What do you read?

Thanks so much for letting me guest blog today, Sandy. I hope everyone's having a great summer so far.

Being an avid reader, a lot of the conversations I have with friends revolve around books. I have to say, I'm not often a very deep reader. I don't usually read literary novels. I just want to be entertained. Whether it's a fast-paced thriller, a breath-stealing paranormal or horror novel, or a steamy romance, if the author can entertain me, I enjoy the book.

Back about six or seven years ago, when my daughter was in preschool, her teacher used to pass on books to me she thought I'd enjoy. Lisa Gardner, Sandra Brown, and Iris Johansen are some of the names that come to mind, though I know there were others. She always swore she didn't read romance--they were suspense books. One of the other teachers used to laugh and say calling them suspense books was a convenient excuse--one people used when they didn't want to admit they were reading romance novels.

At the time, the only romance I was reading was romantic suspense, along with mainstream thrillers and horror books. Though I'd read a couple of historicals as a teenager, I didn't pick up a contemporary romance until after I started writing--sometime in 2001. I was hooked pretty much right away. My family gets a big kick out of this, since anyone who knows me knows I'm probably one of the least romantic women on the planet. *grin*

Now I read a little bit of everything, but I have no problem admitting I read romance. There's nothing wrong with wanting a happy ending, right?

I ran into the teacher at the store a little while back, and I had some Blaze books in my shopping cart. She asked me if I was reading "those books" now, and I had to laugh. I told her I was, and I asked her if she was still reading them, too.

What kinds of books do you read?

I'll draw a random name from the responses to win a print copy of Settling the Score.

Hope everyone had a nice Father’s Day.

Despite having bronchitis and a double ear infection, I had a wonderful time.

Saturday opened with Amelia and Jonas’ last soccer game of the spring season. They did such a wonderful job. It’s so darn cute to see all those little tykes running their butts off down the soccer field. *bg*

Then, Saturday evening found us at Amelia and Jonas’ dance recital. OMG! They were so cute in their little costumes. And, when Jonas stepped onto the stage I could hear a collective gasp come from the audience. I would have loved to have been in the audience with my husband when that happened. But, since this was Jonas’ first year of dance and his first recital, I opted to be back stage incase my little man got the jitters. I should have known it was unnecessary. And, I think I should have named him Casanova because my four-year-old son was KISSING all the little girls backstage! Yep! He would grab their hands and pull them in for a quick peck before going to the next. I should have thought to have a camera for behind the scenes. LOL.

Amelia was a true little angel in her ballet number.

And then, for tap, they all dressed as clowns. The audience just ate it up.

At some point, I’ll get Keith to save a few video clips of their dances and post them here. It truly was a wonderful evening.

Sunday was spent by my in-laws pool where we celebrated, not only Father’s Day, but my brother-in-law’s birthday as well as my own. He’s June 24th and I’m the 27th. I wasn’t feeling so great, but it was still a lot of fun.

Stay tuned over the next couple of days for the next installment of “Something Is Very Wrong In Play Land”. Thank you Ursula for the title! I think I might try to coordinate a contest with the posts. That might be fun. If you have any suggestions, please send them my way!

Sandy :-)

*June 30, 2007 at Sandra's Goings On - Guest Blogger, Elisa Adams ~ Secrets Volume 19: Timeless Passions

WHAT is he doing?!

Ok, so I chaperoned my daughter's kindergarten field trip to a kiddy amusement park yesterday. On the one hand, it's a cool place. All the rides are meant for young kids. There were a few I had to go on with them...the tilt-a-spew and this one that looked innocuous enough until you got ON it! Sheesh. Needless to say, ain't as young as I used to be. Talk about queasy city! Blech.

Luckily, there was a kindergarten teacher who seemed to be into masochism and happily took my daughter and her little friend back on the rides. Cause, let me tell you, when Amelia wanted to go right back on the tilt-a-spew, I thought I was going to. Spew, that is. Her teacher took them and I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to calm my stomach.

