

-Erma Bombeck
This year, this will be true. We will be eating during half-time of the Packer/Lions game.
I'm looking for a restaurant to eat thanksgiving dinner at with my mom. I'm most interested in places in the Hyde Park, downtown area. I'd like to keep costs down, but I guess I could afford between 60-80 dollars for the two of us to eat.
Thanks!
I dug around in my goody bag of books to giveaway and discovered that I've got one left, so I'm giving it away in a Flash Contest. Get ready. This contest comes and goes in a flash! For this contest, we've got the fabulous Jeri Smith-Ready and the first novel in her WVMP Radio series, Wicked Game.

Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin is trying to live the straight life, even if it means finding a (shudder!) real job. She takes an internship at a local radio station, whose late-night time-warp format features 1940s blues, 60s psychedelia, 80s Goth, and more, all with an uncannily authentic flair. Ciara soon discovers how the DJs maintain their cred: they’re vampires, stuck forever in the eras in which they were turned.
To boost ratings and save the lives of her strange new friends, Ciara re-brands the station as “WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock ’n’ Roll.” In the ultimate con, she hides the DJs’ vampire nature in plain sight, disguising the bloody truth as a marketing gimmick. WVMP becomes the hottest thing around—next to Ciara’s complicated affair with grunge vamp Shane McAllister. But the “gimmick” enrages a posse of ancient and powerful vampires who aren’t so eager to be brought into the light. Soon the stakes are higher—and the perils graver—than any con game Ciara’s ever played…"
Here are some quick rules:
- 07:12:05: reading all of the Q&A @nealfingtiemann posted last night. what a great way to start my tuesday morning. who knew he'd be better than Dave?
- 08:39:54: @krunkjess ha! i was thinking of the story that Dave had to teach Neal how to use a computer. the student is now the master, methinks!
- 11:46:17: @wehoscott i'd say there were at LEAST 3 strikes in that one performance, but that may just be me.
- 11:46:24: @pokertrace my sympathies.
- 11:46:55: @Mysticpurz maybe it's all they had? *shrug*
- 11:47:46: @wehoscott that's amazing. wow.
- 13:46:35: http://tinyurl.com/y89k7ql - what is WITH his mountain goat tendencies lately? stop before you hurt your massive skull, Dave!
- 15:31:54: @tewer ahaha!! i love that.
- 18:35:58: @thedavidcook when will you come to Nashville?
- 18:42:11: @thedavidcook what food could you eat for the rest if your life? why?
- 18:43:42: @thedavidcook favorite butch walker song? (answer this for my girl @pokertrace!)
- 18:45:54: @NinasFeet WIN!!
- 18:48:16: @thedavidcook have we seen all the surprises you mentioned?
- 21:40:03: @JulesSC i hope she does too!
- 21:56:49: i'm gonna go pass out in a nyquil coma.
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We moved from Boston to SF on three weeks' notice. We got to the toll booth on the Bay Bridge, and the attendant said the people in the car ahead of us had paid for us. It seemed like a good omen at the time. (Little did I know that within months, I'd be trying to cook a dozen starving start-up geeks Thanksgiving dinner with $15 to my name, but hey, I got some awfully good stories out of the whole thing.) Anyway, ever since then, I've paid for the car behind me at a toll booth whenever I could afford to. I think the people who did it for me and crism that day in SF saw our Massachusetts plates and were from New England, maybe; or else they just wanted to welcome the newbies. I like to think it's one of those things that people experience or hear about and start doing themselves... like maybe one out of every ten people I pay for will start doing it, and so on and so on. My mom and dad do it at the toll booths in Florida every time they go to Disney World, and they say, "And some Disney magic for the person behind us!"
My Starbucks peeps say that every other week or so, this one guy comes through the drive-in, pays with a $50, and says to apply it to each following person as long as it lasts.
So, friends list, my question to you today is: do you guys have or know of any nifty random acts of kindness like these?
- 16:19 The cleaning Ninja has arrived and is buffing floors as I type! Rock on!!! #
And since this is my blog and my contest, I've decided to end with a set of my books. It seems only natural, right? I thought you would agree with me. So here's the deal. I'm not giving away just one book or two. I'm giving away 4 signed books along with two mugs and a set of magnets. This ultimate prize pack
is a perfect holiday gift for the urban fantasy reader in your family. Or it's just the perfect prize pack to give yourself, because you know you've earned it!
I am giving away, Nightwalker -- the First Dark Days Novel. Here is a quick description:
"For centuries Mira has been a nightwalker—an unstoppable enforcer for a mysterious organization that manipulates earth-shaking events from the darkest shadows. But elemental mastery over fire sets her apart from others of her night-prowling breed . . . and may be all that prevents her doom.
