Ta Muchly

As has been pointed out, Australia doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but this being International Heat, I thought it fitting I give thanks the way I do Down Under: surrounded by good mates, with lots of beer, a pavlova or too (the unofficial Aussie dessert), a barbie (BBQ for those not fluent in Strine), no-bullshit honesty, a good joke, a packet of Tim Tams and a really hot bloke or two.

What on earth are you talking about, Lexxie, I hear you ask?

This.

I say Ta Muchly to Mari. She gave me the Wild Irish series and the brilliance of Pat’s Irish Pub. A drinking hole I’d gladly spend a lazy weekend arvo downing my beer and relaxing to the sounds of Maybe Tomorrow. Cheers.

I say Ta Muchly to Rhian. RC gave me Quinn from Coyote Home, a hot bloke in the guise of a sexy guy who is trying to pretend he’s hard-arsed and unaffected by love, but doesn’t fool anyone. Damn, that man is yummy. He’s like a delicious dessert on a warm summer evening – too good to resist and sinful to consider.

I say Ta Muchly to Jess. Jess gave me Jess. I met Jess at my very first Romance Writers Convention back in 2009 and have stalked her been lucky to count her as my friend and critique partner ever since. Oh, and she also gave the world the naughtiest poker match ever and the world needs more naughty poker matches.

I say Ta Muchly to Val who introduced me to the addictive delight that is the Graham Cracker. If I could find these little suckers in my local supermarket, I’d probably eat little else. They are a salty-sweet sensation I instantly loved and is was Val who bought them for me (along with all sorts of other yumminess) at RT. I’m even tempted to make a Graham Cracker-Tim Tam sandwich. I’d call it the Graham-Tam Choccie Crunch *grin*

I say Ta Muchly to T. T’s review site isn’t just a place of honest reviews, its the proof anyone needs to see how hard work, love and dedication to your heart’s dream can result in success. T’s commitment to her dream is inspiring.

I say Ta Muchly to Lila whose Monsters are the sexiest freaking monsters on the planet. Oh, and her question about my clitoris. That question alone kept me grinning and chuckling for weeks.

I say Ta Muchly to Jayne. Jayne gave me not just one hot bloke, but a whole crew of them. And the immortal quote from her husband, “Eight books and twenty-three men on the covers”. And Jayne’s dedication to her writing leaves me in awe every day.

I say Ta Muchly to Jambrea. Her army men give new definition to doing it for one’s country. They may not being wearing the Aussie flag on their uniform, but DAY-UM, I’d willing let them fire-up both barrells for me anyday.

I say Ta Muchly to Anne. When I grow up, I wanna be Anne. Her professionalism makes me aspire to greatness (and wish I’d never written such a loopy blog entry as this, but hey *shrug* small steps, boys and girls, small steps.)

I say Ta Muchly to JR. JR didn’t get shot in my world, she blew me away with her debut release. She’s the most unassuming person I know. And she has the sexiest bloody accent I’ve ever ever heard *grin*

But most of all, I say Ta Muchly to those of you who come along with me for the ride whenever my imagination takes hold of me. You are, Dearest Reader, what I am most grateful for in this surreal dream of being a writer I am living. Thank you.

Happy Everyday, World.

Love,

Lexxie

Things NOT to be thankful for

Since Jess covered the important points of discount books and chocolate I really don’t have much to say, plus the end of a Holiday weekend makes me pouty, so instead of giving thanks I will make a list of things I am NOT thankful for, like the ungrateful bitch I am.

1. Scales–In a habit born of Weight Watchers, which I have yet to break, I weigh myself every Tuesday morning, and now track it in spark people. (Getting married has made me oh-so lax about actually counting points or calories.) Tomorrow morning is going to suck, it just is. I counted nary a calorie as I ladled on gravy or forked up pie and that stupid scale is the great equalizer. Fuck you scale, why must you confront me with my bad decisions?

2. Implied babysitter status–As the oldest grandchild I was always the default babysitter at holiday gatherings. When we all got old enough that to no longer be a factor I was ridiculously happy, but then my child-less aunt and uncle each decided to have a kid, adding new little people to the mix. I want to talk politics and push my hippie, liberal, young-person agenda in a spirited intellectual debate, not play with my 6 year old cousin. This year I admittedly I pushed this duty off on my husband, so I’m not sure I get to be unthankful, but still there was an expectation I’m not thankful for.

