The Sofa

For several months, Daughter #1 has been looking for a sofa. Her apartment is currently furnished in donations and second hand furniture purchased from a coworker who moved away.

I have traveled to every furniture store in the area with Daughter #1. We sat on many sofas. My daughter did not want the overstuffed, multiple-pillow style sofa that seems to be very popular right now. She did not want anything in green (I agreed with her on that). She did not want something too large for her small apartment. She needed something to go with her neutral light brown carpet.

We went to four furniture stores this weekend. Finally, Daughter #1 found the sofa of her dreams. It is a Thomasville Maribel sofa. She ordered one in a solid burgundy with off-white accent pillows in a burgundy floral.

She has good taste.

Of course, looking at all that furniture made me want to redo my entire house, but it would be way too expensive. However, I've got lots of ideas now for decorating my heroine's house. :^)

Uncle Chuck

I took this photograph back in the 1970s. It is a picture of my Uncle Chuck, one of my mother's five brothers. He died this past week. He always thought he looked like Clark Gable and he could be just as wickedly charming, even though his personal life was full of sorrow. His oldest son had Down's Syndrome and died at the age of eight. His second son died as a teenager. His wife, after a long illness, also predeceased him.

Yet, Uncle Chuck had a knack for making us laugh. I guess now he's got everyone in heaven laughing, too.

The Hermitage

Hubby and I set off this morning to see The Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus. It started to snow as we were driving, but by the time we reached our destination it stopped. The Hermitage is a Gothic Revival style house. Aaron Burr was married to Theodosia Prevost in the dining room of the house. After a series of owners, it was the Rosencrantz family who became prosperous with their cotton mill. Still, whenever times were hard, the family would sell some of its property. Before the Depression, the owners ran a tearoom to make money. That was one of the details I found interesting because I could use it in a story. :^)The last owner of the house died in 1970--and at that time the house had electricity in only one room. There was no gas. In the kitchen there is a wood stove--rather rustic living conditions.

As usual, I asked if there were any ghosts in the house. I always ask that question whenever we tour an old house. However, the woman who gave us the tour claimed there were none. I found her answer difficult to believe since so many people lived there. It seems to me there should be at least one ghost.

We also checked out the town of Ho-Ho-Kus. Beautiful Ho-Ho-Kus Brook runs right through the town. There's a wonderful antique shop named Granny's Attic which was fun to browse through.

Watching Words In Christian Fiction

Oy.

The Christian Booksellers Association wants clean stories, but they make a writer's job difficult. See: Darn It Anyway! List of Verboten Swear Words Grows Ever-Longer for Christian Fiction.

Yipes!

Art Gala

Last night, hubby and I attended the opening gala of the Monmouth Festival of the Arts. Hubby enjoys going for the food. Whole Foods catered the affair and there were lots of tasty nibbles--vegetarian sushi, curried chicken salad, miniature quiches, and so on. White and red wine were also available.

I like to go to the gala to see the paintings. I love beach scenes and paintings of places I know. This year, there were plenty of terrific paintings--many of local scenes in the area or scenes of of places I recognize. I did an oil painting of the bell house at Pemaquid Point--and there was a watercolor at the gala of the same scene! Of course, it was a different view done by a different hand--but it was nice to see someone who also appreciated the same scene and felt it a worthy subject for a painting.

Maybe I should use Pemaquid Point for the setting of a novel. Hmmm.

Friday's Book Brunch

Yesterday's Book Brunch at the Middletown Public Library was fun! I had a wonderful time. It was informal--more of a question and answer session. Several of the attendees are regular members of a Barnes & Noble group and interested in writing, too.

Few of them knew much about e-publishing. I passed my old Rocket e-book reader around, but there are still those who insist that there is nothing like curling up with a paper book.

However, since paper books don't glow in the dark, I will continue to love my Rocket for reading in bed. :^)

By the way, Fictionwise is having a sale on the ebookwise reader--which is just an updated version of the old Rocket. You can find it here

It is a terrific gadget. Of course, e-books can also be loaded into Palm Pilots, Treos, etc. But the ebookwise reader is the Cadillac of all e-book readers, in my honest opinion.

Fridays in Lent

Since I'm Catholic and it's Lent, Friday suppers at our house are either tuna melt sandwiches or pizza. Today we opted for pizza--but it seems that everyone else who is Catholic does the same. Our favorite pizza restaurant (which is right across the street from the church) was filled to capacity. There were plenty of people getting take-out orders of pizza, too. Hubby said that instead of the little fish symbol imprinted on every Lenten Friday of our Catholic calendar, there should be little pizzas.

Despite the crowded restaurant, we enjoyed our pizza and there were a few slices leftover. Hubby loves to eat them for breakfast. :^)

Painless

Until now, hubby has always taken a day to do the taxes by himself. He would sit at the dining room table--insisting on complete quiet in the house. Then he would remain there half of the day, grumbling and sharpening pencils.

This year, hubby decided he needed help in filing our taxes since last year was rather crazy--financially. When hubby learned our local library offered AARP-trained tax help, he signed up. We went to the library this morning with our income statements. Our tax helper filled everything in on the computer and then sent it all to IRS electronically. It did not take long and it was completely painless.

We should have done this a long time ago.

Writing In Another Season

Today the weather outside was gorgeous. There wasn't a cloud in the bright blue sky. The daffodils and forsythia are blooming. Tiny leaves are unfurling on the privet hedge. Hubby and I still had to wear jackets when we took a walk, but no gloves and no hats--which is so wonderful for a change.

We walked around on one of my favorite trails in one of our local parks. The trail goes through a swampy area--and there, too, we saw signs of spring. Skunk cabbage!

But right now, I'm writing a story set in the heat of June. So after our walk, I came inside and had to switch seasons in my head. It isn't difficult for me most of the time but today it was. I guess I had writers' spring fever. :^)

Free Brunch with Me

On Friday, March 31st, I will be at the Middletown Public Library. Free food will be provided. I'll be talking about my books and reading excerpts--mostly from my latest inspirational. There will be print copies of Sea Of Hope, Heaven's Blue, and A Rush of Light available for sale.

You can check out the time and location at the library's website:

Middletown Public Library

The library's program director is brilliant. She is the one who decided food should be provided. When hubby's band played at the library around Christmas, there was a huge crowd--and the food was terrific.

So come for the food! :^)

Checking the Lists

Almost everyday, I check Fictionwise to see how my books are doing. True, that is a bit obsessive, but I do it anyway. I have four books at Fictionwise. Usually, my latest release is my bestselling book. So last year, when Prince of the Mist came out, it was my bestseller. Then when A Rush of Light was released, it was my bestseller.

Surprisingly, this week Sea Of Hope is my bestselling book on Fictionwise. Sea Of Hope was my first book, published in 2001--and an EPPIE winner. My second bestselling book this week is Heaven's Blue, published in 2004 and winner of an EPPIE last year.

I check amazon.com about once a week. I'm a little less obsessive about it, but again, I found a surprise there this week. The Company You Keep was my bestselling book on amazon. That book was also published in 2004.

That's the nice thing about e-books, they have a long shelf life. :^)

Happy Spring!

Hubby placed this egg on the floor. Is the egg really standing up on its own? Or was hubby cheating? He claimed the egg stayed in place due to his steady hand--and the vernal equinox, of course.

Cogitating

Sometimes I do my best writing when I'm not writing--especially when I'm on the road in the car. We had a wonderful weekend with all of our daughters, but everyone had to leave today. Daughter #2 asked if we would take her back to Brooklyn. We did--transporting her door-to-door (okay, so we are terribly indulgent parents in some ways).

Hubby drove. I prayed the entire rosary--as usual when we have a long trip. I read some of a new release from Steeple Hill's Love Inspired Suspense. But then I spent quite a while looking out the window with the wheels turning in my mind just as the wheels of the car rolled along.

Hopefully, tomorrow I'll get some time to type in all the ideas I thought of today as we travelled.

When do you do some of your best thinking?

Alpha Hero

I am busy making sure my hero--the trooper--is all alpha male. That was one of the things I knew I would have to check after the workshop on Saturday with Susan Meier.

Do you like alpha heroes?

Workshop with Susan Meier

I have been to plenty of writers' workshops, and I always get something out of each one. But today, the New Jersey Romance Writers had an all day workshop with Susan Meier. It was one of the best workshops ever! I came away from it with tons of helpful ideas for my current work-in-progress.

Susan Meier was amazing! Funny, but right on target, she gave us plenty of nuts and bolts writing advice.

I could not wait to hit the keyboard when I got home. :^)

Favorite Foods

The weather was mild today. So pleasant that hubby and I were tempted to do some yard work which consisted of another round of picking up fallen branches. Then we drove off to ShopRite, which is quite a distance away. We usually shop at the local supermarket, but ShopRite has several items we can't seem to live without. Hubby loves fresh kielbasi. I bought unsalted bread crumbs and McCormick's white chicken chili mix. We found some potato knishes, so we thought we would try those, too. ShopRite has the wild cherry seltzer I enjoy as well.

