catwoman1022

I love House!

2006-09-28T00:08:24Z

Mikey and have just finished watching season 1 and 2 of House with Hugh Laurie. What a delightful asshole! You gotta love this guy. He pisses you off and surprises you in ways that you never see coming. If you haven't seen it...SEE IT! Now we're off to see all of the seasons of Boston Legal...I love Shatner in this one!

Cat

A long week....

2006-09-24T21:39:24Z

So far 2006 hasn't been so hot. It started with the damn show which took up a good couple of months of our lives. But the year has had so many ups and downs. My son graduated high school which was an up. I am very proud of him. The down, he moved out. He's 18 and a very independant soul, so I knew he would. But it's been really hard on me. I love all my children, but a mother has a very special bond with her son, especially since he's the only one. He calls, he comes by, but it's still been very hard to let go of this particular child.

We've had a total of three car accidents. I totalled my Mercury. I don't hardly ever remember being IN an accident except for maybe one or two fender benders, so this totally jarred my world. Two weeks later, Alaina wrecked her car. It was a new car and the brakes went out. She didn't total it, but she didn't have it for a month either. Two weeks after she got it out of the shop, she had a fender bender. While I'm so very thankful that no one was hurt in any of these accidents, they still upset me.

We're still in the middle of lawsuit hell with our mortgage company. I fired my previous lawyer because, basically, he wasn't doing shit. When I got a copy of all my files from him I found out all sorts of things that he didn't tell me. Like the case was dismissed and repremanded to arbitration. I've hired a new lawyer that has not only dealt with the mortgage co. lawyers, but over this very thing. We offered a settlement and now they're trying to say we're part of another class action suit in California. We aren't. So it's all still going round and round. We're desperatly hoping this will all be over with soon. We've been dealing with it for over 3 years. We just want to move into a new house.

Work has gotten crazy. I do the websites for 4 of our stations and oversee the other 2. I still have a sales coordinator title, though most of my work is on the websites. Now the corporation has decided that we're putting all our websites with a new company...by the end of the year. This means a lot more work for me. I don't mind it, I love doing the sites, I'm just hoping that I'll be promoted to Webmaster soon.

I've started doing some web work on the site. I completed one site over the summer and have three or four more now looking for me to build something. This is good, but it does take a good bit of time.

On the horror front, I have something coming up that I'll be announcing next weekend and I'm really excited.

Ok, so if you actually sat through and read all of that, bless you.

Cat

I knew it...

2006-07-22T14:07:45Z

I'm a reader, that's what I do. Folks ask me all the time why I don't write. I'll tell you why...I'm lazy. I started this live journal thing with the intention of writing in it every so often to see if I would be good at writing something on a regular basis, as most writers will advise you to do. Obviously, I failed. I haven't updated this thing since February. And even that wasn't writing. I do read others posts. I find them fascinating. But I suck at writing. I'm one of those people who get all gung ho at a project and about half way through I get bored, or lazy, and I quit. You wouldn't believe how many unfinished projects I have. Hell, my bathroom has been half painted for years!

Yes, yes I know...I can change this. But I seriously think it's a genetic defect. My son has it too. My parents don't have the "half assed gene" but I have an aunt who does. I'm trying something new, again. I've started back on my Sugarbusters diet and I'm going to a gym with a trainer. I need to do this for my health. Anyone wanna takes bets on how long it lasts? I know, folks will write back and say "YOU CAN'T DO IT WITH THAT ATTITUDE!" And I'm trying really, really hard not to have that attitude. I really want to do this, for now at least. I know I can carry through on some things. The Red Light District for example. I've run that board for over a year with no intentions of quitting. I love it. I love the people on it. I love doing the contests and the chats and all the rest of the stuff. So what makes RLD different from other things I've started? How did this one love overcome the "half assed gene?" This is one of the mysteries of life. My life at least.

So I'm back at the Live Journal thing. See I have these ideas rolling around in my head. So maybe...just maybe one day...I'll finish them.

Cat

Ahhh my friends...

2006-02-03T12:20:30Z

Randomness on a Saturday morning....

2006-01-14T15:19:41Z

Some random things from my life...

The daughter is moving out again....for a month or two. She's apartment sitting. While I'm thankful for a little peace and quiet, I miss her terribly. She's one of my best friends.

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Waiting on ABC TV. They found us a match for Wife Swap, and we're waiting on ABC TV to approve it. I've never had much patience for waiting!

