TGIF! Note here: I’m posting this manually on Thursday night because I don’t trust it to post if I schedule it. Okay, let’s dive right into sharing five random things about our week.

1. Yesterday was hot but the humidity was better. Rumor has it the humidity is coming back. I has a sad about that.
2. Daughter-in-law did my nails again. It’s a fun hobby for her and I’m her practice dummy, LOL! But I’m having fun and getting my nails done, so it’s a win-win for me!
3. I made my cake. So the good: The homemade lemon cake, two fillings and icing came out good. I got the meringue to perfect stiff peaks before adding in the butter and lemon zest and it came out just as I wanted. But by the time I cut the two cake layers into four, then assembled and filled them, the heat was wilting the icing. I should have swapped out a 1/2 cup of butter for high-fat shortening to stabilize it a a bit more. But honestly the biggest problem is I’m not putting enough icing on the sides for the final coat before I smooth it. Practice will get me there. By the time I got to the top decorations, I was so tired, I just plopped them on. Here’s a picture of the cake whole and then cut to see the layers. When the knife when through the layers, it spread the raspberry filling, which makes it slightly resembled a crime scene :-). On the upside, my layers are straight and close to even.
4. Our electric bill came yesterday. Wizard and I had both guessed how much it would be and I was right…but this is a case, I wish he’d been right since he guessed lower than me. But at least we have A/C!
5. Youngest Son and daughter-in-law invited us for dinner on Sunday, so I’m looking forward to that.

That’s my Friday five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

When the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) Simone Biles said, “Not Today,” the world took notice.

And we should.

This is my interpretation of what happened. Simone Biles, elite gymnast and Olympic gold medalist performed a vault that didn’t go well. Then she made the stunning decision to pull out of the gymnastics team competition at the Olympics.

I’ve never met or talked to Simone Biles. I only know what she chooses to share in the media. I am a long time fan, but in the moment that she pulled back and said, “Nope, not today,” on the arguably the biggest moment of her life — I became a bigger fan. It takes real self-awareness, confidence and a huge amount of wisdom to stand up and say, “I know there are crazy expectations on me, but I’m not the best person for the job today. But you know who is? My teammates.” Then she stepped aside and cheered on her teammates.

Like I said, I don’t know her, and I can only guess at her motivations and reasons. But in my mind, she stepped up to be a hero for so many women feeling huge expectations on them. There is a grinding pressure on women–some real and some we put on ourselves–that often wears us down. To me, Simone Biles, gave us a powerful message:

Sometimes it’s okay to say, “Not today.”

All the weather stations bragged about a cool down. But they didn’t to mention the humidity–yesterday morning when I walked Maggie at 6:30 am, it was 81%. My hair and humidity are mortal enemies

But the weekend was good.

Saturday was a Turbo day. He and his parents came over; we talked, we swam, and had a blast. So at one point, I’m in the kitchen doing something, and CPA Boy is saying something to Wizard.

Special K snaps out, “Don’t,” to CPA Boy.

CPA boy–pretending wide-eyed innocence, “What? I’m just talking to my dad.”

Special K, “Don’t get him started.”

Guys, I dropped my head and laughed so hard I might have snorted the wine I drank at dinner. Seriously! Special K is me, and CPA boy is his dad. Wizard and I have had this conversation hundreds of times! I honestly can’t remember the topic, but CPA Boy was needling his dad into a rant about something and amusing himself. The next day, Wizard and I both laughed about it (yes, Wizard was aware of the dynamic and playing along.) And trust me, Special K was not being mean or unreasonable. They’ve been married long enough now, they each know exactly what the other is thinking and the mischief they planning.

I love my kids. They’re hilarious, including their wives. The all make us laugh.

Turbo had a blast swimming in the pool and eating the drumstick (ice cream) I bought him He swears he doesn’t like preschool, but he seems to be adjusting really well by participating, playing with other kids and able to follow directions. I can already see him growing and learning from the experience.

Sunday we were doing some numbers on the future. Exciting to us and boring the rest of the world. And I’m planning a cake I want to make this week for fun. Maybe a lemon cake, with a mascarpone buttercream swirled with raspberry filling center and lemon swiss meringue buttercream icing.  I’m thinking a subtle ombre color icing on the cake. We shall see if I can get all the ingredients and make it happen. I have so many skills to polish up or learn.

Today I want to write. I’m crossing my fingers that the plot fairies and real-life trolls both decide to cooperate.

How was your weekend?

My blog decided not to post again. But then again, it’s been one of those weeks…not bad but nothing working according to MY schedule So Late Happy Friday and here’s the blog:

TGIF! Let’s dive into the sharing five random things.

1. We’ve been looking at houses again, but that’s a circular path of frustration–especially in the current housing market. It reminds me to be grateful for what I have, and that’s always a good thing.
2. I mildly hurt something in my shoulder/neck on Wednesday. I didn’t feel it whenever it happened. It just began hurting before I went to bed. I probably pulled something while cleaning the bathrooms or doing yoga. I really want to blame cleaning bathrooms. I’m still happy doing yoga.
3. I want to make a zillion more cakes and cookies. I’m trying not too. But I have so many recipes and techniques to try! Oh I did make youngest son some cookies on Monday, but those don’t really count.
4. Writing has been on the back burner. Too much other stuff taking up space in my head.
5. Turbo is supposed to come over tomorrow. That will be great. Maggie is resting up!

Okay mine are short, but I’d sure love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a truly fun and restorative weekend!

I’ve done a fair amount of book signings. I had fun at a lot of them and a few odd experiences at others. I’ll share a few here.

One of my best memories:

A lady who brought in her (previously purchased) copy of one of my first books, Dying To Meet You. She handed it over and sheepishly said, “I’m sorry it’s all beat up. I’m a bus driver, and I read it on my breaks. I loved this book so much I took it everywhere with me. Do you mind signing it even thought it’s ragged and I didn’t buy it here?

I liked her instantly and was not only thrilled, but honored to sign it for her. That woman and her well-loved copy of my books lives in my memory. I smiled every time I think of her. I also love that I was at a privately owned bookstore who didn’t hassle the woman for bringing in her own copy. They were smart enough to know that woman would remember her good experience and return to that bookstore.

Annoying. 

The time one of my publisher’s sent me to a big box store to sign books in a big promotion and the store had no clue. None. No books, nothing. It was a total waste of time and energy. My editor was furious.

Unnerving.

I picked up a stalker at one big multi-author signing in New York. He kept telling me strange stories including the time he killed someone with a shotgun. Once I finally got him to leave, the lady signing next to me leaned over and said, “I’ve been a reporter for over a decade, and I’m telling you, he’s a stalker. You need to be very careful.”

I have rarely taken advice to seriously as I did that day. Before she said it, I was unnerved and wondering if I was overreacting. Her words snapped me out of that. I told all my friends with me at the conference to keep my room number quiet, I told my agent about it, and I let the hotel know to NOT give out any information about me. Because I have great friends, they often walked me to my room or checked that I got in safely. Fortunately that man and I lived on opposite coasts. He emailed me with more stories over the years, but I never responded. And thankfully, he never showed up again.

I have a moral to this one: Always listen to the voice that warns you of danger. Like the lovely, smart and concerned woman next to me. Looking back, I believe her warning may have saved me from real harm.

Troubling:

I remember specifically where I was sitting at a Barnes and Noble singing. A really sweet woman was looking at my book, asking me questions, and we were chatting about life things like getting our hair colored. Sometimes people who seem lonely stop and chat like that, and as long as I don’t have a line, I’m good with it.

But then her husband stalked over, yanked the book out of her hand and threw it on the table. He looked at me like I was a cockroach. “We don’t read trash like this.” And he pulled her away.

She went with him, not resisting.

But felt my stomach clench. I don’t know their story or circumstances–for all I know he was having a bad day and not normally like that. But I was troubled, and still am when I think about it.  It was one of those situations where I didn’t have enough information to do anything but sit there and feel helpless.

I can say this–he’d never be a hero in my book.

Funny.

Let’s end on an amusing note. I was signing with a Big Name Mystery Writer, and she was on a big book tour with a publisher-provided assistant. Her assistant was helping by handing her books to sign and little things like that. The fact that I didn’t have an assistant wasn’t a problem for me. It’s pretty easy to pull a book off the stack and open it to the correct page to sign.

But it bothered my sister who’d come with me. She jumped in and assumed the role of my assistant. I still laugh when I remember that. By the way, the Big Name Mystery Writer was very nice–the assistant was a perk she’d earned and helped her with managing all the travel and logistics. I’m not sure if they ever realized my assistant was actually my sister

That’s some of my book signing stories. Feel free to share any book signing stories as an author or reader you’ve had.

A weekend happened

Wizard’s back stayed the same over the weekend, and we’ll see what the doctor says today.

Due to his back, Wizard called Youngest and asked him to fix a broken sprinkler for him. I was so proud of Wizard.  Youngest came over, dug it up, fixed it and then surprised me by brining in his extended ladder and cleaning the hard to reach, high ledge driving me crazy in my living room. (It’s the height of a one story roof). Yay!

As it happened, Youngest’s wife came with him and hung out with me while I worked on this:

It’s a decadent four layer chocolate cake with three layers of Nutella flavored swiss meringue buttercream icing drizzled with Nutella ganache. The frosting job isn’t great as the icing was soft, but it came out tasting so good. It has a light, satiny mouth feel to it, and less sweet than American buttercream. I was very happy. I just wish I’d remembered to take a picture when I sliced it to see the layers–that was the most impressive part.  Now that I understand the technique to make the icing, I should be able to adjust it to a little firming icing texture to get a smooth finish.

FYI daughter in law was highly amused at the way I talk to myself while working, especially as I’m adjusting my plan as I go. And when I picked up the heavy cream and shook it–forgetting I had already opened it and hadn’t put the lid back on–I heard strangled laughter. I think I laughed too because….seriously??? My cupboards and floors got the heavy cream treatment.

I really should take my act on the road. I’m hilarious.

Sunday was quieter.

How was your weekend?

TGIF! Jumping right into sharing five random things around our week.

1. Every time I call Maggie a “spoiled princess” no on in my family disagrees. I want to be outraged on her behalf, but she’s an easy dog to spoil because she really don’t do many “wrong” things.
2. The highlight of my week was my daughter-in-law doing my nails. She taught herself on Youtube, and I’m impressed!
3. I might make a cake this weekend just because I want too. I might even get ambitious enough to try a meringue frosting (it’s not as sweet and cloying as buttercream–especially decorator buttercream). I have like a dozen cakes in my head that I want to try, but what would I do with them all?
4. Wizard pulled a muscle in his back, and he’s not happy about being forced to slow down. He’s also trying not to be annoyed at my hovering, LOL
5. Due to #4, I don’t know what we’re doing this weekend.

And that’s my boring week, now I’d love to hear your much more interesting Friday Five! Have a great weekend everyone.