Let it rain, let it rain

By Susie

Okay, it's nearly January in Minnesota, and it's been raining for two days straight.

This will simply not do. I'm a native, and, some time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I require snow. A good dump of it, that stays around.

We've had increasingly wimpy winters lately. I now there's some upside. My husband gets in more golf at the end and beginning of the season, which makes him happy. I don't miss freezing my rear off at the bus stop - especially since you don't REALLY freeze of anything, not perceptibly, which would make it entirely worth it.

It certainly doesn't feel CHristmasy. Worse, snow is how you entertain children home for two weeks on Christmas break. This just won't do! No snowball fights, no hours spent building forts and snowmen, no broomball games. I don't know what to do with him.

We've seen every movie that's even vaguely appropriate for a kid. (And, when his Dad's in charge, a couple that aren't even that.) Played all the new toys. We're stuck.

I had six kids here last night, all between two and nine. On a normal December night, we'd bundle them up for sledding, then serve hot chocolate around the outdoor firepit.

Six kids IN YOUR HOUSE all night long is a LOT. My eardrums, and head, have yet to recover.

How do people in places like Seattle and Portland do it? Help!

Thank goodness we're headed for Colorado soon.

Edit at 3:30. Wow, the universe usually doesn't listen to me so well. It's snowing like crazy. I don't know how long it will last - my thermometer still says 33 - but I'll take what I can get.

Susie

But honey, it's research!

I really do have the best job in the world. After a recent lunch with non-writer friends, they mumbled out excuses to get back to the office to 'balance the accounts' or 'fix the copier' or 'make a pie chart'. All worthy tasks. Myself, I replied that I had to get back to the office to 'slay some vampires'.
On other occassions I've had to slay dragons, fix a carriage and rescue the damsel, crack a safe and steal the jewels, and yes, even a little afternoon lovin' with a gorgeous man. :-)

I know, it's all in my head. And I should, rightfully, be locked up for carrying on in such a manner. Yet, I am getting paid to do this, and when one receives compensation to use their imagination, one would be a fool to consider stopping.

How many of you mothers have had a conversation like this with your child?
"Hey, Boy, come here."
"Sure, Mom, er, what's with the duct tape?"
"Just let me wrap it around your fingers...nice and tight. That's the ticket!"
Boy gaves demented mother a silent blink.
"Now," says Mom "I'm going to time you to see how long it takes to escape."

Or there was a conversation I had the other day. "Boy, stop right there. Yep, that's good. Now, if I were to shoot you in the shoulder with a 12-gauge...."
We had a nice discussion on the size and violence of said wound. Boy then casually went off to work on his car. Just another day with his weird writer mom.

Not too many kids have ever been asked stuff like that without child welfare services looming over their shoulders. I once dressed the Boy up as a musketeer and toted him along to my book signing (I do recall Lois's daughter was there as well, clad as a medieval wench). They so rocked.
People were stopping by, curious as to why two grown adult women would pimp their children in such a manner. Hey, it sold a few books, and the kids did end up in Romantic Times with a small pic (of which the Boy still has a copy, but would never admit he liked doing it).

My son and hubby are the go-to guys for all research on weapons and spectacular fights. They rock. It's also a weird sort of bonding experience when I see the gleam in their eyes as they realize that perhaps the mom/wife isn't such a dweeb after all.

And those pictures of sexy half-nekkid men on my desktop? Research! They are necessary. How many women can get away with that, AND have their hubbies encourage them? "Well, if it'll pay the bills, Honey..."

I'll oft try a new food if my hero or heroine eats it. (Note to self: all heroines must love chocolate; but new research is a requirement with each book). When I returned from Paris last spring my current heroine had taken to Kir, a concoction of cherry liquor and champagne. Of course I had to stock it for the duration of the book. I did try frog legs, as well. (Another note to self: heroines will NEVER eat frog legs.)

Right now I'm heading into a new book about musketeers and DNA and cloning. I'm seriously considering the Human Genome Project that allows you to send in a swab sample of your DNA (at your own expense; last time I checked it was a couple hundred bucks) and they'll report back to you with some vague connections to ancient ancestors. It could be a hoot.

I love to read books (historicals especially) where I can learn new things. I don't like an info-dump of research, but I like to set a book down, knowing something new, unique or intriguing that I never considered before. And if it is done while also making me laugh, weep or scream at the hero and heroine, then even better.

So what about you? Ever slay a dragon? (Yes, the evil office copy machine that continues to eat your 99-page report due in five minutes DOES count as a dragon.) Do you trust the author has done her research when reading, or are you skeptical? Is technical and/or historical accuracy important to you? Or as long as the emotion and plot are satisfying, can you overlook small research goofs?

Michele

ps - just to let you know, the Boy never did get out of the duct tape, which proved the point I was looking for at the time. :-)

Ever see the movie The Family Stone? How 'bout Little Miss Sunshine? I'm sure there's a bunch of them out there about the dysfunctional families functioning in strange ways. And there's no better time to bring out the dysfunctions like the holidays.

What's your worst holiday memory? Most shocking holiday memory?
Have any holiday traditions that must be STOPPED?

Happy Holidays from the Riders

Happy Holidays from our house to yours!

Lois

I wish peace, love, great reads and sweet rides to allour friends. And our friends’ friends. And their friends.

Happy happy holidays!

Kathleen Eagle

Michele wishes everyone a happy holiday season. Here's hoping you get something to make you smile, no matter if it's a gift, a hug or a compliment. And if you want to make Michele smile on Xmas, please send snow her way! Lots of nice fluffy white stuff.





Peace, love and best wishes for a very happy new year to all!

Helen





Click on the link for a fun mistletoe adventure, courtesy Office Max.
http://www.mistletoeinanelevator.com/



Merry Christmas from sunny, stormy, strange-weather Florida! Yes, we had tornadoes north of us on Christmas Day! But on our Christmas tree-- true to our Wintry roots-- we have snowflakes! Big, beautiful snowflakes!

And we wish everyone a gloriously warm and joyful holiday season.

Whatever you celebrate, may it bring light, love, and peace to your house. . . now and in the coming year.

Wishes for much love and laughter,
Betina

Lois on Vacations

Something about this time of year makes me consider vacations. I’d love to hop a plane to some sandy destination that requires minimal clothes and no functioning brain cells, but I have a couple problems, namely finances and time. So, instead of heading for the airport, I’m doing a little virtual tour of vacations past. Here goes:

The first picture is of my son, Justin, and Bint Areah. We were in the Black Hills of South Dakota, one of my favorite places in the universe and this pic always reminded me of Jesse, the fictional, faceless hero from Romancing the Stone.


The second photo is from last year’s Romantic Times convention. I’m not sure why Travis (eldest son) is holding up a girl. Probably just because he’s Travis.





The hammock shot was taken in Cancun. It looks serene but really there was an epic battle for hammock supremacy taking place.


The last two pics are of my husband and me from a million years ago--one of me on our honeymoon in Hawaii and one of Scott and Delite (a friend who's been with me for 28 years) in Yellowstone Park.

So here’s what I’ve learned:
No.1--I’m getting seriously old and should have appreciated those Hawaii legs more :).
No. 2--We live in a fantastically beautiful country which we should really take care of.
And No. 3--It doesn’t much matter where you go, it’s who you go with that counts.

So how about you? What are your very best vacation memories? Where were you? Who did you go with? And if you had a zillion dollars and a ‘get out of work free’ card, where would you go tomorrow?

Who Stole Christmas?

Oops. I was gone all day yesterday on an errand I really didn't want to do--long drive for a chore that took all of half an hour followed by long return drive--so I missed Deb Smith's wonderful post yesterday. As I'm savoring it late this morning, it suddenly dawns on me--Yikes! I traded days with Lois, and I'm on TODAY!

'Tis the season, and I seem to be less organized every year. We've been talking about Christmas traditions lately, and something's been nagging at me. At the risk of sounding like a Grinch, I'm going to toss this out because, frankly, I'm hoping I'm not the only one. I've always loved Christmas. I'm a tradition junkie. But, frankly, I'm worried that the Christmas I've loved lo these many years has gone the way of so many of my fond memories--rendered obsolete by technology and the ballooning obsession with making a buck.

When I see TV pundits go into a rage over the supposed switch from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays," I can only laugh. What possible difference can it make whether the person standing by the shopping carts near the door of the local Buy Now, Buy Big Emporium says the word "Christmas"? I can't imagine that uttering the word changes what we're doing in any way. This season has been "overed on" by commercialism. I used to be quite consciencious about writing out the word "Christmas"--never "Xmas." But at this point I think Xmas fits--from November 1 until the after-Xmas sales.