Hubby studies the soup aisle in every store. He's always looking for bargains, new flavors, and old favorites. He travels to Foodtown now and then just to get Nathan's dill pickles. Fussy guy. :^)

Do you have favorite foods that you would travel out of your way to buy?

No Snacks

I gave up snacking for Lent. It hasn't been easy--especially since snacktime is a part of my job and at home hubby will sit beside me as we watch the news and have his snack. He is always very generous and offers me some, too. Naturally, when mealtime rolls around I am starving and stuff myself. Still, I have lost a few pounds.

I am not sure this is making me any more spiritual than usual, but I definitely know what it's like to be hungry.

Eyes

I visited the ophthalmologist today. I am not fond of getting my eyes dilated because the rest of the day I can barely see, but since I have only two eyes I do what I can to make sure they are in good working order.

The doctor gave me a new eyeglass prescription. The lens I had for my right eye just wasn't doing the job. I decided to live large and get another frame--the least expensive one I could find, but it does have a few fancy little details. My main concern is being able to see the road signs. I don't want to miss an exit on the Parkway. :^)

My father had to go to the ophthalmologist recently, too. He saw flashing lights in his eye. It was the vitreous gel inside the eye pulling away from the retina--something that evidently happens to a lot of adults. There is a danger since the retina might tear, but his did not. So he got lucky. However, he does have cataracts, but he isn't in any hurry to get them removed. He's going to think about it.

My Cousin

This is a photo of my cousin Hillbilly. He grew up in a house located on my grandparents' farm in western Pennsylvania. However, he visited with my family for a while and decided he liked the beach--so he stayed. He met his wife on the Parkway--he was hitchhiking and she picked him up. (Hitchhiking is prohibited on the Parkway.) They were married twenty-five years ago. In the photo he is dancing with our Daughter #1 at his wedding.

He was a bit of a daredevil and eventually got his pilot's license and bought his own plane. Twelve years ago, Hillbilly became a paraplegic--in an accident in his own backyard pool. His wife stuck with him until last week when she left him. He went into the hospital with infections in his legs. Hubby and I visited him last Monday. It was a depressing evening. His legs looked dreadful. He was transferred to a rehabilitation center on Friday and today my parents, Daughter #3, and I visited him there. We brought him lots of reading material. His legs looked a bit better. He was talking about selling his house and moving to Delaware--so he seemed to be handling the situation better. Daughter #3 got him laughing.

He may be in the rehabilitation center for a month or maybe two--so we'll be visiting often.

Putting It Together

Hubby loves the King Crab legs and I like shrimp. Every once in a while, we go to a local buffet restaurant where we can both be happy. While hubby was working on his second course, one of my good friends walked into the restaurant. She and her date for the evening had met in the courthouse when they were both getting their divorces several years ago. They were celebrating that anniversary.

After hubby and I had finished our meal, we went over to chat with my friend and her date for a few minutes. As usual, I dug out one of my little book brochures to give to my friend's date. At that point, he began to tell me about his wonderful novel. He had it all organized--every scene all worked out. It just needed to be put together in the right order. He told me it would be easy for me to do.

I smiled and told him that I could not put his book together. My friend, who knows me well, explained to him that I had enough problems just meeting the deadlines I already have.

We went home after that. I wonder if my friend's date will ever put his book in the right order. I know it isn't easy. Writing a book takes time. Writing a good book takes lots of time. I can't write anyone else's book because I am too busy writing my own.

Special Delivery

A box containing thirty copies of A Rush of Light arrived at my doorstep yesterday! I opened the box immediately and caressed several books. Then I counted all of them, admired them, and I showed hubby where credit is given to Daughter #2 who made up the cover for the book. Seeing my new book in print is such a wonderful experience--even though I have a few others. After all, every book is different--sort of like children. :^)

The book, at 313 pages, is the fattest one I've written and therefore the most expensive with good, white paper--not the cheap stuff. So for anyone on a strict budget, I recommend the e-book version. Currently, it is still on sale at Awe-Struck E-Books for $4.19.

I did not get much writing in yesterday. My cousin, who is a few years younger than me, is in the hospital. Hubby and I went to visit him. He has been a paraplegic for twelve years and his wife of twenty-five years has now left him. He has severe infections in his legs. All things considered, he was doing relatively well under the circumstances, but I left the hospital feeling rather depressed.

When we returned to the house, I found a message from the state trooper! I have a friend who has a daughter who has a best friend who married a state trooper. When I decided to make the hero in my current work-in-progress a state trooper, I knew I would need some help when it came to some of the finer points of being a trooper--and it has been awesome to have a trooper willing to talk to me. While I do write fiction, I want the stories to be within the realm of possibility. That makes it more believeable.

I called the trooper and asked him about a couple of scenes. He was great and answered my questions. The conversation cheered me up. Now I can't wait to work on the book tonight!

Good and Bad

The characters in my current work-in-progress have invaded my dreams. This is good and bad. Good, because they are as real to me as they can get. Bad, because I get less sleep. Yes, instead of worrying about genuine flesh and blood people, I am apprehensive over the fate of my imaginary characters. Of course, I am the one who put them in such dire straits in the first place.

The characters are undoubtedly stuck in my brain because I made a lot of progress yesterday--when I wasn't procrastinating by dabbling with a new look for my website. Every time I hit a snag while I was writing, I would surf off and play with a different text color, link color, or font.

Still, I am roughly sixty pages from the end of the book. But my poor characters are really in trouble now.

Not Again!

This week I wound up with a UTI. The last one I had was in October. However, the one previous to that was twenty-two years ago. I want to scream!

After Daughter #2 was born, I suffered from recurring episodes of cystitis--while I was nursing my daughter. The doctor I had at that time was not much help, so I went to a urologist. After lots of nasty tests, I learned that one of my kidneys has a congenital defect. The prescription was to drink lots of water. I also read a self-help guide on cystitis which detailed other preventive measures.

After Daughter #3 was born I had one more episode of cystitis--while I was nursing her and when we had been traveling. I wasn't drinking enough water, evidently.

But that was it--until October. Menopause must have something to do with this. I'll have to drink more water. Grrr.

None of my heroines have had cystitis or a UTI. (Why do we have to make everything into an acronym nowadays? I hate that.) I wonder if I should burden them with such misery. What do you think?

Abraham Lincoln Eats Pizza

Today hubby and I visited the Newark Museum which had several special activities planned for President's Day. The American Historical Theater was presenting Abraham Lincoln--in the flesh. As we bought our tickets at the museum, I saw the tall, distinguished former president heading down the stairs.

Hubby and I had planned to eat our lunch in the cafe first. However, there was a slight glinch in today's menu--only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or macaroni and cheese were being served. I could deal with that, but hubby could not. One of the museum guides directed us to the pizza restaurant on the corner. As we were waiting for our slices, Abraham Lincoln walked in and ordered a slice, too. He stayed in character, which was quite delightful.

It was only as he walked out, that I remembered I had my camera at my side! I could have gotten a once-in-a-lifetime shot of me and Honest Abe with our pizza slices, but I missed the opportunity. :^( However, we did see his performance and it was delightful.

We also toured the Ballentine House, which is part of the museum. The Ballentines are the ones who made their fortune brewing ale and beer. I took a photo of the outside of the House. I love old houses. I find them inspiring--and I am working on a book set in exactly the time period that the Ballentine House was built. So I considered the trip part of my research. I bought a book about Ballentine House, too.

The museum has a nice collection of paintings, but the sculpture garden was disappointing.

Getting out of Newark wasn't easy. The one-way streets are bad enough, but there are so many no-left turn signs it makes driving frustrating. Nevertheless, the Newark Museum is a great place to see.

Show of Shows

Hubby is a member of the Happy Days String Band.Yesterday, we boarded a bus with the rest of the band to go to Atlantic City to see the "Show of Shows." Every year, all the top string bands that win in the New Year's Day competition in Philadelphia are featured in a show in February. We saw the show six years ago, and much has changed in the last six years as far as string bands go.

The bands have gotten more elaborate. They have more props--many of which are quite large. There are fewer band members wearing the large back pieces--it seemed only the captains had that honor. (However, there were still plenty of feathers on the floor of afterwards.) All of the bands are choreographed now--nobody really just struts anymore. It was much like a Broadway production--but still string band style with TONS of sequined costumes to dazzle the eyes.

Every band had a theme and the music went along with it. They played medleys--snatches of everything from church hymns to Disney, but with that classic string band sound. The show was three hours long. Fortunately, I had bought hubby a cup of coffee at Starbucks on the Boardwalk before the show.

Afterwards, we received a coupon for eight dollars off the price of the buffet at the Hilton and $16 in cash to play in the casino. The price of the buffet was $18.95--and there was a lot of food. Hubby really enjoys buffets. I enjoyed chatting with the other string band members.

Hubby and I don't gamble much. The last time I used a slot machine it ate real quarters. Now the machines eat five dollar bills. Hubby put a five into one machine and won $12.50. He quit. I put in one five and lost it. I put in another five and eventually won $9.50--so I decided to quit before I lost anymore.

