…a watched phone never rings and wishing with all your might doesn’t make things happen.
My DH had a phone interview on Monday morning. He’s applied for 25 jobs and this is only his second interview. Now I’ve never heard of doing a preinterview phone interview but apparently that is what company XYZ does. They call you, chat you up and get to know you then have someone else call and chat you up.
DH is feeling pretty low lately. I mean think about it…no job for 8 months, how would YOU feel?
Everytime the phone rings, I jump in my seat, hoping and praying it’s a job offer for DH. Everytime his inbox alert chimes, I race over to see if there is good news waiting there.
And on top of it all, DD is sick. She managed to stay healthy when we had health insurance…now that we don’t, the poor kid is sick as a dog. Fever, swollen glands, coughing, sniffling, sneezing, aching, stuffy headed…She sounds terrible and feels even worse. We’re taking her to the doc in about half an hour. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let it be nothing major!
So here’s my list for Santa:
A Job for DH
Health for DD (as well as all my friends and loved ones)
More time with family
Money to pay all our bills
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Oh and a contract on the submissions I have out would be nice too…
What are YOU hoping to find in your stocking?
Hugs
Donica
Several weeks back my daughter and sister in law “kidnapped” Alyx for the afternoon—giving her mommy and daddy a well-deserved rest for the afternoon—and took her to the Wild Bird Sanctuary here in Missouri.
They had a wonderful time, visiting our fine-feathered friends, learning history of the birds and other tidbits of information.
Then came the most exciting part of the day! My daughter was able to have her picture taken with (I think) a Harris Hawk—please don’t quote me I could be wrong. IF I have misidentified the bird, would you please kindly correct me in the comments? THANK YOU!
Anyway, I LOVE this photo!
Isnt it GREAT?!?!?! That look is just….Priceless!
The next outing, when it’s warmer is one I want to go along for. To the Wolf Sanctuary. When I was a little girl there were representatives from the Wolf Sanctuary who came to the public library while I was there. They brought in this AMAZINGLY beautiful black she-wolf. Now I’m sure this magnificent animal is no longer among the living but it is a wonderful memory.
Well, I’d better get busy. Lots to do and running out of time to do it!
Hugz til next we meet!
Donica
I’m here to blog about my trip to The Nutcracker—or as in my nervous state on Thursday accidentally typed: The Butcracker…
Let’s begin at the beginning. As I’ve well established I’m a bit of an agoraphobic. HATE new experiences, crowds, highway driving, being in over crowded public places…new experiences…
Thursday as the time gets closer for my adventure; I’m well and truly panicked. What am I to wear? How do I get to the theater? I can’t eat because my stomach is torn apart. For the first time I can remember I’m so freaked out I literally broke out in HIVES. I had blotches all over my face, chest, arms and legs.
I finally decide to dress in gray slacks and a mauve bell sleeved sweater with black patent leather Mary Janes. As I’m trying to get dressed, the hives are itchy welts, my hands are shaking, my palms are sweaty, my head is killing me and I just want to curl into a ball and die. I would much rather fight a pair of grizzly bears in a packed rattlesnake den, surrounded by webs filled with black widow spiders than do this…
I’m trying to fix my hair and pull out my curling iron—which I have set at molten lava. I discover this because as I’m trying to lightly curl my bangs the rod slips in my sweating palms and leaves a huge burn across my forehead. Fortunately, my limp bangs cover it.
Putting on makeup proves to be a challenge as I can’t get my contacts in my eyeballs and am forced to wear my glasses. I can’t see to apply evening’s war paint and grab my bronzer instead of my pressed powder.
Ever seen the movie Bride Wars? Remember the traffic cone scene? Yeah…
I try to apply mascara and jab myself in the eye.
DH has sweetly made dinner, which I am unable to eat.
I take the directions, load DD into the truck and we start off down the highway. I’m smoking like a chimney trying to calm my frazzled nerves. The highway I need to take has been closed for the last two years due to construction. Needless to say the directions aren’t helpful—fortunately I had the forethought to print up alternate route maps—YAY me!
The alternate route has me taking a LEFT handed freeway exit. And immediately upon landing on new interstate I need to be in the RIGHT lane as my exit is…righthere! No one is a polite driver, they’re all whizzing by, honking at the fruitcake in the pickup.
Screw it says I, I’m older, bigger and have more insurance—I grab the bull by the balls and tear over to the lane I need to be in. A Prius decides discretion is the better part of valor and stops so I can get in without incident.