Make no mistake, I'm not advocating for or against any religion or religious expression to be imposed on the general population. And I love Santa Claus. I believed fiercely until my mother sat me down and had the talk with me. I cried. She said later that she felt she had to tell me. I was 9 or 10, and my younger sibs were tired of trying to keep up the front. But back when I was a kid you didn't see a phoney Santa everywhere you turned every time you left the house. Can we stop with the bad Santas in dime store Halloween suits? Ticky-tacky beards and plastic spats for boots are hard to explain even to a two-years-old. (Albeit, a very smart 2-yr-old.)

You know what really got to me this year? The term "Black Friday." When did the day after Thanksgiving become Black Friday? And whatever happened to Thanksgiving being a holiday in its own right? In my day (okay, there it is--I'm officially old!) Christmas decorations went up in the stores sometime after Thanksgiving.

Artificial trees. Was that what did it? The first one I remember was that silver foil tree with the revolving 4-colored light back in the 60's. Ah, the 60's. Always the rub.

Okay, here's my uplifting ending. Last year at Christmas I was faced with a half-finished curio cabinet in the corner of the living room. It was a big frame with interior lighting. I filled it with snowflake ornaments suspended on filament, cover it with see-through holiday fabric and wire ribbon, and turned it into a big gift. I think you could do it with any big lighted cabinet. Just a thought.


Any thoughts on any of the above? Maybe I'm all wet. Or just...a little frosty?

Deborah Smith - The Editor Is In

In the guest chair today-
DEBORAH SMITH

When she's not busy penning books like CROSSROADS CAFE (one of Library Journal's Top 5 Romances of 2006) Deborah moonlights as the Editorial Director for BelleBooks, publishers of fine Southern fried fiction.

Go Ahead. Make My Editorial Query Day.

"Am Wanting Of Send Amazing Proposal For Making Of Glorious Book By Your American Publishing Empire, Please, Sirs."

Oh, no. Another book query from the Borats of the writing world. Even a small regional publisher such as BelleBooks receives proposals from English-as-a-distant-language writers. Sincere though such supplicants may be, they're missing a basic ingredient of your average book query to an English language publisher with a distinctly Southern, moonlight-and-magnolias emphasis.

To wit: A command of the English language. Southern or otherwise.

Does no one read editorial guidelines in the modern age of global email? Har de har har. Obviously, writers the world over still live by this golden rule: Drop your book hook near and far whether it fits or not, and see if an editor takes the bait.

As BelleBooks' editorial director, I get every kind of unsolicited query imaginable: The Borats spamming American publishers in hopes of finding a taker for their novels, teenagers looking for approval of their class writing projects, retired schoolteachers convinced their memoirs of First Grade Shenanigans are the next bestsellers, you name it.

Some of my favorites:

"Why I Hate Customers And They Deserve It"

A Handbook For Cashiers

I felt sorry for this writer, who clearly had a fervent personal ax to grind. Having worked as a cashier in my youth, I sympathized with chapters headings such as:

"Do I Look Like I Know The Price Of Everything In The Store?"

"How Come You Gotta Wait Until Now To Hunt For That Nickel?"

and my favorite:

"Don't Lick Your Fingers Before You Count Those Bills Into My Hand, Lady."

Catchy headers, but a limited target audience.

"The Littlest Rebel Wants To Book An Appointment With Dr. Kevorkian."

A charming novel for children ages 6-12 in which a depressed child is dissuaded from suicide by the ghost of a Confederate soldier. Alternate title: "Don't Forget The Cyanide In My Shirley Temple."

Despite the fact that BelleBooks isn't listed as a religious publisher, authors of inspirational how-to's regularly submit their ideas. An example:

"Satan Doesn't Want You To Have A Small Business Loan"

Prayers, Pitfalls and Persecutions of Godly Entrepreneurship

Look, BelleBooks is as anxious as anybody to launch the next modern religious blockbuster, but some of these queries could use some delicate re-thinking in the "avarice" category. Or maybe they just need a good swat on the behind from our fearfully recalled Southern Baptist Sunday School teacher, Mrs.Hellfire.

Because BelleBooks is a southern publisher, some authors assume we like our books up on blocks in a weedy yard surrounded by hound dogs and "No Tress Pasin U Yankee!" signs.

