My Roots? Let me Show You Them, eh.

My Canadian roots, that is.

It's that time of the year. September: month of tree pruning, get-out-the-snowsuits-to-wash, and dirty movies stockpiling (long winter nights and all). :)

But September is also the Terry Fox month. The world's largest run against cancer. He started that run, what he called the "marathon of hope", at the ripe old age of 21 after having a leg amputated to stop a cancer. So in April of 1980, and for 143 days, he ran around 40 kms (20+ miles) a day to raise money for cancer research. His goal was to raise 1$ from every Canadian. Rain, sun, slush. The dude ran all these kms/miles on his one good leg and a prosthesis. He died at 22 before he could reach his goal, which was to cross Canada (look at the map, it's HUGE, yo!).

But in a way, he's still running today. Every year in September, millions of kids around the world, thousands of teachers and parents and dozens of countries participate in the Terry Fox Run. My men and I did this weekend, we ran (okay, so I walked and the kid biked) 10kms/6.5 miles on a bright and sunny German day (one of the four bright and sunny days in Germany...). After we were done, we had hotdogs at the community center and complained about our crappy new sneakers, our little aches and pains and the crazy price of gas (try 13$ a U.S. gallon). It was a good day.

So, what's your favorite charity, eh?

Fire!

Anyone have some matches? I need to send up a smoke signal!

Random thoughts on a Monday

Remember that old song? I heard it this afternoon and it's been running through my head ever since. And it brought a question to mind. Do we want a man with an easy touch, someone who "won't come and go in a heated rush"? Or is what we really want ....

a bad boy. Someone who's all rough and rowdy, who comes in, swoops us up and in a fit of lusty fury nails us to the wall and has us screaming "yeah baby" in ten seconds?

I guess it's a case of different strokes for different folks, eh? Or maybe just a matter of what kind of mood we're in at the time? I guess that's really the way things are. There are times my honey could swoop in and get a stiff right arm, palm out that ways "hold the deal, Lucille. You want someah this, you ask nice." Then other times I'd just yell "hell yeah" and enjoy the ride.

Which does clue me in on why men think we women are so damn confusing. We have more moods than the weather and our movement patterns are just as complex. No wonder they can't figure us out.

And it' not like we really want them to. After all, there's something to be said about a mystery.
Mystery is always alluring and exciting. So while we might love for them to figure out that yes, we want them to take out the trash, pick up their dirty clothes, open a door for us, notice when we get a new hair style or outfit and most certainly want them to comment on our utter overwhelming beauty and sex appeal, we really don't want them to figure us out completely.

At least that's the random thoughts running through my head this Monday evening. Hmmm, wonder if honey man could figure out that running straight to the pool for some splashing good fun is my next topic of interest? Think I'll go stare in his eyes and see if he can guess.

Have a great Monday!!

National Go Topless Protest Day. Did you miss it?

I sure did. It happened on August 23rd, Saturday. Men and women went topless all across America in parks and other public areas in an effort to draw attention to the day which is according to the 17th amendment, Women's Equality Day.

Yeah, we have a day. It all started in 1848 but took 72 years to ratify the US Constitution to finally give women the right to vote. Can you imagine not being able to vote? There was a time when we couldn't own property, much less get a mortgage on our own. So when it comes to protecting our rights, I'm there! God bless the brave women who fought for us during those 72 years.

I was still having a hard time wrapping my head around how going topless was related to equality until I visited Go Topless Organization . This is more than just a protest. Yup. It came about because women were being arrested for asserting their constitutional right to bare their breasts in public while men who go bare-chested are never arrested.

Now, even though there have been over 10 court cases where the courts ruled in favor of topless women in public, they are still being criminalized. Well, I had no idea. I live a sheltered life. I've never seen a topless woman in public, other than at a beach.

The argument - it's just as natural and a constitutional right for women to go topless just like it is for men.

Now, as I stated before, I defend equality, but I personally don't want to be looking at a bunch of boobs. Hell, there are a lot of men, I prefer not to ever see without their shirts on!

While I understand this is a protest for equal rights, I just have to wonder how many women will assert these rights? I wonder if our culture and social mores are ready for this reveal on a daily basis. Nude and topless beaches have enough problems with gawkers and ignorant folks, can you imagine how the parks would be if just 10% of the female population decided to assert this right?

So I think it will be very interesting to see how next year's protest event plays out. Will more women step up and take off in protest?

The Infinite Monkey Theorem

No, I haven't gone completely, certifiably mad.

Infinite Monkey Theorem is the idea that if you stick a bunch of monkeys and have them bash on typewriters (oooh, there's a quaint word), they'll eventually recreate one of Shakespeare's stories. You know, the perverse and cynical part of me finds that eminently amusing. It kind of puts into perspective the Arteeestes who like to wear black turtlenecks and say really long words when short ones would have worked. You know, like antidisestablishmentarianism.

Although when I look at how certain authors behave, I'm sure it's the monkeys who are astounded we can even string two words together.

Writing isn't rocket science. You sit at a keyboard and pretend stuff happens to people who don't exist. If you're good and/or lucky and/or obstinate and/or a celebrity (or a murderer), a bunch of strangers will get to read about it. Unless you're popular, the pay sucks. The industry is filled with snotty pretenders, just like any other profession. The conditions are oftentimes appalling (sit for 10 hours in front of a screen, stick your arms out and wiggle your fingers really, really fast...fun, eh?). There's the competition, healthy and otherwise. There's the "writer's block", a term that can ratchet up my blood pressure a few notches. There's the comparison, the self-doubts, the pressure real and perceived, the expensive chaos of advertising your work, the deadlines, red and blue lines, and flatlines. The pushy promoters who invade your space, the critics, the cheerleaders, those in between. Not enough fingers and eyeballs to manage the stories piling in your head. Families, friends, colleagues if you're working another job on top of writing. Got to go to the gym, got to pretend the house is clean and not a fire-hazard. Got to find costumes, suits, shoes, business cards. Got to network and re-work. Edit, submit, plot.

