Pam Crooks

Pam has written 30 romances, most of them historical westerns, but she's proud of her contemporary sweet romances featuring the Blackstone Ranch series published by Tule Publishing, too! Stay up on the latest at www.pamcrooks.com

Racing Horses–Prestigious? Or Bizarre?

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My newest book, KIDNAPPED BY THE COWBOY, is in stores now.  Yee-haw!! 

 While writing KIDNAPPED BY THE COWBOY, I envisioned my hero, TJ Grier, having a thoroughbred horse as fine and swift as any capable of running—and winning—in today’s Kentucky Derby.  In the story, TJ risks all he has to buy this horse, down to his last dime.  He believes his horse, Blue Whistler, will be his salvation.

          So, to justify TJ’s goal, I had to build up to a race that was the race of all races.  But I had no idea if a competition as prestigious as the Kentucky Derby even existed in my time period of 1896, Texas.

I delved into the research and learned there wasn’t.

But here’s a bit of what I found–trivia about the Kentucky Derby.

          **Its predecessor, the Derby, was organized in England and held its first run in 1780.  Legend goes that in their desire to name the race, the 12th Earl of Derby tossed a coin with Sir Charles Bunbury.  Derby won, of course, but Bunbury goes down in the history books as being the owner of the very first Derby winner, Diomed.

         ** The American version of the Derby, the most prominent horse race in our country, was held at Churchill Downs on May 17, 1875.  The Kentucky Derby has never missed a race and each race has always been run at the same track.

          **A jockey club is not a club of jockeys, but instead a governing board of horsemen who regulate racing.

          Organized horse racing grew in popularity in Texas in the nineteenth century—in fact as early as 1838, the Houston Jockey Club formed; in 1869, so did the Dallas Jockey Club.  Fort Worth and Amarillo clubs eventually came, too.

          Races were held at state fairs and expositions, as I depicted in KIDNAPPED BY THE COWBOY.   Folks loved to come from miles around, not only for the entertainment, but for their gambling pleasures, too.  Race tracks were populated by bookies and harlots, military men, miners, Indians and Mexicans, as well as caravans of entire families crowding the roads with rigs of all shapes and sizes.  In addition to currency, wagers ranged from cattle, gold dust, gold mines, articles of clothing (baby slippers or serapes, to name a couple!) even the occasional piano.

          Folks took their betting seriously.  One large-boned wife of a small-boned jockey—so the story goes—put so much faith in her husband’s ability to win a certain race that she plunked her entire savings of $800 on the match.  Alas, his horse lost, and in her fury, she stuffed the little man into a sack and threw him into the river.  Luckily, a few of his quick-thinking neighbors dragged him out.

          Because of their ability to run fast for short distances up to a quarter mile, the quarter-horse was a favorite race-horse in the West.  They were compactly-built, strong, and able to make abrupt, sharp moves.  Cowboys were used to riding them during roundups and while working with cattle, so it’s little wonder spontaneous contests were cheered on in town streets, so many that laws had to be passed banning them.

Here’s a few of the more unusual games that cowboys around the world loved to master:

 

**The rooster shoot.  Despite its name, this one had nothing to do with a rooster.  The men lashed their right wrists together with rawhide thongs while mounted in the saddle.  At a signal, the horses began to race side by side until one rider pulled the other off his horse.  The winner was the man who was the strongest and most able to keep his seat.  Yeesh! 

**Roping grizzly bears.  Oh, my.  This one was especially popular in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.  Several cowboys would lasso the bear around his feet and neck, choking off his air to subdue him.  They’d then trail him back to town, taunting him along the way, baiting him to charge.  Once in town, they’d find a wild bull and pit them against each other.  Spectators cheered to see the bear kill the bulls until he eventually succumbed himself from being gored so many times.

