It's A Good Day to be Monday

Oh man, you've got to love Monday's when you have the day off. Waking up and realizing you don't have to jump out of bed and rush to get out the door is way nice.

Of course, having the first day of the work week off also means I'll be playing catch up all week long. But hey, I'm off. The computer is on and life is good.:)

Yesterday Science Guy and I went to another Greek Festival. This one is one of my favorites. The food, the music, and all the small shops set up to wander through is great.

There was one woman, an older woman, in particular whose items fascinated me. More than likely these items came from her home. They were old and perhaps to most weren't worth much.

To know the difference all anyone had to do was stop and talk with her a bit. She shared moments of time with the pieces and yes, we walked away the proud owners of two very small vases with the potters stamp on the bottom of them. They didn't cost much, but I loved the curves and coloring of them.

We ate Greek fries, Souvlaki (I liked the chicken best), and topped it off with Loukoumathes. OMG, those are so amazing. Fried sweet dough balls drenched in a honey syrup and topped with cinnamon. Yum-Yum. I'm wanting some right now. They are crispy hot when you get them and nice and soft on the inside. The honey syrup is sweet, but not too sweet. Yeah, I'm wishing it was still going on today.

The one thing we didn't have was a Baklava sundae. I love Baklava, but the sundae was a bit over the top for me. Still, even with the cool temperatures they were selling them like...hotcakes (yeah, bad pun).

We watched the dancers and listened to the music and just enjoyed our Valentine's Day.

Science Guy is Greek, so this is always something special for him, and has now become something I look forward to each year. There's something about the traditions being passed down from generation to generation that I love. I'm sure the younger teenagers who danced with complete enthusiasm are normal teenagers who love Ed Hardy and hanging at the mall. BUT, for a couple of days, they are immersed in the heritage of their families and it's just cool.

Three older couples joined our table during the music and I watched as they sang along with the band in the Greek language. Again, it touched my heart.

All in all it was a great day. Maybe not the mushy Valentine's day that the holiday can call for, but one that was full of fun memories to keep, laughter that was shared, and yummy food. Can't get much better than that.

Hugs,
Vicki

I'm Full, I'm Tired, and I'm Happy

I'm hoping each of you had a wonderful Christmas and the memories are sweet and long lasting.

Science Guy, Golfer Dude, and I had a great day. I started cooking at 6:00AM. Yes, you read that right, it was six in the morning. I'd cooked a ham the night before, but still needed to cook a pumpkin pie and Chocolate Delight before I started working on the Christmas dinner.

Now mind you there were only three of us eating, but really what's a holiday dinner without all the trimmings. Suffice it to say we have tons of leftovers. But the day was great. We chilled, okay so SG and GD chilled, but I had fun making the food and spending time with the family.

The rest of our family lives in different towns and states so calls were made through out the day. We watched Christmas movies and ate. A lot. Way too much.

Thank goodness we have a week between Christmas and New Years because honestly we all need the rest.

I've done a little shopping for sales on holiday items, but everywhere I went it was completely crazy so I finally gave up. I'll get it next year if I really need it. :0

Oh yeah and I owe a couple of people some books. Really sorry about that. I thought I'd mailed them and then found the boxes with my other boxes (will we ever be truly moved in). So I promise to get them out to you this weekend.

Friday we'll be talking about goals. How we did and making new ones for the new year. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on making goals and checking them out. Kinda like Santa, got check them twice. :)

Hugs,
Vicki

Boo!! The Night of Tricks or Treats

Yesterday, L talked about not really liking this month so much anymore and I have to say I’m with her for the most part. I’m not a horror flick girl either. I saw the first Jason movie way back in the day and still it haunts me. Really, it does.

And Scream? Yeah, no way. I tried to watch it. After about 10 minutes I had to stop it. At the time I worked in a high school and the kids there told me the entire movie (once they stopped laughing at how scared it had made me), so I could go back and watch it. Nothing should scare me since I knew what was coming. Again, not so much. It was in the middle of the day and I was only about 20 minutes in when the scene where the parents come home to find the popcorn burning on the stove and the mother hears her daughter’s voice on the end of the phone. I won’t go any further, if you’ve seen the movie you know what happens and if not then you might be like me and not really need the visual in your head.

What I do like about Halloween is dressing up. Right now (I know it’s Friday, but we can dress up at work), I’m wearing a wicked shirt, black fingernails, black lipstick, lot’s of makeup, skull shoes, and a skull necklace. It’ not my best costume, but it’s fun. Here’s a pick of one of my favorites. Of course it’s pretty much just my face, but I loved the makeup.

The kids dressing up and trick or treating is always fun. Unfortunately it’s not quite the same as it was back in the day, but it’s still fun.

Here’s one of my favorite memories:

When I was a little girl one of the radio stations in my area always picked a house to be the spook house. No one knew where the house was other than the clues they’d give on the radio. The first person to actually identify the house as the spook house won a big prize.

Well, we were chosen when I was six. Instead of going out trick or treating that year I stayed at the house to help hand out fists full of candy to the people coming. The station provided us with the candy and of course the DJ’s were there as well. It was so cool. They had someone come and decorate the house to make it really spooky looking and even though I didn’t go out I had a blast.
Back then the adults went T&Ting as well, just to find the house and win. But it was different than today’s times. You didn’t worry if a bunch of adult came to your house dressed in costumes complete with mask.

And I got to be a fairy princess with my very own tiara. The flowing pink dress and ballet shoes were beautiful. Of course for those who know me, I had to be at the door and I wanted to be called Princess V. Heehee, yeah, my mom didn’t think so. I was and always will be Vicki, but I guess when you’re hyped up on loads of chocolate it’s okay.

So what about you? Any fun Halloween memories?

Hope everyone has a great weekend and finds many treats. And the pumpkin craving wouldn't be complete with out this one. :)

Bahhhahahha,
Vicki

Happy Labor Day

Science Guy and I have worked around the house, visited our home away from home (Home Depot) several times, and just enjoyed the extra time off together.

We planted some flowers on one side of the front yard and next weekend we're going to do the other side. He doesn't think we need it so much since we have some great little boxwood hedges, but I'm the needs to be even on both sides kinda girl.

Today we're going to Tarpon Springs to a festival and then back home to finish the long weekend before the craziness of the work week starts.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend and is enjoying that extra day off from work.

If you're having to work today, then lots of hugs and wishes for an extra special night.

xoxoxo,

Vicki

Happy Memorial Day

It's another holiday. Most of us are off from work enjoying the three day weekend.


Most of you guys know I don't do political blog post and this isn't one either. But I do feel the need to say thank you to the many that I don't know and will never meet and to the few I do know and admire.

Before the day begins I have to take a moment and thank all of our military past, present, and future, who give of themselves daily. And although our country isn't perfect, it's a land I love and am thankful to live in. Thank you men and women who strive to protect us and give us freedom.




I hope everyone has a fun filled day. Me? We're having a little backyard family picnic.



Hugs to all my friends out there, known in person or through the blog world.

Vicki

Happy Easter

Everything

I Need to Know,

I Learned

from the Easter Bunny...

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Walk softly and carry a big carrot.

Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.

There's no such thing as too much candy.

All work and no play can make you a basket case.

A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention.

Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day..

Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.

Some body parts should be floppy.

Keep your paws off other people's jellybeans.

Good things come in small-sugarcoated packages.

The grass is greener in someone else's basket.

An Easter bonnet can cover the wildest hare.


To show your true colors, you have to come out of your shell.

The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, finds lot's of eggs (filled with chocolate and/or the Golden Egg), and enjoys time with family and friends.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Happy Holidays To You and Yours

May your holiday's be filled with joy of the season and your new year bring all your hopes and dreams.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki

Contest Winner's and the Holiday's

First things first, the winners of the bookmarks are: Maura, Liza, and Laurie K. Please email me at vickilanewrites@yahoo.com with your snail mail addy and I'll get them out to you.

I don't know about you, but I love this time of year. Even on a rough day at the day job, riding home and seeing Christmas lights burning bright makes me smile. And yes, I play holiday much in the car as well. I love it, I'm like a kid.

The decorating and baking and shopping, (maybe not as much as normal this year, but still shopping) are part of the fun. The house will smell like homemade cookies and not just from the candle I lit last night. :) Or the pine smells from the Christmas tree spray. Science Guy and I have an artificial tree, so I have to burn candles and spray the room spray for the scent. Bath and Body has a great one.

And the holiday parties, big or small are always special. This past Saturday we had our TARA holiday party at the St Pete Yatch Club. Our room had a view of the water and the food was yummy. We all bring a gift. Something to do with the book we wrote or are writing and of course chocolate or wine or both. Because, as so many said on Saturday, 'That's what we do.' and then the fun begins. The first person picks a gift, the person who brought it tells what or how it represents her writing and then the second person steals that gift or picks another one from the table. And the fun goes on.

This year one of the girls made an incredible gift which was much fought after. She made a wreath (which lights), and all around it where the books of our TARA authors. Tiny little book covers of everyone's books. Amazing!

But, all this fun does lead to one little bity problem. Finding the time to work on my book. I'm squeezing in 20 minutes here and an hour there. I've got a few thousand words left to cut and then it's done and out the door. Whoo Hoo!!

How about you? Are you having a good holiday and are you able to find time to write or read?

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

Happy Thanksgiving

SG came through his surgery well. He's in some pain, but nothing as bad as yesterday, and tomorrow will be better still. :) Thus the reason I cooked our Thanksgiving this past Sunday.

And for those of us who are brave enough to hit the stores running tomorrow morning...have fun, don't let the crowds get to you, and remember Starbucks. Caffeine will help. :)

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm thankful to each and everyone of you who visit the blog, leave comments or just read it. To the wonderful friends I've made and to the ones yet to make, thank you.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday, doing what you love best.

WW's and PD's,
Vicki

WhooHoo, it's time for Fireworks!!

It’s July!!! Summer time fun is abounding everywhere. The pool parties, the cookouts, the lazy mornings spent lying on a beach towel reading the just released book, cold drinks served by the cabana boy, a misting fan blowing gently back and forth, and the house cleaning…oh crap, I didn’t mean to add in the house cleaning…now the dream is gone. Shattered, the cabana boy I was sending to the pool area is now hiding in some godforsaken place and won’t come out until I promise its long cool fruity alcohol driven drink time.

Okay, so summer already started, but there’s something about July that really says summertime to me. It’s not the weather since we have ‘hot’ most of the year round. Shorts and air conditioning is not an uncommon thing even at Christmas.

I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about July 4th. I love the fireworks, the cook outs and just plain ole fun of relaxing and doing what you want. I’ve seen fireworks from the top of a building, lying on a blanket at the eighteenth hole (okay, I don’t really know which hole it was) on a golf course, from the backyard, and from the beach. They have all been spectacular, but the beach, WOW. It’s like you get a double whammy. You see them in the sky and reflecting in the water.

This year, Science Guy and I are chilling. Yep, we’ll cook out and maybe go swimming in the pool and then decide if we want to mess with the traffic to go watch the sparkles or sit in the backyard and see them there.

The weekend promises to hold fun and do what I what time, which is always a nice deal. Will I write? Yes. How much? I’m not sure. Will I read? Yes, I’ve already got the book ready to go.

What about you. Any big plans for the weekend or are you staying close to home and doing the whole relax while you can thing?

WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki

Not So Much Cold Here Now...

Our weather in Sunny Florida changes by the hour. Not the day or week but the hour. You could leave your home in the morning and it's cold (our cold)but by the time you get settled into your office and go outside for break you find you no longer need that long sleeve sweater. In fact, now you're wishing for the short sleeve blouse you eyed in the closet this morning. I really don't like this kind of weather. I. Want. Seasons. Not that I'm going to get them but still a girls gotta dream.

I found a great blog for writers. Edittorrent had wonderful advice on writing. Check it out and let me know what you think. As I have said before, you must continue to improve your craft. Just when you think you got it, that's when you'll read something and a little (or huge) nugget will be sitting there shinning bright, just for you.

The presents are wrapped. The ones that are being mailed today anyway. I've got fingers crossed they will make it by Christmas. The Post Office says yes so I'm praying they are correct. Next year? Present for out of town bought and mailed earlier or it's gift cards. :)

Gotta go do the work holiday lunch thing today so I'll be back later.

Let me know if you checked out the site.

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki