Christmas Shopping Done Yet?

So, are you a procrastinator? Have you been sitting on your Christmas List waiting until the last minute, I mean, the very last minute to shop?

Or are you a die-hard Christmas Eve shopper, loving the spirit of seeking out the perfect gift among the leftover supplies at stores, hoping to spy that once in a lifetime memory for someone?

Or, did you manage the surge on Black Friday and put the hammer down and plow through your list in a couple of dark hours?

Maybe you sat at your computer with a cup of coffee or tea and clicked your way through your shopping list on CyberMonday?

Oh, wait, I know, you’re the one who had people scratched off on their Christmas List by August, right?

Well, no matter if you’re waiting for Christmas Eve or you did all your shopping in the Christmas in July specials, I’m talking to you.

Isn’t shopping for others fun? I know I love it. Finding the exact gift for each person. It’s like a little treasure hunt game. I’m not sure exactly what I’m looking for, but I’ll know it when I see it.

That’s the joy of this holiday season. The joy of giving. There are some of us who can stop at one or two gifts, and then there are grandmas like me out there, who can’t pass up the toy department without looking for just “one more thing” to add to the already bursting box I’ve accumulated.

What the heck, they’re only going to be children once, right? I love the thought of watching my grandchildren’s eyes light up with each gift they unwrap.

So, whether you’ve wrapped all your presents ahead of time and are hunting them down from attic and closet, trying to remember what was for who, or you are going to be frantically wrapping through the wee hours of Christmas morning, I salute you.

You are my heroes. You’ve taken from yourself and given to others. It’s what the season is all about, right? Giving joy to others?

Here’s a bit of joy from me to you.

Merry Christmas!

--

Vicki

Why do Writers Write?

It's a question as old as nearly time itself. Why do writers write? What does it gain them? How are they enriched? What could they actually be getting out it?

I've been around writers and authors a good amount of my adult years. And, that's a LOT of years. I've heard every answer from:

"I want to be a best-selling author."

to

"I write because I can not write."

And, everything in between. A blogger by the name of Mia Hoddell has succinctly displayed on her blog what I think are the most perfect answers to the question, Why do writers write?

I will tell you some of the reasons why I write:

I enjoy writing.
I love to create.
I have so many ideas and inspirations that I must get them all down.
The characters in my head insist I tell their stories.
Writing is as essential to breathing and eating to me.
I love telling stories.
Writing is what I do best.


So, tell me, if you are a writer, why do you write?

--
Vicki






Image credit: willypd / 123RF Stock Photo

Math, PVC, and Christmas Lights

What is wrong with my blog title? Nothing if you ask my husband. At this moment I'm sitting in the front yard watching my husband attempt to create a tree of lights. He's suspending the cacophony of light strings from a high limb (over sixteen feet high) on a tree in our front yard. 

See anything wrong with this picture?

I'm not finished yet. He just asked me "how does this angle look?"  As if I know better than the doohickey he's using to measure the angle of the string of lights as he pulls it from center and stakes it into the ground. 

That's right. Each string of lights must stretch to the exact same angle from its anchor high in the air. Measured precisely with a doohickey. 

How does the math come in? Dear hubby calculated with his mind and iPad how high the strings needed to be to give the lights the exact angle that would create the perfect "tree" or in math terms a cone of lights.  

So, before he figured the exact height he was raising and lowering the strings of lights. Each time having to wrap the excess rope around the very wide trunk of the tree. 

Up go the lights. Around the tree goes my husband. 

Down go the lights. Around the tree goes dear hubby.  

I haven't quite figured out why the long tubes of PVC are present, but he just returned from the garage with a second one.  Something about "measuring" dear hubby muttered. 

We have a tape measurer stretched out on the ground under the strings of lights along with the long PVC pipe bisecting it at some angle he finds important. 

Meanwhile, all measuring devices have been abandoned to untangle the 12 strings of light hanging limply from their anchor attached to the rope slung over the tree limb. 

But I do see progress. The fourth string of lights is being staked into the ground after dear hubby uses the angle measuring doohickey to find the precise angle. 

It's a four-sided triangle.  Or a pyramid as my husband corrected me. 

