Satan Called...

He wants his weather back.

I stole that from a photo someone posted on Facebook, and it fits perfectly with the beastly weather we've been having around here. I know it's summer, but it isn't supposed to be this hot and sticky until the end of the month, the beginning of August. The end of June/beginning of July? Too. Early. The thermometer in my car registered 103 degrees the other day. 103 degrees! Egads, what's that all about?

Our town did Fourth of July fireworks this past Friday and we sweated our way through them. By 9PM, the temperature had dropped, but you know it's freakin' hot when you think, "Hmm... it's only 95. That's not so bad." Because that's exactly what we were all saying as we sat there, waiting for the show. Despite the heat, it was so worth it. The kidlets love fireworks. I love fireworks. It was a nice (if albeit hot) way to spend a night as a family.

A few weeks ago, we took the kidlets to see the Somerset Patriots play. They're our local  Independent League pro team and they are awesome. I love going to the games because it's close to home and about 1/16th the costs of going to see a Major League game. I'd rather sit at TD Ballpark and watch the Patriots than slog all the way out to Yankee Stadium, sit in traffic, get all pissed off at the morons on the road (because we are littered with idiot drivers. You can tell who they are by the out of state license plates. Really, if you're in the left lane and driving 55MPH or less, by law I should be allowed to run your ass over. MOVE OVER!)

Now... where was I?

Right, the Somerset Patriots. So, we took the kidlets and it was the Boy's first pro baseball game. We were a little nervous about taking him, since he used to be very sensitive to sounds and overstimulated by crowds (gotta love ADHD) but we figured that since the tickets only cost $8, parking only costs $3, we'd wouldn't be out a ton of money if we had to leave early. (Eight dollars to see an awesome team, in a beautiful ballpark that doesn't have a bad seat? Perfect. You can't say that about any Major League ballpark/ball game. See why I like going??)

As it turned out, we worried for nothing. The Boy was a little antsy at first, but then he got into the game and all the family-oriented things they do between innings (I will confess to being disappointed that they didn't do the Dizzy Bat Race. That's always a riot to watch) and he had a great time. Every Friday night, after the game, they shoot off fireworks and the Boy adores fireworks. They go off to music, so he was up boogie-ing like a madman. It really was a great time.

And now, I'm diving into the last revisions for Windmere. I have to turn this book in to my editor by the 15th, so I probably won't be surfacing much before then (I know, huge shocker, right???) And that's only if I don't melt by then, due to this Hell-like heat wave. Yikes. How many days until autumn???

Titles and Other Fun Stuff

Sometimes they come and sometimes? Not so much.

I'm having one of those not so much moments right now. My current WIP is the victim of no title coming to me. Blech. I call it "Aidrian" because I can't come up with anything better. Of course, the entire WIP is giving me a headache because the characters just won't cooperate. Really, all they want to do is fool around. Sigh.

I'm still running like crazy - taking my mom to her radiation therapy and various doctors' appointments. She's going for a PET scan this afternoon. But, it looks like she's responding to the therapy, so that's a good thing. A very good thing.

And there was some really wonderful news as well - my brother and his wife welcomed their second child yesterday - a little boy who is absolutely beautiful. Nothing like a new baby to make the world a little brighter, right?

Some Good Weekend Stuff

It's Saturday - yay! Of course, Saturday is pretty much like every other day to me - it's one of the benefits of being a writer. Unfortunately, one of the liabilities is that I often forget what day of the week it is. It's sad when I have to ask the Girl if it's Monday or Tuesday. Even worse, when I've already asked her half a dozen times.

But this isn't about my absentmindedness, which reaches epic proportions at times. But it's the weekend and that means rest and relaxation (or west and wewaxation, if you're Elmer Fudd.) So...

Here is an interesting blog I found this morning, compliments of the Smart Bitches. It's called Handsome Men Who are Now Dead. The title says it all. It's about handsome men. Who are dead. Kind of depressing, but oddly fascinating.

Okay, now, back to the rest and relaxation. After all, it is Saturday!

Some Sunday Awesomeness!

It's Sunday, of course, and that means I'm watching the New York Giants demolish the Oakland Raiders (Go Big Blue!) I don't normally post on Sunday, but since I didn't do a Friday one... I guess I owes ya!

On October 2nd, I was lucky enough to be at the Meadowlands - at Giants Stadium, to be precise - where Bruce Springsteen was performing the second of the last shows to be played at the stadium. It will be torn down next year and the Giants will christen the new stadium while the old one becomes a parking lot.

Bruce wrote this song specifically for these last shows... give it a listen. It's awesome!!!! (I apologize for the size, but I can't figure out how to make it smaller - sorry. :D)