Mind you, this weak stomach does not extend to super fast roller coasters. Those, I love. It's the spin-your-innards-out-your-ears rides I can't take. (Remind me to tell you about the time my dad and I were forgotten on the tilt-a-whirl while the minimum-wage lackey argued with his girlfriend...That's how I came to dub that ride the tilt-a-spew. Trust me, 10 agonizing minutes on one of those things and...well, you get the picture.)

Now, while Amelia and her classmates were entertaining themselves on the rides, I began to notice the...er, statues. If I said they were odd, I'd be understating it. Definitely creepy. And, of course, I took pictures! *bg* These pictures have an entertainment factor all their own. So, I think I'm going to start a little tradition with them.

Each week, I'm going to post one and open the floor for discussion. Hmmmm, the more I think about it, the more I like it. So, without further ado, here is the first statue that caught my eye.




Any clues as to what he's doing? Or, is it a girl??? Maybe SHE is hiding her...you know?

Sandy ;-)

*June 30, 2007 at Sandra's Goings On - Guest Blogger, Elisa Adams ~ Secrets Volume 19: Timeless Passions

You Forgot What?!

Keith and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary this past week. Well, actually, Keith and I were REMINDED it was our wedding anniversary this past week when my mom called us at 7:00am to sing a Happy Anniversary song to us.

I know what you’re thinking. HOW COULD YOU FORGET YOUR ANNIVERSARY?! Ok, here’s the thing. If you’ve got little kids and are running here for choir and there for soccer and someplace for dance and life in general is happening all around the running around…well, pesky things like knowing the current day of the week can easily slip your mind. LOL.

Keith and I both knew our anniversary was fast approaching. And, we even talked about it just two days before. In our defense, I think we would have remembered some time that day. I hope. *bg*

The thing is, we don’t really make a big deal about the wedding anniversary. For us, the anniversary we never forget is the one that marks when we started dating. That one is coming up in the beginning of July. And, unlike our wedding anniversary, which marked 8 years, our dating anniversary marks 12 years together!

How about you? What are anniversaries like in your household? Is it one of those days you or your significant other BETTER not forget? Or, is it just another day in a chaotic life? (Wow! That sounded soooo unromantic. ROFL!) Parents of very young children might be able to relate, though. :-)

Sandy :-)

*June 30, 2007 at Sandra's Goings On - Guest Blogger, Elisa Adams ~ Secrets Volume 19: Timeless Passions

Knocked Up (The movie, NOT ME!)

So, Keith and I were kidless last night and he suggests catching a movie. His choice? Knocked Up. Ummm, remember how I confessed my crush on Agent Seeley Booth? Well, Katherine Heigl is one of Keith’s many crushes. I have to admit, the girl is beautiful. And, she can act! Knocked Up was very entertaining. In fact, I laughed my ass off! And, so did everyone else in the theater.

This was a dialogue driven movie. I love those. And, its R rating was VERY well deserved. Do not take young children to see this movie. I repeat, DO NOT take young children to see this movie. However, do take yourselves. If you want to laugh and be grossed out and see a movie with a nice message. Shocking, I know. But, this movie really did have a sweetness about it that was well balanced with the raunchy—Oh! Was it raunchy!—humor.

All in all, I’d give this movie an A. It was very satisfying and real. The problems faced, the growth of the characters, the witty—and sometimes not—dialogue, all made this movie experience fantastic. I’d love to watch it again.

WARNING!!!! If you don’t like lots—and I mean LOTS—of swearing and bad behavior (drugs and such), don’t go to this movie. But, if you liked movies like the 40 Year-Old Virgin, and Something about Mary, or Dazed and Confused, I think you’ll enjoy this one. Just be warned, this movie is not for the faint of heart, or sensibilities. It will offend! But, it’ll make you laugh too.

Have a great weekend, everyone!
Sandy :-)

*June 30, 2007 at Sandra's Goings On - Guest Blogger, Elisa Adams ~ Secrets Volume 19: Timeless Passions