One of you asked me to reveal something about myself that not too many people know. So in today's video, I confess to a prank I did to a fellow who teased me in high school. Wonder what ever happened to him. Click below for All the Juicy DeeTales!
If you have a question for me, leave it in the comments section here, on my Facebook page, on Pinterest, on my YouTube Channel, or on Goodreads and I'll pick one for the next edition of *All the Juicy DeeTales!*
This was the first year to have Christmas without my dad. Mom decided to stick with tradition though, and I'm so glad she did. Every year we celebrate Christmas at their house the weekend before Christmas Day. Rather than buy things for all the kids and grandkids, Mom cleans out her cupboards and gives away items she no longer needs/wants. Since they are secondhand items, she doesn't feel right wrapping them up and putting them under the tree. So instead, she distributes them under the guise of a white elephant gift exchange. The thing that is different is that instead of just one gift, she fills a lawn-and-leaf black garbage bag full of items (one bag per person). Some of the items are what Mom calls "three-star" items (like cut crystal from her china cabinet) and some receive no stars at all (like staple removers).
Still, the family embraces her game and what started years ago as a friendly white elephant gift exchange has evolved into what the kids call “Mimi’s Cutthroat Christmas”. Due to the plethora of items and competitive family spirit, the game can get pretty ruthless. LOL.
"Game Faces" Left to Right: My son-in-law, 27 yo daughter, niece-in-law (is that a word?), and nephew.
Since Dad wasn't there to help, I went over to Mom's the week before. We corralled the gifts, divided the gifts, and wrapped the gifts. Took us about 30+ hours to get it all ready. My mom made a spreadsheet of sorts to make sure each garbage bag had items that a man would enjoy, items a woman would enjoy, items that were of high value, and items that were of no value.
This year's gifts ranged from blenders to Christmas decorations to pink flamingos. The rules change each year and the kids enjoy debating the rules almost as much as the actual game. Every year we tell ourselves that we’ll remember how we played for next year. And every year we always forget.
My nephew opened a red velvet cape, which was stolen by my daughter-in-law.
It was great fun to see the kids open the gifts and to see if Mom and I were right in estimating what the "hot" items were. We were convinced that the fold out card tables would be a big hit. Much to our surprise, it was Dad's full size disco ball (he used to be a square dance caller) and his machete which were this year’s most sought after. (The kids were stunned when they opened the disco ball. They had NO idea their 84 yo grandpa had one up in the attic. That took a little explaining. LOL. And my sweet daughter-in-law who stole the velvet cape, also snagged the machete. An inner-warrior hiding inside that one. Ha.)
When all is finished, my mom let's them pick one painting from the wall (she's an artist). This is the highlight of the day and the kids have to draw numbers for their "Mimi art." There is NO stealing in this game. So getting the #1 pick is a big, big deal.
Despite missing Dad, it ended up being a time of laughter and poignancy as we drew comfort from each other while still experiencing the joy of the season and joy of being with family. Do/did you have any special traditions when you went to Grandma's house?
No blog today because the proofreader has finished TIFFANY GIRL and I have to sign off on the changes, so I've spent the last several days combing through the manuscript to make sure we haven't missed anything. My man surprised me at lunch yesterday by bringing me an artfully arranged plate, including a chocolate ganache orange truffle he made from scratch, a chocolate covered strawberry from the chocolate he'd handmade, and half of a chocolate chip cookie he'd made. *sigh* A jock, a cook, and a romantic. Do I have me a keeper or what?
In this 2 Minute Tip for Aspiring Authors find out what the reader doesn't need to know. Also, learn how to tell a compelling story in a tight writing style.
If you have a question for me, leave it in the comments section here, on my Facebook page, on Pinterest, on my YouTube Channel, or on Goodreads and I'll pick one for the next edition of *2 Minute Tips for Aspiring Authors!*
Some of you have asked when I sign a multibook contract with a publisher, do I know in advance what all of those books will be about! Find out the process and learn why everything doesn't always go according to plan!
If you have a question for me, leave it in the comments section here, on my Facebook page, on Pinterest, on my YouTube Channel, or on Goodreads and I'll pick one for the next edition of *All the Juicy DeeTales!*
I "yearbooked" myself. Have you seen this website? You superimpose your face on different yearbook pictures to see what you would have looked like in high school back in the day. Here are some of mine:
LOL! You can do couples, girlfriends and all kinds of things. And you know what's scary? That 1978 pic looks a lot like my real pic in my high school yearbook!!! What about you? Does your yearbookyourself.com pic look anything like your graduation photo in your real yearbook?