I must say, it's a nice evening. I'm sitting in the early evening in shorts and sleeveless shirt listening to Christmas carols streaming from Pandora over our Prius' speakers. 

Of course, no project in our home, or outside it, in this case, isn't complete without one or more trips to Home Depot. This current trip is to pick up the dozen extension cords required to light each strand individually.  

Oh, right, I forgot to tell you the most important part. 

Dear hubby is going to control each strand's lighting ability separately from each other. Possibly to music, doubtful it will happen this year, but for sure they will light to some type of pre-determined pattern. 

With four strings anchored it looks like its back to the iPad for more calculations to determine where the next string should be anchored. 

Of course my offer of "just stretch each string out until it reaches an anchor point and be done with it" was met with scowls and mutterings of it won't look like a tree (cone)". 

Oh, right, I forgot. 

Did I mention this is our second night of working on this project?  Yep. 

Uh oh, I just heard a muttered "oh, sh**". That cannot mean things are going well.

Should I ask if everything is okay? No, I've learned from previous projects. Just sit quietly and watch. 

Which may not be much longer.  Dear hubby just muttered that its getting harder to see with the light fading. 

Hey, I just helped! Hubby asked me to bring him the yard stick from the garage. 

My contribution. 

 Obviously two PVC pipes and two measuring tapes weren't enough math for this scientific project, but the yard stick would fill the apparent void. I'm sure it's all going to come together now. All dear hubby had to do was ask me and I could easily tell him what his project needed, but no, he goes for a sixth measuring device.

I think the tree of lights will be finally built tonight. Dear hubby seems determined. He even got a soft pad to kneel on.  To his credit, he already worked all day at a friend's house installing a roof vent. However,  I did hear him mutter something along the lines of "at least I know what I'm doing now". 

It does seem to be going faster. There isn't quite as much silence, or number of Christmas songs go by,  between each tapping of the hammer. 

Math and Science is failing dear hubby.  I heard him say, "I don't understand why I have to make this string so much longer.  Every other one is the exact same length."

Who woulda thunk?

One PVC pipe has been discarded to lay forgotten in the yard a bit away from the actual work site.  It looks like the yard stick is doing the job.

Once again my help was needed to untangle the three remaining strings of lights. 

I rocked. 

It really looks like a tree of lights. Of course they aren't lit. Remember the earlier mention of extension cords. They still need to be purchased. 

And after many hours of work, including calculations, PVC pipe, a yard stick, hammer, stakes, and an angle measuring doohickey the lights are strung, stretched to the precise angle and anchored. 

Voila! A tree.  

So, I wonder if I should ask about putting a star on top?

Uh oh, the lights' plugs aren't polarized. Possible problem. 

Problem averted. 

One trip to Home Depot later and we were back home lighting the tree. 

Dear hubby had a brief but insane idea of putting one of our Christmas inflatables in the center. The Santa helicopter. I agreed in principal but after a few minutes of my husband dwelling on the possibility, he came to his senses, and then suggested he just add more strings of lights. In different colors so that when he automates them he will have more sequencing options. 

I tactfully said, "not tonight. Tomorrow is another day."

Lets hope he's moved on to the next project. 

Merry Christmas!!

-- Vicki

P.S. I must amend my previous blog. The tree of lights has become an OBSESSION with my husband. He's worked hard on it every night since he first erected it, and now it has become a tree of 24 strings of lights along with a string of colored lights at the top. It is truly a thing of beauty. He did get some automation working with the original 12 strings of lights, but adding the extra 12 has caused some functioning errors. Not to mention the number of muscles he pulled in he back and neck while working on this thing.

So, I don't think we'll have any automation this year, but I know that isn't going to stop dear hubby from thinking about it all year, and working on it so that by next year, it will not only flash on and off in various sequences but it will do it to music blaring from speakers he will undoubtedly set out near the tree. 

Maybe we'll move before then. It's easier to offend neighbors you haven't known for fourteen years.

Sigh.

Here is the tree. It does look beautiful, doesn't it?

Best Christmas Movies Lists

Everyone has a favorite Christmas movie they love to watch. Maybe it makes you laugh. Maybe it makes you cry. Maybe it does both. But, it isn't Christmas until you watch your favorite movie.

