Happy Birthday Mr. Hawkins

In April of this year, when I was visiting my dear friend Tasha in Chicago, I got into a conversation with another friend, Mr. Hawkins, about my lack of passport ownership. Mr. Hawkins, being an actual world traveler couldn't believe I didn't have one and began his campaign to make me get one. I laughed. Ha ha. Very funny. Aren't you cute? Here's what happened next:

Ha ha. Very funny. Then:

Sucking Tasha into the campaign was just plain dirty. 

Uh huh. Okay. As Tasha's wedding celebration approached, I got this little gem:

Then it just went all crazy (read from the bottom of this one up):

So now there's the birthday threat...

and the throwing of the "go to London" gauntlet.

DIRTY POOL MY FRIENDS!!! 

And finally, in response to me saying something nice about Coldplay:

So.

Without further ado.

And just for you Mr. Hawkins.

On the day before your birthday.

And a little for you Ms. Alexander.

Here's what happened this afternoon:

I took something from here:

And something from here:

Completed this:

Signed my name in front of a witness...wrote a check...and got this confirmation:

And, in 4-6 weeks, I should get this:

Happy now?

What's on your shelf?

Twilight - the books, not the time of day...I've almost finished book four...and I know I'll be bummed when there is nothing left to read...well, except the 60 other books sitting on my shelves that have yet to be cracked open. Yes. I'm a book-buying fool. I can't help myself. I've already pre-ordered several more that come out this summer and fall. I just love buying books! They look so fabulous on my shelves, and compared to a lot of things, they are relatively inexpensive. I've always been a book buyer, but I think I'm even more compelled to buy them now that I have friends who are authors. It really is their livelihood. Books must be bought!

Every now and then I'm terribly sorry that I bought a book and spent my time reading it. Sometimes, unknown books are unknown for a reason...they're just not good. Sometimes books on the bestseller list aren't good. I hate that. And it's rare that I can just stop reading...I need to know how it ends...to prove once and for all that yes, it's not a good book. Or maybe it's just a book I don't particularly care for. Who defines good anyway? I always feel guilty when I can't finish a book or just don't like what I'm reading. Having friends that are authors...I guess novelists is a better word, I know what goes into writing a book. It's not like someone didn't put their heart and soul into the book (well, most of the time anyway). But not every book is for everyone. I'm trying to get past it.

Hope you're enjoying a good book this weekend...if you're searching for one, here's a glance at some of my recent reading...enjoy!

• EVEN by Andrew Grant - read this book! and not just because I'm friends with the author...it's a great book!
• Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer - as previously stated, loving these books!
• Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson - nice easygoing story...predictable, but enjoyable.
• Second Chance by Jane Green - good...except for the end...a little disappointing. I read all of Jane's stuff though...really enjoy her writing.
• Cancer is a Bitch by Gail Konop Baker - great book! semi-autobiographical and very real.

What's next on the list? Not sure...but here's what I've recently pre-ordered on Amazon:

• Dune Road by Jane Green
• Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
• Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander (you should read all of her books...do it now...she has 3 others in this series, and one outside of it...seriously...buy multiple copies...I might be slightly biased since she's one of my closest friends on the planet, but she's truly a fantastic writer!)

One I'm excited to read but isn't ready for pre-order quite yet:

• Between Friends by Kristy Kiernan (read all of her books too! she is fabulous!)

And here are a few things sitting on my shelf...in the running for what I'll read next:

• The Shack by William Young
• Three Jane Green books
• Four books by Patti Callahan Henry (another new author friend...met her earlier this year...)
• Three books by Mary Kay Andrews (lovely woman...met her earlier this year...)

What will actually happen, of course, is that I'll be wandering through Target or Barnes & Noble or Borders at some point this weekend and I'll buy something brand new to read. I'm a tragic tale.

Until next time...oh, and if you have any reading suggestions, please leave them in the comments...a girl can't have too many books on her shelves...

Of friends, flying, music, books and VIP treatment

It really shouldn't have been that big of a deal for my alarm to go off at 4:01 a.m. today...that's only 20 minutes earlier than it goes off every other day. However, that extra 20 minutes at 4 in the morning is HUGE! It was made worse, of course, by the fact that I didn't get to bed until midnight. Ah, the joys of travel...

I actually thought I'd have to get up a little earlier as I anticipated I should leave around 4:45 to get the car parked and get to the airport, but was extremely thankful to have a friend offer to pick me up at 5 and take me...these are the best kind of friends to have!! It's not just anyone who will also crawl out of bed before 5 and fetch you. These friends deserve treats.

So, after an early morning and two flights, I'm now sitting in Hoover, Alabama. That's right. Alabama. And no, I do not currently have a banjo on my knee. In fact, I'm sitting in a lovely hotel room with a fabulously delicious basket of goodies and full VIP treatment. Oh yeah. I was that person that the driver waits for with the little sign. Nice.

I'm not really the VIP, but I'm VIP adjacent, and apparently, that's just as good! My lovely friend Tasha is a featured author at a very cool event this weekend called Southern Voices. She's the real VIP, but this group covers her and a companion for this trip...I'm delighted she asked me to join her and be part of her VIP world. I could get used to it!

