Saturday, December 24, 2011


This has to be one of the cutest pictures that was ever taken with our camera.  This is our daughter Abbi, who you've seen before, reading to one of our twin nephews, Calob.  The best part of being a family that loves reading and writing is seeing our kids take on the same love for books.

Even better, is when one of our very own is passing down the tradition with "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  She has been reading the book, a few times a day, for the past few months and probably could tell the entire story without the book at this point.  She just decided that day, that her baby cousin needed to hear it.

I hope everyone has a blessed holiday and because we won't be posting tomorrow; MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

M. The Holiday Season

I am sure that all of you have heard the song called, THE HOLIDAY SEASON.  It goes like this:

It's the holiday season, so whoop-De-do and dickery dock....and don't forget to hang up your sock!

So have you ever heard it?  Well it has become our motto this year, at least the Whoop-De-do part.  Amy and I walk around the house, the store, and just about anywhere.  If one of us starts the song with: It's the holiday season, the other says So Whoop-De-Do!

Not that we both don't love the holiday season, it's just that this year sucks compared to what we are used to.  We have been doing our best to get into the XMAS spirit, but this year is a little harder then most.  The good thing is that this song has become therapeutic.

You would think that every time we say it, it would remind us of how much we aren't in the spirit, but the opposite effect is taking place.  Every time one of us says the Whoop-De-do, we get a smile on our face and feel somewhat better.  Kind of like a personal protest to letting it get to us.

I think in years to come, when life is going great and we are busy overdoing it during the holiday season, the song will come on and remind us.  Not of how bad this year was, but to appreciate what we have.  Because, even though life isn't what we want it to be right now, we have what's important; each other, our children, and our health.  The rest will follow.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer


Here is a holiday song and message from our kids, Cameron and Abbi, to you.  Enjoy... hope it helps with the holiday spirit.

P.S. Filmed with Amy's birthday present!

Monday, December 19, 2011

M. Happy Birthday.... To Amy!!!!!

Good morning writing friends,

I just wanted to take a moment and wish the love of my life a happy birthday!  That's right, today is Amy's birthday and she is 31 (Finally caught up to me).  I hope that I can make her day a great one and really hope she enjoys her gifts.

Stop in and wish her a happy day.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

How would you like a chance to win a copy of our newest release?


Goodreads Book Giveaway





The Missing by M.A. Leslie



The Missing


by M.A. Leslie



Giveaway ends December 24, 2011.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.



Enter to win


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

M. A Weed or a Flower?

The other night, my wife and I had to take our daughter, Abbi, to a class for her first holy communion.  It was more of a meeting – dinner included – and a presentation.   To say the least, the evening didn’t start off well and we will leave that for another story.
What struck us as important was, during the presentation, a Priest that neither of us has ever heard spoke.  Now for anyone that has ever been to church or a church function, you say, “Of course he spoke, they always speak.”  The difference was that this time I really listened.
It was more relevant to our situation than anything else we have heard lately that it made me wonder if there really is someone listening.  The main point that he brought was, “You have to embrace the bad times in life to be able to cherish the good ones.”
In a nutshell he was telling us all to take the good with the bad.  Not every moment in your life is going to be great; otherwise you would never recognize a great moment.
So what right?
In the past few years, life has been on a bit of a downward trend.  I became ill in March of 2010, got better for some time, got ill again, changed careers (Thinking I would have a job even when I was ill), lost my job, Amy and Cameron having surgery, and all of the insane life changes and moments that have been happening.
I sometimes feel that my life has been riddled with dandelions.  But, if you really think about it, what is a dandelion, other then a flower.  It’s bright, yellow, and gentle – some may call it a weed, but I am beginning to think that is what he was talking about.  Look at all of the weeds of life and see them as nothing more then a plant or a flower.
If I was to think of it that way, I would see, I became ill, but started writing with the love of my life, I was able to spend time with her unlike before.  I am able to see more of my children – play with them, read to them, do homework with them, see them, go to school plays, sporting events – because I am not stuck at work.
Even more so, I know that I have been ill, but lately I have felt much better.  I haven’t had any symptoms lately and feel and pray that this may have passed.
So, I have some beautiful flowers in my life right now and will take the time to enjoy how they look.  Yeah to the next guy, they may be the weeds of life, but to me they just make the lawn look prettier.


Sunday, December 11, 2011

M. Cookie Day Again


For those of you that were with us last year, you know just how important Cookie Day is to me.  To all of our new readers, "IT IS COOKIE DAY!"  Get excited - it just puts us one step closer to Christmas (a very important step)!

Every year, Amy and her sister Tammy get together and do absolutely nothing, except for make Xmas cookies.  It's a family tradition that has been in place for longer then we have been married and one of my favorites.

I don't necessarily get involved in too much of the cooking making, I do in the cookie consumption.  But who can blame me, there are so many to choose from.  I am more of a pinch hitter that sits back and is only called in when needed.  My son and daughter, however, are both going to get their hands in the dough more this year than any other year.  They are both to an age where some of the work involved is going to fall on them to get their piece of the tradition.

The good news is that even though we are experiencing a tight year this year, unemployment, slow book sales, and bills that never desist - we are keeping our tradition alive.  I know that something great is going to happen in our lives soon, so why spend the rough times miserable.  Instead we are revealing in the fact that we have more time together then most people get.

I hope all of you have a great Sunday and holiday season.  Is there a family or personal tradition that is a must do for you during the holiday season?




REINDEER COOKIES!



SOMEWHERE UNDER THERE IS OUR DINING ROOM TABLE.

Friday, December 9, 2011

M. School Visit

Today we are going to the Wildwood Middle School to talk to the kids about reading and writing.  You never know what to expect at one of these events, but we are excited.

One of the teachers has been trying to get us into the school for about a year and just recently, she told us it worked.  So, here we go.  I'm not really sure what we are going to talk about, aside from the obvious and hopefully it isn't seen as a boring rambling session.

I guess we will give an introduction and let the kids field some questions.  Should be fun, especially because I coach some of the kids in football and they have no idea that we wrote books.  I think it will be an interesting surprise.

Wish us luck and know, I still get butterflies in my stomach when going to middle school, probably more now.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Winner

Thank you everyone that has helped us with the release of THE MISSING.  So far it has been fairly successful and if anything, quite a bit of fun.

But,  with all contests there has to be a winner and that person has been chosen.

To let you know, we left the choice up to our 9-year-old son, he was given the numbers 1-2-3-4.  Once he had all of the choices, it was up to him to pick.

His choice was 3 - which translated to Suzanne Finnegan from The Supernaturally Blog.

Again, thank you everyone that helped us on Twitter, Facebook, and their Blogs.  We appreciate all of your help and look forward to everyone enjoying the book!