Neither of us could stand the cigarette smoke in the casino. We went outside for a while, but it was bitterly cold on the Boardwalk. So we wandered around the Hilton for a while. There are no chairs inside the casino--except for those in front of the slot machines.

Eventually, we went back to the hotel's bus terminal--where there are chairs. We found most of the weary band members already there. We arrived back home at 10 pm. It was a long day.

KISS OF BLARNEY now up for sale!

My novella, Kiss of Blarney is now available at New Concepts Publishing!

Here's the blurb from NCP's newletter:

Penelope Marzec's imagination runs wild with this Irish tale of
forbidden love.... Kiss of Blarney by Penelope Marzec (Paranormal
Romance)It has been foretold that one day her true love will come
for the Irish princess, Ula, a prince with dark eyes. Princess Ula
waits as she must, but when her companion is stolen away, Ula is
forced to leave the safety of her secret cottage in the marsh. Even
knowing the man who comes to her aid can not possibly be the one
foretold, for his eyes are blue, Princess Ula finds herself falling
desperately in love with the man who rescues her. Sensuality: SPICY

Check it out. You can read the first chapter online here

The Naked Beach

There is a clothing-optional beach at Sandy Hook. I have never been there in the summertime. However, I figured it would be safe to check it out at this time of the year. A few weeks ago on a very mild day, hubby and I visited the "naked" beach. There is a big warning sign on the beach and another sign that divides the beach into the clothed and unclothed side. We thought it was rather funny. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me. Hubby decided we ought to visit the same beach after a snowstorm--so he could snap a photo of me by the sign with all my clothes on, of course.

So the day after our big snowstorm, hubby and I drove out to Sandy Hook. Nobody was in the parking lot--and nobody was on the beach either--that's because the beach was totally inundated with water. There's a wooden board walk that leads out to the beach, but some of that was floating in the water and the sign we wanted to photograph was too far out for us to wade to it. If you peer very closely at the photo, you can see a sign, but you really cannot read it. Sigh.

Valentine Recipe

Here's a special recipe! It makes wonderful cinnamon-scented ornaments. (Do not eat!)

In a bowl, mix:

3/4 cup cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground allspice
2 tablespoons ground cloves
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

Add:

1 cup applesauce

Pour in:

1 1/2 tablespoons white glue

Mix well until the mixture is stiff.

Between two sheets of waxed paper, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the ornaments. Using a drinking straw, poke a hole in each one for hanging. Allow several days to dry at room temperature. When dry, insert a ribbon in the hole in each heart. Hang anyplace you wish to fill with the spicy aroma of cinnamon.

Enjoy!

Snowstorm '06

Here's the view of our backyard. We have had a relatively mild winter--until now. There is a lot of snow on the ground here in NJ. When I woke up this morning, it did not look too bad. Hubby got out the snowblower and cleared the driveway. Today was my first scheduled assignment as a eucharistic minister at Mass--so we figured I ought to show up--snow or no snow. Catholic churches do not close due to snowstorms--at least none that I have ever belonged to. The day I was confirmed there was a foot of snow on the ground, but the confirmation went on as scheduled. Of course, that was a long, long time ago. :^)

We took the Jeep to church which is less than a mile away. Even with four-wheel drive, we slid here and there. Fortunately, there were very few other drivers on the road. There were also very few people who came to church. Coffee and doughnuts were cancelled. Hubby was disappointed.

While we were in church, another six inches of snow fell. We went home, slipping and sliding here and there. It is still snowing. It looks rather lovely, but it is not a good day to drive anywhere even if you have a four-wheel drive vehicle. It's a good day to stay in and drink hot chocolate.

Chocolate Lovers Weekend

This afternoon, hubby and I took our friends T&E to Ocean Grove for the Chocolate Lovers Weekend. Quite a few of the Bed & Breakfast Inns were open for tours and they also served all kinds of goodies. It was E's birthday and though she is on a diet, she loves old houses as much as I do. Hubby and T love to eat. It was the perfect activity for all of us.

The Albatross Inn was the first place we visited. They had a milk chocolate fountain and a dark chocolate fountain. An assortment of sliced fruit, cookies, and pretzels were available to dip into the chocolate. Once hubby and T had sampled a little of everything we walked to the Manchester Inn which had soup and chocolate pasta in addition to other sweets. As it was a cold, raw day with the threat of a blizzard in the forecast, we all went for the soup. It was so tasty that E asked the cook for the recipe which involved heavy cream, cheddar, Swiss cheese, and Edam along with cauliflower, broccoli, and squash.

From there we went to the Laingdon Hotel--very posh, the Angel Nook Inn--where you can attend tea parties all year long, and last we visited the Melrose which has a resident ghost, Susan. We did not see Susan, but we enjoyed hearing the stories about her.

By then, the snow had started to come down heavily and so we all went home, but you can bet that we will visit Ocean Grove again next year for the Chocolate Lovers Weekend.

A RUSH OF LIGHT now at Fictionwise!

Check it out at A Rush of Light. If you have not tried an e-book yet, you should know that they are very inexpensive. My book has 93,000 words in it--so you get a big bargain when you buy the e-book edition. Another outstanding plus is that e-books don't take up any shelf space. :^)

Don't forget to enter my contest for a t-shirt with the cover of A Rush of Light on it. The drawing will be on February 14th--Valentine's Day--NEXT TUESDAY!!! Hurry off right now to my website and click on the contest link.

If I were a princess...

The Traditional Princess

You are generous, graceful, and practical with both

feet planted firmly on the ground. You tend

to be a little on the old-fashioned side. You

value home, hearth, and family life and love

to be of service to others.

Role Models: Snow White, Maid Marian

You are most likely to: Discover a hidden talent

for spinning straw into gold.


What Kind of Princess are You? - Beautiful Artwork (Original Music is BACK!!!)
brought to you by Quizilla

Editing

Yesterday, I found the edited galley of Kiss of Blarney in my email. So I've got to check through it and send it back to my editor, which means I won't be making any progress on my current work-in-progress.

My Awe-Struck editor sent me a message to let me know that the corrections I asked for in the print version of A Rush of Light are complete and that book is good to go.

I talked to our local librarian on Friday and I'll be doing a reading there during the last week of March. The librarian thought she'd make it a brunch as well. I thought that was an excellent idea. People will show up if food is available. I'm looking forward to it. :^)

Is It Spring Yet?

Leenda and Speedy, Daughter #3's guinea pigs, are looking forward to laying around in the sun. It is absolutely gorgeous outside today--so warm and sunny it truly feels like spring. Yet the groundhog says we will have six more weeks of winter. Leenda and Speedy have given no indication as to what their prediction is. They only want more hay. I'm sure they won't be surprised if we get socked with a blizzard this month.

Hubby and I refer to Leenda and Speedy as the grandpigs. We are taking care of them until Daughter #3 finishes college. Last semester, the pigs lived secretly in her dorm room. Pets are not allowed there although some students do have them. Daughter #1 went to the same college and told me that someone had a pet alligator under their bed when she was there. This semester, Daughter #3 decided not to take any risks as far as housing goes, so the pigs are on an extended vacation here at home. They are well-mannered most of the time. They do squeak loudly when they know we are eating, probably due to the fact that hubby often feeds them the end pieces of his tomatoes.

A Great Review!

I just received a wonderful review for A Rush of Light from Janet at Fallen Angel Reviews! She said, "A Rush of Light is an excellent book when you are looking for something more in a story."

You can read the entire review
here. You can read the first three chapters and buy the book here.

Beam Me Up

I wish we had a transporter like the one on the original Star Trek show. It would make life so much simpler.

Yesterday, I had to drive down to south Jersey and pick up Daughter #3. Her car is getting some major repairs, but she had an appointment today. Normally, it's a three hour run on the Parkway to pick her up and return. I knew I would not be able to write, but at least I could "read." I borrowed a book on CDs from the library--Linda Howard's Now You See Her. I had a great time listening to the story as I drove.

Daughter #3 was right on time and almost packed when I arrived--but she was hungry. We decided to stop halfway up the Parkway at the rest area for a burger supper. However, as we got onto the Parkway, the car made some odd noises and lurched a bit. I pulled over and Daughter #3 checked to see if the car had gotten stuck between two and four wheel drive. It did not seem that it had, but the car ran okay after that--though I drove much slower than usual on the Parkway. It lurched a few more times, but not badly.

We stopped to eat and check out all the car's bodily fluids. The antifreeze was almost gone, but the oil and transmission fluid levels were fine. We added antifreeze and Poland Spring water which I had brought along for us to drink. Then we continued north. The car got worse. Finally, we decided we would get off the Parkway and drive along the back roads, but the car acted up even at a very slow speed.

We pulled into a Rite Aid pharmacy lot and called a towtruck. An hour later, we were sitting in the cab of the towtruck and heading home with my car on the flatbed. Daughter #3 noticed that the towtruck operator wore Magnum boots. She whispered to me that they were serious boots--and Daughter #3 would know that detail.

