Late to the Party

I took a Zyrtec today and fell asleep in a little patch of sunshine -- right on the living room floor. I think I can't take the Zyrtec. That was my day. Total loss.

I'm currently gazing at the round II edits for Cover Me--which comes out on October 2nd. I've mentioned that, yes?

But has Russell mentioned that? NO! So he's here to remind you.

Russell Crowe--My mate Lisabea has a swell new novella coming out soon. She says it's about a security specialist and an English teacher. Sounds sexy. Right? I reckin' if I were to be cast in a movie based on that book, I'd be playing the security specialist.

LBea--Well.... I do mention your name in the novella. But. Uhm. I think I may have possibly likened the hero Max to... uhm.... Daniel Craig.

RC--Who? Who the hell is he?

LBea--James Bond! He's very becoming.

RC--I can't say I'm happy about that, Lisabea. You dumped me for a weenie little Brit. He wears girlie swim trunks and has a crooked smile.

LBea--He's divine. Particularly in those swim trunks. Merow.

RC-- Lbea! Did you turn on me? Was it the weight gain?

LBea--What? No. Slow down! Put down that phone!

RC--It was. Well I look much better now! I'm fit. I'm ROBIN HOOD.

LBea--Be that as it may, darling, I, uh, went with Daniel. I still adore you. And you're still my bf. You're just not really Max like. Sew. Sorry.
----------------------------------------------------------------------->


In other news, Josh's book came out today. It's called Out of the Blue and you can read Sarah's review here.

Finally--I have a song stuck in my head today. Yeah sure --poignant and beautiful. But the truth is it speaks to my inner crybaby--because my hair is shedding. Gang busters. I don't want to talk about it...so here's Regina.





Hope you are all well, away from the fires, and having a good read.

LBea

Just Sayin'

Don't you think Jason (see yesterday's post) needs a sexy boss? I do. I DO!

::thanks Kati::

Muse

Just in case you were wondering. I am alive!



I'd like to introduce you to a new friend. This is Jason. Everyone say, "Hi Jason!"

Jason would say hello, but he's got his eye on his boss and...well, he's a very naughty young man (the best kind of young man, IMHO) and tempting, to say the least.

His boss is toast.

Here's the new wip song. I can't embed it here because youtube won't let me. They are meanies.

I'm around, I'm just silent and trying to finish a few projects.

News: I put a thousand miles on the new car already.

And in a freak laughing accident, I was clipped in the cheek and...yup...I have a SHINER.

That's what's up. What's up with you? What do you think of Jason? HE'S A VERY NICE YOUNG MAN.

Simple Shoes

I saw this at Rosie's a while back and, truly, this kept peace in my family yesterday. Simple shoes has appeased every one of my son's rigid requirements. He's just so passionate about his commitment to bettering the planet, that school shopping for him has become impossible.

He's such an idealist. It makes for a lot of discussion, with me saying foolish things-- sarcastic, unnecessary things-- like FINE GO TO SCHOOL BAREFOOT and him shaming me by saying, most of the children in the world don't have shoes. Or worse--children in sweatshops make those sneakers for Walmart--or--that cotton was grown with genetically modified seeds. GOD.

I mean. He's right--but nothing changes the fact that he has to have a single pair of good shoes for his school dress code. And nothing will ever change the fact that I love this kid like mad and I'm damn proud of him. Therefore, I have to find a way to keep harmony between us.

Enter Simple Shoes.




He watched this video, and his 16 year old self relaxed. He was...relieved. He picked a pair. I measured his giant man/boy feet. And then I bought a single pair of simple shoes.


Peace.

Dear Golden Oreo Cookies,

Don't tell your sister, Original Oreo, but you are my favorite. I'll always choose you first in the grocery aisle. I'll buy you when I'm hungry, and even when I'm not, because you are pleasing to me.

Before we met, just the other day, I had no idea you would outshine Original Oreo. You're the perfect companion to coffee or milk--or coffee and milk. You're sweet vanilla delicious. You're subtle, you're classy, you're my favorite color, and you never leave that tell tale chocolate residue in my teeth or the corners of my mouth-- like your all too popular sister. She's the Paris Hilton of Oreos. You are the Grace Kelly.

But what I adore most about you, Golden Grace Kelly Oreo, is that no one in this house can prove that I ate an entire row of cookies for breakfast. There is no evidence. I can blame the kids.



In fact. I did.

Yours in a sugar high,

LBea

NEWS

I participated in Ca$h for Clunkers. (I should have a bumper sticker for that)




Because I had no idea they'd euthanize my Durango. I didn't. I just thought it would be adopted by some cool college kid who would plop down a grand for a very well worn SUV with poor gas mileage and a strange, cheese-like odor.

I was so sad.

After my period of grief (five minutes) I got behind the wheel of my spankin' new car and...yeah what was that thing I used to drive? Because for the first time in years--WORKING A/C!!! And it was 92 today!

Wahoo.

Of course I'll have this car until I'm 50. Literally. (That's enough to pop anyone's balloon.) And since I haven't had a car payment in a long time, that's a bit of an ouchie, too. Still. Let us rejoice for windows that don't leak when it rains and a smooth ride--even at 70 mph!


On the where the freak has lisabea been? front: I went to my first writer's retreat this past weekend. It was daunting, of course, but I managed. I also brought a pound of chocolate, so I made friends easily. I spent the day with my new gal pal, KA Mitchell, and she's a sweetie. She's also sharp as a tack and she has a heart of gold. She rescued me after I took the very scenic route to the hotel. NO I didn't get lost. I'm naturally curious. I went sightseeing. I...was boldly going where no Lisabea had gone before.

