The Great Wolf Lodge Timewarp

The Kinsons made a trek down to Niagara Falls, Ontario to revisit the Great Wolf Lodge. Before leaving, which in reality was only a double digit handful of hours ago, we (read: I) was a total stress-case of Christmas angst.

We came back today (and this time I mean all of us) exhausted from all the fun and feeling as relaxed as if we were gone weeks. No kidding! It was like travelling through some kind of time warp!!

Upon arriving home this evening, I ran around the house watering my plants so they wouldn't die (Duh... they were watered last Thursday) and was quite prepared send hubby out with a grocery list (Double duh... stocked the fridge on Friday).

If you've never been, or never heard of the place, Great Wolf Lodge is ONE BIG BLAST OF WATERY FUN!!! The indoor water park (kept a balmy 84 degrees F) has big slides, medium slides, baby-fun slides, a wave pool (totally reminded me of the smashing wave-fun in Bermuda), two swimming pools, tons of splashy-pad type activities, towers to climb, water cannons to aim, buckets to tip, hot tubs, more hot tubs, and a lazy river, that despite your insisting otherwise, your kids insist on racing you through!

When your hands and feet are so pruny you're quite sure they'll never plump up again, you can haul butt to the arcade, send the kids to the cub club for arts, crafts and an array of activities, and in summer-time, amuse yourself with mini-golf. And speaking of summer - there's also an outdoor pool incase you don't get wet enough inside.

I didn't even make it to the Elements Spa this trip. Ah well... next time.

'Course, this latest trip, so close to Christmas, was an absolute delight -- the decor was festive, Santa made an appearance, they did sleigh rides around the property and had a ton of Christmassy stuff for kids.

Last night, we drove around Niagara Falls to see the annual festival of lights - which was spectacular - almost enough to distract us from the beauty of the falls themselves, all lit up and misty, a sight to behold.

And although we took our camera, we took NO pics of our own. In fact, all the pictures along the side are downloaded from the web -- with my apologies and thanks to those that did take them.

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In other why-is-Wylie-not-blogging news... my mother-in-law arrives tomorrow so I'll probably not blog again until next week. Hope y'all are a'ight... and I will try to pop around everyone elses blogs and see what's what...

Prop 8 - The Musical

Yesterday I had nothing.
Today, I've got something to say it for me. Something absolutely brilliant. BRILLIANT!!

Prop 8 - The Musical... from Funny or Die.
What a cast - Jack Black, John C. Reilly, Doogie Howser (NPH will always be Doogie to me) and many more...
See how many stars twinkle in this hilarious sketch:

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Nothing to say, really.

I'm having a hard time coming up with anything interesting to say on this blog lately. As if that ever stopped me before...*snort*

Each morning, I grab a coffee and sit at my desk (which really means, on the couch with my laptop), sign on to blogger and nothing comes... NOTHING!

Should I chat about my wip? NAH
I'm 2/3rds in and enjoying the process, but I've nothing to share yet.

The fact that I have no Christmas decorations up yet, and no time to do anything Christmas-related this week? NAH
That only 1/2 my shopping has been done? Nu-uh.
From what I've been reading on YOUR blogs, many of us are sharing a ride on the Frantic Boat toward the 25th.

My birthday? nah
But in case you care... Yes, I had a fabulous day yesterday, thanks to my hubby and friends xoxo

AH-HA... here's something:
I'm presently reading two AMAZING manuscripts - a very hot romance that has me giggling out loud and a quirky delightful young adult book that has me wishing I could go back to highschool and do it all over again... on my terms!
But I can't really say too much about either of them at the moment... and this is hard for me! I want to wax eloquently about the wonderful characters and the sticky situations they're in, and how two uber-authors bring them to life on the computer screen.
You can be sure when those two novels are sitting on bookshelves (soon, I hope) I'll brag, BIG TIME "I knew them when!"

Surrounding myself with such talented writers makes me feel... I dunno... like maybe their magic sparkly talent dust will somehow sink into my skin.

