It’s going to be simply gorgeous here today – 76 and sunny, blue skies. I should be raring to go, but I’m totally gritty eyed. It happens when I’m deep into writing a book. I start having some really wild, vivid dreams.

Hard to explain some of them! I think they start to get so startlingly real (although the one about the monkey in the road was a little beyond real) because my imagination is in a high gear.

You know like when you’re excited about something and your adrenaline gets going? This is the same kind of thing, where my imagination just can’t shut itself off when I sleep, so I dream in technicolor.

Did you ever dream you were someone else, but you knew you were yourself? Like you look down and see a different body, but inside you’re still you? Yep, I’ve had those a lot. Wonder if it’s me putting myself into characters…

Sometimes the dreams are so real, I get caught up in them emotionally. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve woken up sobbing, not just crying, but gut-busting sobs. I’ve never woken up laughing though, that’s weird.

Anyhoo, anybody out there have vivid dreams they remember but can’t explain? Share, please! (so I don’t feel like such an odd ball :)

The Apple iPad releases on Saturday. First off, let me say the most obvious negative… the name. Geez louise, did Apple not consider it a feminine hygiene product? Seriously, the name really is not good.

Okay, now for a positive. It’s really cool. I have an iPhone, which I am addicted to, and the iPad is like that only in super-sized mode.

Another negative – you have to hold it in your hands and it’s pretty good sized to do that. I can imagine carpo-tunnel iPaditis.

Another positive – you can play games and watch movies and surf the web on it. Uber sweet!

One more negative – Apple has kept with the no “Flash” player on this device too. So the million websites built with Flash won’t work, like UPS.

Last thing, and it’s a positive, it’s an e-reader. I don’t have a Kindle or a Nook (which is what I want), but I’m glad to see e-books are totally trending up. It’s where I got my start and I believe is the future of publishing in the next fifty years. So, go e-books!!

Anybody getting an iPad?

Today’s eye candy for your viewing pleasure.

Who wants to become a fan of Emma Lang? If you raised your hand, then pop on over to Facebook and become a fan!

I’ve gotten a fan page set up for Emma with info on the first release, Ruthless Heart. Everyone who becomes a fan entered to win an ARC of Ruthless Heart next Sunday, April 4th.

Ready, set, go!

I’ve had another busy week. I guess, when do I not, eh? I’ve gotten some things done such as editing and writing, but I also updated my Emma Lang fan page on Facebook (overdue!), and some pages on the website. Not so bad for a crazily busy lady!

Let’s do something fun. I got this from my book club and I’m curious to see what y’all will respond with…

Four, Four, Four, Four…

1. Four places that I go to over and over: Target, work, bed, TJ Maxx

2. Four people who e-mail me (regularly): Sasha White, my sister, Janice P, my agent

3. Four favorite smells: fresh coffee, cookies baking in the oven, cinnamon, freshly baked bread

4. Four places I would rather be right now: on my cruise, on a beach, in my bed, Vegas

5. Four people I think will respond: you, you, you and you

6. Four current TV shows I watch: Survivor, House, CSI Vegas, Ghost Hunters

Your turn!!

I cannot believe it’s March 25. Where in the hell did March go? I swear, it was March 1 yesterday and now, it’s only 6 days until it’s over. I’m shocked, truly 100% shocked!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see spring arrive. In fact, the last two days have been 75 and beautiful. Just gorgeous! Of course the temperature is going to tank for the weekend and be in the 50s, but hey, welcome to weather in North Carolina!

Yet, I can’t help but feel time slipping through my fingers. I think it’s because I had the surgery January 6th and here I am nearly 3 months later and just getting my life back to “normal” (although that is a relative term – we are talking about ME here).

I wanted to be done with Gideon’s story (the last Devil) yet I am only 20% done. *sigh* I now have two goals, exercise every day, and write at least 2K per day until Gideon’s story is done. I’ll have to put my game face on. It’s coming, I can feel it…

Okay, there we go! The game face has arrived so now I’m ready. Game. On.