Monday, November 28, 2011

A. Busy Weekend!

Along with getting The Missing ready for release, Mike and I spent the long weekend cleaning and getting our house ready to go on the market. I love our house and we have lived there since our first born was 7 weeks old. There are a lot of great memories.

So why are we thinking about moving. We live in Wildwood , NJ a complete resort town, which again I love. We have found a house in the neighborhood that I grew up in that has a yard and is on the same street as my parents, my work and my grandmother. Where we are at now there is really no place outside for the kids to play or ride bikes. This house has it all plus family right around the corner. It wouldn't be a far move only about 10 mins. It isn't a sure thing yet.

Getting the house ready to be shown was hard work and made think about if we do move how much work that's going to be. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. The kids really want to move. I hope for their sake it does happen and fast, but you never know.

The Missing Release Party and CONTEST!



The Missing
YA Paranormal Ghost Story



Eight-year-old, Ethan Doyle is just a normal kid whose biggest problem in life was to fight for the attention of his busy parents from his older twin siblings. But, after his aunt and uncle tragically die, his family takes in his teenage cousin, Kelsey, and moves to a spooky old, manor house in a new town.

At first, everything seems fine, but when he begins to see and speak to a spirit named Lucas, his biggest problem becomes, just staying alive.

Lucas was ten years old when the spirits of the house came to him and asked him for help setting their spirits free. Unfortunately, he never made the deadline and as a result the spirits took him and made him a part of the house as well.

As he soon finds out, the only way he can save his own soul is to save the souls of the missing boys in the house. With his own deadline in place, Ethan enlists the help of his cousin Kelsey to solve the twenty-year-old mystery of THE MISSING.


The Missing is now available as an EBook for .99 cents.
Nook - NOW AVAILABLE.
Kindle
Kindle UK
Goodreads

Coming Soon to Paperback!

As a part of our release party, we are attempting to do our best to get the word out about THE MISSING on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.  Anyone who Tweets about THE MISSING, who marks it to read on Goodreads, blogs about it, or Links up with the Facebook M.A. Leslie fan page is entered to win a signed copy.  If you pledge to do any of the above, just enter your name into the LINKY at the bottom and that will enter you to win.  We will be sending 1 Paperback to a lucky winner that will be selected randomly from the LINKY on Thursday 12-01-11.

If you want to Tweet about The Missing, please use hash tag - #TheMissing by @maleslie11
If you are using Facebook, please reference our facebook fan page www.facebook.com/m.a.leslie1
If you want to blog about it link up with this button:













Thank you for everyone, we appreciate everyone helping get the word out about The Missing.  Now please enjoy the Epilogue:




Epilogue
I always wondered what my life would have been like if I would have just done what I was supposed to do.  My name is Lucas and I am only ten years old, at least that was my age when I died.  My past existence was one of leisure and ease; my days were filled with playing and the nuisance of school work.  My parents had been a loving couple that stayed together my entire life.  The only thing that they seemed to love more than each other was me.  Life was definitely excellent for me, but unfortunately it didn’t prepare me in anyway for the inevitable death that I faced.
I remember the last day of my life as if it was only yesterday, I have had ten years to stew on it and recall it.  Unfortunately being stuck in the house that I died in hasn’t given me a chance to forget it.  It was like any other day that an overly imaginative kid filled with adventure would have.  It all started with my normal trip down the two flights of stairs from my bedroom to the breakfast table, to eat with my parents and start my day.  My mother had just gotten me new summer clothes the day before and I was wearing one of the blue tee-shirts and jean shorts that she had just gotten me, not because I had to but just to please my mother.
As usual I received a huge loving hug and kiss from my mother and father.  They both seemed proud of everything that I did, even when it could be considered dangerous or foolish.  They respected my sense of adventure and the imagination that flowed from every pore in my body.  Little did they know that some of my imagination had been more than that, it had been truth.
I was sitting at the kitchen table enjoying some cereal filled with bananas and strawberries when my father asked, “What are you going to be doing today son.”  He was always interested and intrigued by my daily adventures.  Not in an annoying overbearing way, he was just interested.
“I am going to play in the tunnels today with the children,” I was trying to be honest but my parents seemed to see it as imagination.  “I have been playing with them for days now.  They want me to help them find something.”
“So you’re playing some sort of hide and seek with some imaginary children,” My mother wasn’t as keen on my inability to have real friends or at least what she would consider real friends.  She had made several attempts through the years to invite neighborhood children around my age and younger for what she classified as play dates.  I unfortunately didn’t take to them as well as she would have liked.  Never the less she was still proud of my ability to thrive and be a fun loving, carefree youth.
I gave her a curt shrug and smiled, she always melted with a smile, “After today I will meet up with that girl from the other side of town that you like.  I have to go into the tunnels today though.  I promised.”  I know now that I should have left the tunnels alone but then it seemed like an amazing adventure that I couldn’t pass up.
I finished my breakfast, gave my parents one last kiss and hug, and then left and went outside to the back yard to breath in my last breathe of fresh air in the open sun before heading down to the tunnels.  I went down under the wraparound porch then to the entrance to the tunnel in the foundation of the house.  The children were waiting for me just inside of the abyss that leads to the tunnels.  They had been good to me and played with me for weeks.  They seemed to be sad most of the time and always asked me to find something for them, I just never found it and they had never told me what it was.  That particular day I followed them in but I wasn’t greeted the same way.  The once friendly spirits that had become my companions were now upset with me.  They seemed angry and agitated with me for not finding what they needed.
I was standing in the open room that had the door leading to the other tunnels and one of the children provoked me in a way that started to scare me, “I don’t know what you want from me.  I don’t know what you need me to find.  Please leave me alone, I want my mommy.”
The voices filled my head as if they skipped past my ears and echoed through my skull, “We told you that if you didn’t help us, then we would take you.  Your time is up.  You should have helped us.”
I wasn’t given a chance to rebuttal their decision, the last thing that I remember of my life was the darkness taking over as I watched the cold iron door close out any existence of light.  Then all that remained for me was darkness, cold, and the children.