We got to talking and discovered that the operator of the towtruck was quite an interesting character. He has a side business. He repossesses cars. He boasted about his other truck--the one with the 3" Lexane glass and a joy stick. He can back up to a car and drag it away without ever leaving the cab of his truck. I'm going to have to put a guy like him in one of my books.

The most interesting part of our adventure came at the end. Before we parted, the towtruck operator gave his phone number to Daughter #3. Hmmm.

Today I found out that my car needs a new transfer case and a new radiator. I know I have a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful for my cellphone and my AAA Plus insurance. I am thankful that Daughter #3 was with me and I wasn't alone. I am thankful that I did not cause an accident with my lurching car.

Still, can't somebody invent a transporter?

The Rock of Gibraltar

Hubby dubbed his kidney stone the Rock of Gibraltar. It was smaller than a peppercorn. However, it was analyzed and turned out to be the most common type made up of calcium oxalate. According to the doctor, hubby should now avoid foods with a high percentage of oxalates--such as spinach, most berries, and draft beer (bottled beer is okay). Actually, the list of foods to avoid is rather long but there are plenty of things on that list that hubby never eats anyway such as fruit cake, grits, rutabagas, okra, and beets.

The most important suggestion is for hubby to drink water. Hubby has never been overly fond of water. When he gets thirsty, he drinks soda. This past year I have introduced him to flavored seltzer which he finds palatable, but his favorite soda at the moment is Mountain Dew Code Red. :^(

Curing the Common Cold

Today I have a rotten, nasty head cold. It started yesterday with a sore throat. I did not go to the romance writers' meeting this morning. :^(

I am drinking plenty of hot liquids since I surfed the net and found Grandmother Knew Best. I am following the advice in the article. Fortunately, I like tea.

Five Blue Ribbons!

Tomorrow is the day A Rush of Light will be released at Awe-Struck E-Books. Today, a wonderful review from Sherree Chmitlin went live at Romance Junkies. No matter how many books I have gotten published, it is still a thrill to get a good review. Sherree said, "RUSH OF LIGHT was a great book and I absolutely enjoyed reading it." 

That makes it all worthwhile.

Smoothing Out the Rough Spots

Last week, over the course of seven days, I wrote twenty-eight pages. I know I am capable of writing more than that in a week, but that's what I accumulated due to a variety of distractions. This week, I'm filling in the holes--working backward and forward and smoothing out the rough spots. I'm also blending in some details and that will add a few more pages. Not every writer works this way, but this is the method that is comfortable for me.

I found a good article for those of you who want to know how to become a successful writer. Go to The Secret of Writing Success. :^)

Needlepoint

Back in 1999, Daughter #1 worked as in intern at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. In her free time that summer, she began stitching a needlepoint picture of Noah's Ark. She finished it in 2000, but never framed it until today. With my help, she mounted it and placed it a frame she had put together with her father's help a few weeks ago. Now she'll have something to hang on one of her apartment walls.

Five Days To Go!

Yesterday I used a dark t-shirt transfer to iron an image of A Rush of Light onto a black sweatshirt. In just five more days, on January 20th, A Rush of Light will be released! I am so excited! I think I will wear my sweatshirt all week.

I will be giving away a black t-shirt (short sleeves) on Valentine's Day with the same book cover on it. You can sign up for the contest at my website Penelope Marzec. Then you can be a walking advertisement for my book--just like me! Of course, I hope you will read the book, too. :^)

Slow Progress

So far, Book-In-A-Week has been Chapter-In-A-Week for me. Since I have to go to work, I have to use a modified BIAW plan. I had a tough time getting started on Monday, but I typed up five pages that day. By Tuesday, I was really into the story and even though I had to go to a class at night, I also mananged five pages. Yesterday, I had to take Daughter #3 for a blood test--but while I was in the waiting room I jotted down some ideas. When I got back home, I again wrote five pages. I would like to type up ten pages in a day, but it has not happened yet.

Nevertheless, I made progress and I had fun. It will be interesting to see how many more pages I can type up before the week is through.

Letting It Flow

I decided to join April Kihlstrom's Book In A Week program this week. I know that I will not finish the book I am writing, but I will probably make considerable progress. The last time I did this I accumulated fifty pages in one week. April, bless her heart, can pump out two hundred.

My main problem is turning off the internal editor who wants to fix each and every sentence as soon as it is written. For BIAW, I force myself to move along without looking back--most of the time. :^)

Wish me luck!

Interesting Story of the Day

One of the most interesting stories in today's local paper was Chase ends in Tinton Falls. I really wonder if I put a scene like that in one of my novels whether anyone would believe it. Despite a massive effort by police, the suspect got away.

I do have a chase scene in A Rush of Light with the hero chasing the villain. The hero, driving an SUV, ends up at the bottom of an incline due to a rollover and the villain gets away. However, the villain is eventually caught. In real life, the villain is sometimes never caught--which is rather disturbing and one of the reasons I enjoy writing fiction so much. In my stories, there is always a happy ending.

Christmas Fallout

I am still trying to get back into the groove of working and writing. For the past few days I've been writing thank you notes and trying to catch up on the laundry. Our daughters came home with three months of dirty laundry each--or so it seemed. I have not been able to use my own washing machine until now. The water bill is going to be outrageous.

Today hubby and I went outside and removed all the Christmas lights from the bushes. We still have to pack away the rest of the Christmas decorations inside the house. A few years ago I wanted to quit the tradition of the big tree so I could eliminate most of the fuss, but hubby insisted that we continue in the usual manner.

I'd really like one of those little ceramic trees that you plug in.

Poppy Seed Roll

Here's the poppy seed roll I made today. My mother has always insisted that we must have a poppy seed roll on New Year's Day for good luck. In addition, we have to have fresh ham, too. Ma used to make the poppy seed roll every year, but it seems that now the responsibility has fallen into my hands. If I don't serve it on New Year's Day, Ma will have a conniption. There were a few years we did not bother with the tradition--and we did wind up with some horrendous bad luck. On the other hand, even during the years when I served poppy seed roll on New Year's Day we had some dreadful things happen in the family. Ma insisted that everything would have been worse if we had not started out the year with the poppy seed roll.

Hopefully, this new year will go well. I wish everyone peace, prosperity, and love.

Upstate NY

Here's Daughter #1 with her godchild and other young cousins. We went to Upstate NY yesterday to visit with hubby's brother and family. There was only one glitch in our plans. Hubby had an upset stomach when he woke up yesterday morning. We did not want to disappoint the young cousins, so we left hubby and his germs at home. Daughter #3 stayed home to keep an eye on him.

Daughter #1 and I shared the driving. I had a short article to write for the "Heartline Herald," the newsletter of the New Jersey Romance Writers, so I jotted down ideas as we cruised along the Parkway and the Thruway. It was a perfect day for a long drive--lots of dry road and not too much traffic.

We had a very nice time seeing everyone and chatting, but we had a long ride back so we did not stay too long. On the way home, I give up trying to write in the dark. We put on some music and sang along with Johnny Cash, the Beach Boys, and a couple tapes of sea chanties. I love sea chanties. "Clear away the running gear and blow, boys, blow." It's very good driving music.

By the time we got home, hubby was feeling somewhat better.

Back to Brooklyn

Yesterday, I actually had some time to write. Daughter #1 took her father with her to get a new car battery while Daughters #2 and #3 went shopping at the mall. When everyone returned we went out for pizza and then watched a really terrible movie that my sister gave to my hubby as a gift. It was an old horror movie titled FROGS. Hubby loved it. He laughed through most of it and kept right on laughing the rest of the evening.

Today, we drove Daughter #2 back into Brooklyn. She had way too much stuff to carry on the train--and besides, we wanted to visit some of hubby's Brooklyn relatives, too. Daughter #1 came along for the ride. We stopped in to see hubby's cousin first. She lives only a few blocks from Daughter #2's apartment.

After seeing her, we dropped off Daughter #2's stuff at her apartment. She had decorated a small plant with paper snowflakes which she called her Christmas tree.

Then we all visited hubby's aunt. His aunt is 89 years old! She insisted on feeding us. One of her granddaughters was there along with two of her great-grandchildren. It was wonderful to see them.

Taking Aim...

Here's a photo of Daughter #3 taking aim. She gave each of us a gun that shoots colored ping pong balls. Yesterday morning, we had a ping pong gun battle in the living room. Red, blue, yellow, and green balls went flying everywhere and everyone had a good laugh.

I usually buy some sort of game at Christmas. This year I got a dartboard with magnetic darts. It was opened yesterday but so far nobody has used it. It is far more exciting to bop someone with a ping pong ball!

Mom and Dad's Taxi Service

Daughter #2 lives in Brooklyn and works in Manhattan. This has not been a problem for her during the transit strike because she is simply working on her computer from home. I rather envied her yesterday. When I called to see if the strike had affected her, she told me she was sitting in her pajamas on her bed working on a project. That was around two in the afternoon. I would like to sit on my bed at two in the afternoon in my pajamas and write, but somehow that never happens.

