Brooke Writes Books... and Other Musings...

May Y2009 treat us all well!

New Year's Day has been my favorite holiday for a long, long time. Maybe it's the optimism that surrounds it. Maybe it's just the fact that it's a holiday that expects nothing in return. But whatever, I love new beginnings... and what is more "beginning" than a new year starting.

So, here's wishing a happy Y2009 for us all. May it be very kind, very prosperous and very safe for us all.

...and hopefully another year wiser! Have to wonder about that a bit, however, since I either feel like a teenager or feel like I am 852. But I never feel the age I am.

The little girl in me still loves:

Lollipops and cotton candy. There is something so amazing about how clear and sparkly lollipops are... like glass but edible. And cotton candy...like spun fibers, a perfect pink, and it melts instantly on your tongue.

Balloons. I love balloons! All those pretty colors... all light and airy.

Coloring books and crayons and colored pens. Thankfully there is the "big girl place" to visit: the office supply store!

Flowers. All flowers.... even those now-that-I'm-older-know-what-a-pest-they-are dandelions.

Clouds and rainbows... I am just positive that the pot of gold really is at the end of the rainbow... if I could just find it.

Books... all books... fun books, work books, old books, new books, cookbooks. They are all wonderful.

Kittens and puppies... all soft and fluffy and cuddly.

Birds and butterflies... all seemingly free. Hey, they can fly!

Games... board games, card games, video games, made-up games. That thrill of competition.. sure gets the ol' blood pumping...

The Grown Up Me wishes the Little Kid Me had time to come out and play more. Maybe the Wiser Me will make that a reality in the year to come.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Memorial Day used to be May 30th. A day to remember those lost while protecting our country. A somber time actually.

Now, it's the fourth Monday in the month of May. More a time to have barbecues, a three-day weekend, and get lots of bargains at lots of sales.

Oh sure, even when it was the traditional May 30th, we had the running of the Indy 500. The day was proclaimed as the official beginning of summer where we could wear white heels and drag out the light-colored purses. And it was kinda cool getting a day off in the middle of the week.

Memorial Day has always held a special place in my heart. It was the day my parents became engaged...

And so, for me, it is tinged with happiness and sadness... and mostly appreciation for all those who have given their lives, and those who are willing to give their lives to help keep me and mine safe. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Spring has definitely sprung in SoCal! And gloriously so!

One of my very best-est friends was visiting for the day yesterday, and we spent the time driving around the community we both love (though she moved away! LOL!)

After so much devastation last fall, the rains of winter (and hydro-seeding to protect the hillsides from slides) have resulted in one of the most beautiful springs we've had in years. Masses of vibrant golden yellow wildflowers border the freeways, and acres of beautiful purple flowers dot the hillsides. Everything is green and lush again.

As we traveled, it was hard to believe that such devastating fires had ravaged the area just a few months earlier. Oh, without a doubt, there are still charred trees which won't be turning green, forever staying black, and houses that have been razed with just foundations remaining. But overall, most of nature has returned. Even better than before...

Welcome back, Spring!

I've been busily wracking my brain, trying to come up with a cute blog topic... or at least something that wouldn't be instant Snoozeville. And voila!!! Randy courtesy of Carol have provided me with a subject! Thank you, Gals!!!

So, here we go! Now, you'll have to bear with me, I am discovering that I am actually quite un-savvy about all this blog stuff that involves linking etc. But I shall do my best to comply with "rules" to best of my ability...

Here's the way it works if I've tagged you:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you. (This is where I'll have a problem...)
2. Post these rules on your blog. (Easy-peasy! Done!)
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself. (Easy-sans-peasy... cuz we all know I am the leading candidate for most boring person in the world...)
4. Tag six random people at the end of your blog entry. (Not easy at all... cuz sadly... being the master at lurking, I don't know that many bloggers! EEEEKKKK!!!! Something to change!)
5. Let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs. (See above!)

Note: Just in case you were unsure, which I'm sure you weren't, but just in case... the parts in parenthesis are my sassy comments and NOT part of the "official rules"...

