The last two days have been insanely busy!! Not only has every dormant author decided to start working on their book again, they all had to call to chat before I left. Yes, I feel the love but I'm ready to feel the tequila infused air of Mexico a lot more.
We've come across two great projects for our publishing company and are very excited to see how they go. I'll be revealing more as thing progress on those. I've also caught up a few things so I'm getting everything cleared out for the new onslaught of projects as seminar season kicks off. It usually doesn't get swinging until the end of Feb, but this year its starting mid-January. I guess its a sign of the times as people seek answers to the problems (financial and otherwise) that they have.
In other news, I'm a little wary about leaving the fishys in care of Liz and Chris for the week. I've left them before but it wasn't the dead of winter so I'm just hoping that they keep them from being fishcicles by the time I get back. Speaking of fish I saw something hilarious today. It's an article about the fact that PETA has 'rebranded' fish as 'sea kittens'. I know - I'm still laughing. Anyway it seems they think that fish need an image make over so all those bad people will stop torturing them by catching them and *gasp* eating them!!! Can you believe it? They even have bedtime stories and everything for wacked out people to read to their poor impressionable children. Here's the link - http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99249669
You know, perhaps they should 'rebrand' cattle - they could be 'milk horses'. Chickens could be 'egg parrots' and carrots could be 'Chia Roots'. The world has gone mad - MAD I tell you! This will give me something serious to talk about on the boat when I've had one too many.....
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Mexico here we come!!
So finally we get a vacation that's just to relax. I know that it seems like a travel a lot, and I do but not very often just to relax. Of course I will still be working on the boat from my laptop, in fact i think some of my best work comes from relaxed cruises, sitting at the bar with a fruity drink close at hand.
On this journey, we're headed down the Mexican Rivera. I'm looking forward to the warm sea breeze and great Mexican food. Since its Mexico, we won't be doing much off the boat. While it may seem exotic for someone from the great white north, its not all that different for Texans. I really wanted a cruise that had lots of days at sea and wasn't a hustle and bustle of shore excursions to places that were unique and different. When its like that you feel obligated to get off at every port, but Mexico is Mexico so it allows me to relax and soak in the sun.
As soon as we get back from Mexico I leave for LA and then on to Vegas in Feb. Its the start of seminar season so our business will be picking up again and running full tilt until the holidays next year.
For those waiting on a castle update, the newest issue is that it seems to be mating season for some of the neighborhood cats and since we seem to be the only yard without dogs they choose to exhibit their loud kitty foreplay on the back patio while the labs next door bark themselves into a frenzy. I may rent a dog for a few weeks so they will at least take their sex screams out to the alley.
On this journey, we're headed down the Mexican Rivera. I'm looking forward to the warm sea breeze and great Mexican food. Since its Mexico, we won't be doing much off the boat. While it may seem exotic for someone from the great white north, its not all that different for Texans. I really wanted a cruise that had lots of days at sea and wasn't a hustle and bustle of shore excursions to places that were unique and different. When its like that you feel obligated to get off at every port, but Mexico is Mexico so it allows me to relax and soak in the sun.
As soon as we get back from Mexico I leave for LA and then on to Vegas in Feb. Its the start of seminar season so our business will be picking up again and running full tilt until the holidays next year.
For those waiting on a castle update, the newest issue is that it seems to be mating season for some of the neighborhood cats and since we seem to be the only yard without dogs they choose to exhibit their loud kitty foreplay on the back patio while the labs next door bark themselves into a frenzy. I may rent a dog for a few weeks so they will at least take their sex screams out to the alley.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Fish Sticks
So...I knew it would happen. We've gone back and Fourth about the fish needing a heater. Spouse says no, they are fish....I say yes, they aren't trout, they are exotic goldfish....So anyway, I peek out to check on them this evening before locking up the castle, and there is a solid sheet of ice on the pond!!! And yep, no heater plugged in....grrr...and double grrrrr.....all I can say is that it's a good thing I checked or I woulda had frozen little fish sticks by morning....and my spouse would have been responsible for the deaths of 11 helpless little fishies not that he would feel bad about it. Tomorrow I will purchase a padlock for the electrical box and hide the key.....
I have been hooking up with new and old friends via facebook recently and I've been amazed at how great it is. This last week, one of them posted a video of the Gruver High School production of Lil Abner that we did in 1981....it's a hoot to see how young we all looked then! There is only a fleeting glimpse of me in the back but if you can pick me out of the crowd, I'll give you a free copy of my book....
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=40482486197&ref=mf
I have been hooking up with new and old friends via facebook recently and I've been amazed at how great it is. This last week, one of them posted a video of the Gruver High School production of Lil Abner that we did in 1981....it's a hoot to see how young we all looked then! There is only a fleeting glimpse of me in the back but if you can pick me out of the crowd, I'll give you a free copy of my book....
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=40482486197&ref=mf
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Buy your beach house now....
I can't even tell you how great Hawaii is....Todd Dean's seminar went very well so we're all looking forward to LA in a few weeks. Now that work is over, we can be touristas for a few days. The whole TAG team went on a sunset cruise last night. They took us out past Diamond head and the view back to Waikiki was beautiful at night. We saw some really huge turtles from our balcony yesterday summing just a few yards off shore. Since we're 26 floors up we know they were pretty big for us to see them...and a surfer went by one and it was more than half the size of his board...so yeah....pretty big.
