Lia's Ramblings

New Site

2008-05-01T07:38:00.002-05:00

I have combined my site and blog, so I am now available at www.liamorgan.com

Thursday Thirteen 3/13

2008-03-13T06:04:00.004-05:00

Ahh, since the new house is out in the country, I thought my Thursday Thirteen should be 13 things about living in the country.

1. The lack of noise. The first night it nearly drove my hubby crazy. He is a city boy, born and bred. We now have a fan running in the bedroom at night so he can sleep. We slept with the windows open last night. I heard a few cars around 10 pm, but after that nothing.

2. The dark, or the lack of light. There are no streetlights. Our bedroom at night is pitch back. I love it, he hates it. Don't blame me, he wanted to move out here. There is a night light in the hall now.

3. The neighbors wave. Seriously, people are more friendly in the country. There is this thing you do when driving in the country. When you meet an oncoming car or more likely truck, you lift a couple of fingers on your left hand and acknowledge that there is a human being in that machine just feet from your own vehicle.

4. I can take the dog out in my pajamas, and no one can see me. If I go out the back door, the only thing to see is my back yard and a heavily wooded hill, that is also mine.

5. There is a yard. A totally fenced in yard. If I want to vacuum or mop and the dogs are underfoot, I can open the door and put them outside. And they will play until I am ready to let them in.

6. It smells cleaner. I can smell grass and fresh air, not pavement and exhaust.

7. I grew up in the country. I loved it. I want my kids to grow up in the country.

8. There is no trash pickup. (I didn't say it was all good.) There is a convenience center a few miles away with recycling and household trash. Works for me, I just take the trash out on my way to work in the afternoon.

9. The only food we can get delivered is pizza, which I don't like. So I guess I can cook dinner more often. (This is a good thing.)

10. No cable TV. So we got satellite, which will get rain fade when it storms.

11. We are 10 miles from the nearest grocery store. And if I don't want Kroger, be prepared to go 15-25 miles for Publix or Wal-mart.

12. My commute to work is now about 50-60 minutes, depending on traffic. It used to be 20-25 minutes, but I only usually work 3 days a week. Hubby's commute is down from 65-85 minutes to 15 minutes, so I guess it makes up for it in the end.

13. We have a septic tank. Which necessitated a long conversation (argument) about scrapping any food (including chip dip) off your plate before you put it in the sink, and the purchase of some draino. I think this might be the biggest adjustment for him. I grew up with one. What can and can't be flushed. Grease gets poured in a jar before the pans go in the sink. Flushing Rid-X once a month.

Thursday Thirteen 3/3/08

2008-03-06T05:09:00.004-06:00

Since we moved this week. I thought that my Thursday Thirteen should have something to do with that. 13 reasons I have packing tape..., no, 13 reasons to pay for professionals..., I got it.

13 things I can not imagine why we still own or ever got at all.

1. A 2003 Drug Guide, and a 2004, 2005, two from 2006, and 2007. I swear they send me a new one every time I get a new nursing magazine.

2. Suede skirt from my senior year of high scchool. No, it doesn't still fit. But somehow I can't get rid of it either.

3. Plastic cups from Disney Animal Kingdom. We went 2 years ago. They have not been used since we came home. And why did I get the one with the elephant on it.

4. Breadmaker, never used. At least 4 years old. My husband asked why I didn't use it. I told him that I didn't have a book for it. He says, "You just push the button, french bread, sweet bread ... , and one for how dark you want the crust." Might have to poison his bread.

5. Cotton candy machine. I bought this in a moment of weakness in Wal-mart. I love cotton candy, and usually only get some once a year at the fair. And it really is a good treat. There is only like 50 calories in a bag of cotton candy. But that thing in a pain in the butt to use.

6. Six plastic glasses that Carnival Cruise lines filled with the drink of the day. At least 3-5 years old. Used maybe once since we have been home.

7. Approximately 3000 feet of cable or wire. Phone cable, ethernet cable, coxial cable, usb cables to devices we no longer have, but can I find the one for the camera, no. Or the electric cord for the portable dvd player.

8. Dayplanner from 2003-2004. Why is this still in my house? Better question, why did it get moved to the new house?

9. Five sets of wine glasses. I hate wine. Hubby drinks maybe 3 bottles a year. I know 3 sets have never been used. For Christmas 4 years ago, I got 4 sets of wine glasses. I also have champagne flutes, mojito glasses, margarita, glasses, martini glasses, beer pilsner glasses and mugs. And I am far more likely to drink from a plastic cup than anything else.

10. Hot rollers. My set from high school. They still work too. But my hair is about 2 and a half inches long and has been for the last 2 years.

11. Records. With Dick Clark's weekly music countdown on them. My husband won them from the radio station in the mid 80's. We don't have a turntable.

12. Multiple copies of multiple books. Now that they are all together in the same room, I might finally be able to cull the herd. Which will kill me, because, I can't bear to get rid of any books, even when I take them to Goodwill or the used bookstore. Because, they are mine, dang it.

13. Print scrubs, I haven't been allowed to wear prints in 2 years, but I refuse to give up Mr. Potatohead or the fish riding motorcycles, or the bugs doing magic tricks, or, or. Okay, so I have a lot of clothes that I no longer wear.

So, what is still hanging around your house that you should have got ridden of years ago, or better yet can't figure out why you got it in the first place. And don't get me started on my husband's collection of art, some of the lithographs are still in the cardboard packing tube they were shipped home in.

Thursday Thirteen 1/10/08

2008-01-10T08:17:00.000-06:00

My husband and I are in the middle of adopting two little girls. All finger and toe crossing is appreciated. Yesterday, we got to see pictures of them for the first time. I am so excited that is amazing to me that I am not floating somewhere in the outer stratosphere. So I have pretty much only been thinking about that for the last few days. And I thought I would post thirteen things I hope to teach them, some sooner than others.