The foe she now faces is human: the vampire hunter called Danaus, who has already destroyed so many undead. For Mira, the time has come to hunt . . . or be hunted."
I am also giving away Dayhunter -- the Second Dark Days Novel. Here is a quick description:
"A new day dawns blood red
A master of fire, Mira is the last hope for the world. For centuries she has secretly enforced the history-altering edicts of the Triad. Now she and her unlikely ally—the human vampire hunter, Danaus—have come to Venice, home of the nightwalker rulers. But there is no safety in the ancient city, for the threat of conflict is in the wind . . . with unholy alliances and earth-shattering betrayals taking hideous form in the shadows.
Banished for eons beyond the world's boundaries, the malevolent naturi prepare to feed once again upon a vulnerable earth—and treachery is opening wide the portal that will enable their dread re-emergence. The great battle that has always been Mira's destiny is looming, and she must remain powerful in the face of a shocking revelation: that Danaus, the only creature she dares to trust, is something more than the man he claims to be . . ."
I am also giving a
way a copy of Dawnbreaker -- the Third Dark Days Novel. Here is a quick description:
"The dawn brings new terror for the creatures of the night . . .
Those of her race fear Mira for the lethal fire she bends to her will—a power unique among nightwalkers, both a gift . . . and a curse.
The naturi despise Mira for what she is—as they prepare the final sacrifice that will destroy the barriers between the worlds. And once the naturi are unchained, blood, chaos, and horror will reign supreme on Earth.
Mira can trust only Danaus, the more-than-mortal vampire slayer, though he is sworn to destroy her kind. And now, as the day approaches when titanic forces will duel under cover of darkness, destiny draws them toward an apocalyptic confrontation at Machu Picchu. But all
is not lost, for a wild card has been dealt to them: a rogue enemy princess who can change the balance of power and turn the dread tide."
And finally, I am giving away a copy of the Unbound anthology, which has in it my novella, "The Dead, the Damned, and the Forgotten." Here is a quick description:
"Not all hunters are bound by human laws . . .
Revisiting the paranormal realms they've made famous in their wildly popular fiction, New Y
ork Times bestselling authors Kim Harrison, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson, and Jocelynn Drake—plus New York Times bestselling YA author Melissa Marr with her first adult supernatural thriller—unleash their full arsenal of dark talents, plunging us into the shadows where the supernatural stalk the unsuspecting . . . and every soul is a target.
Get ready for the ride of your life—because the wildest magic has just been unleashed . . . and evil is about to have its day."
To add to the fun, I have dug up a pair of Nightwalker and Dayhunter mugs, as well as magnets that have Nightwalker, Dayhunter, and Dawnbreaker covers on them.
So, are you excited now? I thought so! Here are some quick contest rules:
Leave a comment with your name in either my Blogger or LiveJournal accounts.
Do NOT leave your email address (This is to protect you from Spammers).
This contest is open to domestic and international readers.
The contest closes at midnight Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, November 28, 2009.
The winner will be announced on Sunday, November 29, 2009.
The winner will have until Sunday, December 6, 2009 to contact me.
Also, to add to the fun this week. I discovered on other author's book in my goody stash that I'm going to give away in a Flash contest this week so stay tuned!
-Ron White
This one is for my Dad. He hit a deer last night driving to my house. Thankfully, he is okay, but the trailer on the truck is a little mangled.
- 07:25:37: having just seen Glambert's performance at the AMAs, i still feel justified in thinking the right man won. that was absolutely terrible.
- 09:34:33: @Jule425 seriously?! that's awesome!!
- 10:26:03: FYI!! RT @lilsparrow David Cook's self-titled debut album on sale at Amazon MP3 for $5 http://bit.ly/8zZvCb @thedavidcook
- 11:18:56: is Glambert seriously trying to play the discrimination card? really? seriously?! how about lewd acts in public?
- 12:07:12: what a shock that Perez is defending Glambert. he's more foul than Glambert could ever think of being.
- 12:07:36: okay...i'm done with my comments about Glambert. DONE.
- 13:33:49: since i'm full of opinions today, i'll also add that New Moon(movie) made me bitter all over again for the way things turn out for Jacob.
- 13:42:07: there's a remake in the works for "The Crow"? whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? come up with new ideas, hollywood. jesus.
- 14:47:18: @pokertrace ahahahah!!! so true.
- 14:47:45: @tewer they edited her fall?! WTF?!
- 14:49:18: Dunkin' Donuts are so delicious. pretty sure i could eat this entire dozen all by myself. possibly in one sitting.
- 15:01:28: @tewer that's idiotic. of course, networks aren't exactly known for their smarts.