 **Chicken pulling.  Now I wrote about this game in my book, THE MERCENARY’S KISS.  Using a rooster, duck or chicken, cowboys would either tie the bird to a tree or–more commonly–bury the chicken in the ground up to its neck.  Horsemen would race up to the bird, and whoever plucked it out of the ground was chased by the other riders.  The first rider to cross the finish line with the bird in hand was the winner–and got to keep the chicken as his prize.  (In Mexico, the vaqueros took the winnings a step further–by grandly presenting the fowl to the woman he most wanted to impress.)

So how about you?  Do you love horse races?  Or another kind of race?  What really gets the adrenaline going for you?  What have been some really bizarre races you’ve seen?  Or participated in?

Share your story, and you’ll be eligible to win a copy of KIDNAPPED BY THE COWBOY, the sequel to UNTAMED COWBOY!

 

 

Knee-Slappin’ Barbecue!

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It all depends where you’re from.

With Memorial Day coming up in a few days, and May being National Barbecue Month, folks all over the country are going to be firing up their grills, smokers and ovens, stirring their spices and mixing their sauces for that first big weekend to kick off summer.

Barbecue will be the name of the game.

How you do the meat will reflect which region you live in.  Barbecue experts not only suggested their best equipment  here but also have narrowed these regions down to four distinct ‘cue styles. 

Carolina Style:

Dates back to colonial times.  Wild pigs were plentiful, and most folks were missing their teeth, so they cooked those hogs over a wood fire to get them good and tender–and easier to chew.  Meat was pulled right off the bone; hence, the term ‘pulled pork.’  Popular seasonings include a thin vinegar sauce, salt, pepper and flakes of red dried chili pepper. 

Memphis Style:

Known for its dry rub seasonings.  Barbecue sauce is served on the side.  Pork ribs are rubbed with a mixture of salt, pepper and paprika, and depending on taste, onion power, garlic powder, sugar, mustard, sage and ginger are added.  The sauce–tomato-based and thick, with mustard, brown sugar and vinegar.

Memphis lays claim to the famous Rendezvous restaurant, located in a basement and accessible via a dumpster-filled alley. 

 Kansas City Style: 

Now, this is my kind of ‘cue.  Sweet, sour and spicy.  Tomato-based, too.  Cooks will usually brush the sauce over the meat just before it comes off the grill.  The meat is cooked over a slow-burning fire of hickory and oak wood chips for that sweet-smoky flavor.  Be sure to have plenty of napkins near-by!

Texas Style:

When you think of Texas, do you think of beef brisket?  Or maybe pork ribs.  Either way, the meat is rubbed with blended salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder, then grilled slowly over a wood fire, often of mesquite.  Texas seasonings tend to be hotter, spicier.  Not so sweet and sour as the Kansas City style, and with more Worcestershire sauce.

Here’s a couple of easy barbecue sauce recipes:

1 part of Heinz 57 sauce

1 part honey

Blend.  Make as much or as little as you like!

My favorite fast food sandwich place is Arby’s, and their barbecue sauce is the best.  Here’s a recipe:

1 cup ketchup

2 tsp. water

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. Tabasco pepper sauce

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sauce begins to boil, about 5 – 10 minutes.  Let cool.  Store in covered container in refrigerator.

Being in a ‘cue frame of mind, and in um, research for this blog, Doug and I went out to eat at an Omaha icon known for its barbecue–The Smoke Pit.  I visited with the wife of the owner, who first met her husband when she went to work at the restaurant.  Thirty-two years later, she’s still cooking for him and their customers, six days a week.  They cook their meat in big smoker ovens and are known for their trademark ribs.  I ordered chicken, and the meat literally falls off the bone.  She makes their barbecue sauce, which I found thinner and sweeter than most.

So, do tell.  What are you doing this Memorial Weekend?  Serving barbecue?  What’s your favorite?  Any stories to share?  Any recipes?

Let us know, and I’ll draw one lucky name who will win a bottle of barbecue sauce from Omaha’s own The Smoke Pit!

The Facts of Love!

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It goes without saying that love has been around since the beginning of time, so it’s not surprising that experts have nailed down some similarities between lovers.  Here’s a few fun ones as compiled by Laura Schaefer, a writer for Match.com:

**1. Men who kiss their wives in the morning live five years longer than those who don’t.

**2. When it comes to doing the deed early in the relationship, 78 percent of women would decline having sex if they had not shaved their legs or underarms.