I haven’t given an ankle update in a while and I know you’re all dying to know how it’s going right? Of course you are! LOL. This is the end of the ankle story.

Well I have made a lot of progress in the last month. I now walk up and down stairs with my feet straight (I was turning my left foot out and taking baby steps). I wore “real” shoes three times and although my ankle swelled each time, I still felt like it was an accomplishment. However I continue to wear sneakers almost every day. I can leg press 70 pounds (plus my own weight) with both feet and 30 pounds (plus my own weight) with only my left. *flexes muscles*

My doctor gave me a final post-op exam last week and said I was about at 65% and would be 75% within a few weeks. Awesome news! I am now officially finished with him unless a catastrophe happens.

I am exercising the ankle every day and am using my little stepper – one of my downfalls (major factor in gaining back the 50 pounds I lost six years ago) is lack of exercise. I’m never going to let that happen again. Today I start using the elliptical at the gym at work.

This morning is my LAST physical therapy appointment. She’s going to discharge me and send me on my merry way for good. I’m jazzed!! My copay was $35 each visit and after 12 visits, I’m ready to stop paying it AND I’m ready to take control of my own destiny.

This whole ankle reconstruction has totally changed my perspective on a lot of things. I really took things for granted, such as running errands at lunch time, driving myself where I needed to go, or even just going to the bathroom. Being on one foot, on a knee scooter, on crutches, in a boot, and then in a brace, well, it really taught me what it means to be humble. To ask for help, to realize that life really is a gift and I’m going to hang onto it with both hands.

Thanks for sharing this journey with me. Love ya, mean it.

This is going to be a random post, y’all. I was deep, deep asleep when I had to get up just before 5, so I’m still a bit scatterbrained. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Daylight Saving Time sucks.

You know writers can be quirky beings with lots of eccentricities. I’m no exception. I will admit to be a bit of an odd duck, a little controlling, a lot stubborn, and in need of my comforts. Sometimes to a fault. (You can’t see me, but I’m blushing a bit.) Creative people, all artists really, are unique in their own way but they have that eccentric quality in common.

Now, people who write fiction, well, we put our heart and soul into every word we write. It’s our child, our baby, a creation we brought to life. Non-fiction books can also be emotional, such as something about fighting a disease, losing a child or spouse, etc. My particular problem has to do with these “tell all” books.

I am really tired of hearing about million dollar deals for books about people’s sex life or how they got their start in show business, who they got down on their knees for, and how many times. Really, really tired of it. The latest is the book is about John Edwards’ fall from grace by one of his lackeys. Seriously y’all, the man who “wrote” the book is not a writer but I guarantee you his pockets are stuffed with cash for this book. Why? Because we apparently love to read about real people’s pain, humiliation, stupidity and suffering.

The man who wrote it was in town yesterday and did a signing. Now Edwards is from NC so he is a hometown boy and people are more inclined to be curious. But he had a LINE of people waiting for him to sign the book, a huge crowd there to ask him questions. I got so pissed watching it on the news, knowing they were just there for the juicy, raw bits they could glean from the book.

I’m not a John Edwards fan, the man is a dog, but no one deserves to have their lives ripped wide open (truthful tales or not) by one of these tell all books. It kills me to see what’s published today in the non-fiction market. Don’t even get me started on the fact that Miley Cyrus got a seven-figure book deal. I might just pop.

Wow, this post turned into a rant, didn’t it? LOL. I wasn’t intending that but apparently that’s where my brain went.

Today’s eye candy for your viewing pleasure. Isn’t he pretty?

I’m pleased to report I’m feeling better today. Whew! My super antibodies have conquered the creeping crud. Yay!

I’m working on edits this morning, well all weekend actually, but I will be going out later. It’s going to be in the upper 70s today and I plan on enjoying some sunshine. It will help the healing process, right? :D

Have a fabulous weekend, everybody!