Sea worthy

By now the good news has circumnavigated the globe that 16 year old Abby Sunderland from nearby Thousand Oaks, CA has been located ~ and she's fine. Woot! Her boat, Wild Eyes, not so much. Reports say the mast broke, disabling the boat.

What's been disheartening, though, are the unkind comments at the end of many of the reports. Everything from suggesting her parents be thrown in jail to charging the family for the rescue bill.

Oh, brother.

I wonder how many of the most outspoken (and profane!) critics have kids glued to Facebook rather than outside creating their own adventures. Or how many have kept their thoughts to themselves as our taxes pay for things like a school district's money-draining $725,000 pizza vending machine or $2.2 million for skylights in a state-run liquor warehouse?

I'd rather my kids stay purposeful, and taxes be used to protect life.

Does the idea of a teen girl sailing solo around the world make me think twice? Yes. It does. One of my daughter's turns 16 this summer and I. can't. imagine! When I learned about Abby I worried over all the unthinkables: capsizing, pirates, sharks...

But I've also been inspired by her. With the support of family, she trained and pursued a dream. I've do doubt that her quest has or will inspire teen girls around the world to not let age or gender ~ or couch potato-itis ~ stop them from putting their dreams into action, too. And although the mothers among us secretly hope Abby will stay on dry land for awhile, chances are she'll be back in the water in no time~ a little more experienced now ~ and sailing toward another goal.

Beach Ridez

So I'm driving along the other day and I see this cool old car and the first thing I think is "Beach." (The second thing I think is "take a picture!") I'm all for luxury (hubby will attest to it), but something about a ranch wagon with sea colored paint, white walls, and sweet longevity makes me long for ride like this to use strictly for pretty beach days. This ride was made for sandy feet and piles of boogie boards (in my mind, anyway :)

Then there's the Thing. I grew up in an area of LA that teemed with VWs. My brother Danny is the ONLY person I know who gets my mini-obsession with them, but he's only 16 months younger than me so he grew up with them too. Over the years, I've owned four VWs, in different styles, but never a Thing. This is a cherried-out one I found last year. Isn't she pretty? Hubby thinks I'm nuts, but wouldn't this be a groovy ride to throw a board into (you know, if I surfed and all ...) and take a spin out to the Rincon (ala Beach Boys)?

If I had a choice, I'd take the Thing, no doubt. But if someone bequeathed me the Country Sedan in sea blue, I wouldn't squawk ... ;-) How about you?

Pool party!

I'm on my way out the door to a pool party for the middle school group I lead with my pal, Missy. Since September, we've met twice a month with a group of 7th grade girlies, usually at my home, but the past couple of weeks we've switched things up a bit. Tonight for their summer send-off, we'll be swimming at my folks' house on the warmer side of town :)

The photo was sent to me by reader, Emma Casey Griffiths (center). She and a couple of friends started a book club recently, and their inaugural read was -- get this -- my 2007 novel, Chocolate Beach. What a kick! Emily's note and the photo is such an honor!

Don't they look like they're having fun?

I guess that's why this photo fit so well with my post. I'm thinking about all the chats about God, life, and boys that Missy and I have had with our sweet middle school girls this year. I'm thinking about the sober discussions, the questions, and the laughter into the night. Most of all, I'm thinking about friendships, and how we help each other survive the sighs and groanings of this crazy world.

I'm dashing off to cook up hot dogs and pour lemonade. Here's to the start of summer fun, and most of all, to friendships!

thankful ...

Dan had business in wine country on Friday, so I did what any smart wife would do and went with him :) Wandered around downtown Napa waiting for him and his business partner, then the three of us slid into the only open spot at Bouchon, a very French ooh-la-la kind of restaurant in Yountville. I mentioned this to my sister-in-law, who's in the know about Napa, and after gasping she said, "How did you get in there without a reservation?!" All I can say is the guys were wearing their power suits...so maybe that had something do with it. Lol...as for me, I was just lucky. Had lobster bisque over crab cake for lunch and enjoyed every sip/bite!

After a whirlwind couple of days touring through Napa (lots of cheese and chocolate at Dean & Deluca!) and Sonoma (lunch on the plaza!), we flew home Saturday night, landing in Burbank. My new nephew "Luca" decided to show up a week early, so D and I drove straight from the airport to Cedars-Sinai hospital to meet the little bundle. Ahhh...so precious and cute-cute-cute!

Today is Memorial Day, and we're home, flying our flag proudly. As we landed the other night at the airport, the flight captain reminded us to remember those in the military who gave their all for us ~ and to offer up a prayer for them. That's exactly what I plan to do this day. Have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are.

