Hey guys! This is the first chance I've had to view MB in oh, what, a month? Anyway, not that I can do any catch-ups, but Flard says Montana is getting closer, and thats about all I know.

Everything is going well here on the home-front! I live right on Puget sound, a beautiful 3-story house with two awesome roommates about 25 minutes from the Capitol. Tons and tons of rain, but the sky is finally clearing today, what a relief! I finally got smart as well and brought my laptop to the Senate Fiscal committee <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I sit on this committee, and then brief the Senator I work for on what is going on with the budget and who is getting money and what for. Joys! I really hate it but at the same time I am learning so much about the budget and there are some generalized areas I find interesting. Today, they are going over pensions for firefighters and police people. Oh, and the Nursing Legislative Day was today, and I got a free lapel pen. But the Library Lobbyists did a lot better! I got free pizza outta them!!!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I forgot lunch, so it was a blessing.

Flard says the divorce should be official in a week or two, if you didn't already know that.

Well, I need to push off, so take care!

Love,
Jen

gellnjen - We are soooooooo proud of you. Imagine, one of us in government!!!!!

The last time I talked to Flard was about 1-1/2 wks. ago, and he was busy and didn't want to stay and chat. And I've been busy and haven't been able to call him back, especially now that my cell phone made it across the lake to Neaksis' house and hasn't found its way back yet. I'll have to call him up and see what he's got to say for himself. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Hope your bedroom isn't on the THIRD floor! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> This 2-story house is plenty high enough for me, with sufficient going up and down stairs. If there were a 3rd story on it, somehow I doubt I'd be doing much of importance on that top floor. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Neak, your sister needs to tell HER dream on this thread, and get it analyzed. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'm dying to know what it means, although all I can remember of it at this point was the tyrannosaurus she'd trained to eat M&Ms out of the toilet. Weird psyche that girl has. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Or were you sharing banana bread at bedtime? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

t&l

I wish I had dreams like that!

My dreams are not even worth remembering. I'm always lost somewhere, or on a bus without money, etc. Mine are all very mundane and tiring.

Yes, and we expect things to start improving right away now, too, since this is so! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Do we have your new address? If we do, I surely couldn't tell you where it went. Maybe you could email it to somebody, and they could share.

Keep governing! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Well, T&L - you know they just don't put ANYONE in charge of running things..........

Yeah, that's probably why you and I aren't personally in charge. The men just didn't want to be overwhelmed and intimidated by too much wisdom and competence!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> The more I think about it, the more I'm sure that's the reason. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

t&l

hey, will someone please come over and take the kinks out of my neck?

Please.

Don't you live somewhere far away? How long would our arms have to be to do THAT?! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> And I'm not sure how effective cyber-de-kinking of the neck would be, anyway. You'd be better off making friends with a local chiropractor! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> As someone who has, for about 10 years, suffered the consequences of a whiplash which occurred during an unfortunate meeting with a drunk driver, I can certainly offer you sympathy. Whatever use that is. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

t&l

A friend from work emailed me this today. Would it be considered "colorist" if I admitted we're both brunettes? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Well, we used to be brunettes. Now she's a "restored" brunette, and I'm an unrepentant salt and pepper.





THE BLONDE COOKBOOK


MONDAY:
It's fun to cook for Tom. Today I made angel food cake. The recipe said beat 12 eggs separately. The neighbors were nice enough to lend me some extra bowls.

TUESDAY:
Tom wanted fruit salad for supper. The recipe said to serve without dressing. So I didn't dress. What a surprise when Tom brought a friend home for supper.

WEDNESDAY:
A good day for rice. The recipe said wash thoroughly before steaming the rice. It seemed kind of silly but I took a bath anyway. I can't say it improved the rice any.

THURSDAY:
Today Tom asked for salad again. I tried a new recipe. It said prepare ingredients, then toss on a bed of lettuce one hour before serving. Tom asked me why I was rolling around in the garden.

FRIDAY:
I found an easy recipe for cookies. It said put the ingredients in bowl and beat it. There must have been something wrong with this Recipe. When I got back, everything was the same as when I left.

SATURDAY:
Tom did the shopping today and brought home a chicken. He asked me to dress it for Sunday (oh boy). For some reason, Tom keeps counting to ten.

SUNDAY:
Tom's folks came to dinner. I wanted to serve roast, but all I had was hamburger. Suddenly I had a flash of genius. I put the hamburger into the oven and set the controls for roast. It still came out hamburger, much to my disappointment.

