Spending a week in Atlanta with my best bud Sandy J was so great! We laughed, learned and loved all the time away from home. The workshops we attended we super and informative and what motivation they spurred. I kept kicking myself for not bringing my computer so I could have written while there. However, the time without it was not wasted in the least. Sandy J and I plotted one of her books – though whether I was any help I don’t know. We talked through a couple of mine and I realized where they lacked – which is good ‘cause you really need to get that worked out before you start shopping it to editors.

We got to see from-a-far authors we strive to be but are too timid to go up and say, “OMG Miss Roberts, I love your work and you have inspired me on so many levels.” Because I guarantee if we (meaning me) had approached her it would have come out as, “OMG do you know who you are? I don’t want to gush over you because everyone always gushes over you and you probably get tired of people gushing over you so I just won’t gush.” How do I know I would do this, you might ask? I did it the LAST time I spoke to her. ‘nuff said.

We got to meet authors we speak to or blog with via e-mails, the internet and other non-face to face inter-communicatible (yes I just invented a new word) ways. Could Miss Shalvis be any nicer? So sweet. And an author I intend to watch for her newest releases for sure! Could Miss Gable be any more personable (and she laughed at my jokes – that won me over big time – LOL!) I look forward to her new books of which will be many!

I met many Samhain authors face to face – all who were nice and welcoming. A new sisterhood of friends. And my sweet Publisher hugged me and said she was happy to meet me! (How very cool!)

And my Crit partner Diane – of course wouldn’t you know it Sandy found her before I did. So great to finally meet her face to face though we didn’t have much time to talk between workshops and with over 2000 writers I never managed to find her again at the conference. But we will be in touch.

I ran into an editor I met at another workshop (who incidentally asked for a partial which I HAVE sent) and she was so glad to see Sandy and I, hugged us both, and chatted like old friends – too cool!

My head is still spinning with all the info I learned. I cannot wait to get writing and back to what I love almost as much as my family – and did I mention school starts NEXT WEEK - I am so ready and raring to go!

update . . .
and I have heard grumblings about pics... if you are savy enough, you know where to find them (hehehe) . . . but I will throw you a bone - click the link and see a pic . . .

Sandy J and I (cannot wait) are on our way to Atlanta for Nationals tomorrow morning! I have been waiting for-ever for this...I debated going in light of Heir's new adornments but he, as well as the other boys, and most especially DH, have urged me to go... I cannot wait - did I say that already.

I got a new phone w/ a camera on it so I can snap my fave authors...and after I have finished taking my pic...kidding kidding... I need this break, I do.

Plus I figures the next 6 weeks to three months are gonna be tough so I will need all the strength I can get.

See y'all next week....

from my friend Jim

We've all heard about people having guts or balls. But do you really know
the difference between them? In an effort to keep you informed, the
definition for each is listed below ....

> > > GUTS - is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being
assaulted by your wife with a broom, and having the guts to ask: "Are you
still cleaning, or are you flying somewhere?"

> > > BALLS - is coming home late after a night out with the guys, smelling
of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the ass
and having the balls to say: "You're next."

I hope this clears up any confusion on the subject.

Heir is doing good. We got home from the hospital about 8 last night. He got two screws and NO major incisions! His knee is cramping though from keeping his leg propped up and he is finally getting pissy - not that I want him pissy, but it seems more normal for a kid to bitch and moan.

Spare + 1 is sick so it was a long....night!

coffee then rest....

We go in tomorrow for surgery. Heir isn't letting this stop him though. He goes all through the house w/ the chair (other than the bathroom - it doesn't fit through the door into there well plus the cabinet is in the way)

We went to Wal-mart and the mall yesterday, both at his assistance. He was doing donuts in the isle...



he can often be found like this, usually shifting all over the place 'cause his butt hurts...




thank goodness kids have have such great resiliance

Well we saw the specialist today - Heir is sporting two red casts and we will go later this week for surgery to have pins placed into the right ankle - man-oh-man.