1. That families come in all shapes and sizes. The only thing that is required is love.

2. Books are almost the best thing in the world. That in them and through them you can be anything you want to be.

3. Life doesn't have commercial breaks.

4. Riding a bike without training wheels.

5. Cooking, not only do I love it, but it is a necessary skill in life. They may never whip up a culinary masterpiece, but they won't be eating ramen noodles and pb and jelly sandwhiches.

6. How to sew. Mom taught me, I will teach them. They may only learn to sew on a button, but I will try.

7. How to play Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders.

8. How to read. See number two.

9. That Grandpa is a big ole softie.

10. Don't show fear to an animal or anyone, they can sense it and might attack.

11. How to drive. I will have to because hubby can't even stand for me to drive.

12. The "pretty" girls are insecure, too.

13. The things in life that are easily gained are also easily lost, but if you work hard to attain something you will work even harder to keep it.

Thursday Thirteen 1/3/08

2008-01-03T09:51:00.001-06:00

Before I start making plans and goals for this year. I thought I would look back on last year and the things I accomplished.

1. Started writing. At least writing more than a few pages before giving it up.

2. Joined the RWA.

3. Participated in my first online writing workshop.

4. Picked a pen name.

5. Blogged for the first time.

6. Attended my first national conference in Dallas.

7. Registered my domain name and built my website.

8. Worked up the nerve and submitted a proposal.

9. Got my first contract.

10. Saw my name on my first cover.

11. Finished my first novella.

12. Sent completed novella off to publisher for editing.

13. Grand total written for the year 62040. Not that much, but it is 62000 words that weren't written last year.

Thursday Thirteen 12/20/07

2007-12-19T21:57:00.000-06:00

Thirteen Christmas gifts I have loved, one I still love, and another that helped foster a love that I still have.

1. I loved these when I was a kid. Even when they were my brother's present I still loved to play with them.

2. Come on, who doesn't love a slinky.

3. A doll that was almost as much work as a real baby.

4. A suitable home for any well dressed Barbie. None of my Barbies could wear shoes because our cat thought Barbie was his chew toy. BTW, Barbie was having an affair with my brother's G.I. Joe.

5. I loved LiteBrite, but it was how I first discovered that I was a bit anal retentive. I had to keep the pegs organized.

6. I think we always had an Etchasketch in the house. I think Mom may still have one for the grandkids.

7. Colorforms were so much fun. They fostered the imagination. Hummm, wonder what I might need one of those for.

8. Why did we love these. They didn't do anything and were really that cute. But we just had to have them.

9. I had Rainbow Brite blankets and toys.

10. I used to sneak and play with my older sister's. Then one year, after I had lost all the parts from the old ones, I got one of my own.

11. I put some many miles on my bike, I am surprised the wheels didn't fall off. As active as I was when I was a kid, I can not figure out why I was a cubby kid.

12. One magical Christmas morning I found this under the tree. It has been all downhill since then. What? I mean all uphill since then. This might be worst, best present I ever got.

13. My husband gave me this for Christmas the year I graduated from nursing school. He put in on layaway months earlier. He actually got it from the jewlery store that is in the movie The Rainmaker.

Thursday Thirteen December 6, 2007

2007-12-06T09:25:00.000-06:00

Everyone knows that one of the best things about Christmas is eating. There are certain things that my family only make or buy at Christmas time. They always bring that feeling to mind if I happen to sneak them in some other time.

1. Peppermint. I used to get a huge candycane every year. My brother and I would eat peppermint until the first of Feburary. I still think of Christmas when I eat peppermint.

2. Sugar Cookies. I only make them once a year with my nephews and neice. All iced by hand some of them looking quite inedible.

3. Maple glazed Ham. Ok. We make this more than once a year, but it is still pretty special.

4. Fudge. This is truly a diabetic coma waiting to happen. It just melts in your mouth. You might swear that you are only going to have one piece, but I can never stop, can you?

5. Rum Balls. The best part is knowing the rum isn't cooked out and watching my teetotalling aunt go back for seconds or thirds.

6. Eggnog. I wouldn't drink it any other time of year, but at Christmas it just fits.

7. Fruitcake. Not that crap that has been recycled and regifted for years, but fresh fruitcake.

8. Hot Chocolate. Made with half and half, real chocolate, and marshmellows. Raises my cholesterol just thinking about it.

9. Pecan Crisps. My grandmother's recipe. These melt in your mouth too. Rich, buttery, and covered in powdered sugar.

10. Buckeyes. Peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate.

11. White chocolate covered pretzels. Sweet and salty. Ummm, good.

12. Ribbon candy. Really it doesn't even taste that good. But it sure is festive and I only every see it at Christmas.

13. Gingerbread. Just a little nibble off the gingerbread house. Christmas isn't complete without it.

Thursday Thirteen 11/29/07

2007-11-29T05:05:00.000-06:00

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas everywhere I go...

They are starting to air Christmas movies, so here are 13 of my favorites. One website list Die Hard as a Christmas movie. I can't really see that, so I left it off even though I love Bruce Willis. I will probably treat myself today and buy the most recent installation of John McClane

1.

Reading the passage about Christ's birth gets me every time. I am surprised that they can still get away with airing it on network TV.

2.
For every misfit out there in this world. There is a place where you belong.

3.
There are so many versions of this story. I have always like the George C. Scott version. But honestly, my next favorite is Scrooged with Bill Murray.

4.
My favorite part of this movie is listening to Lauren Bacall and Thora Birch sing "Baby, It's Cold Outside." It is almost impossible to believe that this sweet, innocent child is the actress from "The Hole."

5.

The original. Never the recent version with Jim Carey. I love Boris Karloff's voice.

6.
Come on, who doesn't think this is funny.

7.
Ralphie is one of my favorites, and I don't care how many times they air this every year. I watch it almost everytime I can.

