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By Cam
My T13 this week is going to be completely unoriginal. Sorry! But with committing to another 50K NaNo challenge this month, I’m devoting most of my spare time to writing the YA I’ve been talking about for the better part of a month. I know y’all are sick of hearing me talk about it but that’s how much I LOVE it. So, tough. 
This week in my soooo-not-original-in-the-slightest T13, I’m listing the next 13 reads on my TBR shelf. I’m not sure if this is the order they’ll eventually be read in, but this is how they sit on my actual bookshelf:
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA Contemp) – Just started reading
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (YA SFF)
- The Dark Divine by Bree Dispain (YA Paranormal)
- Fade by Lisa McMann (YA Paranormal)
- Willow by Julia Hoban (YA Contemp)
- North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley (YA Contemp)
- The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (YA Paranormal)
- The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (YA Paranormal/SFF)
- Candor by Pam Borchaz (YA Contemp)
- Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (YA Paranormal)
- Hate List by Jennifer Brown (YA Contemp)
- Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl (Contemp Romance)
- Hearts of Darkness by Gena Showalter, Maggie Shayne, and Susan Krinard (Paranormal Romance antho)
So there it is. As you can see, I have a LOT of YA on my list. I probably never really stopped reading YA since high school (I’ve only been out 10 years). But I figure since I’m writing it, I might as well know what’s out there now and what’s missing. Plus it’s good research because first person narrative in present tense is a whole other ball park for me and this helps me see how seamless it can be done. Plus if you haven’t ever read YA, you should. The voices are fresh, the issues relevant, and the characters gut-wrenching and believable. But don’t get me wrong…I still LOVE LOVE LOVE my romances and there are some really good ones coming out soon!
What’s on your shelf?
By Cam
I haven’t done T13 in a while. November was pretty much shot with NaNo and December isn’t much better with all the shopping and to-do’s I’m behind with.
But I thought it would be fitting to list some of my favorite books I read this year. This list isn’t necessarily from 2009 releases because I just can’t keep up with all the books that come out. (Although this year did see some excellent books hit the shelves and cyber waves.)
So in no particular order, here are my 13 Favorite Books I Read This Year:
- Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia — This YA is a beautifully written tale about a boy, a girl, a curse, and a grave. It has a gothic southern setting that’s as much a developed character as the rest of the players in the story. It’s a long book — just over 600 pages — but the pacing is well-timed and keeps you invested from start to finish.
- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater — Another YA – love story about a girl who survived a wolf attack when she was younger finally meeting the wolf who saved her that day…who’s really a hot emo-boy. I’m not normally a werewolf fan, but the world Stiefvater created is unique, believable, and I couldn’t put this book down. It was also the first time I read a dual-narrative that really worked and had its own unique spin.
- Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter — This is a duology of two almost-complete novels by two of my favorite paranormal romance authors. If I have to be honest though, I liked Kresley’s story just a teensy weensy bit more. The main reason? Icicle scene. All I gotta say.
- Hunt Her Down by Roxanne St. Claire — An excellent, fast-paced entry in the world of the Bulletcatchers. This was the first book of St. Claire’s I read and after finishing it, I immediately read the series from the first book. She’s a master at creating tension, suspense, and likeable characters. In this installment, Dan Gallagher is one hunky hero and the shed scene is one I’ll never forget.
- Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare — This was Tessa Dare’s debut book, although she has since had two additional books come out in this series. But what a fabulous debut! I fell in love with Lucy–she was fun, real, hilarious, and how I picture I would be if I was a regency-era woman hell-bent on finding a husband.
- Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost — Cat and Bones. What’s not to love? If you haven’t tried the Night Huntress books, what are you waiting for? This is a must-read UF series that will make you wish you had yourself a naughty British vampire like Bones.
