The Beach - or at least as close as you're going to get to a beach in the Upper Peninsula in winter...

Once upon a time...my husband (then boyfriend) went to college at Michigan Technological University. For those unfamiliar with the vagaries of Michigan, Tech (as it's affectionately known) is waaaaaaaaaaay up near the top of the Upper Peninsula. It's covered with snow and ice from pretty much November until May-ish. It's not unlike the snow planet of Hoth.

So anyway, when he was at school there, he lived with a bunch of other techie/engineer-y/nerdy type guys in a rundown copper mining era house that was once gorgeous and now smelled and looked like decades upon decades of college boys had lived there. That house had been ridden hard and put away wet. Repeatedly.

But there was a room in this house. A special room. A room like no other. It was called The Beach. In a former life, it was probably a closet or a super tiny nursery or maid's room. But when these guys moved in, it became The Beach.

They blocked off the threshold of the room with a couple 2 x 4s, filled the room with sand, taped beach posters and Tropicana tanning oil ads to the wall, mounted an old school carcinogenic sun lamp to the wall and hung a hammock from corner to corner. There was also a bamboo beaded curtain that hung in the doorway. I thought I had a picture of it in an old photo album, but unfortunately, I can't find it.

They loved this room. There was even a beach schedule taped to the hallway wall. If one of the guys wasn't using it, their friends would come and use it in return for beer. People at this school were so desperate for warmth and sunlight that they'd pay for it with booze.

Never have I missed The Beach like I do this winter. I am so sick of snow that I would cheerfully fill a room with sand and sunlamps and just *wallow* for hours. I'm not even a "beach person," but I have to admit. It sounds good right now. Of course, the cats would probably like it, too. But for entirely different reasons.

The Kindness Project

I'm guessing that most people in the States can agree that this winter has suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked hard. I know I'm sick of the endless snow. I'm especially tired of getting stuck on my street that rarely gets plowed and if it does, it's the most half-assed plow job ever. Needless to say, I've been a frustrated and more than a little bummed out at the endless snow and gray skies.

I know tons of other people have been, too, so I'm trying to make a point to spread a little love and kindness. Some acts are random and impulsive like smiling at strangers, holding doors, paying for the person behind me at Starbucks or paying a genuine compliment to someone I'm interacting with.

Others are less random - some friends and family members will be receiving little pick-me-ups in the mail. It might be something knitted or drawn or baked - or maybe even a book. I believe kindness begets kindness, and I also believe it's something everyone could use more of in their lives.

My goal for 2014 is at least 100 random and not so random acts of kindness. My hope is that it will spread all around like much needed sunshine. I invite you to smile more - you could change someone's day.

A visual guide to why I've been a bad blogger

Before I get into the visual explanation of why I've been a terrible blogger, let me preface it by saying I have been writing. I just haven't been blogging. And the holidays are why. These are some of the gifts I've made.

For those keeping track at home, that's:

3 pillows
11 starbabies
4 Weeping Angels (one tree topper)
8 writers retreat keepsake bottles
1 fishing pole/grandchildren picture hanger
7 stone frames
1 stocking
28 photo ornaments
4 Sharpie mugs
3 holiday wreath banners (but all I did was sew those - the nieces and nephew did the painting)
45 pair of knitting fingerless mitts (I still have 5 to go, plus 5 pair of slippers)

Now...let the blogging resume!

Summer's Over Already!?

I have no freaking clue where August went. All I know is that my oldest started his second year of college this week, and my youngest has tenth grade orientation tonight.

Seriously, August...what happened?

I'll admit that I'm more than ready for the cooler weather of fall. It's, by far, my favorite season. I'm looking forward to wearing sweaters and cups of hot tea.  Well, not wearing cups of hot tea, though given my super graceful track record, wearing the tea is just as likely as drinking it.