8.

Warm and fuzzy childhood memories.

9.
Only the first one. It is funny. But the sequel, what kind of parents could lose the kid twice.

10.
I have always loved this movie. The world is a better place with each of us in it.

11.
Another fond childhood memory. I have it on DVD, might have to watch it today.

12.
This movie has Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in it. Bing sings "White Christmas." I always dream of a white Christmas and some years even here in Tennessee I get it.

13.
The original version. I love this movie. Santa is real.

Thursday Thirteen 11/01/07

2007-11-01T09:58:00.001-05:00

Thirteen thing I love about November...

1. I was born in November.

2. It is finally cool enough to turn off the airconditioning most of the time.

3. Thanksgiving Dinner.

4. Friday Night Football (Go Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

5. My friend Rachel shares my birthday.

6. Leftover Halloween candy.

7. Here in the south the leaves are finally starting to change colors.

8. Backyard bonfires and a glass of wine.

9. It is time to start my Christmas shopping.

10. I love the smell of frost in the air.

11. I can justify a cup of hot chocolate.

12. It is cold enough to wear sweaters, of which I have dozens.

13. Christmas is only 7 weeks away.

My Shoes Match...

2007-10-31T06:43:00.000-05:00

OK. That seems like the most inane comment, but my shoes haven't matched for the last five weeks. They haven't matched one another, that is. Left-gray, white, and melon NewBalance. Right-first horribly awkward walking boot and then post-op shoe, brace, and the toe of my socks hanging out. I haven't worn sandals or dress shoes in five weeks. Instead of my footwear saying "F*&k me" they have said "I'm f*&ked up."

Woohoo, the orthopedic released me. He said I was healing wonderfully. I am supposed to avoid high impact sports like running and racquetball. I nearly busted out laughing when he said that. I don't think it will be a problem.

So, last light we went out for Chinese food, and I got to wear a pair of shoes. I was afraid I was going to wear the left out before I ever wore the right shoe again. Fortunately that was not the case.

So the moral of the story is get drunk. Because if I had been I would have tripped, rolled around on the ground, gotten up quickly, looked around to make sure no one saw me, and been fine. But no, I had to go and be sober at a bachelorette party.

Thursday Thirteen 10/25/07

2007-10-24T21:43:00.001-05:00

Thinking about both Halloween and my upcoming birthday, this weeks Thursday Thirteen is 13 candies I remember from my childhood...

1. I bought these with the 50 cents my uncle would give me when we stayed at his house.

2. This was another favorite purchase with those 2 quarters.

3.This might always be one of my favorite candies. It is fat free after all.

4. My Halloween stash always had several of these. My big sis hated them so I got hers too.

5. I have had my mouth stuck shut from these too many times to mention.

6. My Granny always had Sour Balls at her house.

7.My brother and I fought over PixyStix so many times. We always wanted the same colors.

8.I think I got Pez and a Pez dispenser every year for Christmas from the time I was 4 to 12.

9. I remember daring my cousin to drink a cola after eating Pop Rocks. We all knew it could make our stomachs explode ;-), but we all did it anyway.

10. Movie theater candy, watching ET on one screen while my older sister and Dad watched The Karate Kid. There was a time in my life when Ralph Macchio was considered too violent for me.

11.Oh my God I loved these. You can still order them online. :Gets out credit card: What they were fun.

12. My mother always had these in the car when we would take a road trip. Other people remember playing those travel games, looking for plates from all states, playing I Spy. We ate from almost the moment the car left the driveway.

13. I still eat these. The grape and rootbeer flavors are my favorite.

What is your favorite candy memory?

Thursday Thirteen 10/18/07

2007-10-18T09:26:00.000-05:00

Today's Thursday Thirteen.

Thirteen places I have lived.

1. Akron, OH. (This is where I was born.)

2. Ravenna, OH. (We had a Rootstown address, Mogadore phone number, and lived in Ravenna.)

3. Elora, TN. (Moved to be near my Mother's family when I was 7)

4. Flintville, TN. (Mom and Dad built a house here when I was 11)

5. Knoxville, TN. (3 years at the University of Tennessee)

6. Cleveland, TN. (2 additional years at Lee University. I left with a BS and 2 minors)

7. Fayetteville, TN. (Back home near my family)

8. Athens, AL. (Was too close to the family.)

9. Huntsville, AL. (Was too far from work.)

10. Southhaven, MS. (Husband was transferred.)

11. Memphis, TN. (I went back to nursing school. We lived in an apartment cuz we were broke.)

12. Horn Lake, MS. (My house. God, I loved that place we put in a pool. It was beautiful.)

13. Nashville, TN. (My Dad is old, sick. And I had to be closer, so we moved again.)

Tagged.

2007-10-11T14:54:00.001-05:00

So Crystal got tagged and couldn't think of eight people who haven't already been tagged. I haven't. So I figured I would help her out.

Eight Random Bits of Trivia About Me.

1. I have known one of my best friends for over 21 years. Deanna, our friendship is now legally allowed to drink.

2. I am named after a character on Dark Shadows.

3. I have 4 sister and 2 brothers, 6 neices and 8 nephews. I became a great aunt 3 years ago.

4. I have no children of my own. Except my furbaby, Sophie.

5. I typed the index of our yearbook my junior year of highschool, earning me the editor's job my senior year.

6. I married my first date.

7. I once warmed my hands with human blood. (Imagine that however you like. I might explain later.)

8. I can pick up things with my toes. I won a game picking up marbles out of a wading pool filled with water when I was a kid.

I have to agree with Crystal this has pretty much run it's course for the time being. I can't think of anyone else to tag.

Thursday Thirteen 10/11/07

2007-10-10T22:10:00.000-05:00

I love Halloween it might be my favorite holiday. So in honor of Halloween my Thursday Thirteen is 13 things I have been for Halloween.