"Aunt Maybelle's Down And Dirty Big-Haired Beauty Parlor Tales Involving Uncle Joe Lee Killin' Some No-Good Furriner And What Godawful Thing Happened After That To Change Our Downhome Family Forever"

Otherwise known as "Hee Haw Meets Hanibal Lechter."

And finally, there are the authors who honor BelleBooks with the assumption that no matter how often our guidelines say "Southern themes, Southern settings, only," we are far too worldly to ignore a brilliant novel of global intrigue.

"Manhunt In Manilla -- Book One In A Dashing International Thriller Featuring The CIA and Interpol."

Or, as the author put it in his query letter: "Since my novel is set in *southern* Manilla, I'm submitting it to you . . ."

Nice try, buddy.

Deborah-Smith.com
BelleBooks.com

Helen: Holiday Traditions

Everyone's got them, I think. Holiday traditions, that is. Some are fairly ... well, traditional. Some families go to religious services at a particular time, some eat a special meal, others open presents at a special day and time. My family, too, has several traditional traditions. We almost always get our tree on Thanksgiving weekend, for example. When we get together with my DH's side of the family the meal is ALWAYS pork roast.

But every once in a while, it's fun to shake things up. Isn't it?

My own little family, me, my DH and kids, have a strange tradition that started several years ago. Can't quite remember how it happened, but on the day/night we celebrate the holidays with just the four of us we make egg rolls.

Weird, I know, but if you've ever tasted a fresh, hot, home-made egg roll, you know why we think they're special. It's the only time of the year we do it. I prepare all the ingredients, and we each roll our own. We talk and laugh while we're doing it, Christmas music in the background. My kids love it, and they won't let me get by without doing it. Every year. I guess that means it's become a tradition in our house.

What non-tradtional traditions have you and your family developed over the years?

Helen: Movies, the First Time

I love every kind of good movie, suspense, adventure, drama, romantic comedy, you name it. My favorite movies are the kind that keep me guessing until the end. You know, the ones with twists and turns making it difficult, if not impossible, to tell how the story’s going to play out.

My son and I love guessing what’s going to happen next in movies. Why a certain turning point either works or doesn’t work. I think he’s a writer in the making. It drives my husband and daughter crazy. But to me, letting myself get carried away with the characters and story, with the surprises in the plot, is part of the fun. That’s why I hardly ever watch movies twice.

Oh, there are a few that I can watch over and over again. Either because I find the dialogue so interesting, or the story/acting so engaging that I find new ways to enjoy the movie for the second, third, even fourth time. Movies like THE PRINCESS BRIDE, or WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. But for the most part, once I’ve seen a movie I never can enjoy it as much the second time around. The surprise is gone. Movies like THE STING, THE CRYING GAME, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, and THE SIXTH SENSE.

Then there are movies that don’t really have plot twists as much as they totally blow my mind with regard to new, never before seen story concepts or production innovations. Movies like TOY STORY, JURASSIC PARK, THE MATRIX, or THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

Remember seeing TOY STORY for the first time and marveling at the incredible animation? Or JURASSIC PARK? I kept thinking, “How did they do that?” I was on the edge of my seat that entire movie. People were dying left and right, so everyone was fair game. I really wasn’t sure who was going to make it off that island alive.

So whether you’re like me and don’t normally watch movies more than once, or you’re the type of person that watches favorite movies over and over, there must be a movie you’d love to see again for the first time. What is it? And are you the one-timer, or the over-and-over-againer?

Debra -- In Search Of Me

Vanity, thy name is Debra Dixon.

The whole thing began so innocently. We had dinner with friends we hadn't seen in a dozen years. We joked. We laughed. I admitted to having a website. On the way home I realized they might do more than just check out the website.

They might...Google me. Ohmygawd! What was out there to be Googled? I hadn't Googled me in ages, surely there was more now. Did I seem interesting? (You did read the part about vanity right? Like you've never Googled yourself. ::eye roll::)

So I Googled me. Well, actually I "Copernic"-ed myself. It's a great program that runs multiple search engines at once and combines the results in one search document that is saved on your computer. You can delete entries or the whole search. You can finish looking at the results at a later date without losing the results. You can email it; you can update a search.