Pack your beach tote contest!

Celebrating summer's imminent arrival (woot!) with a fun new contest over at Fresh Fiction!

First prize: copy of Sweet Waters and a sling back book chair!

Second prize: Life is Good at the Beach sign from Julie's Beach Shop!

Click on the Fresh Fiction link to enter, and have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :)

Prom daze

So my baby attended his senior prom on Saturday. Back in the day, I went to the prom with my brother's friend (cue the violins). Actually, he was fun and he liked to dance, which is all I cared about. Just didn't want to sit and watch everyone else cuttin' a rug while my date and I made origami with our napkins. Know what I mean?

Matt met his date at her house along with TEN other friends. From what I hear they had a boss time. Wait ... they probably don't say that anymore. Hm. Anyway, he said they laughed, ate, danced, then went back to his date's home for a late night swim. Seriously good memories.

Speaking of memories...it's time for you to share yours. Be they happy or strange or downright pathetic, you can share it here. Just keep it clean. See more prom photos on my facebook :)

She sells seashells ...

I've always thought it romantic to run a beach shop with all kinds of sea-inspired things, like signs and shells and cool frames. One thing I'd never stock? Shark's teeth ~ ba! But all the frilly stuff, uh-huh, I'd like that.

So last fall I opened up a mini-version of my dream called Julie's Beach Shop. It's been a kick to get orders from all over the country (most recent from Arizona :). One thing I cannot seem to keep in my shop, though, are beach signs from Danielson Designs. Got a new shipment recently and had two sold before we marked them 'in-stock' online.

Can't say that I blame the buyers, though. So pretty. And made in the USA (Colorado, to be precise), by a charity-minded, hard-working family. Their sweet story gave me goosebumps when I read it, so I hope you'll read it too. Read about Danielson Designs here. You can also read about how they help build freshwater wells through charityis.

After that, get ready for summer ~ cuz itsa comin'!

If I could be a bird ...

Don't you love this picture? Author Kathleen Y'Barbo put it up on Facebook and I asked her if I could swipe, er, borrow it to post here. It's a photo from Galveston, Tx, a place I've only visited in the pages of Coastal Living :) The shine on that wave barreling onto shore reminds me of Jello! Ahhh ... another place I'd like to visit sometime.

Kathleen's got all kinds of books coming out soon. Stop by and say 'hey' to my southern friend: KathleenYBarbo.com

P.B....I love you

Love Pismo Beach. Hubby had a business meeting up there Friday night (I know, rough). First a cocktail party at an associate's swanky beach front home, then dinner in Shell Beach. Only had one night to spend in Pismo, but the hotel we stayed in was ocean front ... which meant waves crashing. All. Night. Love that sound.

Our daughters were at Disneyland all day, (thanks Mom for making sure they caught their rides!) and our son working, so Dan and I took our time driving down the coast, even stopping for burgers at the Padaro Beach Grill in Carpinteria before reaching home. The girls tumbled in about 1:30am (Sunday) all wound up about hangin' with Mickey for most of the day, and then we were up and out the door by 6:45am for a soccer tourney in the desert some 90 minutes inland (which explains the large amounts of coffee we both consumed :).

That's a pic of me on our Saturday morning walk. The fog hung low but we didn't care. Neither did the dozens of other beachcombers we encountered along the way. By the way, that's my raggedy pink beach jacket, the one I've worn so long that it's got fun little pinholes in various places. I'm quite sure my family's pretty embarrassed by it now, but it makes me all warm and cozy on those foggy central California beach days, so it's not going anywhere. Lol...

Have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are.

Chill out

So yesterday I found myself relaxing for a few minutes while sitting in my car next to the soccer field. Between my laptop, iPhone and stray signals that are easy to catch, working every minute of the day is a *snap* ... so no wonder we're all so tired! When's the last time you stared into nothingness? (and I'm not talking about prime time TV ... ;0).

One day my son noticed I hadn't updated all my apps on my phone, so he did that for me. (Sweet boy ... not :) The next think I knew, my phone buzzed (and buzzed and buzzed) every time I received a Facebook comment or like or wall post. Don't get me wrong...I love receiving those. Just not 24/7. Know what I mean? Last week I figured out how to switch off that feature, and now my phone has calmed a bit (and the battery's lasting longer too!)

My point is this: We all need time to chill. I love this passage from Psalm 127:2 (The Message): Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves? Yay, God! He created rest for a reason. I know that when I take that time, even if it's for a few minutes of watching the clouds float lazily across a nearby soccer field, that it's a GOOD thing!

