Taking the day off

Sep 18, 2009 | Life | 7 comments

I'll be back on Monday! It's my birthday weekend, and it's also my grandma's funeral. Much to do over the next couple of days! Grandma was a kick in the pants, let me tell you. I'll post more about her later, but it was her time and we'd been expecting it. She passed almost 24 years to the day that my other grandmother died. Once more, the family gathers to bury a loved one and tell stories. And believe me, in this family, the stories are the kind of Southern stuff you just can't believe happens to people.

Have a great weekend, and I'll catch up with you next week!

Toys

Aug 11, 2009 | Life | 9 comments

There are two new toys in the Harris household as of Friday: a Roomba and a Kindle. And may I just say I love them both?

I've been wanting a Kindle for a while, but I kept putting it off. Did I really need this piece of technology? I love books, real ones, so why did I want an e-reader? I talked myself into it finally when I made yet another trip to the bookstore and came home with a sack full of novels.

They are piling up around here, especially as I buy and read all the Presents each month. So a Kindle nicely stores all those paperbacks without the need for extra room. The books are taking over my house, and I still love them and want them and will buy them. And yet I can download the latest release *instantly* onto my Kindle.

It's a fabulous, fabulous device and I no sooner had it out of the box than I wondered where it'd been all my life. I quickly figured out how to operate it, and I downloaded some books to read. Unfortunately, I also downloaded a free fantasy novel for my hubby….

You can guess, can't you? He's engrossed in the book and I've lost my Kindle, at least for the time being. In all fairness to him, I have been working on the proposal to Book 4. But now that I've sent it to my editor, I would like to use my Kindle.

Ahem.

The other toy is a Roomba vacuum. I was skeptical, I admit. But the hubby did some research, read reviews, and told me we needed to buy one. I reluctantly went along with the plan. We purchased the Pet Series 532 — and I am in love. There's nothing like vacuuming your house while not actually operating the vacuum. This little guy knows what to do. He makes the circuit of the room, vacuuming his little heart out, and when he's nearly out of charge, he goes home to his base station and backs right in.

Now all I need is a robot to clean the rest of the house.

What about you — any new toys? Or toys you love and can't live without?

P.S. Tomorrow, I'll be guest blogging at Love is an Exploding Cigar!

Books, Travel, and Health

Jul 28, 2009 | Life | 8 comments

It's been one of those weeks, or couple of weeks, when life has moved at a breakneck pace and I'm still huffing and puffing and trying to catch up. You have heard all about my RWA conference, but shortly after I returned home, we made a quick trip to Louisiana to see my grandmother. She's in a nursing home, and she'd recently been moved to the hospital with an infection and a distinct lack of will to live. We went down there not knowing what we'd find, but she took a turn for the better. She's back in the nursing home now and promising to eat and get stronger if we'll take her to Wal-Mart when we come back. She's always loved Wal-Mart.

I was glad to see her (if I told you how many years it's been since I've seen her, you'd be shocked) and sad too. She used to be a bold, brash woman who chain-smoked, cussed, and read paperback novels like there was no tomorrow. Going to her house for a couple of weeks in the summer was a supreme treat because she had a room crammed absolutely full of novels. And she didn't care what I read. I remember reading 9 and 1/2 Weeks once and being shocked at the sensuality of it. There were horror novels, romances, women's fiction, science fiction, etc. I read lots of stuff, so much that I can't remember everything. It was like living in a library, especially since the room I stayed in was the library room. I was surrounded by books. (And, unfortunately, the scent of cigarette smoke.)

Grandma doesn't read anymore, mostly because she's weak and can't see well. I gave her a copy of my book (large print) just in case, but I'm not sure she'll read it. Which is okay. I think just having it there is enough. Though it was good to see her, I came away with a horror of nursing homes and a bit of anger that she did this to herself. See, she wouldn't stop smoking, no matter how sick she got, no matter how smoking ruined her body. Smoking doesn't just give you lung cancer. I learned this past weekend that it can debilitate you so bad you have to be hooked up to a catheter and have nurses change you because you can no longer get out of bed.

You may wonder how I can be certain it's the smoking that did this. Grandma has two sisters, one younger and one older. They are spry, capable women who still have all their motor functions and who live in their own homes. They don't smoke, and they exercise. Grandma chain-smoked and ate whatever in the hell she wanted. And she never exercised. So yes, it's a combination of factors, but I can't help but think how differently it would be if she'd taken better care of herself, if she'd listened to the doctor's advice and given up the cigarettes. She could still be in her home, reading books, going for walks, enjoying life. Instead, she's in a prison for old people. A soul-crushing, depressing place that smells like boiled pasta, urine, and mold.

I guess I sound like a public service announcement, but I do hope that you will take care of yourselves. Give up bad habits, start healthy ones, and read romance. Speaking of romance, Spanish Magnate, Red-Hot Revenge is available in stores NOW. I'm so excited about it! Even though I went to Louisiana for a somber mission, I still managed to get into a couple of bookstores and sign my books. It was great to see them so far from my home, and to be welcomed so warmly.

I'm working on my next book (my 4th for Presents), so better get busy. What are you up to today? Writing? Reading? Exercising? 😉