blabber mouth at low tide

Just this week, I put my foot in my mouth more times than I should say. Tell me you've been there too (humor me). So I'm thinking of hanging it up...at least for a few days ('cuz really, how long could I stay quiet?)

Maybe I'll just loaf around for awhile, soaking up rays, like these elephant seals we saw up in San Simeon last week. Mighty inviting...

Anyway. Off to a concert tonight starring...ha-ha...I'll tell you Monday (and hopefully post some secretly obtained camera phone pics ;0

Have a beachy weekend ;)

This little piggy went to...

I'm so not making these up :)

Cellin' it

My bloggity buddy HolyMama wrote about cellphone etiquette in the bathroom a few weeks back (have I hooked you yet?), and cracked. me. up. So as a sort of spot check on my own cellular usage, I took this little quiz, which you can take to:

Your Cell Phone Etiquette is 30% Bad, 70% Good

Your cell phone manners are quite good. Not perfect, but almost.Occasionally, you do annoy people with your cell. But when you realize it, you stop.

How's" Your Cell Phone Etiquette?

Oh. My. Think I better work on this. If you take the quiz yourself, let me know how you do. Oh, and you can read HolyMama's post here.

Silently, I Fumed

Before (finally!) publishing a novel (I have mentioned that a time or two, haven't I???), I wrote articles. Actually, I still write them. Cut my teeth on article writing. Learned to "write tight" (yeah, yeah, bad grammar...) Even teach on the subject occasionally.

Anyhoo, I've got a piece in the latest issue of Focus on the Family magazine that I showed to my visiting bro-in-law last week. The title of this post comes from his fave line in this story, the one he repeated often throughout the week (mocking me, perhaps?)

Read here to see what I was fuming about, and why I kept losing my shoes. My poor hubby....;0

Weekend Signing

Thanks to all who came out to Barnes & Noble for the Local Author's Day event! (And on such a fabulous beach day too :)

A sticky note, huh

It's a funny thing about sticky notes. Some people in my fam (okay, it's the guys) don't get it.

"Something's wrong with your blog."

"Your blog's messed up."

"I think there's an error on your blog."

Oh. My. It's a sticky note, people. Like a post-it at the top of the screen, an immovable message.

"Scroll down for daily posts!" I tell them, but do they listen? Not.

Tell me, dear regular readers, that you get it. You do, don't you???

Ugh. Here's the thing. I wanted to keep a message at the top of my blog all summer, so I had to list a later date than the rest of my posts--otherwise my Important Message would get overridden by my other posts, capiche?

Bottom line: I love my guys. Even tho' they don't get it. Here's hoping they stop telling me my blog's a mess...;)

Snippets from the Central Coast

Oh, the wind and the waves, the majestic bluffs and the fabulous seafood. I just love Cambria, Ca. So sleepy. So relaxing. So go-jus. While various family members toured Hearst Castle, that mansion by the sea, my girlies and I hung by the Inn's pool. So easy going I could pinch myself. Wish we were still there, but alas, we're back.

That's okay 'cuz tomorrow the fun continues. Then on Saturday I have a booksigning. And I haven't decided what to wear :0

When my bro-in-law, niece and nephew leave, they'll take with them a piece of our hearts. It's hard to have family living so far away, but I'm glad we've had this chance to reconnect, to travel together, and even to share a hotel. Did I tell you that I spent last night wandering around, looking for a place to land? LOL Because of a late night card game, those of us wanting sleep dared not curl up in the suite's living room where the revelers hung out. Once the games were finally done, and the beds taken, I ended up with a comforter on the couch. Not to worry. Slept like a baby after a bottle filled with warm milk :)

Did I mention how much we'll miss them when they go?