Writers and bloggers alike - are you creatively inspired by others, or intimidated? I waiver between the two, usually, but at the moment, the magic dust is pushing me forward.

Demon's Hunger by Eve Silver... as good as a cold bath

I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of Eve Silver's latest book, Demon's Hunger, the sequel to her bestselling novel Demon's Kiss.

Well Ms Silver, I have you to thank for the discomfort of not one, but TWO cold baths.

Let me explain...

I do my best reading in the tub. It's the only quiet place in the house, a sacred no-boys-allowed-to-bother-mom zone. And at risk of getting too personal, I follow a specific routine:

Stage 1: sink into the hot water (bubbles optional) and read one or two chapters. Before the water loses steam, I move to...

Stage 2: wash and condition hair (using the rinse cycle to re-heat the water back to optimum soak temp), wrap head in towel and continue reading the next chapter or two.

Stage 3: (and this is important) STOP reading long enough to exit the tub BEFORE the bath water cools enough to lower internal body temperature. Critical.

I never vary from this. (I'm anal that way.)

Except when I cracked Demon's Hunger.

There I was, reading away, not noticing that the bubbles were slowly dissolving around me, and next thing I knew, I was shivering.

So engrossed was I in the The Compact of Sorcerers (smoken hot demon fighting dudes) that I completely missed Stage 2 and went well beyond the critical point of Stage 3!!

I couldn't re-fill/re-heat, cause that's just wasteful, so I got out and took my drippy, shivery self into bed.

Next night, SAME THING!

Damn you, Eve Silver, for penning a tale so captivating it left my skin pruny and my hair greasy!

Here's the blurb:

Forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn fears she's losing her mind. Her libido has kicked into overdrive, and she's blacking out-leaving hours of her life unaccounted for and no memory of where she's been...or what she's done. But when a sexy stranger rescues her from a demon attack, Vivien realizes there's more than just her sanity at stake... A seductive killer is luring victims, and Sorcerer Dain Hawkins finds himself walking a dangerous line between ancient duty and sizzling desire when the brotherhood-and Vivien herself-begin to suspect that her mysterious symptoms may connect her to the crimes. Can Dain save Vivien from the evil that threatens to claim her? Or will they both succumb to...Demon's Hunger...

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- Eve is the Queen of Sexual Tension. The chemistry between Vivien and Dain *sigh* is practically palpable. And I can't wait to read more about those sexy demon hunters...

Look for DEMON'S HUNGER (did I mention that you don't need to read Demon's Kiss first - that this hot paranormal romance is perfectly enjoyable as a stand alone? But you will want to go back and read it, just because...) in bookstores this December.

Great gift for your book-loving gal friends. And personally speaking, I always love seeing a book peeking out of my Christmas stocking :)

A Blog Award? For Me?

Ann over at Fractured Fiction awarded me *yay* with this delicious little Great Attitude/Graditude Award. (She must have missed my last rant - hee)
Isn't it purdy?






*Put the logo on your blog or post

*Nominate at least 10 blogs which show Great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

*Be sure to link to your nominees within your post

*Let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog

*Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award



This is the fun part...

And the award goes to (in no particular order):

1. Jennifer Leeland cause her 'Thankful' post was right-on


2. Julia Smith cause her heart of gold shows in everything she touches (yes, I know she got it already but she needs at least five or six for her abundance of attitude/gratitude)


3. Susan Helene Gottfried cause she ROCKS. Ditto Julia's postscript.


4. Thomma-Lyn for her generous, insightful nature


5. Leah Braemel cause she's supportive, helpful and sincere


6. M. cause she makes it her purpose in life to find the funny


7. Tempest, Cora and Cassandra at Midnight Moon Cafe for always sharing their latest book finds


8. JK Coi cause she generously promotes her fellow authors


9. Shelley Munro cause she's as lovely, sweet and interesting in person as she is in blogworld


10. Bonnie Staring because she shares her excitement for life with everyone she comes in contact with.

Network Execs, YOU SUCK!