1. Wonder Woman.

2. Muffit (The alien robot pet from Battlestar Galactica. This was back in the day of plastic suits and hard plastic masks.)

3. Princess Leia (Mom did my hair with the buns over my ears and everything.)

4. A hippie.

5. A gypsy.

6. Pirate

7. Witch

8. Devil

9. Zombie

10. Crewman from Startrek:TNG

11. Evil Fairy

12. An Accident Victim on Prom Night. (This was really an excuse to get one more wear out of a formal dress.)

13. Vampire (My perennial favorite. I have been a vampire many times. I done elaborate gothic gowns and black leather minis. You name it.

Having a hard time this year. I may still be in the boot at Halloween. It is distintly limiting my footwear options. My husband has already bought a hippie costumes. We almost never match. The best year I went as a vamp in the gothic gown. He wore his labcoat a carried a tray of bloodtubes and tourniquets. We were both "bloodsuckers."

The Perils of the Nightshift

2007-10-08T09:19:00.000-05:00

Today is serving as a reminder for me of how out of sync my life is with the rest of the world.

As some of you might know I work nights. I have for the last 5 years. I personally love it. I have always been a night person. I sleep just fine during the day(blackout liners and dark drapes.) But here it is 9:30 am on Monday morning. My work week is over. I am about to head to bed. I don't go back 'til Friday evening.

The big problem is that my NEW washer is on the fritz. When can the repairman come out? This afternoon between 1-5pm. That is like having someone come to your house between 3-7 am. I have to leave my ringer on today. Which I never do. Because at some point in my prime sleeping time a repairman from Sears is coming to my house.

Other odd things about night shift: For me it is still Sunday. I got up and went to work on Sunday and it will remain Sunday "til I sleep. I say goodmorning to people at 7pm and goodnight at 7am. I have been known to go to a bar at 7:30 in the morning. Some may ask what kinda of bar is open at 7 am? Not a good one, let me tell you. There is nothing more obscene than walking out of a dark, cave-like dive bar after drinking off a bad, bad night in emgerency medicine than to have the bright noon time sun hit you square in the face. We have looked like vampires from B movies covering our eyes and cowering away from the blinding rays.

Goodthings about nightshift. I get paid more to do the same work and the bosses are not there to look over your shoulder. When I grocery shop at 2 am, I am the only one in the store. The internet is always open. People don't call and interrupt me writing at 3 am on my days off.

This just a skewed, sleep deprived glimpse into my life.

Thursday Thirteen 9/27/07

2007-09-27T15:03:00.000-05:00

My foot has officially been broken for a week now. This is just 13 fairly random observations.

1. A week off of work is a lot more fun when you are not drugged most of the time.

2. I am a danger to myself and others while using crutches.

3. A walking boot is just as awkward as it looks.

4. According to my Orthopedic doctor it is actually against the law for me to drive with the boot on. (For the record, I will wear my post-op shoe while driving.)

5. My toes are ugly and I can't hide them with shoes.

6. My husband's solution for everything seems to be throw drugs at it. I think the dog might have stepped on my foot last night. I just remember waking up crying in pain. He puts 2 pain pills in my hand with a glass of water. I don't think I moved for several hours.

7. He says that I have been talking in my sleep.

8. Well, goody, he has been doing it for years and drugs have nothing to do with it.

9. Almost everyone has asked me if I was drunk.

10. If I had been drunk, I would not have hurt myself.

11. I haven't gotten anything done this week. The drugs make me sleepy.

12. Stairs are a bitch when you have a broken foot.

13. I can sleep any time any place. As a matter of fact I dozed off between 12 and 13.

My Clumsiness...

2007-09-25T19:16:00.000-05:00

Appearantly, my nearest and dearest friends and family think that I am clumsy. Now I have never thought I was the most graceful person in the world, but I tend to hurt myself in the stupidest ways possible.

I still have scars from tripping and falling down at a Halloween party last year. People still ask me what happened to my knees.

Thursday night I was at a bachelorette party for a friend. While walking back to one of my friend's apartment, I stumbled, but did not fall. And broke my foot. I hoped, I prayed that it wasn't broken, but I finally went to the ER to get it x-rayed. The ER I work at, I might add. So they sent me home barely able to walk that night. I missed a week's worth of work. I only work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights anyway.

Today the orthopedic put me in a walking boot. Yeah, I am not stumbling around my house with crutches anymore. Seriously, my life was in danger with those things.

I am actually excited about getting to go back to work. There is really only so much staring at the walls that I can stand. The dang foot has hurt so much that I have been drugged most of the time. So I haven't gotten any writing done. Well I could have gotten some done but it would not have made any sense at all.

Thursday Thirteen 9/20/2007

2007-09-20T11:06:00.000-05:00

Tonight I am going to be going out with a friend for what I hope is her last night on the town as a single woman. Maybe I am crazy for still believing in true love, but I hope this is her one and only marriage. I hope this truly is a forever kind of love for her. With that said I am looking back on my life. This Thursday Thirteen is thirteen reasons I am glad I am married to my wonderful husband. (I can say this here. He never reads my blog. So his head won’t swell after that announcement)

1. He loves me even when I don’t love myself.

2. There is always someone there at the end of a bad day. Sometimes to hold me and tell me that it will be better tomorrow. Sometimes to point out that it could have been worse. But in the end all I really need is him to be there.

3. I don’t have to shave my legs if I don’t want to.

4. He moves heavy things (like boxes of books) and only complains a little.

5. He thinks that I am the smartest woman he knows.

6. The thought of having to date scares the living crap out of me.

7. He gets excited about buying a new washer and dryer. He isn’t excited about needing new ones, just about picking out new appliances (Weird, I know.)

8. My husband always has some comment that makes me laugh my ass off. Never in over 14 years have I ever been bored. Annoyed maybe but never ever bored.