Anyhow, Daughter #2 wants to come home for Christmas. We would be happy to see her, too. However, if the strike continues, it looks like hubby and I will be driving into Brooklyn to pick her up. I know she could take a taxi and then take the train--even though the cost of the taxi would be more than the train fare home--but it's okay. Going into Brooklyn to save the day makes us feel like superheroes.

Another Culinary Adventure

Ever since our favorite fishery closed, we have been searching for another restaurant with good food at an inexpensive price--but food which is a step up from the typical fast food restaurant. This is not an easy task--especially because we usually take my parents with us and Mom is tough to please.

We tried a barbeque place this weekend. We paid more for less food--although I thought the food tasted fine. However, hubby and Mom were dissatisfied so the search will go on. But I am enjoying our culinary adventures. We were very much stuck in a rut when it came to dining out. It's nice to be broadening our horizons.

My father is doing most of the investigative work for our weekly adventure. He procures menus during the week.

What's your favorite restaurant?

Christmas Lights

I woke up this morning to see that the rain had melted all the snow off the bushes in front of the house. So I informed hubby that we would be draping the bushes with the Christmas lights.

Since most of the other people in the neighborhood have tasteful white lights adorning their houses, I love to string our bushes with colored blinking lights--the kind that blink in distinctively erratic patterns. Hubby, the engineer, checked all the strings of lights and inserted new blinker bulbs where needed. I did the artistic work outside.

When I was finished, hubby admired my work. "It looks obnoxious," he said with a smile. To me, it's a celebration of joy.

Santa will not be able to miss our house when he flies by. :^)

Coming Soon!

A Rush Of Light is on the Coming Soon page at Awe-Struck E-Books! I am so excited! I could stare at it all night long.

Another List

Daughter #3 has finally given me her Christmas Wish List. For your reading enjoyment, I pasted it here:

• Size 5 cotton underwear.  (just regular briefs, pretty (not neon!) colors/patterns). 
  
  
• A toolbox.  Yep, I need one of those.  Walmart and Kmart have nice toolboxes.  The Stanley ones are between 7-15 dollars, approximately, and are a heavy duty plastic.  There's a really cool one I've had my eye on that is yellow and black, with the metal "diamond grid" stuff on it, like on a truck bumper. 
  
  
• And lastly, tuition for the Spring (due Jan. 3), and car insurance for my jeep. 

Hubby was delighted that she wanted a toolbox. I'm glad she wants ordinary underwear.

Preparing

I am not getting much writing done lately. Christmas is only 12 days away and there are things that need to be done. There are those who get out all their Christmas decorations right after Thanksgiving. Hubby and I lugged the boxes of Christmas stuff out of the attic today. Then we rearranged the living room to accomodate our artificial tree. As hubby sorted through the branches, I did some cleaning. (That job never ends.)

We are not finished with our Christmas shopping--and none of the gifts we have bought are wrapped. We always wrap the presents after the tree is in one piece. However, we did send out the cards last week.

It is below freezing outside and most of the bushes still have snow on them from last week's storm. I usually drape the bushes with lights and I should have done it before the snow fell. Now I'm hoping some of the snow will melt--at least the snow that is on the bushes. Sigh.

There's too much to do this time of the year.

Two Christmas Gigs In One Day

Yesterday I sang with a small group from the Happy Days String Band. The entire band would never fit in the library where the show was held. We did Christmas music with that classic string band sound. We all had a great time together and the audience seemed to enjoy the music, too.

Hubby and I rushed from there to the next gig at History House at Sandy Hook where an even smaller contingent of the string band entertained--the glock player, one banjo, one sax, hubby with his accordion, and me. It was a hectic day, but hubby loves this time of year because everyone wants Christmas music.

What's your favorite Christmas song?

Christmas Lists

Hubby is feeling better so we started getting ready for Christmas. We went shopping yesterday and bought a few presents for our daughters. I had asked them to send me a list of some of the things they would like or need. They know that there is no way they are going to get everything on their list. However, they make plenty of suggestions. The lists make me laugh. You can easily see the difference in my girls from their wants and needs.

Daughter #1's Christmas List:

Pajamas, size small
Underwear, size 5 high-cut
Mock necks (fitted, no old-lady pastels, but cream is okay. No patterns either)
Slippers (size 7)
Advent wreath
$65 so I can Make My Own Paperweight
Futon, or contribution towards one
Table to go underneath my window in living room, or contribution towards one
A surprise!

Daughter #2's Christmas List (More detailed--she's the artist. The list is also longer. What a dreamer!):

i would really like a good electric wireless drill.
i would like to have an electric pick-up for my guitar.
i also need kitchen implements, like a bread knife and various other knives, mixer, a bix mixing bowl, a cookie sheet. stuff like that.
cheesy as it sounds, i do use scented candles. new york smells.
my 2 favorite bands of the moment are: the darkness and the white stripes. and i would like a book about jenny holzer because she is my idol.
you can also contribute to:
my student loan fund
my clothing fund
and the more general, indie flicks, cheesy bands, and ice cream fund
as for pajamas, i like the plaid flannel pants that you see me around the house in. i like them larger than expected because they always shrink.
i like bikini underwear. it usually says this on the package. this is very different from those kind that my sister likes. size 5.
i am eternally in need of black socks and other drab colors that match the clothes i wear.
i do like alcohol and candy.

Daughter #3 has yet to send a list to me. I already know she needs new eyeglasses.

So what do YOU want for Christmas?

Very Early Morning Drive

Here's our winterberry bush covered with snow. We had lots of fluffy soft snow early this morning. I had to drive in it. At 2 am I took hubby to the hospital. There is nobody on the road at 2 am.

Hubby became violently ill last night. He has never had more than a muscle sprain in all the years we've been married. From my Merck Manual of Medical Information, Second Home Edition, I was quite sure he had kidney stones. I bought the book to be sure that my fictional characters have the proper symtoms for their illnesses--but it is a useful book for real people, too. :^)

After the doctor in the emergency room had x-rays and a CAT scan taken, I learned I my diagnosis for hubby was correct. Still, it was rough on hubby. And I didn't get any sleep, so I am a walking zombie right now.

However, after pain medication and a referral to a urologist, hubby was freed from the ER. By that time, the sun had come out and the snow was melting.

Lucky Night

Last night, hubby and I went to a gift auction. We wandered around carefully deciding which prizes we thought we would like to win. There were several men's baskets with such things as tools and gifts cards to Home Depot. Several area restaurants had donated free dinners to the winners. The grand prizes were awesome. There were such things as a bicycle, a night at the Embassy Suites in Manhattan, or a designer dress.

We dropped our tickets in the little containers in front of each prize and then enjoyed some dessert. Finally, the prizes were raffled off. I won one of the men's baskets. Hubby won the designer dress! The dress is orange. It looks like something an actress would wear to the Oscar ceremony. It is amazing-slinky is the word that best describes it--or maybe sizzling. The way it is constructed makes it drape so beautifully--despite the fact that it doesn't have any back to it.

It was really sweet of hubby to win the dress for me, but I don't know that I will be invited to any occasion worthy of such an outfit. Although I could hope that someone would make a movie out of one of my books and then I could actually wear the dress to the Oscars.

I can always dream.

Scary Babies

Our church has an Advent Giving Tree in the foyer. The tree is decorated with paper ornaments listing the gift requests of those in need. I don't have any grandkids (this is a good thing since none of my daughters are married yet) and all the nieces and nephews are quite grown up--so I always look for a tag that lists an unwrapped toy. Buying a toy for a needy child gives me an excuse to cruise the aisles of Toy R Us--not that I'm looking for any other toy than a baby doll. I have fond memories of baby dolls and I want to spread the joy.

Today I headed straight to the doll section of Toy R Us and started to poke and prod the baby dolls. Hubby came, too, but he mostly looks at prices. It did not take me long to notice that baby dolls have changed. Some of them are really scary. I poked one in the tummy and as it made gurgling noises its lips moved and its eyes opened and closed--slowly. It reminded me of something from a horror film.

Then there were the baby dolls that looked overfed--sort of like Sumo wrestlers. On the other hand, there were other dolls that were supposed to be cuddly but when I prodded their bellies they were so squishy they seemed to have no substance.

I finally found one doll that I liked. It had eyes that opened when in a vertical position and closed when placed in a horizontal position. It had nice pajamas and a little cap. When I squeezed its hand it had a limited repetoire--mama, dada, and some giggles. It was soft in the middle but not too soft. It had a nice expression on its face. I think it is the sort of doll a little girl could love.

Happy Advent.

Pride and Prejudice

Hubby and I went to see Pride and Prejudice this evening. It was wonderful! Hubby appreciated the music. :^) I thought it was an excellent idea to show the Bennets looking rather shabby. It highlighted the class distinction far better than any previous version.

This movie was well worth the price of the ticket in my opinion.