Now... Six Unimportant Things About Me:

1. I would LOVE to visit Iceland.

2. While I have to kinda admit they are pretty cute from afar, mice freak me out. If I ever had a mouse in the house, I'd have to leave the premises until he moved out... (and yes... there are NO she-mice... who knows where all those babies come from... but all mice are he's...)

3. I love a good lightning storm when I am not at home. I always hope when I'm traveling, that we'll have one. One of the most memorable was in Dallas in the 38th Floor lounge of the Adam's Mark a few years back that Randy and I watched. Lightning storms in SoCal do little for me because they are usually dry lightning and a rare occurrence and a tad too much drama when one is home alone...

4. My first car was a brand new Levi Gremlin (and yes, I was -3 years old.)

5. I was first published at the tender age of 7 in the PALO ALTO TIMES which ran 4-5 stories once a week chosen from the 26 schools in the district. I was one of the only ones from my school ever to be selected. While it's certainly tempting, I guess I can't really use my story titled MR. MILLS in my writing portfolio, can I... darn... it was such a cute story...

6. In the fifth grade, I had a bad staph infection and had to get my beautiful, waist-length hair all cut off and keep it short for years after that. That same year, I broke my finger beating a boy a tether-ball... he was so mad that he lost to a puny-girl... and a very non-athletic puny girl at that, that he slammed the ball toward my face as I was walking away, and I raised my hand to block it... breaking the ol' finger. Man, that hurt! It hurt bad, and took months to heal since it was broken in two spots. But! I beat the Boy at tether-ball... me... a puny girl... who later took up swimming only to discover that she was quite good at racing... not so non-athletic, after all! Just puny....

So...there's my six things. Now who to tag... who to tag... who to tag. Well, obviously John comes to mind even if he claims he's given up blogging! And of course FMD, who also appears to have given up blogging... And now back to wracking the old brain again for four more bloggers to tag... but at least it'll be wracking on a different subject... for now!

The results are in (actually, they've been in for awhile, but I am still behind the eight ball...), and my entry placed fifth. I am just as estatic now over finalling as I was when I first found out. Congratulations to Anne Clarke for placing first, and to all the finalists. Here's the listing as shown on the New England Chapter of RWA's website (http://www.necrwa.org):

First Place
LIMITLESS ~ Romantic Suspense
Anne Clarke

Second Place
COFFEE DATE ~ Contemporary
Joanna Timrun

Third Place
HEART FOR HIRE ~ Contemporary-Erotic
Mary Rhyan

Fourth Place
HUSBAND ON NOTICE ~ Traditional
Sharon Arkell

Fifth Place
THE RESUME WRITER ~ Contemporary
Brooke Wills

Sixth Place
ANGEL BLIND ~ Young Adult
Sarah Tregay

Woo Hoo! I'm a First Kiss Contest Finalist!

Okay... so I'm a month late... Sue me! I'm behind... What else is new?

Well, let's see... (Ha! I can change anything to my advantage!)

Each January, instead of making resolutions, I set goals. I started this a number of years, and it worked quite well for me until the last couple of years. I am hoping to get back on track this year, and so far, it is looking hopeful. Yes... I am fully aware it's still very new into the year.

And no... I am not going to tell you exactly what the goals are... Some things a girl just must keep to herself! Especially a girl who apparently loathes commitment worse than the most stalwart guy!

But I will divulge this: I make goals in each of four categories: financial, personal, career, and travel/fun.

Scorecard to date:

Financial: hmmm... have made some small baby steps here, had hoped to have a giant leap in the first month of the year. But that's okay... I fully anticipate that happening in February.

Personal: I am quite happy with the progress here. The biggest part was bringing lunch to work instead of eating out every day. My very snazzy lunch bag that I purchased a number of years ago, and has served faithfully as a bookend for my cookbook collection, is stilling wheeling from the fact that it gets to go out in public each day. It's looking forward to this weekend off!

Career: Well, of course that would be writing related! I'd hoped to write one short story a month, and I'm about 200 words shy. Easy enough to catch up on... I'd also hoped to scope out a few more contests... which I have. And I am kinda sorta starting a third wip using a new plotting method. I missed the last benchmark, but shall be able to catch up on that in a few weeks. Details probably to follow.