We arrive and find a nearby lot completely wide open. We’ve arrived over 75 minutes EARLY. GREAT…
We find a nice little restaurant, enter and order hot chocolate.
Have I mentioned I DO NOT LIKE NEW EXPERIENCES??? I’ve never set foot in this establishment before and am very nervous as there is a huge line out the door and the place looks like the White Rabbit’s house after Alice eats the magic button…
It takes them fifteen minutes to make the hot chocolate, we don’t have silverware and the hot chocolate wasn’t mixed properly. So at the bottom of the empty mugs is this HUGE clump of cocoa mix begging to be eaten—and me without a spoon.
DD and I begin chatting about her grades and how much she loves Russian and French. She tells me that she is planning on automotive technology for a career (major?) with a minor in languages or psychology.
Then she further discusses an elementary experience in which Mrs. (_insert name here_) teached her…
I glance up. “She teached you?”
“Yeah. In third grade.”
“She teached you?” I emphasize… “I’m glad you can speak Russian because English you’re not so great at.”
She bursts out laughing. “Taught. I meant taught…”
We finish our cocoa and our wonderful hour catching up on the week then bundle up to brave the cold and cross to the theater. Our seats are in the nose bleed section. To get there we must climb what seems like fifteen hundred flights of steps…or we can ride up five floors in the metal box of death.
After three flights of steps, I opt for the metal box of death. We pack into said box with no room for oxygen, which has me white knuckling the brass banister that runs the middle section of the metal box of death.
We arrive on the fifth floor and are escorted to our seats…Which are situated on aisles that only a mountain goat can navigate. (Did I mention my fear of heights?) So we pack into these tiny little seats, I suffer vertigo as I try to figure out how I’m going to watch the performance without passing out and tumbling down to the bottom. Fortunately I’m…plump, I’d bounce…
As the lights dim I glance around and want to scream. I had spent part of the day stressing over appropriate dress only to find people in our section wearing jeans and comfortable tops.
However, I think the three people seated behind us were in the wrong theater. They were dressed for a Marilyn Manson concert rather than the ballet—but I digress. (They were friends of DD’s) I was so proud she decided to dress nicely!
I’m sitting here getting swept away by the music and realize nature is demanding I attend personal business. CRAP! Intermission is three scores away…that works to my benefit. I’ve had to wear pantyhose under my slacks because the material irritated my hives. So I have to do a strip tease in order to answer nature’s call.
By the time I’m coming out and climbing the three flights of steps back to the upper balcony, Intermission has begun so I hurry and take my seat while the crowds pass me by.
I was pleased that in our section were only 10 total seats…and only eight people seated in them so I had room to breathe. I was able to sit with my back to the wall and my front to an aisle so that also assisted with my breathing issues.
After the ballet i was introduced to her Russian teacher, a lovely Ukranian lady who couldn’t stop bragging on my daughter’s talent for languages–suggesting she consider a career as an Interpreter! How my DD is the student of her heart, how sweet and wonderful my child is and how much she adores my girl. Tell ya, it did my heart proud! I guess I’ll keep her around for a while longer after all…
I float back to the truck thinking okay made a right onto this side street and a right into the parking lot so I make a left then another left at the light…unfortunately the intersection is a NO LEFT TURN intersection. So I’m left driving about an unfamiliar part of the city. Suddenly I sdee my road ahead! YAY! Which way do I turn? Left or right? DD says left…my gut says right. I make the right. DD looks up and says good thing you didnt listen to me…we’d have ended up back at the theater…
On the way home we stop at Taco Bell because by this point I’m ravenous. They screwed up my order but I was just too tired to fight…took the chow home and pulled out the Tchaikovsky CD to let DD listen to.
As i reflect on the performance I realize my only question is…aside from being awed by the beautiful and talented people twirling on the stage, I was supposed to get a story out of that?!?!?! I heard the beautiful compositions by Tchaikovsky and was entranced by the beautiful, agile dancers but seeing a story line? Not so much…
The brightest spot to the entire experience? Watching my daughter’s face as she viewed the Fox Theater for the very first time.
It was hell and I’d rather crawl on my hands and knees through broken glass then swim in a tank full of great whites…but being with my baby girl…now THAT was worth it all.
Now she wants to go to see Wicked in June…I have 6 months to get ready for this outing…where’s that pit?
Hugz’
Donica
Contest Open Dec 1st – 24th 2009
Prizes include a Sony Ereader, $50 pre-paid Visa, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate!
