la vida es un carnaval *british/french/dutch style*

So I'm packing to see three caribbean islands and loaded up on all kindsa swimsuits (oy), books, bug wipes and sunscreen.

I've learned the bug wipes lesson the hard way in Costa Rica *death to noseeums!* it took MONTHS for the itching to stop. And learning that lesson saved me in County Connemara *death to midges* - I missed a small strip on my arm and those bastards got me still! ugh

We're staying at b&bish places that are WAY more expensive then I ever thought I'd be comfortable paying. Still...the more we travel the less appealing mega resorts are to us.
Our most favorite experiences have been at the smaller places with people who can take time to give you advice or just talk a little. The BEST coffee are served at these places too! I blame middle of nowhere Spain Basque region for making me a coffee convert.

I would say that I'll never again do all inclusive but Jamie's parents want to do the "worst offender of all-inclusives" - a cruise ship -  to Hawaii here in a few months.

We couldn't convince them otherwise. For me, the food is one of the best things about traveling! I don't want to be caged in AND eat stupid boring cruise ship food! ok...i'll stop being a brat now. His parents want to go, we'll go. 

Plus -  that's months away...we got Anguilla, St. Martin and St. Barth's to see. squeeeeeee!

And since I don't know any British or French or Dutch island music, we're playing some Celia Cruz...cause Cuba's at least closer to where we're going...why not. Plus I officially reach my mid-30's next week. Even more cause to celebrate!

between hope and what’s real

Finished A Notorious Countess Confesses . Slow start but caught on.

Really my favorite part was the dialogue with the old dying woman.

I love old people. I volunteered at a retirement home just so I could hear their stories.
 I didn't know it would be so depressing though.
They have pictures of their family everywhere but you ask when the last time they've seen them and it had been years.

There was one lady, that only spoke Spanish, who wouldn't stop weeping. The nurses didn't know why. So I sat next to her, reached for her hand and asked her what was wrong -
 ...it was like she'd never been touched before.
She looked at my hand and traced my fingers like she'd never seen one before.
I wondered when the last time somebody had touched her in an unclinical way? She said she didn't know why she was crying and I couldn't understand what else she said.  So all I could think of to say was "think of a good memory and hold on to that". I didn't know what else to say...  it was just so heartbreaking.

Still... if I could make a living at listening to old people's stories I'd so do it. I mean it's history - alive and right there in front of you!... and they are disregarded. It's shameful.

I so miss my grandparents, they had the best stories and a true love story.
Total opposite of what Slaid Cleaves is saying here but I'm in a Slaid Cleaves mood and this is just such an AMAZING song.
Pretty bleak yes and maybe I'm just weird but I hear this song and it makes me grateful for what I have...

New love like a diamond
Like a twinkling star
But it’s a whole lot of heartache
To get to where we are
‘Cause every man is a myth
Every woman a dream
Watch your little heart get crushed
When the truth gets in between

Every bond is a bond to sorrow
Your blue sky turns grey
Everything you love will be taken away

Cry for your mama
Cry for your dad
Cry for everything you know they never had

Lyin’ in the bed you made
Aw, but you were so young
Say a prayer, put your head down
Gotta prove your mama wrong
There’s no poison like a dream
When it all comes undone
Don’t you know that in the end
You’re not fooling anyone

Every bond is a bond to sorrow
Your blue sky turns grey
Everything you love will be taken away

Cry for your mama
Cry for your dad
Cry for everything you know they never had
You know they never had

Between the rum and the glass
Between the teeth and the tongue
Come December when the lights go out
You know you can’t count on anyone
Between a dream and a lie
Between hope and what’s real
After so many years of ‘Let’s work it out’
You’d think there’d be some kind of deal

Cry for your mama
Cry for your dad
Cry for everything you know they never had
Cry for your mama
Cry for your dad
Cry for everything you know they never had
The love they never had
Cry, Cry

my rt15 recap & stragglers

Wow these last few days!!