Two flowers, five bucks

After all that walking at D'land, our dogs were wiped, so I took the girls for pedis. Hot pink for Teen niece, cool coral for Pre-teen (almost teen ;) daughter, and a sort of soft melon for moi. Elementary girl opted for a mani in a sweet watermelon shade. The girlies all got the flowers. Let me just say, we're well bonded now (not like we weren't before, but still.) After that, we noshed on pizzas, slurped cones at Marble Slab...then went to the beach and sandied up our new toes. Hey, we're on vacation.

Speaking of toesies, found this cool link to OPI studios where you can preview polishes on hands much too nice to be mine, but give the idea anyway. It's like a video game for gals. Men so don't get this. Anyway, thanks to mommy-to-two where I found the link. I'm off to try on some Dust Over Cairo...

It's a world of laughter...

Got in about 2 am this morning from 15-odd hours with the mouster himself, Mickey Mouse. Snapped this pic while in Small World (in case you didn't already guess :) and you know what? I don't think this ride has changed at all since I was the kid looking on all googly eyes (now I'm just a googly-eyed adult). Anyhoo, in addition to singing through small world with our visiting family members, we also rode the Matterhorn, saw Captain Jack at Pirates of the "Carobini" (that's what we call it around here :), and flew over the golden state in a simulated plane ride over at Disneyland's other half, California Adventure. Also managed to see both the fireworks show and Fantasmic. Sweet!

Later this week, Universal Studios and Hearst Castle, here we come...

What're you up to?

And the winner is...

Teen Niece randomly chose the winner of a signed copy of Chocolate Beach:

Bichonpawz of Bermudabluez

Congrats!!!

BYOC (bring your own chocolate)

Anyone else noticed that there's more traffic on the road...and less on the Internet? Apparently the American people have hit the highways and byways for the much-anticipated vacation. At the moment, I'm sitting here waiting for our vacation to arrive. That would be our bro-in-law, niece and nephew from Ohio. They touch down in just a few, and we'll be celebrating. Ya-hoo!

Speaking of celebrating, I found Truffles by the Sea way early on Amazon. No blurb, no cover, but still there in all its ISBN glory.

So to celebrate these two mah-velous events, how about a free book? Yep, I'm in a giving mood, so leave me a comment and I'll have one of our guests pick a name from a box on Sunday (because I rarely wear hats these days), then I'll sign a copy of Chocolate Beach and send it on to the winner. If you've already got a book--a thousand blessings on you!!! Feel free to send your friends on over instead :)

Genre Poll

PollPub.com Vote

So Whatcha Readin'?

Mystery and/or Suspense. Mwwaaah...
Make me cry like you mean it! I want Drama.
I so love the -Lits!
Reading? Is that even fun?



View Results

Poll powered by PollPub.com Free Polls

We're doing swimmingly

I've been awol from the computer all day because of last day of school doings for my kiddos. In between all the driving I did find some time to sit by and watch 26 3rd graders scream and splash and carry on at a pool party. They swam (if you can call it that) for four hours. FOUR hours. And not a drop in their energy levels. As for the parents, not so much. While the kids' energy levels rose, the parents' dropped significantly.

Although I've already made several trips up to school today, I'm on my way back this eve. for a graduation ceremony. Vacation--take me away! Can you relate or what?

AGAIN with the funny church videos. My son found another one that cracks. me. up. Think Dwight Schrute as your friendly neighborhood church greeter (that's an Office reference, for the uninitiated.) Anyhoo, I tried to upload the video, but no go, so you'll have to click on over to see it: http://youtube.com/watch?v=esKvdidOvLI

~~~

FOUND this kewl review of Chocolate Beach the other day. Totally unexpected. Love when that happens.

