What’s Spring?

Living in south Louisiana, we don’t have anything like Spring every year. We might have something that resembles Spring once in a while and trust me, when that happens you see people beaming, or even some people walking around with sweatshirts and coats. (They’re insane.) No, down here it’s just hot, hotter, even hotter, and wow look it’s not quite so hot anymore before the cycle begins again.

I was complaining this morning that it shouldn’t be so hot and muggy at 7 a.m., but there you have it. Once those snazzy cold/cool fronts stop pushing through, the humidity goes up as does the heat. It’s like living in a sauna except rather than sitting around soaking up the soothing heat, you’re expected to actually do things. Like work or cut grass or any number of things that make the heat unbearable.

To be honest, I have to admire the people who work in what can only be classified as stifling heat with no worse for wear. I’ve seen some temperatures in construction type work areas that can go up to 120 degrees and the work is still done.

I’m too delicate for all of that. Give me air conditioning set on 65 and a huge glass of ice-cold water and I’ll be able to scrape by this horrible season that’s supposed to be called Spring.

Spring Has Sprung

Yes, that’s a cliche title, but spring has definitely sprung here at Casa Chantal. I had a new release out yesterday at Secret Cravings publishing It’s called The Season of the Witch and is a paranormal story.

I also got good news in a triple dose last week. On the fiction front, I signed another contract with Secret Cravings Publishing and that story is called Surf Break. I also was offered a contract with Ellora’s Cave which I accepted and signed this week. It’s for a story called Hot Pursuit (new name that the editor came up with that I love).

On the non-fiction front, I was asked by the editor I’ve worked with at the Florida Bar before to write some of another book for them. There will be a co-author but we won’t be collaborating. We will each be doing our chapters separately and the editor will merge them all with editorial magic.

So, since Friday last week, I’ve signed three book contracts and indeed spring work has sprung up all around me! Wish me luck on all the upcoming deadlines. EEP.

In other news, the younger son has an appointment today at orthodontist and we think he’s getting the braces off. That will totally make his spring if he’s sprung from those metal torture devices!

Spring cleaning

Mother’s Day

                             Where Would We Be Without Moms?
                                                          By Jeff Salter 

            Well, the obvious answer is:  without moms … we wouldn’t even exist!
            Yeah, not only did they give us birth, but – in most cases – moms spent the next 18 years or so raising us and helping prepare us for “the world”.  [Of course, the world wasn’t always prepared for US ... but that’s a different story.]
            When I was a kid, I was way too self-absorbed to realize how much my Mom had to sacrifice in order to provide for us and always “be there” for us.  When I was a young parent with small children, I was too distracted with my career to notice how much my Wife sacrificed (and how hard she worked) … for the benefit of our kids.  But now that I’m a grandfather (and three of our six grandkids live very near), I get a very close look at this process.  And I’m so proud of the wonderful, sacrificial job my Daughter does with her kids.  And even though my Daughter-in-law is over 800 miles away (so we see them much less often), I know she does a terrific job with my other three grand-children. 

My family
            My maternal great-grandmother lived to be a few months past 100 years old.  She resided two states away and I only remember meeting her a few times.  Don’t recall any actual one-on-one ‘experiences’ with her.
            My paternal grandmother (who died about 39 years ago) was bedridden for most of the time I remember her.  But even though she was frail or ill — when we’d visit as young kids, we’d hop up in her bed and she’d tell us captivating stories.
            My maternal grandmother lived in the same town as we did for several years, so she’s the older matriarch I got to know the best.  She was quite a character.  Had a lot of idiosyncrasies, but she loved us and always did her best.  She died nearly 36 years ago.
            I’ve always been grateful that my own kids had THREE active, healthy grandmothers who loved them and spent time with them:  my mom, my mom-in-law, and my step-mom.  For several years, they even had two great-grandmothers (my wife’s side of the family). 

Last year
            For a look at my thoughts, last year at this time, about Mothers – including Moms as characters in our novels – please check out this link.                        http://fourfoxesonehound.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/two-different-looks-at-mothers/ 
            That column also features a Mother’s Day poem I wrote for my Mom about 41 years ago.

 This year
            This Sunday, if weather allows, we’ll be in the upper meadow for a Mom’s Day picnic.  No, I don’t plan to cook.  It’ll probably be something I purchase that’s already made.  But, hey, it’s the thought that counts … right?