I searched the Internet to find the best Christmas movies lists and I wasn't disappointed. Everyone seems to have their favorite. I love The Little Drummer Boy, personally. I think my husband would put A Christmas Story at the top of his list or probably National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

But, those aren't the only Christmas movies out there, and I've found several lists that will show you how others rank their favorite Christmas movies.






FlickChart Top Christmas Movies on Netflix

Turner Classic Movies - Classic Christmas Movies List

Top Ten Reviews - Best Christmas Movies of all Times

Rotten Tomatoes - Best Christmas Movies

My Daily News - The Best Christmas Movies Ever

Empire Online - 30 Best Christmas Movies

Forbes - Top 10 Christmas Movies of All Time

Wikipedia - List of Christmas Movies

NBC Chicago - Greatest Christmas Movies of all time, Ever

Huffington Post - Top 10 Funniest Christmas Movies


And what movie was the ultimate favorite? It was a tie, between It's a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Go Figure. Personally I like A Charlie Brown Christmas a little better.

Whichever movies you choose to watch during this holiday season, may you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy holiday. My brightest blessings to all of you.

--
Vicki

Favorite & Funniest TV Sit-Coms

Everyone has their favorite. Your idea of the best sit-com is probably different than mine. And, it changes from season to season.

Right now, my favorite is The Big Bang Theory. I am so enthralled by that show and its unique characters and weekly plots.

However, if you asked me what my favorite sit-com was when I was growing up, I'd probably say Leave it to Beaver or I Dream of Jeannie or better yet, I Love Lucy!

Our little friend, Pooh is even creating his own list of favorites! I wonder what he finds funny?



So, have you thought anything about sit-coms and which ones were you favorites? Was it the funniest you ever saw?

The folks at AARP did just that and they came up with their top list of the 20 Funniest Sit-Coms ever.

AARP's 20 Best Funniest Sit-Coms

I did some poking around on the Internet, and will you know it, other people have created lists too, so I thought I'd share them with you.

Now That's Nifty
100 Best Sit-coms

IMDb
20 Best Sitcoms of all times

Paste Magazine
10 Best Sitcoms on TV Now 2010 List

The Top Tens
Top 10 Best Sitcoms of all Time


So, there you have it. Lists upon lists. Did any of your favorites make any list? If not, tell me, what was or is your favorite and funniest sit-com ever?

--
Vicki

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

As I sit and watch the Macy's day parade, I sip a cup of coffee and reflect on all that I am thankful for in my life and the world.

I am thankful for:

• my husband's love and support
• my health, no matter what chronic illness I suffer from, I am still fighting and loving life
• my children and how as they grow older they appreciate my efforts from the past more
• my beautiful grandchildren
• my friends here with me, far away and connected by the Internet
• the American soldiers who give so much that we may be free to celebrate and live safely
• the technology that I am able to stay close to loved ones
• my skill in writing that I may share my talent with others
• my faith in God and the joy in praising His name
• having Bipolar because it has taught me humility and patience and love for my life
• my neighbors for their friendship and support
• blueberries and that I can purchase them year round
• the love and support of my dog, Jack and my parrot, Bailey
• my family near and far that they always know how much I love and cherish them
• the restaurants and staff who keep their doors and kitchens open for those of us who can't handle the stress of cooking a huge elaborate meal for two
• everyone who remembers those in need be they animal or human
• my readers of my books, blogs, and articles

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!!


And I'm thankful for the image created by this talented designer

Image credit: slena / 123RF Stock Photo

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday,
-- Vicki

OUT FOR JUSTICE

Now Available from Mundania Press, LLC

Rookie Detective Karen Sykes is out to prove she is good at her job, finding justice for a darkness in her past through law enforcement. She gets her first chance to shine with a case that hits a little too close to home. Like her younger sister, a four-year-old boy, has been brutally murdered. The case pairs her with Mike Connelly, an attractive crime scene technician, and sparks fly between the two of them. Mike resists the attraction and only adds more emotional conflict to the case.