I don't watch that much television... That said, I was pretty excited about this year's line up because there are some excellent and unique dramas out there and I am sick sick sick of reality television and two-bit talent shows.

Apparently, I'm the only one who thinks so...
They cancelled My Own Worst Enemy. WTF? The cast was top-notch: Christian Slater, the old farmer dude from that pig movie, Babe -- you know who I mean, right?, Madchen Amick (sorry M, don't know how to put those dots above your 'a') and a few others whom I recognize but their names aren't forthcoming in my anger-haze. The writing was tight and the overall concept was unique. I ask again, WTF? Couldn't they have given it more than a 4 episode chance????

Another of my faves, Eli Stone, just got the axe. Again - excellent acting, fantastic feel-good stories, ... POOF!
Fuck you ABC.
(Yes Nicholas, I just swore on my blog. First and last time.)

Though I didn't watch Pushing Daisies, I understand it was an excellent show. Bye-bye. It's gone. Now I'll never get the chance.

How can sludge like Desperate Housewives continue to clog the air. And though I enjoy Law and Order and CSI, do we really need the twelve sub-versions? REALLY?? Cause advertisers, don't you realize that you're selling the same stuff to the same people? Does that make any sense?? Don't you want NEW viewers? NEW consumers?

Hey, network execs. Y'all need to be bitch-slapped.
I AM YOUR TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC. ME. WYLIE KINSON - HOMEMAKER, FEMALE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-45. SHOPPER.
And you have alienated me.
I may not watch the shows during scheduled air time when your totals are being tallied but I AM WATCHING.
Between PVR's, On-demand cable viewing, the availability of entire-season DVDs, the current Neillson Rating system is obsolete.

I'm going to read a book.

Catching up with... ME!

I'm back from visiting my mom in the Great White North (which isn't white, btw, but very green, as opposed to the weather in the Toronto area, which is VERY white at the moment!)

I had no internet access for five days...
Yes, that IS as horrible as you can imagine!

Thought for sure that I'd be able to get some writing done (since no internet!) but alas... very little tapping occurred. I did cross the 40,000 line which sounds good, but my goal was 50,000, so not good.
But there was visiting to be done, and chatting, and going out for coffee, and Christmas shopping...
And seeing Quantum of Solace. *big grin*
Daniel Craig continues his splendorous portrayal of Bond, James Bond. It was excellent. Perhaps not quite as good as the first, but really, very good. 3 1/2 stars out of 4.

I've just spent a few minutes catching up on blogs though didn't have time to comment on any. But here's what I learned since Max & Ruby started:
Leah is Svening, Christine and Bonnie are NaNo-ing (yes, C - reward yourself with Quantum!), Amy is editing and eating (not necessarily in that order), Nicholas is providing thoughtful matter by way of book titles that never saw the light of day, Terra has lost 2 lbs (go Terra!!!), TL continues to hike, edit and play (TL - I love your character names, 'specially Renata) and JK has Matt Cory visiting.
I've still got to check out what's up with Tempest, Maureen, Jen the Redneck, Shelley Munro and see what's happening at Six Degrees of Sexy... so many blogs, so little time ;)

Back to Christmas shopping... Have you started? I'm starting to get a bit frantic because I've got to get my Bermuda-family pressies bought before the in-laws arrive in a couple of weeks so I can send stuff back with them. And December is so full of stuff -- three family birthdays (including mine - so start shopping), three friend birthdays, holiday parties, decorating, end of school,....
All that and finishing a book.
ACK, I'm stressed already!!!

Leaving on a jet plane, be back on Monday...

You have reached the blog of Wylie Kinson.
I'm currently away from my desk -- and away from all things internet! -- but if you'd like something to read while I'm gone, please check out my post at Six Degrees of Sexy entitled:

10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SEX

Or maybe you do know about them...

Don't forget to leave a message after the beep!

BEEP

This special bulletin just in from my friend Tracey...

Set your "Lost" countdown clocks to 72 days: ABC has set the show's season premiere date.

The show will open its fifth season with a two-hour premiere starting at 9p.m. ET Wednesday, Jan. 21. It marks a return to Wednesdays for the show.