9. He has always done his best to be a good provider. I know that sounds old fashioned, but I have a very strong work ethic. He shares it. He would say that he just likes money, but I know better.

10. He loves my mother.

11. He likes to give me things. I insist that these gifts aren’t necessary or are too extravagant. But now that I think about it, I have never refused any of them.

12. He knows where all my spots are...

13. Almost all married people sigh wistfully when they remember the excitement of falling in love. Everything is shiny and new. And that feeling is great, but no one wants to think about the rest. The fear and insecurity that also comes with new love. Does he really love me? I’ll take a steady man that loves me day in and day out any day.

Here we are last.

This was taken last year on my birthday. My gift tickets to the CMA Awards show. They are outrageously expensive. The year before a 7 night cruise to the Caribbean. This year he wants to get me a new laptop. He said something about pink Alienware. Yep, I am pretty sure I love him.

Thursday Thirteen 9/13/07

2007-09-12T21:45:00.000-05:00

Since it is Fall Premier time. Here are 13 shows I am setting my DVR for:

In no particular order

1.Back to You. I love Kelsey Grammer. He is a TV news anchor instead of a radio therapist.

2. Torchwood. A secret goverment agency that know aliens exists.

3. NCIS. Goverment CSI. There is nothing about this show that I don't like.

4. Moonlight. Vampire fighting crime. All good things.

5. Kitchen Nightmares. I love Gordon Ramsey. This is man has no problem telling people exactly what he f-ing thinks.

6. Jericho. Post apocalyptic Kansas. Conspiracies. And Skeet Ulrich.

7. How I Met Your Mother. The only comedy. I just need to know who Ted marries.

8. ER. I have watched this so long it is a habit at this point. I have loved and hated so many characters.

9. CSI:NY . Crimes in NY. The amazing thing is that crimes in NY get solved.

10. CSI:Miami. Same thing, but more skin.

11. Bones. Again this is a near perfect show. Besides we all know how I feel about Seeley Boothe.

12. Blood Ties. Again Vampires solving crimes. Anyone else detecting a pattern here.

13. Heroes. Mutants saving the world. They have saved the Cheeleader and the World, now what? I guess the world will always need saving.

Thursday Thirteen

2007-09-05T22:50:00.000-05:00

This is the topic of my Thursday Thirteen.

While watching Bones tonight I realized that I am in absolute lust with David Boreanaz. So I found 13 of the hottest pictures of him that I could find. Actually 14 if you count this one.

1. A Vampire with a soul, what's not to love.

2. Again what isn't to love here. My god, the man is naked in a tub just waiting for... me.

3.My two favorite vampires. I am so glad I took my vitamins today.

4.I have a serious weakness for a man in leather. There is nothing in the world like a warm man wearing leather.

5. As Agent Seeley Booth , the man has a badge and a gun. And handcuffs. Dear god, the man has handcuffs.

6. Just one of the many reasons I have always wanted to be Buffy.

7. Again the man is naked in a tub. And that little bit of goatee that he has going on in this picture just increases the hotness level.

8. I confess, if David asked me to bear his love child I would. It wouldn't even be a hardship if we had to try many, many times for it to take.

9. It wouldn't be a hardship being Temperance. She is smart and beautiful. Her job wouldn't bother me at all.

10. What is it with the bathtub poses. Is the man trying to kill me?

11. Did he get caught out in the rain? Please say yes. There is just something sexy about getting caught in a rainstorm.

12. Just another sexy picture of David. He looks so moody.

13. OK. We can go skinny dipping, if you want to.

The Vampire Oracle

2007-09-04T17:47:00.001-05:00

OMG this looks amazing.

Thursday Thirteen 8/30/07

2007-08-30T08:49:00.000-05:00

Due to a schedule change at work, I unexpectedly have a week off. Seven full days off of work. I don't know what I am going to do with myself. So this list is thirteen things I am going to do this week.

1.Cook. That sounds odd doesn't it. Most people look forward to not having to cook. I love to cook. During my work week I don't have time to cook anything decent. Oh the meals I am going to make this week. I think dinner tonight might be herbed pork loin with baby Yukon Gold potatoes.

2. Read. I want to finish a couple off my TBR pile including Sherrilyn Kenyon's Devil May Cry.

3. Write. Maybe I can finish my contracted story for Cobblestone this week.

4. Party. Bachelorette party for a friend this Saturday night.

5.Visit. Labor Day Cook Out at Mom and Dad's. My sisters and younger brother as well as my neice and nephews in my parent's back yard.

6. Finish unpacking. This week I swear all of the boxes will be unpacked.

7. Sleep. The alarm clock is getting turned off. I'll sleep 'til I wake up. (That really isn't that excessive for me really. We are talking about increasing my 5.5-6 hours a day to 7.5-8 hours of sleep.

8. Set the DVR for this fall's shows. I don't watch commercials if I can do anything about it.

9. Organize. My office. File cabinet needs help. All of my softwear is piled in a box. Argh.

10. Paint. My bathroom is the only room in the house that needs to be painted. It is a horrible orange color.

11. Clean out the garage. Mostly just throw out the empty boxes.

12. Take my car to the shop. We were notified of a recall that unless repaired can cause the fuel tank to catch fire.

13. Wash my car. Don't laugh. I hate to wash my car. I have to clean out the inside, too.

Thursday Thirteen 8/23/07

2007-08-23T03:50:00.000-05:00

Here in Tennessee we are having our second week of record breaking temperatures. Our usual high for this time of year is about 86 degrees. This week and last the temperatures have been about 100. Yesterday's high was 103 degrees. So this is 13 things I hate about hot weather.

1. There is a limit to how much clothing I can take off in public. If it is cold, I can always put on a sweater, but when it is hot, I can't go naked.