Travel: Well, naturally that would not happen in the first month. But on the docket so far are two conferences. Arizona's Desert Rose in April, and RWA National in San Francisco in July. Two venues I adore! Two conferences I am quite excited about attending.

So... that's where we are in Y2008... which is shockingly already 1/12th over! Where does the time go?

It's now official because the list has been posted on various RWA chapter loops and my name is actually there! I didn't mis-read the email! I am absolutely thrilled!

Okay, let me start from the beginning...

I entered the New England Chapter's First Kiss Contest... and... I finalled! It is such a wonderful feeling! Especially since I love the manuscript. Now my entry is on its way with the five other fnalists to editor Beth de Guzman (Grand Central Publishing) who is choosing the winners.

Here's wishing all of us the best of luck!

Woo Hoo! I'm a finalist in the First Kiss Contest! Woo Hoo again, just for good measure!

They say time makes everything better, and talking about stuff helps. Well, I'm not quite sure exactly who "they" are... but they are only half right in this instance. Yes, time will make the experience fade a bit... but right now, talking about it doesn't help.

I heard an interview with a well-known soft-jazz musician who lives in the area and he was relaying his evacuation experience. Like me, his home escaped damage. But listening to him recount exactly what I went through, and knowing that we came through it all just fine while literally thousands of families did not just seemed so shallow.

True, we had to escape. But we both had lots of notice. We had time to pack and take the things that were most valuable to us (and make decisions of what to leave behind--like my mother's teddy bear). While I was part of a small group that was police escorted through an area with fire on both sides of us, I was not in imminent danger of being consumed by flames as were some people.

Bottom line: I had a home to come back to, for which I am most grateful. I did not have to deal with sifting through the ashes, nor did I have to seek assistance from any of the many public agencies that set up camp down the street from me.

But I have been greatly affected by this fire. I drive through one of the hardest hit areas each day on my way to work. Seeing homes that have literally melted into the ground. Trees that were once two-hundred year old majestic olds that are now charred hulls. I weep inside for all that has been lost... for the families that have lost their teddy bears, for the landscape that has lost its beauty for years to come.

For three weeks, each day the landscape looked sadder and sadder. Even while the various utility companies were stringing new wires, installing new poles, the vegetation was crumbling.

But then, last week the cleanup began. Erosion control measures became evident. Many of the blackened skeletons were removed, leaving just blackened ground. But it looks better. It looks more... normal...

Yes, time... even just a few weeks... is making this better. Most of the families will rebuild and have new homes. Nature will regenerate itself and once be green, lush, and beautiful.

But it will all be different. Not necessarily a bad thing, but nothing will be the same again. And I guess that's what life is all about: growing, moving forward... changing.

Exactly two weeks, I became a "fire runaway". Fortunately, my story has a happy ending, unlike so many others. Over 200 homes (at least... at first the estimate was over 500) were completely destroyed, with countless others damaged just in my town alone. Close to 9,500 acres were ravaged by flames so hot, vegetation and trees more than 100 years old were killed instantly.

I knew it was going to be a bad day when I awoke about 5:30AM that morning to learn the humidity was only 4%. In all the years I've lived here, the lowest I've ever seen the humidity first thing in the morning was around 30%. Even in the heat of day, the lowest was 7%.

Another sign was I could not only hear the wind howling--one of the things I love about my house is that I cannot hear the wind in most rooms and since I am not fond of wind, this is a good thing--but also could feel the house shaking from it.

Then I turned on the TV news to learn that sure enough, two fires had started at the east end of the area across the freeway. (A bit of geography: if we were to incorporate, in land mass we'd be second only to San Diego.) And since the wind was blowing from the north, probably no reason to worry... except that all emergency forces would be heading that way... so if something else were to start up, no one could come.

Feeling foolish, I decided to pack up stuff. I'd always had a plan of what I'd take: pictures my mother had created, a limited edition photograph from my brother, needlepoint pictures stitched by my step-grandmother, photos from my sister. Certainly important papers and a box of checks. A suitcase of clothes... with lots of underwear. Another suitcase of blankets and towels. Naturally Mac, Dell, and Dana, without question. Lots and lots of Zantac.

