I figure I’d better give you all a break from Bailey pictures–even if my son did send me some cute ones by cell phone

But this week I’m still not on my normal schedule either and I’m a bit scattered, so this week will be Blog Light.

We’ll start with a couple witch jokes:

What do you call a nervous witch?

A twitch!

How do witches lose weight?

They join weight witches!

I really have losing weight on my mind (and on other parts of my body),  LOL!

Changing the subject here, if you are interested, my local RWA chapter posted a blog on Advice I’d Give Myself here I wrote that blog a month ago and completely forgot about it.  It’s weird to think of advice I’d give myself as a newbie now.  Experience is the best teacher. Many generous published authors gave me advice, but I didn’t always take it.

For instance, a couple hardback mystery authors strongly suggested I order a few dozen of my first edition hardbacks.

I didn’t.

And guess what? Now they are out of print, impossible to get and i only have a couple copies.

I should have listened. I wish I’d listened.

What about you guys? Any advice you wish you’d listened to?

And it’s not over yet! We still have New Years!

Any one else gaining weight from all the holiday food? Or is it just me? I really could use an instant weight loss spell!

Otherwise we had a great Christmas! I got a camera that I love. And you know what that means…

More pictures of Bailey!

Bailey got a new toy for Christmas

He wouldn’t put his toy down all day

Except once…when Bailey came over to me and said, “Wizard won’t play with me.”

How can anyone resists? Even Wizard caved and pet Bailey!

In case anyone is wondering, I did take pictures of my kids and Wizard. I’m not that Bailey-crazy! Well, okay,  I am. But I also took lots of pics of the family (okay, sure they were holding Bailey, but it still counts!) I  just don’t post those pics of the kids or Wizard.

On another note, we saw two movies.  One was boring, but the second one IT’S COMPLICATED I loved! I laughed until I cried.

I even manged to read JR Wards LOVER AVENGED.

So how was your holiday? What have you been doing?

See this dog?

I just added him to my Christmas Wish list. Oh stop laughing, I know I’m not getting him! But still, don’t you think he’s cute?

Guess what I’ve been doing?

Okay the picture is a hint! I spent two days baking!

I made sugar cookies–half dipped in chocolate, pumpkin break, caramel layer cookies, Russian tea cakes, peanut butter balls and chocolate-kahlua truffles. That’s all on this plate I took to a family party over the weekend.  Not shown is the chocolate pound cake I also made for the party.

This is the reason I’m invited to family parties, LOL!

I did have one mishap when I grabbed a pan that I somehow forgot had just come out of the oven.  I have three words for that:

Seriously Stupid Witch!

However those were not the words I used when I did it. I won’t repeat those words.

Wizard was not happy…until he realized that it was kind of funny. Now he’s asking me to touch the BBQ and see if it’s hot, or bragging to everyone how I don’t need pot holders, I just grab hot pans with my hands.  Uh huh, real funny wizard. Okay, it is funny, he makes me laugh. Especially since he’s been doing dishes and helping out where ever I need it.

Oh, and I got to play with Bailey this weekend too.  Everyone in the family is teasing me about how much I love that dog. Is it that obvious? LOLOL!

So how was your weekend? I’m guessing you all were too smart to grab a hot pan right out of the oven!

Guess who? This is me giving the dreaded speech on world-building.  It was pouring rain that day, but people braved the wet roads and showed up. Amazing!

And now it’s over!

Kate Carlisle was taking the pictures but she was so far to my left it was hard for her to get a good shot.

Of course, my friends said I did well and that’s why they are my friends I’m very sure I could have done better.

Want to see me BEFORE I went on stage? I was trying to focus and mentally prepare and while Kate was tormenting me with the camera…

Jen the Witch, right???? But in my defense Kate was sitting there aiming the camera and WAITING for the chance to show me at my witchy best!

She got it, LOLOL!

On the other hand, Kate and Maureen Child both braved the rains to come out and support me.  And more friends helped me prepare the speech including Marianne Donley and Laura Wright.  Thanks guys!

Okay that was my weekend, how was yours?

Bailey has a new goal…Teach the Wizard how to Play.

I may have mentioned this before–Wizard is not a Dog Lover. Wizard understand all things numerical (he’s an accounting wizard) and all things magical.

He does not understand dogs.

Bailey bounds over to Wizard with his new toy.

Wizard tries to pat Bailey’s head.

Bailey tries to shove his toy in Wizard’s hand.

Wizard recoils. “Stop that. Hold still so I can pet you.” He says this like the dog should understand.

Bailey quickly translates this into his native dog language and realizes Wizard must not  SEE the AWESOME TOY in his mouth. With his incredible problem solving skills, he squeaks his toy so Wizard will hear it and grasp how super cool is it to play tug of war.

Wizard looks at me with a helplessly confused expression. “Why is he doing that?”

I answer,  “He wants to play tug of war with you.”

Wizard shudders.  He managed to pet Bailey’s head while Bailey is aggressively squeaking the toy. Then he walks away.

Bailey trots over to me. He knows witches are smart and know how to play

This story has no point except that Wizard was tormenting me tonight with comments like. “Don’t you wish Bailey was here?”

Sometimes, Wizards are annoying

I finally gave in and actually started Christmas shopping!

Okay, Wizard dragged me out. But we got a very good start and I get credit for not whining! I was a very good witch! We even celebrated by going out to dinner.

Today I’m calling all the Wing Slayer Hunters BACK TO WORK! We need to revise Phoenix’s book. I’d like to have this done by New Years…

STOP LAUGHING!

Sigh, even I know that’s impossible with the holidays taking up so much time. But it’s still my goal because I am stubborn like that.

Also this weekend, I read WEDDING AT KING’S CONVENIENCE by Maureen Child.  Maureen always rocks!  Then I started Lisa Jackson’s FATAL BURN. I’m not very far into it yet, but so far, so good.

Oh, and while browsing the Internet, I found a recipe for Kahlua Cake that sounds great (I gained three pounds just reading it).  I can’t wait to find an excuse to make it (and gain six pounds).

So how was your weekend?

P.S. Seriously, witches, All Wing Slayer Hunters must report for duty!