New Places and People; Old Books

Adjusting to that strange new world called FLORIDA is quite the thing ya'll. First off, it's not hot here. Yes, I'm sure the natives would beg to differ but having lived through many a Texas summer, this stuff is not a big deal. The folks back home say the temps are hovering around 105 degrees and positively sweltering. Here in my new place, I'm loving the more moderate stuff. Of course it's humid. Oh dear LORD! Now that's something new but there are definite benefits to that. My hair and skin looks a whole lot better these days. And rainy season? Um. A few weeks ago my daughter and I were shopping for groceries when a thunderstorm hit. Our eyes got big. I mean big. RAIN!!!! Now that's something to celebrate in West Texas so I'm sure the folks at the store wondered why we seemed so damn happy about the deluge of wet stuff. With Tropical Storm Debbie hovering around, we've pretty much been drenched every day and even had to break down and buy umbrellas. Who'd a thunk it????

Settling in good and proper now. We've found the best places for breakfast, lunch and dinner and now where to find the best shopping. What more could a girl ask for? And friends? Yes, I've made a lot of those too. Nice thing, friends. I'm beginning to feel right at home. Hard to believe I've only been here a month.

Now that the settling in has been accomplished and most of my furniture has arrived, I've found the creative energies are beginning to flow again. Getting a divorce and moving clear across the country can have a way of stalling a person out, for sure. But YAY ME...stories are forming and needing to be told. I'm beginning to feel like my "new self"...the old one was pretty fine but this new me is pretty awesome, I think. I'm feeling braver, more sure of myself and yes, more creative. It's a good thing.

And yes...sometimes everything old is new again. Ellora's Cave just re-released my very first EC book at a discounted price. So if you haven't read this one (a hot hot cougar tale) here's your chance to pick it up and give it a 'slow dance'.

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-5785-tempting-tess.aspx

When forty-five-year-old widow Tess Garrity decides it's time to reevaluate her stale life, she rents a charming cabin in the mountains, little expecting her entire life is about to take a drastic turn. She's very drawn and more than a little sexually turned on by the sinfully handsome man next door.

Daniel Rios is captivated by the stunning older woman. She is sweet, funny and sexy enough to make him yearn to fuck her. He wants her more than his next breath but his first order of business is getting rid of an unwanted houseguest. Then Daniel moves in on Tess, tempting her to take another chance on love — with him. It's a naughty, edgy, seductive challenge he is fully prepared to take.

Changing Perspectives

As I mentioned last week, things are really changing in my life. For awhile now, I reckon I'll be discussing this stuff since it's uppermost in my mind. Things are settling in (at last). I still have no living room furniture but that should be remedied in a few more weeks. My sister, who lives here, has loaned me something to use until then. (I KNEW there was a good reason to move close to family...lol...they tend to 'have your back' when needed). The first week any kind of tv-watching was a literal 'pain in the ass' without anything comfy to sit on but now we're managing just fine.

Of course, you know how any kind of move-in is. Disruptive! Anything that can go wrong usually does. We've had minor issues with the apartment and everything we order tends to be a matter of hurry-up-and-wait kind of deal. You know how it is. I suspect that a month from now, I'll have my furniture in place and will have settled in all comfy and cozy.

One thing I have noticed is that my worries over leaving Texas were just silly. Sometimes I think we tend to believe that 'home' is associated with a place rather than with people. I've found folks in Florida friendy, helpful and fun. I've felt so at ease here. A good thing. My smile comes quicker and my writing (yes, I'm writing again) is richer and more complex. If we are surrounded by people we love, it helps bushels. Naturally, I'm missing my son and my mom but hey...who knows? Life has an odd way of changing on us when we least expect it.

New Beginnings

If someone tells you that starting over is easy, don't believe it. Yes, sometimes things go smoothy...great even but most of the time you're so damn unsure of yourself. I'm living this now. After 30 years of being married, I'm getting a divorce and have just completed a 'cross country' move to Florida. Already I miss my Texas and the people and loved ones there and the place will always feel like 'home' to me. But now I have a new one and I'm adjusting as best as I can amid the mountain of unpacked suitcases and boxes. It's getting close to being finished but the whole exercise has left me feeling pretty exhausted (in a good way).

Ending and beginnings. It's tough. All of it. But in the course of all this, I've learned there are good people, friendly people, all around and most are willing to lend a hand to make the transition smoother. Writing these days is pretty tough. Most of the time, my brain is kinda foggy but I'm finding the muck clearing somewhat and I'm actually writing some now. Admittedly, I have great inspiration all around me. From my back patio (empty of any kind of furniture at the moment) I have trees. Lots of trees. One of them is loaded with oranges. Now THAT'S something new for a Texas girl! I've seen mated red birds and even an enormous owl perched in a tree out back. And lizards! Okay, that's familiar but these seem to be a bit more exotic as their throats expand, turning a bright red. Funny. Guess I'll figure out what kind they are soon enough.

Of course, I have NO idea where I'm going. I was given the 'gift' of a map so I've been studying up some. :-) Made it to the grocery store and a few other places. I figure it's a start. Right? Anyway the weather is beautiful and my new place with be livable before I can blink. Mainly, I now have new ideas swimming in my head (scary thought...all that head-swimming) and I'm anxious to start burning up the computer again. A day at a time.

I'm really sorry that I've blogged so sporadically but now you understand, I hope, why I haven't been around much. I must say, it's great to be back.

The Waves, Stars, and Bikers!

Yep, down here in the Myrtle Beach area we just finished up a couple of weeks of Biker Fest. I had heard horror stories about it. Well... turns out it really wasn't bad at all. There was a lot of noise, and I had trouble getting in and out of my street, but all in all it wasn't bad.

The police presence was overwhelming. Never saw so many in one place in my life. State helicopters flew overhead and barricades on residential streets were up. Overall, the police seemed to be in a pretty good mood. They smiled, laughed, and joked whenever you had to go by them in order to get home. And I have it on good authority that one particular dude in uniform got my oldest's phone number. LOL

I did see one biker trying to pop a wheelie on busy busy Hwy 17. He was in the lane next to me and when the stoplight turned green he popped it. Fool came very close to laying down that bike. AND! He wiggled his ass back on--wiggling the bike, too--for a good ways down. If he had fallen? God. I can only imagine the carnage.

The other thing that I had to deal with really only upset me on Thursday night (the 31st). The barricades weren't up yet in my area and bikers used the avenue next to my bedroom window for racing. I didn't sleep all night long. I thought about calling the police but just didn't. I worried someone was going to get hurt. But I also kept thinking that they were only trying to have some fun. You know... YOLO!

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!

Last night we walked down to the beach about dusk. There was a guy with a parrot and he put it on my shoulder. I felt like a pirate. LOL I love the smell of the ocean. I just stood there watching those waves and the long shoreline with the twinkling hotel lights. Watched the last remnants of daylight fade to black.The stars are so bright here.

Doesn't get any better than that!