Crushing this

I've always had crushes. In the 1970s, I was that teenager with centerfolds on my bedroom walls. Teen Beat was my jam and where my money was spent. I had mad love for Shaun Cassidy, Lance Kerwin, and Parker Stevenson.

In the 1980s, it was sports figures from our local college basketball team and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tom Selleck. And that's also when I began to spend money on Harlequin Romance books.

By the 1990s, I'd moved to Florida and that phase of collecting crush pictures and displaying them went to the wayside. Instead, my walls were adorned with pictures of my family and friends. Then came the husband and two children and all of that worshipping of men and women I didn't know left me...

Or not. 

One of the things I truly love about this new romance writing career is that I am not alone in my outside reality love interests. In the writing groups, there is plenty of talk of crushes and who brings us inspiration. Most of the authors have hot men or women as their phone screen savers, and without fail, there is always talk of romantic television shows and the characters and actors who portray them. Suddenly, I'm no longer alone! Who cares if my desk is full of Jason photos? 

Tom: "Yeah, you have too many of those."

This summer, I began bingeing Lucifer on Netflix. Darcy watched this show years ago. Tom watched season one last year. I've seen bits and pieces through their viewing, but it took my car salesman to tell me I really needed to check it out for that to happen.

HOLY HOTNESS ALERT!! 

The lead? Tom Ellis? Where has this man been all of my life? Aiyiyi! Even now, I'm fanning myself. Move over, Jason Momoa! (Not too far, though, boo, you're still in my top three.)

I'm not sure how the show got past Fox's sensors for three years because it is sexy. When Fox abruptly canceled it, viewers began a save-the-show campaign, and Netflix picked it up. God bless Netflix. Because the difference from cable to streaming? Yum! I've currently finished season four. That's where Darcy left off, so the two of us started from the beginning so she could reacquaint with the show before we start season five. Season six, the final season, begins in September. 

Darcy: "I told you it was a show for you."

Yep, so right she was! 

Every time my friend texts me in the evening, I'm watching the show. When I took care of her dog for several overnighters, I ran through multiple episodes, texting her photos of Netflix's version of Lucifer without clothes. Uh-huh. God bless Netflix!

When my friend returned from vacation, she and her daughter brought me this gift.

I laughed so hard. Tom and Madison rolled their eyes.

Darcy: "Oh. My. God!"

This past week we had our writer's meeting, and without any prompting from me, Lucifer was brought up. I later texted a photo of my gift to one of the women and told her it was my gift for watching my friend's dog.

Her: "I'll watch her dog!"

Isn't it crazy? Suddenly, I'm right where I should be. With people who understand me. 

Never give up your dream. I've heard that forever. I'm a believer now.

Slowly coming back

Book #2 is done. Well, done as in finished in this phase. Next comes beta reading. I need three or four people to read my book, offer suggestions, slash it to smithereens if need be, and help me tighten it. I think I'm leaning toward indie publishing as opposed to traditional. The more I learn--and believe me, I've taken so many courses and attended so many conferences in the past few months--the more I see the benefit. At least for me. 

I've been out of the workforce--aka working for someone else--for almost twenty years. I don't think I could go back. My mouth would get me into trouble. And working for some kid? Like the same age as the two girls who reside in my house while I cook their meals, wash their clothes, and clean their bathroom? Yeah, trust me--my mouth would get me in trouble.

So, as of now, I'm contemplating publishing my own books. This means I need three books written and edited before distributing the first one. There's a plan in the industry, and I'm determined to follow it if I want to be successful. So, since my RAMP debut, I've worked. I've written, and re-written, and re-written. I've attended conferences. I've taken online classes. I've edited. I've edited again. And again. I've navigated the author's world of social media. I've tweeted. I've Instagramed. Now, I'm moving onto the next stage of beta reading. 

And this is my excuse for WHY I HAVEN'T BLOGGED. 

