Resolute.

Hottest Man in Universe 2009

Looking back on the trials and tribulations of 2009--along with the dream come true publication of my exciting first three novellas, editing books for print, travel, skiing, surfing (once, but still), rafting, driving children, participating in cash for clunkers, + all that extreme parenting+ wifing, not to mention the drinking, etc--there was that pedophile Michael Jackson, balloon boy, the pesky economy, the debt, our pesky debt, the break up of John and Kate and the birth of that litter of puppies babies, The Great Star Trek and two RC The Great (see above photo) movies, Adam fucking Lambert (booyah), plus every time I turned around another celebrity dropped to the ground,

Obvious misuse of celebrity

and WTF is Brad Pitt thinking with that carny beard he's wearing?---yeah. I didn't get a whole lot of new work completed. I canna imagine why! Clearly, I have the attention span of a...

Sure, I wrote a lot--but perhaps what I really did was to write often. There's a distinction, yes? Because I didn't actually finish everything for 2010. What I do have is...

drumroll please

one book ready. ***

(It's really frickin' awesome, too.)

(Not to toot my own horn)

(But I love this new book)

::blinks::

MOSIV--In and Out is nearly done. I'm just waiting for notes from my over extended and slightly crispy-fried critique-er. I'm also lounging around hoping that the ending will come smack me on the head. So it's mostly there--but this is like that hand-grenades and horseshoe thing. Almost doesn't count. I have about four almosts. Pfft. Who cares?

Goals and Other Strangers

My resolution for 2010? You mean other than to quit bitching and moaning? (HAH) Finish the projects I have started, write a MOS Christmas story (Tony and Mark) and work on this weird Halloween project with my pal Josh.

That's five. Five new works I intend to write this year. Category length (2) novellas (2) and one shorty-short.

Insert Random Brandon Boyd Photo for Strength and Guidance:

Best Concert 2009 Incubus
Brandon Nom Boyd Nom

Costa Rica, So Cal, Ohio, and Yonder

I'm traveling in 2010. Near and far. I'm excited and I'm coming possibly to see YOU (maybe). Meaning? I am fucking crazy to take this much on. NO. Scratch that. I am motherfucking medication ready insane. However, I aim high and don't exactly care if I fall short (lie) because this girl just wants to have fun (and write well, make some moola, and be with my super family).

:)

And another thing!

I resolve to use my exercise machine. Plus also eat right, tan less, clean more, build a scale size model train, reinvent the wheel, and save Christmas. Plus deal with that pesky ozone problem.

Okay okay, I'm no Captain Kirk, but I am...LB Gregg/LBea/Lisabea hear me roar!

Movie of the Year for LBea

Star Trek

Also beginning to see a pattern with the beards.

Piece of cake, really. ::files nails:: No problemo.

I wish you all a Happy Resolution Attaining New Year. Be Safe. Read a lot. Love your family. And please, remember--Russell Crowe is Robin Hood!! Now that's something to look forward to in 2010.

Let's Get To Work!

Adam Lambert needs a beard.

::cough::

Feeling Good-WIP Song of the Year

LB

***Catch Me If You Can available on March 16 from Samhain!! I just finished the final edits and...it's fabo~as Tumperkin would say. Click here to read more because shameless self promotion is what it's all about, man.

It's here.

Well, dear readers, it would be just plain weird for me not to post about my favorite author and the last book in my favorite series about my favorite guy--Mr. Adrien-with an e-English and his dastardly on again and off again lover, the incomparable /RC look alike, Mr. Jake Riordan

It's effing awesome. NOT JUST SAYIN'.

There are reviews up, I understand, crowding the pages of bloglandia. Lots of cheering and tossing of panties confetti--lots of tears and tea--lots of screaming Oh no he di'n't!! I think it's safe to say that my pal Josh struck gold again. Fans of the Adrien English Mysteries (And who isn't? I ask you.) will find what they're looking for, and much more, in The Dark Tide.

I'll be considering a suitable galpal tribute over the next week or so--possibly with dance, four part harmony, and snacks, I'm so sure--but not today.

All I can say on this Dec 22-with shopping and guests on the agenda-- is Merry Christmas to you, too, Josh.

To make this day even more of a treat (for fans), Josh has posted his playlist for The Dark Tide . Although it pains me to tell you that he apparently forgot to include Lisabea's infamous Jake and Adrien selection from ...my goodness...was that last year? I've added it here for you--because surely he didn't leave this off intentionally.