He's not real happy about that, as would be the case w/ anyone I suppose. The doctor doesn't think he will need surgery on the left but he is going to keep and eye on it incase it shifts. It's actually a differnt bone broken than the right. The right is the ankle itself, the left is the bone beneath that.

Fun stuff in the McD household.

. . . a wheel chair in my home.

Heir gets the permanent casts sometime during the week.

and he pretty much plans to stay on the sofa for the next 4 to 6 weeks . . .

but he hasn't complained once!

(the hubby thought I should put these up...)

… a large man lands on your eldest child’s feet?

You end up in the ER w/ two – YES THAT WOULD BE TWO broken ankles. Holy Schmoley is right. My poor baby will have two casts put on his feet sometime next week. We got to go out and get a wheel chair after the ER and will have to see what the specialist says as far as how bad they are broken … one is very broken – no questions asked the other the ER couldn’t tell how bad the fracture was due to the swelling and the somewhat fuzzy x-ray – once we get the MRI we should know more.

I go out one afternoon and splurge on a hair cut – which looks awesome BTW – and some dude hurts my baby. I know … not about me.

They were at a birthday party and Heir and big dude were jumping on a trampoline – this is why you should not allow big folks to mingle w/ the little folks – sheesh!

I will update as I know…

Okay so maybe not a goon - SandyJ and I are going to get our hair done today - weehee! It's been almost 2 years since I had a professional hair cut and even then it was only six bucks. But since Sandy and I are going to Nationals in NINE DAYS I decided to splurge and get a nice new hair cut - YAY ME!

Right now I am actually blond. I colored it the other day to even it out. (after Six Flags my hair lightened up quite a bit - I need to find hair sun screen - I know they make it but never think to look for it) but next week I will be back to my fiery red self - the box (w/ highlights) has been taughnting (sp??? - spell checker doesn't work - stoopid pop-up blockers) for a week.

Depending on how it turns out - I may post a pic - wouldn't that just make everyone's weekend!?!?!?!

Have a good one!

Swiped from Sandy J. Just think of one word answers. Not too difficult.

1. Yourself: Funky
2. Your signif other: lovable
3. Your hair: red
4. Your Mother: rebel
5. Your Father: balding
6. Your Favorite Item: BOOKS
7. Your dream last night: AC/DC
8. Your Favorite Drink: coffee
9. Your Favorite Food: breads
10. Your Dream Home: island
11. The Room You Are In: office
12. Your fear: failure
13. Where you Want to be in Ten Years? island
14. Who you hung out with last night: hubby
15. What You’re Not: sane
16. Your Best Friends: supurb
17. One of Your Wish List Items: island
18. Your Gender: Female
19. The Last Thing You Did: check
20. What You Are Wearing: clothes
21. Your favorite weather: anything
22. Your Favorite Book? all
23. Last thing you ate? donuts
24. Your Life: exciting
25. Your mood: wacky
26. The last person you talked to on the phone: pizza-guy
27. Who are you thinking about right now? Cagle (hehehe)

A college professor was doing a study testing the senses of first graders using a bowl of lifesavers. He gave all the children the same kind of lifesavers, one at a time, and asked them to identify them by color and flavor. The children began to say Red............cherry Yellow........lemon Green........lime Orange.....orange Finally the professor gave them all honey lifesavers. After eating them for a few minutes none of the children could identify the taste. Well,"' he said, "I'll give you a clue. It's what your mother sometimes calls your father." One little girl looked up in horror, spit hers out and yelled, "Oh, my God! They're assholes!"

From the hubby - not sure what he's trying to say...........

I purchased a PO Box today – I have been wanting to get one. It was suggested, I get one – that I should NOT give out my home address as far as book purposes go – so today – running errands for sweet, sweet SJ I got the idea to get one and it gave me the excuse to go to the Post Office I needed to, to get the box w/ a Fort Worth addy (the one I normally go to is in Keller but I wanted Fort Worth on the addy).