Later that evening, Lucas’s parents were sitting at the kitchen table staring at his empty place setting with a dinner plate ready for his arrival.  They lived in a small safe town with a crime rate lower than most farm towns.  They were convinced that their pride and joy was fine, but he had never been late for dinner before and it was now ten o’clock in the evening.  It was now time to start worrying.
Lucas’s father called the local sheriff’s office and reported his son missing about a half an hour ago.  They sat in the kitchen looking at his empty chair and panic was filling every inch of their coherent thoughts.  Lucas’s mother broke the silence and looked at her sulking husband, “How long did the sheriff’s office say it would take for them to get here?”
He had almost missed the words that came out of his wife’s mouth, but some part of his consciousness caught them and he broke his stare from the lonely looking chair, “Huh, oh.  They should be here within the next fifteen minutes.”
They both turned back to the kitchen chair and went back to their silence.  The only thing interrupting the silence was the funny looking black cat clock hanging on the wall.  Lucas had seen it two years ago and had to have one, and like most things Lucas had wanted his parents had bought it for him.  His mother looked at the ticking nuisance that hung on the wall and started to cry.  She had never wanted the tacky clock with the wide eyes and waging tail, but now it was comforting for her to see.
His father gave her a small smile and said, “He will be fine.  We have to keep thinking that he is fine.  He is probably out playing around and lost track of time.  We have to stay positive.”
She gave him an understanding look but before she could reply a knocking from the front door interrupted her.  Together they stood and answered the door.  A young sheriff’s deputy was standing in the doorway with an innocent smile and the best comforting look he could muster.  Lucas’s mother said, “Please come in officer.”
“Thank you ma’am I am Officer Doyle.”  The officer introduced himself as he walked through the door.
The young man couldn’t be more than fifteen years older than their son with baby soft cheeks graced with unevenly growing stubble, but his innocence and boyish tact was what they needed.  He went through the normal questions that his training had taught him.  Such as, what does he look like, do you have a recent photo, when was the last time you had seen him, and the worst one of all, do you suspect foul play?
Each question was asked with the utmost of care but they all struck Lucas’s parents like a bullet in the heart.  His mother was crying within minutes then by the end his father had joined her.  The young deputy reassured them that they would do their best to find the missing boy and headed out the front door to begin his search.  He Left the two distraught parents to stew on the fact that their son, their golden boy, was missing without a trace or reason.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Introducing "The Missing"

Sorry everyone,

We have been busy lately with writing and have been neglecting our blogging.  Sorry, but the exciting news is that it was all for a really great reason.  As of Monday, 11-28-11, out YA Paranormal novel The Missing will be released on the Nook and Kindle.

Our excitement is building and we are hoping to get some help from everyone.  On Monday, after the Nook and Kindle pages are assigned, we are going to post them and hope that we can get your help to post them too.

So, please keep an eye out for our post and hopefully we can take toTwitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.  With your help, maybe we can get the word out and have a great release day.  Anybody that stops by on Monday should enter their information into the Linky at the bottom.  We are going to be giving one signed copy away!

Of course, we wouldn't tell you all about the book without giving you a taste of what's to come!

Please, check out THE MISSING





Eight-year-old, Ethan Doyle is just a normal kid whose biggest problem in life was to fight for the attention of his busy parents from his older twin siblings. But, after his aunt and uncle tragically die, his family takes in his teenage cousin, Kelsey, and moves to a spooky old, manor house in a new town. 

At first, everything seems fine, but when he begins to see and speak to a spirit named Lucas, his biggest problem becomes, just staying alive. 

Lucas was ten years old when the spirits of the house came to him and asked him for help setting their spirits free.  Unfortunately, he never made the deadline and as a result the spirits took him and made him a part of the house as well.

As he soon finds out, the only way he can save his own soul is to save the souls of the missing boys in the house.  With his own deadline in place, Ethan enlists the help of his cousin Kelsey to solve the twenty-year-old mystery of THE MISSING.

Friday, November 18, 2011

M. Urban Mythos

You Should Read Urban Mythos!



Earlier this week, I finished reading Urban Mythos by Jay Eckert and all I can say is that it was an amazing book.

I first "Internet" met Jay about a year ago, when we started this whole blogging thing.  Just from reading his blog and the way that he wrote his posts, I knew that I would love anything he wrote.  So, a few months ago, when I found out he was self-publishing his YA novel Urban Mythos, I was one of the first to buy it.

However, as it always does, life got in the way as well as a stack of books that I was already reading.  Instead of reading it right away, I let it just stew inside the depths of my computer and wait for me to be ready.

The other day was that day.  I picked it up and began to read.  Just like most stories that are amazing, I didn't want to put it down.  I put off blogging, some writing, and a few hours of sleep.  Believe me, it was worth it.

There were great characters, plot twists, turns, and a surprises that I am still shaking my head at.  The story, the writing, and the voice did not disappoint.  I am glad to have had the opportunity to have gotten to know Jay and read his book.  I would recommend it to anybody that loves to read, that is the only prerequisite that is needed to enjoy it.

Please check it out, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Amazon:

Barnes and Nobles:

My Photo

Jay's Blog: Sharpened Pen

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

S is for...

Can anybody believe that we are already to the letter S.  It seems like just the other day, we started this blogfest hosted by Aleta and now we are to S.

Well despite the fact that time and letters are flying, here we go, in the grand old state of NJ we have ___ that starts with S.

Sand - With beaches running from the Cape all of the way up the coast toward New York, New Jersey has some of the most beautiful beaches that are filled with gorgeous sand.  Unfortunately, due to beach errosion, from tides and storms, the sand has to constantly be put back in place.  Either way though, there is nothing better then slipping off your sandals and letting the sand tickle your toes.

Sea Isle City - One of the many shore points in Cape May county, Sea Isle is one of the few islands that we don't frequent.  It is known for it's rowdy crowds of college students, down for "Study Time" and bars.  I have heard it is a hopping place and the only time I remember even going was to see a friend do his stand up comedy act there.

Seaside Heights - Another shore town on the coast.  This one is closer to NY and in Ocean County.  Its claim to fame is the reality TV show Jersey Shore.

Shore - We might as well throw in the fact that the entire eastern coast of NJ is what is considered the shore and despite the bad name that Jersey Shore has put on us (A bunch of kids from NY) it truly is a beautiful place to visit.

Stadiums - There are several sport stadiums/arenas in NJ.  Instead of going over all of them though, we are going to tell you about our favorite.  New Meadowlands Stadium, home of the NY Giants (GO BIG BLUE) and NY Jets.  People still can't wrap their heads around why NY teams play in NJ, but if you were to go to the stadium you would see, it's only a stones throw from East Rutherford (Home of the Stadium) to New York City.

p.s. For any that didn't know, Amy and I are both NY Giants fans and whoever the Eagles are playing that week.



 
 
ABC Your Home State

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

M. Willy Wonka & the Query Letter

Amy and I just finished up with edits on one of our YA thrillers that has been a WIP for some time now.  Thanks to some extra time and motivation recently, we got it finished and ready for submitting that query letter.

As most of you know, we have already tried the traditional method of publishing twice.  First, we tried Liberty and then Tristen, as you can see we didn't get through that way and self published.  Which brings me to my point.  Charlie Bucket was the poor boy in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and despite his few attempts and several failures; he kept looking for that golden ticket.