Tonight everyone is excited cause we're all going to the Rockin Rockin Luau....that's the one at Paradise Cove...its a six hour event and we have seats right up front so we expect some great fun. I know I will not want to get back on the plane on Wed. Especially since I know its snowing at home. Heather has been of fish patrol and reported today that there are so far no floaters...so that's good.
Its really odd the way business flows your way when you least expect it. We've been contacted over the last two days by three people out of the blue who have heard of our group. Of course the only way you can hear about us is word of mouth since we don't advertise and don't take just anybody as a client. A couple of these people are prominent sports starts and business people so word is definitely getting out - helped in no small part by the fact that we had a #1 on amazon. Amazing what that does for your credibility.
We're also working on some books coming out under our own company imprint...more on that later...must go now and learn the Hukilau......
Tonight everyone is excited cause we're all going to the Rockin Rockin Luau....that's the one at Paradise Cove...its a six hour event and we have seats right up front so we expect some great fun. I know I will not want to get back on the plane on Wed. Especially since I know its snowing at home. Heather has been of fish patrol and reported today that there are so far no floaters...so that's good.
Its really odd the way business flows your way when you least expect it. We've been contacted over the last two days by three people out of the blue who have heard of our group. Of course the only way you can hear about us is word of mouth since we don't advertise and don't take just anybody as a client. A couple of these people are prominent sports starts and business people so word is definitely getting out - helped in no small part by the fact that we had a #1 on amazon. Amazing what that does for your credibility.
We're also working on some books coming out under our own company imprint...more on that later...must go now and learn the Hukilau......
Sunday, November 30, 2008
4 days til Hawaii!
Can't wait to dip my toes in the Pacific and have 82 degree days every day for a week! Lots to do before hand and loose ends to tie up as always but its more exciting to have Hawaii for a deadline. Who wants to have to work on the beach? But then again, the fact that I can work on the beach if I choose to is a huge perk.
The fabulous Todd Dean was on the Wayne Resnick show in LA again last night and of course was great! See his website at http://www.tdean.com/. We're finishing up the workshop info for his conference next week and can't wait to see the response.
Now for the castle update....
My brother helped get our xmas lights up and they look fab and now everyone on the block is lit up...its kind of neat to be on a block where everyone plays the Christmas game - although at night the sightseers really clog the streets. Not a big deal this year as we'll be in Hawaii for a week. The lights all have sensors and a timer so the show goes on whether we're here or not. Of course Steve's house is one of the main attractions in this part of town. If you go down the street between sonic and jiffy lube on Georgia, Steve's house is on the corner on the next block. He has about 70,000 lights and the show is set to music you can tune in to on your radio..its pretty neat actually.
The ghost has been pretty active lately. Of course Kevin is still in HUGE denial, but whatever. If he heard the knocking at 3 am he'd be freaked to. Other than that things are going well. The fishys seem to be doing well in the cold - their heater keeps the water above 42 so they seem happy. I'll have to have someone come check on them while we are in Hawaii.
Business for TAG is still running strong and this is usually our slowest time of year so we're excited that we have lots of work to do and our writers aren't twiddling their thumbs as they sometimes do around the holidays. Of course all this work does cut into my xmas movie viewing - but I'll suffer through it......
The fabulous Todd Dean was on the Wayne Resnick show in LA again last night and of course was great! See his website at http://www.tdean.com/. We're finishing up the workshop info for his conference next week and can't wait to see the response.
Now for the castle update....
My brother helped get our xmas lights up and they look fab and now everyone on the block is lit up...its kind of neat to be on a block where everyone plays the Christmas game - although at night the sightseers really clog the streets. Not a big deal this year as we'll be in Hawaii for a week. The lights all have sensors and a timer so the show goes on whether we're here or not. Of course Steve's house is one of the main attractions in this part of town. If you go down the street between sonic and jiffy lube on Georgia, Steve's house is on the corner on the next block. He has about 70,000 lights and the show is set to music you can tune in to on your radio..its pretty neat actually.
The ghost has been pretty active lately. Of course Kevin is still in HUGE denial, but whatever. If he heard the knocking at 3 am he'd be freaked to. Other than that things are going well. The fishys seem to be doing well in the cold - their heater keeps the water above 42 so they seem happy. I'll have to have someone come check on them while we are in Hawaii.
Business for TAG is still running strong and this is usually our slowest time of year so we're excited that we have lots of work to do and our writers aren't twiddling their thumbs as they sometimes do around the holidays. Of course all this work does cut into my xmas movie viewing - but I'll suffer through it......
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
#1 On Amazon!!!
I'm thrilled to report that one of the books I ghostwrote has just gone to #1 in its category on Amazon and its quickly climbing the overall list. It's Joe Vitale's newest book, Expect Miracles and its just in time for the Christmas season. Needless to say our value as ghostwriters just took a big leap! I have a feeling that several of the clients we're working with right now will really bring TAG into the limelight as the ghostwriters to have do your book.
One of those clients is of course our very favorite - Todd Dean. We're finishing up the seminar workbook (chris is) that will be used in Waikiki in December and getting the presentation ready. Todd will be appearing on Island Television News This Morning (ABC Affiliate) in Hawaii on Dec 2 and we're really thinking that will help kick things off.