Woohoo... something to look forward to!

Writing research, or an excuse not to write??

I'm trying to get a grasp on the future-world I'm creating for my latest wip (Jump Zone) so trotted down to Blockbuster for some post-apocolyptic inspiration.

I had to fight off two teenage boys to get the last (and only?) copy of the John Woo directed Appleseed Ex Machina. This was my first foray into anime and I must say, I was impressed! While the story was certainly interesting, it was the animation that had me shaking my head in a combination of creepy and cool in it's stunning 'realness' (the chick did NOT have sex with the hunky(?) faceless cyborg so the creep-factor came down by the end).
Though I did have a weird moment when I realized that two specific visual details in MY wip are presented in the fictional world of Olympia. Enough to have me worried that people will think I ripped them off from the movie (totally did NOT!!) but if/when Jump Zone is ever published, it'll be long forgotten,... ahem.

The second movie was a very dark vision of future-world starring Christian Bale (whom I heart more with every movie I see him in) called Equilibrium.
AGHAST - another three parallels to my story -- one major, two minor. I guess the collective vision of future-world is indeed bleak.
Anyhoo -- it was another enjoyable movie from a researchy aspect. And 1 1/2 hours of a stoic Mr. Bale was totally worth the $5 rental fee. The fight scenes were AMAZINGLY choreographed and more than a little violent.
The video store dude even said, "Uh... this is restricted. Are you sure you want it?" To which I replied, "Uh... yeah." Not sure if he thought I was underage (wishful thinking on my part?), too delicate, or if I was getting it as a package deal for my teenage son along with the anime flick.
Jeez kid... hate to blow your stereotype of 40 year old women, but we're not all sitting at home watching PS I Love You *snort*

Did I loose some valuable writing time watching movies. Oh yeah. Did it help. Undoubtably. If anything, it confirmed that my vision for our fine planet isn't completely whacked and might even save me from a few cliches. (Can they even be considered cliche if I thought I thought of them first?)

Question: Have you seen anything that qualifies as anime? Thoughts??

No taxes from Californian gays? Oh YEAH!!

Melissa Ethridge spoke out against that Prop 8 business...
I'm horrible at summarizing, so click here to read her right on rant: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-11-06/you-can-forget-my-taxes/
and join me in sayin' AMEN MELISSA!!!!

BUFFY IS DEAD?!?!

Oh where oh where has Wylie been...

Yes, aside from two little blips this past week, I haven't been much of a blogger lately. October was a month where a bunch of little niggly things collided and made me tired, grumpy, stressed and uncreative.

To escape real-life, I ended up spending the last few hours of every evening watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I missed this show when it was on television (we didn't get the WB in Bermuda back then) and besides... I couldn't really understand the appeal after having sat through the original movie.

A grainy season one (had me appreciating high def) was very short compared to the other 22 episode seasons, and I really had to leave my adult sensibilities aside and try to let my inner angsty teenager come into the light.
It worked, (must have been my mood, cause it was actually pretty easy!) and I eagerly plunged into season two.
By this time, I realized that even if the monsters were bordering on ridiculous, the acting was superb, the writing tight and the characters BRILLIANT!
It goes without saying that Sarah Michelle Geller was the perfect choice for Buffy... but Willow, Xander, Giles, Angel, even Oz -- incredibily well fleshed out characters that made the show shine. They were easily people you would know in high school (except maybe Angel, the vampire with a soul *snort*) and kudos to Joss Whedon who didn't rely on the transparent trick of slotting people in to stereotype slots.

And I finally completely 'get' why the Angel & Buffy story resonated with my fellow romance writers. WOW -- the chemistry between those two characters was palpable.
By the time I was deep into season three, the Buffy & Angel 'theme song' (a gorgeous, haunting melody by Montreal composer Christophe Beck) would squeeze my heart whenever played.

