Monday, December 27, 2010

An Almost White Christmas, Snowballs, and TV


This is the last week for gift-giving here at Three Wicked Writers Plus Two. Today I’m offering a copy of my book Latin Rhythm from Pink Petal Books. I’ve NEVER given away a copy before. This is a first. So leave me a comment if you’d like to be entered to win. Natalie Dae will announce the winner on Friday. Also, it’s not too late to get your copy of my free Christmas book: Blame It On Mistletoe. You can get your copy by visiting the Got Romance Reviews site and either commenting to the blog or simply email the GRR ladies. GOTROMANCEREVIEWS@GMAIL.COM Also, Natalie Dae has a free Christmas book available at GRR—Wanton and Wicked. And under Nat’s M/M pen name, Sarah Masters, she has Caught Naked available for free.
Blame It On Mistletoe link: http://gotromancemusings.blogspot.com/2010/12/blame-it-on-mistletoe-by-tess-mackall_19.html

Wanton and Wicked link: http://gotromancemusings.blogspot.com/2010/12/wanton-wicked-by-natalie-dae-free-gift.html

Caught Naked link: http://gotromancemusings.blogspot.com/2010/12/caught-naked-by-sarah-masters.html

ANNOUNCEMENT: Natalie Dae and I are very excited and so happy to be able to tell you that our co-authored book, BLACK COUGAR CURSE will be releasing from Ellora’s Cave on January 26th! So mark your calendars and look out for a contest heading your way! Here’s the Blurb:
Deep in the mountain wilderness, Lucia Chavez searches for closure to her father's death, and the mythical black cougar he sought. Drop-dead sexy Cherokee Indian guide Sam Starr knows more than he’s telling. After he saves Lucia from being swept away in a mudslide, the bath they both need steams up a lot more than the mirror. Sam and Lucia are living proof that near-death experiences can bring two people closer together—they can’t keep their hands off each other. Neither has ever experienced anything like the heat that smolders between them.

Amidst danger and mystery, Sam and Lucia explore the lust that burns between them. If their desire for one another gets any stronger, it could bring down the mountains that surround them. Ancient secrets hold the key to their unbridled sexual need. Was their passion written in the stars?

One man. One woman. A curse that binds them—and could tear them apart.
*************************************************************************************

Now on with my final Christmas memories.

Reporting in from Holiday Central here. Lol Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and made
lots of memories—even though you may not know they will be memories until way later on. I got to thinking, though, what happened this Christmas that I’ll carry with me as a memory? Well, there are a couple of things that stand out in my mind so far.

First, the weather dude kept calling for snow and snatching it back. DROVE ME INSANE. Then he’d do this “trace to 62 inches” kind of report and DROVE ME INSANE. You know the kind of weather report I’m talking about. Sort of like prescription medicine disclaimers. They predict every damn side effect known to mankind and a few alien planets just so they don’t get sued. Well, in our weather dude’s case, we got predictions of nothing to rain to sleet to snow. The promise of my FIRST WHITE CHIRSTMAS EVER literally kept me on edge. At one point the weather dude said: “Keep watching for updates.” And I said, “I watch you closer than your damn wife.” Yeah, I was talking to the TV. Told ya he drove me insane.

My family gets a kick out of me whenever snow is predicted. I’m the original Little Red Hen. Remember that story? The Little Red Hen prepares like crazy and no one helps her but they all want to reap the benefits of her hard work? Yeah, that’s me. So we were prepped and ready for the storm—lots of food and emergency supplies if the power went out, which it didn’t, thankfully.

After watching for the snow all day long Christmas Day, I finally gave up about ten that night and went to bed. Hells bells, I’d been cooking for two days solid. Shopping and cleaning for two days before that. I was exhausted. The Boy was on guard, though—up playing his new X Box games, and he had strict orders to sound the alarm in the case of white stuff.

So about three a.m. on the 26th, he woke me to say we had FLAKES! Technically NOT a White Christmas but close. No, I didn’t get up. lol I waited until six a.m. and then did my little dance at the front door while urging all four dogs to go out in it and relieve themselves. So that will be one of my Christmas memories this year. That and the big snowball The Boy rolled up. Yeah, it was big and had no real purpose other than in his mind. Lol It ended up being about five feet tall, I guess. Got to the point he couldn’t roll it anymore. Yeah, I know, kinda odd. LOL But awful cute! I guess it’ll take a couple of weeks for it to melt.