Gathering my possessions was not the problem... but I was a bit taken aback at how long it took to pack. An hour. I'd never have made it had I only had minutes like so many people I was learning about who were escaping from what became known as the Witch fire about 30 miles from me. But I had no real reason to worry... in a day or so, I'd be spending hours putting everything back and chiding myself for being such a worry-wart.

By 9AM, the fire had jumped the freeway (eight lanes plus a huge median). Not so good, but still a bit south of me and definitely east. With the wind still rippin' from the north.

By 11AM, they were evacuating the area where I'd made an offer on a home telling them to move west. Decision made: if we had to evacuate, I was takin' my dad and stepmother and their little dog (Suzy) with me... Began figuring out how to get all my possessions into the trusty HIghlander leaving enough room for all their prized possessions and them.

Around noon, my brother called from New York, (about the fourth conversation with him...plus two with my sister...) who told me that the evacuation area was now a huge swatch of the east side... moving very close to me. Funny... there was NOTHING on the any of the local news stations about this...

At one o'clock, decided it was time to pack the car and move on out. Best to get to my dad's place as he's located farther north... Said good bye to the possessions I was forced to leave behind trying not to acknowledge the fact that I might not see them again, and telling myself they are just "things"...

As I drove out of my neighborhood, noticed a house about two blocks from me was fully engulfed with no firefighters around. With a sinking feeling, I had to face the reality there was a very good chance I'd have nothing to come "home" to...

By 3PM, had everything else loaded, including Suzy's stuff with just enough room for passengers remaining. The HIghlander was pointed towards the escape route... which we hopefully remained positive we wouldn't be taking. And good news... my answering machine was still taking calls...

At 10PM, the wind shifted and the flames crested the hill in their march towards more destruction. We loaded up and moved 'em out...

to be continued...

Get your butt back here! It can't be almost the end of you! I haven't had time to enjoy ya yet! I feel ripped off, cheated, gypped.

Here's a quick listing of all things that I haven't done yet:

Gone to the beach... though I do like it much better in the winter when no one is around...
Barbequed... the bbq ran outta gas early June...and just got itself re-filled... so we can probably fire that baby up this weekend...
Sat in the sun... mainly cuz it's been way too stinkin' hot here this summer...
Washed my car... but we shan't even go there!
Planted a vegetable garden... hmmm... maybe we can consider a fall one!
Haven't read 1/3 of the books I hauled home from Dallas...but I did spend a weekend reading Luanne Rice's new one. Wow...talk about great! Currently enjoying Diane Mott Davidson's latest... and next up... hmmm... think I'll ready a bit of Carly Phillips...

And I could go on...and on...and on some more! So, see Summer! You can't flee away just yet..

But here's the good news! August is supposed to be our warmest month here. Cools off in September...by a whole degree! So, yep...though the days'll be a tad shorter, the nights a bit longer... I'll get my licks in! Just you wait Summer...you ain't fleein' outta here yet!

Just returned from the annual RWA Conference held in Dallas this year. It appears my inquisitive tasting-new-foods nature comes out in full force when visiting this beautiful city.

Last time, at the Dallas conference in Y2004, I tried escargot (AKA: snails...) The sauce was good... the snails themselves... they were okay especially the first two. The third one was gritty... yum, yum...(picture scrunched up face here...) I think three escargot are probably enough for me.

This time a group of us boarded DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) and went to the West End. Walked a couple of blocks and arrived at Gators. They serve all kinds of food--burgers, sandwiches, Tex-Mex, pasta. And... alligator. So, an appetizer of deep-fried gator was ordered. Now, I won't lie to you... it did not taste like chicken. Nor like calamari. It was good... had a fairly tender texture, not too chewy, rather tasteless actually. But the coating was delicious as was the sauce! And no gritty experience... Had about three pieces. Think that's probably enough for me, at least for the next few years.

And that's the thing about life in general. It's made for experiencing, for tasting. Sure, not all of it is gonna appeal or be up for a second go-around. Do I think my life was enriched by eating three snails and three bits of alligator? Ha! Not likely! But will I remember it? Definitely! There is nothing like getting together with friends, old and new, and chewing the fat... or in this case the alligator. This first night in Dallas, spent at Gators, set the tone for a wonderful conference to come.

Oh, and the Fajitas I had for dinner... were some of the best I've ever eaten...