Music of the Season

Hubby is practicing his Christmas carols. Every store I walk into has piped in Christmas music playing. I'm getting tired of it already. Tonight as I was driving on the Parkway I found one station--101.5--playing oldies. I love singing along with the radio--but it helps if I know the words. :^)

Our Thanksgiving

Here's the whole gang--Mom, Dad, sisters, brother-in-laws, niece, nephews, daughters, hubby and me. My sister's dog refused to cooperate and is not in the picture. Daughter #2's friend took the photo--so he's not in the picture either.

Anyone under 30 years of age was seated in the kitchen. The old folks ate in the dining room. We had plenty of food and there are lots of leftovers--including pies. After we posed for the photo, I lit a fire in the fireplace and we sang some old songs while some of the kids watched a DVD in the family room.

I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving.

Reviewer's Copy

A few days ago, I discovered this advanced reading copy of my paranormal romance, Irons In The Fire, on sale at Amazon.com. I put the advanced reading copy together myself. It is unedited. At the time I put it together, the cover art for Irons In The Fire had not been completed--so since the herb yarrow played a part in the book, I plucked it out of my garden and used that on the cover.

The reviewers evidently liked the homemade edition of the book because it was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award. However, reviewers are not supposed to sell advanced reading copies, though they can pass them on to someone else. I'm wondering who Harriet is. Hmmm.

At any rate, the genuine edited version is still available as an e-book at New Concepts Publishing. You can even read some of the wonderful reviews the book received as well as an excerpt of the book itself.

Will Power

Last night we went out for pizza with some very dear friends--T & E. We had not seen them in a month or so, and in that time, E. had lost a lot of weight. I knew she was on a diet--the LA Weight Loss diet--but E. has been on other diets. However, this time she is really serious. E. did not have any pizza. She had a turkey sub. She told us that since she started the diet--which is more than a month ago--she has lost a total of 47 pounds, but she still has more to lose.

I am in awe. I can't lose the ten pounds I would like to lose because if someone waves a potato chip in front of my nose I will grab it.

After the pizza, the rest of us dove into the leftover Halloween candy--but not E. She had a cup of hot water with lemon in it. She brought her own lemon. I felt terrible for eating the candy.

My friend, E., has amazing will power.

Savings from the Local Newspaper

There are a lot of people who do not buy or read newspapers anymore. I have heard some people say they cannot afford it, but I know that the local newspaper pays for itself. Between yesterday and today, hubby and I saved about $7 eating out by using the coupons I clipped from the local newspaper. $7 buys a lot of newspapers. Of course, we were not dining out at the finest of restaurants. Yesterday it was a coupon for McDonald's--buy one quarter pounder, get one free. Tonight's supper was a similar deal at Quiznos subs. Yes, after defrosting the 'fridge, I was too tired to refill it. If my diet is a little unbalanced at the moment, I can always gnaw on a carrot.

Food is not the only free thing one can get from the newspapers. Our daily paper lists lots of free or inexpensive entertainment ideas. The concert given by our friend the harp player was listed in the local paper. Hubby's band will be playing at the library next month and the information about that free concert will be printed in the newspaper. (I'll be singing, too!)

Every week, the craft stores have 40% off or even 50% off coupons in the paper. The newspaper is one of the best deals around! Everyone should have it delivered every day so you can save money.

Do you buy the newspaper?

Melt Down

Since we do not have a frost-free refrigerator, every few months our 'fridge starts looking like Antartica. With Thanksgiving upon us, I figured I might need a little extra room for the huge turkey I have to buy to feed the hungry horde. Before I defrosted the 'fridge we ate whatever good stuff was still in it. We wound up eating leftover pizza slices and fries last night. I thought it made a perfectly wonderful supper. We'll have to try that combination again.

After supper, I put the milk, eggs, and etc. into the cooler. Then I turned off the 'fridge. When I woke up this morning, I found that not all of the ice had melted. However, by the time I returned home from work there was only a small amount of ice left. I hacked away at it and then cleaned the interior and put back the milk and so forth. I told hubby I would have to put some more food in the 'fridge if he wanted supper. Hubby decided we would use up a hamburger coupon and eat out. I loved that idea. :^)

Leaves

Today, hubby and I began the chore of clearing the leaves from the yard. I have an impressive pile of leaves. This mountain of leaves will undoubtedly get bigger since today was only the first pass. Hubby mulched up all the leaves on the lawn with the mulching mower. I got out the leaf blower and the rake. I cleared out some flower beds, the patio, and the driveway. Unfortunately, the leaves will not be picked up by the township for a few more weeks. That gives the wind time to blow the leaves around some more.

Another Contract!

I received a contract for my novella, Kiss of Blarney, from my editor at New Concepts Publishing. I do not know when it will be released yet. I have to fill out the art questionnaire for the cover as well as write up the blurbs. I have decided that my heroine should look like Keira Knightley--except with lots and lots of curly red hair and very pale blue eyes. After seeing "Prime" last week, I decided my hero should look like Brian Greenberg--except with deep blue eyes. He is so cute. :^)

Wheaton Village

Yesterday we went to Wheaton Village with daughter #1. She had visited there and thought we should see it, too. Located in Millville, NJ, it has a spectacular glass museum, but we found the glassmaking demonstration to be the most interesting part of the tour. The pottery demonstation was also nice--but I took pottery in college so I already know quite a bit about that. (Why don't I use that in a book?) There are shops where the glass and pottery are sold, but only the marbles were in my price range. :^)


There is a real one room schoolhouse on the grounds. I always thought it would be fun to teach in a one room school. However, when I read one of the former teacher's plans which was posted on the wall, I changed my mind. The poor teacher had so much to do with so many different levels in that one room.



Here's a photo of daughter #1 on the bridge. Hubby refused to hold still for any photos and ran off whenever I lifted up the camera.
She also showed us a really wonderful used bookstore in downtown Millville. I bought three books. I wish I had more time to read!

On the way home we stopped in to visit daughter #3. So it was a long, busy day.

Meryl Streep, My Mother, and McDonough's Pub

Today was my mother's birthday. Isn't she sweet? I took her and Dad to see Meryl Streep in "Prime." Dad said the last time they went to see a movie in a theater there was a piano player for the music. :^) There was nothing scary in "Prime" which is one reason we saw that movie--Ma cannot take suspense. Ma and I both like Meryl Streep, too. I suspect that when daughter #2 was born, Meryl Streep was my roommate in the hospital--under another name, of course.

Afterwards, we went to McDonough's Pub--a new pub in Keyport which Ma has been wanting to go to since it opened. The food was excellent. I highly recommend it.

As Good As It Gets

Today turned out to be an almost perfect writing day. We went to Mass last night so we did not have to go today. Hubby had an accordion festival to attend. Daughter #1 wanted to sleep late (she spent three days out on the boat last week) and then go to lunch with friends before she headed home. I stayed in my nightgown until noon writing--something I never get to do and which to me is the ultimate in luxury. Then I ate lunch, got dressed, and continued to write some more.

Nobody called me. It was such a gorgeous day outside that I had an urge to go out and rake some leaves, but I stayed away from the windows so I could not see the sunshine. Yes, at some point I will still have to rake leaves, but it will be more fun if hubby does it with me.

I took a break to buy some food for the week, but then I went back to writing. When hubby came home we went out to eat pizza. I folded some laundry, threw more clothes in the washing machine, got things together for work tomorrow--and here I am--ready to type a bit more before I get too tired.

It's been great.

Mary and Her Harp

Mary LeBus played her harp at one of the local libraries today. Mary also plays at weddings and other events. We saw her last at the Clearwater Festival. However, today I got to play the harp, too--not that I know anything about playing a harp, but I plucked some strings. Hubby tried it as well, but he seems to be able to pick up just about any instrument and pick out a song on it--but it would take a long time before he was as good as Mary is on the harp.

There was one instrument that hubby never got the hang of--the bagpipe. I was ever so grateful when he finally decided to stop attempting to play it.

Halloween Costume

I decided to make my life easy and borrowed this outfit from hubby's closet. It's one of the string band costumes. I dazzled everyone with all the sequins. The only problem with the costume was that it was too hot. String band costumes are designed for winter in Philadelphia. Yesterday, the weather here was extremely mild. I could not wait to take the costume off.

Being an author, I get to pretend to be a lot of different characters anyway. I don't really need any costumes for that. :^)

Bicyling

We have a tandem bike--a bicyle built for two. Hubby bought it at a fleamarket a long time ago, but we really never used it. We gave it to my sister and her husband, but after a while they gave it back to us. However, yesterday was such a gorgeous day, that we decided to try out the bike on the bike trail at Sandy Hook. This is a lovely trail that winds through the old holly forest at one point.

The hard part was getting the bike on the roof of the car, but once that was accomplished we were on our way. We parked next to the old Nike missile site and rode our bike to the north end of the trail. Yesterday happened to be Fort Hancock day and there things to see--the most interesting of which was the old Nike missile site itself. From 1954 to 1974 there were over 200 sites in this country with two nuclear warheads at each site. There were lots of them in NJ. We could have been blown to smithereens if there had been an accident. Though the guide at the site explained all the safeguards used at that time, it was rather chilling to realize I grew up completely unaware that the missiles were there.

