A Post: Enjoy The Silence...

Happy Tuesday. Hope today brings all positive things for ya'.

I have a few extra, quiet, to-myself minutes this morning to enjoy the silence, peace and my coffee. I love the calm and quiet of the morning before the rest of the family gets up. Though, I'm not so ready to say that when my alarm goes off at 5:am. But, once I'm vertical - all is good. :-)

When did life get so busy that I have to nickel and dime my blogging time? I remember the days when I'd sometimes post twice, even three times a day - especially, if it was something humorous.

*sigh* 'Tis life. 'Tis kids. 'Tis a calendar that stays booked months in advance. :-) But, I'm blessed to have such a full schedule.

Two more weeks, well eight-and-a-half school days until three + weeks of Holiday break freedom! Me and the kids count down the days by tests and extra-curricular activities. :-D

[Peeking at the clock] ooooh, I still have four minutes left. Sweet!

Let's just enjoy the silence, shall we? ..............................   ..........................   ......................

A Post: Enjoy The Silence...

INFATUATION (A Little Harmless Military Romance)

YEP! She did it again. Melissa Schroeder 'wow'ed me with another great story. This one I especially loved! The thought of a man-a well built, well defined man-in a uniform makes me tingly.

This is the first in her 'A Little Harmless Military' series, labeled a novella at 32,000 words. McKade, 'Kade', is a Seal. He's known Shannon forever as she is his best friend's sister. He's always had a crush on her but never moved on it out of respect for his best friend who is also a Seal.

Shannon has been crushing on Kade as long as she's known him too. With a little prodding from her sisters, she makes a move on Kade he can't refuse. *waggling eyebrows*

After a mission gone bad, Kade finally returns back to Louisiana and Shannon's bar. Thinking he's damaged goods and no good for Shannon he at first tries to refuse her but that doesn't last long. *waggling eyebrows again*

That's all I'm going to give away - I've already said too much. WARNING: This isn't you're mother's romance novel. This has some light erotic notes to it, though quite mild compared to some of the other novels I've read by Melissa. >;-)

I'm telling ya', if you want to warm up your tosies (among other things) this winter - this is the book that will do it!

Thank you to Melissa Schroeder and her PA, Brandy Walker for the opportunity to read this hot story!

INFATUATION (A Little Harmless Military Romance)

'Out Of My Mind'

I read this book with my Lil'Gal as part of her AR challenge. It was above her level but because it received the '2012 Blue Bonnet' award she was allowed to take an AR test on it if she read it with her parent. So, we checked it out from the school library, brought it home and dove in.

And, I'm so glad we did. This is a wonderful story and reading it with my Lil'Gal was a great shared experience. This is one of those books that I would recommend to everyone - young, old, boy, girl, regardless of one's particular genre. Following is my review that I posted on goodreads. [Click HERE to find out more about Sharon Draper's 'Out of My Mind']


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This book offers a wonderful insight into the minds of the severely physically disabled. Melody, the main character, is an 11 year old girl with cerebral palsy. Although, extremely intelligent, she is often taken as a mentally challenged child based on her appearance and inability to speak. She shares with us life from the perspective of a kid dealing with her disability and how those around her treat her including some doctors, teachers, and students.

With the help of Ms. V and of course her parents who have always believed in her, Melody surprises everyone. Thanks to her communication board, and later her Medi-Talker, after 11 years Melody can share with everyone around her what she really thinks. And, just how smart she truly is.

I read this book with my 8 year-old daughter for her AR challenge. It was wonderful to share this experience and understanding with her that just because some people look different, it doesn't make them less of a person. We had recently visited the therapy department and she had seen a boy in a similar [physical] state as Melody. My daughter was able to apply the understanding she was learning from reading this story to his situation. She understood that just because he couldn't really speak, and that he kind of drooled, and that he looked different, he was still a person who could learn and understand - which he proved by laughing at another patient's joke he'd overheard.

I recommend this book for everyone. I truly loved this story and felt several tear jerking moments when Melody was sad, when she shined in her brightest moments and in her humor and personality.

Thank you, Sharon M. Draper, for bringing this story and your message in such a wonderful, humorous, and revealing way.