Been a busy week. The first couple of days, those dratted dust bunnies thought they'd won. I had no energy to do a thing. It was an effort to even move from room to room around all the clutter, but I cracked the whip and made myself do stuff. By Tuesday, things were lookin' a bit more positive...and suddenly, my house was beginning to look more like my home.

I no longer had to fear the Health Department arriving unannounced to conduct an impromptu inspection and then board up the joint as a scary health hazard. The furniture was no longer gray but the natural brown it started out as since it was now cleared of dust.

The kitchen floor is again clean enough to eat off of ... and no I won't...and no...I don't really believe in the five-second rule...

Am I done?

Nope.

Still have my office (horrors!) and the family room (but I did make a dent in it...) and the garage (let's not go there...except to say the car still fits...and we know it's a Highlander not a Mini Cooper...)...

But it's definitely fit enough for habitation that I allowed the plumber inside to fix both toilets that were leaking like sieves and both sink-faucets that squirted everywhere but into the sinks.

So life is definitely good in Brooke-World.

Now... if only I could find the words to write... they now seem to be hiding...

Well, kinda but not exactly...

True, I have nine wonderful, glorious, free days ahead of me. But I'm not going anywhere. With luck, I'll barely even leave the abode except to pick up viddles... and cleaning supplies.

Yep. I am gonna stay around town and reclaim my home.

Dust Bunnies! You are on notice. Cobwebs and Eight-Legged Friends! Here's your notice as well. Run! Run while you can... cuz soon you are gonna be chased by the Big Red Suckin' Machine... if I can find it amid the clutter...

Like a bad penny!

Been working like a nut, been to a family wedding, been dealing with family crises, been not havin' a whole lot of fun. But, luckily, all is turning out well.

And while I currently look like hell, and feel like hell, life is lookin' pretty grand. I suppose every once in a while we need that reality check that helps us put the important things back in the frontline.

So...since today is my birthday, and since I got the best present possible finding out that my father is gonna be okay again for a good long time, and since I love brand new beginnings, I am making good on my promise made in the last post.

I am back... with a vengeance... for at least a bit...

Has anybody seen her recently? Does anybody know where she is? (Seems to be the question of the day.)

Is she lurking? (Nope... stalked the corners, done the sneak-attack-thing of opening all doors suddenly. No Brooke behind them.)

Is she cohabitating under the bed with the DustBunnies? (Ha! That's not possible...she'd have sneezed her head off within three minutes!)

Well, what about relaxing on vacation on a desert isle? How's that sound? (Nice...but negatory.)

Hmmm...maybe she's moving! (Uh... nope... not yet. Still sorting through junk. Who knew one moderately sane woman could have so much stuff...)

Maybe the contest entries crushed her... (Wrong! Perhaps the mail carrier felt the strain, but not Brooke...she's tougher than that! Hopefully...)

Okay...she's probably at work, right? (Alas... the ol' job has been occupying a unfair number of hours these days, but that's not the only place you'll find her.)

Then, back to the original question: Where's Brooke?

Answer: She's on the hunt for another couple of hours for each day. It is anticipated that the hunt will conclude the end of May. Then... Brooke will be back. A little older. A lot more tired. And with a vengeance!

Yep...Congratulations, accolades, and certainly the writer's traditional favorite, chocolate are in order for my friend...newly published author, Randy Jeanne! Woo Hoo!!!

Her debut novel, STEALING AMY, hit the web-waves on February 1. And I am so excited for her!

I've had the distinct pleasure of reading it along its path to publication. While she says I'm a bit biased (which we all know I'm NOT!), it's an adorable story. It's one of those books that when you put it down, you'll walk away with a really happy feeling. Kinda like waking up in the morning after having a really nice dream, and that really nice dream follows you though all day long. That's what STEALING AMY does.

And I love books that do that for me. That's what reading is all about! An escape from reality.

Since I'm a victim of identify theft, that this book could succeed in making me feel good is really quite a tribute to Randy's storytelling. And to her perseverance as well. More than just me told her that ID theft might not be a good premise for a book, and yet, it totally works.

