There's a Scale in My Hotel Room Bathroom

What is up with that? This is Vegas! I thought the pounds you gain here stay here.......

I get the feeling God is tough-loving me into behaving, culinarily speaking, of course. Which is why He should have shown me the scale BEFORE I scarfed down 1/2 orange cranberry muffin and a croissant. You know, I really wish He'd just make me immune to calories. Unfortunately, He's got this thing about free will and self control. If you don't work for it, it's not worth having or some crap like that (LOL).

It's just after 9 where I am, and my body thinks it got to sleep until 11. Very happy.

I mistyped the resort where we're staying's name (was that real grammar?). It's Green Valley Ranch in Henderson NV. Very beautiful, but the casino is mostly slot machines (and not too many of the really cool ones. Lane was disappointed there were so few gaming tables. I saw my first craps table - don't know why it's the first (except from afar). That game is way too complicated for me. May try a little Blackjack if Lane goes with me. I know, I'm a horrible chicken about doing things unfamiliar to me. One minute I can be facing down the guns and the next I'm begging someone to hold my hand while we walk by those big bad card dealers and floor bosses (whatever they call them - they all look scary and mobsterish to me).

There's great shopping here on the resort along with a movie theater and arcade. Talk about self-contained. There's something like 12 restaurants. My favorite place is still The Golden Nugget.

Lane is a Randy Couture's gym (yes, THE Randy Couture) working out. Last time he worked out with a guy he'd heard of on UFC. Very cool. This time it's someone he hasn't heard of, but he was pretty excited just the same. Jiu Jitsu is such a fit for him.

Gotta tell a funny on the grandaughter. She's at that boundary pushing stage when they're transitioning fully from toddlers to school kids. Grandpa wouldn't call her Caroline (which is *not* her name, btw) and she told him she was going to spill her Gatorade all over the floor if he didn't.

I'm in the kitchen at this point with my back to them and all I hear is about spilling the Gatorade and then the sudden affirmation "I won't Grandpa! I promise I won't!" She'd gotten The Look. You know the song about not spitting into the wind or messing around with Jim? You should also consider not messing with Lane. Brooklynn still tried to push her position but she never got Grandpa to back down. I have to admit I found it somewhat amusing because it was like watching the little pea and the big pea facing off in the family pod.

Plan for today? Write, shower, lunch, gamble, nap, work on SS lesson, dinner, read more of THE DARKEST WHISPER and zonk out - with or without Lunesta remains to be seen.

By the way, THE DARKEST WHISPER is awesome. It's the first of Gena's novel that I didn't get to see at least part of during the writing stages, and I can't believe she pulled off such an awesome read without me - just kidding. Seriously, I'm loving it. Gwendolyn the Timid has to be my fav character of Gena's so far.

Life is good.
~pinkie

Writing and Dieting

Two major focusses of my life right now. Either can be excruciating or euphoric.

Right now the writing is euphoric. Just got back from my RWA chapter's annual writing retreat with 14 other fabulous Outlaws. Our guest speaker is a reader for a major agency, and she let us send in a chapter and synopsis ahead of time and made *very* thorough comments on them. I'm telling you, this gal went above and beyond - aided, I must say, by another favorite OKRWA member (you know who you are and how we love you!!)

They set up the openings of each submission and we read them as a group, and it was really eye-opening to see how each individual element (Title, first line, first paragraph and first page) were perceived by each reader. Plus we learned that we're a very talented chapter. I want to finish all the books we read the first page of.

I also love the book I'm currently working on. It's a paranormal historical, and I've decided to do it in first person, which is weird because I've never had the desire to try first person. Will let you know how that goes.

The diet front, however........*sigh* I'm starting over again with a vengeance. Trying to lose 20 lbs by Thanksgiving. Yes, that's a very ambitious goal, especially considering my dismal failures of this year. What am I doing differently? Extreme calorie control (not extreme restriction). I'm eating cereal and 1 fruit for breakfast; protein bar, 8 oz 1% milk and 1 fruit for lunch; and, a Healthy Choice entree and 1 fruit for dinner. For my flat-belly MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acid), I'll have 6 semi-sweet chocolate morsels with each meal. Drink 64 oz of iced water. Let's see....what else.....oh yeah. Exercise. Bleh!

For my exercise, I do Wii DDR (Dance dance revolution) 1 hour 4 times per week, Yogilates starting with 15 minutes and working up to 30 minutes 3-4 times per week, and weight training twice per week. All of which I need to do today since yesterday was crazy.

Gotta get busy now....exercising and not writing, darn it!

Good luck to us all!
~pinkie

The Ultimate Love Scene

I'm sure we all wish we'd thought of this scenario...

WICHITA, Kan. - A tender moment in a trash bin went all wrong for a couple who found themselves being held up at pocket knifepoint. Police said two 44-year-olds had climbed into a dumpster to be alone just after 6 p.m. Saturday when two men interrupted them and demanded their belongings. Officers said the man and woman were engaged in "an intimate moment" when they were robbed of their shoes, jewelry and the man's wallet.

Police said one of the robbers was a 64-year-old man who egged his 59-year-old companion on during the robbery.
The Associated Press

Rasen Frasen....

I need more time, people!

For example, today is Leave For Writers' Retreat day. I did not need a flat tire (thanks, pothole - I felt like I was on that commercial). I need to go to the grocery store and find my converter so I can use my computer in the car to read my critique partner's chapter (I promised!).

I need to blog more. Loving Twitter and Facebook, and the creative folks there are inspiring me. Like this chick: http://www.inkygirl.com/twitter-guide-for-writers-part-2/ Love her page and want to spend more time there!

Ugh, gotta get dressed before the wrecker guy gets here to change my tire. (Then take my tire into the shop to be fixed or replaced, wait............wait...........wait.)

Fortunately, it's National Sound Like a Pirate Day, so I can say ARGH! without blushing in embarrassment.

Have a great day, ya'll!
~pinkie