Its hard to concentrate on work when the universe love us so much.....
One of those clients is of course our very favorite - Todd Dean. We're finishing up the seminar workbook (chris is) that will be used in Waikiki in December and getting the presentation ready. Todd will be appearing on Island Television News This Morning (ABC Affiliate) in Hawaii on Dec 2 and we're really thinking that will help kick things off.
Its hard to concentrate on work when the universe love us so much.....
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Waikiki here we come!
We booked flights today for the whole crew...me & Kevin, Liz and Greg, and Chris and Maegan. The whole TAG Team...pun intended. Chris seemed excited and I have to say that he is doing a stellar job on the companion workbook to Todd's book for the seminar attendees. Maegan is his squeeze. We got to meet her last week and she seems really sweet...and WAY too skinny. We told Chris she needs to gain about 80 pounds before Hawaii.
A quick pond update - we got a new Plecko since the others died. He is HUGE. Gina thinks his size will help him no be so affected by the cold. I also did quite a bit of research on them and apparently, while they are algae eaters, they are a type of catfish and somewhat none discriminate in there foraging habits. I was a little concerned that he might not get enough to eat since we killed off all the algae. I discovered that the larger Pleckos like zucchini slices. So I went and bout a zucchini and followed the instructions posted on the Internet and softened them in the nuke-o-wave. I dropped in a couple yesterday but the fish ignored them. I was a little dejected, but today I go out and - no zucchini - and he was much more active than he's been. I deduced he was hunting for more zucchini so I dropped in a couple more. We'll see if he gobbles those too. Of course I didn't want a dog because they are a hassle to feed and here I am cooking zucchini for a fish....oh well..
The IRA book is coming out Oct 30 and you can get a copy on amazon or b&n or pretty much anywhere. I'm anxious to see it but I still think the cover stinks. I'm catching up on many other projects so I'm contemplating my next new project...I'm sure it will be in the financial area especially since the market is so ripe for it.
A quick pond update - we got a new Plecko since the others died. He is HUGE. Gina thinks his size will help him no be so affected by the cold. I also did quite a bit of research on them and apparently, while they are algae eaters, they are a type of catfish and somewhat none discriminate in there foraging habits. I was a little concerned that he might not get enough to eat since we killed off all the algae. I discovered that the larger Pleckos like zucchini slices. So I went and bout a zucchini and followed the instructions posted on the Internet and softened them in the nuke-o-wave. I dropped in a couple yesterday but the fish ignored them. I was a little dejected, but today I go out and - no zucchini - and he was much more active than he's been. I deduced he was hunting for more zucchini so I dropped in a couple more. We'll see if he gobbles those too. Of course I didn't want a dog because they are a hassle to feed and here I am cooking zucchini for a fish....oh well..
The IRA book is coming out Oct 30 and you can get a copy on amazon or b&n or pretty much anywhere. I'm anxious to see it but I still think the cover stinks. I'm catching up on many other projects so I'm contemplating my next new project...I'm sure it will be in the financial area especially since the market is so ripe for it.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sad Day at the Pond....
Sad sad day at the pond....I go out to feed the posse and there is a floater....and its the big one that looks like a shark so very sad!! so then I take out all the little castles around the pond and check everyone out. Sadly I find the two other algae eaters dead but hidden inside the coral and logs! So the total is 3 dead..out of 11. Not a great percentage. Of course I was on the cruise all week but Kevin swears he fed them and everything. But still....bummer... So I checked out the rest of the crew and honestly they don't look well so I call Fishy 911 (Gina at exotic aquatics) and she will be by tomorrow to check them out and test the water to see what it could be. Sad Sad Day.....
In other news, we (me and Liz) are back from the cruise. Since it was a working cruise, it wasn't as much fun as the others but still, if you have to work why not do it on the high seas? Our day on the beach at Grand Cayman was sooooo worth it!! Beautiful water, pina coladas, great music...totally fab! Other than that is was like being at an Amway convention for a week and everyone wants to talk to us.......not a bad gig necessarily but tiring. Lots to do on our return so we're hard at it. Chris (our marketing assistant) got to work from home the week we were gone and I have to say he made great progress. So we told him we were planning to take him to Hawaii with us in Dec. when the seminars he's working on are presented for the first time. It sounds very generous, but in reality its to save our bacon! if something goes wrong he can fix it whereas we would be totally in the dark.
Another good thing that happened on the cruise is that Todd's web guy was there and we got to talk (REALLY talk). I have to say I really like this guy (Ernest Barbaric) and he has his own company. He is fab if you are needing some web work done so check him out www.ernestmedia.com. He's in Canada, but if you can overlook that he's a great strategist so give him a buzz and see what he can do for you!
In other news, we (me and Liz) are back from the cruise. Since it was a working cruise, it wasn't as much fun as the others but still, if you have to work why not do it on the high seas? Our day on the beach at Grand Cayman was sooooo worth it!! Beautiful water, pina coladas, great music...totally fab! Other than that is was like being at an Amway convention for a week and everyone wants to talk to us.......not a bad gig necessarily but tiring. Lots to do on our return so we're hard at it. Chris (our marketing assistant) got to work from home the week we were gone and I have to say he made great progress. So we told him we were planning to take him to Hawaii with us in Dec. when the seminars he's working on are presented for the first time. It sounds very generous, but in reality its to save our bacon! if something goes wrong he can fix it whereas we would be totally in the dark.