Well, that and nothing exciting has been happening in my life. I mean, I get up. I walk in the god-forsaken Florida heat and humidity. I then get in my pool and exercise some more. Or sometimes I stretch. Or read on a raft. Then I have breakfast and coffee, work on my online farm, and then go into the office to work. Once a week I run errands.

My two-month-old car only has driven 600 miles and that includes an airport drop off/pick up and a move home the kid from college several cities over. My butt is in a chair in front of two computer monitors, a keyboard, and Jason Momoa. Ever. Single. Day. Including weekends.

I'm serious about this career.

So, for those who hop on here hoping for laughter or some eye-rolling or cute stories, I'm sorry I've been missing in action. I've added the big things in our lives just to keep track. This is, after all, a journal of our lives that someday I hope my girls will appreciate. My goal is to creep back into updating this site. If you check in periodically, rest assure I'm working to come back. If you've left me altogether, well, I get it. Want a beta read a romance book instead?

Back to a family of four

The youngest is officially back home. Darcy moved back in July before she left for a two-week camp counseling job. Together, with her friend, the three of us packed and loaded the last loads from her apartment, save for a few minor things. Everything sat in our garage for over a week before the hubby called foul. Then, while Darcy was off interpreting for children camping, Maddy and I went through Darcy's stuff and made a pile of things to keep, toss, and store. Tom took the last pile to our storage unit, and little by little, I moved the keep stuff into the house.

We couldn't put it into her room because we hired our neighbor to build her a closet. Her room was an add-on room by the former house owners. To get into her room, one had to go through Madison's room. We added another door when we moved in, but we solved the closet problem by ignoring it. At the time, we were two adults. How many closets did we need?

After Darcy came along, we purchased armoirs, going up in size as she grew. Now, we're to the point where she's outgrown even those. Well, that and they aren't even made anymore. Madison designed a very nice closet design, and we begged our neighbor for help in building it. He agreed, took measurements, and then got busy in his world of kitchen remodeling. We had to wait.

Then Darcy moved home, and she went over and begged him. Really, she only accompanied Tom to the neighbor's, but her sad, pleading face must have done the trick because a couple weeks later, he said he would do the job. And he did! 

While Darcy was away at camp. It was a nice surprise for her when she came home for all of twenty-four hours. Then she was back at her apartment for job-related things. She officially moved out at the end of the month, turned in her keys, and came home.

Darcy: "The plan is to save money for a year. Here are my dirty clothes."

It's a relief to have them both under my roof. Even though it isn't what either wants. I remember. I lived at home until I moved to Florida before I turned 26. ACK! But now, kids can't afford to live alone. Not here in Florida, where rent for a decent one-bedroom is over $1500. Not during a crazy pandemic where working in person is few and far between. For now, it makes sense they come home.

Darcy is a contractual employee with five interpreting companies. She'll be doing a lot of driving. In the meantime, she's supplementing her income by becoming a barrista. Madison is back to teaching in the classroom. 

Funny how that empty nesting thing didn't last long.

More bad news...or is it?

The day after my van died, our refrigerator died. Like my car issues, the refrigerator has always been a thorn in my side. Let me count the ways:

• Tom purchased it while I was out of town. I had no idea what it looked like.
• The seal around the freezer broke. We had it repaired.
• The ice maker kept freezing underneath the catch bin. We had it repaired.
• That repair did not fix the problem. Every week we had to take off the bin and defrost it.
• The dispenser on the front door dripped water. I always had streaks.
• It didn't hold much food.
• It was hard to clean (although that was more due to our small space than the refrigerator)

I swore I would never purchase a side-by-side refrigerator. Yet, somewhere between my old and my new one, I changed my mind. It was a mistake. Why I thought there would be more room is beyond me. Unfortunately, there isn't. Don't kid yourself.

The repairman appeared. He was a man of few words. That is until he saw the magnet on our refrigerator from Oleg's family. Then, his whole face lit up with joy.

Him: "That's Ukraine!"

