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

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!

But you can fight the Post Office!

Last Saturday was a bad, bad mail day. Went to collect it, and there was the regular invoice from Toyota for the ol' Highlander. And there was also my November payment. Stamped: Addressee Unknown--Unable to Forward.

Addressee Unknown? Unable to Forward????

Surely Toyota Financial Services had not moved and had not bothered to correct their billing stubs. And why had it taken the Postal Service almost six weeks to return this to me? And...and...and... why were there black pencil marks through the coding on the bottom of the envelope... Closer inspection showed that my envelope clearly addressed to City of Industry, California had been traveling around Carol Springs, Illinois! Hope it had a nice tour!

Upon opening the current billing, there was no big surprise there: two months were now due...pay up or else!

So, Monday morning had me phoning Toyota, and speaking with a very nice customer service rep. She waived the late charges, but told me that unless they had the two payments in five days, there would be a bad mark on my credit report...and that while obviously it could be removed, it was a time-consuming procedure. So she recommended I overnight the payment to them.

Hmmm...a $14.40 Postal charge...to cover their error... Brooke was not a happy camper...

So...I trek off to the post office...never a fun thing to do on one's lunch hour...never a smart thing to do during the Christmas rush!

And stand in line forever...and finally get up to the front. I show the very nice clerk my envelope and he looks at it and says that's pretty weird. I tell him that since this was not my fault and that it took six weeks to return what was obviously a payment to me, and that since I now needed to send it overnight to City of Industry, that USPS should pick up the charge. Mr. Nice Postal-Guy grins and says he agrees, but he doubts they will. He offers to go and talk with a supervisor. You do that, I think...but wisely say: Thank you very much.

A couple minutes later (at least it seemed that long!), he returns and says that said super is gonna be out in a minute. So I wait...and wait...and wait... and then Mr. Supervisor arrives.

Things start out pleasantly enough. I state my case again. Show him the envelope. He peers at it. And announces that the envelope is not the proper configuration for postal standards to allow them to code it properly. That's why it was returned. And no. They will not pick up the $14.40 Express Mail charge.

What?? Excuse me?? What??? Not the proper configuration? Okay...give me a break here...

I have been using the exact same envelope now for almost four years...hundreds of thousands of people send payments to Toyota Financial Services using the same envelope. So I ask: You are telling me that everyone who made a payment to Toyota for November is getting their checks back six weeks later...and that from now...every payment sent to Toyota is gonna come back...as I wave my December payment in front of him...

Yes, he says...

I am astonished at his reply. So I ask him: why did it go to Carol Springs, Illinois? Why didn't it just come back to me? And so 100,000 plus envelopes are going back to customers? I truly doubt this, I say.

He then asks me where I mailed the payment.

At his post office.

Oh. Not daunted...he says but your return address is in another city.

Like duh... I sorta patiently say: Yes...I live in that city...work in this city (24/7 or so it seems...but I didn't go there...pat me on the back for my restraint!). And so yes...I send mail here...

Oh. He sighs. Just a second he says, and picks up the envelope and goes to the back.

A minute later he returns...and announces the obvious... Somebody miscoded the envelope not just once...not even twice...but three times. A truly mishandled piece of mail. He actually apologizes. And says that yes...they will be happy to waive the $14.40 Express Mail charge for me.

Woo Hoo! I fought the Post Office and won! And guess what! My Express Envelope actually arrived at its proper destination the next day...and Toyota posted the payment immediately... and Mr. Highlander is safe from nasty tow truck drives who moonlight as repo-dudes.

Yep...you can't fight City Hall, but sometimes you can fight the Post Office...Mr. Nice-Postal Guy was pretty impressed with my success! And so was I!

Awww....the sweet sound of those slot machines ching-ing away...adding up dollar after happy dollar. The lights..sparkling and bright as bonus after bonus pops up on the screen... Awww, yes... Such was my experience last Sunday!

We had our annual Christmas party this year at one of the local Indian gaming casinos (although "local" is rather a relative term here since it is 55 minutes from my house on a very narrow, very curvy two lane (uh...would be one lane each direction...) highway during Santa Ana Winds of 30 mph with gusts higher...but hey! it was a party!). I was smart--I decided when the party was announced that I would stay overnight at the casino hotel. Now, where to begin this tale...

The hotel was amazing! Huge! Twenty-one floors overlooking the mountains. The room was luxurious with a huge bathtub, separate shower, very nice bed! (you know my obsession with hotel beds...), a couch and a chair... you get the picture: great accommodations! Could've stayed there a week...