Not saying that writing a query letter is as easy as buying a piece of chocolate and opening a wrapper, I am just saying that I can understand his desperation to win.  I think that even with all of the talent, planning, writing, rewriting, and editing of a query letter, it takes a little luck some times too.

So please, if you can, wish us luck as we trek back down the path of traditional publishing and try to get past the point that we made it the last time.  Every time the foil peels back, it is a different surprise, I just hope this time around our golden ticket will come instead of a form letter.

Friday, November 4, 2011

A. I NEED MY COFFEE !

 I am not a morning person and my whole day can easily be thrown off by the most minuet things. Yesterday was that kind of day. I over slept for one thing, and our house is a little crazy in the morning. With a 9 yr old and 7yr old to get ready for school.  My husband who I love dearly is to me a morning person. He is the first one up, he wakes up both kids and usually starts the coffee.

Now I am an avid coffee drinker, I drink way too much. With that said I have no idea how to make coffee. I know the basics put the water in and the filter but i can never get the measurements right. Mike is the coffee maker and yesterday when I woke up late and had to get ready for work in less then a half an hour I walked down the stairs to find Mike in the shower. (he had no work yesterday) and the coffee was not made. It wasn't even started and the pieces of the coffee pot weren't even together.  Needless to say I was not a happy camper. My whole day was thrown off. I know I am a bit of a drama queen and I am very spoiled by my husband. I pretty much stayed mad at him all day and everything he said i turned around so i could stay mad.

Today is a new day and my coffee was made. I can function today again.

M. The Death of a Bookstore

Well, yesterday, in an attempt to promote our books, Liberty and Tristen and the Magic Shop, I called our local bookstore.  We figured, why not have a book signing in Cape May during their Hospitality Night at Christmas time.

It really seemed like a great idea, mainly because it stemmed from Amy, the source of all great ideas that we have.  However, when I called them, I found out that sadly our book store is going out of business.  Not only are they going out of business, but all of their stores at the Shore are going under.

That is sad news on more levels then you can imagine.  Not only is it sad because a bookstore is closing and their is one less place to get books, but because Atlantic Books was the last chain of bookstores, within 100 miles of our house.

Depressing right?  What I want to know and I want your opinions about is, do you think that book stores are dying because of EBooks and mail order companies?  Do you think that the Nook and Kindle have killed the local book store or do you think that there is a chance for future bookstores, if they just come up with a new theme and method to market?

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

R is for...

.

 
 
ABC Your Home State


Today we are doing the ABC your home state in the state of NJ and we are to the letter R.  One of my favorite NJ letters.

Rancocas River - A river that is a tributary into the Delaware river.  A beautiful small river with fishing, a thousand turtles, boating, and camping.

Reality TV - Even though so many people in this country knock NJ, they don't seem to be able to get enough of us.  NJ is one of the largest reality TV hubs and with shows like Jerseylicious, Real Housewives of NJ, Jersey Shore, The Cake Boss, and so many more, it is evident to see that people can't get enough of us.  BUT, know one thing, North Jersey and South Jersey people might as well be as different as people from California and Texas.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Heidi Pick Six Interview

The other day, Amy and I filled out an interview for Heidi Ruby Miller.  Some of the questions were just for fun and others were more serious.  This is our first experience with a blogging interview and I have to say, it was entertaining.  We both answered the questions as ourselves and gave answers from our different perspectives.

Anybody that's interested, check out our Pick Six interview over at Heidi's blog.

Friday, October 28, 2011

M. A Mess

It is flabergasting how life can change and if one small domino of life falls, the whole line goes with it.  Before you know it your entire life's worth of work, planning, and care are laying on the ground before you like a black and white hazardous waste sight.

Recently, I decided to change employers and follow the same career path, but perform my duties behind a desk.  It was basically the same job, but not backed by the corporate machine.  I pondered the decision and came to the conclusion that the best thing for my family and self was a desk job.  No more driving, there have been far too many close calls.

It all seemed like a great idea, the plan was in place, I was gracefully released from my old employer with well wishes and no burnt bridges.  Slowly I aclimated my way into the world of working behind a desk.  At first everything seemed fine and the world was mine again, but recently things have changed and people that once treated me with respect, stopped.

Now I am finding myself in a situation where all of my carefully placed life's dominoes have been knocked to the ground.  My head is still spinning about the whole situation, but all I can do is sit on the ground and look at the years of lines and planning lay on the ground around me.

Which brings me around to my point.  When all your dominoes fall over, where do you start when it comes time to pick them up?  I guess, all that matters is that you don't just leave them lying there and you actually pick them up.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Q is for...

Sorry we are so late to participate, but today was one of those days that kept us from the computer.  Today, in the ABC your home state, we are discussing the letter Q in the state of NJ.
 
Quizzo - A bar game that is a team based Jeopardy game.  You can find it almost any day of the week in a bar near you.
 
Quakers - Quakers are a religious group that are best known for their friendliness, the way they dress, and how they literally shake/quake during surmon.  William Penn, the man who's statue is standing on top of the Philadelphia Independance Hall, is the most famous Quaker that we know of.
 
Quary - Sand and Gravel are a huge commodity that is quaried from the ground in NJ.  The dirt from most Major League Baseball fields comes from NJ.  The color has some significance that has to do with the trees, climate, and texture, but I don't remember what makes it that orangy color.
 
 
ABC Your Home State

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Internet Bookfair Blogfest, M.A. Leslie

Before we go into too much detail about our two books out there, we just wanted to take a minute and thank all of the authors that came to join us today.  Thank you for being in the blogfest and to all the visitors out there who are just checking it out, thanks for stopping in.  We hope that you visit all of the authors and books on the list.  Maybe you will find your next favorite book.

Now on to the festivities.  For any of you that haven't read our bio, we are a married writing team from south Jersey.  We got into writing together, because we found writing separately only led to a huge pile of unfinished work.  Instead of giving up, we joined forces and have completed 2 novels; one for the 8 and up group (Including adults) and the other for a more mature reader.

The first book we self published through Amazon.com was TRISTEN & THE MAGIC SHOP.



Eleven-year-old Tristen Parker's whole life is changing faster then he can keep up with. Within a matter of months his father was deployed overseas with the military and his mother moved him out of his beloved city and to the small town she grew up in. If those changes weren't enough, he had one other major one that came with them, he just found out he is a magical druid.

After discovering his abilities in a hidden magic shop, behind an alley, his life goes on a whirlwind of spell casting and potion brewing. Unfortunately, all of the magic in the world can't help if you’re being picked on, unless you use it.

With the help of the shop owner, Tristen casts a spell to stop the bullies that were picking on him, but he soon realizes it may have been a mistake. Will he be able to stop the curse that he started or will it spread through his school like a virus before he can get it under control?


