Scribbles and Scrambles - Nature Nanny

I haven’t taken you on a visit to Nannyland recently.

The three little ones are nearly one, just turned two, and looking in the face of three. A handful to say the least.

Nanny turns 20. Since Nanny is my daughter, let me just mention that her growing up process has no bearing on my age. I believe she gets two birthdays to my one, starting a few years ago.

I spent a couple of days in Nannyland just last week. Medical world is vastly different, so I was in for some culture shock.

The toothless, bald tribal leader who chanted and banged on toys has matured into a, how do I say this without offending, a tree frog. He loves physical contact which makes the activities of daily living almost impossible. Apparently his little fingers are like sticky pads or Velcro, and he is able to scale a full-size adult in seconds, or at least annoy the adult to the point that they pick him up. Nanny says he jumps. One day she turned around to pay attention to one of the girls and he lunged for her and clung to her back, while still strapped into the high chair.

I must have accidentally worn baby repellent so he spent most of his time trying to scramble out of my arms and onto Nanny.

We strolled to the park. The girls obey Nanny and point out wildlife and airplanes. On a walk a few days before I visited, Two-Year-Old screamed, “Lion!” Not a far fetched thing in our metro area -- Mountain Lions have been spotted, so Nanny whirled around and readied to do battle with the….. squirrel.

The last day I visited we spent several minutes in the yard. A balmy September breeze stirred baby-fine hair. Giggles rang, and the girls frolicked and sang and slid. Two-Year-Old found a leaf and began chewing. Nanny removed the leaf. A small branch showed up in Two-Year-Old’s fist, and it headed toward the open mouth. Nanny snatched it, and mentioned something about children not eating bunny food.

Two-Year-Old curled up with the dog, leaned over and began to graze.

Nannyland, a nice place to visit.

Serials and Scenarios – New Book - Dark Hour

I don't know Ginger Garrett. Reading the premise and the reviews of Dark Hour gave me goose bumps.

I'm familiar with the Biblical women she fictionalizes. Athaliah and Jezebel have fascinated me in a car crash kind of way -- my head swivels and looks even though my eyes can't bear to witness the grief or the horror they may encounter.

How could a mother do what Athaliah did? A question that my mind has pondered when encountering current headlines, too. As you as intrigued as I am? Read on, and click away.

Several copies of Dark Hour have been made available to blog commenters. If you comment, you'll be tossed into a drawing. Make sure I can get a hold of you to get your snail-mail, so no anonymous unless I have a way to track you down. My drawing will be Friday, the 6th at noon.



The book - Dark Hour
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1576838692/


The author - Ginger Garrett's website:
http://www.gingergarrett.com/

Scribbles and Scrambles - October Dreams and Clean Wishes

I can’t believe its October, partially because it’s supposed to be a scorcher -- 91 -- today.

Iowa trees are layering on burnt orange, vivid yellow and scarlet. Absolute eye candy -- a scarlet tree framed against a Microsoft-Word-blue sky. (Suppose that will ever be an official color in a crayon box?)

Autumn is my favorite time of year. Something about the way the air smells (most places anyway) energizes me. I know some don’t care for the whole entering-into-death aspect of fall, but I don’t consider winter death, just a really long, cold nap. Maybe that’s why I like the changing season, my sleep deprived mind keeps thinking about dozing.

Life is crazy busy right now. Do you ever just long for a few hours alone in a clean house? Sometimes I’m tempted to drive through new neighborhoods and look for a house that’s finished but not sold yet, so I can sneak in and enjoy luxurious solitude.

Sigh. I suppose I could clean my own house, but they just don’t stay clean.

I have no idea what the rest of the week holds for those of you who visit. I’ll be posting info about a book that’s new to me.

I’ll see if October can inspire some really good poetry, too. I did see a cricket this morning. Oh yeah, I already covered crickets.

Scribbles and Scrambles - Traffic Poem and Life Tip

Thank you, anonymous, for the lovely poem on Wednesday. Feel free, all you other anonymousi, to leave a thought, poem, or life tip.

Have a great weekend - and drive carefully. : )

Ode to Bad Drivers Everywhere.

Nice wave!
Put your finger down.
I was right and you were wrong.
Read the signs or look around
Or can’t you see past your mascara wand?

Hurtling highways breeds discontent
And mating season seems imminent
At least with you glued to my tail

If I wasn’t so patient, I might yell
Okay, I do, but you can’t tell
Since your attention’s focused
ON YOUR CELL

Hey, ET, let’s not phone home
At least while dancing, weaving, speeding
On my road.

Nice helmet.
Melons break on impact though.

Superhero dreams.
Ignorance’s bliss.
Sign up for a reality class.

Aggression pumps
Like poisoned swill

Insanity eeks like sighs
From lips clenched tight

Sometimes the only
Restraint I show
Is because my bumper
Sports a Christian fish.


Life tip for the day:
When speaking on the cell phone, upon entering a public restroom -- don’t.
When nature calls, say, “hold on a minute”, and click over.
In plain English…it’s just gross to talk on the phone while toilets flush in the background.

Serials and Scenarios - Violet Dawn

Violet Dawn….just when you thought it was safe to go….oops…wrong tag line, but it might work...

The Amazon link for the book Violet Dawn: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310252237
I just posted a review which may not appear until tomorrow, so you just might have to go back : ).

Here’s my CBD (Christian Book Distributors) review….
Kelly Klepfer from Council Bluffs, Iowa ( Reviewed on May 17, 2006 )
Product Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Comments: "Brandilyn Collins has done it again. This time she has managed to blend the richness of character driven fiction with clench your teeth suspense. Violet Dawn, though creepy in several spots, is less black and white graphic than her Hidden Faces series. Brandilyn has woven a town that I’d like to visit someday. It’s a shame that there’s a rotten murderer skulking around on the main strip.
The fast pace, most of the events take place within a twenty-four hour period, of the novel makes it a quick and compelling read. I only set it down when my tired eyes refused to focus. I’m looking forward to book two in the series. "

There are more at…..
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=252237&show_all_cr=1

If you think the story is appealing thus far, head on over to the virtual blog for the fictional Kanner Lake characters musings; http://www.kannerlake.blogspot.com where hilarious, amusing, and even touching slices of life in the fictional town are captured by several talented writers.

Brandilyn is an excellent teacher and has much great stuff on her blog. She’s also funny…a definite plus in my book. Brandilyn's blogsite: http://forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com/

Scribbles and Scrambles - Had a Nice Trip - Literally

I’m peeking out of the mound of paper piled upon my desk while I was gone.

A quick little list of what I learned on my trip follows.

Tomorrow brings a book review and info, and Friday will feature a requested poem about traffic. Start thinking about a traffic poem you can leave in the comment section. I’d love to see yours.

What I learned in Dallas…and Minneapolis

Sci-Fi/Fantasy authors sometimes have very vivid dreams at 5:00 a.m.

Waking to screaming/moaning at 5:00 a.m. pretty much guarantees you’re up for the day.

Michelle and I have a fan and, unless she changes her contact information to avoid us, she’ll buy our book someday.

If I eat or drink ANYTHING I will spill it.

Large starched linen dinner napkins make for great coverage, but cool points are forfeited.

Scanning the room for people you’d like to impress is a good idea before saying or doing something really stupid.

Texas revolving doors are tricky.

Chef hand-puppets are wonderful icebreakers though not so much where editors are concerned.

Comedy writing and hysterical laughter don’t always make for pleasant companions. Sometimes hysterical laughter is just a distraction especially when it’s focused on flying mints.

Klutziness is contagious.

Scribbles and Scrambles - Animals with Attitude, Road Kill and an Interesting Book

Apparently a whole bunch of people read yesterday’s post, because I didn’t encounter one bad driver today. And boy did some of you have ugly driver stories. Carry-on, be brave, fight for right, friends. (of course, pun intended)

See, it is true; one person can make a difference.

Today’s traffic report’s focus: unique road-kill.

It’s not unusual to encounter several corpses along the road side in Iowa. Usually a Picassoed raccoon or two, maybe a bloated deer carcass, and occasionally a pet -- which is heartbreaking.

Many squirrels dot the highways and byways, which aren’t (legal disclaimer – unless they are black squirrels which are protected by law, then it’s a tragedy) exactly cause for mourning.

Traveling less than three miles this morning, I spied two decimated boxes.
Less gore, but still chilling.

Speaking of black squirrels, I witnessed a woman harassing one on Sunday. Harassment of black squirrels is illegal in my neck of the woods. And I suspect this has gone to the heads of the black squirrels. They have some sort of entitlement complex going on. The poor brown squirrels deserve our pity. They’ve become sad little squirrel serfs.

My friend simply tried to fling her Frisbee into the golf hole. The squirrel held his ground and shot her “the” eye. He moved when I wound up for a fling. He may have noticed the car count I’d amassed. (Three, in case you are curious, plus one that sailed under the car without touching it.) Though, since my friend almost nailed me once, the squirrel should have maybe been a little more cautious around her, unless the squirrel was one of the edgy ones, the type seeking the thrill of adventure, a furry little adrenaline junky.

Sad when squirrels develop that attitude. Now that I think about it…maybe it was distracted. No, he wasn’t on a cell-phone but he was carrying a nut.

I’m leaving on a jet plane. I’ll be back again. Famous and moving lyrics to simply tell you I’ll see you next Wednesday. Unless I can “borrow” some sweet laptop and wi-fi in Dallas, then maybe I’ll see you sooner.

While you wait, you can check out this set of links announcing a brand new book release. Once again, I know nothing (about the book, silly kids!). The summary on Amazon looks like it won’t be a light read, but it sounds gripping and powerful. I know God can do miracles with messes, He has in my life.

Something That Lasts: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/159145428X

James David Jordan's website: http://www.jamesdavidjordan.com