My co-worker and I agreed to meet for lunch, get our rooms as soon as we could, and scope out the party area. Which we did. Lunch was yummy! The room for our party was nice and big and still in the process of being set up, and there were lots and lots of nickel-machines (my personal favorite!). I resisted the temptation to stuff a hard-earned bill down the throats of any of them. Instead I opted to spend some time in my awesome room.

The party started promptly at 5PM, and we arrived in all our holiday finery. Open bar! WaHoo! Long Island Iced Teas--the house specialty. Double Wa-Hoo! Dinner was delicious...a bountiful buffet.

Next was the Gambling Contest. Each employee received a $20 seed, and using only that seed money, could go out on the floor and gamble it away. The one who made the most money in 45 minutes would receive a nice prize. Off I went to search out the one nickel-machine "that spoke to me". It was quite a task, but I settled down at a Cheetah game. Plunked in my seed money. And began to watch it wither. Then it sprouted. And grew. And withered. And grew...and grew...and grew... Soon I had $125!!! Naturally this was when my department-mates arrived on the scene. "Cash out! Cash out!" they implored me. "You have just a couple minutes to turn in your total." Yeah, yeah, yeah, the gambler in me cringes. But I obey. And off we go, my ticket in hand (they don't use real cash these days...it's all so modern...) in search of my boss. And sure enough...I am in the lead...but we had more than two minutes! So the runner-up trots her litte behind out to the floor...places a couple of bets...and voila! She's up to $134. And there is still two minutes left... (Longest two minutes I'd ever seen. Why can't two minutes be this long in the morning when I am running late... or this long when I wanna sleep in for just another couple minutes?)

Sadly..."my" machine was occupied...and so my total went the wrong way and dropped to $100. Ho hum. Time for another Long Island Iced Tea to wash away the discouragement of being second...

After the party, I ventured back to see if "my" machine was free...and it was!!! Stuffed my ticket back in... down to $75...down to $50...down to $20...Big tears are threatening... down to $10... suddenly...I hit 50 free spins! Now this has to be a good thing! And it was. The total began building. Ten more free spins... and building.... five more free spins...and building...and building...up to $225!!! "Cash out! Cash out!" my responsible department-mates yell. "Cash out, now!" So I do...

But then...they turn their backs on me... and lure is too great... I plunk back down in front of Cheetah (who'd doled out another $45 buck to someone in my absence...) and feed him another $20... Ten minutes later: $100!!!!

Woo Hoo! Now this is why I LOVE nickel-slots. And why I am very, very glad the casinos are 55 minutes from my home...up a very narrow, very curvy winding two-lane highway...

That's right...after more than four years of membership in my first crit group, yesterday I was shown the door. The reason: lack of performance. Every month, each member must complete a critique of another member's work or be tossed out on her ear. I did not do a crit in November. Thus, December 1st, my butt felt the boot.

So yes, technically, I was justifiably axed. But there are always two sides to each story. There was nothing new to crit until the last day of the month. Oh yes, there had been one new chapter up for about four days the beginning of the month... the two times of the month I am never home before 8 or 9PM from the job that really pays me.

And therein lies the crux of the matter. Why is a volunteer crit group run like the coldest corporation around? That is notifies a member of long standing that she's out via a "form" email... No personal email asking if there was something going on in my life that rendered me quiet for the month. No waiting until December 2nd or 3rd to see if the weekend allowed time for critique of the new chapter that arrived mid-day on November 30th. Just a swift "you're outta there, baby!"

Of course, I am not so naive as to not realize that I was "dismissed" not because I didn't do a crit but rather because the owner of the loop no longer wanted me there. If it was solely because I missed adhering to one of the "rules and regulations", the group would be a lot smaller than it is today.

Actually, I don't really care that I was unceremoniously unsubscribed from the group. It long ago stopped being beneficial to me or my writing goals. What saddens me is that the callousness of being dumped without a "personal touch" is so indicative of how our society is becoming in general. No longer do we care about the other person's feelings or situations; no longer do we take the time to lend a helping hand whether it's actually jumping in and getting dirty ourselves or with moral support... unless it helps our own cause.

Sound cynical? Perhaps. Is it reality? At the moment, it sure feels like it. But I am also enough of an optimist to hope it's just a passing phase.