Thursday
Went to the RT convention

• Pictionary with a whole buncha authors I've never heard of. Wanna know why? Cause it was an inspy authors! Christian, and Amish and the like. HA! Still...I'm not going to knock it. A good story's a good story. I'll give the books a go...why not!
• Next was a group of panelists at the other end of the spectrum - they called it the "Art of Funny Smut" Christina Lauren, Clayton, Chase and Probst. Pretty sure I've read all of them. All were really funny. I like their books and like them more now seeing who wrote them. Apparently event coordinators underestimated their draw cause there were way too many people in the small room and it was hot (not in a good way)!
• YA Fantasy - Cremer, Lu, Aguirre, Pierce, Westerfeld- I've read Lu's Legend and Westerfelds Uglies. It does make it better if you've read what they're talking about. I'm certainly more interested in Andrea Cremer just by hearing what she has to say though. It's on the list. 
• Paranormal - JClare, KCole, CHarris, DJones and GShowalter - This was the one I was most excited about as Kresley is my favorite. This was a great panel. I tried reading Harris's Sookie books but lost interest. I might try her again just cause she was hilarious. And good to know that Kresley never responds to any fan mail. She's very busy. I think she maybe could've said it a little differently? cause I think she might've offended some? I get it though.  
• Ended with Eloisa James, Sylvia Day and DJones - I love EJames books and learned interesting tidbits, both SDay and DJones were interesting...it's just by this time I think everyone was just straight up tired.  

I think I'd go for one day (maybe two?) again. It's worth going. I just don't see myself going for a week! I was beat by the end of just that day. 

Friday

I had a shit day at work so was totally in a drinking mood. We uber'd to see Jason Boland. He was awesome as always (his hair's gone gray? how'd that happen?)  but it turns out there's no uber to pick us up where we are when he's done!
Jamie finds a couple who's fine with us sharing their cab. It turns out they're from Arkansas and like to talk just as much as we do so we essentially kidnap them to our house. Next thing we know it's 3:30 in the morning and we have basic strangers staying with us in our guest room. 

Saturday

We take our new friends to breakfast and  back to their hotel with the promise to visit them when we head their way.

 I really thought I'd try to make it to the RT Fan day, but this was me all day yesterday instead:

So yep I've run the gamut of new memories/experiences these last couple of days - either way I'd say I've totally lived - it was quite grand. 

i'm out now though...chores and stuff.

get thee behind me teenager

I have two almost 16 year old nephews - they stress me out with worry, and I'm just the aunt - I can't imagine being their parent.

I hated being a teenager. You couldn't pay me to want to be one again - if there's one thing I kept telling myself all through high school is "it's almost over just get through it". And I was an athlete! so I actually had it ok comparatively speaking! - I can't imagine having to deal with being a teen nowadays, much less raising one.

And it's weird...all I know is what I remember from my own experience. So I see their insecurities and all I can do is shake my head -   I hate to say it but boys just might have it worse than girls at this stage in life. Boys are MUCH more insecure than I ever imagined at that age AND they have to pretend they're not insecure and try to be cool when they are so just NOT cool.

I love my nephews, I really do but - is it a terrible thing to say then that a reason I likely won't have children is to avoid having a teenager?

perhaps instead of being taxed for choosing to remain childless I should be thanked. ha.

 I will say this though...my dog knows her boundaries and she has manners -  does raising a dog compare to raising a child?

Good news - my sister and I are going to the book convention tomorrow. And umm...vacation time is coming here soon and I drank a kalimotxo that took me back to Spain yesterday annnnd oy rough day... this needs to be me.

it stole his money!

We went to the race track and the machine ate Jamie's BIG winning derby ticket.
He totally had this face:

 

It was funny but not til after it was resolved - cause he about had a heart attack. 

We also saw a little bit of Stoney after the races. Lord almighty, there were so many babies out there with way too short shorts and boots. The boots are cute....not so sure about the shorts cause holy moly- even if you have nice legs..it just looks so uncomfortable.

The "torrential" rains continue all this week it looks like, so lets go with Stoney's cover of Willie's "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" song (apropos I think). Cause I know after these rains pass through it'll be miserably hot around here and I'm dreading it.