Then, after that, I'm ready to tackle both life's work and the fun stuff like FB again. Can you relate?

Have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are ... or else! :-)

Ducks on Kayaks

So yesterday we celebrated Mother's Day dinner at Duke's in Malibu. Eleven of us had a table right at the window overlooking the water. Why did I not get a picture??! Probably too mesmerized ... haha. Earlier in the afternoon, the girls and I headed to Venice Beach and hung out with my brother who lives a few steps from the canals. You might recall my previous post about the Venice Canals being a little piece of Italy.

So anyway, a beautiful day to walk the canals and looky-loo at open houses on the water. For a measly 2.5 mil, you too can have your own piece of paradise! My teen daughter was all over it. "We can relocate ~ you can write from anywhere, Mom!!!" Somehow I think she'd get tired of eating all those beans and rice ... :)

Took this photo on one of the north facing canals. Even though it looks like he's hit the water, that duck on the right is actually airborne. Funny, huh?

Kickin' back ...

My parents gave me this Adirondack chair for my birthday (along with table and foot rest ~ yes!), and I love it. I love it because if it had a voice it would be saying, "Girl, get over here and sit a spell." (It's inspired by all the southern friends I've made lately ... :)

And I do. Not nearly enough, but I do. Last evening, after way too many hours in front of the computer and steering wheel, I grabbed my copy of Coastal Living and a cool drink and wandered outside to that chair beneath my palm trees. Very ahhh...!

What do you do to force yourself to take a rest without every leaving home? Feel free to send me a photo of your kick-back place and I'll try to post it here some time in the near future. Send to julie at juliecarobini dot come

Have a beachy day weekend, my friends ~ wherever you are!

summer dreaming

Unlike last week, the sun's been out and making me long for summer. Just think! No taxi driving in the wee hours, or late night homework sessions. Ahhhh...just sand in my toes and shallow waves lapping onto shore. Oh yeah, and writing. Lots of that :)

Took this pic when visiting a friend of a friend's beach house last month (did I mention I spotted Kevin Costner surfing that day??). Anyway, this is the view from their master bedroom. Can you imagine waking up to that endless blue ocean each day? So dreamy ...

Ad-libbing winners!

Congrats to Daniel & Denise Harmer, winners of the Ad-Libbing contest over on Tamara Leigh Kelly's Blog. Their post is up, so please head on over and add a line or two. I really want to know how the heroine skirts that tidal wave. Or does she ... ?

Out of my routine

So I like to think of myself as this laid back beach chickie who can move with the waves, but the truth is I'm more tied to routine that I'd like to admit.

I usually get up in the morning, throw on a robe and flip flops, then make my youngest child's lunch (the older ones fend for themselves). But today the kitchen was abuzz, so I switched things up. I decided to get myself ready first with plans to make her lunch when everyone else was done. Only I forgot. And because of some weird school scheduling, I had to take 2 kids to 2 different schools at about the same time. Rats.

Thankfully I'd already swigged a latte so I flew into action, smearing p'nut butter on bread, wrapping it up and tossing it into a bag while flinging instructions to pre-teen girl about other things to add. We then made the trek to the two schools, making it to the second one with several minutes to spare...ahhh!

My daughter Angie took this photo of a sea turtle floating around at the aquarium in Denver. I'm kinda envious of that little guy right now. Know what I mean? Lol ...

Have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :-)

Thoughts on Idol

UPDATED: Who do you think'll go home tonight? Hard call, but I'm going to guess ... Siobhan. (I like her ~ just a guess!)

Okay, so last year (and the year before, and so on...), readers could pop in here after American Idol and we'd discuss the group of contestants, i.e., who rocked, who didn't, who might go home, etc., etc. But I don't know...this year's kind of dull. Maybe I've still been missing Paula, as I mentioned in this post earlier this season. Or maybe I've been sore that Alex Lambert got kicked off too earlier, as mentioned in this post. Or maybe the competition has just grown tiresome.

What do you think?

That said, I think Casey James is a cutie (and yes, dh knows I think this), and that Lee's got some interesting chops. I think Casey, Lee and Crystal are the ones with distinct voices, and that because of that, one of them will win it.

Just yesterday, teen daughter and I were driving along (and did I mention that she got her driving permit last week ???), and we heard a new song on the radio. We stopped talking and listened. "I know that voice," I said. It sounded warm and familiar. "Yeah, that's Kris Allen," she replied. I sat back. "Of course!"

So I guess we're watching with a more critical ear these days :-) ... how about you?