**3.  Feminist women are more likely than other females to be in a romantic relationship.

(Now, this one surprised me.  Aren’t the feminists known for declaring they don’t need a man in their lives?)

**4.  When describing how they fell in love, lovers overwhelmingly believe the process is out of their control.

**5.  Couples’ personalities merge over time to make partners more and more similar.

**6. People are more likely to tilt their heads to the right when kissing instead of the left (a whopping 65 percent go to the right!).

**7. According to mathematical theory, we should date a dozen people before choosing a long-term partner to provide the best chance that you’ll make a love match.

**8. A man’s beard grows fastest when he anticipates sex.

(How could they possibly determine that?)

**9. The single biggest predictor of love is proximity. Familiarity breeds comfort and closeness–and romance.

(Well, duh.  Those of us who write romances have always known that.  Throw the hero and heroine together from the get-go, and there’s a guaranteed happy ending.)

**10.  Rosy cheeks are crucial when looking for a lover.  British scientists have discovered that primates prefer mates with red faces.  A rosy glow in humans indicates good health.

(Hmm.  Maybe that’s why we women use blusher, eh?)

A recent study on more than 10,000 dating individuals done at the University of Pennsylvania revealed that it doesn’t take us much time to know when the right person appeals to us.  In fact, it’s almost instantaneous.

Within moments of meeting, men and women rely on visual cues such as age, height and attractiveness to determine their mates.  Oddly enough, deeper rooted factors such as religion, education and income tend to play far smaller roles.

Hmm.  Interesting.

I remember the exact moment when I met my husband.  It’s a vivid memory.  I was a junior in high school and working at a Shopko type of store as a cashier.  He came in with his best friend, who was my best friend’s boyfriend.  Doug stood over by the magazine rack with an Old Home Chocolate pie in his hand.  He had no idea I was even there, but I knew who he was.  He came through my check stand with his friend and barely glanced at me.  But I schmoozed my girlfriend to set us up on a double-date.

I even remember where we went.  And when.  March 10th, 1972.  We went bowling. 

Soon after, our best friends broke up, but Doug and I stayed together.  Even though I saw him first and initiated the first date, he fell for me faster.  I dated a few guys after we met, but Doug never dated another girl since meeting me. 

I absolutely love girl-meets-boy stories.  Tell me yours.  How did you meet your mate?  Was it love at first sight?  Or did it take you longer to decide?

Coke–drink it? Or clean your battery with it?

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sig-icon.jpgcoke3-pam-crooks.jpgNow that we’re winding down from the construction of our new kitchen, I’m in major de-clutter mode.  One of the rooms hard-hit with clutter was my office.  Since my daughter, Kristi, was coming over to help me with a Power Point presentation I’m doing at RT in a couple of weeks, I figured the least I could was spiff the place up a little. 

As I was cleaning off my desk, buried at the very bottom of a stack of papers was an email I’d printed out years ago.  I guess I thought the information contained within was so intriguing, it was worth keeping. 

But in that time, I’d gotten a little wiser.  And more skeptical.  So I did a little checking on the validity of that email–which made claims about Coca-Cola and all its, well, intriguing properties.

Now, I’m a Pepsi girl myself and can tell the difference between Pepsi and pepsi-pam-crooks.jpgCoke.   And after reading about the cola, I can’t help worrying if it was all true, that drinking a can of Diet Pepsi every day could eventually dissolve my bones.

Maybe you got this same email:

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and …….Let the “real thing” sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, And run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FYI:

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its Ph is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.

2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials.

3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

Still want to drink up?

Now, just so one of the big men in suits don’t stumble upon my little blog this morning and make me regret what we’re talking about, I went searching to see if Coca-Cola had any response to these claims.