- Wake by Lisa McMann — This is a YA that had a premise I found really original. A girl experiences the dreams of those around her. She’s in high school, so I’m sure you can imagine the horrible dreams she has to endure as it seems everyone at her school manages to fall asleep for at least a few minutes. It was hard at first for me to get into this book because it started off somewhat slow. But once the pacing picked up, McMann’s unique voice really came through and I fell in love with Janie and Cable. Fade is Book 2 in this series and it’s on my list for 2010, as is Gone which comes out in March.
- Seduce the Darkness by Gena Showalter — It was hard to pick a Gena book to put on this list. I mean, she had 4 come out in 2009 alone (a YA, an Alien Huntress, a Lord of the Underworld, and another Alien Huntress book in the DKOW duology)! That woman can write like the freaking wind! But I put this one on the list from the Alien Huntress series because Devyn is just scrumptious. He’s hot, flirty, dirty and he’s not afraid to admit it. Even though he’s been a man-whore his whole adult life, I couldn’t help but fall a little in love with him after each page. Bride is one lucky gal…er, vampire.
- Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole — This is book 7 of the Immortals After Dark series and if you haven’t read it, YOU MUST. Cole’s books are steamy, but not sleazy; funny, but not cheesy; and she has one of the most unique, lively, and all-encompassing worlds in paranormal romance. There’s a reason why she’s a previous RITA winner. This book features Rydstrom, who’s a Rage Demon, and Sabine, who’s one helluva badass biotch. Sabine is an anti-heroine and I HATED her. But then I LOVED her. Then HATED. Until finally she redeemed herself to me, and to Rydstrom, and I loved her once again. A fab read!
- Soulless by Gail Carriger — This is a debut book by Carriger and my first read into Steampunk…although I guess technically, this book is more gaslight since there wasn’t a whole lot of technology in it. But Carriger created a truly unique heroine in Alexia who makes you want to hug her, slap her, be her best friend, give her a makeover, but ultimately, cheer for her. The world Carriger created is also stellar with an uncanny ability to make me wonder if this alternate paranormal community really did exist in the late 1800s. Oh, and now I’m putting parasol on my Xmas list.
- Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott — This YA book is haunting. It’s not upbeat. It’s not funny. It’s not romantic. It’s disturbing. But it’s a story that needed to be told and Scott told it beautifully. She captures the tortured voice of “Alice”, who’s entire past has been swept to the side and replaced with a shell of a girl who was abducted and then sexually and mentally abused every day since. This story made me cry and look at every guy named Ray in a bad, bad way. It will stay on my keeper shelf so I’m reminded of the thousands of girls abducted every year who have no hope of reclaiming their past so they’re not forgottten.
- Rampant by Diana Peterfreund — Killer unicorns. Kick-butt heroine with a richly-detailed legacy. Plus Peterfreund’s a beautiful writer and technician of the craft. She’s also a fellow Washington, DC writer and did you know that’s her face on her book cover? She’s drop-dead, people.
- Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins — This is an absolute must-read for anyone, even if you’re not a fan of YA. I truly believe this book will be one of those rarities that our children’s children will be reading in school and dissecting. It’s one of those stories that’s dark and light at the same time and grips you from the first page. Although I hated the name of the protagonist (Katniss – I mean, really?)…like everything else in the book, it stands apart from anything else in the YA genre and other genres as well. Cathching Fire is the follow-up book in this tale and I hear it’s just as breathtaking a story as Hunger Games. It’s the first one I’m reading come January.
So there you have it. My list of my Fave Reads from the past year. What are some of your favorites? What are you looking forward to reading in 2010?
By Cam
I’m leaving for Vegas today. Sigh. And wanted to depart with a few (13 to be exact) writerly quotes that are inspirational to me, especially since NaNoWriMo starts in a few days! I hope you find inspiration from these, too!