Rockin’ Around the Raven Xmas Tress Contest!
Contest Open Dec 1st – 24th 2009
Prizes include a Sony Ereader, $50 pre-paid Visa, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate!
http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/Rockin_Raven_Xmas_Tree_Contest.htm
Permission to forward granted! Spread the word, this is an awesome contest!
Also, I’m blogging today at The Writer’s Vineyard! Pop and see what things my nephews and small cousins came up with to say over the Thanksgiving Holiday!
See y’all soon!
Hugz
Donica
Before we left I learned the joys of being right.
I LOVE being right. And when I’m right, I tend to brag on it–constantly. What was I right about this time? Well my daughter in law is pregnant again. Since learning the news I’ve unwaveringly stated it’s going to be a boy. I…was…right…the ultrasound confirmed we are going to have a little boy!
As of right now the name selected is Sterling Gordan. My son had a friend who passed recently. This young man’s name was Sterling. My DH’s middle name is Gordan so…but personally I’m not fond of the Sterling part. I’m sure it will grow on me.
Ok so on to the trip…
I love going to Arkansas. Truly I do. The only thing I hate is the drive there and back. I’m still so very tired I can barely stand to sit here at the computer. In all honesty I’m tempted to just go back to bed.
I was able to spend the holiday with my parents, my brother, his wife and their two boys, my paternal grandparents, one of my cousins and her family. It was a wonderful time.
My cousin Clovis and his wife Bette and baby Josie were sorely missed. Also my cousin Hanson–he’s getting ready to be deployed overseas for several months–was unable to join us. My cousin Jeff, his wife Dani and their two children were also absent–they spent Thanksgiving with Dani’s family.
My aunt Robbie spent The day with her mother. Mike and Sharon Houston rounded out the family tables, and my uncle Roger’s mother Mauzee was feeling able to join us as well.
We had ham, turkey, green bean cassarole, sweet potatoes, all sorts of pies…man just remembering all the food we ate makes me feel a little queasy. I doubt I’ll be eating again for a while.
Thanksgiving day we were outside with the kids and my cousin Julia’s little boy Eli wanted to go inside. I walked in with him but couldn’t walk fast enough He said that he understood old people couldnt walk fast…LOL
I was hoping my friend Lesa would be around adn drop by to say hello but I figured she was busy with family. Yeah girl, I was thinking about you! We’ve got to hook up!
On Black Friday mom, my SIL Amy and myself went to Wal-Mart. We found a bunch of great deals but I only spent eleven dollars! I’m so proud of me! LOL
Came back through Mt. View, stopping at the square and mom bought my dad a swing for Christmas–yes I can say this because it isn’t a surprise. She gave it to him when we got back.
Spent a bit of time ATV riding. Also played Chess with my nephew Jared, Go Fish with Jared and Keegan then we all played Uno Moo. Fair warning: Uno Moo is addictive to children. I quickly HATED the game…
I played Chess with our champion Jared. He was easily removing my pieces–left me with just the king and I’m not ashamed to say the game ended in a stalemate! Yes, I can only play well against 6 year olds.
The drive home took forever because on the way home I had to make a mile run–the donkeys had escaped the pasture and I had to get them back in. Mom helped–she drove the van and opened the gate then stood blocking the road so they couldn’t run off past where they needed to be. I’m in sad, SAD shape, let me tell you! But the donkeys were finally wrangled into the pasture and we were able to make our way onward.
Now I’m trying to catch up on my emails and messages as well as laundry. Unfortunately my DD took sick while we were gone. She had to come home from school early due to illness.
Well, thats it for the update!
See ya soon!
Hugz
Donica
It’s almost Thanksgiving. I leave in the morning for Big Flat. I have done laundry but am I packed? Can you beleive it, I’m NOT! This is a woman who is always packed at least a week in advance of heading for her favorite place on the planet.
I’ve completed writing Hunting Mickey and am struggling to get it polished so that I can send it to my editor as soon as I get back from my trip.
Between computer sessions, I’ve done a few loads of wash and have had the kidlet schlep the clothes baskets upstairs for me but thats as far as I’ve gotten. DH is packed, DD has been working and trying to pack when she can…
We’re taking our guns and our ATVs for the trip. Target shooting, riding, it’s going to be a blast so long as the weather holds. DD is going to ride down with my mom. We’re taking the dog and he freaks out if he isn’t with me…plus I won’t have to beg for a smoke stop in my own truck! (LOL)
I guess I should crank up some David Bowie, grab the suitcases and get cracking!
