This That and Everything Else

With so much going on in my life, you'd think that I'd have an endless list of topics about which to blog.

You'd be right. What I've lacked is time.

I thought, foolishly, that once Barktoberfest was over, I'd have hours and hours of time back at night to do lots of different things and catch up on stuff. Ha. I forgot that a week later I'd start a Coast Guard Auxiliary class on Boating Safety and Seamanship. Why, you ask?

Did I tell you that I bought a boat? I think so. I actually purchased the boat in late August but it sat out of the water at a marina for a couple of months while I waited for a boat lift to be installed at my house. To be absolutely correct, I waited for the permits to clear the different agencies so the work could be done. The installation only took two days. The permit approval took w-e-e-k-s. First through the Dept. of Environmental Protection, then the Army Corps of Engineers, then the city where I live. Normally these different departments take their own sweet time, but the regular process was further delayed by matters completely out of anyone's control.

The person at the Army Corps apparently came down with the swine flu the day before she would have completed and mailed out my permit.

The city inspectors couldn't get down my street to check out the plan because of the huge construction trucks installing the sewer infrastructure. (More on that later)

Finally, however, everything got done and my boat is now home, sitting on its lift where I can take it out whenever the opportunity rises.

I LOVE having my own boat. What fun.

I'll enjoy it even more when I've built up my experience, skills and knowledge. Hence the Coast Guard class.

Two classes a week. Two and a half hours each class. Three weeks. We covered safety equipment, chart plotting, navigation, weather, radio usage, rules of boating, signs/markers. Each chapter was at least 20 pages long and crammed with information. I studied like I haven't since college. (My father in Heaven might be rolling his eyes wishing I'd studied this hard IN college.)

I truly thought that the chapter on weather would do me in with the various types of clouds, the westerlies, the trade winds, the high and low pressure systems and everything else.

Happily, I passed the final exam, correctly answering 79 of 80 questions! I gained a boating license and, finally, more time at night.

More time at night, which I'll no doubt enjoy more now that the big weekend event at work is over. Oh, and I'm sure that I'll enjoy that extra time, once I'm done preparing for and working at Bark Bingo on Wednesday. After that, I really don't have much to do to prepare out booth for the City's 10th Anniversary event on Saturday.

Yes, surely, with all this extra free time I'll be 100% percent better at blogging on a more regular basis.

I promise!

Dog Parks, Determined People & Packets of Soup

Allow me a moment to be one of those bloggers who doesn't post for weeks and then comes online to talk about how oh so busy and hectic her life has been. Sure, an excuse is an excuse is an excuse, but I have really good ones -- honest!

You've read about the effort I'm involved in to bet a dog park built in our town. I've been working on the project in one way or another since May of 2008. After months of proposals and appearances in front of City Council, TPTB finally approved a parcel of land for a dog park. Our dedicated group made the commitment to raise all of the necessary funds. That's what I've been doing since May of 2009 -- fundraising. Thanks to a series of events and an outpouring of fantastic support from the community, our group has raised over $22,000.00!

Yep, 22 grand in a relatively small town during lousy economic times in a period of five short months.

WOOF!

We've bagged groceries for tips at the supermarket, held a Gold Party where people sold their old gold pieces for cash and the jeweler split her commission with the dog park; benefited from a dog wash put on by a local vet hospital; put on a few Yappy Hours; a Yard Sale; a big Beach Party; a Barktail Hour; and, this past weekend, Barktoberfest with a Pet Masquerade Parade.\

Nine fundraising events in five months requires a lot of work.

We're mega-excited because we have earned more than enough money for the necessary fencing and are on our way to raising funds for the other things we need.

This is why new blog posts have been few and far between.

But I'm back with a doozy of a story.

Last week, I dashed into the supermarket to pick up something to make for dinner. When zipping past the sushi section, I spotted a colorful box that said, "Quality Soup Packets." I like me a good quality soup, so I stopped to read more. The individual packets said:

Cock-Flavored Soup.

It was all I could do to hold back the laughter that threatened to erupt from my throat.