2. There are place that you shouldn't sweat.

3. My grass is dead.

4. When it is 103 degrees, smoking is miserable. That doesn't mean I won't I am just miserable doing it.

5. No casual evening on the patio, smoking and drinking.

6. I think my shoes were melting and sticking to the pavement yesterday.

7. My electric bill is going to be insane this month.

8. We don't have a pool here. Our old house did. I really miss it right now.

9. The dog can't play outside, it is just too hot for her.

10. Cooking heats up the house too much.

11. I think my only tree is dead, even though we have been sneaking and watering it.

12. By the time my car cools off, I am almost at work.

13. I have my husband afraid to put his arms around me at night because it is just too dang hot to sleep like that.

Thursday Thirteen

2007-08-16T04:49:00.000-05:00

Today's Thursday Thirteen is thirteen reasons that it is wonderful to be sent from early from the ER because there are no patients.

1. There are no patients. That means there are not as many sick or injured today.

2. Extra sleep.

3. I can get up early and write this afternoon.

4. There is no traffic at 4 am.

5. I get to sleep at the same time as my husband for a while.

6. It is so much easier to fall asleep when it is dark.

7. I will have time to cook dinner this afternoon.

8. I get to skip the calories from the 5 am Mountain Dew.

9. Extra sleep.

10. It is cool and dark while I am trying to go to sleep.

11. I get to get out before the management gets in.

12. Did I mention the sleep?

13. I still get paid the same amount.

I think this might work.

2007-08-16T04:48:00.000-05:00

I think this just might work. I really like the wolf, but it was the old style and I couldn't adjust things.

Trying out new templates

2007-08-13T21:30:00.001-05:00

I like the graphics but I am not sure about the sizing, etc.

Random Thoughts.

2007-08-13T13:19:00.000-05:00

I hate this background. There were others I hated more, but this really does nothing for me. I plan to learn how to change these things myself, but who has the time. I learned one technological thing this week, and I think that is enough. I figured out how to send my gmail to my outlook. Now I know that other people have done this and easily to, I might add. But I have never really had the need to before.

My life is about to get more complicated soon. So all the things I can do to streamline things will definately come in handy. Only going one place to check my email will certainly help streamline my life.

The other fantastic thing is that we all moved in the new house. I have a kitchen of my own again. I can cook what I want to when I want to. I can also walk around naked if I want to.

So I do have a few things on my agenda. I am doing the Fast Draft challenge for the next two weeks. I have an announcement coming soon. I am taking a new position at work. Normally new positions come with more money and more hours. I will actually be working less hours for more money. I will be working every weekend, but in 3 nights I will make more than working 4 weekday nights. Of course the hope is to give me an extra day to write every week.

Thursday Thirteen

2007-07-26T10:17:00.000-05:00

Ok, since my Dad is in surgery right now and expected to be there for the next three hours, my Thursday Thirteen is thirteen reasons I love my Dad...

1. He's my Dad, duh!

2. He always has a dirty joke for me.

3. When I was 10 the closest I came to cussing was telling my brother to "stick it in his ear." My mother was so sick of hearing this that she made my Dad take me in the bathroom to wash my mouth out. He turned on the water and laughed and laughed. We splashed water on my shirt and pretended. My Mom still doesn't know.

4. He had morning sickness when Mom was pregnant with me.

5. He used to dig up worms for me to play with.

6. He loves animals as much as I do. I had many pets as a child.

7. He taught me to shoot.

8. I learned to cuss from him.

9. I found his Playboys and smokes when I was 9. He found out and told me not to tell my mother.

10. He taught me to cook.

11. He would calmly help me hide the bodies, or pay "Uncle" Angelo to take care of it completely.

12. He found the biggest, ugliest piece of Detroit steel to put his baby girl in. That meant I could put 8 friends in my car without people sitting in one another's laps.

13. He is my Dad. The person I can't wait to tell my good news to. The man who took bites out of the cookies and carrots so that two children were convinced that Santa was real. The man who suffered through band concerts, church plays, and untold numbers of "Guess what I did today Daddy." The man that might not say I love you all the time, but could always be counted on to (fill in the blank.) I could go on and on here.

Thursday Thirteen

2007-07-19T15:20:00.001-05:00

Of all the things that I brought home from Dallas the thing I wish I hadn't is a HEAD COLD. So this is thirteen reasons I hate being sick...

1. I really enjoy breathing. I don't know why, for some reason my brain likes oxygen.

2. I can't sleep. My nose keeps getting clogged up. I keep waking up to blow my nose.

3. I still have to work. It doesn't matter if I have had no sleep or if I can't breath.

4. My nose is a lovely shade of red. If I could fly, I'm sure I could give Roudolph a run for his money.

5. There is nothing more pleasant than having your nose literally dripping.

6. I sound like Darth Vader... Now as attractive as this is, I am a girl.

7. I have blown my nose so many times that it has actually started to bleed.

8. You don't even want to know about what I am coughing up.

9. Cold medicine tastes nasty.

10. Nothing tastes like food. I could be eating cardboard. I wouldn't know the difference.

11. A cold during the summer is worse than a winter cold.

12. I can't breath well enough to smoke, so I am also having Nicotine withdrawl.

13. Have I said that I really enjoy breathing.

Uggg, off to drink more cough medicine.

Thursday Thirteen

2007-07-12T16:28:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know this is kinda late but I have been busy in Dallas today.

So 13 cool things that have happened in Dallas, alright I will admit that some of them are brushes with fame...

1. I was in Crystal's room just minutes after she got "THE CALL."

2. R.G. and I were smoking and Victoria Alexander bummed a smoke from me.

3. She had Stephanie Laurens in tow. Ok so I like fawned over them.

4. I shared a cab with Susan Squires. She asked me what I write. So, I say paranormal. She says, me, too. And I am like I know, I love your stuff.