Finished UnSouled , I agree, it did suffer "a bit of the middle book syndrome" (this is why I'm not the biggest fan of series books with the same leads.) It wasn't bad...I just skimmed a little more with this one. We'll see how it ends.

I hope mom's are getting their recognition today. It can't be easy raising someone when you're still raising yourself.

the spelling kills it (not in a good way)

So the fb comments on my news channel sites are driving me bonkers.
Their spelling! ....i can't even...it's like this:

*shaking my head*
Not that I'm the best speller but if they're serious enough to comment on race/immigration/religion/ abortion etc. on news channel feeds shouldn't they take the time to thoughtfully articulate their opinion? They just make themselves look ridiculous.

Moving on....

I've narrowed down my list for the RT convention. This was difficult - but I will be seeing several of my favorite authors so there's that. Very exciting!

The 4th in this series was good - I actually really liked the first initial disdainful indifference on his part and the playful boredom on her part.

The 5th was good cause who doesn't love a more experienced man. I certainly do. Another thing I like about this author is you can distinguish characters from the books before. A lot of times, on a series marathon, characters all start reading the same - not the case here!

Started the 3rd of the Unwind series - UnSouled - and the next in the Pennyroyal Green....BUT FIRST we most go have some Greek food for dinner..cause yum! ("YUM" how's that for articulate ;o) )

Mend your own fences & own your own crazy

It's a Kacey Musgraves day - I'm totally digging this song

Taking down your neighbour won't take you any higher
I burned my own damn finger poking someone else's fire
I've never gotten taller making someone else feel small
If you ain't got nothing nice to say don't say nothing at all

Just hoe your own row and raise your own babies
Smoke your own smoke and grow your own daisies
Mend your own fences and own your own crazy
Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy
Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy

Nobody's perfect, we've all lost and we've all lied
Most of us have cheated the rest of us have tried
The holiest of the holy even slip from time to time
We've all got dirty laundry hanging on the line

So hoe your own row and raise your own babies
Smoke your own smoke and grow your own daisies
Mend your own fences and own your own crazy
Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy
Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy

Pouring salt in my sugar won't make yours any sweeter
Pissing in my yard ain't gonna make yours any greener
And I wouldn't know about the rocks in your shoes
So I'll just do me and honey you can just do you

So hoe your own row and raise your own babies
Smoke your own smoke and grow your own daisies
Mend your own fences and own your own crazy
Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy
Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy

a party animal is tiring

Is it bad that I'm still kinda recovering from Saturday? ...being a party animal is tiring. I was asleep by 11 when most everyone else was watching the fight somewhere. hey..i had long day ok.

It's interesting how many people don't know anything about horseracing and are really wary about the whole gambling/betting thing.

I would've been the same way though if Jamie hadn't corrupted me, so I guess it makes sense. My poor first-timer cousins have no idea what they're in for next month in Las Vegas. That place is madness. 

Still... I think for the most part our group had a good time! They played and followed my invitation request for the boys to wear their pastels and the gals brought their fun hats. We got this photo backdrop of Churchill Downs which made for a FUN photo op!

Finished UnWholly - the story held and continues. Also finished the third of Pennyroyal Green series. I liked it but not as much as the one before.

Next big thing is our caribbean trip here in a few weeks. I need to start focusing on that.

Oh wait.. The rt convention is here next week! ACK I gotta get with my sister to figure ourselves out. It looks totally crazy and fb is blowing up with people talking about it. It's so exciting to read people loving books as much as I do!!

I've been conned by my husband

Jamie conned me into going to Pluckers so he could see the draft.

I say "conned" cause I just wanted a drink and to eat...he didn't mention that there would be a stupid football draft going on. 13 years together and he's starting to figure out how to work me. I'm concerned.

I GOT BORED...and started posting on my facebook and texting my friends. *shaking my head*

oh well.

It's friday. yay!

AND we're having a derby party tomorrow. I think we're all set. We've got about 27 people of fun times coming AND it's supposed to be gorgeous outside.

Can't wait!

We're already telling people we're NOT paying for the fight tomorrow so they'll just have to get out...ha