A favor ... and the view

Heard it through the email grapevine yesterday that the ACFW Book Club is voting on the August book selection and ~A SHORE THING ~ made the list (woot :). Would you consider voting for it? You have to be a book club member, and it's FREE to join. Just send a blank e-mail to: acfwbookclub-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Then head on over to the yahoo book club site, click on "polls" (& vote for A Shore Thing :)) THANKS for considering this!

Okay, on to other things. We spent much of the weekend inland watching our youngest play in a soccer tourney. Let me just say ~ we got some sun! We're talking you-have-to-wear-a-tank-top-&-flip-flops-weather! But then we rolled back onto the coast and right into ... FOG. By the brrr in the air, you would have never guessed that we had sweltered much of the day beneath a gigantic heat lamp in the sky.

But as the saying goes, it's all good. (Am I the only one who hears that all the time???) Thinking about the different climates as close as my backyard, reminded me of other differences. Like this photo of the Atlantic Ocean from reader Wendy. Years ago, our fam rented a house in Nags Head on the Outer Banks and experienced the differences, like high humidity and a sun that rises out of water.

Whaa? Where we live along the west coast, people descend on the beaches at night to watch the sun sink into the sea, but on the east coast, it's all about the sunrises! Super fun for a visit when all the deadlines and other work brouhaha has been set aside, but since I'm NOT a morning person, this would never do on a regular basis ;-)) You?

Beachy Pennsylvania

Published poet, songwriter and author (and photographer :), Wendy, sent in this charming photo taken at Rickett Glen State Park, Pennsylvania. My husband Dan's from PA, but I'd never heard of this beautiful area so I checked and it's in the Northeast. Hubby's from the Northwest of the state.

26 miles of hiking, including a BEACH trail that wends around a lake! I think I know where we'll be visiting on our next trip back east ... :)

Thanks Wendy of the Promotingandme blog for sending in this pic (and the others that will posted before summer!).

Have you taken any photos of a snowy beach? I'd love to share them and your link on this blog. Send them to julie at juliecarobini dot com.

HAPPY Monday Tuesday! Finished up two big deadlines this weekend and somehow missed posting yesterday. The good news is that, after some tweaking, my 2011 release is now off to my editor, Karen (woot!) And after another proofing, my July 2010 release A Shore Thing, is off to the printers.

Speaking of A Shore Thing, B&H Books, decided to add some pizazz to the cover. Instead of plain white lettering, aqua and coral now splash across the front. I'm told that when it's all spiffed up and printed, the seastar and the water will be "sparkly" ~ perfect to sit on coffee tables everywhere (wink, WINK :)

Reviews are already circulating. You can see some of them here: A Shore Thing: Otter Bay Series #2

Come back tomorrow when I'll be posting a couple of go-jus seaside photos sent in from reader Wendy. Until then, have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :-)

Seeing the light ...

Maya over at Completely Coastal sent me this photo of Castle Hill Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island. Beautiful! I've had a book in me about a lighthouse, so maybe this is a sign :-)

It looks like sunset to me, but could it be daybreak? Maybe Maya will pop in later and let us know.

Also wanted to announce that the winner of the 'small-talk' sign from juliesbeachshop.com is ... LAURA LANG. Congrats, Laura! Thanks to all who signed up for my occasional newsletter. Watch for fun exclusives in your inbox soon!

And have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :)

Here comes the judge ...

Remember back in school when the teacher would start a story with just one line? And as it went around the class room each student took a turn to add to it? Remember how funny they would get or how cool they would sound? Now it's available on a blog. Join in! Have some fun! Share your creativity!

That's the lead in to Tamara's Ad-Libbing Blog, and this week, she's holding a contest for the best lines that add to a story. Fun part for me is I get to judge :) Fun part for the winner? They'll receive $25 to Amazon (woot!)

So ... lots to win this week. Subscribe to my mailing list and you might receive a cool beach sign (see post below). Give ad-libbing a try and you might win bucks to Amazon.

On another note, our water heater blew out this weekend and the water's been so brrrr. But the plumbers are here now so woo-hoo, hot water is on its way. Off to grab a shower, and wash some dishes, and do the laundry ... ah, necessities!

I'll check in on the contests soon, though, so have f-u-n with those. And have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are!

Happy Birthday to Me ...

and a gift for one of you! Sign up on my blog sidebar or website for my occasional newsletter and be entered to win this 'small talk' sign available in Julie's Beach Shop. This 8.5″ wide x 2.75" tall reads: May you always have a shell in your pocket & sand in your shoes.

Is that cute or what?!

This giveaway ends Wednesday, April 14 at noon 'cuz I'm getting ready to send out some news soon. If you're already a subscriber to my newsletter, THANKS and don't despair! I plan to offer more giveaways in the near future.

