Wordless Wednesday

 

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Neigh

I have been accused of beating a dead horse before . . . so let me get my nose plugs and whip out . . . .

When did a “STOP” sign become a suggestion. People don’t stop. You’re lucky if, when it truly is your turn, you don’t get hit by the jerk zipping through it.

School zones aren’t instituted “just for fun” there is a reason why the speed limit is lower . . . and if your child is already late, what’s the freaking rush!

When your lane ends, don’t come zooming past me and hope I will graciously let you over . . ain’t gonna happen. You WILL get my horn and the single finger salute–don’t care if I know you or not.

Maybe I am a rule follower to my detriment, but the way I see it, there are reasons behind most of the ones people feel compelled to ignore. I swear people are freaking insane.

(and FYI, turn signals are built into a car to use . . . mother)

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The Comic Toolbox

I have not been a huge proponent of craft books (yeah, yeah I know about the grammar books, and as my CPs can attest, I don’t use them much either–that’s why I keep them around)–I don’t have anything against them–mostly, I don’t have the time to read nowadays and I have never recommended one to anyone. So color me surprised when after reading only two chapters, I wanted to tell you about this book.

Lori Wilde spoke at the ‘Buds retreat earlier this month as I mentioned arleady. While there, she suggested several books, one being: The Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus. I like to be silly, I am uber-sarcastic, and I try to write funny at times so I thought what the heck . . . .

The first two chapters of the book alone were worth every penny!

Sometimes, you may be in a slump–I know I have been with my writing–then you read something that unexpectedly gives you direction again.

Vorhaus, without going into too great a detail (BUY THE BOOK), helps you get past the doubting-self-’ems and you-suck-’ems with a few simple techniques. I realize this is not necessarily what he had in mind by offering up the exercises, but it had a profound result for me–don’t take myself so seriously and finish the dern book! 

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to write funny, anyone who likes to read funny (non-fiction–it is a craft book after all) and maybe just maybe for one or two who need a little direction!

He’s damn funny!

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Mr Mom had the right of it

Okay, I saw Mr. Mom when it came out in 1983. I was only 11 but I *loved* the movie, thought it was hilarious . . . but I didn’t “get” some of it being a child and not in the PTA or workplace. Now however . . . .  It rings so true for me. It should almost be the stay-at-home-mom bible!

The movie is so right on (I haven’t seen it in years, but I can remember so much about it). But I wonder why it is that it took a man to accurately portray a woman’s struggles. Now maybe we don’t all have the same strains ole Jack did—I have never used an iron on grilled cheese, but it has been done by many I am sure! But we all have moments when we have NO CLUE what to do or why we bother.

And hello . . . . the school driveway scenes . . . every damn morning there is some schmuck dropping their child off and NOT following the traffic rules. (and don’t get me started on the folks with the “mom’s taxi” who can’t freaking drive in only one lane and block the rest for EVERYone or the kids who get out of their car and don’t even look to see if someone may be coming up beside their parent who is dropping them off in the wrong damn lane . . . can you see I have a MAJOR issue with this???? Dropping off at three schools a day can get your blood pressure WAY up!) OMG!

Of course my fave character was Joan—Ann Jillian. She was the sexy coupon-ante poker playing trollip. When you envisioned motherhood, PTA and the likes, you wanted to be the wanton babe who seemed to have all the fun right? Or was that just me?

Ames says I have this Madonna/whore thing going for me (Madonna being the biblical version not the cone-breast wearing one). Maybe Mr Mom is why. I mean as I said it’s been years since I have seen it and I could probably describe it to you scene for scene all the years later. It left a HUGE impression on me.

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Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen reasons it’s good to be a Chica  ♥

1) Chicalicious Fantabulous
2) TEQUILA!
3) Summer Smackdown Bi-atch-fest
4) The secret handshake
5) The kitschy uniform
6) Ames melting your popsicle before anyone elses
7) Coach purses
8 ) Ubershoes
9) Knowing all the “real” names
10) Mommy Denise reminding you crap
11) Cool pens!
12) Inside scoop on painted kitties (at least before N&S got it)
13) We know where all the bodies are hidden

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Chica for a day

Hey Authors*,

How would you like to be a:

Chica for a day?