When her partner becomes the latest victim and ends up in the hospital near death, Karen sets out to find the murderer before he hurts anyone else. Only the case gets trickier when the murder suspect ends up dead, leaving new clues to the real killer. Finding comfort in Mike's support, their relationship heats up, but so does the investigation. The killer has a plan. One that involves a Cat and Mouse game of hide and seek inside the hospital, where her partner struggles for his life. Karen discovers it takes more than catching a killer to make the pain of her past go away. It also takes opening her heart and learning to trust in others.

Find OUT FOR JUSTICE here!

If you want to review the book, let me know and I can provide you with an e-book format for review. Just e-mail me at vmtwriter@vickimtaylor.com

SeaWorld Birthday Celebration

As I explained in my previous blog, we spent the weekend in Orlando, celebrating my 51st birthday.

Before leaving Tampa,  we stopped at the AMC Veterans 24 movie theater and saw SkyFall. The latest James Bond movie. TOTALLY AWESOME. I must say, it's nice to see a movie that falls back on the style of the older James Bond movies, like from Sean Connery days. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A great way to start off my birthday weekend.

We arrived at our hotel suite Friday evening and collapsed from the late ride from Tampa to Orlando. The movie was a bit longer than we had expected.

The next morning, we woke, had a bit of breakfast at the hotel and headed to SeaWorld. It was about a mile away from the hotel. Upon arriving, we saw that we weren't the only ones getting an early start. The lines had already formed. Lucky for us, we're pass members and could glide through the checking in process and gaining access to the entrance gates.

We didn't have any real path determined how we were going to approach SeaWorld activities, we just wandered about, catching a show here, walking a bit there, then catching another show. I've taken some pictures to help you see what we saw this weekend.

The Dolphin Show was spectacular. We enjoyed the way the dolphins performed the innate behaviors that show off their skills.


From jumping and leaping through the air and back into the water, to dancing on their tails. It was a beautiful sight to see.







The dolphins, I think were my favorite, until we went to the Shamu show.













Then, seeing those great killer whales leaping out of the water and gracefully re-entering, was really something to see. The best parts were wen the whales raced along the edges of the tank and used their massively strong tails to send ice cold salt water hurtling into the stands where many people were splashed and soaked to the skin. Of course, I chose a dryer seat for my viewing pleasure.











I hope that I was able to do the show justice, by capturing just a few of these images to share with you.







The grand finale was all of the whales jumping in unison.













Isn't it gorgeous?






Then, once again, we moved on to see the Sea Lions and other critters. Here too, I found my favorite again. I loved watching the Sea Lions sun themselves on the rocks. And I paid my portion to get a tray of fish to offer them to more aggressive Sea Lions that braved the birds who would swoop in and grab the fish before it landed in the Sea Lion's waiting mouth.

Most of the birds were just like this little fellow.


And what visit to SeaWorld during the holidays isn't finished without seeing Santa Claus? Well, I gotta tell you, Santa was in a bit of a hurry to get to his break when we arrived at the North Pole, but I did manage to get a picture of his sleigh and great big, gigantic enormous bag of toys.

The trip to the North Pole via the Polar Express was really something to experience. I hope that many of you get to experience it as well if you get the chance to visit SeaWorld.



I want to thank my husband, Greg, for making my birthday completely awesome and for letting me pick Joe's Crab Shack to have my birthday dinner because I really love crab!


So, I wonder if it's too early to start planning next year's birthday?

-- Vicki

Happy Birthday, to ME!

Yes, today is my birthday and I'm really excited. I'm turning 51. Last year when I turned 50, I invited 30 my of friends and family to join me on a yacht dinner cruise of Tampa Bay. It was an absolute success.

I enjoyed good times with friends, like Maria and Bryan:

and family like my daughter, Amber and her husband, Scott:

and of course I wouldn't leave out the love of my life, my hubby, Greg. He made it all possible:

This year, we are having another celebration by going to SeaWorld in Orlando. I love it there and every time I go, I seem to discover something new about the park and the animals.

When I return, I'll have to post pictures of this year's celebration. Right now, I'm going to go make sure my special birthday cake truffle from Godiva Chocolates is still in the refrigerator. Don't want anything to happen to it. It's all the cake I'm going to have.

