I found this in the pantry, today.
It’s like my past self knew that my present self was going to be having a shitty day and was all, “Here. This is for you.”
Thanks, past self.
I needed those truffles.
So I went on a writing retreat with Jenny Trout, Kris Norris, Kelsey St. James, Jess Jarman, Emily Love, Mia Watts and Anne (an awesome reader) and it was FABULOUS! I got lots of work done, laughed until my face hurt and played Cards Against Humanity and laughed my ass off because I’m a terrible person, played in Lake Superior and even ate muffins made by monks. That’s right people, Monk Muffins! And they were delicious.
I’m going to share a few pictures and then get back to my story. And also episodes of Hannibal (which is Jenny and Jess’ fault) and cleaning my office, because holy hell, that has to happen! It looks like an episode of Hoarders in there. o.O
This was the view of Lake Superior from the deck of the house we rented.
And this was our home away from home.
A storm rolling in.
Our trip mascot! Isn’t he adorable? Kelsey knitted him on the way up!
This is Hunter’s Point in Copper Harbor on a particularly misty day.
Hunter’s Point
This is me playing around in the lake.
Rock formation at Hunter’s Point.
Great Sand Bay near Eagle Harbor.
Rocks! No trip to Lake Superior is complete without rocks! At least, it’s not if you’re me.
Moonrise over Lake Superior in Gay, Michigan.
Sunrise over Lake Superior in Gay, Michigan.
Sunlight, rocks and water.
The Tobacco River in Gay, Michigan
The Tobacco River Park in Gay Michigan
And this is what Jenny Trout made me and Kris Norris. Because she’s awesome.
I know, I know. I’m the worst blogger ever, lately.
I’m so busy I forgot to tell you guys about my new release. I’m also super lame, because it came out 20 days ago. Seriously, that’s like almost three weeks ago. (Lame, lame, lame.) Vengeful Shadows is here, if you want to check it out.
But anyway, this is what I really want to share with you. And yep, I’ve got permission from both of them.
My little brother, Martin, has a new girlfriend. Let me just tell you, I freaking adore her. She’s amazing and is a perfect fit for our crazy family. They couldn’t be a better team.
Well, Martin screwed up the other day, and because he really wants to be her “knight in shining armor” and also publicly apologize, he did this:
And also this:
and posted them on Facebook.
Spoiler alert: She loves it. And him.
And I’m a happy, happy big sister.
I also can’t stop giggling.
(Photos courtesy of my oldest kid who was helping Martin today.)
*blowing the dust off the blog*
Yeah… It’s been a while. And also crazy busy, but what else is new? It’s been the usual chaos – the day job, writing, volunteering at my kid’s school, getting ready for RT and now, this.
Matt’s work gave all of the IT department money toward a Kindle or an iPad as reward for going above and beyond the call of duty – basically working 14-16 hour days for an entire month. So Matt got an iPad.
Earlier this week, I pointed out that he could get free kindle books if he wanted to try out some new authors, so he happily downloaded a pile of books and has been reading ever since.
Today, this conversation happened.
Matt: Question?
Me: How am I still so awesome after all these years? No clue.
Matt: No. How do I tell if the books I’m downloading are your kind of books.
Me: By ‘my kind of books’, do you mean the kind I write? If so, the mostly naked people on the cover should be a big tip off.
Matt: No – I mean books that you read.
Me: I read a lot of different kinds of books.
Matt: I don’t know…I girly books. I think this might be one.
Me: Girly books? Seriously? First off, fuck you. Secondly, do you mean romance?
Matt: I guess.
Me: Go to the Amazon page for the book and look at the genre. What does it say?
Matt: It says romance. I’m screwed.
Me: Why? Because you like it?
Matt: No because I’m mostly done with it and now I have to finish it.
(He’s never DNFed a book no matter how bad it was or how much he hated it)
Me: *eyeroll*
Matt: *sigh* I guess this explains all the feelings in here.
Yep – this is the one I have.
I’ve blogged about my awesome sister-in-law, Manda before, and it’s time to do it again.
Why?
Because she’s freaking awesome.
Today, Manda and I were talking about what we’re bringing to Easter dinner. She’s recently switched to a gluten free diet and has been doing quite a bit of experimental baking. She was trying to decide between Dutch apple pie and strawberry shortcake. Then she said,
“The neighbor kids can’t tell the difference. I test them out with gluten and dairy free cupcakes and muffins. I’m so bad! Dessert testing on humans!
I’m cracking up and she adds,
“I use less sugar and almond milk all the time so it tastes normal now to my kids. It’s funny, sometimes I feel like the evil Hansel and Gretel witch that give kids treats. I’m watching their faces to see what they’re going to do. So far, so good. No one has spit anything out yet!”