Very cool. They have a professional and a personal version.
http://www.copernic.com/en/products/agent/personal.html
I have it for business purposes, not for "searching" little ol' me. Honest.

Anyway...even if some of the results weren't really this Debra Dixon I found them hilarious. Apparently someone running around with my name has written an article for a health web site. "The Truth About Breast Implants." That's funny because even if I were a skinny stick I'd still naturally be sporting a cup size equivalent to a couple of bad grades on your report card. I had a good laugh thinking about my old friends who know I'm a writer but might not know I don't have any insight about boob enhancement and didn't write that article.

Another cool tidbit I found was that Tyndale House Publishers, a large player in the Christian and Inspirational market, recommends GMC: Goal Motivation and Conflict. In fact, it's the first book/article listed in their "further study"section for submitting a successful manuscript to their Heartquest line. http://www.tyndale.com/authors/details.asp?id=12

One of my old friends at dinner the other night is now the supervisor of a large urban county library system and wanted to know if I had any books suitable for school libraries. When I email her tomorrow, I'll be sure and mention that a major publisher thinks highly enough of the content of one of my nonfiction books to include it in their recommendations. See? Vanity pays off.

Kathleen On Sweets in December

I love holiday treats. Sweets are the best treats, and I have a serious sweet tooth. Sweet crown? Got a new crown this week, and I keep thinking if they cover up the sweet tooth with porcelain, the craving will go away. So far, no go. As I may have mentioned once or twice, I've lost a good bit of weight over the last few months--weight that apparently glommed onto me as part of "the change." During the losing phase, I cut out the sweets. It's like an addiction--is an addiction--after a few weeks of not having the stuff in your system, you suddenly realize that you're not mentally pressing your nose against the pie case glass anymore at Perkins while hubby's paying the bill.

But now we're into the Season of Sugarplums. I've let the stuff creep back into my bloodstream. I'm going to hold the line against excess, I swear. And swearing helps, as does weighing myself often. But being very careful about the food you keep around the house also helps, and the other thing I like about holidays is leftovers. I'm a nighttime muncher, and I do enjoy heating up the leftover stuffing, scalloped corn, candied sweet potatoes, etc etc, which is why I make 10 times more than we'll eat for dinner. Saves time, right? You won't have to cook again for a few days.


But I have to remember what all that food did to my body. Left to their own devices, buns will rise. And I have two ovens--top and bottom.





Michele's thoughts on bras hit home with me bigtime. Put on a little weight and pretty soon the cups runneth over. And not in a good way. You go shopping for a new bra, and the 12-year-old "professional bra fitter" says that you need a larger one. Number or letter? you ask. Both, she says. And forget about the next size up. It's been a while since you've visited us, hasn't it? she says. And I didn't go back. Not until the old bras were hanging there like neckaces rather than foundational support. It was nice to rewind, ratchet it down a couple of sizes.

Oh, my. Time to back out of the fridge. Put that second chunk of fudge (but ohh, mmm, yumm...) down and back away. You can do it, Kathleen. You can get through the next couple of weeks without bloating the booty. Just resist one sweet treat at a time.

Got any tricks to share? How do you get through the holidays without blowing the progress you've made in the healthy body department?


P.S. I just posted a new excerpt from RIDE A PAINTED PONY on my website. Go to www.kathleeneagle.com and click on Kathleen Reads. This rolls you over to YouTube, and you'll hear me reading while you watch a slide show (horses) that goes nicely with the passage. It's less that 2 minutes, and I'd love to know whether the platform works on your system.

Library Journal's Top 5 Romances of 2006

Just in case you missed this the first time:

Sharing some pretty exciting news. The Library Journal's top 5 romances for 2006 are:

Deborah Smith - Crossroads Cafe (BelleBooks)
Mary Jo Putney - The Marriage Spell (Ballantine)
Mary Balogh - Simply Love (Delacorte)
Wendy Wax - Single in Surburbia (Bantam)
AND our very own ...

Kathleen Eagle - Ride a Painted Pony (Mira)

CONGRATs Kathy!

Deborah Smith's been a past guest on Rider's and she's coming back on Guest Blogger Wednesday, date to be determined. She's going to share some query letters Belle Books has received. Should be fun. Pretty neat she's in that top 5 too. Congrats Deborah!!