I explained how my daughter was dating someone from Ukraine. He told me that was where he was from. We were buddies from then on. He first thought the problem was simple. I waged internally with this news.

Me: "This is good. We have car problems that are going to cost an arm and a leg. We can't afford another expense. But I hate that refrigerator. It doesn't work. Why can't the damn thing die? No! No! We need this to be an easy fix!"

Things like that. 

He had to pull the refrigerator out from the wall, and he wasn't keen on letting me sweep behind it. So every time he disappeared to his truck, I'd take a stab at cleaning up the dust bunnies and various nonsense that had fallen behind the refrigerator. I washed all of the internal pieces that he took out. I was quite the little helper. Meanwhile, my food, which was semi still frozen, was defrosting on my kitchen table.

Then the repairman announced the problem was not simple. He had defrosted the refrigerator to where it worked, but the part we needed would be $500, and it would take six weeks to arrive. I called the hubby and handed him the phone. They discussed it. Tom asked for his opinion. Fix or not? I crossed my fingers and internally hoped for not, and when that came out of my Ukrainian friend's mouth, I happy danced around the kitchen.

Yes, people, I was happier about getting a new refrigerator than I was about getting a new car. Ah, the life of a housewife!

I immediately jumped on researching and had several picked out to look at when we got to Home Depot. Tom had one in mind that the finance guy at the dealership had suggested. When Home Depot's employees were not helpful--or courteous--we went to Lowe's, where we had a delightful, helpful employee. In less than fifteen minutes, we were the proud owners of a new appliance. And yes, it was the one Tom wanted. But, in my defense, it was on sale and AVAILABLE THE NEXT DAY!! 

It doesn't exactly fit in our small space. It encroaches past the door leading to our garage, and despite the removal of the molding and other stuff on the wall, it is a problem we decided we could live with. We did discover that a roller was missing from the drawer in the refrigerator, but Lowe's assured us they would bring out a new drawer the following day. 

Instead, they brought us another refrigerator. I'm not kidding. When the lady called to tell us this was how they did things--and she was scoffing and rolling her own eyes at admitting this--we told her there was no way in hell we weren't just taking the drawer. 

Which we did. The delivery people loved us. And I love my new refrigerator, even though I never use the knock-knock feature for the light to come on so that I can see what's inside my refrigerator even before opening it.

I also did not hug my old refrigerator like I did my van. I shouted good riddance and then happy danced all around the house.

But that's it. Nothing else can break. Seriously.

Another car story

Tom's car sat in our driveway for a couple of weeks until he sold it for parts. He had my car one day before one of the tires went flat, and he had to replace all four of them. I harassed him a bit about that--in jest, of course--but I think it probably occurred when I rescued him on the bridge. The area where he'd pulled over was quite the spot for broken-down vehicles and tow trucks. I wouldn't doubt I picked up something in the tire there.

No matter. The van looked spiffy with new wheels, and Tom drove her most days except when I needed her. Maddy became my chauffeur, which was nice, but the thought of not coming and going when I wanted was tough. Not that I get out much. But, need milk? Nope, I don't have a car.

One evening, Tom and I went to Grammy's. On the way to her house in the van (with Tom driving), the fuel indicator light came on, and the van began its familiar sputtering while stopped. Now, those who read this blog know this isn't my first rodeo with that light coming on. For those who aren't familiar but care to see, you can find those here and here. 

We made it to Grammy's and later back home. The next day the van went into the shop. Where we were told the SAME THING, WE WERE TOLD LAST TIME. I made sure to get it from the horse's mouth.

Owner: "Hondo recalled that issue years ago. We told you that the last time you brought the van in."

Me: "Yeah, well, Honda told me, according to my VIN number, all was fine."

Owner: "Idiots."

Mechanic: "Listen, I'm the one who worked on your van. I've got a buddy who works for Honda. He said this is a huge problem that doesn't get better even after it's repaired. So my advice to you is to get Honda to fix it, and that's going to be a big if since the recall expired already, and then sell the damn van."

