Bronwyn Green

I’m all over the freaking place – literally and figuratively!

Bronwyn

December 16, 2010

So, today I’m off to the lovely town of Saugatuck to see a friend I haven’t seen in ages. It should be fun – we’re sewing new curtains for her new house. Have sewing machine – will travel. That’s my motto. So anyone need any mending down while I’m on the lake shore?

I’m also visiting online friends today, too!

Just in time for holiday reading, the fantasticly awesome Chris is giving away a copy of my recently expanded re-release, Solstice Seduction from TEB. Stop by and comment to win a copy! Also, comment on Anna Mayle’s contest while you’re there to win one of the best damn books I’ve read all year!

The ever lovely Julia Rachel Barrett is also featuring Solstice Seduction on her blog and I’d love it if you stopped by and said hi!

And last, but definitely not least, fellow Michigan writer and Grand Rapids Region Writer’s Group member, WS Gager is blogging about twelve writers who have impacted her writing career and I made her list. She says the sweetest things!

Derp! Wait – there’s one more place! I’m over at the Writer’s Evolution blog today talking about holiday traditions. Check it out for a cute, easy craft project to do with kids – makes a great grandparent present! 🙂

Whaaaaaaa…???

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December 9, 2010

A few days ago, I at one of the local Meijer stores with Mia (if you’re not familiar, think Target…with groceries) and we spotted a display of Santa Clauses. There were traditional Santas, St. Nicholas type Santas, skiing Santas, woodland Santas, fishing Santas wearing a vest and a floppy fishing hat, hunting Santas wearing camouflage holding a rifle, and then…there was this guy.

Hippie Santa.

Please note the fringed vest, head band, flower, peace symbol necklace and (weirdly patriotic) love beads.

Now, I admit, I have a certain fondness for hippies. It could be because of the guy who used to work at the daycare center I attended as a child and sang us Eagles songs on his acoustic guitar. It could be all the delicious homemade granola my mom made for us when we were little. It could even be tambourine playing-rock band groupie-skirt and scarf wearing (her collection rivaled Stevie Nicks’) Aunt Malita.

However, I’m not sure how I feel about this guy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about peace, love and understanding and also the joy of Christmas…but I think I find hippie Santa both awesome and disconcerting. Or maybe, awesomely disconcerting.

What do you think of him?

With every mistake, we must surely be learning…

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December 8, 2010

EDIT: It was pointed out to me (Thanks, Jen!) that While My Guitar Gently Weeps is a George Harrison song, sooooo Beatles fail for me. But I still love it. And I feel strongly about the sentiment – I sure as hell hope we’re learning anyway…

The Naughtiest Kitties Ever

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December 5, 2010

Willow and Morrighan are thrilled that the holidays are here. This means their favorite jungle gym is back in the living room and available for their climbing pleasure.

Willow gnawing on the branches…nothing says Happy Holidays like a little cat drool.

Willow contemplating the best way to get to the star at the top.

Morrighan joining her sister on the next branch up.

No fragile ornaments on the tree this year…

Willow’s all tuckered out from her epic climb. She actually slept in the tree the first night it was up.

Oh, the stupid things I do…

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November 30, 2010

So, a few days ago I had to stop at the bank, so I pulled up into a parking spot right in front and went inside. When I got out, I noticed a woman, standing behind my car lighting a cigarette with several shopping bags and her purse sitting on top of my trunk. I have to admit, I thought that was a little ballsy, but I ignored it, walked to the door and pulled it open only to realize…it wasn’t my car! In fact, I even exclaimed, “Holy shit! This isn’t my car!”

The woman didn’t say, “Duh!” But she didn’t have to. It was all over her face. I apologized profusely, while quickly walking to my own car which was parked next to it. She muttered. A lot. I’m not exactly sure what she said. I’m not sure I want to know.