Oh sure, I know I was in the Asian section and cock is a perfectly acceptable synonym for rooster. The packet even had a brightly colored rooster image.

That logic had no impact on my off-color sense of humor. I don't care what culture originated the product, in this country, cock-flavored soup is an entendre begging to be doubled... or trebled.

It gets better. I rushed home and immediately called my friends Jen and Joe. I knew their senses of humor would appreciate this situation as much as I. Jen put me on speaker phone and I'm positive that I heard Joe actually choke on his laughter. They demanded that I buy some packets and send them up to Jersey so Joe can give them as holiday gifts to his brother, brother in law and friend.

I did so yesterday. Guess what price they charge for cock-flavored soup?

69 cents.

I can't make up this stuff! It's priceless.

In Memory of Kate

The publishing industry lost a giant this past weekend. Kate Duffy, editorial genius for Kensington Publishing passed away.

Kate was feared by some; revered by many; respected by everybody I know.

She wasn't my editor. I never even pitched a book to her. Instead, she was my friend and I'm proud to be able to say so.

I met Kate several years ago at a convention. We were introduced by mutual friend, author Heather Graham. It took all of ten minutes of conversation to realize that when it came to information or opinions, she could shoot straight from the hip with sharp aim and then settle back to savor her drink.

I can think of half a dozen times when I'd start to disagree and then stop because, again, Kate was absolutely right.

Intelligent, insightful, inspiring (although I bet she'd scoff at that one), intimidating, she could deliver a critique or pinpoint a problem in someone's work with laser-like precision. The truth wasn't always easy to hear, but a smart writer knew that if they listened to what she said, their work would be that much better. Even though I never worked with her, I saw her in action in numerous panels and workshops at conferences and learned from the experience.

Gracious, generous, funny as hell. An entertaining raconteur. I swear if you'd put Kate in the middle of a state dinner at the White House or at the famed Round Table at the Algonquin, she would not merely have held her own. She'd have held everyone's attention with her wit and stories.

I saw Kate mostly at conventions and conferences. I can't tell you how many times someone might pass by, realize who she was, and then widen their eyes with an expression very close to awe. The woman was a living legend, particularly among romance writers.

Yet, never once did I see Kate act like she was anyone special. Maybe she didn't feel it or realize that she was viewed as such by many. God, I hope that she knew what a major difference she made in the lives of many writers. And in the lives of those who are proud to have been considered her friend.

A couple of years ago, I threw a 50th birthday party for myself in my hometown Atlantic City. I'd seen Kate a few months prior at Heather Graham's Writers for New Orleans Convention, so I invited her to my party. To my delight, she immediately accepted. I will always remember her dancing in a group with me and several writer friends. We had a blast.

When I heard the news this morning that Kate has passed away I was shocked, although I knew that she'd been fighting illness since early this year. I prayed that it was an incorrect rumor and we'd find out that she was fine. Unfortunately, confirmation came pretty quickly. The shockwave spread quickly around the Internet. Heather Graham said it best in two words: Beyond sadness.

That's how those who knew and loved Kate feel -- a grief beyond sadness, but we also have our memories. One of the beautiful things about the Internet is that it really is a web that keeps us connected. Kate's friends and authors are spread out all over the country, and the world, but on the Internet, in blogs, on Facebook, on listserves, we can share our thoughts, memories, stories and tributes.

We lost a friend. Publishing and romance lost a legend. In the writers she taught and the books she edited, her legacy lives.

Rest in peace, dear friend.

I hope they have a Kindle waiting for you in Heaven.

Action & Adventure!

Well smack my mouth and point your fingers. I have been awayyyyy far too long from this blog. Now, it would not be illogical to assume that I haven't blogged in a month because my life was boring and completely lacking in bloggable material. That makes sense. It's not the case, however.

I've been busier than a one-armed paperhanger at a design showcase. Busier than a gang of sharks in a feeding frenzy. Busier than a troop of monkeys with one day to . . . okay, you get the idea. I've had a lot going on. I thought about blogging but in a time-honored tradition that's part Scarlett O'Hara, part pure procrastination, I kept putting it off until tomorrow. I apologize to all of you and thank you for not abandoning this blog all together.