- 16:01:38: @Lobsters1 here ya go! http://tinyurl.com/ydpb66u
- 16:09:13: @Lobsters1 i don't either. i googled. i have a link saved for somewhere else on my home comp, but not here apparently.
- 16:15:20: @theREALkrunk i'm going to hate them if they do MWK one show after mine. dammit, Neal!
- 17:42:42: @Lobsters1 here's the other link for the lyrics to the snippets. http://tinyurl.com/yd2mz9r
- 18:24:46: @Tlayce you'll have to ask someone who thinks Edward is fab because that person isn't me.
- 18:24:57: @kiraplatinum same snippets.
- 20:51:31: @A_Blatt it's called tween syndrome.
- 21:32:37: @theREALkrunk it's so cute that they change the flag every night.
- 21:37:16: dooooooooooooooo eeeeeeeeeeeeet!!! RT @thewbdotcom: Remember where it all started? Watch S1 of Veronica Mars: http://su.pr/1dOExe
- 22:34:35: @A_Blatt i'm cool with love stories that are well acted. Twilight isn't one of those.
- 22:34:50: @foreign_spell have you never seen it?! get on it!
- 22:42:02: @A_Blatt oh, come on! even you can't tell me that it's well acted.
- 22:42:26: @foreign_spell i think they just rotate seasons. they never keep more than one season up at a time, which is stupid.
- 22:56:18: @A_Blatt i'm not making fun. i know for a fact that you don't think they can act.
- 22:56:42: @foreign_spell agreed. though Hulu is the same way, i guess.
- 22:57:17: @InsomniacArts i think she's just being contrary for contrary's sake.
- 23:44:33: *sobsforeverandever* Dave came out tonight and @tammytowe007 got a hug. hate her. *sniff*
- 23:45:35: @krunkjess yeah...hating you right now too. *sobsevenmore*
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Fun Dwarven name random Generator (hey, if in doubt of what to name your dwarf, do some research! Also I never liked Gimli for boys, maybe that's because half my warcraft characters end in an I)
http://grey-starr.ca/Tools/random-m
lessee, what else have I looked up. eBay prices for vintage electronics.
So, as a very bad writer I didn't do anything this weekend on the story. Very bad. Saturday I sorta wasn't feeling well, long story I actually blame the tea. Tea had been my crutch in my huge burst of writing, it worked great! It was a very pleasant herbal that I'd thought might esscape all my other problems with tea. So sure, until my kidneys started feeling like they wanted to shut down. Very unpleasant. And yes, not having tea was then an excuse. For lack of a muse or any real desire I like creating fake muses to drive me onward. Tea worked! Now I just have to rely upon myself. Fine.
Unfortunately, this means I'm so far behind quota that its looking chancier that I'll make it, especially with Thanksgiving coming up. Everything that I have to do plus write three thousand words tomorrow sorta makes me panic. Panic solves nothing though, so I just do stuff. Don't think, just do, and it can get done.
Is there an Event Calendar anywhere? Maybe a message board?
Can anyone help?
Thank you!
-Meister Eckhart
- 01:00:57: pics from last night are up on flickr. http://tinyurl.com/yagkpu6
- 01:03:59: http://twitpic.com/qh2xw - one of my faves i took of Dave last night
- 01:05:03: http://twitpic.com/qh33d - one of my faves of Andy from last night.
- 01:05:57: http://twitpic.com/qh376 - another one of Andy
- 01:06:38: http://twitpic.com/qh3af - Andy looking slightly pouty.
- 01:07:23: http://twitpic.com/qh3dn - cute one of Kyle when he broke a drumstick
- 01:08:35: http://twitpic.com/qh3hu - adorable Dave/Neal shot from Light On.
- 01:09:06: http://twitpic.com/qh3jr - Kyle being still for once!
- 01:09:49: http://twitpic.com/qh3mo - scrunchy face Dave!
- 01:11:05: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand...i'm done!
- 01:11:35: @foreign_spell it's positively orgasmic.
- 01:12:16: @Crowgirls i was really happy i was Andy side. i started the Declaration tewer that way and it felt good to end it that way.
- 01:45:33: going to bed before i pass out on the laptop. night all!
- 12:25:04: @machka glad you enjoyed the mini Andy picspam last night. ;) i'm sure you're aware by now that he is my 2nd fave.
- 12:30:07: Just voted @andyskib - http://twitpic.com/i0q2a for TwitPic of the Year http://mashable.com/owa #openwebawards
- 12:30:25: Just voted TweetDeck for Best Twitter App http://mashable.com/owa #openwebawards
- 12:36:19: @jameyice you guys come to nashville a lot! how about playing a show? would love to see you again.
- 13:36:58: http://www.take180.com/s/1brajg - Tom Cruise auditions for New Moon (so funny!)
