An Apology

Batten down the hatches everyone!  Say, “I love you” to all those you hold dear.  Stock up on provisions, canned food, water, and a hammer.    (HUGE sigh!)  I’m going on vacation next week!

 I know what you’re thinking, “But Juli, didn’t you just have a vacation?”  Yes, I did.  I sold my soul almost twelve years ago in exchange for money, insurance, holiday pay, and paid vacations.  I’m maxed out at four weeks paid vacation, but I can only take these weeks during a narrow window of time during the year.  Therefore, during the summer months and drifting into fall, I’m on vacation for one week out of every five or six.  Sounds pretty cool, right?  Well in theory, it is.  In actuality, bad things ALWAYS happen when I try to take a vacation.

 I use to think other people were just being silly when they pointed out how much my vacations sucked.  I tend to have a lot of bad stuff happen around me anyways.  I’m not sure why this is, but I’m use to it.  It’s normal for me.  I’ve come to accept it and I’ve found the humor in it.  I find humor in a lot of things!    Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that the REALLY bad stuff tends to happen on my time off.  Think I’m being paranoid?  I’m not.  It just is what it is.  My Grandmother and my car died on my last vacation.  My friend’s house burned down on the vacation before that.  Family deaths, in general, usual occur on my vacation or on one of the few holidays where I’ve been given time off.  My mom died on Good Friday.  My StepGram-Teppo was buried on my Birthday.  My son broke his arm on one of my vacations.  I could go on, and on, and on!  It’s as though my vacation time is cursed!  If bad things aren’t happening to me, they’re happening to those close to me.  If the apocalypse were to come, I swear, it would happen on my vacation!  It’s gotten so ridiculous, that my coworkers get nervous when they see that I’m going to try and take some time off.  I joke that my vacations are cursed, but they’re starting to believe that it might not be a joke.  I’ve had several people say to me already, “Juli, don’t go on vacation, just don’t go!”

 Sorry to disappoint you all.  Sorry in advance for any losses you may have as a result of my vacation time.  Hurricanes, pestilence, global warming…I really can’t apologize enough!  It’s happening.  I’m exhausted.  I’m taking the time off!

 I’m kicking off my vacation by attending a memorial service for my Grandma-nor, because nothing says “vacation” like a belated funeral!  I’m planning on visiting my last living grandparent.  She’s pretty feisty, so I think she’ll survive the experience.    My wedding anniversary is next week.  The hubby and I are going to at LEAST try to go out to lunch together, but we’ll see how that goes.  I don’t want to tempt Fate too much with anything bigger than that, so any other plans need to be kept hush-hush!  We usually have to trick Fate when we think she’s not looking!  “Umm…Fate?  Is that a dog over there?  Maybe it’s just a rabid squirrel.  Umm…yeah…you should probably check that out.”  Then, “Quick!  Hurry hunny!  Get in the car before Fate sees that we want to go see a movie together!”  Fate, Destiny, Luck…none of those b!tc#es seem to like me!  Last anniversary, my hubby and I were both so sick with the flu, we could hardly move.  Yes, we did get to spend our entire anniversary weekend in bed together, but it’s not very romantic when you have his and her puke buckets. 

Have a great day and…be extra careful!

JH

2011 Kerrytown Bookfest with Links and other Rambles

I’m on Stay-cation #3.  Yup, when you sell your soul time to a decent company, stay there long enough, and work every holiday, they woo you with perks like paid vacation time and insurance.  Yay!!!

My step-mom is still at the hospital.  She’s fighting a nasty infection.  I’m worried for her. 

I’ve got “old blue” back from my father-in-law and as a side-note, the gas gage works for the first time since I’ve owned the beast.  Thank you!  Thank you!

I’ve been working on back-to-back vampire Beta reads.  I should be finished with the latest one in the next day or two.  Different authors, different countries, fun stuff!!!  I like doing these.  It makes me think and use my brain in a different way.  I don’t feel qualified to Beta read other genres, but I have read every vampire story I can get my hands on.  Though that might make me sound like I’m a weirdo, I’m really not.  I learn something new each time.  I’ve met some amazing people in the writing community who have helped me so much.  It’s nice to be able to give something back in return. 

While it seems as though all of my writing buddies have been very hard at work, finishing and publishing their novels; my youngest character will be a retired grandmother before I’m completed!  Poor Chloe!  I’m so sorry your author keeps abandoning you.  All of my characters probably needed therapy anyways.  I’m feeling “stuck” at the moment.  I don’t know what my problem is.  I’m not all that concerned.  I’ve got lots of other projects to play with.  There’s nothing like procrastination to get the creative juices flowing.  I have never had ANYTHING come easy for me.  I think I secretly feel that I MUST put in my dues and have stuff go horribly wrong in order for the universe to take me seriously.  I know I’m not the only masochistic writer out there, so that gives me a little comfort.  I don’t feel qualified to slop my ramblings on a page and expect people to read and enjoy my dribbles unless I’ve done lots of grunt work, then have something of epic proportions go wrong.  It must be part of my “process.”  After all, if writing a book were that easy, everyone would do it!