Bottom line here: Usually when one is shown the door, it is the best thing that could happen to their career. I'd been hanging around mainly for sentimental reasons...it's hard to leave one of your first groups. But it was way past time for me to make that move. Now it's one less personal email I have to compose and write. And more time for me to write...and clean...and play computer games...and sleep... and cause mischief in general!

Ya know that old adage: Pictures don't lie? It's false!!

And that one about pictures telling a thousand words? Yep! A lie, too...unless you are looking for a thousand words of untruths...

And I have proof!

I've been house-hunting this year (yes, I know...house-hunting for almost a year...but I am sticking to one small area so I go and see each home that comes on the market...). Recently one went up for sale that was a model that is really too small for my needs. But, because I am seemingly a masochist at heart, I did a drive-by. And wow! It was in a perfect location, had a tile roof (as opposed to an old original shake roof which quite a few in that area still have...remember...I have vivid memories of roof-leaks...so not goin' there again...), and was on the side of the golf course that I'd really prefer.

Alas... the realtor had not posted any pictures of it, but the description sounded lovely. Lush landscaping, fountain in the entryway, pristine condition. (Yeah...we could also talk about truth in advertising here, too...). But my current home is not ready to put on the market yet (yes, we are still in the friggin' cleaning mode...), so I kept my cool and did not call my agent for a showing. After all, the floor plan was really too small for my needs. I don't want to throw out or give away everything!

But then...this week... the listing realtor put up a picture. Not the normal four or five or six or ten... but one. And oh my!
It was one of the backyard...and it was amazingly beautiful. Large! Covered patio for part of it that overlooked a grassy area with some trees, secluded, the golf course and mountains farther out. So what if the floor plan was small...I could LIVE on that patio, I excitedly told myself! And geez... maybe the owner would consider throwing in the terrific patio table and chairs!

Alas...why hadn't I finished getting my place ready, I berated myself. I knew this would happen, I chastised. No sense in going to see it, I meanly told myself...it's so terrific, it'd be sold in no time...and you, Ms. Procrastinator-Extraordinnaire, still have shoveling to do in the current abode. So hop to it, I commanded thyself.

But, but, but, Ms. P-E came back meekly... maybe seeing it would be just the "push" I needed... And, and, and...what harm could viewing it actually do? Other than waste a bit of my agent's time and my time... So, I made an appointment to see it today...

When I arrived at my agent's office, she handed me the detail sheet to read over, and it says it has a walk-in closet in the master bedroom. Now I've been in enough of these homes to know...they ain't got no walk-in closets in the master bedroom or otherwise! Buy hey...I'm not opposed to that! Even it is done without a permit... So off we go!

Upon entering the gate, I see that the fern-lined walkway with fountain is really a fern-entangled jungle! Hmmm...okay... I can just have my new landscape dude fix this for me...

I walk to the back as my agent struggles with the door locks...(graphite, I think to myself...just a little graphite is all that's needed...) to view the "gorgeous" huge, honkin' backyard... that's the size of a postage stamp. Talk about trick photography! It turns out it's about half the size as MOST the other yards I've viewed! And lush landscaping: uh...can we say "overgrown mishmash"? Yes, yes we can. My heart sinks a bit.

But, there's still the lovely patio table... which was obviously turned the long way to make the picture look better, but has a huge crack in the glass, and the chairs are all broken and beat up. So, I won't be beggin' for them in the offer, I think...

And the "covered" patio...uh... it's bird netting. Yep. Bird netting.

But, it's also pretty secluded, and I can see the golf course, and the view is pretty amazing. By this time, agent has struggled through the four locks with success, and we go inside.

It is very clean. A definite plus. The only room remodeled in the "extensive" 2002 remodel was the kitchen (which is very small but really, really nice!)...and the master bedroom closet which has been made into a walk-in by taking up half the garage. And there is a HUGE dip that could substitute for a skateboard gangplank between the two rooms.

So...pristine really equals permitless...

And is probably why there's only one picture. That has been expertly doctored.

So...the next time you see a photo of yourself that you hate...and think that can't possibly be you... you'll be right! And you have my full permission to refer to this blog entry for proof.

And the good news here: I don't have to rush with the Current Abode Clean-Up this weekend. Woo Hoo! Ms. P-E is most gleeful about that!

Randy posted the following comment:

...Once, after the major part of a firestorm had passed, I watched the residual fire slowly eat up a hillside...it was eerily spellbinding. I'm also reminded of a line from the book, "You Can't Go Home Again" spoken by a bored debutante leaving a typical Manhattan party after a fire had broken out in the apartment: "If only there could always be a fire."...