*SPOILER ALERT - don't continue unless you've watched the show, or don't intend to*

My inner 17 year old felt every ounce of Buffy's pain by the end of season three (you know, when Angel... and Buffy... yeah, then she became Ann). Anyway, I had to rush out and buy season four that very day and only then realized that Angel doesn't come back because the bugger went off and got his own show!!! Course, now I'll have to ask Santa for the Angel series...

Late last night I watched (end of season five) the Buffster jump off the tower to save her sister. And the world.
She died??? But... but... but... I happen to know there's two more seasons!! I've seen them at Best Buy - and she's on the cover so... HOW??!!!
Oh, the look on Willow's face when she saw her friend's lifeless body.
And SPIKE!! The anguish on his face.... he just broke my heart.
Speaking of Spike. He's become my absolute fave character.
Ever.
On any television show.
Double kudos to Mr. Whedon for this guy. His character grew into something multi-faceted and imo, overshadowed even Angel in his depth. The good-bad guy, complete with unrequited love.

Have you seen Buffy?
For writers - if so, have you drawn on it for inspiration/ideas/arcs, etc??

Michael Crichton is dead!!!

OMG - I just heard the most terrible news. One of my favorite authors passed away yesterday... Michael Crichton. :(

I've read everything he wrote - the list is too long to mention in my distressed state, so I'll just throw out SPHERE, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, DISCLOSURE,and JURASSIC PARK for those who aren't sure who he is. Was. *sob*

RIP Michael. The world will miss you!

Today's the day, neighbours... do the world proud!

For my American friends...



Make history!

With no offense meant to anyone...

If you want a good laugh, go here: http://www.palinaspresident.us
It's interactive so click around.

If you need me, I'll be in TV LAND

Holy Procrastination Batman...

I got out of the writing routine during my sister's visit and am having a major hard time getting back in the saddle. Here I am, at my office (others call it the Library) and I'm blogging instead of progressing my word count.
Bad me.
Very bad me for circling a bunch of shows in the T.V. Guide that I want to catch this week. I feel so unproductive sitting in front of the idiot tube, but honestly, I've needed the escape!!
Caught that new Christian Slater pilot last night "My Own Worst Enemy" and I like it. I REALLY REALLY like it. Very cool premise, excellent acting (of course) and I'm afraid I just might be hooked.

Tuesday night is turning out to have quite the lineup: House, Eli Stone, Fringe and Mentalist. Thank goodness for time-shifting because three of them are on at the same time. And according to the 'regular Tuesday scheduling', so is My Own Worst Enemy, but I caught it on a local Canadian feed last night at midnight, right after the Mentalist. My sister -- who is back home now -- was pissed that I got to watch it a night early (neener neener neener!!)

And speaking of sister-dear, she had me watching The Unit, -- also a good program, but I'm not sure if I'll stick with that one. We'll see. It's a Sunday night thing and I don't know if I'm prepared to be stuck in front of the tv THREE nights running. ACK! I can feel my mind turning to mush and the mountain of TBR's growing to dizzying heights.
If everyone can please just stop writing/releasing books for a year or two so I can catch up, that be great. Thanks.
;)

And now YOU, fellow bloggers. What new shows or old shows coming back are you tuning in to?

Oh - one last message to Canadians: GO VOTE!!!!!!!!

RIP Owen Yee, 2004 - 2008

It's been a happy-sad week for me. Happy because I had a wonderful visit with my sister and brother-in-law. My sister is so amazing... soft and even-tempered to my dramatic shenanigans. And my bro-i-l (ha - BROIL -- love it) who ate all my cooking without complaint. That was a big job for him, believe me!!
It was difficult to say goodbye yesterday, so I avoided the airport scene and sent them off with my hubby.

Sad week as well as we bade farewell to little Owen Yee, who succumed to cancer at age four. It's been such a difficult journey for Owen's family, from the diagnosis a year and a half ago, a year of treatment, which they initially thought was successful, until the supposed final MRI this past May showed that the damn tumor came back. Poor child went through three brain surgeries, aggressive chemo, bone marrow transplant and radiation, but in the end, the horrible disease won.