So far we have received a few reviews on Goodreads and a few on Amazon.  As like all authors, we are still looking for more input and would love, if you do read it, that you tell us what you think. 

Tristen & the Magic Shop is the first of a series of books, with the second in process and expected to have a winter release under the title Tristen & the Whining of the Wind.

Tristen is available as an EBook through Amazon and B&N for $2.99.  Also, it is available as a Paperback for $8.99 through Amazon.  If your interested in our magical story and you want to know what happens when you mix a druid's stone and a glass of water, you might want to click on of the above links.


The second book that we self published through Amazon is LIBERTY.


Liberty Sytes has spent her entire life trying to forget her mother’s schizophrenic episodes, the fear on her mother’s face and the paranoia that would broadcast in her eyes.

However, while standing on the Wildwood Boardwalk, as a part-time class two cop, she begins to remember. Not because of sadness or longing for her mother, but because suddenly she feels the paranoia of being watched.

Unfortunately, the feeling of being watched turns to blacking out and then the blacking out leads to the sights of murder. Libbi is forced to prove her own innocence and sanity after being found directly in the center of a gruesome murder scene.

Will her own new found secrets, if told, prove her innocence or seal her guilt? She remembers one thing, from watching her mother, that it may be best to leave some secrets untold.

Liberty, our paranormal thriller, has also received a few reviews.  There are a few on Goodreads and one on Amazon.  Liberty is also the first of a few paranormal thrillers, but it is yet to be determined if they will be direct sequels or not.  It's one of those things you have to read to know what we mean.  Either way, if you like to wonder what's going to happen as you turn the page and enjoy a thriller spiked with some romance, give it a shot.

Liberty is available as an EBook from Amazon and B&N for only 99cents.  Also, Liberty is available in Paperback form for $9.99.

Thanks for taking a minute to read about our two books and for joining us on this blogfest.  We hope everyone is enjoying themselves and getting the word out about their books.  Don't forget to follow the link below and read about more books by other authors in the Blogfest!




Monday, October 24, 2011

Getting Ready for the Internet Bookfair Blogfest!

Good morning fellow bloggers,

We just wanted to take a minute and remind everyone that they Blogfest is tomorrow.  If you are unsure as to what is going on tomorrow, here is what you should do.

Make sure that you have the proper link to your blog set up on the list.  The list will remain at the hyperlink that it is already on, that way the buttons will bring you back to the main page from your blog and the reader can go to the next author.  One other important thing to remember, make sure you post the button on the link, that way people can navigate back to the list.  Once you have that done, write a synopsis of your book, maybe of all your books.  Include links to the places your books is sold, where it has been reviewed, and anything else you want to add.

The idea here is to get out there, get to know as many authors as you can, as many books as you can, and maybe buy a few books.  Ultimately, if you are buying some books, the result will be that you will sell some too.  I hope that everyone has a great experience tomorrow and we hope that everyone sells a book or two.  Maybe you will even get a few Goodreads.com reviews also.

Thanks for joining us, we hope you have a great time, and get ready for tomorrow!


GRAB THE HTML FOR THE BUTTON ABOVE AND ADD IT TO YOUR LINK.










Internet Book Fair Author and Book list.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

P is for...

 
 
ABC Your Home State


And now for the ABC YOUR HOME STATE, we bring you the letter P.......


Pine barrens: Little do most of you know, but the state of NJ is 1/3 forest.  The Pine Barrens is a large forest that covers from central the top part of southern NJ.  It is filled with cedar trees, scrubby pines, and lakes and rivers.  The sand floors and woods are the supposed home to the Jersey Devil, just don't get caught there in the middle of the night.

Pirates: Another thing we are famous for is pirates.  There are legends along the Jersey Shore of Black Beard burying his treasure and of pirates from days of old landing and using our shores.

Park place: Along with the rest of the Monopoly board, we have Park Place.  Did you know that the original Monopoly board is based upon Atlantic City?

Ports: Because we have a major river, several cities along the water, and ocean access; the state of NJ has several large sea ports for shipping, trade, and commerce.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

A. Theraputic Writing.

There has been alot going on in my world the last few years. I don't handle stress real well and I tend to bottle things up untill something so mundane makes me go off the rocker.

I have wrote in a journal as a child and whined all my sorrows away and talked about the boy I was crushing over. I am over journal writing.

I was talking to Mike the other day and asked if he waould mind if I wrote about what was going on the last couple years and how  I felt about everything, hoping it could be an outlet to my stress. Mike being the most loving suportive husband there is told me to go for it.

I have started and so far I have a few short stories explaning my family background, why I choose to do this and today after a conversation threw texting with Mike and talking to my mom at work I wrote my first theraputic piece and I have to say it is a scribbled mess, that Mike is going to have to type out. (he is a much faster typer then I). It helped though, I cried through writing most of it out but I did feel  slightly better after getting it out on paper.

I think I just found my new stress reliever and Mike something else to type along with all of our other projects.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

O is for...

ABC Your Home State



This week's ABC YOUR HOME STATE hosted by Fleur de Aleta is on the letter O.  This is one of our favorites.

Ocean - One of our greatest assets, resources, and recreational sources in our state is the Atlantic Ocean.  The water isn't exactly clear, but in the summer it is just warm enough to enjoy some body surfing, boogie boarding, and swimming.  Of course, for those who are lucky, there is deep sea fishing, wave runner riding, and boating.  The ocean gives us fun, food, and tourists; I don't know what would happen to Jersey if we didn't have the ocean.

Ocean City - Adjacent to the ocean is Ocean City.  A quaint barrier island that is filled with shopping, amusements, and aside from being a shore town, it is a dry town.  Their main goal is to sell the family image.

Ocean Oasis - A water park in Wildwood NJ that is more of a spa/water amusement park.  There is nothing better than a place that you can have a margarita, slide a water tube, ride the lazy river, hang out with the kids, or go with just adults.  Oh yeah, it does get better for us, it is right down the street.

Lake Oswago - A cedar lake in the Pine Barrens.  Cedar water is water that is dyed to look like Root Beer from the roots of the cedar trees that grow around it.  It may look dirty, but the water is completely clean.  Lake Oswago is one of the many lakes and rivers in the Pine Barrens that have the unique water.

Monday, October 10, 2011

M. Dreams

Dreams are an essential ingredient to the creative process. Without a dreaming mentality, a writer is just that, a person that puts words on a piece of paper. But those dreams are the fuel that gives those words life, energy, and power.

It’s a great feeling to conjure up some of the thoughts that we have as writers. I can’t tell you how many times my mind has wondered to places of what ifs and I wishes. What if we write that one book and I wish that we get that book deal. Let’s say that it can get creative and sometimes out of hand (Almost Puff Daddy from the 90’s MTV video over the top bad.)

