Want to go to next year's National RWA Convention?

***permission to forward granted***

It's Baaaaaaaaack!
The 3rd Annual Writers' Rafflemania
from Valley Forge Romance Writers
Win $1000 toward the cost of attending RWA National in
Nashville, TN in 2010
Tickets go on sale at
Moonlight Madness
at the RWA National Conference in Washington, DC
Thursday, July 16, 2009
and online at www.vfrw.com
2008 Winner - Nancy Naigle
2009 Winner - Meagan Hatfield
2010 ??? Could be you!
All information on our website: http://www.vfrw.com/raffle/rules-and-regulations/or look for our table at Moonlight Madness

My Emergency Room Escapade

MENTAL STATUS: "Groggy". Diagnosed with pharyngitis with Strep.

You know, it is just so ME to get sick--I'm talking really sick--in the summer.
And that's exactly what happened.

Here's the lowdown:

My mom came to visit, we had a great time on the beach and played mini golf and even met up with her first cousin and her children, too, for a little family reunion type thing. I wasn't feeling great this whole time but just thought I was feeling run down because I was doing so much.

But...

1:00 AM Thursday morning: woke up with chills, fever, and aches. Took some Tylenol.

5:30AM: still feeling awful. Took some more Tylenol.

Stayed horizontal the whole day with a heating pad on the right side of my face and head. I had a sore throat just on my right side and could feel pressure near my ear and just ached so bad I felt like my limbs would fall off.

I told my mom to go home in the afternoon. I thought I was feeling a little bit better and my hubby came home early from work. But then I maxed out on Aleve and it was only 6PM, so I thought, "Uh-oh."
I texted my hubby from upstairs because I was writhing in pain and told him to call the doctor. He said ok and that he would be up in a few minutes. Well, I was so sick and in so much pain I then literally texted him "help". That go him upstairs in a flash.

We described the symptoms to the doctor and he was afraid my throat was bacterial and it would get worse and maybe obstruct my breathing so he recommend me to go the hospital.

Anyhew...in my 6 hours there they gave me two bags of fluids, a bag of antibiotics, a shot of Decadron, 2 Tylenol, a shot of Toradol and when all that still had me writhing in pain they gave me Morphine. Morphine?!

Well, it worked. :)

After getting my money's worth of drugs, I finally was discharged about 1 AM in the morning.

So now I'm finally vertical again--although I feel my bed calling me now--and the hubby is getting my prescriptions filled now.

Sheesh. What a time! (I need a shower badly)


So did I miss anything good while I was incapacitated?

Wednesday Writing Buzz

IN THE NEWS: Woman allegedly pranks her grandma 45 times in day. Read more HERE.


Yes, I KNOW it's supposed to be WIP Wednesday, but I live in a vacation hot spot and people seem to think because they're on vacation I must be, too. Of course, if that's true, I've been on "vacation" since June 19.
(But if you could see my house and empty refrigerator, you'd believe it)

Anyhew...before I go to the beach with my mom today, I thought I'd share some cool writing links with ya all.

Drum roll, please...

***Camy Tang (whose new book I will be reviewing in a few weeks) has an interview up on how she first started writing and how she became published with Steeple Hill. Check it out HERE.

***Do you write historicals?
This Friday, July 10th - Romance University is having a class: Chaos Theory of Writing: Author Victoria Gray guides us through the fascinating process of weaving historical facts into our fiction writing. Check it out HERE. (thanks, Chicki!)

***Calling all authors!
Discover which libraries carry your books HERE. Very cool.

***Need help making a Book Trailer?
Check out author Diana Holquist's handout HERE. (Not sure if you have to be a RWA member to view it)
If you've never seen my book trailer, check it out HERE. (It cost me $10 total and took me about 3 or 4 days to make)

***Should you hire a book doctor?
Steeple Hill author Brenda Coulter shares her opinion on that subject HERE.

*** Want a List of books every writer should refer to BEFORE contacting an agent or publisher?
Check out this article by Joëlle Delbourgo HERE.

***Want some great Industry News and Opinions?
Check out STET--the Back Space blog HERE.

That should keep you busy. LOL!