~~~

I'M OFF to jump back on the edit train, coffee on one side of the desk, chocolates on the other, LOL Things are chuggin' along. Truffles by the Sea here I come...

monday randomness

Wisdom-filled remark of the day, by Teen Son: "It's best not to cook bacon without a shirt on."
~
I've consumed more chocolate in the time it's taken to write Chocolate Beach and Truffles by the Sea, than all the rest of my years put together.
~
I never had the privilege of meeting author Jane Orcutt, but from what I've read, the world became a better place with her in it. Jane passed away recently, leaving behind her husband, two teenage sons, and a many writing mentees. To honor her, and to help her family, friends of Jane have launched a new website showcasing her books. So sweet. Please go take a look.
~
And I leave you with this. My brother, Mike Navarro, is an animator and the co-owner of renderRocket. Mikey just sent me the latest project from George Lucas. If you love old musicals like I do, you. must. see. this.:

George Lucas has digitally re-mastered and restored the American classic Singin' In the Rain. The way Gene Kelly originally intended it.

Friday Foto Ahhhh...

Damselfly sent me this pic of Coki Beach on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Beautiful! I want to go there. (Hear that, Honey? :)

My bloggity friend also has a second blog I like. At Celebrating a Life you can "contribute your stories of inspiration, or celebrate the life of someone you love." Go on over and say, Hey.

If you'd like to contribute a beachy themed picture for Friday Fotos, drop me an email through my website. Thanks, and happy weekend, my friends!

on the agenda...

So there's work to do? I'm thinking about all the stuff we'll be doing when my niece & nephew arrive next week: Disneyland, Hearst Castle, kayaking, boating, Universal Studios, Griffith Park Observatory...loooong siestas, LOL Seriously, we'll be sleeping at home on most nights, but the the rest of the days'll be one zippity zip whirlwind. Can't. Wait!

But wait I'll have to do. In the meantime, Thursday'll be an all-writing, all-the-time day for moi. So why not check out some of my bloggity friends to the right on the side bar? And don't miss Deena's site where you just might win a book (a free book! what's not to love?) Then come on back tomorrow for Friday Fotos! and see what Damselfly sent me.

Until Friday...

Knew it!

Okay, so last night I was walking around the house saying, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight!" And it's true! There's glorious sunshine everywhere. (Only drawback is it highlights the dustbunnies :)

But after the weeks of May gray and June gloom, even the drawbacks are worth it!

Excuse our mess...we live here

Nine days until family arrives from Ohio. Left to do:

~ Clean carpets ~ Oil cabinets ~ Kill weeds ~ Bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan ~ Buy new carpet for dining room ~ Rip down the teeny bopper posters from girls' room ~ Put posters back up after seeing holes in the walls ~ Buy new towels ~ Clean all bedding ~ Look at Real Estate ads ~ De-stink Teen Son's room (is that even possible???) ~ Remove contact lenses so as not to actually see all the dirt ~ Take a crash cooking course ...

Hopefully they don't read my blog, LOL ;)

c'mon summer!

Happy Monday! We're counting down in the Carobini household~

* End of school
* Edits of Truffles by the Sea due
* Visit from my brother in law, nephew & niece from Ohio (can't wait!)

So last evening around 7, hub, the girls and I took hot chocolate to the beach to unwind (Teen Son wasn't home). The picture appears much lighter than the sky actually looked. It may be June but we were wearing sweatshirts and gloves (me), while keeping ourselves warm with the cocoa.

Today it's back to the countdown. The kids all have finals and projects to complete. I've got edits to tackle. And the house must be spotless by the time our family arrives from the East. How about you? What are you facing? Any important deadlines?

That's what I thought :) Well then. To all of us, here's to finishing well!

Have you sent yours today :)?

Friday Fotos!

Found this on the beach some time last year (okay, regular readers have seen this one before). With all the tumbling debris and changing tides and romping dogs, it amazed me to find this sand dollar so unbothered, so intact. When I look at it, I think that's how I should be. I belong to God, after all, so shouldn't I be able to handle the shifting sands? The frothing, sometimes tumultous crests? A few rascally dogs?

Yeah, that's what I thought too.

The sun's supposed to peek out again today--Halleluia for that!--so I'm going to tear myself away from this addictive computer and get outside today. If you've got a beachy-themed pic you'd like to share on this blog, send me an email and I'll post it right here and include some linky love :)

Have a fabulous, beachy weekend, my friends!