Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I want do to or am doing this summer AN UPDATE --Mechele Armstrong At the beginning of the summer I listed thirteen things I wanted to do. I thought I’d update and say how it went *G* 1. Go to Baltimore Aquarium. We haven't been since the little one was toddling. As much as they love animals, I know they will have a blast. And I love Inner Harbor! I’m sad to say we didn’t make it. Still have hopes for soon but don’t know when. 2. Go to New Jersey to see Mari and take in a Broadway show. We are working on plans. I really really want to. I had the best time! So did the kids. We saw Night at the Museum recently and were talking about the Museum of Natural History. The kids wanted to go see Mari again LOL. (hugs) and thinking of you, Mari. 3. Go the library every week or biweekly. We did that last summer, and it was fun. The school has a list of summer reading. This year both will. We did that! Going again today in fact. 4. Read lots. The youngest is reading now. We have to keep that up so I'd like to take time each day and all of us read. We did that! The girls read over 25 books this summer. The little one is really getting the hang of sounding out words. I managed to read three or four books myself. 5. Go to the new library on opening day. Our usual library has closed and is being replaced by a huge one around the corner. When it opens in July, I am soooo there. I love our new library location. It’s open and nice with tons of books. They have a drive through window to pick up held books from. And their book return scans the books you return. 6. Go to the pool. We have a Y membership and spend lots of time at the Y pools. I love indoor pools because we don't have to worry about sunburn. As we are all fair skinned, well, that is a worry. But we do love going to outside pools, too. Two summers ago, we had the marathon of 6 weeks of four day a week swim lessons. LOL not doing that again. We did manage to go to the pool quite often. Unfortunately the youngest is displaying signs that she’s allergic to chlorine. L As much as she loves to swim, it’s sad because after a bad episode she doesn’t want to go to pool. I’ll take any suggestions anyone has. I found out one sister had a very similar thing happen and she doesn’t swim any more. 7. Go to Busch Gardens or Kings Dominion. Two theme parks in very close proximity. Have to do one this summer. Didn’t make it. Maybe next summer. 8. Have picnics. We love going to parks and a picnic is such fun. We did a few picnics. Had a lot of fun packing lunches. 9. Go to the Beach. Virginia Beach isn't too far away. We've talked about taking a day trip there. We did make it to the beach. I think Nagshead is going to be our beach of choice though from now on. The hubby and I are just biased LOL. We honeymooned in Nagshead. 10. Spend time with Grandma. Last summer we went out to see her and met her a few times at an outdoor pool. It was fun! Yep we spent quite a bit of time at Grandma’s house. She now has a new kitten so that’s an even bigger draw (and going there was quite an even to start with). 11. Go to the zoo. My hubby has never been, and I think he needs to. You can feed giraffes! What could be better? This is the thing I’m most disappointed about! We haven’t made it to the zoo. *sigh* I love the zoo. 12. Find fireworks for July 4th. Yes, we did find fireworks. The girls thought they were cool. 13. Survive my youngest's tonsillectomy. Her tonsils come out in August. I'm not looking forward to it. We are surviving. The youngest is tired of hurting, tired of being told she can’t do something and we’re all a little stir crazy from spending so much time at the house and so much time together. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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It is very hard to write sex scenes

with a kidlet in the room with you. Just takes something away from it. I've only managed about 200 words so far today *sigh*. Hopefully will get more done soon.

Nothing to Lose:



Check out an interview and excerpt from Settler's Mine: The Rivals here at Stifled Squeal. Had a lot of fun doing it and her blog has a lot of great interviews and excepts so read on after you read mine *G. Thanks so much to Raeshylle for doing this.

We are at post 9 days tonsillectomy of the youngest. Grumpies are go! We've watched way too many movies, episodes of Kim Possible, and have spent way too much time together in the house looking at each other. LOL they now can't wait until schools starts.

May the muses have interviews!
Mechele

The Grand Tour

Monday is the 9th Stop on the Tour. Some of our fellow travellers have missed a few stops. Check the Tour Guide below and see what you may have left out!

If you missed any stops of the Grand Tour, you can join us by checking out Jeanne's blog and following the stops along the way. Remember, you must answer the questions at all of the NINE stops correctly to be entered in the Prize Drawing!