- 13:44:24: okay. time to go watch this week's eps of Being Erica and FNL.
- 14:47:24: dammit FNL! why do you have to make me cry EVERY week?! :(
- 14:57:32: @tewer ahahaha!! isn't there some theory that if a guy has his hands in his pockets around a woman that he's thinking about sex?
- 15:10:01: @sweetcheribomb hopefully that's what will happen. poor Saracen. *sniff*
- 15:10:35: @cucumbersarnies it's always surprising to me when i'm not at least a LITTLE teary-eyed during an ep.
- 19:02:27: @NinasFeet welcome to the team.
- 19:50:15: @Rockfan22 it was great meeting you this weekend!
- 19:53:25: so apparently some SYTYCD alum will be dancing with Janet Jackson and Glambert tonight. may have to DVR the AMAs after all.
- 20:00:30: i see @dreamboatann and @shesha1916 and myself in this pic @thedavidcook took from the stage fri night. so cool! http://twitpic.com/qc8u6
- 20:11:00: awww...i saw Nico, Natalli and Mark dancing with Janet. i miss seeing Nico every week.
- 20:17:13: @rachelmack have you seen this? http://tinyurl.com/yex2xrw Nico is featured pretty heavily. i miss the faux!hawk.
- 20:18:16: @CuffedByDC right there with you with regards to Taylor. that scene of him in the rain? holy mother!
- 20:31:28: @shesha1916 i see the beer in your hand!
- 20:31:53: @rachelmack *siiiiiiiiiiiigh* i miss him.
- 20:34:33: @angelangiekc did you happen to get Declaration from Elizabeth on video? i want to see the billy goat in action again.
- 20:34:49: @shesha1916 ha! good way of putting it.
- 20:38:33: @angelangiekc bummer! hopefully someone got it!
- 20:44:05: @joykb1124 it was nice to briefly meet you this weekend!
- 20:46:18: @MinnTee well...damn. i started to, but my arms were too tired from holding the camera over my head.
- 20:53:35: wow...this awards show is, like, every single artist i avoid all in one place. on that note, i think i'm going to bed.
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- 10:11 Christmas cards are done!!! Now I can allow myself to read and do normally thing in the evenings!! #
If you have a suggestion about something other than the downtown area that we should check out, you should give me a call and let me know.
More than just an admonition against swearing, particularly blasphemous utterances, that third commandment is a reminder that, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, we literally take the name. Whether it's identifying as God's Chosen People or as Christians, something about our very identity invokes God's presence.
So when I take that name, do I take it in vain? When people associate me with Christ, in whatever way, have I taken that responsibility and privilege lightly? When I identify as a faith-based theatre artist working from the Christian tradition, and I carry with me the baggage of centuries of religious art and cheesy Christmas pageants, is there something about me--about my work--that rises above that and bears the name of Christ, rather than only bearing the history and tradition?
It's bigger than simply uttering, "Oh my God!" or "Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!" in moments of surprise or panic.
It's a matter of taking a name, taking an identity, bearing a witness.
In one of my classes right now, I'm in the process of writing my aesthetic and artistic statements, finding the words to describe my work and how my faith impacts it, both in the general terms, and in the specifics of what I will or won't produce. I came in with that document on Friday, and presented my class with a list of works--faith-based or not--that inspire me, and certain criteria for work that I want to do. It was more about the attitude and underlying themes of the work than the story content, and I think that it surprised some of them that I didn't come in with my "WILL NOT TOUCH" list.
As I took the name of faith-based theatre artist, did I bear witness to the fact that we're not all working from a list of taboo subjects, but that my context determines the work I do, just as much as the content itself? Did they see that I want to tell good stories, just like the rest of them, and that I refuse to pigeon-hole a script that I haven't even read based on its perceived content?
I bear witness as an artist, as a Christian, as a person of faith. I take these names--do I take them in vain?
So, my question is, since our alley is not marked, is there a way to know what the proper protocol is? Can I assume that the alley should also be considered one way north-south since the street it parallels is one way north-south? Or, since it is technically wide enough for two cars for the majority of the alley (if one car pulls ALL the way over and there aren't any garbage cans in the way) is it considered to be a two-way alley?
What's the etiquette here? Am I allowed to be irritated at the people who exit out of the north-end entrance?
LSUReader
who wrote on my blogger account:
"Harrison's series is great...and I think "White Witch, Black Curse" is the best of the lot! Thanks for the contest."
LSUReader, please send me your name and mailing address to JocelynnDOTdrakeATgmailDOTcom by Sunday, November 29, 2009. If I don't hear from you by Sunday, November 29, I will put the book out for another contest.
Make sure to come back next week, as I will be holding last of my book giveaways! You don't want to miss out on these books!