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Message Board Wars - Why do some folks feel that it has to be US VS THEM when it comes to Message Boards? It's different strokes for different folks. Folks will find where they feel the most comfortable. I've just always believed in keeping peace. Stirring up shit just makes you dirty.

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I find that the older I get, the less patience I have. They will lock me away for Road Rage very soon. Because I'm going to stop my car on the highway and beat the shit out of someone. Plus, other people's children annoy me more. I used to love babies...and I will be thoroughly ecstatic to have grandchilden (not soon though), but sometimes other people's kids get on my nerves.

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I have the best hubby in the world. He's offered to give me a large sum of money from our savings to pay for the various conventions I want to go to this year. I know I'm heading to San Fransisco in May and Rhode Island in July. Hoping for Nashville in June and Baltimore in August, but we'll see. I love my hubby!

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I had the nicest gift ever this week. Everyone gets gifts at Christmas, but this week a couple of friends in Canada sent me a after-Christmas gift. A hand made blanket that is warm, soft, and large enough to cover me. Thank you Laurie and Erik Alkenbrack...you guys are the greatest and I love you madly!

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I know one of my resolutions was to keep all my body parts, but I wouldn't mind having my sinus cavaties removed. Sinus infections suck a big one.

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Working on getting the Red Light Chapbook out in the goody bags at WHC! Tom Moran is doing some beautiful artwork for them. This is soooo gonna rock!

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I am published! My first interview with Tim Lebbon shows up in Insidious Reflections magazine issue #5. You can get one here Shocklines . I was gentle with Tim...but I have an interview with Wrath James White in the next issue that will leave you panting. The guys at IR have asked me if I'd like to be a regular interviewer....which I would love. So if you're an author, beware...I'll be tapping you on the shoulder soon.

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My kids are the most frustrating and yet, the most wonderful things in the world.

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Who ever discovered you can make beans into coffee...is a GOD.

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The Red Light District has a chat with SIMON CLARK! The SIMON CLARK! Tomorrow at 4pm eastern standard time. The Red Light District Join us won't you?

Ok...that's enough for now....on with responding to the e-mails that I haven't responded to yet this week.

I'm Kermit?

2006-01-06T11:42:17Z

What Muppet Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Cat

The Red Light District is up for an award!

2006-01-04T12:10:19Z

Some how my message board, The Red Light District, got nominated for an award. So help a chick out would ya and go vote for us! You can vote here: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/writerforum.shtml

And THANKS!

Cat

My Little Pony?

2005-12-24T14:25:15Z

You're My Little Pony!! Sweet and innocent and
happy, you make people want to spew burrito
chunks. Even a Care Bear could kick your ass.

What childhood toy from the 80s are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Geez....My daughter wanted a purple sparkle pony for Christmas one year...she was about 3 or 4. I shopped all over town until I found one of the damned things. And believe it or not...she still has it.

Cat

catwoman1022 @ 2005-12-17T08:41:00

2005-12-17T13:41:53Z

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas

For you, it's all about sharing times with family.
Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Everyone Likes APPLE PIE!!!!

2005-12-16T02:46:35Z

You taste like a warm pie. Your homemade goodness
brings comfort to those around you. Your light
crust is a bit flaky, but thats what makes you
so loveable.

How do you taste?
brought to you by Quizilla

Right? Right? Say right dammit.

Cat

Naugty and Nice...

2005-12-13T12:50:31Z

You Are Dancer

Carefree and fun, you always find reasons to do a happy dance.

Why You're Naughty: That dark stint you had as Santa's private dancer.

Why You're Nice: You're friendly. Very friendly.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

This is more me...

2005-12-09T12:15:47Z

<td align="center" style="background: #000000; color: #FFFFFF;">Catwoman's Random Movie Quote:

'Great balls of fire. Don't bother me anymore, and don't call me sugar.'

- Scarlett O’Hara, Gone with the Wind

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com</td>

Don't know how they got this out of me but....

2005-12-09T12:14:27Z

Your 2005 Song Is

Don't Cha by the Pussycat Dolls

"Dont cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me
Dont cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me"

What happens in 2005, stays in 2005!

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Just Beautiful...