Here's the itinerary for the Grand Tour:

> Sunday STOP #1 "The Collector 5: The Crystal Flacon" by Jeanne Barrack: link: http://jeanneworldsnewsletter.blogspot.com/ - Italy

> Monday STOP#2 "The Collector 4: Eight Arms to Hold You" by Ally Brown: link: http://ally-blue.livejournal.com/ - Mississippi Gulf Coast

> Tuesday STOP #3 "The Collcetor 9: The Lost Temple of Karttikeya" by Laura Baumbach: link: http://sensualwriter.blogspot.com/ - The sights, sounds and lure of India

>Wednesday STOP #4 "The Collector 1: Magical Chances" by Mechele Armstrong: link: http://mechelearmstrong.blogspot.com/ - Richmond, VA

> Thursday STOP #5 "The Collector 7: This Time Forever" by Lucynda Storey: link: www.lucyndastorey.com/blog - The pirate haven of New Providence in the Caribbean

> Friday STOP #6 "The Collector 6: Love Cure" by Kai Andersen: link: http://blog.myspace.com/kai_andersen - the Philippines

> Saturday STOP #7 "The Collector 3: Cauldron" by A J Matthews: link: http://ajays-blog.blogspot.com/ - Ireland

> Sunday STOP #8 "The Collector 2: Grave Heart" by Emily Veinglory: link: http://www.veinglory.com/blog - Vancouver

> Monday STOP #9 "The Collector 8: The Onyx Palace" by Diane Charles Linford & Jade Rivers: link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dianeswastebasket/ - we travel from the US to Brazil & Eastern Europe

Answer the question at each place you visit on the Grand Tour to be entered into the GRAND PRIZE drawing!

Send each of your answers to: collectors.contest @ inbox.com (no spaces)
by Midnight August 31st to be placed in a drawing to win a collection of *souvenirs* from gift certificates to downloads of books!

(each stop will be available until August 31st for a return trip if you missed the connections)

The Collector Series - A journey to magic and romance

Read about all the Collector authors at http://www.collector-series.com
http://paranormalromance.org/TheCollector07

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I love about writing by Mechele Armstrong Writing is my part time job for now. And I could come up with more than 13 things I love about it. 1. It makes me happy. There was a time in my life where I didn’t write. I was miserable. For whatever reason, I have to write. Or I’d go insane. 2. It silences the voices in my head. Last night I couldn’t go to sleep. The characters of my current WIP wanted that next scene written. 3. I get to create new worlds. Whatever world I envision, I can create the rules for and decide how they work. I created the Settler’s Mine universe. It’s a thrilling feeling. 4. I get to meet new people and travel to places I wouldn’t otherwise. I’ve never been to some of the places I write about. 5. I get to shape character’s lives, live with them, grow with them. They become so close to me during my time in their story. 6. I’ve been lucky to have readers who like reading my work. They enjoy living in the worlds I’ve created. And very little in life feels better than that. 7. I get to see something through from beginning to end. Story arcs, gotta love them. 8. I write mainly romance so I get to see happily ever afters *G*. 9. I get to see a story shape up during the editing process. I love to edit and make more wonderful the words I saw in my head. 10. Playing with words. Use new ones daily and play with meanings. 11. Flexible hours. I want to write a midnight, I can. I want to write at 6 AM, I can. And it’s been nice to be with the kids this summer. 12. I don’t have to be perfect the first time. See Number 7. It’s giving myself permission to not write perfect that some days gets me working. 13. The author community is the bestest. I’ve made a lot of good friends. Melissa Lopez (aka Mel of Melany Logen and Rissa of Marissa Alwin), Mari of Marissa Alwin, Flesa Black, Kai Anderson, Jeanne Barrack, my webmistress. Truly too many people to name. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

The Grand Tour Stop #4

Your fourth stop on the Collector's Grand Tour is Richmond, Virginia!

Some fun facts about Richmond:

# Virginia has had 3 capital cities: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Richmond.

# The present state capital in Richmond was also the capital of the Confederacy.

# Union Passenger Railway was the first successful electric street railway transit agency. It was formed in 1888 at Richmond.