- “The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.” ~Anaïs Nin
- “Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” ~E.L. Doctorow
- “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” ~Anton Chekhov
- “Write your first draft with your heart. Re-write with your head.” ~From the movie Finding Forrester
- “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those doing it.” ~ Chinese proverb
- “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” ~ Jack London
- “Words – so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.” ~Nathaniel Hawthorne
- “The only cure for writer’s block is insomnia.” ~ Merit Antares
- “Don’t get it right, just get it written” ~ J. Thurber
- “I’m not a very good writer, but I’m an excellent rewriter.” ~ James Michener
- “You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we’re doing it.” ~ Neil Gaiman
- “In writing, you can get by with almost anything as long as you motivate it properly.” ~ Catherine Spangler
- “If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me.” ~ William Shakespeare
Now, tell me…what are some of your favorite quotes (or advice) that have helped you through your more hazy days of writing?
By Cam
This past week was a baaaaad week for me in terms of spending money. Now, I usually don’t go around dropping cash and then telling people all about it. But I’m feeling total buyer’s remorse and thought I could use today’s T13 as my “confessional” so to speak.
So, here it goes…13 things I bought this past week that are making me feel guilty:
- Glitzy formal cocktail dress – There’s a reason for this. My brother-in-law is getting married this Halloween. In Vegas. The invitation said black tie. (I know, really?) I have dresses that could totally pass for this occasion. But what fun is that? It’s in V-E-G-A-S.
- Glitzy formal cocktail dress – For my daughter. Who’s one. And because she’s just so stinkin’ cute and doesn’t have a wardrobe of suitable dresses.
- These shoes – Again…V-E-G-A-S.
- And these – See above
- MAC nail polish – In Dark Angel (goth romantic dark lilac) and Vintage Vamp (rich deep retro wine). Because Fae raved about it on Twitter and at the time I didn’t think anything of the $12/bottle price tag.
- Pedipeds – Gold shoes with cut-out stars for the little one. At a whopping $30+. Damn weddings.
- New earbuds for my iPhone – Even though I already have a pair…these are special because they have a retractable cord. Yeah…cool, right?
- My Writing Nook (iPhone app) – It was only $1.95, but apparently this app can sync up to the internet so I can write on the go. I haven’t test-driven it yet, but with NaNo coming up, I decided to be prepared for those moments when I’m standing in the grocery store line.
- MiFi – Okay. I needed this one. At a $100 purchase price and then monthly fee for $60, I get a complete wireless internet connection for up to 5 wireless devices (5GB/month data plan). I can take it with me wherever I go and not have to worry about trying to find a free WiFi spot. I can even use it while Hubs is driving. Uber coolness people. And considering I canceled my internet service from Comcast (because our box got struck by lightning and they wanted to charge us to replace the box and charge a re-connection fee. Uh, no.). So this purchase was completely justified.
- Books – Specifically Covet by JR Ward and Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I have no problem spending money on books. The problem is that I have about 20 books already in my TBR pile so this purchase really could’ve waited.
- Fudge Stripe Cookies – Like three boxes. And not on sale. If you’ve never tried these Keebler concoctions…you must. Trust me.
- Head massager – They got me. Those annoying people at those annoying kiosk stands in the mall. This one was the spidery-looking head massager thing that felt oh so good when the gal tickled my head with it. Now my daughter likes to trap Elmo’s head with it so I haven’t had a chance to really use it. $15 down the drain thank you very much.
- Asus 1008HA netbook – This was the biggie. The chimichanga of the I-really-don’t-need-this-but-I’m-going-to-get-it-anyway purchases. I have a laptop. A perfectly nice Sony Vaio (it’s pink!) that Hubs got me for my birthday. I’ve even worn the paint off the keys because I use it so much. But the thing is a whopper. I can’t transport it to save my life without also needing a deep tissue massage to work out the kinks in my shoulder. And with NaNo coming up, my writing needs to be portable. Plus I blame it on V-E-G-A-S. It’ll be sooooooo much easier to cart this little number around in Sin City instead of my Pink Monster Lady. The netbook comes in today and I can’t wait!
So there you go. Thirteen things I spent money on this week that I’m feeling a little bit guilty about even though some of them are quite justified. Tell me – am I the only one throwing money around left to right? Please tell me I’m not the only one with a weird obsession with Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies…anyone?
