Friday Five - Things I Want

1.) A Sausage Coated in Tater Tots


2.) An Anatomical Sleeping Bag


3. This Guy's Charisma!!!



4. A lawn that looks like this... no weeds at ALL!!!


5. A Wooden Spoon

Here's Why...

I refuse to go to the beach. Ever again. And my family wouldn't let it go.

When I tried to explain why... they wouldn't believe me. When I said it's because of the wildlife running rampant through the sand, they shook their heads. So, I went through the old box of film at my mom's house and found this clip from my very last visit to the beach. They no longer argue with me.

Friday Five

1.) Today is the last day to send a photo and message to include in an album to be presented to our good friend   (Lisa). 

http://newport2newport.livejournal.com/268635.html

I sent them this photo. Taken by my 13 year old daughter, this is our family cat 'Paisley'. 




2.) A Book was birthed over in the U.K yesterday. Congrats to Karen Mahoney!!!

 

3.) He'll be here very soon!




4.) GREAT BOOK!

The Freak Observer by Blythe Woolston





5.) One of the FUNNIEST videos I've ever seen on America's Funniest Home Videos. Make sure you turn up the volume, you have to HEAR this one to appreciate it.

Friday Five - Getting Ready for the Holidays!!!

1.) First I get out those comfy socks I just love to wear when it gets cold.

 (Notice I just shaved!)

2.) We string up some outdoor decorations. I don't like it gaudy, so we keep it simple



3. Next we put up the tree!!



4. Throw on a little Christmas Music



5. Break out the sweater my brother made for me last Christmas***



***My brother not only makes Christmas Sweaters, he's a professional Christmas Sweater Model. Here's the most recent shot from his portfolio, for those interested.

Friday Five - Surprises!

 1. Yesterday was the final day for the local ice cream shop to be open this year. I sat at the picnic table while my wife waited for our cones. I ordered a large chocolate soft serve. Boy was surprised when she brought back this…

 

2.) I gave my brother a copy of my latest manuscript to read the other day. When I came back an hour later to see how he was enjoying it, I was surprised to find this…

 

3.) I remember, when I was a kid, I was at my grandparent's house. I couldn't find grandpa.  I asked grandma and she said, “Oh, he’s finally yanking those weeds behind the garage. I’ve been at him all summer to do it.” When I ran back there, I was surprised to find this…

 

 4.) I was peeling an orange for breakfast this morning, and lookie what I got...

 

 5.) When my buddy, Bryan Reardon  , and I were challenged to make this impossible basketball shot, we was surprised when this happened….

 

Friday Five Without a Theme

1.) I found out something yesterday that DISGUSTED me!!! But I'm told that plenty of people do this. So let's find out!


2.) I'm fired up for   this year. Starting brand new story. YA SciFi/Horror called THE BROOD. I hope it's the next book I finish, but I'll know more after the first 30 pages. I do have a backup MG idea if this one putters out.

It's funny how we always feel the LOVE for the new idea... but is it the kind of LOVE that can sustain us for a year of writing/revising.

3.) No! No! No! This is NOT a proper use for the wonderful Eyeball!



4. Eveyone has a favorite drink. A drink that just oozes refreshment. For me that drink is FUZE 'Banana Colada'. Put it in the freezer for about an hour, then sip away. Mm, mm.

5. Did I ever tell you guys about my Karate skills? No? Well... I never actually took any classes, but that summer, I think I was about 8 or 9, that my parents decided they wanted to tour the country in a piece of crap RV, I began to practice that ancient martial art. And I took to it like white to a charcoal briquette.

Once I felt confident in my skills, I wanted to showcase them. When the RV broke down for the sixth time that day, I bravely stepped outside and began my first public display.

Friday Five

1. See Number 3

2. See Number 5

3. See number 4

4. See number 2

5. I'm heading here! Taking off right now...

2010 Annual Conference

Bringing Home the Gold: Winning Strategies for Children’s Writers and Illustrators
September 10 – 11, 2010
Cleveland Airport Sheraton- Cleveland, Ohio

New York editors, and agent, best selling authors, hands-on workshops…and ME!

Disappoinment - A Friday Five

1. My mom and dad are always harping on me about keeping my eye on my kids. Don't look away, not even for a second. Of course they go on and on about how, when I was a little boy, they never, NEVER let me get in harms way.

Well... a few minutes digging through the box of family photos turned up this baby picture of me at the zoo.

 Disappoinment

2.) I've never had my fortune told. Never. So when I heard a local coffee shop was going to host a Psychic Fair... I was psyched! But as I walked to the entrance that day, I was greeted by this...

 Disappointment

3. My wife and her family spent months and months, and lots of money planning our wedding day. It was goint to be perfect. I had one job and one job only... get the limo. So how do you think my inlaws felt when this drove up?

 Disappointment

4. Over the summer, the family and I went to a town picnic. I signed up for the watermelon eating contest, first prize was a trip to Disney World. My kids were so excited! Until we saw the guy that I was going up against.

 Disappointment

5. This is the worst of the worst. I mean... Hollywood didn't even ask my permission!!!!!

 Disappointment

How Things Have Changed (A Friday Five)

I'm amazed how things have changed since my childhood (which, by the way, wasn't THAT long ago). Here are some examples.

1.) Playing Rock, Paper, Scissors was simple, fun and painless, but today...


2. Cookie Monster was a sweet, lovable puppet you just wanted to hug, but today...



3. When I looked up in the sky, only jets left contrails, but today...



4. Strolling through a cemetary was peaceful, but today...



5. These things were considered silly, but today...

More Reasons I Hate Cell Phones (A Friday Five)

First we had 'Texting'. Okay. I can understand why people don't want to actually speak to other people. Talking with another human isn't fun. Yeah. It's true.

Then we had *gulp* 'Sexting'. Now... this is sort of scary. What kind of protection do they make for cell phones to ensure they don't get a virus? I saw this guy walking around holding his celllphone a few inches from his ear... because it was covered in little white warts. Ooh.

And Now I find out there are more types of Texting. Ugh! I can't keep up.

1. People who stretch and contort their bodies while texting = FLEXTING.

2. People who curse other people over their cell phone = HEXTING

3. People who text in alphabetical order or by order of importantance = INDEXTING

4. People who's texts are annoying or provoke anger are = VEXTING

5. People who's texts make absolutely no sense at all are = PERPLEXTING