I'm ready for the changing leaves and that almost painful shade of blue the sky gets in late autumn. It's so beautiful and bright, it practically hurts your eyes to look at it. I'm ready for pumpkins and crock pot suppers and mulled wine and homemade bread. I'm ready to sit in the hammock swing in the backyard and read. And I'll definitely be reading - after all Maggie Stiefvater and Alexandra Bracken's new books will be out soon. *obsessively checks release dates again*

One thing I'll miss about summer is having my kids home. I like hanging out with them. They make me laugh every day. And they surprise me every day, too. I enjoy having their friends over and listening to their maniacal laughter. I've even been teaching one of my oldest son's friends to cook. He's trying to impress a girl. Of course. But we've had fun playing lab rats for his kitchen experiments.

But the school year is well on its way, and so are all of the great things that go along with it. I can't wait to see what this autumn brings.

Summer Sun Award

The absolutely wonderful Shanah Wooldrage awarded me the Summer Sun Award. If you don't know Shanah, you should - she's a delightful blogger, animal lover, writer, mom and she absolutely brightens my day. I love getting emails from her - they always make me smile. In addition to calling out people who brighten our days, there's also a summer fun aspect to it.

Favorite song with summer in the title or the lyrics (give the line): Summer Vibe by Walk Off the Earth. It just makes me want to kick back by the lake. Here's the video if you haven't heard it.


Favorite book about summer: Drac and the Gremlin by Alan Baille and illustrated by Jane Tanner. It's one of my favorite children's books and it tells the story of a girl pretending to be a warrior queen (Drac) and her little brother (Gremlin) who are battling together to save the planet of the White Wizard. It reminds me of the pretend games my bother and I used to play.

Favorite hot summer film: It'll probably always be Star Wars. I remember it came out the summer that I was 11 (yeah...I'm old) and I remember standing in line that went twice around the building in the hot July sun. We got sunburned, but it was totally worth it. However, if we're talking this year's movies, my favorite is definitely the new Star Trek film.


Favorite summer memory: Hmmmm...going on our yearly writing retreat is definitely up there and so is, believe it or not, learning to drive a tractor and hauling hay.

Favorite summer holiday destination: Lake Superior - one of the most gorgeous, magical, dangerous places I know.


What books will be in your suitcase this summer? Let's see...I just read The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken while on our family vacation. It was fantastic. I highly recommend it! And I'm currently reading The Lost Sun by Tessa Gratton and enjoying that as well.

What’s your likely destination this summer? I've already returned from my destination - Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It's the land of wilderness, lakes and very little internet. 

What hottie would you most like to be sharing the hot days and long nights with this summer? Hmmm...aside from the hubby, I'm gonna have to go with Benedict Cumberbatch and David Tennant.

What? I'm greedy. And I like Brits.


Here are the rules:

1.     Display the Summer Sun Award logo and link back to the blog of the person who nominated you.
2.     Answer the questions listed above.
3.     Nominate further lucky recipients.

I nominate the following people for brightening various areas of my internet and life:     

Leigh Jones
Tess Grant
Lynn Dozema

 

Writer's Retreat - The Wrap Up

It seems like forever since I've blogged, but I guess it's only been a couple weeks. Two weeks ago today, I was exploring Copper Harbor, Michigan, eating muffins as big as my head made by a sect of Orthodox monks who live on the shore of Lake Superior, hanging with some of my best friends and writing my fingers off on a couple new stories.

There is something amazing about hanging for a whole week with other writers. We have the best conversations, we spur each other on with word count, we help each other through plotting problems and we laugh so hard our faces and stomachs hurt. It's pretty much heaven.

Getting back to reality is tough, but I know exactly where I'll be next year and it's going to be equally amazing. These are some shots of some of the personalities of Lake Superior and the Lake Superior shoreline - my constant writing companions that week and a huge source of my inspiration.

Please join us and share your inspiration on the Thursday's Children blog hop!

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Thursday's Children - Writers Retreat

In a day and a half, I'll be leaving for my favorite place with some of my favorite people. Some dear friends and fellow writers and I will be heading about 400 miles north to Lake Superior. We're renting a house right on the eastern side of the Keweenaw Peninsula and we'll be writing our little hearts out, laughing our butts off and drinking wine.

Once we reach our daily word count, we're free to explore the area, swim or heck, even nap. It's going to be glorious. We did it last year, and I'm sure we'll be doing it again next year. Before I run around like a mad woman desperately trying to finish everything I need to finish before Saturday morning, I'd like to share some pictures of our getaway.

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