Have a wonderful weekend, I know I will.

Cheers,
Vicki

GOOD INTENTIONS Released

Just a quick heads up for all of you to let you know that my book, GOOD INTENTIONS is now available at Amazon as a Kindle version book.

BOOK BLURB:

Good Intentions is the tragic story of one woman’s efforts to help a teenage mother. Megan, fourteen and pregnant, needed a mom. Tracy, thirty-nine and already raising a large family, gave her a home. Neither was ready for what happened next.

Tracy Reynolds’ life is not her own. She works the night shift at the hospital and has three boys, two girls and a husband who works the opposite shift along with a menagerie of rescued pets. Somehow, she and her husband, Tim, have made it work with love, faith, and impeccable ethics.

Adding fourteen-year-old Megan and her newborn son to the mix was supposed to be uncomplicated. The adoption agency made it sound so easy. They painted Megan has a good child who had a rough life. She needed love and understanding and the stability of a respectable home and family. Tracy and Tim fit the bill and were fast tracked through the system and before they knew it trouble landed on their doorstep. Megan.

Megan rejected their family values and resisted from every direction when it came to learning how to live within their family dynamics and taking care of her son. She missed her friends and the people she knew when she worked as a prostitute. Despite court orders and her probation officer’s warnings, Megan secretly reconnected with her old friends and lover. 

The Reynolds’ family spun out of control. Not one would be untouched by Hurricane Megan’s path of destruction.

Deceptions. Infidelity. Drugs. Child abuse. Cancer. Sexual abuse. Home invasion. The Reynolds’ went through it all. Would their family ever be the same?

You can find GOOD INTENTIONS here 

Some background information about the book: I wrote it after reading a story in my local newspaper about a family who had a similar experience. I contacted the reporter who got me in touch with the family. I interviewed them extensively along with local and state agencies involved to get as much realism and drama into the story that I could. I hope you like it. And if you do, please say so in your comments and reviews on Amazon.com

Christmas Town in Busch Gardens

Hubby and I went to Busch Gardens yesterday to enjoy the day and walk around. And to find the Christmas Town Preview shop so that we could buy our tickets for the Christmas Town Event on weekends between Nov 30 - Dec 23. 2012.

We decided that we weren't going to do too much walking yesterday as we are going to SeaWorld this coming weekend. And, we didn't want to wear ourselves out. So, we took the gondola ride over the park looking for the Preview Shop.

Didn't see it.

Walked back around the park until we got to the front gates again. Asked a group of employees who basically sent us in two different directions, but we decided to take the path most followed and headed back into the park, This time heading for the Nairobi section.

Still walking.

We finally found the familiar little sign outside the tiny store, and what do we find?

Closed doors. With no sign saying they'll open another time, or anything.

Sigh. We've come so far, just to have to turn back around and go to Guest Relations at the front gate.

So, we head back, all the while, we really are enjoying the day. Busch Gardens was crowded, but everyone was in a good mood, I think mostly because the weather was PERFECT! Mid 70's and sunshine.

We finally reached Guest Relations, bought our tickets, getting $20.00 off because we are two year annual pass holders.

Tired, but not exhausted, be boarded the tram to head back to parking lot F and our car. Back home we went with Christmas Town tickets clutched in hand.

I can't wait to go and see how Busch Gardens lights up for the evening celebrations, along with the concert concluding with Jars of Clay. Wonderful music. Beautiful scenery, even Santa Claus. I wonder if I'll be able to sit with him and tell him my wishes for a Happy Christmas?

Stand by for more when we actually go to Christmas Town in Busch Gardens.

Cheers,
Vicki

P.S. If you want to know more about Christmas Town click here. Or you can call 1-888-800-5447. Find the magic in your holiday season.

Home Improvement, the Saga Continues

Don't worry honey, it won't cost much. I'm going to build it myself.

Those magic words.

And, 5 years later, I'm still regretting them.

But, I must say, having my husband do the work, rather than a bunch of strangers traipsing in and out of my house is much better. Even though, it's taking FOREVER for the makeover of our house to end.