Another good thing that happened on the cruise is that Todd's web guy was there and we got to talk (REALLY talk). I have to say I really like this guy (Ernest Barbaric) and he has his own company. He is fab if you are needing some web work done so check him out www.ernestmedia.com. He's in Canada, but if you can overlook that he's a great strategist so give him a buzz and see what he can do for you!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Jackpot!!!!!
Well this was an extremely exciting week! First of all we sent out the first round of press releases for Todd Dean's book, More Month Than Money. He was going to be in LA so we sent it to 12 major media outlets in the Los Angeles area. Less than 48 hours later, the producer of the Wayne Resnick show on KFI 640 AM called to book him for Saturday. KFI is the Number 1 talk radio station in America so we really hit one out of the part. We also did a quick promotional ebook version of the books since the Hardback won't be available until November. When I told the producer we were going to offer the ebook free to their listeners for 7 days, they were thrilled!
The publisher was also excited and now we will be going on their yearly cruise that they take all their authors on. It leaves next Saturday and is doing the Jamaica, Bahamas, Grand Cayman itinerary which is good because I've already been there and can focus on the authors instead of sightseeing....still its great to be in the Caribbean now that fall is here!!!
We're hoping the radio appearance will help fill up Todd's seminar in Waikiki on Dec 6 which we will be attending as well.....very exciting stuff. We named our new marketing company TAG Media Solutions and with a score like this on, we should be well on our way!!
The publisher was also excited and now we will be going on their yearly cruise that they take all their authors on. It leaves next Saturday and is doing the Jamaica, Bahamas, Grand Cayman itinerary which is good because I've already been there and can focus on the authors instead of sightseeing....still its great to be in the Caribbean now that fall is here!!!
We're hoping the radio appearance will help fill up Todd's seminar in Waikiki on Dec 6 which we will be attending as well.....very exciting stuff. We named our new marketing company TAG Media Solutions and with a score like this on, we should be well on our way!!
Friday, October 03, 2008
New Marketing Assistant
So we hired an assistant this week. His name is Christopher and so far he's been pretty good. He's awfully quiet though but I'm sure he'll come out of his shell eventually. He's helping us with all the marketing we are now doing for our authors so its exciting!
We are also going to Hawaii the first week in Dec to help Todd Dean with his seminar. It so exciting to see one of the authors really make their book work for them. I also heard from Michael Nicholas yesterday and he just got the copies of his books too. He's sending us a whole box!! Not sure how long that will take from England but I can't wait to see them. He put some pretty neat videos up on his website too. You can listen to him at http://www.optimaltrack.com/.
Regina's book is also due out in a few weeks and I'm anxious to see it too. Its funny we work on so many books, but then its like they all get printed at once! We have several more interesting projects in the works and the web guys are still working on our website which we hope to have up ASAP. I'm glad we have Michael's ebook now to add to the site as it is really a wonderful book on leadership!!
I also booked the January cruise last week. We're going to the Mexican Rivera for 8 days! I always hate the end of January - everyone is in a bad mood (they spent all their money) and it so freakin cold! So this year I'll be enjoying a week of sun an surf and leave all that icy wind & snow behind.
We are also going to Hawaii the first week in Dec to help Todd Dean with his seminar. It so exciting to see one of the authors really make their book work for them. I also heard from Michael Nicholas yesterday and he just got the copies of his books too. He's sending us a whole box!! Not sure how long that will take from England but I can't wait to see them. He put some pretty neat videos up on his website too. You can listen to him at http://www.optimaltrack.com/.
Regina's book is also due out in a few weeks and I'm anxious to see it too. Its funny we work on so many books, but then its like they all get printed at once! We have several more interesting projects in the works and the web guys are still working on our website which we hope to have up ASAP. I'm glad we have Michael's ebook now to add to the site as it is really a wonderful book on leadership!!
I also booked the January cruise last week. We're going to the Mexican Rivera for 8 days! I always hate the end of January - everyone is in a bad mood (they spent all their money) and it so freakin cold! So this year I'll be enjoying a week of sun an surf and leave all that icy wind & snow behind.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
How to Marry For Money
So we started a new book for a client called "How to Marry for Money". It is very much a smart ass how to manual for the lovelorn and finacially destitute - and its a lot of fun. Also on the menu is a sassy real estate book, a new solution for back pain, and the details of the worlds best money seminar. As busy as things are, they are really quite fun and entertaining as we don't get to do creative books very often.
Also working on the next couple of installments of my leadership series for CU Business. Hard to believe its been almost a year since it started. Its been a lot of fun and I've met some great business gurus like John Maxwell and Tom Feltenstien.
Also on the agenda is the final push for the ebook site. I talked to the developers today about how many people can download at once and he started in about bandwidth and mega giga bites....kind of like when Charlie Brown's teacher talks...wha wha wha.....that's all I heard. I just wanted to know if twenty thousand people downloaded at once would it work...he answered me but I still don't know. The correct answer is "of course it will" even if it won't, I wouldn't know the difference and I'd feel much better about the whole thing.