Right?

Oh, don't make a puss, people. Listen and you'll think--By cracky! That girl knows a thing or two!

Heh. Heh. Heh. This be my jam.

Go buy you some Adrien love.

LB

Medium Plus

Last night, I took the boy and his girlfriend out for Indian food in Simsbury (or is it Avon? That entire stretch of 44 all seems like the same town). Anyway. I ordered the Chicken Vindaloo THINKING I really should get the Chicken Tikka Masala in its lovely MILD cream sauce, but I don't want to look wimpy, right? Because, secretly, I want to love hot food--I do--but God bless America I just canna dooo eeeet.

What is this stuff?

Also let's be clear that all that food looks exactly the same and I have no fucking idea what any of it is--unless it says CHICKEN CURRY. And I assume the temperature of this food is negotiable because I am a Connecticut housewife. (Words not synonymous with high maintenance)

So our waiter arrives and we have a tiny discussion.

"You see how there are five peppers on the menu?"

"Yes. That is Medium Plus Plus"

LBea thinking what the hell does that mean? This is like Romancelandia grading as far as I'm concerned. What IS an A, really, when there are A++'s? Better than perfect? Hotter than hell?

BUT I DIGRESS.

"Well. I'd like it to be medium." Please note that I'm making eyes at this guy--eyes that want to say MILD. MILD hot, baby.

"Ah. Medium Plus." He writes on his pad.

"No. I want it to be one pepper."

"Vindaloo starts spicy. You want to taste the favor of the peppers, yes?" He might have said flavor of the curry. I wasn't really listening to anything but the whining 'get the Tikka Masala you dolt' from my stomach. My stupid head thinks I can talk this recipe into something milder.

"I understand." Smiles tightly and ignores son who says she wants mild minus minus, "I like hot, but last time I blistered my lips and had to stop eating my food." For a week. Just kidding. " I'd like some kick without burn."

"Yes. Medium Plus."

What the freak is wrong with this guy? And why does he keep saying 'yes'? "Medium. Medium. No plus. Just medium."

"Right." Scribbles on pad. He probably wrote kick it up a notch for the bitch, Ted.



That fucker. By the fifth bite, my lips started to burn (but DAMN that Vindaloo is good) and then...they turned an attractive, startling, berry color. A little swelling. Not much to complain about. ::cough::

I ate one fourth of the Vindaloo and ALL my rice. Two glasses of water. Plus a small effing stack of Garlic Naan and the waiter stops by and says, "You like the medium plus? Yes."

Oh. My. God. He was probably kidding, yes?

PS...It's in the refrigerator and I am considering eating some for lunch.

Wee Three Things

One: Jessewave posted her review of The Dark Tide. My lips are sealed. And...uhm...I'm a pleased little 'bea'.

Two: My girls leave for a quick trip with their grandmother and I'm scrambled like an egg trying to get them out the door with passports and proper attire.

Three: MY EDITS ARRIVED FOR CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. I'm so stoked. I'm about to pop! However...er....it's a week to Christmas and it's going to be a bit pinchy trying to squeeze everything in. As soon as I have info--will post. For now, my blurb is up on the website. www.lbgregg.com



Happy Wednesday WHAT? Thursday?! Yikes.

BTW: I LOVE MY MACBOOK!!!

squee.squee.squee.

Thanks Katie(babs)! AND KATI!

Oh man. I hope this is as good as I want it to be.

Sunday and it's snowing

Fire is burning, tree is decorated, I'm baking cookies and listening to Vivaldi.

Have a great day~and enjoy the music.

A Story.

Thursday morning began as any other day. I had some coffee. I did my mom thing. I turned on my little cutie laptop. The comforting whirl of the fan kicked into gear and then that weenie bastard shut off with a disturbing twang--or twinge. Or something--but it stopped when it shouldn't have.

I pressed the button again--and again--and again--whatthefuckiswrongwiththisthing--and again--shitshitshit---and AGAIN (pressing button harder--counting to eleven--pressing button again). I breathed deep. I pressed the button. I walked away. I came back and pressed the button.

Black screen. Nothing. Nadda. Just the fan whirl, ping, black.

Obviously, I frothed at the mouth. Why? Because if you clicked that link, you know that I bought that adorable fucker five months ago. Five months--is this a new record?