By Cam
So my goals through the end of the year are all tied to this one WIP. A WIP that just. Won’t. Die. I’m not really a formal goals-making person (see post here), but I decided to play along anyway. Well, I think this is why my muse ran out to get some sugar and still hasn’t come back. Yet.
That’s okay. I’m not bitter. Why, you ask? Because I have a brand new shiny muse! In fact, multiple muses with a whole lot of hopping and shagging going on. I find that I’m getting hit with inspiration almost every day. And sometimes in the strangest places.
Here is a list of the thirteen things that have randomly inspired me over the past week…
- Craigslist ad – if you follow me on Twitter, then you know I got a brilliant light bulb moment from spying an ad for a drag queen singing telegram. You’ll have to stay tuned to find out what the plot bunnies do with this one.
- Fairy tales – more specifically, Beauty and the Beast meets Ugly Duckling. And yes, there’s a bunny furiously thinking up a storm in response to Samhain’s Red Hot Fairy Tales call.
- Fever Blister/Cold Sore/Lip Funk/Fill-in-the-blank – Eww. Gross. I know. With my daughter’s first birthday party last Saturday, I had a lot of stressful things to think about (30 adults + 12 kids under the age of 10 = Carmex overdose). So yeah, one of those nasty little suckers popped up on my lip and got me thinking…
- This image – Pictures say a thousand words, eh? How about 350, give or take?
- Spiderman kazoo– After loading up with various useless—but surprisingly expensive—crap for party goody bags, I was hit with yet another story tickle. Spidey meets Barbarella???
- Ballet flats – Mine stink. Like odor-eaters-stink. After dusting off a pair from last Fall season, it made me wonder…surely there’s a villain out there whose supernatural powers are based off a serious case of odorous feet. Death by feet funk has a nice ring to it, donchathink?
- Water goal – In my effort to try and drink more water, another bunny hopped by as I sat and stared at my half-empty Nalgene bottle.
- Halloween candy – Really Halloween-anything. All those ghosts, goblins, witches, vamps…what’s not to love?
- Kanye West – Yes, even Kanye “Douchebag of the Year” West can inspire those little plot bunnies who think it would be hilarious if an equally-embarrassing interruption were to happen to the protagonist during an oh-so-important life-changing event.
- Candy Apples – That bright, glossy, candy-coated apple I saw at the grocery store is the perfect signature shade for a heroine who’s as flirty as she is feisty.
- Purell – Hand sanitizer inspired one of the quirky characteristics of my heroine in my current plot-storm.
- Alec Mazo – Dancing With The Stars resident hottie. Just take away all that sequins, glitter, and that leggy wife of his.
- Gena Showalter – That lady writes faster than anyone I know (not that I actually really know her, unless you count that time or two when I stalked her throughout RWA DC). She inspires me to no end. And her books kick ass.
So there you have it. What inspired you this week?
By Cam
It’s that time of year again. Summer’s over, the kiddies are back in school, the leaves are starting to turn a little less green and a little more crispy. We’re heading out of Summer and right into Fall. And what comes with the change in season? New episodes of your favorite shows and some much anticipated premieres.
Here are my top thirteen must-see shows:
1. So You Think You Can Dance – love, love, LOVE this show! It’s normally on during the summer, but new this year is a fall season that’s sure to have the twists, turns, and grande jetes we all know and love.
2. Vampire Diaries – This series is based on the books by LJ Smith and premiering on the CW tonight at 8pm. Joining the fangtabulous company of Edward/Bella/Jacob, Sookie/Bill/Eric, will be the Stefan/Elena/Damon threesome. Uh, hello? Hot boys, pointy fangs, Ian Somerhalder? What’s not to love?
3. Glee – They showed the pilot episode in May. Although really that seems like a century ago. So this Fall, people who already fell in love with the lovable glee club misfits will be chomping at the bit to see what shenanigans they run into next.
4. Fringe – X-Files meets Bones meets Lost. This show has it all. Super cool sci-fi mysteries, super hot FBI agents, super wacky Dr. Bishop (played by the uber talented John Noble) and oh-so-lovable Joshua Jackson – whose boyish charm still makes me go ‘Ahhhh’.