We hoisted the bike back up on the roof rack and drove home feeling considerably younger after our bike ride. We're going to polish up that old bike and use it again. There are many new bike trails being built and we're going to try them all. :^)

Halloween Party Time

Some of daughter #2's high school friends were throwing a Halloween party so daughter #2 and her boyfriend hopped on a train in the city after work and arrived here before eight. Then they dressed as Quagmire and Andy Warhol. I had no idea who Quagmire was since I watch very little television. We did not have a can of Campbell's Tomato Soup in the house, and so daughter #2 had to substitute a can of Campbell's Low Sodium Chicken to complete her outfit.

Daughter #2 told me one of her other friends dressed as Abe Lincoln and another--a rather large fellow--claimed to be a Chippendale dancer with the white cuffs, but no shirt, the bowtie with a collar and money in his belt. She said there were a lot of zombies, some witches, and a nurse. Someone else was Professor Snape and one came as an anchorman in a suit. There was a devil along with Jack, the Pumpkin King. Mary Poppins showed up. And one fellow came in a white lab coat and carried a toy chainsaw. Quite a variety.

They played games, too. There was a doughnut eating contest. Professor Snape won.

It's nice that daughter #2 keeps in touch with her high school buddies.

NCP's Birthday Bash

New Concepts Publishing is celebrating their ninth year in e-publishing by having a Birthday Bash.

For all the details check out:

New Concepts Birthday Bash.

There will be plenty of prizes!

No More Carving

I went to the pumpkin farm this week and bought a small pumpkin for a table decoration. I am not going to carve it and make it into a jack o'lantern. My jack o'lantern days are over. Until our daughters grew up I carved out a pumpkin every year. Then last year, I bought a ceramic jack o'lantern. I can put a candle in it and voila! No mess. Never again will I have to dig out all the slimy seeds.

I still like singing Halloween songs, but I don't miss carving the pumpkin.

The Bell House at Pemaquid Point

Here's another painting I did. Hubby and I visited Pemaquid Point in Maine several years ago and I took a photo of the bell house just below the Pemaquid Point lighthouse. I used a bit of artistic license and made the roses more flamboyant. :^)

Maine is a nice place to visit. We had a wonderful vacation there.

To Be...Or Not To Be...What?

I need a costume. Last year, I dressed as a clown--even though I have never liked clowns. I find them scary. I bought a rainbow wig and a red nose and wore a crazy sweater I got in a thrift shop. The year before that, I was an angel. I used a white graduation gown from one of my daughters and bought wings and a halo. The year before that I was really lazy and used a black graduation gown and cap from one of my daughters. I have been a queen, an equestrian, the Blue Fairy, and a mummer. The mummer's costume was the best of all. I just borrowed it from my husband's closet. He's in a string band.

But what now? I don't want to be a witch, or a vampire, or anything very mean and wicked. What can I be for Halloween that isn't going to cost much money but will make everyone smile?

Any ideas?

Picking Up Branches

Everytime the wind blows, we have fallen branches in our yard. One rather large limb fell down yesterday--big enough to be a small tree. It landed in a verticle postition only inches from the outside air conditioning unit and very, very close to the house. If it had landed on the roof, it might have put a hole in it. The branch came from one of the tulip trees. Those trees shed large branches on a regular basis and this is not the first close call we've had. A few years ago, one large branch hit one of the gutters and dented it. We've had some of the trees removed, but that was terribly expensive. We still have still several more tulip trees on our property. They are extremely tall and a few are scarred from being hit by lightning.

We did not finish picking up branches yesterday. So I'll be getting more outdoor exercise today. In addtion, hubby is going to have to saw some of the large branches into smaller pieces. Oh well.

Often when I'm doing menial chores, I'm working out plot problems in my head--so picking up branches was actually a good thing for my current work in progress. Inspiration comes at the strangest times.

Cranberry Everything

After a week of rain, the sun finally came out so hubby and I drove to the Cranberry Festival in Chatsworth,deep in the heart of the Pine Barrens. This is what the road to Chatsworth looks like.


There are lots and lots of very short pine trees, the landscape is rather flat, and the soil is sandy. Most of the time, there is very little going on in Chatsworth--other than the growing of cranberries. However, once a year people from everywhere inundate the town to buy cranberry everything--cranberry bread, cranberry cookies, cranberry wine, cranberry hot sauce, etc.

In addition, there are the usual craft tables and festival food. I bought cranberry jam, no-salt sesame sticks, and a new cookie sheet. Maybe I'll make my own cranberry cookies. I bought a cranberry cookbook last year, but I haven't tried any of the recipes in it yet. :^)

One of My Paintings

Yes, I paint with oils, too. At the urging of a friend, I signed up in Grace Graupe-Pillard's painting workshop when daughter #3 was a baby. Ever since then, I paint once a week. Every painting takes me forever to finish because I love to use outline brushes and put in every blade of grass.

This is a painting of Nauset Marsh on Cape Cod.

When our daughters were young, we used to go on camping trips every summer. The year we went to Cape Cod, we took a boat ride around Nauset Marsh and I took a photograph that I later used for the painting.

On that boat ride, the crew pulled up a bunch of sea creatures from the marsh. My children were thrilled when they got to hold a tiny starfish in their hands. Maybe that had something to do with daughter #1 becoming a marine scientist.

Doughnut Day

After Mass today, there were doughnuts, coffee, juice, and bagels for all in the cafeteria. Daughter #1 and I opted for the juice and bagels--we decided that would be lunch. Hubby nearly ran down the stairs so he would not miss out on getting a jelly doughnut, one of the more sought after treats usually snatched up first by the young children.

It happened to be Vocation Awareness Sunday. All the church ministries had sign-up sheets ready and were scanning the crowd, looking for fresh volunteers. After talking with one of the women, I signed up to be a Eucharistic minister. I have been involved with a number of the other ministries, but this is a new one for me.

Our pastor told us he has several photos of hubby playing the accordion at the church picnic. Hubby was delighted. Right now, I guess hubby's vocation is in entertainment.

An Overload of Romance

I have returned from the New Jersey Romance Writers conference. My mind is still spinning. I am suffering from an overload of information about romance writing.

I went to a variety of workshops--on blogging, on the male point of view, on promotion, on rewriting, about adding steam to romances, and an editors' panel.

I always find the editors' panel one of the most interesting. Last year, just about every editor wanted chick-lit. This year, they all want dark paranormal romances. Nevertheless, they all want something fresh and interesting with a different voice.

Right. To me, it seems as if they are all jumping on the same bandwagon.

Anyhow, I had a wonderful time seeing many of my writer friends. It was a great conference!

The First

Yesterday I discovered that my upcoming January book has already been reviewed. It's the first review for A Rush Of Light and it was a really nice one. :^)

Among other things, Gene King of JoyfullyReviewed.com said, "A Rush of Light by Penelope Marzec is a romance for all ages....The characters are very real, they come alive in their thoughts and interactions....I look forward to seeing more Ms Marzec stories. I recommend A Rush of Light for those wanting to explore a sweet, spirit filled story."

You can read the entire review at JoyfullyReviewed.com

Aquarium Visit

Hubby and I visited the Adventure Aquarium in Camden today. It is directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. I have visited lots of aquariums--Sea World in San Diego, the Coney Island aquarium, Mystic Seaport's aquarium, the Mote aquarium, and Tampa's aquarium. But none of those had a shark tunnel like the Camden aquarium. It is really awesome to see sharks swimming above you.

We saw the 3D movie, too. Hubby had a good laugh and so did a lot of other people in the audience. I just thought it was silly.

But it was a nice way to spend a rather gray day.

Recalcitrant Creatures

I always think I have a good idea of who my characters are when I start writing a book. However, invariably the characters start to assert themselves as the writing progresses. Often, they change the entire plot with their shenanigans. Right now, I think I have a handle on my latest hero and heroine--Tadeusz and Victoria, but one never knows.

I was reminded of this when hubby and I went to eat at Charlie Brown's tonight. We were seated in a booth surrounded by books--lots of books. The temptation to pull one off the shelf was irresistible--and then I saw Andrew M. Greeley's Ascent Into Hell right within easy reach. Of course, the book was red, so it was hard to miss. Even hubby--who never reads fiction--was interested because Greeley is a priest. I read The Cardinal Sins years ago, but I haven't read any of Greeley's books since then.

I opened up the cover and found Greeley's disclaimer in the "Note." In it he said, "...like God, I refuse to assume responsibility for the moral behavior of my creatures."

Yes. Sometimes those characters misbehave--and there really isn't much an author can do about it. But that's part of the fun of being a writer--breathing life into creatures made of words.

A Young Accordionist

Daughter #3 informed us of an accordion player who would be appearing at a coffee house nearby. Hubby and I never go to that particular coffee house because it is usually packed with teenagers. However, despite a $10 cover charge, hubby wanted to go to see the show.