Now I must do a better job with my sunscreen today.

Enjoy your day!

Dessert for a Crowd

MENTAL STATUS: "Tired". Still trying to play email and house catch-up.


I made a fantastic dessert for July Fourth: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding. I also happened to make this for "cousin's weekend", too, and let me tell you it was a real crowd pleaser!

As far as what my friends and family know, the recipe is my own, but in actuality I got it from author Holly Jacobs. But it's been over a year and I've made this thing many times that it's now become MINE.
(Either way, I'm sure she won't mind me sharing it) :)

WARNING: This dessert is RICH and fatty-fat fattening. (which is probably why it's so good)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding

Ingredients:
1 bag Oreo cookies
1 8oz package cream cheese
1 & 1/2 c peanut butter
1c powdered sugar
2 boxes instant chocolate pudding
1 giant tub Cool Whip
1 box instant vanilla pudding
4 & 1/2 c milk


Crush half a bag of Oreos, and line the bottom of a trifle bowl (or you can use a 9X13 pan).

Take cream cheese, peanut butter and powdered sugar beat. Fold in a little more than a third of the giant tubs of Cool Whip. Add to pan/bowl. Crush and add 1/4 of the package of Oreos.

Take two boxes of instant chocolate pudding. Add only three cups (instead of four) of milk, beat. Fold in another 1/3 of Cool Whip. Add to pan/bowl.

One box of instant vanilla pudding, 1 1/2 cups of milk (not two). Beat. Fold in the last 1/3 of Cool Whip. Add to the top of chocolate pudding.

Top the dessert with the remaining 1/4 of the Oreos...crushed. Refrigerate for at least two hours

Easily serves 16-18 of the most fanatic peanut butter fans. :)

YUMMO!

More This and That

IN THE NEWS: Maine pound shows off rare orange, live lobsters. Read more HERE.


DISCLAIMER: This is the part of the blog where I really ramble on about what's happening in my life now.

1) I'm judging my RWA chapter contest now, so if any of my crit partners are reading this, don't expect a critique from me any time soon. :)

2) I am sunburned. Somehow even with my huge hat (with flower), sunblock 70, and my beach cover-up, I managed to miss an eight inch long line on my right leg. Ow!

3) My house is a mess. It was so clean for last week's "cousin's weekend" and now it looks like it's been bombed by a garbage truck. Well, maybe that's exaggerating. So let's say, it looks like it's been bombed by a small garbage truck.

4) I'm thinking about getting a warming oven for my kitchen. The problem is I don't know where to put it.

5) I have been reading the same book for the last three weeks which is SO not like me. I usually can devour a 300 page book in about 2 or 3 days. Right now, I'm still on page 29. I'm giving it a few more days then I might have to start a new book.

6) Got some sad personal news last night, but I'm trying to not let it affect my attitude.

7) During last week's time off from blogging I was able to spend some great quality time with the kiddo. We even started working on a summer reading schedule for her.

8) I need a haircut--DESPERATELY--but have not had time to go--or even make an appointment. How sad is that?

9) My mom is coming to visit tomorrow. I'm going to take her to the boardwalk and maybe play some mini golf.

Whew! That's it for me.

What's going on with you?

Fourth of July!

MENTAL STATUS: "Happy". Going to the beach today then seeing the fireworks with a bunch of friends and their kids.

(Flag courtesy of Kaboose.com)

Have a great holiday weekend!

'Tis the Summer Season

IN THE NEWS: Baby opossum rescued from NY soda machine. Read more HERE.

Summer is here and so far it's meant that I have not been here. (I can't really complain about not writing since my hubby has also rarely been at work. So we're even) :)
We just had our "cousin's weekend" reunion this past weekend and now I have offered up my services (once again) to help out with my church's Vacation Bible School.

This year we're doing Gadget's Garage. It's time consuming but very rewarding to help out so I need to step away from blogging for the week while I do this.


Sorry. (try to survive) But I will resume blogging at my regularly scheduled time next week.

Until then, happy writing and God bless!