So, just what has been taking over my days and nights? Where shall I start?

The day after posting the last blog, I left town for vacation. I stayed one night in New York with a dear cousin, enjoying Boeuf Bourguinon and the movie Julie and Julia with equal gusto and delight. I then visited with my aunt and uncle in Connecticut whom I haven't seen since I moved to Florida almost eight years ago. I am so glad that I did so. It was wonderful to see them, and another cousin, and spend several hours just talking.

From there, I headed to Cape Cod for the annual gathering of family and friends known as the Pasta Match. Food, fun, frivolity, conversation, camaraderie, cooking, music and mayhem. A good time was shared by all.

I got home and finished buying a boat. She's beautiful, handles well, and is going to be so much fun! I can't wait to take friends fishing and snorkeling. I need some additional practice on my boat handling skills but it shouldn't take me long to become more confident. Right now, she's at a marina getting cleaned, detailed and named. We're waiting for the permits to be approved and then the boat lift can be installed for easy access! Can we say Psyched!

Works has been super busy and my non-work hours are taken up with dog park activities. I am blessed to be involved with a group of people who know how to put the fun in fundraising as we work to obtain the money to build a dog park in our town. Last month we held a successful Yappy Hour. We have five additional events from now to Barktoberfest in mid-October including a yard sale, beach party, blessing of the animals, and Bingo night. It's a darned good thing that all of us can multi-task. Power to the Paws!

Last weekend I flew to New Orleans for the annual Writers for New Orleans Conference put on by my dear friend, and fabulous author, Heather Graham. Bourbon Street, riverboat, karaoke, workshops, fine food, delicious drinks, casino gambling -- it's amazing that we fit that much fun into less than four days!

You would think that after all this, I'd be ready for a restful weekend, right. Well, it might not be restful, but it sure will be fun. I have a dog and people party to go to Saturday afternoon. Then, Sunday night, it's BRUUUUCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEE. That's Bruce as in Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, live in concert in Ft. Lauderdale.

That's so fitting. With a schedule like I've experienced this last month, clearly I was born to run!

So tell me... what have YOU been up to in recent weeks?

Postal Issues

Is there a guideline in government agencies that they should never make things easy when a more complicated process is available?

My case in point. Today I wanted to mail something via the U.S. Postal Service's Express Mail service. At work, we had the proper labels, and I could run it on the postage meter, but we didn't have Express Mail envelopes. At least not plain, run of the mill Express Mail envelopes. We had only Flat Rate Express Mail envelopes -- the ones that you can cram as much paper into as possible and then send for the same rate. In this case, that would have been $17.50, versus $13.05 for regular old Express Mail.

Since we didn't have government-issued Xpress Mail lopes, I went on line to see if I could use my own packaging. The data was inconclusive.

Now, I've seen most USPS supplies. There's not a whole heck of a lot of difference between the flat cardboard mailers except for the words printed on them. So it made sense to me that I could cross out the words "Flat Rate" and still use the Express Mail things we had in house. Right? That doesn't seem too confusing, particularly since I was using the right label.

I should have known better.

The carrier picked up the package and a couple of hours later I got a phone call from the post office. They were holding the package there because it was in the wrong envelope. I could either run down and switch the packaging or they'd send it out "postage due". I had until 1:30 to haul it to the post office in town.

Unfortunately, I was in a meeting until 1:25. I called as soon as I got the message. Oh joy, the truck had not yet left. I booked out, grabbing a manilla envelope because the postal clerk told me they didn't have any of the regular old Express envelopes and rushed to town.

In the midst of switching envelopes and filling out a new label, the clerk told me that since it was past 1:30, the best they could guarantee was second day afternoon delivery.

Uhhh. The package was going on the same truck as the other ones that had come in before 1:30, so why couldn't they still guarantee next day delivery? What, my package was going to be too far in the back of the truck or something?