Author Jaimy Gordon at the main tent, 2011 Kerrytown Bookfest, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I went to the 2011 Kerrytown Bookfest on Sunday.  I had soooo much fun!  I already posted these pictures up on my Facebook page, but I didn’t get to throw in my thoughts and impressions.  For those of you who are not familiar with the area, Ann Arbor is a really fun college town in Michigan.  It’s one of those places where art and life go hand-in-hand.  People come from all over the world to attend The University of Michigan, and end up staying in Ann Arbor.  It’s the kind of place where you can enjoy Ethiopian food, drink a micro brewed beer, and eat vegan ice cream.  It’s a melting pot of converging cultures and ideas.  There are museums, and theaters, and old movie houses that still show black and white films on occasion.  There’s a coffee shop on every corner, and at least as many bookstores.  If you’re looking for vintage anything, it’s here.  If you want the latest gadget or electronics, it’s here.  Ann Arbor is one of those towns where you can plop a modern sky rise next to a rambling Victorian mansion that’s been converted into an apartment complex, and both buildings make sense and feel right at home sitting next to each other.

Kerrytown, Ann Arbor, Michigan

If the people and city of Ann Arbor are unique and creative, then this is especially true in Kerrytown.  Kerrytown is like its own separate village within Ann Arbor.  It is the creative nucleus of the city.  Kerrytown has shops, within shops, within shops.  They still have brick streets.  They have a Farmer’s Market that goes on all year, even in winter.  People in Kerrytown wear what they want, say what they want, and do what they want.  They quote poetry and enjoy vinyl records.  They wear Birkenstock shoes with handmade socks knitted from organically grown cotton.  They love to decorate and put personal touches on everything.  They can take the tiniest strip of soil, and turn it into a beautiful garden.  I’ll put up a post in the next day or two of mundane objects that the residents have turned into usable artwork.  Kerrytown is one of my favorite places in all of Michigan.

2011 Kerrytown Bookfest, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Kerrytown Bookfest is THE place to be, if you’re an aspiring author or writer and you happen to be in Michigan.  I was able to listen to authors: Jaimy Gordon, Louise Penny, Tasha Alexander, Maureen Jennings, Stefanie Pintoff, Karen Dionne, Brian Freeman, Andrew Grant, and Mark Terry, tell their stories about their latest books and their personal adventures in writing.  (Click the names to link to the author’s websites.)

Author Louise Penny in the main tent at the 2011 Kerrrytown Bookfest, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I have to say, Louise Penny was my favorite author of the day.  She’s incredibly down to earth and charismatic.  Because everyone wants to take her picture, she likes to take pictures of her audience, and put them up on her author’s blog.  I think that’s AWSOME!  She is very passionate about her characters.  She loves what she does.  She told lots of antic dotes about her own life, and gave great advice to other writers.  She was fun to listen to.

Authors (from left to right) Karen Dionne, Andrew Grant, Brian Freeman, and Mark Terry at the Kerrytown Concert House, 2011 Kerrytown Bookfest, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I’ll have to start following Mark Terry’s blog.  He’s been writing a thriller novel and posting his story online.  He says that his posts are “same day,” and not scheduled.  That made me VERY curious.

Authors (from left to right) Stefanie Pintoff, Tasha Alexander, and Maureen Jennings at the Kerrytown Concert House, 2011 Kerrytown Bookfest, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

All of the authors were really fantastic.  They encouraged people to ask questions, very informative.  They gave away autographs, which I thought was nice, but I decided not to go to that place.  Sorry folks.  While I will soak up any information I can get like a good little sponge, I’d feel stupid asking for an autograph.  What would I do with it?  I love meeting talented people.  I’m just not sure why I would want their signature.  I go “gaga” for a well-turned phrase, whether the person is famous or not.  That’s what inspires me. 

Have a great day!

JH

Back Again, With Caber Tossing Pics!

Where has the summer gone!  It may seem like I fell off the planet for a minute, but I promise, I’ve just been crazy busy!  Lots of changes have been going on at work.  The kiddo has his school stuff starting.  My characters have had a mind of their own, but I like the direction they’re taking me in.  I’ve been doing a TON of reading and even a little beta reading.  I’ve been spending more time with my wonderful family, and extended family.  Blah, blah, blah, life’s been very good!

 Needless to say, I haven’t blogged in a bit.  I have some fun stuff to share from my last stay-cation.  Yeah, yeah, I know that was a few weeks ago, but there’s pictures to go with and exploitation of my heritage, always a winning combination!