Through the Eyes of Children

Don't touch the ta-tas

I was going to write about time management this morning, but then, an issue of much greater importance struck my brain as I was sorting through my sock drawer. So here it is, ladies: bras.
My issue? I can't find my good one! You know, the one, out of many, that really fits. I'm quite sure I didn't leave it at a debauched drunken revelry. The last time I was at a drunken revelry was—er, no comment. And I'm not sure I even know what debauched means anymore. But you know, it's my favorite, the newer one (newer being subject to interpretation; anything purchased this century is new to me). The pink one that's soft and seamless and—what's this got to do with writing?
Not a darn thing.
But we, all of us, women, have this one thing in common. (Sorry Guys Who Read This Blog, but I imagine you men won't mind reading about something to do with ta-tas. And for you women who don't require a bra, either because you're flat or just too young and don't give a damn? Phft!)

You see, I don't know how to buy one. Nor, it seems, do 90% of us. Yesterday Oprah replayed her bra show, the one where she jaunts around backstage in a pseudo bra-store/dressing room, peeking in on women from her audience getting fitted, giving their newly-lifted boobage a pat or two, and commenting on how the right bra is a real life-changer. I SO want to be on that Oprah show. Forget the Favorite Things show, I'll wait in line for the life-changing bra.

But I did learn that most of us don't measure around the smallest part of our chest (just under the girlfriends, ladies), and probably should be wearing a band size, or two, smaller than what we wear now. As for how they measure cup size, I'm still in the dark. But the show said most women should go up a cup or two, or three, with that.

I've never been measured. And I'm not too keen on marching into a department store and allowing a croonie older than dirt and topped by a beehive shellacked in Aquanet, and styled like 1969, to touch my ta-tas. Ain't gonna happen. Oh no.
So I still can't find the pink one. And it's not stuck to the back of my chenille sweater (that there is sock territory). And I still tug and pull and adjust throughout the day, and slip into daydreams of Oprah patting my chest and preaching to me of a life changing moment. Sigh...

So what about you? Do you know how to pick the most important garment we women own? Will you let perfect strangers strap a piece of measuring tape around your boobage and hope that doesn't mean it's a first date? Any recommendations for that perfect fit?
M

A Visit from Cindy Gerard

Words that strike fear in the reclusive author: “Hey – wanna blog on our site? It’s easy. All you have to do is be charming and funny and informative. Piece of cake.”

Huh? For someone who doesn’t do off the cuff charming, funny and informative, the words not only strike fear, they make me break out in hives.

Okay. Maybe not hives. But I am itching as I’m writing this and it could be hives and if it is, Lois, it’s your fault. I could never say no to Lois. She’s just too cute. She’s also charming and funny and informative – hey. I think I see a pattern here. But don’t count on it from me. Then again, as to the itching, it could also be I’ve developed allergies to my cats, Buddy & Sly, who as, as I write this are lounging like the little slugs they are on the corner of my desk.

All right, now that my insecurities are flying at full staff for all to see, Hi. This is me. Cindy Gerard. (Picture me waving) Still wondering what the heck you might want to hear from me. Books? I can do that. As a matter of fact, I have a new release on the stands right now.

UNDER THE WIRE is book 5 in my Bodyguard series and it’s one of those stories that took me for a ride. From war torn Nicaragua during the contra revolution to present day politically unstable but beautiful Sri Lanka this book explores passion and betrayal and a love that transcends all obstacles.

Book 6, INTO THE DARK, will be out in June – take a gander at this amazing cover. I think I’m in love :o)

If you’re not familiar with my bodyguard series, it centers around E.D.E.N., Inc. a securities firm based out of West Palm Beach, Florida. Most of the principal characters are siblings and all are ex special ops. I’d love for you to check out my website (www.cindygerard.com) for excerpts, cover art and lots of other good stuff.

Speaking of good stuff, as part of my ongoing research I recently spent a day at a firing range with a weapons expert. What an education. I shot some pretty nasty bang bangs and have learned a whole new appreciation for the gun culture and the precision and craftsmanship of the weaponry. And yes, I have what my dh refers to as “don’t mess with me” pictures.:o) Check them out on my site.

Okay. Guess I’ll throw this open to comments and questions now. But just in case I forget, big hugs and HI’s to Lois, Debra, Kathleen, Suzie and Betina who I know and thanks to the rest of you for the invite!

Merry Christmas and Happy holidays everyone!

Cindy