i'm not dead.

miss me much? I've neglected my blog for almost a month now, & am yearning for the days where I had to get on to post about this or that, now it seems there's too much 'real life' events shaping my life right now, that's it's been almost impossible. I barely even check my emails anymore!

Let alone all the (seriously wonderful) companies whom I've been ignoring (unintentionally!!) with products they want me to show to you with giveaway potential. Although recently I saw an article based on the legalities of "Giveaway Blogs" & there was varied opinions on either side of that debate - I'm fairly certain I'm well entrenched somewhere in the middle - (ugh. I'm such a passive aggressive!)But it was definitely something to think about.

So, if you want an update of where I've been I can give you the cliff notes version.

• I recently started working out - as in, more than a quick walk to my mail box - & am starting to view that with something other than disdain. yay!
• We've decided to start some heavy legal (and very private - sorry) processess, I'll keep you updated using only code words and signals of course.
• I've made a huge push to make our family closer to one another. (Some of my younger minions were starting to have problems at school which made me consider that maybe we weren't as close as I envisioned us to be when I'm lost with my "online face"). You 'll know this one, you stare at the screen, occasionally laughing, while clicking away furiously on your keyboard & moving your mouse when you see fit. Something topples over in the next room creating an earth shattering sonic boom & you'll call out "What was that?!!" without moving your eyes from the screen. It may be a talent (at least - I consider it one) but it's not exactly healthy. Not in the doses I was feeding to my family anyways.
• I've decided to domesticate myself, as much as is safe for mankind at least. Cooking, baking, dressing in something other than sweats & last nights p.j t.shirt - well, by one in the afternoon at the latest!

Seeing it all there, written down - it doesn't look like much (and I'm fairly certain I've left out 5 or 6 major events which I'll recall as soon as I hit Publish Post) but it has wiped me out. I would love to take some time out at this place I saw on the travel channel, somewhere in the Carribbean with nothing but white, sandy beaches, pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain. Paradise.

So the plan of attack from here on out? Try and even things out. So my presence here is felt, (including those giveaways. If the companies haven't written me off in a huff and gone elsewhere. I have some brown nosing to do .....) yet keeping my family life well balanced and nutritious. Fingers crossed & wish me luck.

So I'll see you soon. And just really fast - Tammy did you see? THERE'S ANOTHER BOOK!! (BDB)!!

I don't expect anyone else to get that, but it's very exciting in the world of supernatural romance novels. :D

The song should speak for itself. if you paid attention ....

You have my word - I'll.Be.Back.

I had a really long, thank you post here, til the IE browser (I mostly use Firefox, should've known better) flaked out on me & screwed up EVERYTHING! I had Thanks galour for some fabulous awards I had been given, from 3 very lovely, very different blog hosts, & then went on to list 15 other blogs and all this frilly stuff.
Then.
Nothing.
My browser wouldn't respond.
So now I have to re-do everything, but not today. I'll do it tonight.
Have you ever had one of those days where everything is a touchy subject, you feel raw all over and then your "last straw" makes an appearance and all hell breaks loose? My last straw arrived in the form of my mother. Who has "Problems". As calmly as I tried to project back to her, I eventually failed, & we ended up screaming at each other. But sometimes, I swear she still sees me as that 16 year old hard-ass, giving her grief and attitude, staying out late, and Friday nights in some parking lot drinking being my main source of entertainment. What's a girl to do? Prove I'm not by having a bunch of great, well adjusted kids, buying a home to raise them in, and join the PTA ? *sigh* I'll always be that 16 year old, until the day she dies.

The worst part is whenever we have these "spats", they seem to get worse each time, and she's 8,000 miles away. There is no 'awkward' run-in which ends in a hug & laughing it off. It festers. I hold grudges. I'm stubborn. And so is she. I have no idea what to do about this.

I couldn't find the shot of me, my brother and her, so I'm leaving this. Me rocking the 'tails, with my brother to the left of me, my 2 baby cousins on the right. We were visiting the North Island before I knew about boys, but after finding BFF's.

Tonight when I've calmed down and forgiven IE, I'll post my reviews, thank you's and other various tid-bits. Be back soon. And Katie? I'll be over in 30. see you soooon ....