They did.  (Don’t you just love the Internet?)coke1-pam-crooks.jpg

The company claimed to be unaware of officers using the soda to clean pavement, citing the cost as prohibitive and that water or vinegar would be equally effective.   Vinegar is naturally acidic and would soften an egg shell, yet it’s explained that vinegar ‘is completely safe as a food ingredient and enhances the flavor of many foods.’  They also go on to advise consumers to use the proper household products when cleaning or removing rust. 

They claim that the email was all myths.  Except the ham gravy part.  Coke makes delicious gravy, evidently.

Now I’d like to know if you tried any of these myths to see if they were true?  Ever use Coke in your laundry?  Dissolve a steak in it?  Clean your battery?

If so, do tell!

Do you use any other kinds of food to clean with?  Your mother?  Grandmother?

We’d love to know!

Baa-a, Baa-a, Silly Sheep!

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sig-icon.jpgI’ve started a new book. 

This will be my twelfth (published) and slated for release in Spring, 2009.  Up to now, I’ve written about longhorn cattle, mustangs, a thoroughbred race horse, Gypsies, mercenaries, a female outlaw, and a nun on the run.

I’ve never written a word about sheep.

That’s what this new story will be about.  Sheep.  So I had to do some reading on the woollie creatures, and the research has been surprisingly interesting. 

For instance, did flock.jpgyou know one sheepherder can handle 3,000 sheep all by himself?   With the handy assistance of his dog of course.  Compare that to 6 or 7 mounted cowboys needed to ramrod a moving herd of 1,000 head of cattle.

I also learned sheep tend to have an assortment of, well, annoyances.  They’re unpredictable, defenseless and in need of constant tending.sheep3.jpg

Here’s a few examples:

**Sheep feed at odd hours of the night, which forces the herder to round them up again–in the middle of the night.

**Should a stray sheep find itself bogged in mud, he just stands there.  Doesn’t make a sound.  He waits patiently to be rescued–or to die.

**If a young, frisky sheep rolls playfully in the grass, he can’t get up again.  His legs are short and light, and he can’t get the momentum.  He’ll need help.

**If a ewe or wether (had to look this one up–it’s a young castrated male) wades into water, and its fleece is long, he becomes too water-logged to climb out.  Again, he’ll need help.

**Bleating sheep means life is normal.  When sheep are terrified, they make no sound at all.

**Adult sheep will stand in silence while a wolf snatches a lamb.  No attempt is made to lamb1.jpgsave the poor thing.  The lamb, I mean.

**Young ewes are often indifferent mothers.  If she fails to recognize her newborn, she’ll wander off, clueless that the baby needs milk.  Again, the sheep herder must help.

Cattlemen despised flocks of sheep on the range.  They believed, at least at first, that the woollie animals had sharp hooves that cut and trampled the grass, and that the cattle refused to graze where sheep had earlier trod because of the smell they left behind.  Many a range war was fought because of the cattlemen’s determination to dominate the range and rid themselves of the mutton-punchers.

And so my new story will go–with a hero who is a cattleman and a heroine who tends sheep with her father.  Should be a pairing rife with conflict, eh?

(Note:  Have you read Linda Broday’s “The Love Letter” in her current anthology release, GIVE ME A TEXAN?  Her heroine tends sheep, too!  A lovely little story!)

So do tell.  Have you ever had a pet who did the darnedest things?  Who didn’t have a clue about the most basic things in life?  Who was always and forever getting into trouble and needed to be rescued?

We took in a deaf Boxer a few years ago.  She was a sweet thing, but ver-ry difficult to train and discipline because she couldn’t hear us well.  Which may or may not have anything to do with her compulsion to eat rocks.  And then throw them up.  At 3:00 in the morning. 

Dang, I hated seeing those rocks on my carpet in that pile of vomit–and I have no idea why she ate them in the first place.  I never once saw her do it–but she nosed around our landscaping and swallowed them whole, without fail. 

That’s my tale–I’d love to hear yours!

Take a minute to tell us, and you’ll be in a drawing for a copy of one of the books in my backlist, your choice:  WANTED! or HER LONE PROTECTOR

Do Ya Think I’m Sexy–or is it Just My Job?

