Ketching-Up

Well, not really, but you know what I mean.

I'm really psyched. I bought my formal gown for the RWA National convention. It's a really, really gorgeous dress and I'll post pictures of it after the convention in July. :) Got to find some really cool shoes to go with it still though.

And, drum roll please, I bought my first Prada purse. Yes, I paid way too much for it and probably should have spent my money on better things, but I decided just this once to splurge on myself and now I'm all giggles. :() ) I'll post a picture of it soon. Okay, so maybe I'll post a picture of me carrying my purse.

We've got lots of Memorial day stuff going on this weekend, with multiple cook-outs. Which probably means blowing our diet, but hey, I'm 11-12 pounds down, so I might splurge a little and not feel too guilty. Of course, I might find those lost pounds in the process.

GOT to finish up my article that I sold to the RWR magazine. My deadline's still over a month away, but I don't like rushing things so I plan to have it done within the next week. Wish me luck.

Jessie went to his first television show audition this week. He's really excited. Although the liklihood of landing a show on the first audition is next to nil, auditioning was really good experience for him. And you have to start somewhere, right? Anyway, the show is on the Discovery Channel, which he thinks is the coolest anyway. Guess we'll know within a couple of weeks if he's made it to the next round--or however that works. I'm still learning.

We'd planned to go to see PotC tonight, but plans changed and we're relaxing at home, instead, and looking at houses on the internet. Unfortunately the house we put a bid in on didn't go through. :( We really like it, but it's just out of our price range so we're back to looking.

Well, I suppose I have procrastinated from writing about as long as I can justify for one night. Off to write, write, write. Y'all have a great weekend. Oh, and yes, that is yummy Matthew McConaughey below. (Thank you, Tawny--what would I ever do without my friends sending me distracting eye candy???? Oh baby!)

Busy Thursday night?

Well, even if you are, drop everything and make time to join the first ever, FTHRW Author Chat!

Where?
http://www.fthrw.com/chat/

On the night of the chat, no password will be required. Just put in the name you want to be known as, and you're in. :)

When?
May 17 from 9PM EST

Who?
Featuring, Harlequin Blaze author, TAWNY WEBER!

The chat is being moderated by...guess who?--okay, so it's me. :) Janice Lynn --and will last
approximately one hour.

There will be really cool prizes given away during the chat so be sure to be
there!

A bit about Tawny:

Tawny Weber has always loved romance - all the way back to when she
was checking out couple stories in the grade school library. Despite
her family's warnings, all that romance stuff didn't warp her (too
much). What's more rewarding than reading about the crazy twists
and turns to happy ever after, and even better... steamy hot love
scenes? Nothing - those are the good things in life. Add to that a
lifelong wish to write and a nudge from her husband to pursue her
dreams. She took the leap. The result? Three Golden Heart
nominations and a Harlequin Blaze contest win on the way to her
coveted first sale to Blaze.

Tawny's usually found dreaming up stories in her Northern California
home, surrounded by dogs, cats and kids. When she's not writing hot,
spicy stories, she's testing her latest margarita recipe, shopping
for the perfect pair of boots or drooling over Johnny Depp pictures
(when her husband isn't looking, of course). Her alter ego, MOM,
also spends a lot of time scrapbooking and playing in the garden.
Please visit Tawny at her home on the web www.TawnyWeber.com . She'd
love to hear from readers.



So, like I said, drop everything and be there! It's going to be a blast!

Happy Mother's Day

To me. Okay, so really it was more like just mother's day. Sigh. I spent over 5 hours helping my middle son with his science project. The same science project that was assigned 4 weeks ago and is due tomorrow. The same science project that my hubby & I have both asked him repeatedly over the past week if he had done to which he replied he was finished. Unfortunately he'd only finished in his own little world and when I asked to see his project this morning he said he couldn't show it to me until he put it on a poster board. Poster board? Oh yeah, and he had to
have the pictures, too. Picture? What pictures? And did he mention he needed to enter the data in my computer to make graphs???? Imagine this mother banging her head against the wall, the floor, anything close. At least I asked him first thing this morning rather than tonight. Thank goodness as getting it all together really did take over 5 hours. NOT how I intended to spend my mother's day. But everyone is healthy and that's what's important.

Moving?

So, my hubby & I have been looking at houses for the past few weeks. We've found 3 that we really really like and that are within our ballpark price range. All of them have little things that make it more appealing than the others or have deterants that make it less appealing than the others. One is located perfectly. I mean 10 acres located perfectly for our needs. But we like that house the least of the 3. The house is gorgeous but really needs one more room for my family. The second house is gorgeous, has a fishing pond, 11 acres, and the house has a 2500 sq foot basement in addition to the generously sized house. Oh, and did I mention the fabulous garage that comes with its own full bath? But the location sucks. It's only 3 miles out of town, but it's off a GRAVEL road and the closest neighbors have a bazillion HOUND DOGS & BEAGLE DOGS. Not appealing even though there is a good distance between the houses. The third house has no pond. :( No large garage, but it's located decently. Not ideally like house #1, but still not bad. The house itself is the nicest of the 3 houses. No basement. :( But all the kids would have their own room and I'd still have a room for an office, too. hey, when you have 4 kids, their having their own room is a big deal. ;) I think my husband likes house #3 best. Well, I know he does. I'm torn between house #2 & house #3, but keep thinking about how convenient house #1 is. I mean, whatever we decide is where we're likely to spend the rest of our lives, so this is a very big deal for us. On prices, house #2 is probably the one we can get for the best price. House #3 is 20K higher than the other 2 to begin with. House #3 just went on the market a month ago so probably not so much wiggle room on price. Decisions. Decisions. Who knows if we'll end up with any of the three, but looking is exciting and fun...and a bit scary, too.

Writing wise...well, I've been playing with pen names. I think if I ever write under a pen name I should use JANICE McCONAUGHEY. Several of my friends have vetoed this emphatically as they say no one can spell Matthew's last name. So, I thought maybe I'd go with JANICE MATTHEWS. ;) Unfortunately that was shot down too. Such picky friends I have. vbg.

Oh! And if you haven't picked up a copy of Tawny Weber's DOUBLE DARE--do so now! It's currently in stores. :) It was such a cool thing to walk into Wal-mart and see her book on the shelf!!! And her cover is really fab, too! If you like fun, sassy, sexy reads, this book is for you!!!

Brenda Novak's Diabetes Auction

Fabulous romance author Brenda Novak holds a fundraiser auction online each year to raise money for diabetes. Brenda's son has diabetes. There's something for everyone available at the auction--from gift baskets from authors, to original oil paintings, to lunches with editors & agents, to trips. Be sure you go check out her auction at www.brendanovak.com If this link works correctly (which would amaze me), here's a direct link to my basket. :) 810748 Harlequin Medical Romance Basket by Janice Lynn: Health Aids to Keep the Doctor Away!

Happy bidding! for a great cause.