5. The Biggest Loser – I just got into this show two seasons ago. But something about the ugly duckling transformation through the blood, sweat, and tears of people who really want to make themselves healthy, never fails to bring a ‘Thatta girl!’ out of me.
6. Bones – David Boreanaz. ‘Nuf said. (And that Emily girl ain’t half-bad either.)
7. Criminal Minds – Who’s hiding in Hotch’s apartment? Is he about to be kidnapped? Maimed? Killed? Eek. Ike. Must. Wait. Until. 9/23.
8. Dancing With the Stars – I really just want to see Tom Delay in sequins.
9. Grey’s Anatomy – Meredith and Derek…married? Surely there’s going to be a few monkey wrenches for the newleyweds. George…dead? Izzie…alive? Let’s see how long it takes Alex to bolt for the door.
10. Flash Forward – This is a new show with a super cool premise. Everyone passes out at exactly the same time and see a glimpse of their future. I’m hoping the pilot is as good as the commercials make it look. Plus Joseph Fiennes is starring in this series and he is fiiiiinne.
11. Dollhouse – Joss Whedon. Yeah.
12. Eastwick – I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the show doesn’t butcher the greatness that is the Witches of Eastwick. Plus I love me some Lindsey Price.
13. FOOTBALL – Ok, my house goes a little nuts when it’s football season. When I was in labor with my daughter, I didn’t want to go to the hospital until the game was over (Cowboys vs. Eagles). It’s not just a sport. It’s a way of life.
So tell me…what shows are you dying to see this Fall?
By Cam
For this week’s Thursday Thirteen, I thought I would take a note (literally) from other T13ers and put up my playlist for my WIP. Some of these have been around a while but still manage to get my muse in the mood. If you’ve never heard some of them, take a listen. There are some really beautiful, melodic tunes and this list really makes sense with my hero and heroine. Hope you enjoy!
- Dream – Priscilla Ahn
- Sundrenched World – Joshua Radin
- If it Kills Me – Jason Mraz
- Blue Eyes – Cary Brothers
- Breathe Me – Sia
- Reasons to Love You – Meiko
- Flightless Bird – Iron & Wine
- Like A Star – Corinne Bailey Rae
- Wild Horses – The Sundays
- Lost Without You – Robin Thicke
- Shut Up & Let Me Go - Ting Tings
- Falling Slowly – The Frames
- Gravity – Sara Bareilles
Bonus Track: Make You Feel My Love – Adele
By Cam
My Hubs’ birthday is this Saturday and he’s turning the big 3-0. So in homage to his big day, I thought I would list the 13 things I L-O-V-E about him. I’ll try to keep the gushiness to a minimum.
1. Best Father in Da World — This is a no-brainer. All you have to do is see him with our daughter and know he would do anything for her. It melts my heart. Although he swears he’s not wrapped around her pinky, but…let the evidence speak for itself. She truly is the boss.
2. Sour Patch Kids Enabler — What’s better than a man who knows when you’re craving the tangy, chewy candies before you do?
3. Baby Blues — Probably the first thing I ever noticed about him. So yeah, they still get me.
4. The Giver — His willingness to help anyone out in any situation is one of his most endearing qualities. Ask and you shall receive.
5. Remote Runner-Up — I must say, any man who’s willing to hand over the remote to his wife so she can watch shows like So You Think You Can Dance, Project Runway, and Grey’s Anatomy…well, he deserves an A+ in my book.
6. Marathon Smarathon — Hubs is an endurance athlete. Marathons. Triathlons. Right now he’s training for a 50-mile run. Yeah. That’s what I thought. And I probably give him more crap than he needs when it comes to his grueling training regimen. But his athleticism, stamina, and ability to actually finish these events? Wow. All I can say.
7. Whistling Wiz — You know you’re in sync with someone when you’re whistling the Meow Mix jingle upstairs and they’re harmonizing with you downstairs.