In my defense, her car was a gray four-door. However, it wasn’t even close to the same shade of gray, nor was it the same make and model. Hell, it wasn’t even really the same shape. Oh well, at least I didn’t get in it. That counts for something. Right?

Being Thankful

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November 25, 2010

I’ll be making my famous (read the only thing my family trusts me to bring) green bean casserole in a few hours and trundling off to my cousins for Thanksgiving. Holidays with my family involve anywhere from 40-70 of us cramming into one of our houses, (darn…ours is too small) eating all our favorite foods, laughing until we cry and loud, lively conversation. I’m looking forward to it. My family can be a little crazy at times, but I wouldn’t trade them.

I’m sure my cousin will think it’s a great idea to go around the room and talk about what we’re thankful for. There are far too many things to list at the supper table, but I’ll tackle them here.

Let’s see…

My kids – I never knew it was possible to love anyone so much.
My hubby – He makes me laugh, pisses me off and I’m more in love with him than ever.
My family – The epitome of unconditional love – no matter what.
My friends – See above. I truly have the best friends in the world.
My kitties – Comfort, amusement and love – wrapped up in a furry purry package.
My jobs – I’m lucky enough to get to do what I love.

Those are the big ones. Then there are the other random bits I’m thankful for – in no particular order:

Baby belly laughs, dark chocolate, Starbucks, riding in cars with boys, computers, books, e-books, music, Supernatural, (no really) squirrels, Coke, baklava, JoAnn Fabrics, my favorite authors, my favorite bloggers, LOLcats, thunderstorms, my sewing machine, ren faires, wind chimes, hot tea and Welsh cakes, snuggling, sleeping in, daffodils, violets, lilacs, kitty purrs, sinks that drain, all four seasons, the internet, bats, cwtching up under a blanket, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, Squishy, my crockpot, lakes, trees, rocks, peace, acceptance and love.

This is by no means an exhaustive list – just the things that are rattling around in my brain at the moment. I hope you all are able to enjoy all of the things you’re thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Riding in Cars with Boys – Part Eight

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November 18, 2010

Yesterday was crazy weather wise. On my way out to school to pick up the boys, there was sleet, thunder and lightning, sunshine, torrential rain and hail. This was in the course of fifteen minutes. But, I actually managed to get to school early which was good since it was pouring rain by the time I pulled into the parking lot and hailing like mad when the kids came out of the building.

Killian: Oh my god, you’re actually here early.

Not Kevin: Good timing since it seems the Apocalypse is upon us.

Me: I think I deserve a reward.

Justin: You’ll get a reward when you’re consistent.

Sigh. Sadly, I deserved that.

Killian: (in an abrupt change of topic) Hey lady, did you know fuck is the most versatile word ever?

Me: It is useful.

Justin: No really. We figured it out at lunch.

Killian: It can be a noun.

Justin: Or a verb.

Killian: And an adjective, like “you fucking asshat.” (Yeah…that apple didn’t fall far from the tree…)

Justin: Or an adverb.

Killian: Can it be a modifier?

Me and Justin: And adjective is a modifier.

Justin: Dumbass.

Killian: Derp! I knew that.

Me: It can also be an exclamation…and probably a question too, if you put enough inflection in it.

Justin: I knew your mom would be able to add to our list!

Killian: Dude, my mom’s awesome. You know…sometimes.

I’m weirdly delighted that their lunchtime conversation ended up being about grammar. Also, my kid called me awesome. In public.

Weirdass Dream and Interview

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November 15, 2010

Yes…I’m afraid it’s that time again. Time for another unfortunate journey into Bron’s subconscious.

So I woke up completely pissed off this morning, and here’s why.

I dreamt that I was cleaning our ginormous walk-in closet. This thing was as big as a freaking room. I needed to hurry, because I had to be on time for a meeting with the Department of Social Services (DSS). It seems we were without insurance and I had to go down and apply.

