So I mentioned coming home to cat puke in my last post. What I didn't mention was their were SIX spots and that the big, tough men in my life left them for me to clean up. And that was just the beginning. I could list the damage, but any woman who has returned to a house dominated by men for more than a few days doesn't need a detailed description. 

I guess my question is, why? My guys aren't perfect when I'm there, but they aren't...pigs. But apparently it requires constant supervision to keep them out of the sty. Did I mention the cat is male, too?

Lucky for them the Merry Maids were due in two days, or I'd probably rubbed their noses in something or other (there was plenty to choose from!) 

They did penitent really well, but then they've all had lots of practice. My son pointed out that he "did the dishes." For me, that involve's wiping down counters and starting the dishwasher, not just filling the dishwasher, but he is a guy. 

Speaking of the whole Mars/Venus/Guys/Gals thing, I'm still playing Mario Kart, but I can't help notice how my goals differ somewhat from my son's. We both like winning, but for me there is also the neatness aspect. Each person can create their own "license," and compete inside that license. At first, it was just a place for me to practice to play with Our Son, but then it became an attempt to fill in all the spaces with matching circles. (You fill them in by playing Grand Prixs and winning "cups." The circles don't match if you don't win first place. I found this out when I got a silver circle, messing up my neatness factor.)

I got this sort of blinking "look," when I asked my son what that red thing was, messing up my chart. (I've since filled in my map with GOLD circles. Feel free to be impressed.) Unfortunately, filling in all the spaces with gold unlocks the mirror level, which is just what it sounds--not to mention fricking hard. So now I have another not-matching row and a time deadline. My Son is leaving with his Wii the end of August.

I've been hinting that I'd be open to getting a Wii for my birthday, but I'm surrounded by men, so I'm not holding my breath.

I see Stargate Atlantis starts July 11. Thank goodness! Teyla has been pregnant longer than I was (three thousand months the last time). I sure hope they finally resolve that story line. Not a favorite. In other Stargate news, the last movie is releasing the end of July. I love time travel things, so really looking forward to it. 

Mostly been writing, but did manage to finish Armed and Magical by Lisa Shearin. I liked the book, though I'm hoping in the next ones she gives Mycheal more to do. He's my favorite, but she keeps saying Raine likes bad boys, so I'm thinking she'll chose the goblin. I understand there are at least two more books in the series. The first was Magic Lost, Trouble Found. I like her style, voice and the world she's created. Also finished Grimspace, which everyone was talking about several months ago. I liked it, but it was very dark. Also finished Loretta Chase's new book. I had a hard time with the prostitute heroine, but Loretta is such a good writer, I finished and went, okay, that was ultimately good.

In writing news, I'm looking forward to the print release of my two non-fiction books and working hard on the next two. I need to clear my decks for the novel. (I know, I keep saying that, but I can't go anywhere until I finish the novel, so it will get down this summer or I will die trying.)

Okay, haven't seen any movies since I last blogged, but dying to go see Get Smart. Yes, I am old enough to have seen the TV series and yes, I liked it. Sorry, but I like goofy humor. I downloaded a trailer from iTunes and it was hysterical. I may go by myself this week, but the men want me to wait for them. 

And if you haven't heard, I do have a contest running at Author Island. Sign up to win a comedy bundle and a purse charm (made by my amazingly talented sister). Click on contests or visit my contest page on my website.

That's all my news (and aren't we all thankful!). Hope you have some fun, summer reading (cause there's sure not much on television!) and plenty of time to read. :-)
Perilously yours,
Pauline

 Well, my blog reading friends, I am BACK from my Alaskan cruise with my sister! 


I had such a wonderful time! We had this cute, little room with a small veranda that turned out to be a great blessing. Not only did it make the room feel bigger, but we had a spectacular view during the cruise. 


Out the window was my first glacier! We cruised from Seattle to Glacier National Park (something the hubby heartily approved. He LOVES national parks.) 



I had never seen a glacier, outside of pictures and it was absolutely amazing! I even saw some chunks fall into the water. Very cool.

After leaving Glacier, we went to Juneau, Alaska. This is a shot of Juneau after we rode up a cable car. One of those ships is the Westerdam. I think it's the one on the right.



We also visited Sitka:



You can see a bit of the tender we rode on right there on the right (in orange). It also serves as a life boat in an emergency. Glad we didn't have one!

In Ketchikan, we rode a sea plane!