We bought it in "as is" condition way back in 1998. It didn't have the front doors on, no floors in the major portion of the house, and the bathrooms were a flashback from the 1970's. Which was really strange as the house wasn't very old.

So, eager beavers we were, we purchased the house and the home improvement projects began. Of course we had to have floors and working bathrooms before we could move in, so it took about 3 months before we were able to walk through actual front doors and finally call our house our home.

From then on, we didn't use paid professionals to to the rest of the improvements, but did them ourselves as we had time and money. Of which both were never ready at the same time.

But, I must say, I'm very happy with the results as they incurred. I love our great room, 400 gallon saltwater aquarium included. All cabinetry and wet room designed by my husband.

The guest room is gorgeous. The home office is perfect. And the master bedroom and matching bathroom is truly a serene and lovely place to relax.

Now. The kitchen. We've saved it for last, as it's the most inconvenient to do and probably the most costly.

So, the saga continues, with only one room left. And, do I hear those famous words yet? "Don't worry, I'll do it myself."

I haven't heard them yet, but it's not because he's wanted to say them. He just doesn't have a plan yet.

Yet.

I'll keep you updated.

Yours in Writing,

Vicki

Non Sequitur Takes a Poke at Social Networking

I love the comics. I read them every day. Well, almost every day, if I have to be utterly honest. One of my favorites is Non Sequitur.

Wiley Miller, the cartoonist for Non Sequitur has an outrageous sense of humor and sees our world as no one else does absurdities and all.

A few days ago, he jumped into the world of social networking by taking a poke at Facebook.



So, what is social networking? It's the grouping of individuals into specific groups. Huh? Here's a website that can explain it easily. WHAT IS SOCIAL NETWORKING?

Facebook is just one of those social networks. Myspace is another. LinkedIn is another. Those are the top three. And, they're all used for very different reasons by very different people.

I'm going to be VERY basic here. One size does not FIT ALL!!!!

Myspace is used by the younger crowd and the artists groups: authors, muscians, artists, etc.

Facebook is used by slightly older crowd and you still have the artists groups as well as more business people. It's also used by the families and schoolmates looking to reconnect.

LinkedIn is probably the only one that has the majority of business people on it and does nearly all business, no socializing.

I purposely left out the Tweeters mostly because I don't understand them, and I don't exactly know how they fit into a stable social network.

So, enjoy the cartoons and have fun on your social networking site of choice.

Weird but Brilliant?

This column appeared in our Tampa St Petersburg Times Newspaper

The Annals of Improbable Research magazine bestowed the 2009 Ig Nobels last Thursday in a ceremony at Harvard. The awards honor scientific research that seems odd but has serious practical application. The awards were handed out by Nobel laureates.

And the winners are:

Veterinary Medicine: Catherine Douglas and Peter Rowlinson for showing that cows with names give more milk than unnamed cows.

Peace: Stephan Bolliger, Stefen Ross, Lars Oesterhelweg, Micheal Thali, and Beat Kneubuehl for investigating whether it is better to be struck over the head with a full or empty beer bottle.


Economics: Executives of four Icelandic banks for showing how tiny banks can become huge, and then become tiny again.

Chemistry: Javier Morales, Miguel Apatiga, and Victor Castano for creating diamonds out of tequila.


Medicine: Donals Unger for cracking the knuckles on his left hand for 60 years to see if it contributes to arthritis.

Physics: Katherine Whitcome, Liza Shapiro and Daniel Lieberman for figuring out why pregnant women don't tip over.

Literature: Irish police for issuing 50 tickets to Prawo Jazdy, which in Polish means "driver's license."

Public health: Elena Bodnar, Raphael Lee, and Sandra Marijan for inventing a bra that can be converted into a gas mask. Actually, two gas masks.


Mathematics: The Zimbabwean Reserve Bank for printing notes in denominations from 1 cent tot $100 trillion.


Biology: Fumiaki Taguchi, Song Guofu and Zhang Guanglei for demonstrating that bacteria in panda poop can help reduce kitchen waste by 90 percent.

*****

All I can say, is "So that's where our Research and Development grant $$ are going?"

What the "Fragglerock" is that all about?