We entered the coffee house and felt conspicuous amid the usual horde of teenagers. Sipping our vanilla chai (yummy), we suffered through the first band. Then, finally, that band packed up and a young man wearing a fedora stepped up on stage and pulled out his accordion.

Jason Webley is a terrific entertainer with lots of energy. He plays a smaller accordion than my hubby, but Jason needs to have something light weight because he jumps around a lot. Climbing on chairs, he exhorted the audience to join in as he sang. Obviously, he has a following because many of the young people in the audience did sing along and had specific requests.

The highlight of his show came at the end where he sang a drinking song. Since nobody was drunk, he suggested we all hold our index finger above our heads and then look at the tip of our finger as we turned around twelve times. This made everyone rather dizzy. :^)

Then Jason asked everyone to put their arms on each other's shoulders. Pretty soon we were all swaying to the drinking song and having a wonderful time.

Hubby was so happy to know that there is at least one young man still playing the accordion.

Reading Excerpts

On Saturday, I will be at the Old Bridge Library talking about e-publishing and reading excerpts from some of my books. I spent last night searching for the proper excerpts. I've found it's easier for me to read excerpts of the character's internal thoughts. Reading dialogue is tougher for me. I think that's because I am used to reading children's stories and acting out the parts of the characters--I have a very good witch voice, and I can do a nasty wolf voice, too. :^)

I liked this excerpt from The Company You Keep. It is a bit tiltilating.

Abruptly, he ended his nervous pacing. Tonight he had stumbled upon Jennifer in the woods and had seen a look of total panic on her face that had nearly made his own heart stop. She seemed a completely different woman, which made the entire episode eerie, like a vague but haunting dream. It was as though she had shed her shield and for the first time he had touched flesh instead of hardened steel. The Iron Lady had turned into a winter sprite. He had felt the tender curves lurking beneath her sweater. Lust fired through him at the thought of her full lips, rosy, quivering, and so close to his own as he carried her over the snow.


Nevertheless, he knew that at the next planning meeting, Ms. Brant would again be suited up in her gray, tailored armor. Her heavy braid would be tucked into a spinster-ish knot, and her eyes, so desolate in the woods, would be as unyielding as gunmetal.

Try reading it aloud--with expression and slowly. What do you think?

Fresh Scallops

Daughter #1 came home from the second leg of her research cruise with a few pounds of fresh ocean scallops. That is one of the perks of being a marine researcher. I cooked the scallops tonight for supper using my favorite recipe. Here it is:

Put 1/2 cup flour in a plastic bag, add 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs (I use no-salt crumbs), and a 1/2 teaspoon of hot Hungarian paprika. Shake this mixture well, then toss the scallops into the plastic bag, a few at a time, and give them a shake. Arrange the scallops in a single layer in a pan. Melt 1/4 cup of butter (I also use unsalted butter) and pour over the scallops. Pour the juice of one lemon over the scallops.

Place the scallops in the broiler and broil until they are turn lightly brown. Then turn them over and broil them on the other side. Be careful not to overcook them or they will get tough.

Enjoy!

I Sang With the Band

Last night I belted out "God Bless America" with a thirty piece band backing me up. This surprised most of the band members because they did not know that I can sing. I'm not Kate Smith, but I can carry a tune.

Hubby belongs to the Happy Days String Band. He plays the accordion. However, he and I used to be music ministers at church. He played the organ and I was a cantor. The Happy Days String Band lured him away. He always felt that being in the string band was like running away to join the circus.

The band plays gigs all over the county and sometimes I go along to take photographs. Most of the time, it is a bit boring being the wife of a band member. I feel like a groupie. Last night, the band had a short gig nearby and the band member who usually sings "God Bless America" wasn't going to be at the gig. At the previous gig, there had been no one to sing that song either. This bothered hubby. He asked if I would sing that song.

I know it. In fact, I had just sung it at the parish picnic on Sunday. So I figured...why not?

When I sat on the side, I got a few stares. One band member asked me what I was doing there. I told her I was going to sing. From her expression, I could tell she didn't believe me.

The house was packed. "God Bless America" was the last song. Even the director of the band looked a bit fearful as he handed me the mike.

According to hubby, I got a standing ovation. However, since everyone usually stands for "God Bless America," that isn't exactly correct, but it was fun.

Just for fun...

After a week long hiatus from writing, I decided to get back to work and start something new. I had finished Kiss of Blarney and sent it in, but there's no word from my editor yet. I had plans to write a sequel to A Rush Of Light and I had another book outlined as well. However, my fingers were itchy to try something...different. Sort of.

I decided to try to write an old-fashioned Gothic. I grew up reading Mary Steward, Victoria Holt, Barbara Michaels, Phyllis Whitney, Velda Johnston, and Dorothy Eden--her Ravenscroft is one of my favorites. Jane Eyre is my top favorite.

So I sat down and had fun.

Daughter #1 came home on a 24 hour layover and rolled her eyes when I told her about my latest project. She is currently a Diana Gabaldon fan and thinks she knows all there is to know about history because she has read the Outlander series--more than once. She thinks I know very little about history, despite the fact that when she was young I dragged her and her sisters to every historical sight within driving distance.

No matter. I'm still having fun writing my Gothic. I've always loved old houses. :^)

The Box

Last week, I decided that I could not stand the way the back porch looked for another day. Hubby thought it looked fine. Somehow, he just did not see how a rusty log hoop packed with logs, a wheelbarrow with a broken wheel, a blue tarp, two buckets, and the watering can could annoy me. I told him I was going to buy a big plastic box to store some of the items, but some of them had to go.

Hubby decided to go to Home Depot with me where I choose a large Rubbermaid "deck box." Hubby informed me that we don't have a deck. I told him that it doesn't matter. The box was lifted up to our roof rack with a forklift and we took it home. It was very easy to put together, the only necessary tool needed was a rubber mallet which we already own and which I usually use to flatten chicken breasts.

The box is taupe and dark green--about the most natural colors available in plastic, I suppose. In no time, I filled up the box with the firewood, the tarp, the buckets and the watering can. Hubby dragged the wheelbarrow out to the street for the garbage pickup. However, our neighbor saw the wheelbarrow and decided he could use it.

Our back porch now looks nice and neat. The firewood is dry and the other items that hubby cannot live without are out of sight. I really felt as if I accomplished something.

I've Been Tagged!

Actually, I was tagged a while ago, but I just did not have time to figure this stuff out--especially when I should be working on my current book. Here are my answers--finally.

10 years ago today: I was writing Irons In The Fire when I wasn’t hacking at the bushes in the yard (it seems that in the summertime, I become the groundskeeper around here--hubby mows, I hack). Then our television died. I took it to a repairman and borrowed a small black and white set from my parents. When I turned it on, my daughters wondered what was wrong with it. They did not understand that it was supposed to be simply black and white.

5 years ago today: I was writing Heaven’s Blue. I had to help move daughter #2 into her dorm in New Brunswick, while hubby and daughter #3 moved daughter #1 into her dorm in Stony Brook. It was hot and daughter #2’s room was on the third floor. (No elevators.) Daughter #1 was on the second floor. I got the more difficult job.

1 year ago today: I was writing A Rush Of Light. Found out I wasn’t in menopause--yet. The day before I helped daughter #3 move into her dorm. The day after, I was out there clipping those hedges again. But I also made Kuchen (had to have that sugar). :^)

Tomorrow: Enjoy a visit from daughter #1 and daughter #3.

5 snacks I enjoy: All the things I shouldn’t eat--potato chips, Cheez-Its, sesame sticks, cheez-doodles, and Craisins (one healthy thing).

5 things I would do with $100,000,000: Hire a maid for my mother and myself. Put an ad in the NY Times Book Review for my books. Buy a new hybrid car. Get the living room completely redone. Add on a sunroom. Have a new driveway put in.

5 Locations I Would Like To Run Away To: Ireland, Hawaii, Florence (been there and loved it), San Francisco, and England (been there, too, but did not get to see everything).

5 Bad Habits I Have: Falling asleep when I’m watching the news, covering my eyes when there’s a scary part in the movie and asking hubby what’s happening, chewing my fingernails, leaving the clothes in the dryer when they’re done, and zoning out when someone is talking to me (when I zone out, you can be sure I'm thinking about whatever the hero and heroine are doing in my current work-in-progress).

Things I Like Doing: Writing, reading, singing, painting, playing the piano, playing the guitar.

5 Things I Would Never Wear: parachute pants, sweat pants, painful pointy shoes, very high heels, and tight stretch pants.

5 TV Shows I Like: I don’t watch much television but I have enjoyed episodes of Crossing Jordan, Numbers, and The Medium. Mostly I watch the news and 20/20.

5 Movies I Like: Jane Eyre (also my favorite book), Sense and Sensibility, Gone With the Wind--you get the idea.

5 Famous People I'd Like To Meet: Bruce Springsteen. I've already met quite a number of authors. I like meeting ordinary people and learning about their entire life history. I consider it research. :^)

5 People to Tag: momnancy, robyn bayne, Ellen Fisher, k, and carina--if you have the chance. :^)