Weekend extra: What was he thinking?

I posted this photo of Sly with my blog the other day and captioned it:
"Attitude, I gots it!)


















So many people got a kick out of it that I asked for more caption suggestions on my facebook page. Wow. Did they come through.
So just for fun, here are some of the many GREAT captions suggested.

"I guess you can take my picture my adoring fans need to see me!!!" - Natoi

Also from Natoi, "This is not the way to the kitchen!!! and this is not a can opener!!"

"I'll move when I'm good and ready. YOU find something else to do now." - Lynn

"Bow, my minions, bow." - Halli

"STOP PLAYING AROUND ON THE COMPUTER AND PET ME, DAMMIT!" - Donna

"Don't You Have a Laptop You Can Use?" - Sally

Also from Sally: "You think I've got Cattitude; You Should See my Big-Shot Pet Person, She's got Authorattitude!"

"Put the key board down and walk away.... to the kitchen. I want dinner now!" - Arlene

"Touch my computer and die furball!" - Jane

"I said you're finished for the day...Don't make me hurt you!" - Lori

"Come on, I dare you! Make my day!" - Ruth

"I's the guard kitty ~ you no touchy the 'puter!" - Patricia

"I know there is a mouse somewhere in this mess!" - Elise

"Quit putting super glue at my ankles-I know I'm attractive in this pose , but geeze let me just do it." - Joan.

Also from Joan: "Attitude-I's gots it-who ARE you?"

"Enough strokes on this thing! It's MY turn now!" - Judi

"Bow and worship me. Bow dammit BOW!!" - Rebekah

"You've been ignoring me... sleep with your eyes open."- Sydnee


Care to add your 2 cents?

The Gratitude Attitude

It doesn't take the upcoming holiday to make me think of all the things I'm thankful for. Not really. Little things pop into my head on a daily basis that have me sending up a silent prayer of thanks. I'm frequently thankful, for example, for men.

That's right. I said it. And not for the reason you all are thinking, either. (Especially you, Gerard. I know how your mind works!) I make no secret of the fact that I am height challenged. And techno-challenged. And sadly, I also have no sense of direction. It comes in handy to live with someone who wouldn't qualify as tall, but who can reach something on top of the refrigerator without dragging out the step stool. Who can open jars or stuck windows. And who has a suggestion when I call him from the land line to complain about my cell phone not working. (Ohhhh. *That's* what that button is for.) He also programs my in-dash GPS system before I set out for a trip. Maybe it's just because he wants the Suburban back eventually, but still--appreciated.

I also am frequently thankful that I don't live in the Mid East. No bias here, but I tend to think I'd do poorly in a climate where women are supposed to act quiet and subservient, at least in public. Demure is beyond me. I'd be the poster girl for public caning, so it's just as well that I was born in the U.S. where everyone loves a smart ass. Or at least can't beat them legally.

And I'm thankful for humor. How dull would life be without it? My particular brand skates perilously close to irreverent, but I also appreciate it in others, luckily for my husband. (Last night I told him, "The dog jumped up when I was cutting the meat and grabbed a big piece of fat and dragged it under the table to chew on." To which he responded, "Didn't that hurt????")

Throughout the years when all the kids were home, I said a frequent prayer of thanks that I had four boys and one girl and not vice versa. I'm hugely grateful for my daughter, and my life would be much much emptier without her. But if I'd had to raise more than one of her...prison orange is an unattractive color on *anyone*.

There's more, of course. I'm thankful for Mark Harmon and Johnny Depp ('cuz a girl's gotta dream ). For books and movies that entertain and provoke thought. Democracy. For Doctor McGillicudy's (don't knock it 'til you've tried it!). For job stability. For my family. For that new stuff that makes my eyelashes grow. My health. Strides in the plastic surgery field (there's nothing graceful about aging from where I stand). For grandchildren. For online shopping and free shipping. The Internet. And for white sand beaches edged by turquoise waters.

How about you? What tops your list of items to be thankful for this season?

Helen's Conference Experience 2007

Someone I spoke with at RWA’s national conference in Dallas last week gave it woo-wooish astrological explanation. She said certain planets had aligned, or the whole Friday the 13th thing had come into play in a good way.

Could be it had something to do with having my first two books out this year and doing my very first literacy signing. (When someone I don’t know actually buys my books then it’ll be really exciting.) Maybe it had something to do with me blowing off all but two of the workshops (and I even moderated one, he he he).

No matter the explanation, I had more fun at this year’s national RWA conference than I’ve ever had before. I think it all came down to the people I encountered. Everyone was incredible nice, from my editors to the other writers to the hotel staff.

I’ll give you an example.

When I first arrived at the hotel, I discovered that I’d made my reservations all those months before for the day before my flight arrived. So they, um, gave away my room. And the hotel was booked for the night.

The very nice young woman at the front desk said she’d try to find me a couch or something. She went back behind a little black wall to do a little magic and came back with what she called a “parlor” room, complete with a Murphy bed. They’d switch me to a regular room the next night. I thanked her and joked about how I kinda liked the sexy sound of sleeping in a parlor.

I was happy I wouldn’t be sleeping in a bathtub.

I ended up staying in that room for the duration, didn’t have to repack and move my luggage, and saved a pretty penny.

For all the smooth sailing I experienced, there were problems swirling around me. In some cases, the lines and waits were long. In the restaurant, to get onto the elevator, at the bar. But if you have fun people to visit with, I discovered, I don’t even notice.

Hmm. Maybe it wasn’t everyone else. Maybe it all came down to me and my attitude. I've never thought of it this way before, but that’s kinda empowering, ya know?

What about you? Ever find yourself in a situation where a simple change of attitude made all the difference in the world?