 Like most Americans, genetically, I’m a mutt.  My family originates from England, Ireland, Scotland, and I’m part Cherokee.  My facial features and fair skin pigment reflect my European roots, but my actual roots, as in my original hair color, took after my Native American ancestry.  When I was a child, I didn’t really appreciate my inherited traits.  A kid can only hear so many Snow White jokes, before they become redundant!  Now that I’ve matured, I’ve embraced my family’s lineage.  I’ve been trying to trace our family tree and learn what I can about the people who came before me, who helped make me who and what I am. 

 In my exploration of my heritage, I’ve discovered some fun and surprising things about myself.  I blame some of it on DNA.  Who knows what’s hiding on those strands?  For example, I hold my chromosomes entirely responsible for my love of bagpipe music.  Logically, I know bagpipes and tortured felines can sound very much alike, but for as long as I a can remember, I’ve enjoyed the sound of bagpipe music.  It may seem silly, but it makes my soul happy.

 My hubby has some Scottish blood in him as well, and has been an enabler.  It was his idea to attend The 162^nd Highland Games in Livonia, MI, sponsored by the St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit.  AMAZING!!!  I felt an unexpected kinship from the moment I stepped onto the grounds.  It’s not often I get to see so many people with a similar nose as myself, all gathered in one place!   Odds are, there were at least a few bodies there that were distantly related to me, in a “six degrees to Kevin Bacon” sort of way.

 One of my favorite attractions of the Highland Games, besides watching “manly-men” in kilts, is witnessing the caber toss.  Imagine seeing incredibly strong men, sporting the plaid of their clan, throwing a log that looks a bit like a telephone pole, end over end.  I have no explanation as to why anyone would attempt to do such a thing.  I’ve tried to research this sport, but I tend to believe that there must have once been someone foolish enough to say, “It can’t be done,” and someone stubborn enough to prove them wrong!  I know I’ve done some pretty crazy things using this same mindset, especially when I’m moving around large pieces of furniture, so this sport probably makes more sense to me than it would for some.  (Putting the Guinness tent next to the game field, also made caber tossing seem rational, but that’s another story.) 

Here are some of my pictures of the 162^nd Highland Games.  Enjoy!

lifting the caber, The 162nd Highland Games in Livonia, MI, sponsored by the St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit

The caber was extra heavy because it had rained the night before.

 

lifting the caber

 

picking up the caber.

 

running with the caber

Umm..impressive? He's getting ready to throw the caber.

running with the caber

And he throws!

Have a great day!

JH

Back to Work, Post Stay-cation #2

My first day back at the job-I-need-to-pay-my-bills went well.  I suppose I was expecting another toilet bowl day, but it was actually a really nice first day back.  I know, I know, they can’t ALL horribly bad, but in my mind, I really was expecting it.  I may have even indulged in a little fantasy about how horrible things would be, a little reverse therapy, visualization gone awry.    Anyways, I came back to work refreshed, worked my tushie off, and had lots of positive feedback.  Sometimes it’s GREAT to be wrong.

Michagan Tomatoes, locally grown

In the spirit of enjoying the little things in life, we bought locally grown tomatoes this past weekend.  It was my final stay-cation act.  OK, so nobody’s doing handstands over this but me, but I love REAL tomatoes.  Those reddish things they sell in the grocery store remind me of tomatoes, but taste like sour nothings, if they taste like anything at all.  Real tomatoes aren’t perfectly anything.  The coloring is a little uneven, so is the shape, and they may be sporting a battle scar or two.  It’s not the packaging but the taste that wins you over.  We usually grow our own.  You can’t buy that flavor anywhere but at one of those little lean-to stands that sit by the side of the road, the ones where the paint is flaking in an “I made it myself” kind of way.

Last night the hubby cooked up some tomatoes for a little homemade pasta sauce.  Yum!  Tonight I enjoyed them fresh.  So good!  It’s the little things that make life enjoyable.

JH

I’m Back From Stay-cation #2

If it seemed as though I fell off the planet last week, it was because I was on Stay-cation #2.  I didn’t make a big deal out of this one.  Lots of changes have been going on at the job that pays my bills, so it was nice to get a little break before diving back in.  I ended up spending most of this past week hiding out at ye old Hoffman Haus.  It was nice having some quiet time.  The kiddo went to vacation bible school with his friend.  I got a TON of writing done this past week.  My dad and I got the last brake pad and rotor changed out on my car.  I took lots of random pictures.  I didn’t get on the Internet very much.  I watched Netflix almost everyday.  I went to the Highland Games out in Livonia and another little festival out in Northville.  I had a restful time.

Ford Field, in Northville MI. This NOT THE "Ford Field" out in Detroit, but I thought this was cute. It's a kid's park across from a Comerica Bank. He! He! It's funny if you live here in Michigan. Hubby kept saying "I thought it would be bigger." LOL

 

I’ll be posting some of my pictures and what nots from Stay-cation #2 later this week and catching up on my emails and posts that have been sent to me.  I look forward to catching up with you all.  

JH