Wanna know more about it? (Eh, eh, eh...this is why they call it a tease, huh!) Check out these two links:

http://www.randyjeanne.com/

and this one:

http://www.triskelionpublishing.net/Product74170/Stealing_Amy_Randy_Jeanne.html?CategoryID=2920&Index=8

And once again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Randy! This is just the first of many!!!

Yeah...yeah...yeah... I know! Year 2007 is already 1/24 over with...and I am finally posting my New Year's Blog.

So...you are probably wonder what my NY resolutions are... Right? Well, tough! I ain't telling ya! Suffice it to say, that I don't "do" resolutions, per se. Instead I set goals in each of four categories: Personal, Financial, Career, and Travel.

So...since I'm not tellin' ya my NY Goals, I'll keep in tune with last year's New Year's Blog, and mention stuff I love. Ready? Here goes:

1. I love clouds. Almost any kind of clouds. Fluffy, white ones. Interesting gray ones. Speeding-through-the-air ones. Billowing ones. Clouds are just a really cool thing.

2. I love my dad's little dog. She is this adorable bundle of black fur with tips of white on her front feet and tummy. She'll hear me drive up and meet me at the door...all wiggly and excited. After saying a quick 'Hello", she races off to find the toy of choice for me to play fetch with her. She loves playing fetch!!!!! But, she'll pause to let me pick her up and cuddle her. There is nothing like a dog's devoted, genuine love.

3. I love music. First thing when I arrive home, is to turn on my stereo. I love all kinds of music. There is something about the passion that pulls me, moves me. Whether it's a slow song, a chill piece, or a fast tune, music is something that is just a part of my world.

4. I love running water. Well, as long as it's not the toilet leaking or something. But give me the ocean, a racing stream, a waterfall, a fountain. There is something so primitive, free and wild about natural water flows.

5. I love birds and butterflies. They seem as though they are just flittin' through life, not a care in the world. In reality, they both have pretty tough lives, but they do seem so cheerful.

6. I love snuggling under the covers, reading, and snoozing. There is something very decadent about that.

7. I love the sense of touch... being able to "feel" things. The softness of snow. The silkiness of materials. The hardness of wood. The velvety smoothness of a rose petal. Touch seems to be one of the more overlooked senses, and yet it's so important to the other ones.

8. I love watching kids play. Everything in a child's world is so exciting, so new. They know how to have fun. They know how to appreciate the little things in life.

9. I love the "high" feeling of getting something accomplished that's been a nagging task for far too long. With the completion brings such a sense of elation, a sense of relief.

10. I love anything new. There is so much hope and innocence. With age comes wisdom. The trick is to not lose that sheer joy of the new beginning...to not let cynicism take over.

And, I love everything I loved last year just as much, but even more I love how my family and friends, who are all so special and wonderful, make me feel special and wonderful…even when I am not so special and wonderful.

So hard to believe today is the last day of Year 2006. It flew by seemingly faster than its predecessors. And with it, took along a few friends.

It's funny how celebrities affect us. For the most part, we don't know them, and yet when they pass away, the news of their deaths affects us as if they were our next-door neighbors. For me, those included Dana Reeve, Ed Bradley, and former President Ford.

Then there's the group of people you don't know, never met, and yet will never have a chance to. You read about them in the paper. Horror stories of how they were killed instantly in a car crash, suffered a stroke or heart attack, or a young child who lost their valiant fight with a disease no child should have to know about.

This year also marked the passing of more than few personal friends and associates. A gal I've known for years--an exercise enthusiast who thought she'd pulled a muscle in her back, but was gone from spinal cancer in a matter of months. A wonderful guy I used to work with who could (and would) always make you laugh--just 56 years old. A pilot friend of my family's who loved life to the max--started every morning out with a flight in his airplane (weather permitting, naturally), but one morning inexplicably had engine failure and crashed. Another family friend, also a pilot--we called him and his family "the All American family" because of the traditional way they celebrated all the holidays--lost his battle to cancer. And just yesterday, I learned about the passing of the father of a friend of a friend. I'd met this gentleman several times and loved talking with him. A professional chef, he loved my cupcakes--he rarely had high praise for food, but sincerely thought my contribution to the party fare was awesome. I'd been looking forward to seeing him again for the next Super Bowl Party...

