I’ve seen lists like these several times over the years.  I laugh every time I read them.  I saved a few and compiled them.  If you know of any others, tell me!  I want to add them to the list.

Nita

Women’s Words - What They Really Mean 

  1.) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

  2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five Minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with Nothing usually end in Fine. Nothing is usually used to describe the feeling a woman has of wanting to turn you inside out, upside down, and backwards.

  5.) Loud Sigh: This is actually not a word, but a nonverbal statement often misunderstood by men. A Loud Sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about Nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of Nothing.)

  6.)Soft Sigh: Again, not a word, but a verbal statement. Soft Sighs are one of the few things that some men actually understand. She is content. Your best bet is not to move.  Do not even breathe. Hopefully she will stay content.

  7.) It’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. It’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

  8.) Please Do: After you hear It’s Okay, at some point in the near future when she has plotted and planned, you are going to be in some mighty big trouble. She may say, Please do. This is not a statement, it is an offer. A woman is giving you the chance to come up with whatever excuse or reason you have for doing whatever it is that you have done. You have a fair chance to tell the truth, so be careful and you shouldn’t get a That’s Okay.

  9.) Whatever: Is a women’s way of saying “F@! # You!”

  10.) Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking “What’s wrong?”  For the woman’s response, refer to # 3, Nothing.

  11.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you—do not question; do not faint. Just say “You’re welcome.”

  12) Thanks A Lot: This is much different from Thanks. A woman will say, Thanks A Lot when she is really ticked off at you. It signifies that you have hurt her in some callous way, and will be followed by the Loud Sigh. Be careful not to ask what is wrong after the Loud Sigh, as she will only tell you Nothing.

First let me tell you I found this on one of my favorite blogs.  It belongs to historical romance author, Cheryl St. John.  It was such good news I had to pass it on.

So now that I’ve given credit for it…  Check this out!

Romantic Times Magazine Says:
And speaking of historicals… we predict that a comeback is on the horizon. With authors like Karen Robards, Judith McNaught and now Julie Garwood returning to the much-beloved genre, it won’t be long before all publishers will jump on the bandwagon to cash in on this returning trend. Add to that the recent news that suspense authors Tess Gerritsen and (of all people) Dennis Lehane will have historicals out in the next two years and you can see the trend is already in motion. If you’re an author, dust off those historicals and get them ready for submission and if you’re a fan of historicals, rejoice in the knowledge that authors and/or publishers have heard your pleas! Let’s hope the new historicals live up to what fans want: lush, historically accurate detail, strong, independent heroines, heroes to die for, palpable sexual tension with tender sensuality and books overflowing with old-fashioned romance!

FYI: Keep in mind that when these historicals hit stores it will be up to you and your buying power) to determine how long the trend lasts. That means you MUST show your support for historicals by purchasing them new and not buying them on sites like half.com or used. “New” book sales is the only measure publishers use to determine if they will continue to publish more historicals.

***

Isn’t that cool?  Yay!  I love historicals!  I love to read them and I love to write them, too.  Historical authors have had a tough market the past few years.  Maybe things will open up for a little!  I sure would like to get A Real Husband published.

Nita

I received the most wonderful phone call last night!  My historical, A Real Husband, is a finalist in the Romancing the Tome Contest sponsored by the Coeur de Louisiane RWA Chapter. 

I’m so excited! This should help when I query another publisher about it.  On the letter, I can now add, “Finalist in the Romancing the Tome Contest.”   WooHoo!

Want a peek? Click here to read an excerpt of A Real Husband.

Oh! And two other members of the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers made the finals in their categories.  Congrats to Kerensa Brougham!  Her romantic suspense, Publish or Perish, made the finals.  And Christine Keach’s series contemporary, Fractured Paradise, is a finalist, too! Way to go, Chris!

Cross your fingers for us!

Nita

I hope everyone’s Thanksgiving is wonderful.   Today is a day to count your blessings, be with family and remember what’s important.  Here’s a few quotes of what other’s thought about Thanksgiving:

What we’re really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets.  I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving? - Erma Bombeck

:) Gotta love Erma Bombeck! LOL

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude. - E. P. Powell

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don’t unravel. - unknown

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some. - Charles Dickens

So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart.
- Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving

He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.
- J. A. Shedd

May your Thanksgiving be truly blessed.

Nita

I just wanted to share a couple pics of my daughter.  Her senior portraits turned out to be gorgeous.  (Of course, I  think they are gorgeous.  She’s mine.  )

Sorry.  I tried and tried to get these to upload so that I could make them bigger without distorting them.  For some reason, the one with the rose was the only one that would get any bigger at all. 

Nita

Have y’all scene this video?  It’s People Magazine’s 100 Sexy Men.  In about one minute, you see pictures of 100 Sexy Men.  There are a few that I would not have included, and some flash by way too fast.  LOL  But for the most part, this is one hot video!