So my next Christmas memory? My two girls watched all thirteen episodes of Brett Michaels finding his girlfriend on Netflix. Well, twelve, and then the season reunion. The den is next to the kitchen where I spent MOST of my time, and you can imagine the comments I made throughout this marathon dose of so-called reality TV. During the first episode, I became so disgusted with what I was hearing I rounded the corner, waving my big spoon, just to have a 52 inch screen of wall-to-wall boobs in my face. And the big BM right in the middle of them. HA

I have to admit he’s cute. Has this really attractive bad-boy style for sure. But reality TV, as we all know, is a definite misnomer. Nothing real about it. No dude who is intelligent enough to make all the money he made from that show is going to settle down with a gal he chose from a TV show. So the entire premise of the show just pissed me off. Now the thing where they hooked up his manhood to the machine to measure the level of his “turn on” while the girls were trying to engage him in phone sex was funny. Yeah, I sat down and watched that.

You know what I kept thinking, though? Hahahahahaha! We erotic romance authors could have done a much better job than those girls for sure. That machine would have been smokin’ and so would his…hmmmm…okay. Movin’ on!

So folks, The Almost White Christmas, The Boy’s Big Snowball, and a dose of Brett Michaels will be the three things I think I will carry with me from this Christmas for sure. And maybe the fact that my brother forgot about my gift lying in the trunk of his car until four o’clock Christmas afternoon before he remembered it. Yeah, I have to admit I was a bit upset that he hadn’t gotten me a thing for Christmas but never said a word—just held my head high and acted like nothing was wrong. He has bronchitis and was NOT doing well at all Christmas Day so I forgive him. Sort of. Hmmmm…

And now it’s on to New Year’s Eve. You know what they say about New Year’s Eve, right? “Whatever you’re doing at midnight is what you’ll be doing all year long.” So be careful. Pick something that you really want to be doing all year long. In my partying days, lol, I always made sure I got a New Year’s Eve kiss—sometimes more—but I won’t get into all of that. lol But I’ve had a long stretch of years in which I rang in the new year with my kids with a glass of champagne while they had ginger ale too. Thinking about it, I guess in both instances I was exactly where I was supposed to be at the time. But I have to admit, I’m thinking about those kisses again. HA! Both my girls will be out and about. I understand The Boy has been invited to a big sleepover with three other XBoxers at a friend’s house. I’ll be alone. Now on the surface that might sound pretty rough, but when you’re a woman who is rarely alone???? Not so bad.

No. I’m not going to put a sign up on the side of the road inviting kisses. LOL I’m going to buy myself a bottle of Korbel, sit down at my computer about eleven—maybe sooner—and make sure I’m happily tapping away at the keys on one of my works in progress at the stroke of midnight. Why not kissing? Hahahaha This is going to be my YEAR OF WRITING. No editing or teaching this year. I might do some blog posts with writing tips but nothing major on teaching. And NO kissing. Kissing can be a real distraction--know what I mean?

Next year? I might think about that sign on the side of the road.

Happy New Year Everyone! I know it’s going to be a great one.
http://tessmackall.com

happy newjear Pictures, Images and Photos

37 comments:

Regina Carlysle said...

You know, I can just pictured the Brett Marathon and snow watching! You guys made some memories! LOL. Glad you got your snow, too. Yep, I'm with you on the NY celebration. I'll be writing SOMETHING come stroke of midnight.

Avril Ashton said...

Happy New Year, Tess. Here in N.Y we're winding down off a blizzard that came in the day after Christmas. I grumbled a bit, cause while I loves me some snow, I couldn't understand why the sucker came the day after and not THE DAY. I had to go to the evil day job on Christmas.

Not a good look :(

Stroke of midnight on New Year's Day always finds me snuggled up to the Spousal Equivalent, sipping some spirits, shoveling cake into my mouth. Come to think of it, that seems par for the course most nights ;-)

Tess MacKall said...

Ohhhh Reg...if you could have heard me. I kept the girls in stitches. But it was all just so damn ridiculous and BEGGED for me to say something. All afternoon. Then they wanted to watch The Flavor of Love and I said---"do you want me to die today?" LMAO

It was a good day. Really was. Everyone was patient and I'd cooked a big breakfast and no one was chomping at the bits for me to finish lunch so we ended up eating about four.