Me: "Can't you just fix it?"

Mechanic: "For about six grand! Honda will do it for free!"

Me: "If they honor the recall that has expired."

Mechanic: "Yeah, there is that. But I think they'll fix it. And then you sell the van and get something else."

I did not cry in front of them, although I may have mentioned we were already down one car and had already replaced one kid's car. They pursed their lips, gave me sad eyes, and nodded in solidarity, but unless I was forking over six grand and having them fix it, what did they care? I appreciated them faking it, though.

So, Tom called and made an appointment with Honda for the next day. Then, he decided that we should take the mechanic's word and get another car. I reminded him that he needed a car. He shrugged and said we'd worry about it later. 

Tom: "I'm concerned that Honda isn't going to honor the recall because it expired in 2018."

Me: "So, if I had just taken it to a Honda dealer in SC when it first happened, this might have been a non-issue."

Tom: "We can't speculate about what-ifs. But, we also can't keep driving this van because it is in serious condition, and I don't want the engine to blow. So, we hope Honda will honor it and fix it, and then we get rid of it. If they don't, then I'm going to insist they help us with a deal on another car."

And off he went the next morning to the Honda dealership. As soon as he set off down the road, he noticed the fuel pump indicator light was not on, and the car was driving nicely like it had been since January. 

Tom: "It was the weirdest thing ever. I mean, nothing. It ran like a dream."

He turned it over to the mechanic and explained the issue. The mechanic said the recall had expired, but he'd check things out. He told Tom to sit down, and off he went with the van. Tom instead went into the dealership. 

Tom: "And while I was with the dealer learning that leasing is the way to go during this crazy car-buying time, the mechanic returned with a perplexed look on his face and told me there was nothing wrong with the van and did I want an oil change?"

Me: "Dear God, the mysterious fairy has reappeared!!"

Tom: "It doesn't matter. We can't keep driving the van. You know, and I know that the light is going to come back on. The van is going to break, and we need to get rid of it before it costs us more than what it is worth. I had them appraise it, and we can turn it over to them when you find something you want."

So, the next day he sent me off to test-drive vehicles. I reminded him that he had no car, but he insisted I have mine first. Whatever. Darcy came with me, and we entertained our salesman--the greatest guy EVER. 

After spending--and I'm not joking about this--twelve hours at the dealership in two days, Tom and I both left with two leased vehicles, a new insurance company with lower rates, and a newfound friendship. While I have quite a bit of anxiety over this, I do love the new car smell. Now, if I only had somewhere to go...

Six month resolution check

Every two months, I check in to see how I'm doing on my New Year's resolutions. I give myself a score between 1-10 with the hopes that I'm perfect by the end of the year. 

Let's check-in (6 months):

•  To be like 2020 Rebel Wilson and make this year a focus on health - I've continued walking, but I can't say I've been good with the eating. Some days, I'm great. Others, not so much. Score: 5

• To eat breakfast before I drink my morning coffee - I have conquered this resolution. Score: 10

• To think of three positive, happy, uplifting things for every negative thought that runs into my head - And this one, which I have to say has been great for mental health. Score: 10

• To edit book one and complete book two in all phases and attempt to publish. - Book one is currently being worked on and book two is complete! Score: 8

• To continue down the path of completing past resolutions - Too busy with writing to work on this one. Score: 0

• To learn Russian - I was doing great with this, and then summer hit, Oleg left, and I haven't studied the language at all. Score: 0

Total Score: 33 out of 50 - Guess I'm going to be buckling down these next two months!

Our June summer

June came and went in a blink of an eye. I used to think this during the summers when the girls were young. You know, no school, no routines, nothing but endless days of vacationing and fun. Yet, summer flew by, and I used to think that one day when school was no more, summer would gradually meander. Yeah, no. It isn't happening. Maybe it's because one daughter is home and the other is on the verge of returning? 