We also got three more fish - I know i KNOW...its eleven now and if they keep shitting in the pond, we'll have mud soon but oh well...we also now have lights on the fountain at night so its like a miniature Caesar's Palace...if you're around, come by and take a peek... Harley (my niece) was over this weekend and named the big fat one Nimo...I forgot what she named the other one...anyway when I have pictures, we finish the official naming....
Since several people know that we're writing a book about marrying for money, the question has come up....What would you do for a million dollars? So I ask - how low would you go?
Also working on the next couple of installments of my leadership series for CU Business. Hard to believe its been almost a year since it started. Its been a lot of fun and I've met some great business gurus like John Maxwell and Tom Feltenstien.
Also on the agenda is the final push for the ebook site. I talked to the developers today about how many people can download at once and he started in about bandwidth and mega giga bites....kind of like when Charlie Brown's teacher talks...wha wha wha.....that's all I heard. I just wanted to know if twenty thousand people downloaded at once would it work...he answered me but I still don't know. The correct answer is "of course it will" even if it won't, I wouldn't know the difference and I'd feel much better about the whole thing.
We also got three more fish - I know i KNOW...its eleven now and if they keep shitting in the pond, we'll have mud soon but oh well...we also now have lights on the fountain at night so its like a miniature Caesar's Palace...if you're around, come by and take a peek... Harley (my niece) was over this weekend and named the big fat one Nimo...I forgot what she named the other one...anyway when I have pictures, we finish the official naming....
Since several people know that we're writing a book about marrying for money, the question has come up....What would you do for a million dollars? So I ask - how low would you go?
Friday, September 19, 2008
Pond drama....
So...today was the day to go and pick out the lucky little goldfish that will get to inhabit our pond. I had thought we'd get six decent sized (4 or 5 inch) ones and that would be enough. Wellllll......there were two black ones (Esmeralda and Elvis) and one large calico(Spot just doesn't sound right for a fish). There there were two orange and white ones with these weird bubbles below their eyes....but they were smaller....THEN.....there were two yellow/black ones with pompadours....THEN there were two smaller gold ones with pompadours......sooo
You guessed it, they are all ours....NINE gold fish (plus one large and two small algae eaters to suck up all the fish crap).....so it will be a full pond....but most of them aren't that big. Of course they will all grow. Gina said if they get too big, we can swap them out for smaller ones so they don't overwhelm the pond. What a concept...too bad you can't do that with dogs, where every time your puppy outgrows the 'cute' phase you swap it out for another puppy! Dog lovers - don't email me, I'm not a dog person and don't care. I'm all about pets you can flush if they croak.
I have been working a lot, but that's normal for this time of year. We got a video camera to film some short clips for clients for video blogs and websites and of course as soon as I figure it out I will post video of the pond participants....
You guessed it, they are all ours....NINE gold fish (plus one large and two small algae eaters to suck up all the fish crap).....so it will be a full pond....but most of them aren't that big. Of course they will all grow. Gina said if they get too big, we can swap them out for smaller ones so they don't overwhelm the pond. What a concept...too bad you can't do that with dogs, where every time your puppy outgrows the 'cute' phase you swap it out for another puppy! Dog lovers - don't email me, I'm not a dog person and don't care. I'm all about pets you can flush if they croak.
I have been working a lot, but that's normal for this time of year. We got a video camera to film some short clips for clients for video blogs and websites and of course as soon as I figure it out I will post video of the pond participants....
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
More tales from around the castle....
I know I know....this is a writing blog...BUT several of you have asked for an update on the pond and photos of Elvis and Esmeralda. Well, there was a delay of game (that's for you Britta!). The pond peeps couldn't come give it a look until last Sunday so E & E (as they are now being referred to) are on order and set to arrive Thursday!! So excited!! Tom and/or Gina will be coming by next Sunday to get the pond ready. We have also ordered blue gravel for the bottom cause I don't want to have to look at cement at the bottom of the pond.
They said it would take about 150-200 pounds of gravel ...which seems like a lot, but I guess they know their stuff. They are also ordering us a center fountain so we'll see how it looks....they said we could have about 6 or 8 decent sized fish so it will be E & E, Ed & Betty, and another couple as yet to be named. If you have any ideas, send them along.
I also found some new cleaning ladies and they are fabulous! Don't speak a word of English, but I say if someone wants to work they should get to work! God knows we run across numerous writer wanna bes who have no clue how to work!! The castle now sparkles and I feel a little bit guilty that they didn't ask for more money.
Business on the writing front has picked up a bit as more publishers are seeking us out!! Yea TAG! And that is only because the writers we do have want to work...go figure....work ethic speaks volumes no matter the country you are in or what language you speak.
The ghost was silent for a few days but the other night I heard him (or her) knocking..I 'd hate to think we'd run it off!!!
They said it would take about 150-200 pounds of gravel ...which seems like a lot, but I guess they know their stuff. They are also ordering us a center fountain so we'll see how it looks....they said we could have about 6 or 8 decent sized fish so it will be E & E, Ed & Betty, and another couple as yet to be named. If you have any ideas, send them along.