The snow was great. Beautiful. Roads are icy. Bro went into work late today. No way could he drive on those side roads in the dark. He's still sick as a dog but pushing himself. We're expecting thirty mph winds today. So may have power issues. We'll see. We're not getting out of the deep freeze either.

Writing at midnight is definitely my thing this year. I'm real superstitious when it comes to that New Year's Eve custom. Kissing, at least right now---is highly overrated--right now. LOL

Happy New Year, girlie. Wishing for loads of your amazing stories this year!

Tess MacKall said...

Woot! Avril has the perfect New Year's Eve most nights. I LOVE IT.

Yep, hon, you had that same storm we did. The day after Christmas. Well, we can't have everything can we? lol

But why didn't it come to my house just a minute before midnight? Oh well, I'll just keep looking for that Christmas morning I wake up to snow. That's my idea of a perfect Christmas morning.

Happy New Year, hon. Wishing you all the best!

anny cook said...

Yeah. Me, too. I'm tired of spinning my wheels!

Tess MacKall said...

Yep, Anny. Time to get DOWN to business for sure. And you know what that means? Organization. sighhh...hard to stay organized when so many things are going on around you. At least it is for me.

I've got some things to get out of the way in the next few days then I'm settling in to that ORGANIZATION thing. Hopefully, it'll make writing easier.

Happy New Year, Anny. So glad to have you as a friend!

Lisa Alexander Griffin said...

Love your memories, Tess. Especially the B M one. heh. We got our white Christmas in Alabama. The first in all my years on earth, and it was beautiful. Still snow on the ground this morning, and it's cold. More white stuff predicted for Tuesday. lol. Guess I'd better get used to it.

No big plans for New Years Eve. Just my normal "watch the ball drop" on TV. After thirty-four years with Jackie, it'll be Morgan and me awake and Jackie snoring. lol. I may be writing too. Didn't get a darn thing done in the two weeks prior to Christmas.

Happy New Year to all!! :)

Tess MacKall said...

Yeah, Lisa, I think BM sort of made my Christmas. Must write him a fan letter. LOL

More snow on the way for you? Heck, we're looking at the sixties by the end of the week. Think I'll be ready for it too.

Happy New Year to you too, hon. And wake Jackie's butt up at midnight and steal yourself a kiss.

C. Zampa said...

Sounds like it was a nice, peaceful Christmas for you.
And THANKS for the reminder that you'll do all year what you are doing at midnight on the new year. I am going to sit at the computer and WRITE, and hopefully that'll carry over all year?

Glad you had a nice Christmas!

(I already have Latin Rhythm, but just wanted to comment anyway..lol)

Hales said...

LOL Tess! My girls love BM and the Rock of Love now they watch his new one. But we watch Bridal Plasty together. I hate reality TV but I really want the underdog to win all of her plastic surgery list. She finally got her arms done and her chin. I'm hoping she gets her tummy.

We had small flurries on Xmas
since they were four we've made cookies and candy pretzels, brownies or fudge. This year we did the same minus the teen boy who just wanted to eat them not bake with us :) And we watch two movies a day once Xmas vacy hits in the morning when they wake up and the Wizard of Oz that always comes on before Xmas.

No Snow Angels just yet but we got time! The mailman was too quick and missed his tub of cookies so waiting to give them to him today :) Loved your memories!

Tess MacKall said...

Hiya, CZ. Yep, if writing is what you want to be doing this year, make sure you're doing it at midnight.

And rats, or rather hot damn, lol, you already have Latin Rhythm. Oh well, next giveaway then.

Hope your holidays were great. Looking forward to another year of friendship with you, hon. Happy New Year.

Tess MacKall said...

Oh hell. I forgot, Hales. We watched a couple of episodes of Bridezilla too. Lord. I wanted to slap those women for sure. And then we watched the one with the wedding planner who makes these weddings that these gals have planned that are just horrible all work out anyway. That show is pretty cool actually. I didn't make fun of it other than to cringe at some of the things this woman wanted in her wedding. lol

I never watch reality TV. But I damn sure got a good sampling Christmas Day.