The month began with another overnight foray for me. My local writing group had a weekend conference where I apparently forgot all about the pandemic. Not only did I forget to bring masks with me, but when I got them, I didn't use them. I wined and dined out, and handwashing and sanitizer seemed like a distant memory. Yes, yes, I've been vaccinated, and I've gotten the memo on how protected I am. Guess what? Several days later, I was sick in bed with a sinus infection!

My job at the conference was selling tickets for the 40+ raffle baskets. I got close and personal with every attendee. I handled money. I haven't handled dollar bills in over a year! Still, it was tons of fun. I put myself out there and met new people. I learned tons of new information about the writing business. All of it sustained me while I spent the next few days in bed and on the couch, sniffling and blowing and whining about how the real world outside my home sucked.

Also, at the beginning of the month, my SIL and family from Chicago visited. She and Darcy share the same birthday, so we were able to celebrate them together. We had dinner at a restaurant of Darcy's choosing.

Darcy: "I turned 21 during a pandemic! I couldn't go out and celebrate that milestone. I had to legally drink at my house with my parents. I don't want to hear it!"

Nancy: "Okay, you win."

Then we went back to Grammy's and had cake and champagne. Oleg arrived from the other coast to spend the weekend, and the visit was filled with lots of cards, beach time, and swimming. Unfortunately, I missed out on most of it since I was at the conference, but the cousins had such a good time they made plans for the girls and Oleg to visit them in July.

My writing program with RWA heated up in June. With only one month left before we submitted our work, everyone was furiously writing and finishing up manuscripts and pitches. It was a flurry of activity, and I was very sorry to have it all end. I got so much out of working closely with an expert in the field. This month was an introduction to social media as an author. I had to start a Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram account in my pen name, and I tweeted and instagramed the heck out of June! While nothing came of the showcase (which turned out to be a dud), I got exactly what I wanted from the program, and I hope my mentor and I stay in touch. Frankly, truth be told? I wished she'd edit anything I ever write again. 

As great as the beginning of June began, the month slowly went downhill. First, Madison and I got sick. Then Darcy fell next. She spent the month running back and forth between here and her apartment at school, taking jobs as they were available. Finally, Tom's car, which stranded him on the causeway at the end of May, died. The engine blew, and it wasn't worth it to fix, and since I hardly go anywhere, I told him to take my van. 

Me: "We can manage through the summer. The girls will be here. We can drive you to work if and when I need the car. That will give us three months of saving for another vehicle."

Yep, folks. That's what's called foreshadowing...

Another trip south

Oleg accepted a job with a company on the other coast, and so we packed up his apartment, hired a big truck, and took a road trip to move him south. He drove his car, Tom drove the truck, and Darcy and I drove my van with Grammy in the backseat, along for the adventure.

Grammy's college friend lives in that same area, and since they hadn't seen one another in while, she joined us so she could spend some time with her friend. Because Darcy had to pick up a prescription, we were late getting on the road. Tom insisted we avoid the toll roads so by the time the van head out, approximately twenty minutes or more after the other two, we hit every single light. On the two-lane road. Then we got behind big trucks. On the two-lane road. Then our windshield was attacked by lovebugs, and when I say that, I mean they were smacking into the glass at a rate of three per second until Darcy could barely see out to drive.

We had to pull over at a gas station just to wash the windshield. This was also during the week of the "big gas shortage" due to the pipeline hack, which shouldn't have affected our area, but, of course, people panicked. Like they did with the toilet paper. So, when we finally found a gas station, not only were we thrilled to be cleaning our windshield, we were thrilled to find gas!

Every single car in line was really there for the windshield cleaner and scraper, but hey, since there was gas, well everyone filled up too.

I took the wheel then, told Darcy we were done with the no-toll roads, got on to the interstate, and we ended up arriving at our destination just as the men were getting out of their cars. Oh, and the bug situation? They weren't immune either.

Oleg found a roommate and is sharing a two-bedroom townhouse. We met the guy who was quite chill about all of us traipsing in and out of his house, bumping furniture into his walls, and chatting a mile a minute as we did so. 