GOOD NIGHT DEAR DIARY. This has been a very exciting week. I am eager for tomorrow to come so I can try out a new recipe on Tom. If I can talk Tom into buying a bigger oven, I would like to surprise him with Chocolate Moose.


t&l

BWAHHHA BWAHHHA ohhhhhhh <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
JE is peeing in her pants....darn <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Ah, the chiropractor is my friend.

Since I got adjusted this evening, I feel better. Going to work tomorrow will probably undo it....tension/stress.

Since I'm doing ok w/ that, please come wash my dishes. I'll bake you some cookies.

My computer has not been going online since yesterday, so I sneaked on just long enough to say hi. Hi!

Neaksis, call us................

Good news for Neak (I hope), after she submitted a query to a publisher about her 2nd book. The publisher of her first book wanted her to take all the angels out of the 2nd, and everybody who's read it said, "Absolutely not!" At least this interest in reviewing her manuscript means I don't have to worry about self-publishing just yet! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

t&l


Dear Neak,
Thank you for the query you sent in December. I'm interested in looking at the full manuscript, assuming that you're sure R&H won't take it in a form you would be comfortable with. I'm very careful not to take material from a R&H author unless they have explored all options and Pacific Press is the best last resort.

I'm intrigued by what you said about fiction after looking at our guidelines. It must be misleading because we have always been interested in biblical fiction. I have attempted to discourage fiction submissions that have nothing to do with Christianity because in the past we got considerable amounts of it, and it was wasting our time. But I need to reword the guidelines to encourage authors like you to send things our way. I would have loved to publish the Malchus book.

Feel free to be in touch any time.
Blessings,

Tim

FANTASIC NEWS!!

SO glad for you neak and all your family actually as they all seem to so enjoy the book creation process!!

So the first publisher wanted you to take reference to angels out of a Christian fiction book?

Oh, How silly of me…$$$$$$

Of course just need to remove reference to JESUS, God AND the angels and any hint of actual religion and it’s the purrrrrrrrfect book for them to publish!!! Lol
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Well, they WERE willing to leave in the references to Jesus (it was about Him, after all). And God was OK, too. But those pesky angels.... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

t&l

I'm not sure she's enjoying the book creation process THIS week as she does the final read-through and makes the last corrections and additions. Next week, she'll probably enjoy it because it will be done. Lucky me. I inherit her kids for the day so she can work. "Come, children, Noah has a special treat for you today. You can do your schoolwork in the car while we drive around and do my errands! Won't THAT be fun?"

As far as the rest of us, our primary contribution is to read the chapters as they spill from her fertile brain; nag her to hurry when she doesn't produce them in a sufficiently-timely manner to suit us; and then, to make spontaneous and unsolicited suggestions for correction and improvement! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Which suggestions she actually takes with very good grace, even when she shoots our ideas down (sometimes <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />), and insists on doing it her way just because she's the one writing the book. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Why shouldn't the family enjoy it, when there's no genuine effort being expended on OUR part, and all the real labor belongs to someone else? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

t&l

P.S. I've been hoping the reason you've been scarce lately was because you were able to have lots of cyber-visiting with Aussie--although what's left to visit about with so many topics off-limits, I couldn't imagine! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I understand I'm going to get to hear some singing, but I haven't yet. Maybe when I return the little darlings to their nest this afternoon someone (who will have had HOURS of kid-free time) will be able to play it for me.

It's months old now, and probably stale as all get-out, but I never did tell you about our adventures the last day in Hawaii. Does anybody still want to hear that or is it too "yesterday"? And are we ready for another story? There's still Kewpie's Kriminal Kaleidoscope <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />, but as far as I'm concerned, just playing around with the topic du jour is fine, too. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Whither midst falling dew?

t&l

well yes it has been very much a IM back & forth - or fifth maybe- and the topics were light most of the time being that I'm sure every thing said is examined, poked at and probably laughed at by some innocuous gray bureaucrat - like me <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> -

but someone has to live a half life dont they?

Mikey is growing & moving rapidly .. everything goes into his mouth to try out - he knows what keeps him happy <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

The IM is not for long hes spening a lot of time doing physio stretching the bits healing over & its hard at work to keep mind on the job, Mikey & Law-rence of where ever at the same time.

Go on tell us about the Island delights -- hey I went here long ago on our belated honeymoon but I was prego & sick ..but Aussie had a good time visiting the Arizona and other sites <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />