There were many possible topics for this blog post. I thought about 'Vacation's Over, Back To Work' or another Ori Diaries segment. (He was not the best behaved while we were gone.) Or even something to do with the cats. Mostly what I could have done was drown you in images of my trip. (Which I might add to this post at a later date.) I'm not doing any of that. Some of it requires too much effort, and others are just boring. Instead, I'm going to talk about my vacation. Obvio

My friends were supposed to remind me to write this. They failed. Which is fine, because I forgot our last writer date due to working too late. We're even. That said, there's a lot to say and yet almost nothing at all, so I'm diving in. No. Literally. This week is all about scuba diving. At least, it would be if health and equipment failures would stop messing with me. This week, the bf and I are in the Cayman Islands (Cayman Brac) for diving. We went with an awesome group le

Drowning is silent. There are no frantic splashes. No cries for help. There is only the weight of your body. The waves crashing over your head. The current tugging you to the depths. You grow too tired to fight. Your lungs have no air to waste on crying out. Instead you focus on that tiny little gulp you can take between the waves. You try to ignore the exhaustion settling into your bones. You know that the waves will not let you float at the surface, and if you cease fightin

I'm a person that struggles with creating and maintaining routines. I have all of these lofty ideas and goals about what I'm going to do–especially on a daily basis–and following through for a few months. Then there will be that one thing that throws off the routine, and I'm toast. The only way to combat this is to give me reasonable, achievable goals that I like . For instance, a new Sims4 pack was recently released. When this happens, they offer side quests that allow you

Unfortunately, like most authors, I can't pay my bills on my book sales. (Yet. YET!) This means that I have a day job ... or several? As it happens, I've become the Queen of Odd Jobs. Every time I think I can list them all, it turns out I find another one peeking its head up and requiring attention. So let's try to list them now. Writing This one is my number one, and has been since I was a teenager. I don't always devote the time to it that I should, but it's the one I care

"You know you're old when..." I'm in my thirties, y'all. Remember when little kids used to think being in your thirties meant you were old? Then when you got mid-to-late twenties, you were offended? I'm in my mid-thirties. I'm not offended. I'm old. I like my pjs on by 6 o'clock, dinner done by eight, and snuggled up with my cats, dog, computer, and a comfy blanket from then til I go to bed. Leaving the house is anathema (especially this time of year), and you really learn wh

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LITTLE LOVE!! Ori posing for this annual birthday portrait Okay, realistically, this post is several days after the fact. (Ori turned four on Dec. 19.) That said, I can't believe I have a four-year-old already! As expected, we celebrated with ice cream cake (his favorite) and toys. But not until about 10pm. You see, Mom (me) had to work job 1 from 7:40am-2pm. Then she had to stop in at job 4 for about 30 mins. Immediately after that, Dad whisked her away do

First off: THEY'RE HERE!! My hardcovers have finally arrived and I am absolutely in love with them. I, of course, took a lot of pictures, so those will be forthcoming. Not that I've had time yet to do the kind of photo shoot I wish to. As always, my wife is a complete ROCKSTAR and created a wonderful bunch of books for me. (Though that 2 not lining up even a little bit with the other numbers is messing with her. lol) Now, of course, when I do get time, I'll have to sign, box

Every year, for Halloween and Christmas, I get super involved in my town. What this actually means is that, about four years ago, I decided that I had to be the change I wanted to see. Growing up in this small town, there was never anything fun to do in the immediate area. I grew up hating this town because of it. Then it dawned on me that I was a part of the problem, because I wasn't doing anything to change it, either. In a case like this, there's a beautiful quote I heard

Today is an admin day. Thus, it'll be a short post. I totally forgot to write this blog post beforehand, so there's that. I have no...