Diet update

For those of you who wagered I wouldn’t have the will power to stick to this horrible diet, give yourselves a pat on the back. I couldn’t handle it. By Sunday I was so ill I couldn’t bear it. I ended up caving and eating 4 oz of tuna and 6 crackers. My stomach hasn’t recovered yet, I still feel ill.

Sunday I went and bought 6 large chicken breasts that I boiled until the meat fell from the bones. I then shredded the meat and separated it into individual servings. Chicken salad is healthy and its wonderful tasting too. So I’m playing with ideas on how to eat it.

I have combination I came up with that sounded wonderful: mix the shred chicken with red grapes and apple chunks; serve over a bed of fresh spinach leaves. Mix apple juice and mayo for the dressing and viola, instant chicken salad. I’ll let you know how it works out.

My DIL’s grandfather passed away on Sunday, I took care of the baby all day yesterday while she and my son went to tend to the family business. My dad came home from a month at the farm—it was wonderful to have daddy home!

I made dinner for him and mom. I know my mom loves pepper steak, I found peppers and steak but couldn’t find a recipe so I improvised. I took a wok, used some canola oil and soy sauce, stripped a round steak, julienned red and green peppers and half an onion then I tossed it all in the wok skillet. As it cooked, I combined ketchup and pomegranate juice in a mug then when the meat was brown I added the ketchup, pomegranate mixture and simmered on low.

I served it with rice and I have to tell you it was fabulous! I only ate a small bit (trying to practice portion control!) but man! I was mighty impressed with myself. Mom asked for the recipe and I’m like uh…well, I just chopped and tossed and boom! There it is. Then I mentioned the pomegranate ketchup mixture and she’s like huh? What made you think of that? *shrugs* I’m not sure. It just sounded good so I did it. I don’t know how healthy it was but it sure was delicious! If my DH and DD would eat it I’d make it here.

Have to run!

See you all again soon!
Hugz!

For the first time in close to twenty years…

I’m going on a diet. Why? Well, if you’ve seen photos of me you’re all probably saying it’s about time, finally or something along those lines.

I’ve always had one attitude about my weight: You don’t like the way I look—don’t look at me! I still feel this way so why this sudden attack of insanity? It’s a personal matter. A private and bitterly painful conversation made me open my eyes.

But this thing I’m doing isn’t necessarily classified as a diet. It’s called the Master Cleanse, or the Lemonade Diet.

It’s not as easy as it sounds. For the next ten days whenever I get hungry I have to drink the following concoction: 2 tblsp lemon juice, 2 tblsp molasses, a sprinkling of cayenne pepper mixed in 8 oz purified water and as an added bonus I get a glass of laxative tea at bed time. This is it. No food.

This is rumored to cleanse your body of all the impurities; all those nasty toxins that build up in your system and make you feel so bad. It’s also supposed to reboot your metabolism, shrink your stomach and change your attitude about food. My guess is ten days from now I’m going to be ready to bare hand, skin and serve the first thing that crosses my path. LOL.

The hard part will be sticking to this because I’ve got to be honest, this drink? It’s one of the worst tasting things I’ve ever indulged in. It’s pretty sad when you consider lemons and molasses are two of my more favorite things.

I’m not sure if I can make it. Will that make me appear weak? *shrugs* maybe, but that’s okay too. The important thing is I have to try. Since I made the decision Wednesday to start this I’ve been trying the mind over matter trick—chanting to myself I can do it. It’s only ten days, how hard can it be? I already feel whimpy. Guess I better chug some more of this miracle cleanse…

Check back with me in a couple of days to see how I’m doing, okay?

Hugz
JJ

Been MIA

I'm running behind in everything. I haven't posted a new blog entry since...wow! January! Shame on me. My February newsletter still hasn't been released, and it's been ages since I've checked MySpace.

Why? Writing--thank goodness! I've been buried in 5 different ideas and trying to work on them is like juggling burning elephants while walking a tightrope across the Grand Canyon. So why am I working on them simultaneously?

Imagine this scenario: You have five children. Each one is shouting at the same time for something different; "Mom I'm hungry!" "Mom, it's time for football practice!" Mom, I need to get to ballet class!" "Honey? I'm home. When's dinner?" "Mom my car broke down and I need a ride to work."

Which one do you tell to shut it? And let's be honest, you might tell them to stifle, that doesn't mean they actually do. There's still the not-quite-beneath-their-breath grumbling.

That's what it's like for me. The voices nearly make me crazy--er, crazier. This (hopefully) explains why there isn't a new release looming in my future. It's mighty damn hard to get anything accomplished quickly.

Guess I better get back to the circus...

Tomorrow I'm blogging at Gems of Romance blog (http://resplendencegems.blogspot.com/) hope you'll stop by and say hello.

Huz and Happy Weekend!
JJ

Beyond Death

Hawk's Rayne

I had submitted this manuscript to my editor and she enjoyed the book but there were some changes she wanted. I agreed to make the changes and to send it back to her as soon as I could.

As I unraveled the original story my mind began to drift and I ended up with somehting that, while at the core is the same book, it's taking a different route to get that original location. Why? I have no idea. I liked hte characters the first time around but I didn't love the book.

Now I feel more comfortable with it. Becuase of the major rewrites it's slow going but I'm plodding along. Because of these changes, Morgan's Creek has been put on hold--which is NOT making Sheriff Alverro Schmidt or Agent Sage Lee very happy.

But it's important to me to get these changes done. While there is no guarantee the book will be contracted, the sooner it's completed the sonner RP can make that determination.

Guess I better get back to work.

Hugz!
JJ

Possessed

Well this has certainly started off as an interesting year. I recently sat down at my computer determined that I was going to try writing one of the other girls in my projected Immortals series. (I haven't even sold the first one so it may be a wasted effort. )

Imagine my surprise when instead of lighthearted romance a serious Thriller/Horror came pouring out! I had no idea it was in there but now that it began I'm having trouble shutting it off. Not that it's a bad thing. I mean I'm actually writing. But this story is one of the most intense ones I've ever written.

The working title is Morgan Creek and I have to admit it's kind of freaking me out a little. I wonder if I might be slightly unhinged to come up with such an idea--okay, I've always been slightly unhinged, ask my family (GGG) as the book nears completion I'll share some of it with you. Right now about 30 pages have basically written themselves. I love it when that happens. Usually my books that write themselves tend to be better than anything else I've done. They're more popular and get higher reviews. Plus I don't stress over how/what to write next.

This book isn't a romance, not technically. There might be a romantic element in there, depends on what the voices dictate.

Well I need to get moving. The voices are back and keeping my concentration at an end.

Hugz!
JJ

I've been nominated!

I was so excited to learn that I've been nominated for an award. Every year a place called Predators and Editors has a voting for the favorite/best of the year. This year I've been nominated for an honor: Horror of the year! I'm thrilled!

Now it's up to the readers to vote. So I'm asking that you take a couple minutes of your time and vote for me. I'll provide the link below. You're only allowed one vote, the poll closes at midnight on January 14th, and on the voting page everything is listed in alphabetical order.

Here we go:
Horror of the year: Beyond Death
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/novelh.shtml

It was also nominated for the prize as the best short of the year.

Here is the link for that: Horror short stories: Beyond Death
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/shortstoryh.shtml

Thank you so very much for your time! HUGZ!
JJ