# Patrick Henry made his "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech in St. John's Church in Richmond.




Some fun facts about Virginia:

# Virginia was named for England's "Virgin Queen," Elizabeth I.

# The State nickname is "Old Dominion".

# 10th of the 13 original colonies, Virginia was admitted to the union June 25, 1788.

# The state motto is "Sic Semper Tyrannis". (Thus always to tyrants)

# The states of Kentucky & West Virginia were formed from sections of the state of Virginia

# Eight United States Presidents were born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.

# Six Presidents' wives were born in Virginia: Martha Washington, Martha Jefferson, Rachel Jackson, Letitia Tyler, Ellen Arthur, Edith Wilson.# President Thomas Jefferson designed his own home and called it Monticello.# George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, is located in Virginia.

# Yorktown is the site of the final victory of the American Revolution.

# Over 1/2 the battles fought in the civil war were fought in Virginia. Over 2,200 of the 4,000 battles.

# The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg is the second oldest in the United States, it was founded in 1693.

# Virginia is the birthplace of Country Music

# Country Music Legend Patsy Cline was born in Winchester, VA on September 8th, 1932

# Wild Ponies have roamed freely on Assateague Island for centuries.# Bristol is legally two cities but they share the same main street. One in Virginia and one in Tennessee each with its own government and city services.



A Southern Recipe to share:


Fried Green Tomatoes

INGREDIENTS:

4 Large green tomatoes, sliced in 1/2" thick rounds (tomatoes should be firm but not hard)
2 cups buttermilk1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal (fine ground)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
3 cups of vegetable oil (for frying)

DIRECTIONS:

Place sliced tomatoes in a large bowl with buttermilk to soak. Mix all dry ingredients in another large bowl. Coat tomatoes with breading mixture and fry for two to three minutes on each side (or until golden brown). Place on paper towels to dry, serve with roasted garlic aioli.



Roasted Garlic Aioli

INGREDIENTS:

6 cloves garlic
1 cup light mayonnaise
1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
Salt and pepper (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

Roast garlic in 350-degree oven until soft. In food processor, combine all ingredients until smooth.

From: Michelle's at Hanover Tavern


Grand Tour Stop #4 question is: What's the motto of Virginia?

Email your answer to collectors.contest @ inbox.com (no spaces) with Grand Tour Stop #4 in the subject line.


Be sure an check out Thursday’s STOP #5 at Lucynda Storey’s www.lucyndastorey.com/blog and the pirate haven of New Providence in the Caribbean.

May the muses have fun stops
Mechele

The Grand Tour

Join the Authors of the Collector Series on their The Grand Tour:

First stop -- Italy and Second Stop on Monday - The Mississippi Gulf Coast

In The Collector 5: The Crystal Flacon, author Jeanne Barrack took us to Italy in the past and present Journey to http://jeanneworldsnewsletter.blogspot.com/ and answer the question given on the GRAND TOUR Stop #1 posting

Answer the question at each place you visit on the Grand Tour to be entered into the GRAND PRIZE drawing! Send each of your answers to: collectors.contest @ inbox.com (no spaces)by Midnight August 31st to be placed in a drawing to win a collection of *souvenirs* from gift certificates to downloads of books! Check Jeanne's posting on her BLOG to find out the next stop on the Grand Tour!(each stop will be available until August 31st for a return trip if you miss the connection)

The Collector Series - A journey to magic and romanceRead about all the Collector authors at http://www.collector-series.com

Shhhhhhhh

I'm reading Harry Potter *G*. NO SPOILERS!!

Nothing to Lose:



May the muses have good books
Mechele

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things that make Mechele laugh 1. The hubby came home a few weeks ago and said, "(My coworker) got a crown today." My youngest looked over and said, "Oh, what was it, his birthday or something?" 2. This video from YouTube. It's so my house. 3. Jill Shalvis's blog. LOL reminds me of me sometimes. 4. My youngest giggling. She can make me laugh with her anytime she wants. Probably how she avoids getting out of trouble. 5. My oldest living in the world of Animorphs and Droon. She knows they aren't real worlds but wants to tell everyone about them and mentions them at any opportunity. Trying to sum up 30 odd books (each series is about that many) in a minute to explain to those who haven't read them isn't easy. 6. For Better or For Worse, FoxTrot and Baby Blues. FBOFW, especially the early strips when Michael and Elizabeth were tiny. 7. Janet Evanovich. Some of the things that Stephanie Plum does make me laugh outloud. Very few books do that. Thefirst book I read where there's a shower scene, I knew I'd found an author I could enjoy. 8. Lines from movies. The kids and I do our favorite lines from the movies we've watched. People look at us like we're strange when we crack up. "If I were my real size, your cow here would die of fright." Chomp "Down Bessie." (from Mulan) 9. My husband walking around saying, "There's too much estrogen in this house." Even the pets are girls. And all I can think is, "Just wait." Teenagerdom hasn't hit yet LOL. 10. Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs. His humor is so spot on and spontaneous. He gets bitten by snakes and sharks and spit on by goats. And never misses a beat with the wit. 11. My cat. She's such a Diva kitty. But like the other day, she hopped up in my lap and fell off. She sauntered away like, "I meant to do that." 12. My sisters. We get together and laugh the whole time. The middle sister picks on the oldest. And I get invited to their houses by the other. Heh heh, I remind them I'm the youngest a bit, too. 13. Julie Collins from Blood Ties and On Hallowed Ground by Lori Armstrong. She's another one with the wit. I guess I really like a smart aleck. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Dirty

