Hot Hunk Friday David Boreanaz

I have to admit I never watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I catch Angel in reruns sometimes.

No, I noticed David Boreanaz on Bones. Which as a writer of romantic supsense, I'm embarassed to say I watch. Because as we al know, that's tv and not reality. I know a guy who runs a csi lab and he'd disown me if he knew I was watching shows like that. On the other hand, I did read some of Kathy Reichs' books so there is a positive outcome there.

Anyway, I think it was the suit that did me in. I hadn't seen him in one on a regular basis. Something about a suit, especially a tailored one, makes a mediocre guy look good. Not that David Boreanaz is mediocre by anyone's standards.

Happy Halloween!

Happy News Monday - Two Sports Stories

I'm breaking with tradition and bringing you two sports stories that are making me happy personally.
The first one is about the Philadelphia Phillies. Not only are the in the World Series, they are one game away from winning it. I'm not a big baseball fan, but I am from the Philly area originally so when one of those teams makes it this far, I can't help, but cheer.
Go Phillies!
The other story is about Penn State.
Penn State, my alma mater, beat Ohio State this weekend. PSU was not favored to win. In talking to someone who saw the game, they said they were emotionally spent by the contest. I'm sorry I didn't get to see it, but I had my conference this weekend.
PSU is ranked third. The first two teams are good ones so it may mean that the Nittany Lions don't get to the play in the championship bowl, but it does mean that the naysayers who insisted Joepa was over the hill can now pipe down.
We are
Penn State!
cmr

Hot Hunk Friday - Colin Firth

Anyone who read this blog knows, I have a weakness for nerds. And frankly, if they are British, all the better. I lived in England at one point in my life. I found the British were true gentlemen. Most did not leer at a pretty woman walking by. And I don't mean me. I mean hot girls walking by. They were so much more discreet about things like that.

So back to Colin Firth.

I saw him in Bridget Jones' Diary, What a Girl Wants and Love Actually. Can you tell I like British comedies? I truly think the Brits have such a diverse sense of humor. It can be way darker than mine and that's saying a lot. They do farce like no one else. That's one brand of humor we Americans cannot seem to conquer. Watch one episode of Absolutely Fabulous and see what I mean.

So, Colin Firth. He can bumble his way my way anytime.

cmr

Word Wednesday - Panache

panache \puh-NASH; -NAHSH\, noun:
1. Dash or flamboyance in manner or style.
2. A plume or bunch of feathers, esp. such a bunch worn on the helmet; any military plume, or ornamental group of feathers.
I knew about the first definition of panache, but not the second. I'd take it as a compliment if someone said I had panache. Since I'm an anti-fashionista I don't think that's going to happen. I have a pretty strong, outgoing personality, but to call me flamboyant would be taking it too far. Someone once likened me to Tigger. He doensn't have panache, just lots of energy.
Which is how I am around people. I feed off of that energy. My last review at work described me as "an active instructor." I think it meant I drove my boss nuts when he worked with me. I could not stand still.
Put me at a conference with 450 people and I'm the Energizer Bunny. And that's where I'll be this weekend.
Back to the word. I can't think of anyone who has panache. I probably knew some people in high school who did.
So, do you know anyone with panache?

Happy News - Stayin' Alive

The Bee Gees have the right beat.
The University of Illinois did a study and found that the Bee Gees 1970's hit Stayin Alive has the right beat for doing CPR. Think about it. You could hum that song and save someone's life.
Why did I pick this story to highlight today?
Because in February of 2009 I will be an American Heart Association CPR instructor for 15 years.
And anything that makes it easier for the everyday person to save a life, I'm all for it. I've lost track of how many people that I've taught CPR to. I could get you the number for this year if you really want. It's probably big. I've taught a lot this year.
What I don't know is if anyone has saved a life. Well, I do know someone who saved thier daughter from choking not long after I taught them to do the Heimlich Maneuver. Has anyone been saved by me teaching? I'd like to think so, but really if I were to stop teaching then I could assume no one will be saved.
But it takes the person on the street. The EMT's and paramedics and police officers may take a few minutes to get there. If you know CPR you can save that person. You can keep thier brain alive by pumping blood through it by performing CPR.
Isn't that powerful? The longest class is four hours long. That isn't a lot of time. Whose life could you save?
So sign up for a cpr course today.
cmr