I also found some new cleaning ladies and they are fabulous! Don't speak a word of English, but I say if someone wants to work they should get to work! God knows we run across numerous writer wanna bes who have no clue how to work!! The castle now sparkles and I feel a little bit guilty that they didn't ask for more money.
Business on the writing front has picked up a bit as more publishers are seeking us out!! Yea TAG! And that is only because the writers we do have want to work...go figure....work ethic speaks volumes no matter the country you are in or what language you speak.
The ghost was silent for a few days but the other night I heard him (or her) knocking..I 'd hate to think we'd run it off!!!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
there is life in Baton Rouge!!!
I finally heard from one of our writers in Baton Rouge. Andrea. She told me it was really devastated....estimates of electricity back on in four to six WEEKS!! I can't even imagine. so of course i gave her the update on the Palin situation.....and what else was going on in the country. I can't imagine stopping life for weeks and hearing no news, no nothing...good to hear she and hubby Jeffrey are doing fine...still wondering about Camille and Heather though. Andrea and Jeffrey are helping man the radio station...sunny 103.3 go to the station website for live broadcasts....anyway she is going to try and get in touch with Heather and Camille tomorrow so we'll know that they are okay.
In other news, the castle has a ghost! there is this weird tapping in the pantry on occasion that we can't figure out... it almost sounds like a kid in the pantry knocking to see if you will come and check it out....and of course nothing is there. Its not scary, just interesting I think....cause its loud enough to make anyone in the kitchen or den go check it out. My husband is a HUGH disbeliever but then he never thought we'd have a castle either - JOKES ON HIM!! of course he was whining tonight because the 'man cave' doesn't have the balcony view....he keeps saying he has the 'projects' view - I mean really!!!! He used to have newspapers on the windows at the old house so you'd think this would be great.
I also found a guy to get the pond ready for Esmeralda and Elvis. His name is Tom and he's from Exotic Aquatics. He's coming to clean everything and get it ready to be a good home for our future goldfish clan. He'll even order Esmeralda and Elvis to our specs......so I wonder what one of those fish with a pompadour is called?
In other news, the castle has a ghost! there is this weird tapping in the pantry on occasion that we can't figure out... it almost sounds like a kid in the pantry knocking to see if you will come and check it out....and of course nothing is there. Its not scary, just interesting I think....cause its loud enough to make anyone in the kitchen or den go check it out. My husband is a HUGH disbeliever but then he never thought we'd have a castle either - JOKES ON HIM!! of course he was whining tonight because the 'man cave' doesn't have the balcony view....he keeps saying he has the 'projects' view - I mean really!!!! He used to have newspapers on the windows at the old house so you'd think this would be great.
I also found a guy to get the pond ready for Esmeralda and Elvis. His name is Tom and he's from Exotic Aquatics. He's coming to clean everything and get it ready to be a good home for our future goldfish clan. He'll even order Esmeralda and Elvis to our specs......so I wonder what one of those fish with a pompadour is called?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Stories from around the castle....
I'm getting used to the boxes you know.....but not getting far in the unpacking. Still lots to go and since work backed up during the move, I've been putting in long hours so who knows when the boxes will be gone and really - who cares?
So I'm taking it somewhat easy tonight and of course nothing is on TV. I added myself to facebook at the urging of some business friends and I'm surprised at how people have found me. Kevin is playing with timers on the sprinklers again - too bad he can't figure out how to make them go off every time someone lets their dog take a dump on our yard.
And what is the deal over here with everyone having a horse for a dog? If you want a horse, get a horse! A dog should not have to be walked with a golf cart! Our favorite client from Toronto will be in next week and then we'll be in Toronto with the Publisher Sept 24-26. Hopefully I won't have to endure the breeze from the ice cubes they have on that big lake up there...I mean really! February is not the time to hop into Canada.
YOu know how you get a really cool new fridge with all the latest features that seem really neat....like....um...i don't know - this really annoying beep if you hold the door open too long? So it sounds like a great thing right? And in theory it is if you're just staring into the depths of the fridge hopeing something will appear - this noise will snap you back to life and remind you, hey its the same stuff that was in there twenty minutes ago. Sounds great...right? NO.
See the little beepy noise is very effective for me - it beeps I close the door. But it doesn't seem to have the same effect on my spouse. It beeps - he ignores it. It doesn't bother him - it bothers me. Another ten seconds pass. More beeps and still no response. So now, its beeping and I'm complaining "HEY! It beeps for a reason!" And I get a blank stare. "What?" grrr...of course now that he KNOWS it bothers me its the funnest game ever - for him....
At least the moat is gone.....Yes I said moat. Last weekend, the fact that the sewer lines haven't had the roots removed in ..oh maybe five years became evident as a moat of raw sewage poured over our lawn and down the gutter around the castle. I'd even said something about wanting a moat but one with turds of unknown origin was not what I had in mind. Anyway, Paul the plumber to the rescue. The only good thing about the moat, was that all those people who let their dog/horse crap in my yard, also let them lap up the 'moat' water and then lick them in the face!! Yes, daddy loves his little horsey!!! Bwahahahahah
So I'm taking it somewhat easy tonight and of course nothing is on TV. I added myself to facebook at the urging of some business friends and I'm surprised at how people have found me. Kevin is playing with timers on the sprinklers again - too bad he can't figure out how to make them go off every time someone lets their dog take a dump on our yard.