Sometimes you read a book, and it makes you want to be a better writer. And by that desire, it does make you a better writer.

I've been lucky to read two such books recently. I blogged about On Hallowed Ground by Lori Armstrong. The second book is Dirty by Megan Hart.

This book blew me away. It's not suspense or paranormal. Yet, I played "The one more chapter" game last night for hours. Slacked off of writing this afternoon (don't tell my editor!) to read and finish it.

This book is raw. The emotion. The wording. It turned me inside out to read it. Elle turned me inside out. She's a beautiful heroine, flawed, fragile, yet with a strength that I could touch. She was tangible. I didn't agree with her decisions, would yell at her in my head "Don't" but she was so real to me, everything she did make sense. I understood her, and while the hero isn't as well defined as Elle is, he's likable to root for.

*blows out a breath* This book stripped me bare. It really did. I came close to tears a few times.

I had suggested Dirty for a book club I'm a member of. I'm going to be curious to see what everyone else thought. I'm so glad I did suggest it, though, I don't think this book will be everyone's cup of tea.

May the muses become better
Mechele

Just wanted to say

Happy birthday ((((((P))))))))))

My friend, I'm so glad modern technology let us meet. You maybe far away, across the seas, but I think of you often, bringing us closer together.

Have a wonderful day!

Mechele

Nothing but Red is now accepting submissions

In April, a young girl, Dua Khalil, was stoned to death. Because she dared to associate with a man outside her faith and circle. Even more appalling, the honor killing was filmed. She was 17.

One of my heroes, Joss Whedon wrote an essay in response to the atrocity.

And now, Nothing but Red is accepting submissions. Check it out.

Mechele

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things Mechele needs to be doing 1. Writing. I have a deadline of Sept 15th! Eeek. 2. Spending time with the kidlets. Hard to believe they will be going back to school soon. About three weeks. And my youngest has her tonsils out in a week and a half. 3. Editing. My lovely critique partner, Melissa sent me stuff. 4. Answering email. It. Never. Ends. LOL I'm running about a day behind. 5. Walking my dog. It's already in the upper 80's *sigh*. There's a heat advisory today. 6. Writing. Did I mention that deadline? 7. Calling my doctor. I need a checkup. 8. Signing the kids up for activities in the Fall. They want to do everything but am trying to limit the number of places we have to be LOL. 9. Playing with Diva Kitty. She's lost weight! LOL hard to believe. But still has a ways to go. 10. Balancing my checkbook. *shudders* Not looking forward to that. I'm behind and a lot has happened (i.e. NYC). 11. Getting the last of the school supplies we need. We are down to earphones I believe. 12. Going to more bookstores and signing Dinah's Dark Desire! I found it in Borders near me and signed their copy last night. *G*. I need to do a sweep of the bookstores in the area, sign the copies and drop off bookmarks. 13. Write. Deadline *shudders*. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

What I did in New York

I posted about going to see Mari of Marissa Alwin and going to New York City. Here's what we did.


1. Seeing Mari of Marissa Alwin! I can’t wait to pal around with her. Slumber party hooooo! We had so much fun! I didn’t want to leave Mari. I swear it’s like I’ve known her all my life.

2. Seeing her family. I’ve met her hubby, but haven’t her kids. We have daughters the same age. I kid you not, her family is just as easy going as she is. Within five seconds of getting there, my girls disappeared with her youngest, and we didn’t see them for an hour. I enjoyed talking to her teenagers and of course her hubby.