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A western-writer friend of mine, Sherry James, sent this to me, and she was tickled to see her favorite hunk made the list–Cowboys. 

Me?  I wasn’t surprised.  I’ve always thought cowboys were sexy, and it has nothing to do with expensive hair cuts or designer labels or a fancy education.  Rather, just the opposite–sweat-sticking clothes, sun-browned skin and muscles earned from hard work done outside, and not in a gym.

This survey by Careerbuilder makes an interesting note:  Whether or not we admit it, what people do for a living affects their sex appeal.

Here are the 10 sexiest jobs, according to the survey.

model-pam-crooks.jpg1. Entertainer/Model
Entertainers and models make a living by looking good, so you can bet they’re easy on the eyes. Their dedication to their dream in such a competitive industry is also attractive. And just take a look at the popularity of TV shows like “America’s Next Top Model” and “Make Me a Supermodel.”

2. Cocktail Waitress
Although it might not seem like an obvious top pick, consider the fact that the waitress is probably dressed in a short skirt and bringing you drinks, which never hurt anybody’s sex appeal.

3. Athlete
football-pam-crooks.jpgProfessional athletes are likely in good — no, great — shape. Not to mention they’ve probably been practicing their sport since childhood, so you know they’re disciplined and goal-oriented.

fire-pam-crooks.jpg

4. Firefighter
Firefighters are brave and selfless. Who wouldn’t find that attractive?

 5. Cowboycowboy-pam-crooks.jpg
Few archetypes are as ingrained in our culture as the cowboy. He’s masculine, chivalrous and everything else we admired in Western movies.

6. Nurse
Nurses keep you comfortable, make sure you’re healthy and bring you morphine when you’re hurting. That they devote their lives to caring for others and understand all that medical jargon only makes them sexier.

7. Artist
The average artist is doing what makes him happy, not what will bring him fame or money — and that’s pretty sexy. How many occupations can you say that about?

military-pam-crooks.jpg8. Military Professional
Well, they’ve got the ultimate uniform, if you’re into that sort of thing. The military also instills a sense of discipline, so you can count on them to be responsible and dependable.

 

9. Construction Workerworker-pam-crooks.jpg
Didn’t you see that soft drink commercial where all the women stare out their window to watch the construction worker take off his shirt?

10. TV Anchor/Personality
Maybe it’s the way they talk with authority, seem to know everything and make you feel like you’re best friends. (Or maybe it’s the fact that you don’t know if they’re really wearing pants under that desk.)

 So?  Is the survey right?  Do we think of someone being sexy because of their choice of employment?

Do you  have another job to add to the list? 

Or maybe it’s our *perception* of the job that makes the person attractive to us.  What do you think?

Chocolate Cake is for Lovers!

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chocolate-valentine.jpgHere’s my absolute favorite chocolate cake recipe in the whole world.  It’s rich, chocolatey, and easy to make.   And since Valentine’s Day is known for giving your lover chocolate as a sign of your affection, you still have time to make this!

Chocolate Fudge Cake

1 box chocolate fudge cake mix

1 box instant chocolate fudge pudding

1/2 cup sour cream

4 eggs

1/2 cup oil

3/4 cup water

1 tsp. vanilla

8 oz. mini-chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare either 13 x 9 pan or two 9 inch rounds with shortening, dusted with flour.

chocolate-valentine.jpgMix together first 7 ingredients until smooth.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Pour into pan.  Bake 25-35 minutes.

Now, it’s preferable to cool the cake before frosting.  But if you’re really anxious to show your love, you can frost the cake with a can of chocolate fudge frosting while it’s still warm, then cut a large piece and serve it dripping. 

No telling what your lover will do to show his appreciation, eh?

Happy Valentine’s Day to all our Petticoats & Pistols friends.

We love you!

Those Leading Ladies on the Western Screen

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Elizabeth Lane’s post last week on sidekicks got me to thinking about the women who made their cowboys look good on television and film.   Like Elizabeth said, ‘A good sidekick is a real gem.’  

