Seven Random Things meme

Christine d'Abo tagged me for a 7 Random Things About Me Meme. I was actually tagged last week for a birth month meme (Leah and Julia - check out theirs!), but it's a long one, so I'll put it off until I have some time to really think about it. In the meantime, here are

SEVEN RANDOM THINGS ABOUT MOI

1. When I was a kid, my uncle nicknamed me Peeler. Thankfully, it didn't stick - though he continues to use it.

2. I was adopted when I was six months old. Explains the 'black sheep' thing :)

3. I played keyboards in a rock band in highschool. We sucked. Our 15 year old lead singer (who was AWESOME) went on to become a stripper.

4. In addition to piano, I learned to play the French horn and the clarinet. Sadly, I haven't kept up with any of it.

5. I lost a very dear childhood friend to MS. He was 33. I now fundraise for the MS Society of Canada.

6. I dined with HRH Prince Philip. He's very short.

7. Both my knees have 4 inch scars from operations when I was a teenager. I have no clue what was wrong with them! At 16, I never thought to ask.

I think that everyone in the world has been tagged already so I'll leave it open. Play along if you'd like!

Bags and bags of pine needles

Pop over to Six Degrees of Sexy, where Christine d'Abo, who, btw, was just awarded a JERR 5 Star Silver Star Award for her latest short story Chasing Phoenix (woot woot), is chatting about story arcs.

And under that post, you'll see Red Garnier's HOT-HOT HOLY SMOKIN' HOT new cover for I Take Thee, which is coming soon from Liquid Silver Books.

HELLO to Victoria Krain (who commented on the cartoon below) who we haven't seen for months and months and months -- her last blogpost was May 2007!! She recently gave birth to a gorgeous little girl, so we graciously excused her from the blog world, but now that she's back, we expect her blog to get up and running again!!

How many needles are on a Christmas tree?

I can now answer this with some authority: A 7 foot tree has exactly 4 1/2 plastic grocery bags of needles.

How do I know this?

I took down my tree last week and every time I touched an ornament, the branch supporting it shed every single one of its sharp pointy leaves.

Why?

Because *SOMEONE neglected to water it since Christmas, and *SOMEONE forgot to close the heating vent behind the tree -- so for 2 weeks that poor little evergreen was blasted by warm air, sat in direct sunlight in the living room window, and thirsted.

And yes, the *SOMEONE was me *blush*

So that same *SOMEONE, after dragging out the naked tree, was left with a mountain of needles on the living room floor-- hardwood (thank GOD it wasn't carpet) -- to clean up. The cats thought it was hilarious -- like two kids jumping in leaves, those cats took running leaps through the mountain until it was scattered far and wide -- while I yelled, chased and swept as fast as I could.

The tree then sat on the side of the road waiting for pick-up. What the neighbors must have thought, I can't imagine. Their still-green trees, the occasional piece of tinsel shining in the sunlight, next to my brown heap of leafless twigs.

I may have to move.

I still have some Christmasy bits and bobs about - a few candle holders, some of the kid's artwork - that I MUST get to this week.

How about you? All un-decorated?

*but I will blame my hubby for reasons of self-preservation :)

Coming soon from Ellora's Cave...

Blog buddy and fellow EC author, Christine, has just announced the July 20th release date for her book The Bond That Ties Us. She's posted an excerpt on her blog. Go check it out. I'll wait.

... (what are you waiting for? Go!)

... (la-la, tra la, dee-dum-dee-dum, doo doo, too doo)

... *filing nails*

And, you're back. Don't forget to download The Bond... on July 20th.

Reading Christine's excerpt reminded me that I have yet to post the blurb for Destiny by Design, my own little creation that comes out on MAY 18th.

Destiny by Design

Interior designer Ellis Strathmore has been chosen to compete in the Oak Ridges Development Competition, along with a handful of other designers—including her former boss and nemesis, Cynthia Travers. With the deadline just weeks away, the design teams are under intense pressure to finish. A relative novice known for her unusual approach to decorating, Ellis is determined to prove her talent, artistry and professionalism when creating the perfect home office.

One week into the Oak Ridges Competition and Simon Callon would happily trade Callon & Son Construction for a string of donut shops. Tools and supplies keep mysteriously disappearing and two of the designers are making his life miserable. He’d worked with Cynthia Travers before and knew how to handle her demands, but quirky Ellis Strathmore, with her uncanny ability to both annoy and arouse him, has Simon questioning his normally solid judgment.

Ellis and Simon clash over paint colors, work schedules and cabinets, but they can’t deny the sexual chemistry that’s building between them. The perfect palette for passion comes together with a brush of danger, tones of teasing banter and a touch of naked painting in Destiny by Design.

Available from Ellora's Cave in only EIGHT more days (not that I have the countdown written on my calendar in red ink. That's SO something Christine would do *eye roll*)

And finally, my mom arrives on Thursday morning for an eagerly anticipated visit so I won't be as regular around the blogosphere. I'll be lurking, but not posting. Miss me y'all, okay?