2005-12-08T01:09:57Z

A friend recently asked me what I thought was beautiful. There are several definitions of beautiful:

Beauty
1 : the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit : LOVELINESS
2 : a beautiful person or thing; especially : a beautiful woman
3 : a particularly graceful, ornamental, or excellent quality
4 : a brilliant, extreme, or egregious example or instance
5 : a quantum characteristic that accounts for the existence and lifetime of the upsilon particle; also : a particle having this characteristic

Now I don't know about the fifth one...upsilon particle my ass. But I like the first one...qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.

Yeah...that's the one.

The old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder is so true. One may find beauty in a thunderstorm, but another may find terror. One may find beauty in a bumble bee, another may find themselves in pain.

What I find beautiful:
A sunset that makes me pull the car over and just stare.
Songs sung by Enya.
My brand new, still in the cellophane, hardbacked copy of Swan Song.
My children.
Watching someone reach out a hand to help another.
Watching someone with courage who musters through adversities.
A hot fudge sundae.
My cat as she goes to sleep on my chest.
The twinkle in Mikey's eye when he's getting frisky.
The roses I grow in the summer.
My corvette.

These are things that pleasure me in my mind and spirit. So therefore, they're beautiful. People can be beautiful. Johnny Depp pleasures me (don't I wish) not just because he's nice looking but because I like the whole package. He's something I can admire from afar. Owen Wilson pleasures me. Some may not find him beautiful because he's got that wierd nose thing going on. But I like what I see, from his personality to his blue eyes. I have friends who are beautiful. Not because I want to jump their bones, but because of who they are.

So yes, my friend, beauty is in the eye of the behold, but also in the mind, spirit and heart. And to me...you are beautiful.

Cat

Apparently...really bad....

2005-12-07T12:20:23Z

Oh Great Cthulhu!

I have been an extremely sedulous devotee this year.

In February, I bombed a cultist gathering (-100 points). When the stars were right, I made a burnt offering to the Dead Dreamer (100 points). In April, I legally changed my name to Randolph Carter (-40 points). In July, I prepared an ocean voyage to R'lyeh (200 points). In August, I sacrificed vocabvixen to Cthulhu (500 points). In December, I rammed a ship into you (sorry Cthulhu!) (-1000 points).

In short, I have been very bad (-340 points) and deserve to have my body used as a host for one of your servitors.

Your humble and obedient servant,
Catwoman1022

Submit your own plea to Cthulhu!

I've been soooo bad...

2005-12-07T12:18:56Z

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

This year I've been busy!

Last month I pushed dys7topia in the mud (-17 points). In May I helped gsguitar across the street (6 points). In July I didn't flush (-1 points). Last week I punched karenetaylor in the arm (-10 points). In March I set orkneyboy's puppy on fire (-66 points).

Overall, I've been naughty (-88 points). For Christmas I deserve a moldy sandwich!

Sincerely,
catwoman1022

A Community...

2005-12-04T03:25:33Z

Community:
1 : a unified body of individuals: as a : STATE, COMMONWEALTH b : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself c : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location d : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society e : a group linked by a common policy f : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society
2 : society at large
3 a : joint ownership or participation b : common character : LIKENESS c : social activity : FELLOWSHIP d : a social state or condition

When did people lose sight of what the word COMMUNITY mean?

My daughter's 6th grade has to do a project by spending 8 hours helping on a COMMUNITY project. My two older children had to do this as well. I love working on these projects with my kids because I believe it helps them become better people when they can see that there are always people out there who need help. The two older ones worked at a nursing home. Alaina enjoyed that so much she ended up volunteering at the nursing home the entire next summer. She now has respect for old people (which is good since I will be one one day.) Alex also learned from his experience.

Katie didn't want to work in a nursing home. She wanted to work with animals. So we found a group here in Greenville called Concerned Citizens for Animals. They take in strays and abused animals and don't believe in killing them. They nurse them back to health and adopt them out. They're always looking for volunteers and donations for a very worthwhile cause. We had a great time today working with the animals, playing with them, feeding them. She learned how bad people can be by mistreating animals and learned how good it made her feel by helping.

This is a good project. So please tell me why over 50% of her schoolmates did their community project by helping their mom clean house? Or raking their grandmother's leaves? Where does this help the community? What this is, is that mom or dad doesn't give a shit, or is too lazy to help their child learn a valuable lesson. To take the opportunity to realize there's always someone who can use your help. And that pisses me off. These are the adults of tomorrow. The ones who will be our future officials, the ones that decide how the world works. And they aren't taught the basic fundementals of giving?

It's a sad world sometimes folks. Just makes me want to bust some parental heads.

Cat

Stepping outside to take a look.

2005-11-25T14:30:49Z

I haven't written here in a while. Why? Self-incrimination perhaps. I read the wonderful essays from others and fear that what I write about myself or what I think is so non-important. I don't write, and though I have ideas in my head, I probably won't, at least not anytime soon. People ask me all the time why I'm not putting my words down on paper. I grew up with an extreme low self-esteem. It's easy to do when you have parents that constantly put you down. "You're ugly, you're stupid, you'll never amount to anything." That sort of thing becomes ingrained on who you are and what you do. I'm not looking for pity. Over the years of my growing up, I've come to terms with what I am, and what I'm not. It's been an up hill battle. And though I'm sooo much better today than I was 20 years ago, I still have a ways to go to the top of that mountain.

I've learned to accept myself as I am. To not care what others think of me, or so I delude myself into believing. I know I'm not pretty, this is the face I was born with, I can't change it. Oh I could do plastic surgery, but having been through many surgeries, I'm not willing to go into that for the looks. It's just not that big of deal to me anymore. I know I'm not intelligent. No matter how many books I read, or what is taught to me, my brain has only a certain capacity. That's the way it is. So I've come to accept who I am. I know that I have good points, I'm outgoing, I have common sense, I have a sharp wit, and I care about things, deeply.

Recently our family started into a project. A television show called "Wife Swap" on ABC TV. It started out innocently, as a joke really. We had the show on one night and my husband started making fun of the other husbands. They were wimps, pussies, not real men. I asked if he thought he could do better in that situation and he responded with an enthusiastic SURE! So as a joke I filled out an on-line application, thinking that nothing would ever come of it.

Until we got a phone call. A producer of ABC TV said they were interested in our family, could we do a telephone interview? After the telephone interview, she loved us and that led into our doing a video to send them. Well the director loved us and next thing you know they sent another producer from New York down to spend a day with us doing more taping. From everything they've told us, they love us, but they have to find a match for us. It doesn't matter how much they love us but if they can't find a family of opposites for us, then nothing will ever happen. So we're in the waiting process. If they find a match, our family, and all of it's sordid little secrets will be on national television for the whole country to see.

And this terrifies me. Oh yes, don't get me wrong, I'm excited as well. We will be compensated very well, and the entire family is excited to be doing this. But I'm the wife, so a lot of the focus will be on me. People will sit at home in their comfy living rooms doing exactly the same thing we do when we watch the show. They'll judge us. I can here the comments all ready, oh, she's fat, or she's ugly, or she's lazy. Now I have no fear of what they'll say about my family. I have a wonderful family, one that I'm very proud of. My family is good looking, smart, funny, and is comprised of good people.

But the little girl in me hears those comments I heard so many years before, "you're ugly, you're stupid, you haven't amounted to anything." I'll be back in the middle of the school yard with all the popular girls standing around taunting me. I fight this feeling on a regular basis. I'm happy with my life, I remind myself. I have a great husband who loves me beyond belief, I have wonderful children, I have a job I enjoy, I'm allowed to wallow in books that I love so much to the point of being able to expand that love and actually talk with and become friends with the people I most admire...authors. I shouldn't care what others think, because it's what my family and I think that's important. It's an inner turmoil I fight on a daily basis. I know my faults, I am lazy, I should exercise more, but I hate exercise so I don't. I should be a better housekeeper, but I'm not. I shouldn't smoke, but I do. And all these people out there will be looking at all of this and making comments. That's the shows intention, to put real life out there for criticism. The shows intention if for people to be able to step into another world and see what they can change about themselves. How they can be more effective to themselves and their families. Will doing this show change me? Probably. Will it change my family? Maybe. But it's not the change that scares me. It's the being in the spotlight for all to judge.

I used to do community theater. I was pretty good at it. It was the chance to be someone else for a while. To step into another character and show the world that other character. But to have to step up and show the world the real me. That's more scary than any opening night jitters I used to get. Should I care what the local couch potato thinks of me while he watches the show? No I shouldn't. I think, would he or she have the guts to get on the show and spill his heart and soul to strangers. I doubt it. But that's something I developed over the years, guts. To lay myself on the line when the need arises. To stand up to the boss, my mother, the bully, to shout out what I believe in. And I believe in my family. So this is a way for me to shout out, "THIS IS MY FAMILY, THIS IS WHO WE ARE, AND I BELIEVE IN THEM, I HELPED CREATE THEM, AND I'M PROUD OF THEM." So people ask me why I want to do this show. Yeah, the compensation is nice, and will be appreciated, but it's also a chance to show that I have accomplished something over the years. I've built a family, I've dealt with my personal demons and learned how to corral them. And I may not be where I want to be in the end, I've come a long way from the terrified, low self-esteemed little girl that I was.

And IF they find us a match, and we get to do this show, then I hope that I learn something from it. That it helps me quiet that little girl voice in my head once and for all. But I doubt it, she sure can be an annoying little bitch sometimes.

Cat

Catching my breath

2005-10-30T18:22:41Z

I love October. I really do! It's the month of my birth, my anniversary, the beginning of fall, and Halloween. But this month has really been horrific...both good and bad. There's been the whole job thing, the house lawsuit thing, looking for a new house and seeing if we can get a mortgage, my birthday, and the Wife Swap thing.

But I'm going to end the month in a delicious mode...celebrating.

Tomorrow, yes on Halloween, marks my 25th wedding anniversary. Not only do I appreciate the fact that people reaching this milestone are becoming rarer every day, I appreciate the fact that Mikey and I haven't killed each other over the years.

We've been through it all, or at least it feels that way. We've seen our share of problems with financial woe (and still are), infidelity, children, natural disasters, family problems and deaths, medical problems, job problems and even brushes with the law. Yet, I can still look at this man who has spent the last 25 years with me with love, respect, awe, a certain horniness, curiosity, and a general warm feeling. He holds me at night as we drift off into the land of nod and I try to imagine what it would be like sleeping in the bed alone, and I just can't do it. He took me to Steak and Shake for my birthday, and while many of you may not see this as romantic, it's the place where we had our first date. And as I sat across from him at that table I could see the 27 year old man who was wooing me on our first date.

Yeah, there are times he drives me crazy, but he's my best friend. He's listened to me bitch, supported me through the storms and the calms, given me advice, held me when I cried, constantly makes me laugh, still keeps the bedroom fires burning and can still make me think.

25 years ago I was 18, and I married a man who was 10 years my senior after only dating for five months. Now I can look back and see that I probably wasn't thinking very clearly. Was I madly in love? No, I wasn't, but over the years and through all the trials and tribulations something wonderful happened, I fell in love. Deeply in love.

There it is...my dark and dirty secret. I love my husband.

So tomorrow we will head for the mountains of North Carolina for a couple of days to play a little golf, get some hot sex in, relax, read, watch movies late into the night, see the colors of the mountains, eat out, drink a little and just enjoy being together.

Here's to another 25 years....I love you Mikey.

Mother Nature

2005-10-10T00:14:34Z

She's more than just some lady on tv pushing toilet paper. She's what guides us. She's the one thing we have no control over. She's a bitch who gives us blizzards, and tornados, and unfortunately, lately, massive hurricanes. But Mother Nature is a healer as well.

I've had a rough week. I was seriously depressed after leaving work on Friday. I woke up Saturday in a rotten mood. But a good friend of mine was doing a reading in Asheville and I really wanted to be there for him. The weather over the latter part of the week really sucked. Lots and lots of rain. But Saturday dawned with a beautiful glow about it announcing the last days before fall truely set in with cold winds and more rain. The sun was bright, the breeze a touch chiller and big puffy clouds floated across the sky. Asheville is about an hour drive north for me, so I took the opportunity to pull out the corvette and take the top off. So here I am cruising through the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Alice Cooper is crooning to me from the speakers in the back and my hair is flying about and the sun is warming my face. I was at peace. I let my mind wander and enjoyed the scenery, including the wild flowers that grow along the highway, the honks of truckers (and it's nice to know I still get some), the cool breeze and the great music. The return trip was just as satisfying. By the time I rolled into the driveway I felt as if I had been rejuvanated.

Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with. But she also can be the best thing to happen to ones state of mind. How I enjoy walking along her beaches, listening to the waves crash in and feeling the sand between my toes. I love how she's built the majesty of the forests with the quiet trees giving shade to the creatures they share their earth with. I love the drive through the mountains, awed at how the sun glides down over them with brilliant colors. I love waking up and listening to the birds sing outside my window. I'm thankful for the gift of sight to enjoy all the colors and textures and for the gift of hearing so as to enjoy the songs nature sings.