Baking cookies with the girls. I used to do that. All my kids love to eat cookie dough. They love cookie dough ice cream. lol No one did any cooking or helped out in the kitchen this year. Just me. But that was cool. I kind of got into it for some reason. Last year I complained a lot. lol

So happy to have you commenting this week, Hales. Thanks so much for the wonderful review of Blame It On Mistletoe over at Got Romance Reviews and thanks so much for the friendship. Happy New Year, hon.

Natalie Dae said...

I watch you closer than your damn wife.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!

Glad you got your snow!

:o)

Tess MacKall said...

LOL Yeah, Nat. I was mad with him. I love snow. And he just didn't want to give me my White Christmas for some odd reason. My bro said I was sitting in front of the TV just frowning at the weather dude. I had the whole family laughing.

Happy New Year, my friend.

Brindle Chase said...

*lol*@ Tess... you crack me up!! I wish you the best in your resolution to write! I know I will enjoy the stories you put out, along with everyone else... but a word of caution.

As someone who has gone years without a kiss... it is not the picnic it might sound like. I love writing... but I'd rather be kissing.

((Don't enter me in the drawing, I already have Latin Rhythm, and am loving it so far!))

Oh, and congrats on the co-release with Nat!! I am so looking forward to that one as well!!

Tess MacKall said...

Brindle, I can tell you kissing is highly overrated unless it's with THE ONE. Find THE ONE and it's worth it. Otherwise, it's just lips pressing together. Trust me. I went through a whole lotta lips before I figured that out.

Which is why I know that sipping champagne and writing is where I need to be this year. Next year? Who knows? Might look for something else. May decide to go sky-diving. lol Now wouldn't that be cool as hell? NOT...lol

Hugs to you, hon. And thanks for reading Latin Rhythm. And thank you so much for our unexpected friendship this year. Hoping it continues this coming year. Happy New Year!

Brindle Chase said...

*lol* Well, that's true to some degree, at least for me. When kissing the one, it was amazing. But all the kissing until I met the one, was good too. There are good kissers, average kissers and bad kissers... but the one, is an amazing kisser. But love doesn't always last forever, and since I'm no longer the one for her... I'd settle for even a bad kisser... theoretically, of course. *lol*

And you too. I'm glad I met you and look forward to fun 2011 with you and all the 3WW+2!!! Love you guys!

Brenda Hyde said...

BLACK COUGAR CURSE sounds like an awesome read-- congrats, and I'll be checking back!

On the snow-- I think there is something magical about it snowing on Christmas Eve more than any other time. I love going outside and just standing there in the quiet stillness. I've done that since I was in my teens:) We've had snow in Michigan for awhile now, but they are saying it might melt this week. I'd rather have it stay once it's here!

Brett Michaels has never been a favorite of mine though I get his appeal-- I tried watching the show once and turned it off. LOL I'd rather read books:)

Tess MacKall said...

Thanks Moonsanity.

I'm with you on Brett. I can deal without anymore of him and that show. I'd much rather be writing. And if not writing--reading. lol Actually, I'd rather be cleaning out the cat box. hmmm...

I love going out at night in the snow. It's just like you say, so quiet. The pines smell really nice when it snows too. Everything is so fresh. It's like a renewal of sorts.

Happy New Year, hon. So glad to have you commenting here on the blog. Looking forward to chatting with you more in the coming year. HUGS...

Tess MacKall said...

Brindle...settling for a kiss from someone other than The One is one of those "any port in a storm" type of things.

I just can't do it. Trust me. I tried. Doesn't trip my trigger. But if it floats someone else's boat--go for it. lol I'll just sit around and wait until fate decides I'm supposed to have one from The One. lol And if there is no The One? Well, guess I'll sip champagne and keep tapping away at the keys.

Maybe I'll get that kiss in another life...

Brindle Chase said...

ahhh... yeah. I see your point. It sucks to be lonely, was my point. I tap away at my keyboard writing stories of people who do find the one and get that special kiss... because I can't (had it, lost it, *sad sigh*). *lol* Pathetic, huh?

But anywho. I wish you a happy, fantastic New Years Eve and look forward to reading the result of your resolution!

Wendy A said...

Hi Tess:
I'm glad you got your snow and new memory I love hearing all the great stories from you ladies all we got here was a awful rain storm Christmas was alright I guess my girls came over to try an cheer me up it was nice of them you see my husband left me for another women about three weeks ago but thats okay I'm strong and a survivor and for New Years I will be reading my romance book.