3. Younger siblings–they are totally unnecessary. Enough said.

4. Swiffer commercials–I fucking hate those commercials. If I see one more stupid Swiffer produce commercial I will scream. I actively bought a different brand of a similar product I find those things so annoying.

5. Liquid cold medicine–Yes, I know they make it in pill form, but they were sold out, or at least that’s what my husband claims. I have a deep, life-long dislike for liquid medicine. I gag when giving it to someone. If I was babysitting I’d have to look away while pouring it and the kids would have to hold the cup and chug it themselves. If they protested I said “right on” and didn’t make them take it. Getting me to take the cold medicine literally involved my husband chasing my around the island in my mother’s kitchen until my father blocked my escape with some chairs, at which point my husband pinned me. I tried talking my way out, but my parents have hearts of stone (or are wise to my ways after all these years–seriously, you’d think I’d grow up) and forced it down me.

This leads me to the thing I’m least thankful for right now…

6. The Common Cold. Seriously western medicine, you still haven’t come up with something better than that liquid sugar battery acid they’re forcing down me every 8 hours?

My thoughtful brother passed on his cold this Thanksgiving. I can’t really say anything since last year I managed to give my whole family swine flu at Thanksgiving, but he’s my brother so I’ll still blame him. The cold has made me extra high-maintenance (all the IH girls and shuddering in horror, sure that I couldn’t be any worse than I am) and ridiculous. I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and fruitful black Friday (I hit Khols and Macys and 4am–killer!) and that you’re enjoying the start of the Holiday season.

But…is there anything you’re NOT thankful for?

Lila

Happy Independence!

We don’t have Thanksgiving here in Barbados but coming up on Tuesday, we’re celebrating our 44th year of independence so…

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE BARBADOS!

Jess’s turn to give thanks

Being an ex South African Aussie, giving thanks at this time of the year is just not something we do routinely. However, I have no problem sitting down and coming up with things to be grateful for.

Yeah, yeah, I’m grateful for all the usual stuff… My hubby, my kids, the rest of my family, my friends, good health etc.

But here are couple extra things I thought I’d add.

I am so eternally thankful for chocolate,

Ice cream (And more specifically at this point, chocolate ice cream)

Ooh, and Sales. There is nothing more satisfying than a really good bargain buy. Just this weekend, my favorite line of clothing had a massive warehouse sale. I’m talking 90% off clothes. Man, was I ever grateful.

The Book Depository. (Cheaper, new books I cannot find.)

Sites that offer pics of beautiful men, naked or dressed…

(Oh, admit it, you’d also have put a large image in and not just a thumbnail)

Dog tidy bags (because believe me, walking a dog, you always seem to have moments when you wish to God you’d remembered to bring one of those little bags along.)

Sunday morning sleep ins. (Now that the kids are old enough, we actually do manage to sleep later than 6am some Sundays.)

(Yes. That’s exactly how DH and I look while we sleep)

The Word Thesaurus. (Just how many times can a person use the words love, desire, passion and lust in one book?)

Tea and cappuccino. (On a daily basis I consume copious amounts of both.)

A perfect summer day. (Coz seriously, where better to spend it than in Sydney?)

My Mac and iPhone4

There are tons of other things I have to be grateful for, but seeing as it’s Sunday morning, and the kids are otherwise occupied, I’m gonna end it here and just slip back into bed for a little sleep in.

Hope all you Americans out there had a wonderful, happy Thanksgiving.

Jess

An Aussie’s take on being thankful.

We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia but as most of the members of IH and a considerable portion of the readers do I’m going to have a go at this thankful thing. Now remember I’m a virgin so no laughing. *grin* Okay, here goes.

I’m thankful for the man who shares my life and even more thankful that I found him so early that we’ve already had 23 wonderful years together.

I’m thankful for the four children we produced together. Well most days. *grin*

I’m thankful that The Kid bounces with only the occasional breakage. lol

I’m thankful to be able to write what I love and share it with the world. Not to mention it’s a great explanation for the voices in my head. *wink*

I’m thankful for the friends I’ve met, in person and online, since I began this wonderful journey of writing.

I’m thankful that I’m a “glass is half full” kind of girl even if I did marry a “glass is half empty” kind of guy. *grin*

I’m thankful to be able to take what the world dishes out with grin (okay, occasionally a grimace) and still take the next step forward.

And to be honest, I’m just plain thankful. I may have to drag my ass outta bed every morning but I do it with the knowledge that each new day brings me more things to be thankful for.

Rhian