The men returned the truck while Darcy and I set up Oleg's bedroom with Grammy's advice from her perch on the bed. Then we thanked the roommate and met the men for dinner. Where Grammy discovered she'd left her wallet back home. 

That was several minutes of frantically emptying her purse and digging through the van, but a call to her SIL who went to her house turned up the wallet. It's now our new family joke.

Grammy: "This is my treat!"

Us: "Uh-huh, left your wallet at home again, didn't you?"

We spent several days at the resort further south from Oleg's. Grammy visited with her friend. Darcy and Oleg had a date night to finally celebrate his new job and their graduation. I got to swim laps in a pool larger than my backyard one, and Tom...well, he did a lot of driving, getting people to and fro. 

Saying goodbye to Oleg on Sunday was quite sad. There were a lot of tears. But, as we reminded him, we're only a three hour, bugs in our windshield, drive away!

And then, I made him send me a selfie of his first day of work on Monday!

Yay to new beginnings!

Grad pics 2021

CONGRATS!!! Class of 2021!

 

And how about another one?

 

Oleg only had his allotted two tickets, and they went to me and Darcy. Prior to Darcy's graduation, Tom had groused about being left out of attending. There was talk of sneaky inside, of smuggling tickets, and other various scenarios that caused me stress. Then we went to Darcy's.

Me: "Still eager to attempt to get in tonight for Oleg's graduation?"

Tom: "It's all yours."

But he did watch from home. Madison sent us a video of him following her around with his computer while the same announcer read off the graduating senior names. People, it was tedious!

Our view was from the other side of where we had been for Darcy's, so we had a view of the stage this time. His chair was at the back where we were seated, and like Darcy, we could see him, and he could see us. 

Oleg's name was almost the last of the bunch. He'd warned us that as soon as his name was called he was out of there. And, three hours later, we were. 

And back home we went for more cake and celebrating! Oleg's headed this week for his new job on the other coast working in his field as a computer guru coder, and we couldn't be more proud of him. While he fell short by a smidgen of Darcy's 4.0 GPA, he too worked hard while working several jobs, and let's not forget, in another country!

Congrats, Oleg! We are so proud of you and can't wait to watch you grow!

College graduation 2021- Darcy

 

It wasn't exactly the graduation we might have pictured when she first started college, but at least there was a celebration and recognition. Even if all she did was stand when her name was called. 

But we were there, and we could see her and she could see us. And it was indoors and not in the hot sun, and we only had to attend one ceremony instead of several. Although, sitting for three-plus hours, listening to the same voice call 1928374 names might have been just as bad. But we only complained...well, tons.

Happy Graduation to my baby!

Due to COVID, graduation was held at the same venue where my girls graduated high school, that of the Tampa Bay Rays stadium, and only two people were allowed per student. One of Darcy's friends gave her two tickets so Maddy and Oleg were able to attend too, and since the friend's tickets were way better than Darcy's, those are the seats where Tom and I sat. 

Darcy was seated in the front with the other King O'Neal Scholar Award winners. This is an award given to those graduating students who complete their undergraduate coursework with a 4.0 GPA. They received special recognition, a certificate, and a medallion of the University seal.

She worked extremely hard for this award while working two jobs, one of them as a supervisor, and volunteering with various organizations. The things this kid accomplished in her four years of college astonished me. Truly. 

She graduated from the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders. As an ASL interpreter, she has already accepted jobs with two agencies and will spend a week working at a camp for the deaf. She is waiting to hear how she did on her certification exam, and depending on that score, will be able to apply with the school systems, etc. 

We celebrated with breakfast (and mimosas) afterward in an actual restaurant, and then went home for celebratory cake before we did it all over again that evening with Oleg.

This kid is ready to fly! We couldn't be more proud of the woman she has become, and we wait eagerly to see what is next. Congrats Darcy! We love you, and we are SO proud of everything you've done!