Have a beautiful and beachy Sunday, my friends ~ wherever you are :)

Caron's Beach Photo

Meet fellow beachcomber Caron, a Twitter friend and the author of the warm and happy Everything Coastal blog. She recently moved from the Pacific northwest to the Bay area of California and runs an online shop called Caron's Beach House with to-die-for coastal decor. Caron sent me this photo from a recent weekend visit to Stinson Beach, just north of San Francisco.

"I always think that kids are so wonderful to watch at the beach," she said, "No fear of the wave, the cold or the wet sand."

I totally agree, Caron. Thanks for sharing your photo with us!

spring break at the beach

So busy writing and traveling these days that I sort of forgot spring break started this week. Tons to do, and yet the weather has been warm and the kids are home, so we've taken advantage of the extra minutes away from school (and work for me). I posted one of these pics on my Facebook page yesterday from my visit to a friend-of-a-friend's beach pad in Carpinteria. Oh!...to move there forever. I think heaven'll have a view like this, don't you? :) Seriously, the photos just don't do justice to this quintessential beach cottage!

Ah, well. Couple of things for you today ~

SuperMom is giving away a copy of Sweet Waters via her blog, What You Reading Now? Stop by, peruse her blog, and leave a comment, and you might win a copy to read on the beach/lake/cruise/etc. this summer :)

Also, thanks to those who've sent their beach photos. I've got room for more, so keep 'em coming! Make sure to send me the link to your blog or website too so I can post that along with your photo. The first submission goes up this Friday.

In the meantime, have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are!

Wanted: Your Beach Photos

The sun is out on the central coast, and it has inspired me to clean up my house and yard. Something about those warm rays of sunshine gets me motivated to throw on some flip flops and give my home a (loooong overdue) makeover. Okay, so far I've only gotten through one room, but at least it's a start!

But some bloggity friends live in areas where the sun's still playing hide and seek, so I thought it would be fun to inspire them from afar ... with YOUR photos. Have one you'd like to share with us? If you've been on a beach vacation or live near the water ... even a lake, feel free to send a snapshot to julie (at) juliecarobini (dot) com. Or maybe you're one of those still socked in by snow. If you have a picture from a beach trip, send it on. I'll do my best to post them between now and summer, along with a link to your blog.

Okay, I'll start. This is a pic from our recent trek to Santa Monica for my daughter's beach soccer tourney. I stood at the edge of the pier and snapped this shot north toward Malibu. GREAT weekend in So Cal!

Send me those pics! And have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :)

Halleluia

Enjoy your family, friends and blessings today.

Happy Easter!

up in the trees

Hey Friends! Spent a week in the beautiful northern California redwoods at Mt. Hermon. With so much to do at the writer's conference, I was thankful for all that fresh oxygen and easy-on-the-eyes scenery around me!

My mom, Elaine Navarro, and I shared a room that had a view of towering trees. Ahhhh! What I love about this area is that we're in the mountains, but the beach is a mere 10-15 min. drive away. Crazy, huh?

While I was away, SuperMom posted a review of Sweet Waters over at her What You Reading? blog. If you haven't had a chance to pick up my latest beach read, stop on over and leave a comment ~ you might win a copy, gratis!

Off to cook dinner for the fam. Have a beachy Friday, my friends, wherever you are :)

Writing with the fishies

I started this post DAYS ago, but mi familia has needed me extra lately, it seems. Preteen girl had a "Country Report" due today (A shout out to Rel of Relz Reviews who lives in Australia, my daughter's assigned country :). Another daughter has a wacky schedule, so I've been taxiing her a lot. And I've also been getting ready to head up to the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference tomorrow, a beautiful spot among the redwoods!

Excited about the conference, not only because I'll have the chance to hang with crazy writer-people like myself, but I also need a break from the chaos (read: worries, messy house, etc.). Seriously, I've begun to feel like those confused, crowded and manic fishies in the picture.

And although Mt. Hermon is on a mountaintop in Northern California, it's only a short drive to Santa Cruz beaches ... woot! Have a beachy weekend, my friends ~ wherever you are :) I'll post "celebrity sightings" as I can.

Closer to 'Shore' ...

What a delightful and heartwarming read! A Shore Thing is a beautiful book about family, friendship, love, commitment, keeping promises, faith, and hope. ~Tweezlereads.blogspot.com

Received the galley of A Shore Thing at 7:55 am. Woot ~ love the way B&H designed the pages. So far, pre-release reviews have been favorable (double woot :) Love the one above. Here's another nice one, recently posted by Carrie Padgett on her blog Chocolate, No Nuts.