You know, I sorta like losing my way and forging new paths-- it's just like writing! Because sometimes there's a Dunkin Donut's coffee and a friend to guide you home.

Aw. I'm so deep. Or I'm having you on because, dudes, I had no effing idea where I was.

Ca$h for Clunkers

I wish Cash for Clunkers applied to all the things I found in my closet while cleaning on Monday.

• College papers. Why in the hell did I save those?
• Greeting cards (used but clever).
• Love letters from people I'm really relieved I didn't keep track of.
• My POEMS. (1985-88 makes them nearly antique)
• Carnival cruise snorkels, used.
• Purse. Interior sticky with old Sugar Babies. G owes me a purse. That's what I get for sneaking concessions into the movies.
• Size 4 clothing. Seriously. It's time to let go.
• G's oxfords my MIL bought when she thought he needed more 'color'.
• Jewelry box. Cheap.
• Unidentified teeth. What the hell do you do with baby teeth x's three and WHY in God's name do people SAVE them?
• My homeland security recommended basic emergency kit. (My mom very sweetly put it together for me) Candles, matches, sheet plastic, duck tape and I shit you not, 15 maxi pads. Do people really still use maxi pads? I could use the duct tape with the pads and then I guess I could set them on fire.
• Books. Porny books, bad books, favorite books, TBR books, all my Linda Howard's and my Karen Robard's...in teetering stacks tucked away in my closet. What do you do with your books? I can't keep them all! And, frankly, I can't send my Black Lace books to the church rummage sale. (although....)
• Photos. I should organize those.
  
• Inflatable snowtube. WHY THE EFF WAS THAT IN MY CLOSET?
• G saves all his hotel shampoo. I know this because it was all in my closet.
  

I swear we're not hoarders...we're just forgetful and we're disorganized. Well, not now. Because that closet is clean of clutter and I'm on a mission to toss and conquer one room at a time. I did the mudroom last week. Heave ho. The folks at Goodwill probably recognize my car. They can surely hear it before they see it...

which leads me to the following.


After cleaning (should have pitched that crap years ago) I went looking at cars--putting the real Ca$h for Clunkers program to work--or at least scoping the situation while others tried my patience.* My car? It's so close to imploding that I've been urged (read:instructed) to look around while this CfC program is still flush.

We'll see. Car shopping is not for the weary or the weak. See me (immediately following the LB/FORD dealership battle) in the McDonald's parking lot sucking down two crispy ranch snack wraps and nursing a large hazelnut iced coffee. Phew. Those people wore me the fuck out.



So anyway. What's new with you?


*I'm not saying to be on the look out for an evil car salesman to appear in an LB Gregg book, sometime next year. Not really.

Maybe.

New Shoes

Are they not the cutest? 20 bucks at Macy's!! I rarely have a shoe fetish--but these are shiny satin and...look at those sweet little bows. I fear an addiction to Steve Madden ballet flats (Does three pair = addiction? Three seems excessive to me). These are my present to me for finishing my first full length book. Well, 55 K. SO BIG. Heh.

Is it weird to celebrate with shoes? What's your guilty pleasure? (don't say pron)

So. My next task is to write that wee story for Kris.

Pray for me.

The Book I'm Reading!

Sometimes a book comes along and you slide into it with a huge, goofy grin on your face. Or you CRY in the prologue, are surprised by the unsuspected direction of a character (Oh Decker!Naughty, naughty boy!), find yourself falling for another beautifully drawn, imperfect heroine (Hellloooooo Tracy!), and BABY, you're back in the saddle again. Which is a relief, let me tell you.

Yay for Suze and this delicious book (I'm half way through). My biggest sin? I was so into this at 2 am the other night, I skimmed. Do you do that? I do. I promise to read Dark of Night from cover to cover, of course, but...I got to that point -- you know? Where I couldn't put it down. I mean, I would not sleep unless I knew the how, the when and the where. So I sucked it up and skimmed the damn book. Then I went to bed. It was late.


Do you ever do that? Please, someone, say yes. Because my entire family is disgusted with me when I cross that line. But...I just HAVE to know everything works out in the end! (Of course it does: it's romance.)

Anyway. Even when you shake your baby mouth and refuse to open around the spoon of 'no I don't want it!', Suze tricks you into tasting this strange new concoction and...LOVE IT. Love it. Want more.

I've said for two years--an author who can sell me something I didn't think I wanted is the author for me. YAY Brockmann.

K.

Concert News!

Now onto Brandon, who wore this clever Make Believe Not War shirt last night at Mohegan Sun Arena. Incredible concert. I laughed, I danced, I bought a shirt that was too small and proceeded to wear it anyway. Good times. Except G told me Brandon would take his shirt off. He didn't. I suppose that's for the best.

Fantastic concert. Incubus performed all my favs-- including wip songs Dig, Love Hurts, and Oil and Water. And of course, Drive and Wish You Were Here. That boy holds nothing back. I was standing with my family and I realized that the defining ingredient between win and lose is that rare ability to throw yourself completely into the moment, whether it's singing, or writing, or acting, or loving--holding nothing back. Letting go of fear.

A terrifying thought, but one that bears reflection. Eloise James spoke of this at RWA and it's obviously pinging around in my Lisabea thoughts lately.

Anyway. Have a great day! I'm recooping and SURPRISE, I'm writing. Got the critique back and things are looking good.

LB