I’ll be back sometime Sunday night and back in my office Monday morning.
…Perfect timing! The song that just popped up is Pressure by David Bowie and Queen…
Hopefully I’ll have some more good news when I get back! (Maybe a release date for Cry Wolf…more reviews on Noella’s Gift…a new idea or three for writing in 2010…maybe another contract….hehehehe)
See y’all in a week!
Hugz
Donica
*Snaps open the umbrella and stands beneath* Yep, thats right, just waiting for the safe to drop from the 80th floor. Why? Glad you asked.
Life is suddenly going much better. No my husband still hasn’t found a job. We’ve decided to spend Thanksgiving in the hills with the family this year. Yeah, I know financially it’s a stupid move but you know what? I’m looking forward to it.
Then yesterday I received not one but 2 count them 1, 2 EXCELLENT reviews for my latest release Noella’s Gift. Both of the reviewers loved this little story. I was totally stoked. Here’s a snip of each:
The first, from LASR can be found here: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/noellas-gift-by-donica-covey.html
(Thank you Fennel!)
4 out of 5 Books
There is a saying that the loneliest place to be is in the middle of a crowd. Well for many Christmas is not the joyful celebration of happy memories most people assume it is, and in Noella’s Gift we have both Holly Harper and Jaxon Cole, who, for reasons unexplained, would prefer to forget its existence…You can’t help but fall in love with Holly, Jax and Noella and I thoroughly enjoyed this short story.
Thanks so much!
And the second review comes from You Gotta Read reviews:
http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/review-noellas-gift-by-donica-covey.html
Martha E says this book is a GOTTA READ–Thank you Martha!
Here’s a little of what she had to say:
This is a charming story of Christmas magic breaking through the barriers of two hearts! It is a very short novella that can be read in one sitting…I hope you will read this and find the magic and joy yourself! I will look for longer stories from this author based upon the fine characters and plot presented in this short story…
The third (and final book) in my Gateway Guardians series, Hunting Mickey, has been flowing like water! Page 106 and still flowing away–YAY! After being blocked for so long it’s finally hit a groove HURRAY!
AND THEN, today I learned that the editor from Samhain has offered a contract on Cry Wolf! I’m so happy I haven’t stopped dancing in my seat! This morning I even messed around for a few minutes coming up with my vision for cover art. When I fill out the cover art form I like to attach a visual of what I see as the cover so the artist has something to reference. Of course each artist I have–Samhain, Champagne and Resplendence, the artists ROCK so my suggestions aren’t needed.
But anywho, I KNOW you want to see what I came up with so here goes:
So, which do you like? Just very curious to know.
Whoops, pardon me…
*peaks out from under the umbrella then steps back* nope, not yet!
Better get back to work, Mickey is still waiting to find Terese.
See ya soon!
Hugz
Donica
Really? Me? I guess I can see that. Sort of.
Here’s the deal.
DH was watching the local news and they were doing a segment on a pack of animals—four men who need to be put down like rabid dogs a father and his three sons. They have spent the last dozen years or so molesting little girls.
Bastards.
The punishment I have for them is even better than what they deserve. (Slender glass tubes inserted into their male appendage them smashed with sledgehammers.) Anyway, hearing this news segment sickened me and I just froze.
“How can you watch that crap?” I asked incredulously. (Now usually I complain about the news because a) The crime, the violence and the insensitive nature of the reporters makes me ill but also b) because 90% of the media proclaims I’m racist because I’m anti Obama/Clinton/Pelosi.)
“What?” he asks.
“The news. It’s horrible!”
He looks at me like I’m crocked. “It’s the news. Besides, what about the stuff you not only watch but that you write? It’s way worse than this.”
“But that’s different,” I counter.
“No it isn’t. It’s depraved. It’s sick. It’s demented all in the name of entertainment.”
“But it is different,” I repeat, wondering if it truly is. Deflated in the argument I head for my office. My mind whirling. Am I a hypocrite because the news sickens me and I refuse to watch it but I write about some of the same things they show?
Fiction is different.
After all, in my books the bad guys get their punishments, the good guys always win, no bleeding heart liberals force taxpayers to support violent criminals in their job hiatus until they can get back on the streets and everyone has a happily ever after.
Do you think I’m being hypocritical? Inquiring minds want to know!