SO……. If you wanna write to me to tell me how much you loved my book or inquire how to obtain one of the lovely pens and/or bookmarks you can write to me at:

Denise Belinda McDonald
P.O. Box 163396
Fort Worth, TX 76161

If you wanna write me to tell me you hate the book and how to make suggestions – tell ya what – why don’t you keep that all to yourself – LOL – kidding – all input is needed and appreciated.

So yet another way to stay in touch w/ me – hehehe

So very cool!

A 6-year old and a 4-year old are upstairs in their bedroom. "You know
what?" says the 6-year old. "I think it's about time we started cussing."

The 4-year old nods his head in approval. The 6-year old continues,
"When we go downstairs for breakfast, I'm gonna say something with hell
and you say something with ass." The 4-year old agrees with enthusiasm.

When the mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 6-year old what he
wants for breakfast, he replies, "Aw, hell, Mom, I guess I'll have some
Cheerios."

WHACK! He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor, gets
up, and runs upstairs crying his eyes out, with his mother in hot
pursuit, slapping his rear with every step. His Mom locks him in his
room and shouts, "You can stay there until I let you out!"

She then comes back downstairs, looks at the 4-year old and asks with a
Stern voice, "And what do YOU want for breakfast, young man?"

"I don't know," he blubbers, "but you can bet your ass it won't be
Cheerios."

We got the Scene DVD Sports game in a box of ceral. To say that Spare is head over heels happy is the understatement of the decade. Not only does he love sports - but he is whooping my ass!

Aw the little things in life!

And to make mommy smile - hehehehe

We had a wonderful time in St. Louis. The boys loved Six Flags – mostly because it had a water park included – here it’s separate and you have to pay to get in there, the passes don’t cover it. It was the first time Mini-me has ever been to a water park. He absolutely loved it. And I didn’t mind so much being out in my bathing suit – there was far worse than me there! Only bad thing – I missed a few spots w/ the sun screen and boy did I burn!



Mini-me was fearless at the amusement park. He wanted to ride most everything – though he was too short for a lot of the big rides. He did love the Joker (or as we have here the Conquistador).



The kids loved swimming in the hotel(s) pool – I told DH we should forgo a trip next year and just check into a hotel for a few days so they can swim =)

We went to the Zoo. The kids’ favorite was the Penguins – those suckers were huge!



But if asked they will tell you the Somali Wild Ass was the group fave – boys – sheesh!




The Arch was pretty neat. I have seen it many times, but seeing it through the kids’ eyes was more exciting than anything. We toured the museum below, saw a film on Lewis and Clark (the boys have had schooling during summer break and didn’t realize it – HA!) and rode the tiny, dinky, barely enough air to breathe elevators up to the top and looked out through little windows – What fun (once we were safely back down on the ground)!




I got to eat at a White Castle for the first time – I have to say – not all that impressed. We did stop at Steak and Shake, too (though they have those here, I’ve never been) and it was great!

The ride home seemed so much longer than on the way out. DH won the billboard alphabet game. Spare won the license plate game. My team one the animals/cemetery game – twice!

The only time the DH got frustrated w/ me was when I begged him to stop at the Wal-mart in Gainesville, Texas just after we left home on Friday (about and hour away from our house) – needless to say – he didn’t go for it – darn the luck!

Yesterday, we had my Dad and Step-mom come over for a cookout and the kids regaled my dad w/ all their happenings over the weekend.

What I learned:
SPF 50 works great – but only to the areas you apply it. Just because they make a swimsuit in your size doesn’t mean you need to wear it – OMG! You can fit six people in a King bed and fold out sofa if you really like each other. When mating season at the St. Louis zoo is. You can fit about six pencils in a 4-y-o's nose and ears at the same time. How long a 4-y-o can go w/o pooping and what happens when it is time – subsequently you learn just how far apart all the gas stations on Route 69 in Oklahoma are.

Hotel: $360.00
Gas: $200.00
Trips to the bathroom on the road: 12+
Uneaten lunch: 6
Sunburn: 14 square-inches of skin (not just me…)
Seeing 4 kids smile at the same time: PRICELESS