What does a bandwagon look like?

I was trying to think of some clever title about clinging to the last rail on a bandwagon when I realized I don't even know what a bandwagon is, if it's not the school bus my high school band took to away games. Anyway, back to the bandwagon I'm getting at. I've never been a big fan of reality shows--except my daughter has hooked me on Rob and Big and Viva La Bam (thank goodness for recycled reruns!), and America's Next Top Model (no one on earth could be less likely to undertake that addiction).

However, I'm trying to spend more time with the beloved, with whom I have literally nothing except our grown children in common. (I mean we must have common values, etc., but that would take more thinking than I have time for right now.) So--I've started watching American Idol this season, even though I couldn't make myself watch it during the audition episodes because I feel kind of bad for a lot of those would-be singers. The beloved has me hooked. I'm not only watching the program--I'm looking for recaps.

I'm addicted to one of those, too. It's on a website calledA Socialite's Life, and his recaps for AI and for Top Chef (uh-oh--I'm all about the reality TV!) make me cackle out loud. (Beware if you visit; the language and viewpoints can get adult--especially today's.)

We had our own reality TV moment around here last night. Just a little something no mom of a daughter on Spring Break wants to hear--the hysterical voice of the Garmin lady screeching that the girl had taken a wrong turn on her way to visit a friend in an unfamiliar city. The girl wasn't upset or worried, but the mommy is considering meds.

Laptop Olympics

It and I are racing to finish this book. Often, the laptop seems to want to finish it for me because suddenly new documents open, formatting occurs, or the cursor begins to travel. ==:-0 And just now, my screen divided to show all open windows minimized.

Of course, none of this is as bad as when the "W" jumped off and decided not to go back. You'd be amazed at how many words contain a W.

Bunny Lake

is Missing. Have you ever seen that movie? What an odd one. A child is missing. In fact, she may not even exist. Laurence Olivier is the police inspector looking for her--as he says at one point--for even one piece of proof that she exists. I knew who took her, but I wonder if that's because I'm used to the way the villain of the piece acts when doing villainy.

Ya gotta wonder what kind of relationship the brother and sister (child's mother) have. At the point where they're chatting while he's in the bathtub, I had to turn my eyes, though she didn't. Kind of ick. Nevertheless, I really like the movie.

Dragging Myself Back to the Internet

Still haven't finished my book. (I've never been so late with anything in my life.) Still haven't entirely shaken the flu.

But today, I'm working at the kitchen table, taking a break from my final chapter (yay--thanks to my buddy Karen, I know what to do with it), and I'm also making bread. Can't wait until the house smells all homemade bread and clean laundry. (Also getting caught up on that.)

Uh-oh--gotta go knead! Just when I had important things to say! (Not really--just thought it made a good exit!)

Her Reason to Stay--The Cover

I'm so excited. This is the beautiful cover for my June book, Her Reason to Stay. Didn't the art department do a great job? I even recognize the house behind them! ;-)

Who else...

is loving the John Adams series? I love that time period, and I'm amazed at the great acting, the reluctance, the courage our forefathers showed. My mother used to love Irving Stone, who wrote historical biographies. I picked up the one about John and Abigail Adams when I was very young and began a fascination with their story.

I live in the country his courage and that of his compatriots built. My own many-greats-back grandfather fought in the infantry during the Revolution, but I am dumbfounded as to where they found the courage. I found myself crying at two moments in the series--when George Washington explained he was in mourning for the colony of Massachusetts and talked about duty at a time before anyone else understood what he meant--and when they read out the Declaration of Independence. Those words sealed their fates as outlaws and traitors--and founding fathers. It reminds me of a day in our own time--the man who faced down the tanks in Tienamen Square. How do you love freedom so much?

I ask that as a mother and wife, concerned with family and deadlines and getting dinner on the table and laundry washed--in a world where most of those chores are so much easier. These men and women had all these same responsibilities, and yet they took on the building of a country. I don't normally talk about the "big" concepts on this blog, but--as on the day the guy in China walked in front of a tank with his shopping bag--I wonder where the courage comes from.

End of Unexpected Blog Break

I can't believe it's been a month. I went to a conference where I got to chat with old friends and new about writing! Writing!

And then I went on to visit a family member who was sick and needed some help. Got home last Friday and apparently brought along some flu. After how-many-days shivering with a fever, I'm determined to feel better today. Determined.

In fact, I'm going to get going with that right now and use all my health-induced strength to finish work that should have been done a couple of weeks ago. Determination is half the battle. I'm sure of it!