By the way, this is a pic of my wily shelter pup, Charlie, the inspiration for the cover of A Shore Thing. And oh, yeah, I'm in the pic too ...

Have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :)

Sea Things

So yesterday I finished the draft of my 2011 release. Still not sure what we're titling it :) Then I ran across this picture that my daughter took last summer at the Denver Aquarium. See the open anemones there on the top left? The heroine in the book I just wrote develops an affection for the creatures. For research, I used a 20 page college term paper that I wrote on the anemone way back when :) Knew that paper would come in handy some day! Lol

Thumbs up

Had an icky morning and needed a laugh. And a trip to the beach. This cartoon provided both. Ha!

On another note, saw that Sweet Waters is down to 10.19 on Amazon today. Sweet price, if you're interested (cheaper for Kindle). A Shore Thing priced the same for now. Huzzah

Have a beachy Wednesday, my friends ~ wherever you are :-)

A bit of Italy in California ...

After the first day of beach soccer, we stopped by my brother and wifey's house in Venice. They live near the canals, which were created in the early 1900s to be reminiscent of Venice, Italy. My brother proposed on one of the bridges ~ oh so romantique! Until a few years ago, I'd never been there. And I grew up near LA so that's just weird. But now I've been to the canals twice, and love 'em. You can stroll along and say hello to people chillin' on their back decks. Very pricey area but also kind of understated and quiet.

Of course, just a few blocks away is Venice Beach. Which is anything but understated. For instance, a clown on stilts crossed a busy street in front of us, but I was in too much awe to snap a picture ... Lol

More on the Venice Canals.

Beach Soccer

Never been to a beach soccer event before, but pre-teen girl's team played in one today at Santa Monica beach. Sand spraying, players falling, soccer balls bouncing in weird directions ... super fun to watch (but brutal to play!) Had to put ice on pre-teen girl's bruised foot after two fast paced games.

Between games, some of the girls and my brother, Dan, from Venice took a couple of trips on the pier roller coaster. Great end to a stressful week!

Happy Sunday tomorrow ~ don't forget to move your clocks forward! More pics on Monday :-)

American Idol, the results

I chose this YouTube clip because it's all audio. Sweet kid, unique voice, not same ol'. So sorry Alex did not make it into the Top 12 (for the record, my teen daughter has promised never to watch AI again! :)

Hope he gets a record deal soon. We got this one wrong, America. Also sad to see Katelyn and Lilly go (what?!).

Happy Friday, my friends. Have a beachy weekend ~ wherever you are!

American Idol, the Guys

I've gotta say, the guys sang better last night than I'd predicted. My faves: Aaron, Tim, Casey and (this one's for you, Ang) Alex. I know Big Mike got the kudos of the night ~ Kara sobbed ~ but it didn't move me that much. Fickle, fickle, I know, but I'm on the receiving end of such fickleness sometimes myself. One reviewer will say that a book I wrote touched them deeply, while another will say they didn't get the story at all. Go figure.

Honestly, I've no idea who'll be out tonight. I'd have to guess maybe Andrew and Todrick. Andrew got slammed by the judges and Todrick is seen more as a musical theater performer/dancer. Tough night for anyone to leave considering the remaining contestants will be in the Top 12.

I'll probably watch from Twitterland. Maybe I'll see you there? :-)

American Idol, the Girls

Favorites from American Idol last night: Didi, Crystal, and Siobhan. Liked Katelyn and Lacey too. Btw, does anyone else think Ryan has a crush on Katelyn? Seems obvious to me, but I'm writing a romance right now so maybe I'm over thinking the way he looks at her just a beat longer than the others... Lol

Who do you think'll go? Hmm ... if I had to guess I'd say Katie and Paige.

Okay, I couldn't help putting up this pic of Danny Gokey doing the white man's overbite. Such a cutey patooty he is. Last year I wrote an article about Danny comin' to Ventura. If you missed it, you can find it at this link.

Off to work (and more coffee!). Have a beachy day, my friends, and don't forget: the guys sing tonight!

The busy season

Look closely and you'll see the ocean shimmering beneath that ominous cloud. Pre-teen girl had a couple of soccer scrimmages in Malibu over the weekend and she played early to beat the rain. That's the view from the soccer field at Malibu High. Nice, huh?