And I have to admit...it really got me thinking how true that is. That something so horrible can also be beautiful. And, on the flip side, something so beautiful can also turn horrible.

Let's take fire for example. I have only been really looking at the negative side of it. After all, when I have nightmares, they usually have one of two recurring themes... planes crashing (I saw one once...that was enough for me...) and the house burning down. And yet, there is little that can compare with the comfort of sitting by a roaring fire crackling away (contained!) in the fireplace on cold evening or Christmas morning. Or roasting marshmallows by one while sitting on the beach. There is also something very primitive and wild and free about fire.

Probably one of the most amazing things is what occurs after a fire. How nature comes back even after the most devastating of burns. I remember a few years back, a wild fire ran through my dad's grove and it appeared destroyed. Yet, within a week, new sprouts on his avocado trees began pushing their way out on on the burned and blackened branches. Within a month, those determined sprouts were tender new leaves, and within a couple of months, it was hard to tell there'd been a terrible fire that had burned or destroyed close to a hundred homes.

I still have a hard time understanding how someone can just set a fire for the sheer destruction of it, but perhaps they don't think past the possibility that it might burn so outta control. Maybe they feel confident that the abilities of firefighters will keep it contained to a few acres at most. And yes, there is a certain excitement to watching a fire, just as most of us slow down to gasp at the twisted metal of a car wreck, not taking into account there might also be a twisted body.

Maybe the fascination of destruction has less to do with the ruination itself but is more about the spirit of what's survived and what lives on afterwards...

And sadly (or maybe not so sadly...), I don't mean the Holiday Season. Instead, I'm talking about Santa Ana Wind Season...which is now pretty much synonymous with fires.

Already an arsonist was at work early this morning setting a fire that's burned thousands of acres and killed four firefighters with a fifth fighting for his life. The scary part is that this particular fire was not only intentionally set, it was started right as the winds picked up. The timing was carefully mapped out for maximum destruction.

I cannot understand, no matter how I try, the appeal of this crime. To watch beautiful land destroyed and ravaged, wildlife killed for no reason...it's beyond my comprehension. I am perfectly aware that lightning storms can and do cause the same devastation, even to the point of taking human lives, but at least that's Mother Nature wreaking the havoc. I am also perfectly aware that with the destruction by fire comes the rejuvenation of the land. But again, that's Mother Nature at work.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of the firefighters who were lost today. As anyone who knows me, one of my biggest fears are the wildfires (a fire in Antarctica is too close to me in my opinion...yeah, yeah, yeah...one would also think I'd move, huh...go figure that one!). For me, the freedom of the Santa Ana Winds blowing through the valleys, cleansing the air, means tension and worry. And now sorrow.

One can only hope that the person or persons who set this morning's fire suddenly gains a conscience and realizes what horror they've caused. But somehow, I rather doubt it... nobody with a heart would or could intentionally set out to destroy so much--much less take joy in it.

Ah, yes. Tonight is the first of two nights in a row of sleeping on a "Heavenly Bed". And, as you can probably tell, especially since the last two posts were devoted to the mysterious world of sleeping soundly, I am totally looking forward to the adventure.

My plans for the next two days are simple: arrive at Westin Hotel Number One. Check in as early as possible to gain the most time in the room for my expenditure of bucks as possible. Briefly poke around said room to admire all the amenities. Then...drum roll... indulge in an afternoon nap in the Heavenly Bed. Get up to take an amazingly long shower in the Heavenly Shower. Crawl back into Heavenly Bed for luxurious hours on end of a good night's sleep. Sadly, one must awaken no later than 4:30AM and abandon Room Number One to get to Westin Hotel Number Two in Seattle. (That 4:30AM wake-up call is just obscene in my book...but that's a whole other story...)

Upon arriving in Seattle, the plan for the afternoon is again simple. Arrive at Westin Hotel Number Two as early as possible...check out the room... another afternoon nap (hey! it's supposed to be raining in The Emerald City tomorrow!), another shower in the Heavenly Shower... and more sleeping! Fortunately Thursday morning brings no ungodly-hour wake-up calls.

Do I have sleeping on the brain? Maybe just a wee bit. Is this any way to start out a vacation? Well, it *is* my vacation...and I can do whatever I want, I say a bit petulantly... And no... I shall not be traveling from hotel to hotel and sleeping or showering the entire time. But the first two days...I am enjoying them to the max!

And...now... the subject of sleep is put to bed!