And what is the deal over here with everyone having a horse for a dog? If you want a horse, get a horse! A dog should not have to be walked with a golf cart! Our favorite client from Toronto will be in next week and then we'll be in Toronto with the Publisher Sept 24-26. Hopefully I won't have to endure the breeze from the ice cubes they have on that big lake up there...I mean really! February is not the time to hop into Canada.
YOu know how you get a really cool new fridge with all the latest features that seem really neat....like....um...i don't know - this really annoying beep if you hold the door open too long? So it sounds like a great thing right? And in theory it is if you're just staring into the depths of the fridge hopeing something will appear - this noise will snap you back to life and remind you, hey its the same stuff that was in there twenty minutes ago. Sounds great...right? NO.
See the little beepy noise is very effective for me - it beeps I close the door. But it doesn't seem to have the same effect on my spouse. It beeps - he ignores it. It doesn't bother him - it bothers me. Another ten seconds pass. More beeps and still no response. So now, its beeping and I'm complaining "HEY! It beeps for a reason!" And I get a blank stare. "What?" grrr...of course now that he KNOWS it bothers me its the funnest game ever - for him....
At least the moat is gone.....Yes I said moat. Last weekend, the fact that the sewer lines haven't had the roots removed in ..oh maybe five years became evident as a moat of raw sewage poured over our lawn and down the gutter around the castle. I'd even said something about wanting a moat but one with turds of unknown origin was not what I had in mind. Anyway, Paul the plumber to the rescue. The only good thing about the moat, was that all those people who let their dog/horse crap in my yard, also let them lap up the 'moat' water and then lick them in the face!! Yes, daddy loves his little horsey!!! Bwahahahahah
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
We Made It!!
So we are moved in!! - Not unpacked mind you, but moved. They delivered the bedroom furniture and the matching desks for our office. The red couch makes its appearance on Thursday along with the Frig. You know you never realize how attached you are to your frig until you are without one....I've had to ice down my bottles of wine in the sink for the last few days.
We absolutely love the house!!Kevin is on cloud nine and has been trying out all the neat features of the house - like the doorbell on the backdoor which is really annoying to me since I come downstairs to answer the front door and no one is there. And then there are all the various jets that come out of the wall in the master shower. I didn't notice them really or play with them - I just took a shower cause I wanted to get clean. Of course I'm a girl and that's what we do. Kevin however had to play with all the gadgets so he took a long shower then proceeds to tell me how cool the 'butt hole' cleaners are in the shower and how its the cleanest his butt hole has ever been. Really? Did ya have to share that??? Oh the joys of marrying a redneck. He has also arranged his 'man cave' with his desk, computer, TV, video games and beer frig which is the envy of all the guys who have been to the house so far.
Hopefully we'll be out of the boxes soon and can start having people over. For now, back to work!!
We absolutely love the house!!Kevin is on cloud nine and has been trying out all the neat features of the house - like the doorbell on the backdoor which is really annoying to me since I come downstairs to answer the front door and no one is there. And then there are all the various jets that come out of the wall in the master shower. I didn't notice them really or play with them - I just took a shower cause I wanted to get clean. Of course I'm a girl and that's what we do. Kevin however had to play with all the gadgets so he took a long shower then proceeds to tell me how cool the 'butt hole' cleaners are in the shower and how its the cleanest his butt hole has ever been. Really? Did ya have to share that??? Oh the joys of marrying a redneck. He has also arranged his 'man cave' with his desk, computer, TV, video games and beer frig which is the envy of all the guys who have been to the house so far.
Hopefully we'll be out of the boxes soon and can start having people over. For now, back to work!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
We move this Saturday!!
Its been a flurry of activity around here this week getting this house ready to lease. I have to say our renovations look pretty snazzy and we put the 'For Rent' sign out in the yard last weekend. We got quite a few calls so I'm sure we'll have it rented in no time.
We haven't packed as much as I'd like - okay I haven't packed as much as I should - Kevin is already packed and ready to roll. We have given away ten years+ worth of crap and I'm sure will be giving away more. I went and verified furniture deliveries for Saturday and me & Liz picked out two matching executive desks for the office. So the it will be two desks and the red couch so far in the office.
I'm really excited and went to the pet store to look at some fish for my new outdoor fountain/pond. I thought I wanted some KOI so I got a KOI for dummies book - turns out I don't' want KOI - They get really big and need all this special stuff. What I need is a fish that looks pretty and doesn't really need to be feed on a regular basis - turns out that's called a goldfish.
So once we have the little fountain cleaned, I'm planning on getting a few bug eyed goldfish - Perhaps a Black pair named Esmeralda and Elvis or a bright gold pair named Ed & Betty - what do you all think?
We haven't packed as much as I'd like - okay I haven't packed as much as I should - Kevin is already packed and ready to roll. We have given away ten years+ worth of crap and I'm sure will be giving away more. I went and verified furniture deliveries for Saturday and me & Liz picked out two matching executive desks for the office. So the it will be two desks and the red couch so far in the office.