 Thanks, Moms!
            Whether you’re a Mom, Grandmother, Mother-in-Law, or Step-Mom – or what the greeting card people call “other Mother” – please accept my heartfelt appreciation.  Take your shoes off, put your feet up, and relax.  Enjoy this special Sunday.  Because Monday morning, it’s BACK TO WORK!
            Thanks, Moms! 

Question:
            If your mom is still living, what are your plans for her on Mother’s Day?
            If you’re the senior Mom in your family, what are the folks planning for YOU?

I Heart Mom

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, my siblings and I are scrambling for something to give her. Yes, we give her presents or take her out for lunch for Mother’s Day because it’s just what we do.

I’m not saying what we came up with for her this year because she might actually read this, the sneaky woman, and know what she’s getting. But I will say that we try to get her something unique every year, something she’s always wanted. One year it was a digital picture frame (which I don’t think she uses). The next year it was an MP3 player (which she uses all the time and swears she needs another one). She’s been hinting for us to buy her a laptop (she’s in dream land) or a tablet (she’s really sniffing something she shouldn’t).

Presents aside, my mom is spoiled every day of the year. If she ever says she isn’t, don’t believe her. I spoil the hell out of her all year long, but Mother’s Day is a special day for her. She’s one of my biggest fans who doesn’t read my work (too hot for her). She’s my support when I’m feeling low no matter what has me down. If I thought she’d appreciate it, I might think about getting a I heart mom tattoo (except she hates tattoos…which is why I have three *cough*).

So I show Mom how I love her in other ways. This year, if weather permits, I’ll be taking her to Jefferson Island to the Rip Van Winkle Gardens and Avery Island.

What do you do for your mom that’s extra special for Mother’s Day?

Okay, Don’t Kill Me For This

I’m not a fan of mother’s day at all. I think it’s a shame that we have one day set aside to treasure the women in our lives. Shouldn’t we be celebrating all the wonderful women who have blessed our lives every day? I have had some pretty amazing women in my life- including grandmothers, great grandmothers, aunts and older friends. For the ones who are still here, I make sure to let them know I love them every time I see them. I may call them out of the blue and treat them to dinner or send them a goodie package as a surprise.

The ones that are no longer here, I miss every day and I like to think that they know that. I’ve been very, very lucky to have a lot of people love me (sometimes I wonder how that happened) and I want to use each and every day to let them know how much I appreciate them and how happy I am that they took me into their hearts and made my life richer.

So, I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t need a Hallmark holiday to tell my people that they mean a lot to me. Now, that being said, my own mother will expect a gift and we’ll have lunch (treated by my dad). I usually get my mother a happy new spring outfit, but I also pop into the book store periodically and pick her up one of those Amish books she likes to read and sometimes I bring her some of her favorite candy just because I was in the store and thought of her.

What I’m saying is, treasure the people in your life every day! Every day!!!

Thanks, Mom!

Next Sunday is Mother’s Day.  That day which we thank our moms with some flowers, maybe a nice brunch out, and some token of love.  I’m a mom and my family (husband) honors me by having me take him to the airport for his annual conference which every flipping year starts on Mother’s Day!  (I’d really like to slug the conference chairperson of ASMA or whoever sets the timing of this conference.)  But enough about how I get robbed nearly every year of this holiday.  I’m going to shut up and say thanks to my mom.

I don’t know if you’ve seen the latest Proctor & Gamble commercial that they’ll be using during the London olympics, but I caught it on Facebook.  It’s one of their commercials which ends with them claiming to be “The Proud Sponsor of Moms.”  Let’s just say, I’m a sap and I cry every time I watch this.  I get images of my own mom waking me up to take me to baton contests, studding rhinestones into costumes, sewing costumes, putting my hair up, and praying for that elusive no-drop routine.  And what did I usually do while she was doing that?  Probably moaning and groaning about how early it was, griping every time she stuck me with a pin when she was making the costume (hey, it happened a lot), holding my breath for fear of suffocating from massive amounts of Aqua Net, and praying that my hands would stop sweating so much so I could achieve that elusive no-drop routine.

Hopefully your technologically-challenged Monday Fox can post the video of the commercial so you won’t have to wait until summer.  Just make sure you’ve got your box of Kleenex ready…or whatever brand of tissue that Proctor and Gamble makes.  Happy Monday!