Donica
Have you ever seen the cartoons where the Big Bad Wolf walks into the bar and sexy Little Red Ridinghood struts out and starts singing “Oh Wolfie”? His eyes pop out of his head, his tongue unrolls, his heart pounds out of his chest and drool skates along his chin?
Last night I was hanging out with my best friend and were looking at pictures from our last Girl’s Week (in July) The pic of us eating fried pickles popped up and we both went Um Fried Pickles! Let’s go to Lees! (Lee’s is a chicken fast food place)
We load into my truck both thinking how delicious the pickles were going to be. We walk in and there is one customer at the counter, three older people in a booth and the employees.
I took one look at the guy in line and I SWEAR TO YOU I PULLED A BBW! I know I as drooling. Now I have seen some fine looking men before but this one? HOLY SHITE BATMAN! He was about 6’ 1”, his copper skin was nice and tanned, his black t-shirt fit across his well defined shoulder and chest, emphasizing each muscle.
His jeans were just snug enough to cup his perfectly shaped butt. Big, brown eyes you could get lost in forever,. His shoulder length black hair was pulled back into a pony tail—his hair looked like satin. I would NOT have any trouble at all seeing him in a pair of buckskin pants, holding a bow, while riding a paint pony.
I am NOT lying when I say he was the most gorgeous man I’ve EVER, EVER seen in my life.
I forced myself to stop drooling and my best friend and I were making jokes about driving six hours to have fried pickles any more. We can go here now. He was eavesdropping into our conversation and he turned to ask where were from.
His voice—like velvet. His smile, electrifying. His nose, perfect. High cheekbones, nice framed jaw. I couldn’t swear to his being from any particular tribe, but the man was pure Native American. I was so proud of myself that I kept control and spoke without giggling like a love struck schoolgirl.
He took his order and left.
My friend and I stared after him, watching him walk away. As soon as the door closed behind him we both collapsed into a laughing fit. For the first time in—HA! You thought I was going to reference my age?!?!?!?—all the years we’ve been in friends…no wait SECOND time…we were both extremely attracted to the same man.
I’m telling you that was a FINE example of God’s wondrous work. If I wasn’t a married woman (and possibly old enough to be his…aunt) I’d have made a play for the man.
On the way home we discussed cougars, wolves, the FINE, FINE man, and…other activities.
My libido hasn’t functioned properly in ages. I was beginning to think there was a malfunction. I can say with all certainty I am NOT dead after all.
He was so hot he could easily have been a male model or an actor. One thing I can tell you for sure, he WILL be a hero in one of my next books! If I’d have had a camera I’d have been asking for permission to photog him. After all, I’d have to have something to look at for book inspiration…yeah, like I’d really NEED a pic to remember him!!!!
My dreams were filled with images of a hot man, a shape shifter actually, wolves, cougars, the woods and…yeah uh huh, NOPE not going to share any more of THAT with you!
Hmm think I’ll go back to bed…dream a little dream of him.
I’d love to thank all our service men and women past and present for securing our nation’s freedoms and giving their all to ensure we continue to enjoy those rights and freedoms. Your sacrifices are appreciated!
I’m pleased to give a special shout out to my cousin Hanson who is currently a Jarhead Chopper Pilot. Thanks Cuz! Keep safe and come home to us soon! Also a thank you to Chase, Shawn, Steve, and Strykerbat.
I’m a little depressed today. Every year my mother, grandmother, a dear family friend and I spend Veterans Day in Branson Mo. Every year but this one and it’s really got me depressed. This year we didn’t go—obviously. My Granny went on a trip in October to see her best friend of nearly 70 years, rather than choosing to go to Branson. My parents just bought a new house, and for our part, my husband is still unemployed. The recession is over—my ass!
Sorry. I wasn’t going to complain to y’all. It’s just hard for me. I’m a very routine orientated person. I can’t shop at new stores—I have to follow a specific order. I don’t eat new foods, I’m a bit of a freak (my kids call me Ms OCD. My mom calls me Monk) And when my routines change I get lost. Not to mention the fact that I take only 2 vacations a year (usually) My Girls Week and then the weekend trip to Branson. For the first time I realize how much my husband’s job situation has truly impacted our lives.
But the main thing I miss—the time with my mom and Granny. I don’t know where we’re going to be in a year so it makes me sad that this time of wonderful memory making was forceably missed.
I know—lame, whiny and selfish right? Sorry.
Hugz
Donica