I'm really excited and went to the pet store to look at some fish for my new outdoor fountain/pond. I thought I wanted some KOI so I got a KOI for dummies book - turns out I don't' want KOI - They get really big and need all this special stuff. What I need is a fish that looks pretty and doesn't really need to be feed on a regular basis - turns out that's called a goldfish.
So once we have the little fountain cleaned, I'm planning on getting a few bug eyed goldfish - Perhaps a Black pair named Esmeralda and Elvis or a bright gold pair named Ed & Betty - what do you all think?
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Red Couch
So we've moved the closing date for the house up to the 16th.....eager to get there you know. Things are going well on the fix up for the rental and we've found the bestest handy man ever - his name is David and he can fix anything! So he's basically remodeling our house $50 at a time so it will be ready to lease out by Sept 1.
We bit the bullet and went furniture shopping this past weekend. We really only urgently need a bedroom suite - most of the rest can wait. However, over at Texas Furniture they had this little red couch I've had my eye on. Its curved and very girly and I wanted it for the office since we'll actually have room for people to sit in our office now. Anyway, I've looked at it several times and haven't gotten it because it was just a little pricey....then Saturday I went over to see if they'd sold it and they had marked it down to half price! Needless to say I snatched it right up! What can I say? The universe loves me! So now you all can get to visit the red couch when you come to the office - its really cute!
Today and tomorrow we have a client in from Calgary, CA. We're working on his book and some other programs he will be launching. His name is Todd Dean and he is a radio personality up there. We met in a couple weeks ago in Dallas and he's a nice guy. Actually I think he just wanted an excuse to come back to Texas...I mean who would live in the great white north on purpose??
We bit the bullet and went furniture shopping this past weekend. We really only urgently need a bedroom suite - most of the rest can wait. However, over at Texas Furniture they had this little red couch I've had my eye on. Its curved and very girly and I wanted it for the office since we'll actually have room for people to sit in our office now. Anyway, I've looked at it several times and haven't gotten it because it was just a little pricey....then Saturday I went over to see if they'd sold it and they had marked it down to half price! Needless to say I snatched it right up! What can I say? The universe loves me! So now you all can get to visit the red couch when you come to the office - its really cute!
Today and tomorrow we have a client in from Calgary, CA. We're working on his book and some other programs he will be launching. His name is Todd Dean and he is a radio personality up there. We met in a couple weeks ago in Dallas and he's a nice guy. Actually I think he just wanted an excuse to come back to Texas...I mean who would live in the great white north on purpose??
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Listen Up You Blog Stalkers!!
It has been pointed out that I have been incredibly remiss in my blogging - which is true...I've been swamped since the cruise which turned out to be a trip of a lifetime for everyone. I think we inducted a whole new generation of cruise lovers!! Jen & Ryan seemed to be quite smitten with the boat and ports of call and Ryan even went para sailing!
I'm not sure why the person who was the most reluctant to get on the boat (all that water you know!) ends up being the one tethered to a speed boat like a kite in St. Thomas. As most of you know I would highly recommend a cruise.
So anyway, like I said, we got back and I am swamped - which is good. We got our ebook site in the design phase and after some misses, they finally hit one out of the park!! The design is awesome and we should be ready to launch in the next month or so. We're presenting the idea in Dallas this week for one of our publishers and so far everyone who has seen it has loved the concept. It looks like a winner!
Added to the flurry of activity during this, our busy season, my husband finds a house online. We've been haphazardly and not really seriously looking at moving to a nicer home. We've gone to many open houses, but nothing has really struck as right. Not even close enough to investigate the financing. So we go and see this house which is really just a few block from where we are now. For those of you in Amarillo, we currently live in white trash Wolflin. This house is in REAL Wolfin. Anyway, I really liked it. So we began investigating financing and over the last few weeks everything has completely fallen into place. We're keeping our current house as our first investment property and will be leasing it out soon. We close on the new house the third week in August.
Since I'm so busy I'm seriously considering piling all our current crap in the yard and setting it ablaze...out with the old, you know. Below is the virtual tour of the new house and if you see a blaze in the yard of a house in white trash Wolflin soon, you'll know we moved.
Virtual tour:
Click here to view: http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?t=1380282&sk=1&prt=10003
Friday, June 06, 2008
It's Tomorrow!!
So tomorrow is the big day. We fly to Miami to begin our family cruise extravaganza. So far we seem to have everything in order. There was a very small blip this morning as Kaci's car broke down in Stinnett. Her Dad picked up the car and took it back home and I picked her up and brought her to Amarillo so no big deal. At least it will be fixed when she gets back.
I also picked up Kayla and we did the last trip to WalMart. We should be good to go and I think I have everything about packed. Didn't quite finish a couple of projects, but I guess it wouldn't be normal to actually go without work to do so I'm bringing them along.
We leave for the airport at a 6a tomorrow and should touch down in Miami shortly before 2pm so it will be a long day, but a relief once we all get there...of course there will be cruise updates!! so stay tuned.......
I also picked up Kayla and we did the last trip to WalMart. We should be good to go and I think I have everything about packed. Didn't quite finish a couple of projects, but I guess it wouldn't be normal to actually go without work to do so I'm bringing them along.
We leave for the airport at a 6a tomorrow and should touch down in Miami shortly before 2pm so it will be a long day, but a relief once we all get there...of course there will be cruise updates!! so stay tuned.......
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