5. Showed my nipples to Feisty, she took pics.

6. Talked to Nora Roberts.

7. Helped with the Literacy Signing, and got a BUTT load of free books.

8. I got Sherrilyn Kenyon's autograph.

9. I got Jax's autograph on her book.

10. I got Eden Bradley's autograph on her book.

11. I got Gemma's on a cover flat. (Someone screwed up and put all the Dorchester books in the goody room.

12. The goody room.

13. Held Crystal's hand while she was getting her celebratory tattoo. It is so cute.

Wish you all were here.

Lia

Thursday Thirteen

2007-06-28T07:52:00.001-05:00

Thirteen of the best days of my life. This list is by no means all inclusive they are just what happen to be coming to mind.

1. My wedding day. 14 years ago this coming Monday. Our wedding wasn't much, just my family, my best friend, and my husband's best friend. We went to the court house. Got married on the court house lawn. I have not been bored in all this time. He is and always will be my friend.

2. The day my neice, Katie, was born. She has owned my heart from the first moment I saw her. My sister had a c-section and had this irrational fear that someone would switch her with another baby. I stood my the nursery window and watched her from the time my brother in law brought her in until they brought her to my sister. She spent the first night of her life sleeping on my chest.

3. The day I graduated from nursing school. My program was tough. I knew if I made it through I would be a good nurse.

4. The day I saw my brother holding his newborn son. My brother is 6'2" 280 pounds. He held that 5 pound 2 ounce baby and tickled his belly saying "Zack attack, Zack attack." Which we still say while tickling the now 2 year old.

5. My first day of college. 24000 other undergrads should be overwhelming, but it wasn't.

6. My birthday 2 years ago. We went on a cruise which was, for the most part, my gift. But when we opened the cabin door, my husband had gotten them to decorate the room. It said "Congratulations" not "Happy Birthday." But it is the thought that counts after all. (They messed up, not hubby.)

7. The first time my Dad asked me for medical advice. You mean, I might be a grown up professional whose opinion matters.

8. The day my husband entered my Mom in a Mother's Day contest and his letter won. He said that she has always made him feel like he was part of her family. Just another one of her children for better or worse.

9. The day my dog was born. She will be eight this year. She is my smoochie baby. Isn't she a pretty baby? She is sleeping in my lap right now.

10. The day one of the doctor's asked me where I used to work. I had just graduated from nursing school. He thought I had been a nurse for years.

11. The day I bought my childhood best friend's first print book. Deanna, here to you. My hats off to you. For anyone who hasn't read Undressing Mercy by Deanna Lee. I encourage you to go get it. This shameless plug is totally unsolicitated. She got me off my butt and writing again. For that alone, I will always thank her.

12. The day my husband surprised me with front row tickets to Tim McGraw. I was close enough to touch him. I did get to grab the butt of Big Kenny from Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy is fine.

13. Father's Day 3 years ago. My Dad had a fairly expensive grill on layaway. He had only paid the minimum. I went down and payed it off except for one dollar. I finally had the money to do something like that for my family who have never asked for anything from me, even though I have the money to spare and they don't.

OK, I am hoping I can add being published myself and having a baby to this list. I wonder how adoption agencies will view romance author on the application. Might need to downplay that aspect of my life.

Lia

Freaky Friday

2007-06-22T10:17:00.000-05:00

Ok I am going to add a Freaky Friday post. Gives me something to blog, cuz I don't talk about myself. So here goes. I have decided to comb the internet for the weirdest thing I can find. Actually, I'm not sure I can ever top this first one, but I will give it my best.

There is very little that makes me scratch my head and wonder WTF. This certainly did that.

Here is a link to one of the strangest sex toys I have ever seen.

Lia

Thursday Thirteen

2007-06-21T07:08:00.001-05:00

As most of you might know, we had a house fire in May. Since then we have been staying with my husband's sister and her husband. It has been.... Let's just say that I am overjoyed to have signed a lease yesterday. So in honor of that here is thirteen reasons it is good to have your own place.

1. I get to walk around in my underwear or less.

2. No waiting for the bathroom.

3. If my laundry gets all wrinkled, it is my fault.

4. My dog getting blamed for their dog peeing in the floor.

5. I can sit on the patio and work without my husband calling me antisocial.

6. I can stay up til 3 in the morning working if the inspiration strikes.

7. I can get my books out of storage!!!!!

8. I can buy groceries and no one else will eat them.

9. I can cook healthy stuff. (They don't eat veggies, onions, or herbs. The contents of the spice rack are: salt, pepper, and seasoned salt. We added dill and parsley because my SIL loves my dill dip.)

10. I get to buy new furniture.

11. I won't have to freeze to death every morning (I think the thermostat is on 55.)

12. I don't have to keep it down, because no one is sleeping 10 feet away.

13. Four adults, two dogs, and a ferret in a two bedroom, one bath house, enough said.

Thursday Thirteen

2007-06-14T15:41:00.001-05:00

Thirteen Things about working night shift.

1. I routinly sleep until 3 or 4 in the afternoon.

2. I have been know to get hammered at 8 in the morning.

3. I eat dinner at 3am.

4. On my day off, when I am writing, no one calls to try and sell me anything at 2 am.

5. I can drink a Venti 5 shot Americano at midnight and worry that it will keep me up.

6. I am not a morning person.

7. Breakfast is available 24-7 at Waffle House.

8. Dinner is available 24-7 at Waffle House.

9. I can tell telemarketers to piss off, cause I am not responsible for anything I say when you wake me up.

10. I can grocery shop in 30 minutes at 4am.

11. Night shift in the Emergency Room is very, very interesting.

12. Night shift slows down when I do. It's busy at first when I am fresh, and when I am tired it slows down.

13. I get paid $4 dollars more an hour for doing the exact same job.

Thursday Thirteen

2007-05-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

Thirteen movies I could watch again and again and again, and I have

1. Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves.

