Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Monday, August 27, 2012

Happy birthday!

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To our 5-year old Sadie Anne Lou Who Frankenfurter Talbot-Tortuga Torquere Basset Hound Dog Esquire.

Your moms love you, you beautiful girl.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Monday, August 20, 2012

Sonny and Mr. Bun-Bun

So, in my back yard, there's a bunny. He lives next door in Julia's daddy's back yard, but Julia and I have a little bunny feeder with corn and water for the bunny. He has a tiny hole in Dad's (would it be Dad's fence? Our fence? The fence?) fence.

He looks like this:

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He's adorable. No, really. I think so. Julia thinks so.

Sonny the basset hound?

He thinks so, too.

Every night, Sonny chases Mr. Bun-Bun. Every morning, same thing. Over and over, day after day. 

Sonny is... well, he's a big pup. Bassets aren't the teeny tiny critters you imagine -- he weighs almost 75 pounds and he's a little slow on the uptake. The chances of him actually catching Mr. Bun-Bun seemed slim.

Then about two weeks ago, Mr. Bun-Bun was near the back door and decided to zip diagonally, and Sadie, Sonny's older, thinner, meaner, spryer sister, cut Mr. Bun-Bun off.

Sonny suddenly came face to face with Mr. Bun-Bun. 

I was standing at in the kitchen, making coffee, and I admit it. I froze.

See, I could foresee the problem that was fixin' to happen. Julia deals with critters -- lizards in the bathroom, she removes them. Raccoons in the garage, she drives them out. Scared lost baby birds? She puts them back. Me?

I deal with dead things.

Dead birds. Dead snakes. Dead spiders.

*sighs*

Dead bunnies.

My dog was fixin' to kill this poor critter and then I was going to have to deal with goo. Possibly still-kicking goo. And I was going to have to pretend to not be totally and utterly wigged the fuck out about it because *I* am the ranch kid and Julia is the city kid and... Yeah. 

GOO.

So, back to our story -- Sonny the Great Tri-Colored Hunter is nose-to-nose with Mr. Bun-Bun, the small and terrified.  Sonny stops, touches noses, then backs up a step and waits, very patiently, for the rabbit to run. 

As soon as the bunny scamped, off Sonny went, at a not-too-terribly-fast trot, tail wagging like he was the happiest hound dog alive.

Y'all -- my basset has a friend. A bunny friend. They play tag.

This morning, I looked out at the corn feeder?

Mr. Bun-Bun brought a friend.

We named her Elmira.

 

Have a fabulous day, y'all. 

Much love.


BA

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Fighting Addiction Playlist

Alone with You -- Jake Owen

Another Morning After -- Bleu Edmondson

Back Where I Come From -- Kenny Chesney

Been There, Done That -- Luke Bryan

Better Than I Used to Be -- Tim McGraw

Come Over -- Kenny Chesney

Doesn't Mean I Don't Love You -- Trent Willmon

Don't -- Jewel

Even If It Breaks Your Heart -- The Eli Young Band

Feel Like a Rock Star -- Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw

Hard to Love -- Lee Brice

Hotel California -- The Eagles

How Bad Do You Want It -- Tim McGraw

I Can't Love You Back -- Easton Corbin

I Loved You When -- Roger Creager

Kristofferson -- Tim McGraw

Me and You -- Kenny Chesney

Play Me That Song -- Brantley Gilbert

Put Your Lovin' On Me -- Tim McGraw

Right Back Atcha Babe -- Tim McGraw

She Don't Get High -- Alan Jackson

Somewhere with You -- Kenny Chesney

Truck Yeah -- Tim McGraw

The Truth -- Trent Willmon

Welcome to the Fishbowl -- Kenny Chesney

What I'd Give -- Sugarland

Whiskey and You -- Tim McGraw

Wishing -- Sugarland

Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter

Friday, August 17, 2012

*sits*

Grins.

So, let's see, what madness have I been up to? 

Monday I unpacked. Tuesday I did laundry. Wednesday I wrote. Thursday I took Julia to the doctor and knitted. Today has been writing, 100%. Tomorrow? Grocery store and Sunday I'll be working on files.

Tuesday I got some very exciting news, which I'll share as soon as I can. 

I'm writing on Fighting Addiction (still eating my brain, still sad, still love them even if they make me cry), co-writing a werewolf m/m for an Amber Allure call (Sean Michael dared Julia and me to go for it). I turned in a YA novelette written by my alter-ego, Dallas Coleman and I'm in rewrites on the first of the Four Horsemen novels. 

Reading wise? I started Sophie Oak's Bliss, Colorado series because I heard her read from two of them at AAD. Same with Lauren Gallagher's "Who's Your Daddy". I'm about half done with it (I had to choose reading or knitting last night, and that cowl won out, y'all. I'm *so* close to being done). Loved the Bliss, CO series, already bought #2. "Who's Your Daddy", though? Is one hell of a read. :D

There's going to be a new newsletter out next week with a new contest. The link for joining up is on my website, or here on the blog. :D

Okay, more writing. I want to give my musicians a happy ending, damn it.

*love and kisses*

BA

Thursday, August 16, 2012

AAD NOLA Con and Life

Okay, yes. I'm late.

I'm still recovering. Sue me. ;-)

So, life -- My girl, Julia, went to the surgeon today and is going to have to have foot surgery next week. Julia's dad has taken 3 falls this week and has had to have a transfusion. My littlest sister lost her father in law and my daddy had a small stroke. 

*lips twist*

Now, there's good news, too, but until the papers are signed and the i's are all dotted, I can't squeal. 

Still, whoa. ;-)

I did a long con report on the TRS Rainbow Blog -- http://therainbowstudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/aadnola-2012-con-report-d.html -- and I'm not going to repeat it all here. Suffice it to say, I love AAD. Stella is a joy to work with and her staff is stunning.

Highlights of AADNOLA?

Sophie Oaks reading from her newest Bliss, CO book -- I swear, y'all. She knows my family.

Julia dancing with Damon Suede.

Lit Crit High Fives in the M/m Alpha Beta Panel.

Laughing my tush off in the menage panel.

Coffee with Andrew Grey.

Joey W. Hill stopping to tell me I was an inspiration to her.

Abigail Barnette running barefoot on the treadmill.

Ariel Tachna hugs. (I never get to see her except at the cons).

Dakota Cassidy's acceptance speech at the Bookies.

Bronwyn Green MADE ME A STAR BABY!

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Mine is the amazing rodeo one. Julia's is the rainbow one. They have a place of honor in the office. :D :D :D

:D 

Much love, y'all. *kisses*

BA

Friday, August 3, 2012

Friday!

Lord have mercy, y'all!

It's friday, finally. I've had a busy week of writing, which is a world of yay, and getting ready to head out to NOLA next week for the Authors After Dark convention. I feel like I've been planning for the convention for months and suddenly, boom, it's here.

Somehow I'm still not ready. ;-)

Good news is that, barring emergencies, I will have print copies of Masks Off! there for signing, along with all my other promo, my walking shoes on, and my hurricane glass in hand.

Who wants to come bar hop with me? ;-)