Tess MacKall said...

Holy Hell, Wendy. No it's not okay. What he did was unforgivable. I can't imagine what you're feeling. I'm so glad you had your girls to help you get through the holidays. But yes, you are strong and you are a survivor and you'll kick this all in the butt in time. Concentrate on the future, not the past. It's all about moving forward from here, hon. He's not worth glancing over your shoulder at.

2011 is going to be YOUR year.

If you'll email me at teasyone@hotmail.com I'll send you a book to read. I really want to.

Big hug for you, hon. Drink some champagne New Year's Eve and celebrate the fact you're on a new adventure now.

*yadkny* said...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

I am definitely keeping the calendar marked for BLACK COUGAR CURSE... it sounds sooo good!

yadkny@hotmail.com

Harlie Williams said...

Hubby gave me Poison, 20 years later CD and we listened to it all the way home yesterday from the inlaws.........love Brett! Hubby and I are childless for the first time ever for NYE and don't have a clue what to do........LOL! Of course, we do but still....its kinda weird.

Tess MacKall said...

Glad you think so, Yadkny. I'm so excited about this release. Working with Natalie was amazing. She's such a gifted writer and such a beautiful soul.

Hope your holidays were great. Looking forward to seeing you here on the blog all through 2011. Happy New Year!

Tess MacKall said...

Hey, Harlie...there is no denying the man's music. Love it. I just seem to have issues with the way he chooses women. LOL Oh well...

And alone for the first time, huh? Well, I'd think of something romantic to do for sure. Don't even have to go out to do that. And I can see where it would be weird. I guess it's going to be weird for me this year too. Very quiet. Guess I'll just have to put on some POISON and ROCK DA HOUSE. LOL

Happy New Year, hon.

Zina said...

Tess, ilike your post and I enjoyed reading about hoe you plan on spending New Years, not sure though about the no kisses thing. And as a mother of 9 I now how you feel about enjoying being alone. Half my normal bunch is in Brazil and someone asked me if I missed them, I said NO! I still have 6 at home why would I miss 4, it's a little more peaceful at home but not much.
Zina

Wendy A said...

Thank you Tess you are to sweet I bury myself in romance book and there happy endings and all the stories you ladies tell so I don't think to much I do so love happy ending.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your lovely memories.

I think this Christmas will certainly stay in my memory. We have never had so much snow before in 110 years....according to the newspaper...there is certainly a lot!!! And January is usually the worst month...and it is still to come.

Oh my!!

Valerie
in Germany

Tess MacKall said...

Oh, got lots of snow there, huh, Valerie. Well, I think we ended up with five inches. Which is a lot for our area. Eleven years ago we had a blizzard that brought us 27 inches. Snow for us is kind of rare where I live.

Enjoyed sharing all my memories with everyone this month. And enjoyed hearing everyone else's too.

Looking forward to chatting with you in the coming year, Valerie. Happy New Year.

Jen B. said...

What a pleasure to remember past Christmases. Reading all of your memories has made me think back. I think this year will probably be memorable for the fact that nothing happened. Wow! Good year!

Tess MacKall said...

Hi Jen. LOL No news is good news. I can see that. Everything goes off without a hitch and it somehow makes it all perfect. Doesn't have to be something odd in order to be memorable.

So glad you've enjoyed the memories. It was a great way to share the holiday season with everyone I think. Wishing you a great New Year.

Natalie Dae said...

ATTN WENDY!

Same goes for me, love. If you need any books, email me!

:o)

Madison Scott said...

Happy New Year!!

I need a HEA. It's a must for me. Not sure what I will be doing at midnight. Probably sleeping. lol

Fedora said...

We've never had a white Christmas--maybe one of these days we'll travel somewhere so that we can enjoy one of those :)

Lorie Shewbridge said...

That actually sounds like a great Christmas... except for your brother forgetting the gift in the car (but he WAS sick). I would have loved to have seen the giant snowball... too funny! Sounds like something my boys would have done.
I'm actually SO glad that we DON'T get snow, I HATE it - I had enough of it for 40 years.
Love your idea of what you are going to do for new year's eve, I'm definitely going to be kissing my hubby, just like I was last year.
Wishing you all the best for 2011!