8. Metro Moisturizer — I’m big on beauty care products. But even I can’t beat Hubs’ love of lotion. You’ll never find him without his bottle of Aveeno and he’s not afraid to admit it. Because of this, his hands are softer than a newborn’s butt. Now, I might be a teeny bit jealous of this feat, but I’ve got to admire the man’s openness to moisturize in public.
9. Chef Hubs — A man who cooks and does it well? I’m pudding.
10. Knock, Knock — I’m not funny by any means, but Hubs makes me feel like I am. So, my apologies to anyone who’s been subjected to my lame jokes…but if my baby thinks I’m funny, then by golly I’m going to continue with my corny puns.
11. Dr. Doolittle — Species flock to this man. ‘Nuf said.
12. Work Hard, Play Hard — Hubs works hard. I mean, HARD. His work ethic is top-notch and that’s pretty rare to find in the younger generation. (No offense to anyone out there, but hey—I’m knocking myself, too). If he’s committed to do something, then consider it done. But even though he works hard, he’s not afraid to reward himself—which I think is uber important to maintain that work-life balance.
13. Zest for Life — A few years back, Hubs’ had to push through a major health hurdle. It was before we were married while we were just dating, and it was tough to see him go through that uphill battle. But his perseverance and ensuing outlook on life still inspire me every day and remind me what’s important and what things I can let go of.
Happy Bday Hubs!
Now tell me, if there’s a S.O. in your life – what do you love most about them?
By Cam
What a rainy Thursday in Maryland. It should be bright, sunny, and deliciously warm. But instead it’s dark, gray, not all that warm, and…wet. This change in weather reminds me summer is packing its bag and hitting the road. Goodbye oh sweet, precious summer. I’m going to miss you. Truly.
So this got me thinking about other things I miss. Things from either my childhood or early adult life that I didn’t necessarily take advantage of when I had them, but now that I’m without, I wish I had back. Don’t get me wrong—I love my life right now and wouldn’t change anything about it…but if I could just snag a few of those missed things…then I’d be golden baby!
13 Things I Miss Most:
1. Sleeping In – This is a HUGE one for me. I’m one of those have-to-have-my-eight-hours-of-sleep type and after having a baby…well, let’s just say that’s a thing of the past. If I could somehow get the quality of eight hours with the little that I do get, well, then I’d be smooth sailing!
2. Saturday Morning Cartoons – And I mean the good cartoons, like My Little Pony, Smurfs, Popples, Wuzzles, Snorkels, JEM (OMG I used to L-O-V-E her!). Nowadays there’s crap, crap, and more crap on the tube on Saturdays at 7a.m. And yes, if you read #1, I’m up that early to even know this.
3. Nights Out With No Consequences – That may be a bit of a misnomer because even when I was younger, I knew I had consequences after a night of debauchery, but you know what? I DIDN’T CARE. Now I freak out if I have more than two glasses of wine because I know I’ll wake up with a massive headache at 7 a.m. (See #1)
4. Metabolism – What I wouldn’t give to have the pre-pubescent metabolism of yesteryear. Ah, such was life when I could eat five pancakes, bacon, eggs, loads of sugary syrup, and sausage. Then two hours later eat a double-decker club sandwich with a half bag of Doritos (Family Size), and two refills of coke with a heaping slice of triple chocolate chunk cheesecake on the side. Yeah. The good ‘ole days.
5. Flexibility – Being able to touch my toes without wincing is a foggy memory of mine. As an active and athletic child growing up (I was a competitive ice skater and a dancer for ten years), I was used to pulling my leg up and seeing my foot go past my ears. But there comes a time when your body just says, “Heck No. I ain’t bending that way you crazy ho!” And yeah, I miss those days.
6. Flavor-of-the-week Boyfriends – You know you miss it, too. The weekly, non-committal boyfriend who you could dump at a minute’s notice but know you had another one lined up the next day. No strings, no heartache, all the fun. I’m married now and love my hubs to death, but sometimes I kinda miss those days when I could throw his stuff out of our shared locker and sit with another boy at lunch with no emotions lost.