As the years go by, we lose more and more people who have touched us, who are important to us, who leave gapping holes in our hearts when they leave. My "losses" this year were insignificant to the sadness endured by these peoples' families, and that fact is not lost on me. It is also not lost on me that life is very precarious, very short, and that because sadness is inevitable, time must not be spent needlessly on little grievances or petty problems. Sometimes easier said than done, but always worth reinforcing.

So, in closing, I wish you a fond, yet bittersweet, farewell Year 2006. You, and those that left with you, will never be forgotten.

So...the other day I am enjoying myself reading Blogger John's...well...Blog! And imagine my surprise when I see my name! (http://www.pelkeyisablogger.blogspot.com)

It seems I've been "tagged"! So here goes! Try to stay awake...

Four jobs I’ve had:
Savings and Loan teller/Operations Supervisor
Assistant Escrow Officer
MRP Manager
Controller

Four Places I’ve lived:
Seattle, Washington
Palo Alto, California
Dublin, Ireland
Southern California

Four favorite foods:
Hmm..this one is hard!
Almost anything Greek...
All the "true" comfort foods like: mac and cheese, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, pasta, bacon! Bacon! yum! Pizza!
All the great junk foods like: chips, nuts, cheetos!...yum! Cheetos! Pretzels! Popcorn... are we getting hungry yet??!!! Yeah!!!
And believe it or not...healthy stuff like salads, vegetables and fruits and milk and yogurt (Hey Santa! You bringin' me that yogurt maker I asked for??? Please?? Pretty please???) and homemade bread! Even better with homemade butter!!! (Gee, John! and Gail!! (who doesn't read this, I don't think...--you guys have made me really hungry now!)

Four movies I could watch over and over:
Okay. Another hard one cuz I go in phases with movies. I'll watch a ton in a row, and then won't go to the movies for a year or more. At this point, I can't remember the last time I went to the theater--it's probably been over a year now! But...here goes:

The Cutting Edge... saw it about six times. "Toe Pick"...
Pretty Woman... there is just something so humorous and so touching about this flick...
The Natural... Robert Redford and an inspirational, true story about baseball...what more is there to say??
For Love of the Game... okay...there was a bit more to say...another baseball movie, another inspirational, true story. Guess I love all movies like this... anyone remember Chariots of Fire?

Four TV shows I enjoy:
I am not a huge TV watcher...but this season, two shows have caught my attention:
Men in Trees (Thank you, Tammy!!!)
Studio 60 (I think this show is very clever...)
Most everything on The Food Network...especially Barefoot Contessa and Alton Brown's Good Eats (Hey Santa...did you get the memo about that totally cool measuring cup like AB's??)
Some of the oldies that are no longer on (except in syndication), but I really enjoyed them the first time around like Friends, Cosby, Sex in the City, Mary Tyler Moore, Andy Griffith, Matlock, Newhart... It's interesting how these shows that were so contemporary in their time, are so timeless today...so many years later...

Four places I’ve traveled:
France (my first venture overseas...it was almost a spur-of-the-moment decision to tag along with my sister...and a trip I'll always remember...)
Ireland (it is just as beautiful as the pictures... the air smells so fresh and clean... even in the cities)
Washington (I love Washington...there is just something about it...)
Yellowstone (oh my gosh...just the most amazing place...so much to see...so amazingly awesome)

Four places I’d like to visit:
All 50 states (been to about half of them now...)
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
British Columbia and Nova Scotia (I keep threatening...someday soon I am gonna make it!)
Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Norway...(face it...a lot more of Europe)...and definitely Greece!

Four websites I go to (almost) daily:
Ah, man. I am so pathetic...
SigAlert.com ... gotta check those traffic flows...
Assorted Blogs
Assorted Email sites and Group Links
Assorted News sites (since I don't get a local paper anymore and the local TV news is just plain old annoying...there is this one weather gal who wears the SAME pants everyday...and they are like two sizes too small...I can't believe management doesn't get her some new ones!)

To pass this on (if anyone even shows up here):
Well, you all are safe! I am not taggin' no one this time around! Mainly...cuz I tagged ya all last time!!!! But hey...if you wanna tag me again...I'm game! Us Borin' Folk just love a chance to prove the point we are boring!