Well, I figure aamandablake.jpg good woman’s gotta be just about priceless.

How about Amanda Blake?  We knew her as Kitty Russell on Gunsmoke.   She was only 27 years old when she took on the role, and for 20 years she enjoyed her reign as a household name.  Gunsmoke was the longest running Western ever.   As far as I knew, she and Matt Dillon never kissed, but boy, I sure hoped they would.gunsmoke.jpg

Perhaps it’s not surprising with a reign that long, that she tired of the role, saying, “God, if I have to put on that damn bustle and those curls one more time, I’m gonna snap.  Nineteen years is a hell of a long time for someone to be stuck behind a bar.”

Seems those words came back to haunt her.  Her career faltered after that (as did the show, which was cancelled the next year). 

She married five times, was a longtime heavy smoker who underwent oral cancer surgery, then had to have therapy to regain her ability to talk.  Her fourth husband was openly bisexual and died of AIDS; she in turn died of AIDS complications in 1989 at the age of 60.

And then there was Linda Cristal.  Remember her?  She played Victoria Montoya Cannon on High Chaparral (loved that show!).  Beautiful and flamboyant, she had a turbulent childhood.  Though born in Argentina, her family was exiled to Uruguay due to her father’s involvement in a political dispute.  Tragically, her parents were killed in a car craslindac.jpgh in 1947.  The crash was billed as a suicide pact as a result of her mother becoming comatose from lack of insulin and her father’s distress from his inability to support hishighchap.jpg family while in exile.

Like Amanda Blake, Linda married five times, and despite her beauty, her luck ran bad with men.  Her first marriage lasted 5 days, her second 11 months, her third 6 years, her fourth ( ? Well, I’m not sure but she married him in 1968 and had husband #5 in 1972.)  She enjoyed her tenure on High Chaparral, claiming she ‘got along with all of the cast members because I was the only woman, and that made it easier.’

Today, she is retired and spends her time between several homes.

Here’s one to jog your memories.  Gail Davis.  She played Annie Oakley on television and became well-known for her signature pigtails and pistols.  Weighing all of 95 lbs. and reachgaildavis.jpging only 5 ft. 2 ins., she got her start in a supporting role with Roy Rogers, then went on to appear in well over 30 films, all but three which were westerns.  She appeared with Gene Autry in 14 films.  She was a great trick rider and shot and once commented, “I’ll be Annie Oakley for the rest of my born days.”  I think she was right.

After she left the entertainment business, she toured western film shows and memorabilia festivals.  She died from cancer in 1997.  In 2004, she was inducted posthumously into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

Inger Stevens.  Ah, doesn’t that face bring you back?  She had a rough life, though, being born in Sweden and starting out as an often-ill and insecure child.  She left home at age 16, headed to NYC and began a life in show business. ingerstevens.jpg

She was best known for her leading role in the television series, The Farmer’s Daughter, but she landed roles on Bonanza and in Hang ‘Em High with Clint Eastwood.  She had numerous affairs with Hollywood’s leading men, including Bing Crosby and Burt Reynolds, then committed suicide in 1970 by flinging herself through a glass screen while gripped in the throes of an overdose of drugs.

How sad is that?

Now, I’m wondering – Why do we have this fascination with movie stars?  Even more, why were/are their lives often turbulent?  Why do they have commitment issues? 

How do you think you’d like a life in the limelight?  Maybe the money and glamour would be worth it.   Or not.  Is it possible a normal childhood would shield a person from a high-profile life?  Help them commit to one man as a forever mate?

Any ideas?  I’d love to hear them!

List Mania!

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list1.jpgI love lists.  I have them all over the house–on the refrigerator, on my desk, in the bathroom, in my head.

I write fulltime, but I also work fulltime outside the home, so I need lists to keep track of all the things I must do.  I *feel* better knowing I’m organized.  Or at least thinking I am.  And I feel gratified in seeing all those little tasks that I’ve completed being crossed off.

As I write this, I’ve just agreed to a new three-book contract with my publisher.  The very same day brought the arrival of a new granddaughter.  We’re in the process of building a new addition onto our kitchen.