Check it out: 100 Sexy Men

Nita

Okay, so I studied a bunch of Celtic magic and witchcraft stuff for a while.  I reviewed all the info I had on Badb, the Celtic Goddess the wizard wants to invoke.  And I went over exactly what the wizard wants to accomplish with the spell. 

And the following poem is what I finally came up with.  I will warn you up front if you didn’t catch yesterday’s post– I am not a poet.   

Before you read, let me tell you a little about what needed to be included.  First, I needed a ritual type spell to call forth the power of the elements (fire, air, water, and earth.)  It’s good to remember the four powers of the magician, too, which are To Know, To Will, To Dare, and To be Silent.  And for those who are not familiar with Badb, she is a Celtic Goddess, one of the three witches/faeries that make up the Morrigan.  The Morrigan are often referred to as Warrior Crones.  She has the ability to take the shape of a raven, and she is believed to be the keeper of the cauldron of death and rebirth in the Otherworld. The wizard is asking Badb to grant him immortality. 

Okay, now that you know all that, here’s my spell:

I call forth Knowledge and Wisdom of Air,
Come Power of Water harnessed, I Dare,
By my Will, may Fire emblazon my worth,
In Silence I amass Strength from the Earth.

I bring Govannon’s meade of Manann’s Feast,
Offerings to honor, I am your humble priest,
With apples and bread amid jewels and stone,
Tokens to worship the Warrior Crone.

Hear me goddess of the Morrigan three,
By blood of Sidhe, I invoke thee in me.
Mistress of the Cauldron of Life, be free,
Come Badb, Raven Goddess, to possess me.

(The wizard uses his Athame, a ceremonial knife, to cut the sacrifice and spill his blood.)

Blood of the Sidhe, banish the Banshee’s wail,
Forever to keep me healthy and hail.
This gift I give thee, O Goddess of Death,
Grant my desire with the Sidhe’s last breath.

Today I’m working on the spell that our wizard will use to gain and maintain his immortality.  That means I’m researching.    I enjoy the research and I find all the Celtic Gods and Goddesses fascinating. 

Our wizard is an ancient Druid who chose “the dark side.” LOL He is now hundreds of years old and he must make blood sacrifices for his immortality.   And it just so happens that not just any blood will do. His victims must be decendents of shapeshifters and magical people. Extremely hard to find these days.   

So now, I’m working on a realistic, but old sounding “spell” that he could use to conjure up the magic.  There are some elements I must include to keep it in line with our story and there are some things that you must have to keep it similar to the magical spells of Celtic Druids.  But the toughest part is the rhythm and rhyme.  I am really not a poet.  No.  Really.  I am NOT a poet.  LOL

But hey.  It’s a challenge.  And I do like a challenge.  Especially if it has anything to do with writing. 

Nita   

It’s the weekend again. That means I get to write again today.  Yeah!  I wonder if there’s a way to make today and tomorrow last longer.  LOL 

Only five more days till the finalists are announced on the contest I entered both of my completed manuscripts in.  The closer it gets, the more anxious I am.  Okay, I can’t think about it right now.  It will just make things worse.

I should go write.

Nita

There’s a position open at our credit union.  It’s in another office not far from the one where I work now.  Informally, I’ve been asked if I am interested.  I was told that it would be treated as a promotion, although technically it’s probably more of a lateral move.  A promotion would likely mean more money.  But… 

Currently, I run a one person office.  I am the teller, vault teller, new accounts person, and loan officer.  I’m pretty much my own boss in that there’s no one here to look over my shoulder.  I like that.  Not because I want to see what I can get away with.  LOL  But because I know they trust me enough to do a good job without immediate supervision. 

There are many good things about being the only one in my office.  I can arrange things the way I want, decorate the way I want, listen to the radio station I like.  Things are done my way and there’s no one here to question it or complain.  I like that. 

On the other hand, there’s absolutely no flexibility.  I must be here before eight to open.  There’s no calling to say, “Hey, I overslept.  I’ll be in soon and make up the time this afternoon.”  There’s no possibility of saying, “You know, I need to run an errand, so I’m going to take my lunch at 11:00 today.”  My lunch hour is set.  And there’s no way to say, “I need to leave 15 minutes early today.”  I’m the only one here.  I can’t just close early. 

Also, it’s not the easiest thing to get someone to cover for you.  Fortunately, I’m fairly healthy and seldom have to call in sick.  But when I do, it’s a major issue.  Someone has to come from another office to fill in.  Vacation time has to be scheduled weeks in advance to make arrangements for someone to cover for me.  And then there’s just the little things like, if nature calls, I have to close my office.  I don’t have a co-worker that I can turn to and say, “Be right back.” 

So now I have this delimma.  Do I leave a position I really like to go to one I may not like as well?  Admittedly, I would like having a little more flexibility, but the job is less varied.  I would do only loans and loan related stuff.  I would have far less member (customer) contact.  That’s not always a bad thing, but I like my members.  I’ve been here in this office for six years.  They are my friends as well as members of the credit union.  I would miss them.  A lot.

Decisions, decisions…

Nita