All this because of two words -- Flat Rate -- on an envelope. Never mind that I wasn't cramming in reams of paper -- just a single sheet. Never mind that even if I'd wanted to send it in a regular Express envelope they would not have been able to supply me with one. So what that it didn't specify on the website that I could use my own packaging and still send it Express.

I refrained from suggesting that crossing out the words Flat Rate made my package unique and "mine" so they should let me send it out that way instead of wasting the package and my time.

Sadly, I've learned that when it involves the post office, it's their way or no way.

No Retreat, No Surrender

On October 27, 1975, Bruce Springsteen hit the covers of both Time and Newsweek. Jon Landau proclaimed, "I have seen the future of rock 'n roll and its name is Bruce Springsteen."

The album (Yes, album) Born to Run had burst onto the scene. Springsteen was 26 years old.

I was 17 years old and a freshman in college. The first time I heard Thunder Road on the radio I was awestruck. These days, my superfan status is just as strong. My opinion of Bruce as the greatest rock and roll songwriter/performer/star hasn't changed.

Other things have, of course, changed.

Today I went to the mailbox and pulled out the September/October 2009 issue of AARP The Magazine. Yes, at 51, I've qualified for AARP membership for over a year. On the cover of this issue, brandishing his guitar, nobody else but the Boss. He'll be 60 next month and he's still filling arenas and rocking out concerts that last two or more hours.

In Thunder Road, there's a famous lyric that says, "So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore. Show a little faith, there's magic in the night." Nine years later in No Surrender, Bruce sings, "Well now young faces grow sad and old and hearts of fire grow cold. We swore blood brothers against the wind. Now I'm ready to grow young again."

I don't think he ever grew old, and if there's anybody that doesn't seem to fear that he isn't that young anymore, it's Bruce.

From the time I became a fan, Bruce has inspired me with his songs and his life example. 34 years later he still does. Can't wait to see him and the E Street Band in concert again next month!

I don't feel like I've ever grown old either, which does not mean that I don't take full advantage of the AARP discount at hotels and Borders Books.

Hey, AARP scored Bruce for its magazine cover. That makes it totally cool in anybody's book.

Ripe for the Plucking

During lunch today I was enjoying the remainder of an excellent chicken poblano burrito and musing about financial vagaries. (I wonder if chicken poblano burrito and vagaries have ever before appeared in the same sentence.) This delightful dish cost me $8.65 as take-out last night from the local Mexican restaurant. The chicken was a tender, thick breast slice and the dish blended the hint of heat from a poblano pepper with cool, creamy cheese. All that taste for less than $9. Up the road away, a restaurant sells a pistachio encrusted chicken wrap that is also delicious but at a higher price. Another place has a coconut encrusted chicken dish that's probably twice as much. Hence my musing. If the chicken's just as good on one side of the road, why is it so much more expensive on the other side?

As if musing and eating weren't enough, I multi-tasked by web-surfing during lunch. I chanced upon yet another article about yet another industry adversely affected by the economy. Apparently, prostitutes and mistresses are feeling the recession. Wealthy men are finding it too expensive to cheat in the old ways. Hookers charge too much per hour. Mistresses or "high end girlfriends" as the article called them, come with a bunch of expenses like big ticket gifts, apartments and the occasional luxury weekend getaway.

Who knew that the economy could impact adultery? Apparently, this presents a real dilemma because financial woes are the number one cause of problems in a marriage and can lead to infidelity. What's a stressed out spouse to do?

According to this article, those who are compelled to have an affair are finding it easier and less costly to hook up with a honey who is also married. So, you don't need to finance an apartment (occasional hotel rooms are cheaper than rent), purchase expensive gifts that might be questioned by the partner's spouse, and, for a real bonus, there's less risk that the person you're sleeping with will rat you out or black mail you since he/she is also cheating and has just as much to lose.

Nature abhors a vaccum, so of course there are businesses cropping up to facilitate the affairs. Yes, there are website services where you can troll for a married person who also wants to cheat. I haven't googled them but one can only imagine the possible names. Affairtoremember dot com? Snatch dot com?