Realistically, I know that out of millions of writers, published and unpublished, that only happens to a small few, but why not dream. Why not hope that you get that deal? Do you ever find your mind wandering into a cloud filled with unobtainable money and success?

I think for me, success is going to be measured on a case by case basis. Our first step is to get the ever difficult agent, publisher, book deal, and finally sell some copies. I know that it seems boring, but it is the way it is usually done and we would like to get on that track. At this point, I would be happy to be published on a traditional track, I can’t promise that if Amy and I get published we will be happy, but it is the first step.

What is your goal? Do you have a point of literary bliss and an ultimate goal? Do you have a deadline?

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Internet Book Fair BLOGFEST!

Hey everyone.  I don't know if there is anyone out there doing this already, but I am wondering if we can have ourselves an old fashion book fair. 

I am sure most of you remember the book fairs that we had in school.  You know, they bring huge book stores on wheels and sell as many books as they possibly can in a few days.

In our digital age, there is no reason that we can't and shouldn't have ourselves a good old fashion book fair to let everyone and anyone we know about our books.  If you're interested, sign up below and spread the word.  The more books we have to talk about, the better.

We will schedule the Book Fair for 10-25-2011.  Please enter below and on the day of the book fair write a post describing your book, give links to where it can be bought, enter reviews you've received on Goodreads and other sites, and anything else you can think is relevant.

Make sure you sign up, tell people about it, and on Book fair day get out there and meet new books and authors.


GRAB THE HTML FOR THE BUTTON ABOVE AND ADD IT TO YOUR LINK.







Wednesday, October 5, 2011

N is for...

This week in the Fleur de Aleta ABC YOUR HOME STATE blogfest we are discussing the letter N.



ABC Your Home State

Newark: Not exactly the greatest part of NJ, but Newark is one of our larger cities and is right outside of New York.  The few times that I was there, I will report, it wasn't clean, it was kind of scary, and it smelled.  For all of you that have heard jokes of NJ, I believe this is where they stem from.

Nor'easter: Not only is NJ hit by several large storms called Nor'easter on a yearly basis, we have a Topsy curvy ride that spins you upside down named after the storm.

North Wildwood: Shore town that is in our backyard and a great place to enjoy a free beach at the Jersey Shore.  Home of the Irish festival, the North Wildwood Beach Writer's Convention (Coming up on 10 years this year), and amazing food, ice cream, and fun.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

M. Do you Believe in Angels?

I am going to start this post off by announcing, "I am no longer driving."

This has been a rough few years lately.  I know that some of you that have been our Internet friends, have watched us go through quite a bit.  Well it just keeps getting better.

Yesterday, on the way to work, one minute I was driving and then the next I was waking up to someone knocking on my car window.  Somehow, I am not sure how, I ended up in a pile of bushes with my car sitting at a forty five degree angle.  All I remember is driving and then waking up, of all the strange things that I have gone through in my life, this was the weirdest feeling in the world.  It was like I lost time.

But that really isn't the crazy part of the story.  It gets weirder.

The guy that stopped was a fireman and proceeded to call for help and a woman also pulled over.  They were waiting with me until the police and ambulance got there.  The fireman wouldn't let me out of the car, but when I finally did get out of the car, I noticed there wasn't a scratch on me.  More insane, I looked at the tire imprints from the car in the grass behind me.  The car had traveled around 20 to 25 yards.  Not only had it driven alongside woods and trees, but it had navigated around a gas main standpipe, 2 banks of trees, and landed in the softest place on the side of the road.

It was like someone, other than myself steered the vehicle around several obstacles and safely placed me in a bed of bushes to give my wonderful clunker of a car a few scratches.  By the way, I love that car.

To make a long story short, I will say, I don't know who took over yesterday and on what level of existence they are from, but from me to them, I will say, thank you.  Because of my mystery "angel" yesterday, I am alive.

Do you believe in angels?

Thursday, September 29, 2011

A. Pre-Reading

We bought our 9yr old a Kindle for his birthday. He has just started to get into reading but still struggels alittle, so when he asked for the Kindle we jumped on it. He also got $100 in amazon gift cards from family. We let him pick one game, HANGMAN and the rest hat to be books. He has about 6 books on there now and last night I was telling him about a book  I heard about Juniper Berry, by M.Pm Kozlowsky.  I read about it on another blog and it peeked my instrest. So I told my son I thought he might like it.  He said ok but wants me to read it first, so when he reads it he has some one to talk to it about. I loved that idea! What a better way to get him intrested in reading more. He loves to talk, so this gives him a reason to read and get to talk to me more one on one. So here I sit today reading and I have to say I am really enjoying it and looking forward to having my son read it so that I can talk to him about it!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

M is for...

ABC Your Home State



Welcome to week M in the Fleur de Aleta ABC Your Home State Blogfest!  Sorry that we are so late to post today, but it has just been one of those weeks.  The heck with the excuses, here we go...

Millville Motorsport Speedway:  Despite the fact that I don't really enjoy watching vehicles speed around a circular track and race each other, I am going to tell you about our track.  It's fairly new and isn't set up or used for any major races yet, but seems to be growing and helping Cumberland County flourish, so I guess it isn't that bad.

Moorestown: Voted in the top 10 places to live in the entire country for about 5 years straight.  Otherwise, aside from a few celebrity citizens like sports stars and such, it isn't much to mention.

Malls: In the state of NJ we don't lack in one thing and that is malls.  They come in all different shapes, sizes, and are designed to service different people, but we are full of them.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

M. Self publishing is a lonely path

It is tough to compare our experiences as self published authors to the traditional author.  Mainly because we don't have a basis for which to compare, but so far I feel self publishing is a lonely path.

There is the entire world of Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Goodreads, etc., but no matter how loud you ring your bell and shout your story, only a few are there to hear it.  On a good note, Liberty has received two Goodreads ratings to average out at 4.5 and one small written review.  I don't know how, but some of the people out there are reading and actually liking it.

Despite the minute successes that we have received, there are so many others that we would love to share our stories with and just can't think of how to do it.  You can post comments, try to tell people about it, but when it comes down to it, we are writers and not salesmen.

Which brings me to my point, are any of you traditionally published?  Do you think that having a publisher behind you helps with the lack of feeling alone or is it to the point that they have cut costs and leave you to be a writer and a salesman?

Do you have to be a salesman to be a writer?  If we wanted to be salesmen then we would have followed that path.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

L is for...

Here we are in week L in the ABC of your home state blogfest, hosted by Fleur de Aleta.


ABC Your Home State
 
In the state of New Jersey, L is a popular letter; here we go!
 