I listened to my favorite Christmas album this morning. Is it too early for that, do you think? Probably, but I so love the Christmas season. I always go all out with my decorations and transform the house into a winter wonderland with all the trimmings.
One year I was so tired that I only decorated one tree (instead of two), hung the stockings and that's it. Because as much as I enjoy the decorations, I abhor putting them away at the end of the season.
The kids were grown and gone, but when they walked in and that's all they saw ... ohmygosh. They were crushed. So ever since, I'm back to two trees and all the trimmings. :)
What do you do? Do you go all out? How do you "keep the joy" when it's time to put it all away?
Are your characters one-dimensional? Or "cardboard" characters? In this *2 Minute Tip for Aspiring Writers* I offer some creative ways to give your character depth!
If you have a question for me, leave it in the comments section here, on my Facebook page, on Pinterest, on my YouTube Channel, or on Goodreads and I'll pick one for the next edition of *2 Minute Tips for Aspiring Authors!*
Hubby's birthday is approaching. None of us have any idea--including him--on what to give him. He's not a handy man, so the hardware store is out. He's already got one of every thing that the sporting store carries. Office supplies don't do it for him. He's not a clothes horse.
What does he like? A clean house. A clean car. A warm meal. Ironed clothes. And a little attention. He also likes for my car to be clean. And the toilet lids to be down. But somehow, doing all those things and saying, "Happy Birthday, honey! I washed and vacuumed our cars and made our bed and put all the toilet lids down!" just doesn't seem right.
So ... what do you get for the man who wants nothing?
Well, I googled "ridiculous gifts for men" and boy golly, I got some funny ideas! Here are a few of my favorites:
Steak Saws, LOL! Again, funny, but unnecessary.
Ah, yes, the basketball mug complete with hoop for marshmallow dunking! Funny and clever, but I doubt he'd actually use it more than a few times. Still, it was invented by a little boy who is 8 yo and has dyslexia, so I'm tempted to get it anyway. What do you think?
A remote controlled floating drink and snack holder! I actually like this idea, but since he has a November birthday, he wouldn't be able to use it until summer. :( Still, you know how guys are with remote controls. So I'm seriously considering it. Your thoughts?
Baseball bat rocking chair! Now this is cute, but it looks mighty uncomfortable. Wouldn't do any good if he couldn't actually relax in it!
So ... what do you get for the man who wants nothing? Any ideas?
he refers to intermission as "halftime."
you arrive at the hospital to deliver your first born and he brings along his catcher's mitt.
he paints regulation lines on the driveway around your basketball goal.
he buys a basketball goal from Academy, saws six feet of the pole off, drills a hole in the decking beside your pool, drops the basketball goal into it and concretes it in. None of that plastic poolside basketball for him. No siree. (And this monstrosity looks so nice next to my saga palm.)
he thinks reading is the epitome of being bored.
he's only read 15 books since 1986 (ten of those because he feels like he has to since his wife wrote them).
he thinks soap operas reflect the lowest form of our society.
he thinks romance novels are just one teeny-tiny step above soap operas.
Well, I'm sure you've figured out … I'm married to a jock.
Now don't get me wrong. Jocks have their perks. They are hard workers, driven, passionate, great leaders, great providers, fiercely protective of their woman and offspring, and they come packaged very, very nicely. My sweetie-pie and I will be celebrating 32 years of marital bliss this December.
What about you? Are you married to a jock? Got any bullet points you could add?
I'm Deeanne Gist and I love office supplies.
I am absolutely fascinated with office supplies. Every aisle is a treat and the office furniture section is way too tempting for my own good. One my readers emailed me yesterday with a picture of her desk (which was a bit messy, but nothing like mine) and told me her secret to a clean desk was in using a small desk. Hmmm. Do I smell a trip to the office supply store??
I don't know if I could say for sure what my favorite aisle is. That's like asking what my favorite ice cream flavor is. They're all good! But I will confess to being a highlighter fanatic. I was perusing through Pinterest and found these! *Ohmygosh* how adorable!
So, what about you? Are you an office supply nut? What's your favorite aisle? Favorite item?
When the movie Mamma Mia had first come to the theaters, I went to it with my daughter. She was in college at the time. When Meryl Streep's character crashed her daughter's bachelorette party, I leaned over and asked my daughter if she'd like me to do that to her one day.
At first she looked horrified, then her eyes took on an amused challenge and she gave me a resounding, "Yes."
Years later, I remembered that (long after she'd forgotten the conversation) … and drove 240 miles to do totally surprise her. Just watch ...
If you have a question for me, leave it in the comments section here, on my Facebook page, on Pinterest, on my YouTube Channel, or on Goodreads and I'll pick one for next week's edition of *All the Juicy DeeTales!*