I had an inkling that there was a problem the other morning (and I put all my files on a memory stick, thank you very much) but whatever the problem was, it seemed to solve itself and we rolled merrily along. I blogged. I emailed. I looked at Victoria Secret and enjoyed a few snacks.

But yesterday, with the black death screen, there was no question--something was wrong. (I mean other than the fact that I cheaped out and bought that damn computer to begin with because apparently my goal in life is to be a cautionary tale for all my computer buying friends. BUT IT WAS SO CUTE)

So, I slapped on some mascara and I drove the ump-teen miles to Simsbury, with my sleek computer bag and my tiny, cute, piece of poop laptop, to speak with those jokers at Best Buy. The young Geek squad boy smiled at my 'black tie' two hundred dollar service plan (I thought charmingly at first, but now I see that it was apologetically) and the Geek boy opened his precious but thin Geek boy mouth and he said--two to four weeks.

"WHAT? WHAT?" I wept/screeched. "But I have the black tie!!!"

Ok. Stop right here. I am so fucking sick of microsoft I could spit. Pa-tooooey. I spat. At Christmas time, no less. I bought the norton. I bought the service plan. I bought a three hundred dollar computer for seven hundred dollars after all was said and done and--

it doesn't work.

IT CRAPPED OUT ON ME.

::paperbag::

This is not the first time. Not the second. Or third. If I had a kid who didn't learn a lesson after this many failed attempts and cash out the window, I'd think that they were either 'special' or believed in miracles. I. Mean. Really.

So. I text G and he's in a meeting. He texts: Buy a mac.

That's it. Those are my instructions from my dearest. I leave Simsbury and I go to West Hartford to the mall and I go di---rect---ly to the Mac/Apple whatever-its-called store and I quibble. MacMini or MacBook. Quibble quibble quibble (the very problem that got me into this mess, fyi) and, since I'm in a room full of 'genius'es (and clearly I don't belong here) I start to talk myself into an easy/cheap fix.

But my darling dearest husband knows me well (or possibly BigGirl texted him that I was being a dork) and G texts me again.

Don't be cheap.

I am on my Christmas present right now. I drank the koolaid (and charged my cc up a smidge) but this? I'm here to tell you--it's merry Christmassy delicious.

Although I did purchase a service plan.

thank you.

For Your Listening Pleasure

I don't care what anyone says--I love this.



Mariah delivers a jubilant version of a song that is often sung in such a somber, nearly whining, manner. O Holy Night has a joyful message and she nails it. Her 'whistle' range is nothing short of miraculous. And that dress? Dang. I want to be buried in it.

Buckeyes

For Sula and TPig.

Heh

Taken from a blog post I did two years ago. This is a family favorite.

1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/4 Cup Butter softened
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 Cups Confectioners Sugar
1/2 Cup Flour
1 Cup Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips, Melted (Good ones. Don't cheap out. Like I do.)

You know where I'm going with this. Line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper. Beat peanut butter, butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Gradually beat in confectioners sugar and flour until blended well. Roll into balls and put them on the cookie sheet. Refrigerate for an hour. Spear 1 ball at a time with a toothpick (or skewer). Dip into melted chocolate, about 1/2 way. Cover toothpick hole with and artistic dab of melted chocolate. Cover and refrigerate.

These are f/n awesome and your kids will eat them until they're sick. So, um, that's probably not a good idea. I dole them out in pairs. Ours look like the picture, except we add a dashing squiggle on the tip.

O Christmas Tree

Today is the day! And it couldn't be a better one. At a balmy 26 degrees F, sun shining, snow covering the trees, it's time to make the yearly sacrifice of a tree for Christmas. I'm so excited. Although my excitement may wane once I try to haul that sucker into the house and ... if it touches my 'wall paper'... I could be in for some trouble. ::cough::

Still. Time to make Christmas. And buckeyes.

Hope you all are having a terrific Sunday!

Did ya ever...

Find something out just a second too late?

I was literally halfway through my first can of please let me lose eight pounds Strawberry 'n Creme nasties, thinking this crap always makes my stomach hurt--when a friend emailed me about my fb status . (my RL one) It says something like--Starting SlimFast today!

She said--Recalled. Just now. Throw them out.

Timing is everything. Isn't it?

Boo. Now I have to actually eat right and exercise more. Damnit.