Yeah, so it's a little mushy....but everyone needs to take a moment and smell the roses. You will feel better, live happier and appreciate greatness more.

Cat

Getting the Karma Back

2005-10-02T14:12:12Z

Sometimes life just sucks. Things happen, some in your control, some not, that screws with your every day excistence. People change, jobs change, your house, your car, your pets, the weather, the seasons. Nothing ever stays the same. Sometimes those changes are not for the better, sometimes they are. The thing here is to learn to go with the flow, not to let those changes be your undoing. To take control of the situation, study it, and let your physcological feelers show you the best way.

Some days you just have to get your Karma back.

You know the best way to do this, and only you do, it's your Karma. For me, each individual change has a different way of being set right. A good friend recently had his pet put to sleep. For him, he needed time to greive. For me, if a pet passes, I get a new one. It's the way I deal with that situation. When my family recently got out of whack (lots of family fighting will fuck up Karma like no other) we took a day, we went shopping, we devoted the entire day to each other. We found our Karma again. Like a heroin shot, we gave a high to our relationship. Visited each others idiosyncrisies again. Learned to like each other again. Talked, laughed, played, enjoyed the subtle differences that make each one of us unique. Our Karma is back in balance (for the time being anyway.)

For me when my Karma gets out of whack, I have to take control. I'm a control freak, it's my way, my nature, I can't help it. I have to DO something or I'll go mad. I have no patience for sitting on my laurels and waiting for it to change on it's own. The lawsuit on my house has lasted way too long. I was patient, I can't be anymore, so I got a new lawyer. We'll close this bitch so I can get my Karma back or else. My job is changing, I will go with the flow for a bit, though my Karma is screaming that I make a change, until I finally realize that my Karma is too far out of whack and do something about it.

Karma and I have had a love-hate relationships for years. But she knows me now, she knows I will never let her leave completely. That whenever she get's her nose out of joint, I will always do something, anything, to get my Karma back.

I love the bitch.

Cat

Good-Bye to a Friend

2005-09-23T22:42:13Z

I've recently learned that a friend of mine has died. James Sneddon. I don't know how he died, but that really isn't what's important. It's that a man who I admire and am proud to call friend has passed away. I met James for the first time at WHC this year. He was my roommate. And in four days he became my friend. Horror will be missing out on a talented writer, and a good man.

For James...

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free. I'm following the path God has laid you see. I took his hand when I heard his call, I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work, to play. Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found the peace at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joys... A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tommorow.

My life's been full, I savored much, good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all to brief... Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your hearts, and peace to thee, God wanted me, he set me free.

Rest In Peace James. I love you....

Cat

Ode to a Spouse...

2005-09-18T22:48:06Z

I love my husband. I really do. We've been together for 25 years next month. That's a LONG time! We've had our ups and downs, but the ups have made up for all the downs. Mikey is wonderful. He cooks, he shops, he helps clean. Of course there are things that he does that bugs me, but everyone does something that bugs someone else. I'm not the easiest person to live with either, and yet, he loves me too.

Since I've started this horror thing Mikey has been sooo supportive. He understands that I spend a lot of time on my computer. He pushes me to go to conventions. He enjoys that I enjoy this so much.

And he tickles the hell out of me.

Now understand over the years I've worked with many people. Mike has a difficult time remember who is who in my office. He only sees these people occassionally so he has to use word association to remember who I'm talking about. My boss he calls square face, because that's how he remembers him. Another co-worker is Doral because that's the cigarette he smokes. You get the picture. So try explaining to him about all my horror friends! Our typical conversation may go something like this:

Him: Who were you just talking to on the phone?
Me: Brian Knight
Him: Oh the zombie guy?
Me: No honey, that's Brian Keene.
Him: He's the one you did the interview with right?
Me: No, I did the interview with Tim Lebbon.
Him: And Tim is the one you call Pork Me Boy...
Me: No that's Tim who lives in Denver.
Him: Right! He's the artist!
Me: No sweetie that's Russ.
Him: Oh right! Russ is the one you have that cat picture from!
Me: Nope, the cat picture I have is the artwork from Ray Garton's novel.
Him: And you met Ray at the convention this year?
Me: No, I will meet Ray at the convention next year in California.
Him: Oh Ok, and you get to meet him and someone that posts weird pictures right?
Me: Good honey, you got one right! I get to meet Solow.
Him: And You've talked with Solow on the phone?
Me: No I talked with Peteee on the phone.
Him: And peteee is?
Me: The moderator on my board who lives in Canada.
Him: Oh right! You met him at the Baltimore convention!
Me: No darlin, that was Erik and his wife Laurie, they gave me the champagne glass with the eyeball.
Him: Oh I thought you got that at the signing in Atlanta when you met Brian Knight. Wait, you didn't meet Brian Knight, you met another Brian.
Me: Yes that's right, I met Brian Keene in Atlanta. I met Brian Knight in New York.
Him: And Brian Knight lives in Washington and wants us to come live there? He's the propane man right?
Me: RIGHT....oh darlin you remembered!
Him: Hey, I remember everything you tell me!
Me: Yeah right, but you know I love you right?
Him: Yeah, and I love you, you horror freak.