Long Beach Island: So named because of the length from tip to tip.  Long beach is one of the barrier islands of NJ and houses several towns in one.  The beachs are clean, beautiful, and the home to the original Ron Jon Surf Shop.  Also, we aren't sure as to what the lore is behind the stories, but Black Beard was said to frequent it.
 
Lakehurst: Town in northern NJ that is best known for being the site that the Hindenburg crashed, however the zeppelin really crashed at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station that wasn't within the city limits.
 
Lighthouses: They are always a guiding light home and they line the entire coast line.
 
 

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A. Computerless (sort of)

I have been with out my main computer since Sunday now.  We were getting new carpet in our office and living room. We did all the demo ourselves sat and sun and had to wait till monday for the new carpet to be put in. Its in!! and I love it!!. The computer is still not hooked up. Our des broke in the process of moving it and we had to get a new one. We both work and have two children that need to be tended too. So last night after work we started to put our rooms back to order. First the TV (had to be able to watch the GIANTS game)  Then Mike spent most of the night puting the new desk together. The base is done, but not the hutch. So hopefully we will have the computer hooked up by tonight. Thank god for smart phones and laptops or I would really be going nuts!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Worst Movies Ever Blogfest!

The Worst Movies Ever BLOGFEST!!!!! Brought to you today by fellow blogger Alex Cavanaugh.

So here we go, we have to come up with no more than 10 of what we feel are the worst movies ever to come out in theaters and on DVD.

1. The Master of Disguise: As we have both discribed from the moment we stood up, this is two hours of our lives that we will never get back.  The characters were horrible, the actors were aweful, and the plot wasn't there.

2. Shark Boy and Lava Girl: For all of the people that read this and don't have kids, let us stop your future children from watching this.  It is a dumb attempt to rewrite The Never Ending Story in a different way, but they failed miserably.  Save yourself the trouble and don't watch this one.

3. Batman and Robin: What a waste of money.

4. Waiting to Exhale: More like waiting for the movie to end.

5. The Grudge: Not our favorite scary movie, it was too unrealistic.

6. Little Nicky: Even though we are huge Adam Sandler fans, this isn't his best work.

7. Mom and Dad Save the World: What were they thinking?

8. Problem Child: They all were pretty bad so we will let you pick which ever one you think was the worst.

9: It's Pat: We still don't know what Pat and Chris are.  Do you?
10: King Pin: Parts of it were stupid funny, but for the most part it lacked in any quality.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

A. Back to School Night!

Our children had their back to school night last. It was such a wonderful change from last year. Our children go to Catholic School as i am sure many of your towns have been faced with, we merged three catholics school in to one last year and we now share the building with the local Catholic High School as well. Last year was when this all took place and it was a tough year for all. Our school was very divided. The staff at the school worked hard in tryong to bring everyone together. They had a rough time. A few parents one who my husband and I have grown close to, decided to take matters in to her own hands and started setting up parent get togethers after schoool. Well it worked! This year when back to school night was last night, and what a difference. There was no dividing and all the parents and teachers have formed into the school communtity that made us choose Catholic school to begin with. It was a great relief.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

K is for

In the state of NJ, K is for...

Not Much.

Kmart: In NJ, just like most states, I assume, we have Kmart.  Not quite as big as Walmart and far from the level of customer service, but it's there when you need things the other stores are out of.

K-Hovnavian: KHOV is a large building group that designs and builds small communities.  The quality is there, but the houses in those developments all look the same.

Kettle Corn: Popcorn that is popped in a kettle using a mix of sugar, butter, and some salt.  It comes in a bag that is larger then your head and it tastes so so so so so so so gooooood!


Sorry to disappoint, but that is all we have for the letter K.  Can't wait until we move on to another letter.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A. Summer Reading!

Well I did it!  I set a goal to only read books this summer from Aurthors I have never read before and I did. My summer Reads this year were, The High-Impact Infidelity Diet by Lou Harry, Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner, Switched by Amanda Hocking, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and i just finsihed with The Devils Punchbowl by Gre Ilse. All were great books.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

A. 9 years ago!!

Nine years ago today, Mike and became first time parents, to a handsome 8 pound 7 oz. son. Cameron Michael. It was one of the best days of my life. We were only 21 years old and had been married almost a year. I can not believe how time flies. Cameron is amazing! He is very bright and extremely athletic he is also one of the sweetest kids I have ever met. He is also very talkative and loves to hear him self talk. 

We really lucked out. Parenting is far from easy, but we do seem to have pretty well behaved children. At least that is what we are told by others.

So today is Cameron's birthday and he asked for a Kindle, so that is what he got. Now we are tring to find good books for a 9yr old and would love any suggestions.

J is for...

This week we will discover the letter J, brought to you by the state of NJ and Aleta de Fleur.  J is one of my favorite letters to cover in this state and here is why.


Jersey Tomatoes: They are hard to explain to someone that hasn't ever had one, but imagine a tomato with twice the flavor and size of the average tomato.  I promise that they aren't inflated due to nuclear waste or anything else, it's just because NJ has some of the best soil for growing tomatoes.  If you're ever in town, stop by a farmer's produce stand, and grab a few.

BonJovi: I know that we should have covered them in B, but we missed it then so we are playing the Jovi card.  John Bonjovi is a NJ native and is one of the stars of our state.  Now, I know that we are from NJ and are partial, but we think they are amazing.  Bonjovi, in our opinion, is one of those bands that withstands the test of time.  They adapt and grow musically to meet the needs of their fans through time.  So, to all of you Bonjovi haters, we are sorry but they are going to stay around for years.

Jelly Fish: Not our best trait, but jelly fish are a part of our shore town's beaches.  They are amazing to look at, but don't step on them - that hurts.

The Jersey Devil:  As promised, here is some more information about the jersey devil.  Supposedly the 13th child born to mother Leeds, the Jersey devil was born human but changed into something else.  Then there is the story of a woman that wished for her child to be a devil/demon and her wish was granted.  There is even a story of a woman that fell in love with a British soldier, during the revolutionary war, and was cursed by the town she lived in to have a deformed child.

There are many renditions, reports, and sightings that date back centuries that all stem from the pine barrens.

The child seems to have been born and was probably just a deformed child that mysteriously disappeared, but either way they have been able to determine that the child was born to the Leeds or Shroud family.  Both of these families were founders in the sixteen and seventeen hundreds.  The Leeds family was so large that Atlantic City used to be called Leedsville.

Nobody really knows where the legend started, but there have been thousands of sightings over the years from campers, travelers, and hikers.  I will say, with the number of sightings that have been documented, it makes you wonder and know better then to walk the Pine Barrens alone at night.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

I is for...

