I got smart after that. I used actual patterns for the costumes, and if I may say so, I made some really cool ones. A pirate, a clown, Peter Pan, a witch, a black panther, and more, all of which my daughter wore several years later. The costumes even got handed down to nephews. I really enjoyed those Halloweens.

Nowadays, I barely have time to dash out to buy the candy. Deadline coming up fast and I'm not finished with the book. AACK. But my children still love Halloween, and I'm convinced one reason is that they felt AWESOME. Not that I'm proud or anything.

How about you? Have you ever made a costume or are you strictly off-the-rack? Do you get into costume yourself?

Happy Halloween!

Kate