Life's been crazy-crazy busy lately, more so than I like. We all have our seasons of that, and this seems to be mine. I could've skipped the soccer match and stayed behind to work, but something about driving along PCH on a drizzly day drew me. Teen daughter and I watched my girlie play soccer while huddled beneath a wool blanket, then we left just as the first few drops fell. We stopped for coffee in the Trancas area, then enjoyed the ride along the coast (thanks, hubby :)

Today, it's back to work! How about you? Did you get the chance to enjoy the weekend, even if only for a little while? Maybe a little Oscar party or something? Lol Hope so!

Have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are!

Tsunami watch

Had a little excitement in Ventura over the weekend. That's me on the left with my friend, Angel, watching her boat dock float away. The earthquake across the world in Chile sent water surging through the Ventura harbor, wreaking havoc on more than a dozen boat docks attached to homes. Such a bummer, but no lives hurt or lost, so that's the good news. By the way, to the news helicopter pilot buzzing the beach area early Sunday morning, may you soon be awakened by the sharp call of an air horn in your ears...

AI says goodbye and a beach break!

Sad to see Joe an Janelle go, since both have nice chops, but wasn't surprised about the other two. Although I have to say, Tyler in a bathrobe and short boots make good television...Fox'll probably lose a few Nielson points for letting the 70s throwback go. Btw, Kris Allen's getting better and better, don't you think?

On to other things...

Yesterday I got super STUCK on the novel I'm writing. Unusual since I'm nearing the end and this is the spot when, normally, I'd race to the finish. But there's been a lot going on in our family lately, plus a cold last week, and I think my brain had all it could take. So yesterday afternoon, I threw on sweats and running shoes and hit the beach. Only for a little while, but woo-hoo, it opened things up for me. I realized that sitting alone in this tiny office every day doesn't exactly dredge up incredible creativity. Other than text messages with my kids all the livelong day ;), I was beginning to feel closed in and unimaginative.

But all that ocean spray awoke my senses. I watched waves crest like jade walls and fat plover skitter at my feet and the tide wash over glittery, smooth rocks. Ahhhh! It was good to get out of this office and go somewhere other than the grocery store and my kids' schools.

Here's hoping YOU can find a way to take a break at one of your favorite spots. Have a beachy weekend, my friends ~ wherever you are :-)

Idol Season begins

Watched American Idol in its entirety last night. Those of you who've been around awhile here on this blog know the obsession that Idol season usually brings. This year, though, I've been rather 'meh' about the whole thing. And I realized why: I miss Paula.

I know, I know, she was sometimes hard to figure. She could be wishy washy, and vague, and speak in purple prose (haha...like me). Nothing against Ellen. She's also someone who takes a more pollyannish view of the contestants, something they need after being pummeled by Simon and the others. But Paula's work in the music biz gave her an edge in the credibility department.

So on to the show... Last night, the Top 12 women sang and it was ... just okay. If I had to wager ~ haha, don't be accusing me of promoting gambling now ~ I'd say that Lacey and Michelle will go home. Third guess is Ashley. I liked them all, but two have to leave, so those are my guesses.

Mi favorita of the night was Katelyn Epperly in her 80s hair singing Oh Darlin.

What did you think?

Doesn't he look angelic?

Found this picture of Charlie the Dog on my iPhone. My daughter likes to dress him up occasionally, and he always complies. You'd think he had the sweetest disposition ever, you know, to put up with all that fussing. But you'd be wrong. We adopted Charlie over a year ago and he still doesn't like many people, but for some reason, he puts up with all of us. Go figure.

He was actually my model for Moondoggy in A Shore Thing (see sidebar). Moondoggy is irresistible too, but friendlier to strangers. Although maybe he'd rethink that if his family kept putting funny hats on him.

Ah, well! Have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :-)

Julia and Julie II

Sorry for the delay in posts. Been writing on deadline while juggling too many other hats, and it's taking longer than originally expected. Can you relate?

As I've said before, I'm working on a book set in and around the famed Hearst Castle, designed by architect Julia Morgan. Morgan was the first female to graduate from UC Berkely with a degree in Civil Engineering, and later, the first woman to receive a certificate in architecture from Ecole Nationale et Speciale des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

On a recent tour of the sprawling castle, we were shown this lean-to off one outer wall. This was Julia Morgan's office. She spent nearly 30 years working on that hill with some of the most expensive pieces of art from all over Europe, creating a lavish castle that hosted A-list celebrity guests ~ and she worked in a tiny, nearly windowless office. Phew, that woman got a lot done!

With the hot breath of this deadline scorching my neck, I'm looking for a non-distracting place to get my work done. So, I'm wondering...do you think they rent that thing out?