The state of NJ isn't exactly famous for its I letter things.  We don't have too much going on with the I, but this is what we can think of:


Irene: Even though she has already passed through town and caused some havoc, Irene left her mark on NJ.  The hurricane that just came through town last week caused rain and wind damage while it was here, including causing some Tornados to form.  It was scary and unfortunately it still is, there continues to be flooding rivers and dams breaking.  She is gone, but not forgotten and will forever be a part of NJ.

Islands: We have some of the nicest barrier islands around.  They range in style, expense, and quality, but they are all decent.  From the million dollar homes of Avalon and Stone Harbor, to the condo filled Sea Isle City and Wildwood, there are plenty of different islands to check out.

Thanks to Fleur de Aleta for the ABC of your home state.  Next week we will bring you J.


ABC Your Home State

Monday, August 29, 2011

M. The Point of Your Story

Do you think that your story has a hidden message?

When you write, do you write to tell a story or do you try to teach people?  There are some great books and stories that I have read through the years that don't teach a thing.  They are there to entertain and that seems to be all that they do.

But, then you have stories with hidden messages or ones that are closer to the surface.  They are meaningful and I feel that after I read it, I walk away with some knowledge I may not have had before.

So, what do you think you write for?  Do you want to teach through your stories or would you rather just entertain?  Are you looking to add meaning or possibly you added meaning and didn't know you did it.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

M. Post Storm

The rough part of the storm is now past our house.  All that seems to be left is some wind and maybe just some more rain.  Good news is, we all evacuated to a place that only got rain, we are safe, but I have no idea what our house looks like.

Over night, we were receiving pictures through Facebook of our flooded town.  Not that this was the first time our home town has been flooded, but these pictures were amazing.  Also, there were those few morons that decided to stay and loot other people's homes.  Again, I hope that the looting wasn't employed in our neighborhood, but if it did, at least we are safe.

There were reports that 90% to 95% of the entire county was evacuated and only about 5 to 10% stayed.  The sad part of it is that most of the people we know stayed.  I have gotten reports from most of them that they are alright, but I have no idea what possessed them to stay.  I hope as the wind hammers the county, as the tail end of the storm goes by, they will remain well and safe.

This wasn't taken by us, but it was posted to Facebook by one of our friends.  The place in the photo is several blocks from the back bay and it is sort of a dive bar anyway, but shows just how high the water got.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

A. Jester, Our Hotel dog

Due to the upcoming hurricane (IRENE) we have been forced to evacuate and leave our house. We have two dogs Jester, and Chloe and Cat Shaggy and fish a bird and hamster that belong to my 8yr old.  We lucked out and found a hotel that takes dogs. Chloe our black lab is not a dog dog. She is very protective and can get very mean around other dogs. She is now staying with one of many sisters in safer ground. The fish , bird and hamster are riding out the storm back in our house. I feel bad but its just too much and I pray they are ok.

Shaggy the family cat; we tried to take to the hotel with us but they don't take cats. We did find a kennel and I know he is safe. I miss him like crazy. He is the oddest cat that I have ever seen. He follows us around like a lost puppy, waits at the door when you come home and talks. He is the very vocal and answers you when you talk to him. He jumps in the bath tub and shower with me. He also does not like to be insulted. The first time my mom met Shaggy she said he was cute but not as cute as her cat. That was 3 years ago and he still has not forgiving  her.  He hisses at her every time she comes near him. He normally is  a very friendly cat just don't insult him.

Then there is Jester, he is our 2yr old Golden Retriever. He is my third baby. I wanted 3 children and medically we can't have anymore but are very blessed with the two we do have so my husband got me a puppy. He IS my baby. He is spoiled rotten. He follows me around the house and always has to be touching me. It can be very annoying but I love it. He is with us at the Hotel. I wasn't quite sure how he would do, but he is loving it. He rides the elevator like a pro and even sat at the Bar with us last night in the lobby.  He is doing very well living in one room. We have a backyard at home so we don't walk him like we should. He has taken to leash here and is loving his potty walks. Something we will be
doing a lot more when we get home.

We are riding out IRENE in this gorgeous hotel with our children who think this is a mini vacation, my parents, their dog, my grandma, her dog, my brother and his roommate and of course Jester. I can't wait to see all my other animals but I have to say it Jester is my favorite.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

M. Evacuation

After work today, I spent the evening evacuating our home in Wildwood, NJ.  I have heard stories, predictions, and hypothesis as to what is going to happen.  But, I don't know what to believe.  The news keeps changing how bad it's going to be, but either way they say it is going to be bad.

As of tomorrow evening, Cape May County is going to shut down power to the entire region to avoid electrical fires and surges.  So following the suggestions to the county and town, we evacuated and we are heading up the road further tomorrow.

I don't know what is going to happen in the coming days, but I know one thing; we will be safe, well, and we will pray that when we come home there will be a home to come to.  I have to say that this has to be one of the most exhausting weeks of our lives.  I hope every stays well, safe, and dry.  Have a great weekend, we will let you know how we are doing when we are able.

M. Natural Disaster

Well, it appears that our comfortable little corner on the Eastern sea board is now under attack.  Not from missiles and bombs, but from Mother Nature.  Usually, being in the state of NJ has you safe from most hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes, but this year seems to be testing the limits of our buildings abilities to withstand nature.

Yesterday was my first experience with an earthquake and being on the fifth floor of a ten story building made it just that much cooler.  At first, I thought, it can't be, but when the slight shaking turned into the walls flexing around us, I knew something was up.

People went right into panic mode.  Since we were on the fifth floor, we kind of just hung out, but other ran down the halls to the elevators.  That is, until some of the more intelligent people told them not to.  Why would anyone ever get on an elevator in an earthquake, that's just stupid.

After we were all reassured by the news that it had been a quake and it was over, I really got to appreciate the fact that I had been through something that statistically almost never happened on that scale on the east coast.  So, I tucked it under my belt and went back to thinking about what was really important yesterday.

Of course, now there is another natural disaster marching toward us like a trained army.  A hurricane that just passed through Puerto Rico and is on the southern coast is planned to draw the battle line between Cape May and Atlantic City.  Just in case you didn't know, our house is in the Island town next to Cape May.

The wind force is suspected to be somewhere around 100 mph and while our house has been on the Island since 1909, I am scared.  What the hell is going on.  Usually we are given a reprieve from the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  The storm lands there, usually, is broken up, and gives us just a tropical storm.

I am not really sure what the rest of this week will bring, but one thing is for sure, if we were ever going to get inspiration for an End of the World story, this is a good week for it.

I hope that any of you that are reading and may be in the path, will be okay.  Just remember one simple piece of advice.  If you are told to leave, then leave.  It isn't worth staying.  I hope all of you are well and I will leave you with a task.  Please pray for a strong gust of wind from the west to knock this thing out to sea.