2. Armageddon. At the end where Harry tells Grace that he isn't coming home, I cry every time.

3. Titanic. To me, the best part is her dropping the necklace back into the sea.

4. Pearl Harbor. The best of both worlds, a love story with war in it so your husband will watch it with you.

5. The Patriot. I love everything about this movie.

6. G.I. Jane. When she shaves her head and goes back and beats them at their own game, you go girl.

7. Independence Day. I love Jeff Goldblum. Randy Quaid was so funny.

8. Dirty Dancing. Nothing needs to be said here.

9. John Carpenter's Vampires. I love James Woods in this.

10. Blade: Trinity. I love Ryan Reynolds. He is such an adorable smart-ass.

11. Young Guns. Just about everyone I had a crush on at 14.

12. Dracula. With Gary Oldman as Dracula. I wrote a paper my freshman year of college about this being the ultimate love story. Dracula loved his bride so much that he was willing to damn his soul to hell if she wasn't going to heaven. Then at the end, he couldn't damn her along with him.

13. Tombstone. Val Kilmer is the most attractive dying man I have ever seen.

Lia

Almost outta here...

2007-04-30T08:02:00.000-05:00

I leave for Texas this week. I have one more day at work, tomorrow, then all I have to do is load up the Surburban and drive to Texas. I only have a few things more to pack. I should know about my housing today. MUST call and get highspeed internet set up. That is an absolute must have. Can't face life without highspeed internet.

Lia

Still sick...

2007-04-20T07:33:00.000-05:00

But what is even worse is that Mr. Morgan is coming down with it as well. He called in sick this morning. I really don't care, but I am going to get nothing done today. He is going to be underfoot and whining all day long. And I really have a lot to do today. We leave for Texas in less than two week. I still have so much to do.

Well, I must get off my butt and get some of it done.

Lia

Thursday Thirteen

2007-04-19T08:23:00.000-05:00

Things I have helped remove or seen removed from the human body (Some I'll tell you from where, others you will have to guess)....

1. 3 golf balls

2. Gatorade bottle

3. A can of shaving cream

4. Electric toothbrush (still running)

5. Cockroaches (always in ears)

6. An apple and a jar of grape jelly (Smuckers seriously needs to talk to someone about their product placement)

7. Glass Coke Bottle

8. Untold numbers of adult toys

9. A glue stick

10. A Rock (shoved up a 2 year-old's nose)

11. Car Keys (If your boyfriend is trying to leave, your vagina is the last place he will look for his keys. Just make sure you can reach them)

12. A flashlight still on. (The look on the doctor's face when we got the patient up in stirrups was priceless.)

13. A fork, tines down. (Apparently, you should never piss off a bunch of frat boys then pass out at their house.)

These have all occured in the last 3 and a half years since I started in the ER.

Lia

I'm sick...

2007-04-16T14:46:00.000-05:00

It was about 35 degrees and raining yesterday when I was moving things to our storage unit. About 4:30, I started coughing and hacking. I couldn't breathe. I was wheezing. They took one look at me and sent me home, with scripts. This morning, I am not much better.

I hate being sick.

UGH!!!! Moving

2007-04-15T09:37:00.000-05:00

So today while Mr. Morgan is working, I am taking things over to our storage unit. We are giving away our guest bedroom furniture and sofa. We had an apartment complex burn down here about a week and a half ago, leaving many families with nothing. So we are taking the opportunity to reduce the amount of things we have to store.

Actually, I can't wait to hit the road and start traveling.

Lia

Ideas at the strangest times

2007-04-13T16:10:00.000-05:00

OK, somewhere in the utter chaos of the Emergency Room I had an idea for a new story. You should have seen my co workers faces when the first thing I do when I walk out of the room is grab my notebook and start scrawling down notes.

So I had a good idea, hopefully something will come of it.

Lia

2007-04-12T17:26:00.000-05:00

Thirteen things in my work bag.

1. Pens, maybe 10-15. Drug rep pens are the best.

2. My notebook. I don't leave home without it.

3. Marlboro Light 1oo and Lighter

4. Lighter.

5. Stethoscope.

6. Pen Light.

7. Kim Harrison's For A Few Demons More.

8. Zip drive.

9. Trauma scissors.

10. Hemostats.

11. Sharpies.

12. Lipgloss

13. Gum

Lia

Accumulated Junk

2007-04-09T16:16:00.000-05:00

So my husband and I have decided to be travel nurses for awhile. The benefits are really great. The housing is furnished, and if we really don't like the hospitals, we only have to be there for 3 months. The plan is to do this for a couple of years, save the money to buy a house, and we get to explore the country. The added benefit is that this is suppossed to give me more time to research and write. We will both be making more money doing this.

And now for the downside. We own too much stuff. I bought a Suburban this week so that we will have enough room for all our things. In two hours last night I gathered up 2 large garbage bags of clothes to take to Goodwill. I haven't touched Mr. Morgan's stuff yet. He would be perfectly content to get rid of everything and buy new.

We have a little over 3 weeks to put everything in storage and get to Texas for the first assignment. He hasn't balked at all when I told him our summer assignments have to be where ever the RWA convention is. Dallas area this summer, San Franciso next year. The hardest thing is putting all of my precious books in a box and maybe not seeing them again for 2 years. Going to be buying more ebooks for their portability. And the fact he won't know how many I own. Sneaky, I know.

But I have been going through things wondering why we have kept them this long. I have a 13 year old suede skirt. It still fits. I have maybe worn it 20 times. Why do I still own this? The list goes on and on...

Real Life Interferes Again

2007-04-06T07:04:00.000-05:00

Work has really been just about all I could take this week. I was scheduled for 60 hours this week. Then a family emergency cropped up on Thursday morning. So I spent most of the morning at the hospital after working the night before. I missed Thursday night at work. So I got nothing done. My sleep cycle is all messed up. So I will be awake for 27 hours before I get to sleep again.