That's my Mikey. At least he tries and I love him all the more for it.

Cat

Brushes with Police...or...my Fun at Dragoncon

2005-09-05T16:59:50Z

Ok...got some sleep....here's the dirt.

I had a great time. Jen and Chesya are two of the best ladies in the world. I love them both! Bill (Alienmotives) is one of the best guys in my book! I think both Friday and Saturday night all four of us sat up until like 3am just talking! Bill is one of the smartest guys I've ever met! Finally got to meet Steve Savile, Greg K. (not even going to attempt to spell his last name) Luc Reid, Jason Sizemore, and Althea on Sunday and we had lunch with those folks and got to spend some time in the bar with them. Great people!!! (Steve Savile has got that english accent thing going....damn that's sexy.)

There were costumes galore! I have plenty of pictures that I will post here shortly after I download them all. The costumes were out of this world! And though Horror Authors are few and far between, the experience of seeing the costumes and spending literally hours in the dealer's rooms was incredible.

But I had some brushes with the law. If I thought locking myself out of my car and my room at Horrorfind was bad...this was worse.

Saturday night we didn't get to eat dinner until after 9:00 because Chesya had a panel. Now these co-joined hotels have a food court between them somewhere, much like you would see in a mall. By the time we got to the food court at 9:30 the place was pretty much empty. Most of the food places had closed down except for a couple. And the TRASH! The tables were covered, the garbage cans were exploding. I know a lot of folks go through there, but it looked like the cleaning crew had gone on strike! It was horrible. So we get our food at Dairy Queen and proceed to find a relatively clean table...with me in the lead. As I head to that one my foot hits a napkin laying in a small pool of coke. You know how movies sometimes go in slow motion? That's how I felt. I could feel my foot slide, and I tried to pull it back but there was no way I could...I realized I could fall on my face, promptly dislocating my nose on the chair in front of me, or lean backwards and fall that way...which I did, landing on my butt and back. Knocking my elbows on chairs as I went down. Of course my friends rushed to me to see if I was ok...my coke had gone flying one way...my food the other. Fortunately my friends informed me that at least I had fallen gracefully. Within seconds, two mall security guys were there...had me fill out forms and were very nice about the situation. Jen got pictures of the "scene" just in case. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt. More my pride was hurt than anything. Cats are supposed to land on their feet, not their asses.

Police - Part Deux. Sunday night, after hugging Jen and Chesya at 6:30 when they left, I felt at 7:00 it was time for me to go. I had a two hour ride home and was feeling the lack of sleep the previous two night. I hug everyone and head for my car in the public parking lot. Now when I got there Friday night the parking lot beneath the hotel was full and was directed to a public parking place that had one of those "honor systems". The sign said pay in advance $4.50. So I stuck $15 in the little slots, three $5 bills. That should cover me Fri, Sat and Sun. BUT NOOOOOOOO. When I got to my car, there was a boot on it...with a little sign that says call this number. So I called the number and the rude fellow on the phone says $100 to get the boot off! $100 fucking dollars! I PAID my money for THREE days! He sends his guy around to collect the money. I tell him I'm not going to pay, this is a scam. I put my money in on Friday...in fact they got $1.50 extra! He says if I don't pay the $100 he won't take the boot off, and the next day they'll tow the vehicle. FUCK! By now I'm pretty pissed off. So I called the cops. And waited, and waited and waited. The guy keeps coming around to see if I'm ready to pay. NOPE. Told him I called the cops, he shrugs his shoulders and says whatever and drives off. So I called the cops AGAIN! And waited, and waited. Finally it's starting to get dark. Here I am a single woman in a dark parking lot, in downtown Atlanta, this isn't looking real good.