I just returned home from the funeral and my hands are still shaking. My heart aches for his parents -- loosing their baby is surely worse than death itself.
For myself, looking at the small little box at the front of the church and knowing that my own four year old was at home watching Toopy and Binoo ... I was indescribably torn.

When I got home, my son, so astute for his age, wrapped is warm little arms around me and said "Did you say goodbye to Owen for me, Mommy?"

Tonight, as we sit down for our Thanksgiving meal, I know exactly what I'll be giving thanks for... For having the privilege of knowing a cheerful child whose soul will live on in those whom he touched.

Full House

My sister and bro-in-law are visiting from 'up north'. I LOVE it when they visit and not just because my sister keeps my kitchen sparkling clean and my early-rising b.i.l. has a Tim Horton's coffee waiting for me when I wake up... (though that's reason enough, trust.)

They're great company, fun to hang with and the kidlets luv 'em to pieces. It's all good.

We dragged them out with us for our Sunday hike. The leaves are finally beginning to shake loose so the walking paths were strewn with maples.

Speaking of maples:

This is my tree-hugging sister:

Sis and bro-in-law trying to contain my oldest son, who's decided he's too big for hugs, kisses or any adult-physical contact...

The kids with their Unc...

Oldest boy falling into the creek despite being told repeatedly not to put all his weight on one shaky branch. I even jokingly pulled out the camera and told him if he was going to fall in, I didn't want to waste a perfect picture opportunity. Of course, within 10 seconds, he toppled. I clicked about six photos of him going down, so when viewed in slide show, it's an impressive action montage :)

I should add, so you don't think me a callous mother, that the boy-child wasn't hurt and the creek water wasn't terribly cold :)

No fungus or tree growths this week (sorry, TL!!)

Thanks to my fellow writers who commented on my last post. Nice to see I'm not the only one with writerly ADD. One less thing to feel neurotic about :D

And no writing for me this week -- not while I've houseguests to hang with!

Probably no blogging, either, so I'll say adios until next week...

Shoulda

I should have been writing.
Should have been painting the bathroom.
Should have been getting the guestroom ready for my sister & brother-in-law's arrival tomorrow.
I SHOULD have been concentrating on the Canadian election debates!

But noooo...
This Canadian gal was GLUED to the American Vice Presidential debates last night. Overall, it was an excellent exchange with no major gaffes by either candidate. Sara Palin was not the train wreck that many expected, and I for one, was relieved. IMHO, I don't believe she should be in the position for VP, but I didn't want to see her humiliated (again) either.
Again, imho, Joe Biden, with his thirty-odd years of experience in the political game, was a clear winner. His familiarity with the issues and his comfort with the discussion gave me far more confidence than the woman who was primarily forced to defend the record of John McCain.
Opinions? I'd love to hear them, whether you agree with me or not ;)

A final note on writing... I've now passed the 25K mark on my latest WIP. The story is flowing at a pretty good pace (for me!), the momentum is still there and God willing, I may actually finish this one!! I mean, look at my sidebar. For heaven's sake, I can't seem to finish anything I start. Some for good reasons (I was over my head with the historical and the paranormal) and the others just got set aside because the muse INSISTED that I move on to *insert name of current wip here*.
My fellow writers - how do you deal with this?? How do you stay focused for so long on one project?

For the love of autumn

I LOVE AUTUMN!!!

...and not just for the Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks.

In my part of the world, we've had a gentle journey into fall. Up until this past weekend, we were still in shorts, the trees are still mostly green and the weather has been lovely. The Kinsons decided to take advantage of all the goodness and go for a hike.
And we needed to tear the kids away from the Wii :)

This one looks staged, don't you think? But this is how I found it, no kidding.

Sweetness and Light on the forest path.

We live in an area with primarily deciduous forest, but I grew up in an area that was a mix of deciduous and coniferous. They're both incredibly beautiful, though the conifers don't change color or drop leaves... instead they provide much needed greenery in the dead of winter.

My obsessions with 'growths on trees' continues.

And isn't this a neato plant?