Hot Hunk Friday - James Denton

Here's a man who can fix my pipes any time. James Denton. I actually don't watch Desperate Housewives, but I've seen him in the commercials for it. He did a stint on Reba as a marriage counselor that Barbra Jean is in love with. He goes on a date with Reba and Barbra Jean follows them.
I love when an actor, as I've said before, can do comedy. I really beleive that a great trait to get you through life is to laugh at yourself.
I'm always a little creeped out when I meet someone without a sense of humor. And I can make most people laugh so when I can't, I find it odd.
My critique group was talking about embarassing moments the other day. It was hilarious. If you ever meet me, ask me to tell you my ski story. It's too long for here.
When I was in high school I worked in a college cafeteria. I was carrying two trays of bowls of Jello. And of course I dropped them in front of a full cafeteria of guys. The gave me a standing ovation. At the time I was too young and too serious to laugh at myself, but now I'd bow and say something funny.
So what is your most embarassing moment?

Word Wednesday - vociferous

vociferous \voh-SIF-uhr-uhs\, adjective:
Making a loud outcry; clamorous; noisy.
I picked this one because it was at the top of the folder for these things.
I don't have a lot to say about it. Isn't that ironic?
I have a conference to attend in a week and a half and we are finishing up details. I had to put my cat to sleep on Monday so that day nothing got done. I'm revising a romantic comedy to pitch at the conference so that is where my head is.
Among other stresses in my life right now.
So sorry not so great today.
cmr

Happy News - MexicanMummies

Mexican mummies on display. I think this goes under the heading of quirky news not really happy news. Some graves were dug up because the families couldn't pay the grave tax. The conditions where they were buried mummified them.Now they are on display in a Mexico where they are fascinated with the dead.Obviously, since I named my book Corpse Whisperer, I have an odd fascination with the dead. There's a museum in Philadelphia called the Mutter Museum. It has all sorts of medical specimens. I can't get anyone to go with me. I had an invite to watch an embalming at a local funeral home. My husband forbids me to go. It creeps him out too much.That all said, when I die, I don't want anyone looking at me. I want a closed coffin. In fact, I want to me cremated. I want there to be a party in my honor where lots of Guinness is served and good wine.So what are your last wishes?

Hot Hunk Friday - Goran Visnjic

Today you get two pics of my hot hunk friday pick.

Goran Visnjic is hot whether he is smiling nor not. The character he played on ER did not smile a lot. He always had messy hair that I wanted to make messier.

Ahem.

He has a lot of acting credits in his home country of Croatia. He has also appeared on a lot of talk shows here. He is a reason to watch ER reruns for sure.

Dr. Luka Kovac is certainly the dark, brooding character we want to fix.

What is it about wounded heroes that we love?

Do we really want to fix them or just love them?
Or is it deeper. Is it easier to be with a flawed person because we are so flawed?

cmr

I've been tagged. Again

But that's cool. One of twitter followers ghostposts tagged me http://susiehawes.multiply.com/journal/item/358/tagged
I have to tell you 6 random things about myself.
1. My full name is Christine and the year I was born it was the third most popular name for a baby, but my parents knew no one with that name.
2. I was brought home from the hospital on my father's 50th birthday. (Me 0 him 50)
3. My maternal grandfather was 70 the year I was born. (Me 0, him 70)
4. I was thirty when my oldest son was born. (Me 30, him 0)
5. My maternal grandfather was the only grandparent I knew. I was the youngest in the family and he died the year I was 9. My father is the only grandparent my kids knew and he died the year my youngest was 9.
6. I grew up outside of Philadelphia. I lived in England at one point in the very area the Penn family came from. They had a pew in the village church.

So, I tag
Charlotte Phillips
Holly Jangahiri
Emma Larkins
Velda Brotherton
Vivian Zabel
Mary Winter

Here are the rules.
The rules to play are easy and you should copy them to your blog…
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Word Wednesday - Melee

melee \MAY-lay; may-LAY\, noun:1. A fight or hand-to-hand struggle in which the combatants are mingled in one confused mass.2. A confused conflict or mingling.From http://www.dictionary.com/This is one of those words that I think sound like what it means.Melee. Say it out loud.It just sounds like confusion. That there is a lot going on.I don't think I've used it in my writing, but I haven't really had a melee in my writing. Maybe I should?I'm working on a romantic comedy. Do you think a melee could be funny? A food fight. That would be a melee. I don't see myself putting a food fight into a book. I watch too many Disney Channel movies not to think a food fight is a cliche.Or do you think it connotates a bad happening? A prison riot? I could put that in one of my romantic suspense manuscripts. Hmm. A thought.I always tell people you should start the book right before something big happens. Drop me in the yard right before the riot.I will have to think on that.Can you think of a sentence or a situation where a melee would be funny and not be a food fight?Thanks,cmr