'Out Of My Mind'

CWCG Nov.1st: "I'll do [you in] Vegas"

Well, yes. I was behind. I started this challenge earlier than last month but took to the last minute to complete. Although, I was quite pleased with the short story it took me through. [I don't outline these, I don't think about them - I just like to sit down and see what they type themselves up to be.]

But, then blogger forgot who I was - of course to be expected when running late against a well known deadline - so I spent forever trying to get back in.

Add into that, when I downloaded from pages via the iCloud the document opened into my OS TextEdit program because I haven't backed up my LT so that I can do the cool Boot Camp thing to get everything the way I want it and I didn't have time to go pull through Word and I thought it'd be a good learning experience to work in TextEdit while under a deadline. *insert raspberry*

Without further ado (and no pic because I just didn't get the whole weird carrot-ball, olive eyed salad looking display) and with no embellishments, here is my November 1st entry for the CWCG.

CWCG: October 2011

Network

Comic

Seat

Pincer

Credit card

Theme: Frivolty

Pic: Carrot Salad balls with green olives?

"DREAM VEGAS"

Being a comic is a tough line of work. Don't get me wrong, I love it and I'm good at it. I'm one of the small percentage of the working class that actually loves his job. However, I'm not always rolling in the dough. Often I find myself eating ramen for days at a time in an effort to practice anti-Frivolty, while paying off a maxed out credit card.

This particular night, I was hoping for a grand slam. This was one of the larger venues I've performed in and it was rumored there was a talent agent attending tonight looking for someone to fill a regular set in a Vegas club. A regular gig meant a regular paycheck.

Third seat to the right of the stage, second row. It was as if we were on our very own network and she had a personal hub to my jokes. She didn't just laugh because they were funny, she didn't just 'get' the jokes. She actually seemed to get me.

As I continued through my set I could hear her sultry laughter, the crowd becoming more distant. I found myself performing just for her, forgetting about the talent agent all together.

Once back stage, I was anxious. Who was she? If this was one of my regular gigs I'd head out to the bar for a drink and search the room. But this wasn't a bar gig and I couldn't risk a chance at a real career boost for what would most likely end in a sweaty one night stand.

These thoughts rolling through my mind were suddenly interrupted when two soft, silky hands simultaneously covered my eyes. At the same time I felt a warm, breath against my ear as the smell of whiskey plumed around my nostrils.

A provocatively, magnetic voice whispered in my ear, "All this chemistry is putting me in the mood to experiment." She laughed lightly. I recognized that laugh and my groin lurched.

"Experimenting sounds dangerous," I flirted back, knowing I had no time for this because I should be searching out that talent agent along with my shot at a regular gig. "Any other night -"

"If you want the job, it's yours," her voice growled abruptly in a somewhat business manner. My heart clenched, my breath caught and my groin lurched a second time.

I reached to remove her hands from my eyes when she tightened her grip, suddenly switching her voice to seduction in its finest form. At least the finest form I'd ever heard.

"If you want me along with it, pack your bag. You do Vegas, you do me in Vegas."

My mind was spinning, my flanks caught in her pincer. This was better than the moment I'd been waiting for. This was surreal, unreal, and I was ready to play.

"I'm definitely doing Vegas…" I grunted as I reached for her hands.

A haze blinded me, a sound too loud. "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" a loud voice-over announced. I rubbed my eyes. As I sat up on my couch I knocked over my stale beer into a cold bowl of ramen noodles.

The voice blared from the television once more, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Recognizing the voice, my groin pressed erectly against the inner seam of my jeans with expectation, still drunk from the dream. While my heart went limp, left empty by its own subconscious tease.

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Phew! In before the deadline. FYI, if you want to play along (and by reading my entry this month you can see how easy it is) here is how: Monthly Creative Challenge Game hosted at Someday, When I'm Famous. :-)

If you find any glaring typos, particularly due to transition of the cut and paste procedure, please alert me. I'm tied up with red ribbon week tomorrow and my mobile $$ making job so I won't be able to review this with fresh eyes in the mornin'.

Happy writing! Hope you enjoy it and decide to lurch along next month! Hee hee, that's just funny to me!

CWCG Nov.1st: "I'll do [you in] Vegas"