I made it there (in time) with my carload of donations for Goodwill (I guess that’s why I was cleaning out the closet) and I was told I couldn’t meet with the people about getting insurance because one of the children was having a birthday party, but I could go have cake while I waited.

Never being one to turn down cake…even in my dreams…sigh…I followed the party noises into a large room. There were kids on one side of the room, very well dressed jumping on silk upholstered furniture and drinking juice out of wine and martini shaped juice-glasses and opening super expensive (and apparently unneeded – “I already have three x-boxes, mommy!”) gifts.

I sat down awkwardly with some of the moms and listened to conversations about holiday vacations while everyone stared at their cake, refusing to eat it because they were too full from their cob salads. Whatevs. I ate the damn cake. While they were all discussing their vacations and the upcoming holidays, there was another group of moms and kids who were all standing outside the building in the snow and sleet watching the kids playing at the birthday party waiting for their turn to come in and apply for assistance. The non-cake eating moms sat and made snide comments while the caseworkers played on Facebook instead of letting them come in from the cold and helping them.

I ended up going home and admiring my lovely, clean, organized walk in closet and then the alarm rang. Sigh. I woke up pissed at the state of healthcare in our nation, pissed at the moms in my dream and pissed because not only do I not have a walk in closet, the one I do have isn’t clean or organized. Grrrrrr.

If you’ve stayed with me this far, you should come and visit my kitties. Jody (aka Typing Slave) and Meankitty interviewed my cats over at their blog. I’d love it if you stopped by and said hi! 🙂

When the skies of November turn gloomy

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November 10, 2010

In July, when we were on our family vacation in the Upper Peninsula, I drove up to one of my favorite spots on the planet – Whitefish Point. It’s breathtakingly beautiful – rolling waves, seemingly endless expanses of sky and water and miles of rock covered sand.

I wandered along the beach for several hours shooting video, taking pictures and of course, picking up rocks and driftwood. As I was lugging my bag of treasures back up the beach, I stumbled across what I thought was a pile of stones and driftwood made by bored kids, but as I looked closer, I realized it was a makeshift memorial by the families of three of the sailors on the Edmund Fitzgerald – Ransom Cundy, Bruce Hudson and Thomas Bentsen.

I was a little kid when the ship sank, but I remember going to mass at my grandparents’ church with my mom and gram and saying prayers for the sailors. When we moved to a city near Detroit a few years later, the radio stations would broadcast the ringing of the bells at the Mariners’ Church (aka the Maritime Sailors’ Cathedral) every November 10th. It was such a sad, mournful sound. Somehow, it sounded worse over late 1970s FM radio. When I came upon the memorial I stopped for a minute, the memory of those sad, static-y bells perfectly clear in my head. I added three rocks to the pile.

Even though it’s been 35 years, these three men still have families that love and miss them. They don’t have a grave to visit, but they have this gorgeous, peaceful spot. I’m guessing they must come to Whitefish Point fairly often since the memorial wasn’t there when I was up there two years ago. I think it’s a really beautiful testament to love and remembrance.

facepalm

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November 9, 2010

So Caitlin, being the best little sister in the world, drove the boys to and from school yesterday so Matt and I could spend the day together. (Yes – he’s finally home from Russia!)

The following conversation was had when she brought them home.

Cait: Well, have fun with your delinquent .

Me: Fwuh?

Cait: Corwin, tell your parents what you did at school today.

Me: Oh…god…what?

Corwin: I figured out a good way to make some extra cash.

Matt: Oh…god…how?

Corwin: Well, remember that chocolate muffin the principal gave me last week?

Me: Yeah-huh.

Corwin: And remember how I don’t like chocolate Halloween candy?

Killian: Because you’re a freak.

Corwin: Well, I sold it at school.

Me: You sold a week old chocolate muffin…and Halloween candy.

Corwin: And I made two dollars and twenty-five cents.

Me: *facepalm*

Killian: HA! I totally called it! I told you she’d facepalm and she just did!

Yep…those are the ones I have…