7. Not Paying for Anything – Wasn’t it nice when you were a kid and Mom and Dad paid for EVERYTHING? You wanted an ice cream cone? Here you go. Thanks Mom. You wanted to go to the movies with friends? Here’s a twenty. Love you Dad. You wanted a ticket to the New Kids On the Block concert? We’ll camp overnight and throw elbows to get to the front. You’re the bestest Mom. Yeah…Unless you’re the holder of some secret where your parents are still wrapped around your finger, then you’re like me and wince every time you see another bill roll in. And if you are the holder of said secret…share the love!
8. Flowers, Chocolates, and other such trinkets – There used to be a time when hubs wasn’t hubs but was just that guy I was dating, when he would pepper me with flowers, and candy, and dinners out. I know he probably did it so he get a little somthin-somthin, but hey—it worked. Don’t underestimate the power of wooing. I miss being wooed. I long to one day be wooed again (by hubs of course). But until then, I miss those goodies.
9. Naps – Some of you may still take naps and in that case, I’m envious. But moi? See #1.
10. Bikinis and Suntan oil– I used to spend my summers in a barely-there swimsuit flaunting what my Momma and the good Lord gave me. But now I flaunt it in a one piece with an ankle-length sarong, an oversized beach towel, wide-brimmed hat and SPF 50.
11. Spur-of-the-moment trips – I’m all about spontaneity. Or at least, I was. It’s not so easy anymore to just pick up and jet off to some fab locale with fruity drinks and paper umbrellas. Nope. If I want to get away now, it’s called “I’m in the bathroom! Leave me alone!”
12. Snow Days – Remember when you used to look outside, see snow on the ground, check the news, and think—Yes! No school! Hopefully we’ll get two feet today so it’ll be cancelled tomorrow, too! It’s summer right now, so it’s hard to think about snow, but now when I see the white stuff junking up the sky, I think—God I hope my car starts and I don’t get swiped off the road by a salt truck. Maybe if they would cancel work like they do the schools, I wouldn’t have to miss those days when I was excited to see snow.
13. Friends – Ok, this one is a toughie for me because I have friends, just not as many and not as close as I once had. With the addition of moving, hubs, baby girl, and not enough money for frequent visits, it’s really hard to keep in touch with the girls I used to do everything with. I’m one of the few in the once close-knit circle that has a child, so priorities have changed for me. I’m not complaining because I ache for my daughter when I don’t see her throughout the day, but yeah…I miss those days when I could just go hang with the girls.
So, tell me. What do you miss most?
By Cambria Dillon
Today’s my first Thursday Thirteen! So, to keep with the theme of trying something new, I thought I’d list some items from my bucket list:
- Base jump off a bridge
- Attend a red-carpet event with Ryan Reynolds, James McAvoy, Ryan Gosling, or Leonardo DiCaprio in attendance
- Dye my hair blonde (I hear blondes have more fun, no?)
- Look over the edge of an active volcano without falling in
- Carve an ice sculpture
- Paint something awe-inspiring that doesn’t resemble my usual ’paint-by-numbers’ crap
- Attend an underwater wedding
- Climb a (very, very small) building with suction-cup shoes
- Go on a guided river tour of the Amazon
- Compete in a camel race in Egypt or Dubai
- Ride in a water plane (preferably greeted by someone shouting “Da plane! Da plane!”)
- Visit all 7 continents
- Publish a book
What are some things on your bucket list?
And don’t forget to check out these Thursday Thirteen bloggers:
Word Trix
Lucy Woodhull
Stephanie Adkins
Adelle Laudan
Chicks-n-Scratching
Alice Audrey
Janice Seagraves
Shelley Munro
Megan Rose
Lauren Murphy
Jennifer Leeland
Ella Drake
Tales from the Crit
Paige Tyler
Christina DeLorenzo
Cambria Dillon - YA Writer