Heart thoughts

People often ask how long it takes to write a book, and don't hate me, but I usually pull a number out of the air. That's because in addition to the writing, there's also the research, and the plotting, and the editing, etc. I'm too unorganized to account for all that time, hence the reason I can't come up with a hard number on that.

So I'm in the thick of writing Otter Bay Novel #3. Love the story, but I'm oh-so-tired of sitting on my derriere. And frankly, I'm just plain, oh-so-tired.

Thankfully, my hubby makes me a latte every morning (yes!) Here's the one he made the other day, complete with his first attempt at creating a heart on top. I set it next to a book about the sea that sits on my nightstand, patiently waiting for me to crack open its pages and give it a look. I figure as soon as I'm done writing this book, then I'll have the time.

Just don't ask me how long that'll be... ;)

Maddy Curtis sings

Sadly, or maybe not so sadly (according to the fam), Maddy Curtis didn't make it through Hollywood Week on American Idol. Her mama's been a longtime friend, and a writer who many of you may know. Read Barbara's post on her Mommylife blog.

Have a beachy one, my friends ~ wherever you are!

After hubby's conference on Friday (and my marathon writing session in the hotel room), we were planning to head home for our daughter's soccer tourney. Because of rains, though, the tourney was canceled (Ok, all you in the east...go ahead and get your laughs out. We'll wait.)

So anyway, since we were no longer pressed for time, we stopped in Cambria on the way home. Cambria is the inspiration for my Otter Bay Novels, by the way. While there, I finally took Tour #2 at the famed Hearst Castle. You may remember this post when my girls and I got stuck in a 'gulley washer' up there on the central coast. We had tickets for the tour then, but due to dangerous winds, the castle had to be closed.

So glad the rain didn't close up The Ranch (as it's sometimes called) this time. Loved the tour! On the way up we spotted barbary sheep and black-tailed deer. Took gobs of notes for my work-in-progress, due out next year. You're gonna love it!

Hubby took this pic of me at the castle gift shop. It could be anywhere USA, but he thought it most appropriate to take my picture next to a glass dolphin. Lol...I agree :)

Pass me a hanky

I'm holed up in a hotel room far north of home today, writing as fast as I can. My hubby's attending an all day seminar, so I jumped at the chance to get some undistracted writing time. Of course, since I've been here I've been in touch with two out of three kids several times, played on the Internet, and eaten butter cookies for breakfast (a courtesy of the hotel). Lord, please help me write that killer scene today!

No view of the beach from here, but the mountains are pretty and I've got a late checkout (woo-hoo!). So here I go (again). Off to write a scene that's sure to break my heart...any wonder why I keep avoiding it?

On another note, Dear John comes out today. It's based on Nicholas Sparks' novel, which teen daughter and I loved. It also broke my heart into a million pieces and I can't wait to see it with her when I return. I'll try to save some Kleenex for then! (If you have a chance to see it, leave me a comment!)

Have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are!

Cry your eyes out

Sit back and enjoy this touching, beachy video.

still wingin' it

I do not miss all the smoochin' that former Bachelors relied on for ratings. There's nothing worse than a guy who tells a girl he's totally into her, makes out with her, then does the same thing with another girl the very next day (or next hour). Rinse, repeat.

That said, this season's a tad boring. If I wrote this kind of dialog into a novel, I'd never write again. Most overused line: "How are you?" blah, blah, blah. Maybe the other bachelors were boring too, but I was too busy being grossed out by all that tongue bathing to notice.

On the flip side, my daughters can watch with me without having to fast forward a hundred times. (I do, however, still remind them that when it comes to finding your man, "This is not how it's done." Yeah, and they love me for my reminders...)

Seriously, Jake seems like a genuinely nice guy, even with that smile that at times resembles the Joker's. He's kind-hearted and that's a good thing in a prospective husband. And I'm glad he had at least one semi-deep moment when Tenley asked him what he expected from a wife. He said "that she's always got my back" and "Respect." (On a side note, I called out to my husband, "Hey, do I always have your back?" Hubby: "Yeah, yeah, back." Me: "And do I respect you?" Hubby: "Hm? Yeah, respect. Yeah."

But my favorite moment came after Tenley asked Jake about pilots and cheating. He said, "Cheating's a choice. The woman I marry will be the last woman I look at."

Okay, now that was good.

Here birdy, birdy

A friend emailed this picture over. Apparently this little guy arrived on his deck looking sickly then took refuge on the rocks below. Due to storm run off oils that stick to their feathers, pelicans here on the west coast have been getting hypothermia. Our friend was able to catch the birdy and hold onto him until Pelican Rescue arrived. Good job!

Have a beachy Monday, my friends ~ wherever you are :-)