And it's the best fucking job in the world. Pass the bananas.

Going Green

I figured it was about time I start thinking about going green. To better understand harnessing the power of the wind, I found a sexy alpha to explain windmills.


Oh yeah. I get it now! Whoo-damn! What a fascinating subject! Mmm-hmm…no wonder everyone’s so fired up about this topic. I am thoroughly enjoying doing my part to save the planet! *g*

They're even coming out with a sexy and sporty green car, Karma by Fisker Automotive. It's a plug-in hybrid Q drive (whatever that is). I want one in this vivid blue color. Wowza! At $80K its a lot out of my price range though. Ouch! Going green is expensive.


Nic
So naughty it's scandalous!

Jeweled Teasing With Marilu Mann

Thanks to the fabulous Hussies for having me as a guest blogger. It’s a pleasure to be here. I wanted to share my new release with you. I am Marilu Mann, one of Ellora's Cave Inc's authors. My first release was May 2008 and I am now celebrating my next release. My motto is "Escape Into The Fantasy" and I hope you will enjoy my latest.

Sapphire Tease will be released on September 10th. It’s part of the Ellora’s Cave Birthstones Series. Why write a story about sapphires? Well, from what I’ve found, in ancient Persia it was believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire and the sky was colored blue by reflection. It’s a symbol of truth, sincerity and faithfulness, and was once believed to have strong medical powers. It’s the birthstone for September, but has also been associated with April, and it’s also the gemstone for the zodiac sign of Taurus.

Isn’t it interesting how we associate gemstones with birthdays? Lots of people have gemstone jewelry, pretty much everyone can tell you what their birthstone is – even if they can’t tell you their zodiac sign. One curious unanswered question of history is exactly what were the 12 stones in the breastplate of the high priest?

It is said that these stones represented the twelve tribes of Israel. There is much discussion as to what those exact gems were but no one knows for sure. But many cultures believe in the healing properties of various stones – not just birthstones, but other stones as well. Here are a few interesting myths I’ve found about gemstones.

Did you know that amethyst is said to be a stone to help prevent overindulgence of alcohol? The myth goes that to avoid being run down or worse by the god of wine that the nymph Amethyst prayed to her protector goddess who turned her into a pillar of quartz. Bacchus was so struck by her beauty that he vowed anyone who held a piece of her would be protected from his revelries. He then upended a flagon of wine on the crystal statue dyeing it purple.

Then moving away from the ancients--and since this is the Hussies blog--what about choosing a gemstone to enhance sexual abilities? There are jokes about how diamonds improve relationships of course, but have you ever wondered about nipple piercings or other piercings? What would the right stone there bring you? Of course, you don’t have to pierce anything if that isn’t your cup of tea, cheré! You could just buy a set of nipple loops if you like.

These loops are basically slim lariats that you hang from your nipples. I’ve had friends who have worn them and they tell me that the constant rubbing is incredibly stimulating. You can make them tight or let them just dangle gently—whatever your preference. I do love the idea of letting my lover get an eyeful of jewelry he didn’t expect, don’t you?

Imagine doing a slow erotic dance with him laying in the bed watching you. As you slide your skirt down, his eyes widen. Now you’re wearing nothing but his shirt and whatever you have on underneath. Kick off those undies and let the hem of that shirt flirt with your own hidden treasures. His breath will catch when you slide that white linen to the floor to reveal sapphires tantalizingly dangling from your nipples. Now think about him taking those off with his mouth.

Yes, there’s just something women love about jewelry, isn’t there? Sapphire Tease has nothing to do with ancient Persia or healing powers of stones. Instead it deals with a deep-seated rivalry between two powerful and dangerous men, ancient weapons, a piece of sapphire Geisha hair jewelry, and a cat burglar. Our heroine may not wear nipple tassles but she certainly does learn a little something about nipple clamps.

Sapphire Tease Blurb: Ever have your clothes removed by a sexy man as punishment? What if you were trying to steal from him and he is determined to teach you a heated intimate lesson you will never forget? Cath Monroe learns just how much she can take from the man she mistakenly marks as an easy target. Kentaro Ramon introduces the lovely thief to more than his mastery of weapons in this arousing tale of a very erotic game of cat-and-mouse.

Sapphire Tease Quick Bite:
Ramón knelt in front of her, between her legs. He touched the plastic restraints holding her wrists to the arms of the chair. His hands were warm and slightly calloused. Not what she'd expected from an obscenely wealthy playboy. He slid his fingers over the restraints and over the skin of her wrist.

"Since you won't confirm that Brown sent you, maybe you'll tell me who you are?"

Cath shook her head again, more slowly this time. She couldn't take her eyes off him.

"What is your name?" As she shook her head, he slid his hands up to her elbows, kneading the skin there. His gaze went from her face to her breasts and back again.

To read the rest of the excerpt, visit me and click on Books to find that excerpt as well as excerpts from my May paranormal erotic romance Changing Times and my upcoming November release Changing Hearts. And stay tuned for the title of book three in the Lusting Wild series.