And to prove I was really in it:

One of the things I got a big kick out of, was when they told us some of the funny questions people asked. Here's the ones I remember:

1. What altitude is the ship? (in case you don't know: sea level)

2. Does the ship generate it's own power?

3. Does the crew sleep on the ship?

4. What do you do with the ice sculptures after they melt?

5. How small does your face have to be to get a mini-facial?

They also told us to be sure and pack our Ulu knifes (curved, very sharp and pretty big!) in our checked baggage. Apparently a LOT of knives were getting confiscated by security.

We also got to stop in on our way home and see my DARLING new grand-nephew!



Jeremy isn't quite three weeks old and already I'm totally in love with the little guy. Just wish I didn't live so far away from him!

I managed a little reading (the rocking of the ship was very conducive to napping) on the cruise. Finished Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin (read it on my Sony Reader) and thought it was light-hearted fun. My sister was toting The Host, Stephenie Meyer's new novel (that thing is HUGE) and she handed it off to me when she finished. I'm almost done with it. It's very dark and very intense. I hear it has a happy ending and am really hoping other readers are right! It's very well done, just very intense.

My sister brought some dvd's for us to watch, too. I think my favorite was The Lady Killers (the original, haven't seen the remake). Then next was Dan in Real Life. Loved the happy ending. HATED Serendipity. I would have thrown it off our veranda, but I wouldn't do that to such a pristine environment! My sister has promised to give it the end it deserves. I'm hoping for a bull dozer, but that might be hard for her to find. 

No surprise the airline misdirected my suitcase for a short time. Thankfully it was one night at the END of the cruise. I was totally glad to get home and get into clean clothes (not as fun to face a Mount McKinley sized pile of laundry and cat vomit).

And just in case you were wondering, I took some of my pictures with my new iPhone. I'm still loving it. 

While I was cruising, Our Son was in Canada fishing. I think this picture speaks for itself on the question of whether he had fun or not:



He said it tasted good, too. :-)

Here's hoping that June got off to a great start for you! Happy reading (and eating!)
Perilously yours,
Pauline





 

Okay, I watched as much of Dancing with the Stars as I could stand. Was it just me or was it totally boring for the first hour and a half? I know ABC wants to milk all the good ratings they can out of the show, but boring the audience to death is not the way to do it, IMHO. I wonder how many people did what I did, which was tune out until the end of the show to see Christie dance and the final results? I was so glad to see Christie win! She totally deserved it, though I couldn't BELIEVE it when Cheryl and Christian were eliminated first!

Idol made me crazy last night, too! The judges were so far up Archelleta's tush, it was embarassing! I wasn't an early David Cook fan, but now I'm squarely in his corner! DA has a sweet voice, but he is just so YOUNG. At least I know, no matter who wins tonight, DC WILL have a career and albums to buy. He's totally a class act. :-) 

I heard Idol is going to shorten their results shows next season. Smart move. Hope ABC takes notice, but not holding my breath. This is the network that canceled Men in Trees. Idiots.

Son and I saw Prince Caspian and really liked it, though I guess I'm too old to get the whole, Prince Caspian is so hot thing going on out there. It was fun to see the kids again. Edmund has grown up well and Lucy was great, too. Will miss Peter and Susan from the next movie, which I understand will be Voyage of the Dawn Trader. 

I'm looking forward to the new Mummy movie and Get Smart. Hey, I used to love the original. Yes, I am that old. :-)

And I'm really looking forward to my "healing" cruise to Alaska with my sister at the end of the May (which probably explains my anxiety for the month to end!). The son is well and the sister and I are celebrating! (Son gets his version of a celebration: a fishing trip). The hubby will get his celebration trip later, too. Someone has to take care of the cat. Yes, we are ruled by a cat in this house, a real tyrant. 

My son got his second lesson in how girls are different from boys with Mario Kart. You can set up your own saved games and if you win grand prixs on the various maps, they fill in this chart. He wants to win for the glory. I just want to fill in my chart. (vbg) I may be defeated by the 150cc races and my own age, though. 

I feel guilty that I'm suddenly not reading as much, but my head is filled to the brim with my next book (a good thing!). :-)

If you're looking for a good book, and live in the Houston area, I'll be "appearing" twice in the next two months. This Saturday I'll be at Murder by the Book with the Sisters in Crime and I'm going to my first science fiction convention: ApolloCon June 27-29. I'm doing a rapid-fire reading with others from Broad Universe. If you're in the area, stop by and say, hi!

Perilously yours,
Pauline