So I called Bill (Alien) who is staying Sunday night as well. He became my Knight in Shining Armor. Remember how smart I said Bill was? By the time he got there he was in lawsuit heaven! He claimed we had a case! Now there were several other cars in my vehicle's vicinity with similar boots, most of them from out of town. Another fellow shows up who finds a boot on his car and he's not happy. He had paid the night before and couldn't understand why he had a boot. He had two cars in the lot and only one was booted, but paid for both at the same time. By this time Bill is pretty excited about the lawsuit and all the money we're going to get for false imprisonment. We get with one of the police at the con to call someone to come help. And we wait some more.

The police finally come and he says he's already been there that day for the same thing and we have to talk to the booting guy. So we call him to come back. And we did some more waiting (I could have read an entire novel in all the waiting I did.) The boot guy finally shows up, says he talked to his boss, the owner, and the owner says no dice, we pay or the boots don't come off. The policeman says there's nothing he can do, he's really only there to prevent an altercation. He knows it's wrong, but has nothing he can do. I look at him and tell him he knows this is wrong and what would HE do. He told me it actually happened to him earlier in the summer while he was off duty. He payed the $50 and left. See the parking company knows that most people are not going to do anything, why go through a lot of hassle over $50. It's not worth it. Not Bill....he's ready to track down a lawyer.

Meanwhile I'm starting to really worry. It appears that I do have to pay $100 to get my car unbooted, which I don't have. I have about $20 left to get gas on the way home. I have gas, but wanted an emergency fund. I know there's not $100 in my checking account and though we have it in Savings, my husband can't transfer it until Tuesday cause the banks are closed. So I'm looking mighty screwed because if I don't pay they can have my car towed.

Again, here rides my Knight in Shining Armor. Bill gives the guy the $100. And the boot comes off. It's now 10:00 at night. I managed to get pictures of all the signs, the other cars and license tags with the boots. And being as tired as I was by then, just left and went home.

Tomorrow I have to start making phone calls. Find out how I can get the $100 back. It's nothing but a SCAM. These folks know no one will go to the trouble it will take to file a complaint or lawsuit over a $50 (or in my case $100) fine. But it's the principle of the thing. I'm sure there are several people at Dragoncon today leaving only to find a boot on their car or even their car towed. Because they didn't know you were supposed to put in money EVERY DAY. Not three days in advance.

Except for the brushes with police, possible lawsuits and eating cookies from Jen's shoes, I had a great time. I want to thank Chesya, Jen and especially Bill for their friendship and support during this convention. You guys rock and I love you all.

Cat

Roller Coaster of Emotions...

2005-09-02T00:51:38Z

I'm happy, I'm angry, I'm scared, I'm excited, I'm nervous, I'm sad, I'm tired, I'm guilty, and many more...there's no way that little button on the bottom of my update page can possibly list the roller coaster of emotions I'm going through.

I join with everyone else who is upset by the disaster fraught by Katrina. I watch the news clips, I see the folks dying, looting, the rescue workers, the water. I have friends, Marcy and G, who were visiting there that no one has heard from. I'm worried about them. I hear the tales of RJ Severin of Corpse Blossoms, who is now without a home or a job, I worry about them. And I'm feeling guilty. Guilty because I'm relieved I'm not one of those people. Isn't that horrible of me? I'm cheered by the onrush of people who ban together to help. The folks on my message boards, the clients we deal with at the radio stations who now want to put together charity benefits. I'm worried somewhat about the gas situation, not because I fear we will run out, but because of panicky people, we may just do that very thing. It all can be very depressing.

I'm worried about my job, yes, still. They've moved the closing back to September 10th, and while I'm pretty sure I have a job, I don't know in what capacity. But I'm excited, I may have a job interview with a company that works with e-bay doing their websites and what not.

The worry on the house situation...ehh...that's so far removed it's not funny. I haven't paid the mortgage in over a year, they haven't kicked me out yet. I'll worry about that when the time comes.

I'm excited! I'm leaving tomorrow for DragonCon to room with my buddies Jen Orosel and Chesya Burke. I'm going to see things I've never seen before, people that I've never seen before, and other friends from the horror community.

So my emotions war within me. And there's only one thing I can do about it...deal with it one moment at a time and deal with whatever pops up. Do what I can to feed each emotion, the good, the bad and the ugly and be thankful that I'm still here to handle whatever life throws at me.

Cat