Everyone wins here. Manda gets guinea pigs I mean, taste tasters, and the neighborhood kids get treats – and healthy ones at that.
What’s not to love?
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, I have the best sister-in-law on the planet.
Today, my baby turns 16. Well, actually, he turned 16 at about 4:10 this morning. Today, I’ll be wandering out to pick up his favorite doughnuts, because he doesn’t like cake and ice cream. I know…he’s an odd one, but I love him anyway.
Happy 16th Birthday, Corwin!
So I was at Barnes and Noble the other day, just minding my own business and I happened to catch sight of a book on one of the end caps.
It was a cookbook called:
Gluten Free Baking
Only, I read:
Queen of Freebasing
I immediately thought of my friends Chaos Chris, Sommer Marsden and B.A. Tortuga.
For the gluten free-ness.
Not the freebasing.
Dear February,
We need to talk.
You’ve been a busy, busy month. So far you’ve brought me work stress, frustration with WIPs, the damn flu, a nightmare experience at the dentist which resulted in possible over medication and honest to god hallucinations and an increasingly fucked up wrist thanks to carpal tunnel. We won’t even talk about the mammogram in a blizzard. Yep, still sore, btw, thanks for asking.
I know, I know – you’ve worked really hard what with all the snowstorms, ice storms and bitterly cold temps. You probably need a break just as much as I do. But I’ve noticed that you seem somewhat hellbent on dumping another giant pile of snow and freezing rain on us. That’s an ingenious little mix you seem fond of, and I see you’ve got yet more snow and ice lined up for us next week.
Here’s the thing, I know your shift isn’t up for another six days, but you’ve been working really hard. Too hard, really. And I understand that being the shortest month, you probably feel like you’ve got something to prove to the other months, but you’ve done your fair share. More than your fair share. Some (not me, of course) might even go so far as to call you an overachiever.
So here’s my thought, why don’t you go ahead and take off early. Just clock out, and let March take over. I’ve heard he’s bored. Might as well take a well-deserved vacation and let your slacker brother handle things for a while.
No?
Are you sure?
You know…there’s a reason no one likes you.
Disgruntledly Yours,
Bron
Let me tell you the tale of my doctor’s appointment.
At 10:45 am, I arrived at my doctor’s office for my annual checkup, ‘cause you know, I’m all proactive about my healthcare.
I went up to the desk and this happened.
Receptionist: Name?
Me: Bronwyn Green. I’ve got an eleven o’clock with Kristie.
Receptionist: *squints at screen and tilts head* Hmmm…I’m not seeing you. Birth date?
Me: June 3rd.
Receptionist: Are you sure it was at 11?
Me: Yep. See? *holds out appointment card*
Receptionist: *reads card* 11 o’clock on the 6th of February.
Me: Yeah-huh. I don’t know why I’m not in the computer.
Receptionist: Honey…it’s the 4th today. It’s Monday. The 6th is on Wednesday.
Me: So what you’re saying is that I don’t understand how calendars work.
Receptionist: *nods apologetically* Do you want me to see if we can squeeze you in today.
Me: Well, I did get all pretty to come down here.
Receptionist: *tilts her head and looks questioningly at me and rightfully so since I was a windblown mess*
Me: I shaved.
Receptionist: Oh. Right! *looks at computer screen* Why don’t we get you in with Natasha, then?
Doctor: *enters room, shakes my hand* Hey. I heard you shaved.
Tonight while we were eating supper, we got a call. I let the answering machine get it. It was a reminder to arrive 15 minutes early for my doctor’s appointment. At 11 am. On Wednesday. The 6th.
Matt: You got there 48 hours and 15 minutes early…overachiever.
Okay so I have this friend. Her name is Nia and she’s awesome. We’ve been friends since our oldest kids were in the sixth grade and I started the lit circle for some of the kids in their class. So yeah…that’s a long time now considering both of those kids are now freshman in college. o.O
Anyway, Nia’s also a big Doctor Who fan and when I told her about my unmitigated evilness, she was delighted and wanted in. (If you missed the posts about me being the worst mama ever, you can find them here and here.)
Killian’s aversion to Weeping Angels has spread to include almost all angels now. So, Nia and her girls came over a few days after Christmas and did this to our front porch. Please excuse the overabundance of computer pieces and parts. I put them on the porch to remind me to take them to be recycled, and well, I’m easily distracted. Or something.
Anyway, Nia timed it so she could be sitting in her van across the street when I came home with the boys. I made sure Killian walked into the house first. He stopped dead…stared…threw his hands up in the air and said, “I’m out. I can’t believe you guys. I’m just out.”
Meanwhile, Nia, her girls, Corwin and I were dying laughing. I know he’s going to get us all back. It’s just a matter of when.
