My Health

You know, I realised I started this year just as I finished it━sick. I had bronchitis at the beginning of the year and I have the flu now. And I've had a whole lot of crap happen in between.

I'm not looking for sympathy... Because I already have a plan in place for what needs to be done. In the last year, I have lost 16kg (35.4lbs) which because I have a major thyroid problem is near impossible to do. I have to still lose more weight. 

Not because I get the flu/bronchitis but because I have something wrong with the lower part of my spine. I also have some exercises that I need to be able to strengthen the muscles in and around my spine━so I won't need surgery. This is probably why I have so many damn headaches, but at least they seem to be under control.

Other than that I'm doing okay. I'm still saying 2020 will be a way better year for us all... and I can't wait to see you all there.

PS: I should also mention Wardens of the Guild 3: Heartstrings is finished and has been submitted.

Cotter's Girls

Someone sent me this picture a few years ago now, and it always made me think of my story TASH. Even though the two main characters in my story are a little older than this pair.

Really, they don't even look like the mains, but a couple of the secondaries who'll eventually get their own story.

I don't even know what it was about this story that made me want to keep it, but I have for years now. The truth is I don't even remember who sent it to me, but I'll be forever thankful to them.

This is one of the series in my next years writing plan... fair warning it is M/F. But I don't mind, and if you don't like that, then don't read it. I need to get these stories out of my head to make room for the gazillion others... so there you go. Vlad thinks the story is awesome... but he could be a tad bias when it comes to my writing.

What's Cooking...

I'm really into cooking at home... mainly because I know exactly what goes into each meal. I'm not talking about calorie counting or anything like that. I think I've mentioned before I have a thyroid problem and some food groups don't always agree with me. The good thing about cooking for myself is I can usually avoid those food groups. Though I have a bad habit of occasionally sneaking one into my diet and then suffering for it later.

The other good thing about cooking at home is, personally I think it's a hell of a lot cheaper than eating out. And if you're with other people not everyone can always agree on where to eat, and when we have fussy eaters (yes, I'm that person) it's just not worth the hassle.

My biggest problem at the moment is learning to cook a meal for just two people without having an abundance of leftovers. After having cooked for a family for so many years it's hard to cut back on the cooking styles. 

At the moment I'm in love with lentils... I prefer them to meat on most days. If you have any great lentil recipes send them my way... just remember I can't have cream in my food (that whole thyroid thing). Not even coconut cream.

Boxing Day

So this is what my day will consist of. Cricket... cricket ... and more cricket. We'll be playing New Zealand and even though they have a pretty good team I hope we kick their arses. Sorry to all my Kiwi friends, but I cannot lie, and I hope we do. We beat Pakistan and I cheered them on even though I have a huge soft spot for the Paki's. They are one of my favourite teams.

I suppose the next thing I'll be doing today is eating leftovers, that's if the kids haven't taken them all home. I'm writing this post in advance so I'm not sure about that one yet.

The last thing I'll be doing today is to pack away any and all decorations I have out as I do every year on boxing day. It's just the tradition in my family. It's the way it's always been done, and probably the way it'll always be done.

Plus, I need to pop downtown and buy some cat food for my furbabies. It was the only thing I forgot when I went shopping on Tuesday.

Em's Turn

Christmas has come once again

Where has the year gone?

12 of my favourites 

For old time sake

Enjoy!

Christmas Eve

It was the night before Christmas and all through my house. Not a creature was stirring━except for Robson, who thinks it's his god-given right to run around like a mad man and keep us all awake.

Actually this Christmas eve. I'm was planning on making sure most of the prep work is done for lunch tomorrow. I really don't want to be rushed off my feet. I just have a little bit more to do.

I also have to make sure all the presents are wrapped and have the correct name tags on them. Not that we went overboard on presents this year. Too much other stuff to contend with.

Also, there will be Christmas carols on TV I'll have to watch. I do love me some good carols. Grace borrowed my Michael Buble Christmas CD and never gave it back. She just loves his voice. The other week she watched the David Campbell Christmas Special with me and loved him as well. Though, if I'm totally honest the Country Christmas Special hosted by Trisha Yearwood that followed it she probably liked more.

Thank You...

I want to thank all the wonderful authors out there whose books have kept me sane throughout the year. There are too many for me to give you all individual thanks, but there are a few who have been re-reads for me this year when I needed them the most and they are:

JR Ward━Black Dagger Brotherhood & Black Dagger Legacy

Stormy Glenn━Basically for all her work, but especially Cade Creek

Kylie Scott━Stage Dive & Dive Bar 

J M Dabney━Twirled World Universe

Lynsay Sands━Argeneau Vampires

Jenny Woods━Kennedy Ink & Unlikely Heroes

David Eddings━Sparhawks Universe

AKM Miles━Scarcity Sanctuary

RE Butler━The Wolf's Mate & Hyena Heat

TJ Klune━Bear, Otter, & the Kids Universe

John Marsden━Tomorrow When the War Began 

ZA Maxfield━The Cat's Meow & Drawn Together

Alexis Morgan━Paladins of Darkness

Lynn Hagen━Brac Pack Universe

Sherrilyn Kenyon━Dark Hunters

RJ Scott━Montanna Series

Kresley Cole━Immortals After Dark