Do you have a book about to release? A great review you want to share? A crappy review you want to laugh at? Wanna give people the scoop on a great agent or editor? Or just have something you’d like to share and don’t have a group blog to post too?

You can be a Chica for a day!

Southern Fried Chicas has a Wednesday Chica slot open and we’re waiting for YOU! 

E-mail me, tell us why you want to be a Chica for a day and maybe you can be Chica-licious fantabulous and have your own day!

(and hey, you never know, we could make it a regular gig!)    

* please, published authors only

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Louisiana

Ames and I went to Baton Rouge over the weekend for a booksigning (and other than the RWA Literacy signing), it was my first! WAHOO! The RWA chapter hosting the event (HeartLa) had the nicest ladies! They made you feel right at home. One of the gals even gave us an uber-cool tour of the city (and Spare was ever-impressed with the pic I sent of the LSU stadium!).

(Ames is on the end first row, right–I am next to her, MJ next to me)

I met many authors I had yet to meet–and did I mention how friendly everyone was????–and I chatted with M.J., the Pres of HHRW (I am the 2nd VP of HHRW) and her daughter.

There were great speakers at lunch: Erica Spindler and Hailey North. Both made you want to head right back to the hotel room and start writing even though I left the laptop at home. I love when an author energizes me so much. I did edit in the car some on the EIGHT hour drive home and did a couple more pages last night lying on my side–my tailbone is ACHING!

Ames took some pics (I brought my camera but left it in my bag the entire time–DOH!) even a couple of pics as we sat–and I do mean literally–on the Texas/Louisiana state line.

A good–and tailbone wearing-out–time was had!

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Tweeny-bopper

So Monday, we took the boys to the Texas State Fair. It was the school holiday and free tickets day so better than have to pay 6 tix, we went and braved the crowds and was it ever crowded.

We had planned this for about a week, we did it last year and had a great time, so sure it’d be same same. Welllllllllllllll . . . . .  not so much. Sunday night, the DH was traversing the Internet for fair info and realized something Monday would make the boys go NUTS!

The “band” for Monday was The Jonas Brothers–OMG!  😆

The boys love the Jonas Brothers (Spare got their CD for his birthday in fact) as do about 20,000 screaming little (and some not-so-little) girls.

We couldn’t even get close–which was okay as Mini-Me decided at that moment to puke his little guts out–cotton candy, two ice creams, three sodas and a pack of gum–I don’t think he actually swallowed the gum, but still . . . we made our way to the wall-O-porta-potties and once he emptied his day’s activities we stayed right there with about 100 other folks.

It was hot–more from the humidity–and the stage area was so bad I heard on the radio this morning 200 little girls had to be administered first aid–they had hoses going through the entire show. Crazy! But as I said the boys like them so they were THRILLED (and the last song I actually know all the words to, so I sang along between jabs from Spare and Spare+1 as they wanted me to QUIT singing 🙂 )

 AND . . .  we even managed to get home in time for the Cowboys game–the dh was UBER-PLEASED!

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my trailer

I finally have my own booktrailer for THE INN CROWD.

If you’d like to see a copy of it, head to the CHICAS to see it . . . . and let me know what you think.

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Inside Joke

So when I decided to do the new blog, I had to come up with a name. Sure I could have used Dennie’s Thoughts again–but I am not shutting that one down and two named the same seemed like it would confuse too many people–namely me 🙂

So anyhoo . . .

Since it is all encompassing as to my thoughts still, I wanted something to reflect that and as an homage to my late grandparents Oscar and Imogene Head  it only seemed fitting.

So there you have it–a peek inside my head 😎

P.S.–I wrote this on Thursday–I am sure I am having a GREAT time at the retreat ~

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