Happy News Monday - Dog Valor

Canine a finalist for a valor award.
This story from happynews.com is about a dog that is up for a valor award. The awards are new and the dog, Pearl, is nominated in the working dog category. She saved her owner's life.
I was just watching a show about dogs last night and one of the problems they mentioned we are having with dogs in modern society is that they don't have a job.
My dog has several jobs. He keeps me fit by taking me on a walk. He cleans up the floor after dinner. He makes sure the kids get on the bus safely.
Not sure if he's completely satisfied in all of those jobs, but I wouldn't know if he is complaining.
Could I train him for more? Sure.
He has a great vocabulary such that we have to spell things like walk and treat.
I never thought he'd be much of a guard dog.
One day my brother-in-law walked into my house. I knew he was coming over. The dog didn't get that memo. The dog went from asleep to snarling in the kitchen.
Until he figured out it was his favorite person. Until that moment, I didn't think he' d defend me, but he would.
If someone hasn't been home when he was fed, when they do come home he gives a look and stares at his bowl trying to make the person think he hasn't been fed. Funny dog.
To come back to these awards, does the dog really know? I understand that show dogs have a sense they've done something good when they've won, but they do those show all the time. Does a dog really know he's done something good after the fact. We praise them right away because they live in the moment. If you give them an award days or even weeks later, they don't have any idea what is going on.
I think the awards are for the humans.
The dog's happy with an extra chew toy.
So, if you have a pet, has it done anything extraordinary?

Hot Hunk Friday - Hugh Jackman

I saw him in Kate and Leopold and then in X-Men. Not only is he hot, he has talent.

And an accent to die for.

He was on Inside the Actor's Studio a few years ago and I enjoyed the interview. What really struck me was how much he obviously loved his wife. I think that is hot in a guy. Really. It was like a line in a rerun of Reba last night. Cheyenne and Van were talking about marriage and equating it to being in a candy store. Van told Cheyenne she was the only candy he saw in the store.

And that he'd love to unwrap her.

My husband just smiled and nodded at me.

That was how Hugh looked at his wife. As if she were the only candy in the store.

That's powerful and since I write romance it is an idea I want to incorporate in all of my books.

Do you think love in marriage should be that powerful?

cmr

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Helen Ginger.
I need to tell you six odd things about me.

1. In college I inteveiwed to drive the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. I thought it would be a fun job. I didn't get it, but I don't know why.
2. To support myself in college, I delivered pizzas for Domino's Pizza. I was one of the few females drivers and of course I had a blast. You spent most of the time out on the road and you could blast the radio and you got paid for it. I was one of the drivers that if the pizza could potentially be close to being late, you gave it to me because I knew the area and could get it there on time. This was back when they had 30 minute delivery guarantee. The store owner would use some formula and map out what his delivery area was to insure the pizzas got there on time.
3.There was exactly, to the day, nine months between my first date with my husband and our wedding. And I wasn't pregnant. I just knew he was the one.
4. I eat all of each type of food on my plate. I will eat all the meat then all the veggies then all of the starch. I never mingle my eating. (OCD, much!)
5. My youngest son was born on his due date.
6. I was born with dark, red hair.

Okay, how was that?
So I get to tag some people.
Angela James
Lillie Ammann
Charlotte Phillips
Ian O'Neill
Stephen Prosapio
Irene Peterson
Do it to it friends.
cmr

Word Wednesday - Fettle

fettle \FET-l\, noun:
A state or condition of fitness or order; state of mind; spirits -- often used in the phrase "in fine fettle." From www.dictionary .com

I guess I'm in a fine fettle today. Got a request for a partial manuscript yesterday. Already sent it in. My critique group is coming over.
I picked this word because in six weeks of getting word of the day it was the first word I hadn't heard of before. Some of the words I wasn't clear on the definition, but I'd seen them before. This one was brand new. Part of my reason for getting a word in my inbox each day was to expand my vocabulary. As a writer, words are my tools. A craftsman can never have enough tools. I'm not sure where I'm going to use this word, but I will try very hard in the next few days to work it into conversation.
Can you use it in a sentence?