So, I'm lounging in my swanky hotel room awaiting her arrival...listening to the new U2 album streaming on their MySpace page...I LOVE IT!! I can't wait to have it for real and then to see it live and in person on their tour. Give it already!!

One thing I love about flying is listening to music and really having a chance to focus on it. Sometimes I hear a song for what seems like the first time, even though I've listened to it hundreds of times before. Something about having the headphones on, focusing on listening and not being distracted by driving or roaming about the house...you really hear the words and the meaning of the songs. I love that.

The other thing I love about flying is being able to just sit and read. I rarely make time to do that in my life on the ground, so I relish the opportunity. I finished one book (Cancer is a Bitch) and got half-way through another (Second Chance) today.

Okay. Reading on the plane is great. Unless you're reading a book that makes you cry. Then you just feel like an idiot. You can imagine that there were parts of Cancer that brought tears...I was half-way through before I got on the plane, so I was well into the story and knew what was going on...I definitely shed a few tears, but the book was great and I'm so glad I read it! I highly recommend it. Thanks Gail!

The second book is written by Jane Green, an author who I have really enjoyed reading over the years...good Chick Lit. I was expecting a fun, beachy sort of read. Within two minutes, I was totally crying!! Cried through each chapter I read on the flight. Man. It took a lot out of me. I know people were looking at me like I was losing it...even though they could clearly see I was reading and reacting to the words leaping off the pages. I was going to wait to finish reading it on my flight home, but now I'm thinking I'll finish in the confines of my hotel room. Crying on the plane is not interesting.

I think the only time I've cried more on the plane was reading Marley and Me...and that went from equal parts laughing out loud to outright sobbing. I really think people thought I was having a nervous breakdown at that point.

So, my advice to you? Only read things on the plane that won't put you on an emotional rollercoaster. This also goes for watching movies on the plane. I've gotten caught in that trap too.

Well, I've just heard from Tasha, and she is en route to the hotel. I'll sign off now and wish you all a fabulous weekend! Happy flying, reading and musicing (my blog...my word).

Happy New Year...the sequel

H - Here's to...

A - Arizona State's men's basketball team...may it make us forget the football season.

P - People making new starts.

P - Pucks that go in the net for the Sharks!

Y - YOU!


N - New albums (and hopefully tours!) from U2, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry and others.

E - Everyone reaching whatever goals they've set.

W - Wii!


Y - (Cy) Young award winner Timmeh!

E - Enjoying time with friends and family.

A - (Tasha) Alexander's next book, Tears of Pearl.

R - Revelation...Third Day's spring tour!


Hope your new year is going well so far. I'd love to tell you that I'll be blogging more frequently in the new year, but that's just an empty promise that I have no need to make. All the best...Happy 2009!

Vacationing in Tennessee

Well, it's been over a month since I posted so I guess it's time. Do I have anything interesting to say? I'm not sure, but since I'm on vacation, I do have more time to think about it. Let's see...no, I really have nothing interesting to say, but let me just update you on my current state of relaxing.

I'm here in Franklin, Tennessee visiting my lovely friend Tasha whose fourth novel, A Fatal Waltz, (third in a series) comes out tomorrow. I think you must all run right out and get it! Check it out!

Mostly we've been relaxing, although we have had a few events and have a few more scheduled. On Friday morning, we journeyed to Nashville Public Television as Tasha was interviewed on A Word on Words by a very well-known journalist, John Seigenthaler. He was incredibly nice and the interview was fabulous! It was quite fun to watch the whole thing unfold.

On Friday evening, we went to a Guitar Pull and Covered Dish Dinner (pictures above) which I'd never heard of before the invitation was forwarded to me (Google it!). It was quite the event, and I would go again tomorrow if invited. Musicians showed up with their guitars (and covered dishes)...those of us that don't play things just showed up with food. Everyone meets and eats then the guitarists (and in one case a keyboard player) play/sing tunes for everyone...and in this instance, it was around a giant bonfire...very cool. Some of these musicians were quite well known, and everyone was just very nice. Great food and engaging conversations were had throughout the night.

Tasha gave a talk on Saturday about writing and her new book at a local library, and it was just great to see her in action. She charmed the crowd, answered their questions and signed books. More book signings will come throughout the week, and I really look forward to sharing the fun.

I'm also looking forward to seeing some other friends while here...the Short Family and the Hellers.

Tasha was very evil this weekend and sucked me into Firefly and Battlestar Galactica. Like I needed more TV addictions? Grrr. However, I was also treated to a lovely showing of Pride and Prejudice and bowls full of popcorn and cans of Coke. Oh Mr. Darcy...

I am a little concerned about my late nights and sleeping in. It will be quite difficult to get back into the swing of things upon my return next week. Thankfully I will still have two days off when I get home. And thankfully, it's two hours earlier in California...in theory that should help me, right?

Okay, I'm getting distracted by Firefly and must return...we'll chat again soon.