And here we are–starting a brand new year.

Time for another list.lists2.jpg

With all these changes going on, I have to keep my writing foremost.  And since I’ve got the urge to stretch, try something bigger, I have to keep myself focused, super-organized and motivated.

I know many of you out there are writers.  Here’s a few ideas I use to keep focused on writing:

*Write every day.  It’ll become a habit.  You’ll see a boost in your creativity.  You’ll develop more ideas, too.

*Read, read, read.  But do so slowly and pay attention to word choice.  Study dialogue and character development.  Consider the techniques your favorite authors use and then apply them to your own writing.

*Resist the impulse to overdo.  This is a big one for me.  Learn to say no.  Cut back on distractions like email or computer games.  But also take the time for relaxation and fun.  The mind needs to replenish itself.

*Acknowledge that none of this is easy.  Your family will have to pitch in and help you.  Sacrifices will have to be made.  You’ve got a lifestyle change to make!

*Find resources to help.  Support your need to write with how-to books, your very own writing space, and a community of other writers doing what you’re doing.

My list sounds like a New Years Resolution list, doesn’t it?  What better time to make resolutions than right now?  Start a list of goals–or make just one big goal!

list4.jpgA good plan, right?  Unfortunately, fewer than 10% of people who make resolutions keep them.

I intend to be part of that 10%.  How about you?

Here’s another list that might help.

*Write your goals down. It’s a proven fact that doing so will help you succeed.

*Commit. Make the decision to write (or whatever you want to do) and stick with it.  Consider a goal-making ceremony to symbolize that commitment.

*Tell people.

*Get accountability.  See above.  Share your goals intentions with a group of someones who will ask you on a regular basis how you’re doing.

*Do a Goal Check-In. Before you decide what you’re going to resolve for the year, make sure you can answer an enthusiastic “YES!” to the following list of questions:

–Am I the real reason for setting this goal? (And not your husband, kids, mother, boss?)

–Do I feel alive and energized by this goal?

–Will this goal help me ahieve my life purpose or mission?

*Take a second look at your goal.  Is it the same one you resolved last year? Or the year before? What makes you think you can accomplish it THIS year?

*Keep focused with reminders. Post them on your bathroom mirror.  Or computer monitor.  Or your palm pilot.  Or your cell phone.  Whatever works for you.

*Believe in yourself. Visualize yourself as successfully achieving your goal.

What about all you non-writers?  Does a new year compel you to be more organized, too?

*Make a list! Here’s a fun site where you can print off all kinds of colorful lists.  Best of all, they’re free!

http://www.allfreeprintables.com/checklists/index.shtml

Is your goal to have a cleaner house? Here’s a fun site that will give you tons of motivational tips. You can even sign up to to receive weekly emails–and yep, it’s all free!

www.flylady.net

*Have over-stuffed closets? Go through them and keep only the clothes that fit, that you love, and that bring your compliments.  Get rid of the rest.

*Have too much make-up and toiletries cluttering your bathroom?  Instead of buying multiple products, buy moisturizers, cleaners and creams that do multiple jobs.  Toss expired medicines, old brushes and sponges.

*Use colorful baskets to organize office space, play areas, mudrooms.

So go for it, my friends.  Make lists!  Stick to your goals!

Let us know if you’re feeling motivated!  Are you ready for a fresh start in 2008?

Oprah’s Favorite!

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Here’s a recipe for Oprah’s favorite martini that she shared a while back on one of her Christmas shows.  Every time I serve this drink, it’s a huge hit.  It’s so-o good!!  Not strong at all–unless you want it to be, that is!

Enjoy my friends!

martini.jpgOprah’s Pomegranate Martini

1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice

2 oz. Absolute Citron vodka (or white tequila)

1 oz. Cointreau liquor (or Triple Sec)

Cup of Ice

Optional:  Squeeze of lemon

Shake ingredients in a shaker and pour in chilled martini glasses.   Garnish with pomegranate seeds or a rind of lemon.

Petticoats & Pistols