3. Seeing a Broadway show. I never have before. Haven’t gone to many plays lately and this one’s ON BROADWAY! Ha ha! Went to see Mary Poppins. The sets were incredible. The music was wonderful.

4. Seeing the Statue of Liberty. The lovely lady who has greeted tons of those new to the land. It’s so cool to walk around this big Liberty Lady. I took umpteen pictures of her LOL.

5. Seeing the big buildings again. Being surrounded by the high rises is such a surreal feeling. I love when the sun is still up, you can see it if you look high up but it’s like it’s cloudy on the street.

6. Walking through Times Square. Yeah, we did it last fall. But it’s still cool. Hmmm, who will I meet this time? LOL I know, I know, don't meet their eyes. We did walk through Times Square. The kids loved all the screens. Didn’t meet anyone though LOL.

7. Seeing Ground Zero. Not so much looking forward to it, but there's a need to see it. So much changed on that fateful day. I’m probably going to cry. I didn’t cry. It is amazing that two huge buildings once stood there. The list of names is overwhelming.

8. Hanging out with my sister. We don’t get to hang out often. Hee hee I can point out she's the oldest. Did that. Hee including pointing out she was the oldest.

9. Ditto the Mother in law on hanging out together. LOL she had to be the first one to say, “Are we there yet.”

10. Watching the girl’s reactions to things. They love downtown in the city we live. This is going to freak ‘em. They saw the New York skyline and went “Wow.”

11. The Bronx zoo. We may not make it there. But I’ve looked online and it looks so COOL. They have tigers, seals, and Aftrican dogs! And a petting zoo. Maybe next time. We just had so many other things we wanted to do. And it would have been a lot of time to get there.

12. Riding the ferry. Yeah, I’m odd. I think riding the ferry is pretty darn neat to get there. The girls almost liked that the best of the trip LOL. It was neat to go swooshing over the waves of the Hudson.

13. Getting a New York style pizza and a hotdog from a vendor by Central Park. Yeah, I'm easily amused *G* We did the pizza but didn’t make it to Central Park. I did get a hotdog though from Nathan’s. Twice. It was so yummy.

We went through the financial district to get to the Statue of Liberty and walked down to Southstreet Seaport. It’s so different than midtown with Times Square and Manhattan. We walked along the Hudson to lots of gardens and not a lot of people. They had fountains that people could play in. The girls loved that.

Southstreet Seaport had a lot more people. Was a malltype thing with lots of shops and restaurants. No luck on yellow Crocs to fit my daughter.

Went to the huge Toys R Us. OMG. It’s overwhelming. I never knew there were so many toys.

Also went to Rockefeller Plaza.

It was such a fun trip. And we’ve all said, we need to go back! LOL so warning you Mari, one day we will come back.

May the muse have fun trips.
Mechele

Thursday Thirteen (A little early)

13 things I’m looking forward to about my NJ/NY trip--Mechele Armstrong 1. Seeing Mari of Marissa Alwin! I can’t wait to pal around with her. Slumber party hooooo! 2. Seeing her family. I’ve met her hubby, but haven’t her kids. We have daughters the same age. 3. Seeing a Broadway show. I never have before. Haven’t gone to many plays lately and this one’s ON BROADWAY! 4. Seeing the Statue of Liberty. The lovely lady who has greeted tons of those new to the land. 5. Seeing the big buildings again. Being surrounded by the high rises is such a surreal feeling. 6. Walking through Times Square. Yeah, we did it last fall. But it’s still cool. Hmmm, who will I meet this time? LOL I know, I know, don't meet their eyes. 7. Seeing Ground Zero. Not so much looking forward to it, but there's a need to see it. So much changed on that fateful day. I’m probably going to cry. 8. Hanging out with my sister. We don’t get to hang out often. Hee hee I can point out she's the oldest. 9. Ditto the Mother in law on hanging out together. 10. Watching the girl’s reactions to things. They love downtown in the city we live. This is going to freak ‘em. 11. The Bronx zoo. We may not make it there. But I’ve looked online and it looks so COOL. They have tigers, seals, and Aftrican dogs! And a petting zoo. 12. Riding the ferry. Yeah, I’m odd. I think riding the ferry is pretty darn neat to get there. 13. Getting a New York style pizza and a hotdog from a vendor by Central Park. Yeah, I'm easily amused *G* Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants