How little things change...

She's taller, the idea of watching Blue's Clues offends her, and I'm no longer allowed to say "Oh man, do I have to go potty!"...but she's still my kiddo. My sweet, goofy, loving kiddo. And who am I to make such statements and not offer evidence?

THEN:

NOW:

THEN:

NOW:

THEN:

NOW:

Okay. so she's definitely changed...a little.

Draculas, a review.

I did something over the past week that I haven't done in roughly 12 years: I read a horror novel. While researching ebooks and the publishing thereof for my current employer, I came across the blog of one J.A. Konrath. His blog offered up a lot of great info on ebook publishing, and I spent quite some time reading his posts.

As I scrolled on through, I saw a post asking for readers to review a new novel that he and three other well-known authors would be releasing on October 19th. Despite my aversion to horror, I jumped on the opportunity. Here's my review.

Those of you who hate all things Twilight -- rejoice! DRACULAS, a novel of terror written by Blake Crouch, Jack Kilborn, Jeff Strand and F. Paul Wilson (and being released as a one-year Kindle exclusive), definitely puts horror back into one's mental image of a vampire.

Despite having four authors, it's entirely seamless. The authors didn't hold back in the gore and violence department, and they did nothing to romanticize the vampires, which was refreshing. It starts off pretty harmlessly, but from the moment you're introduced to the first honest-to-goodness vampire, DRACULAS doesn't let up. The almost non-stop barrage of bloody teeth and talons keeps your eyes moving right along.

The multiple protagonists quickly endear themselves to the reader, and the villains attain the "love to hate them" status by page 8. It's From Dusk till Dawn meets 28 Days Later meets Children of the Corn meets It, with a sprinkling of Shaun of the Dead.

If you're interested in purchasing DRACULAS, click here.

Christian audience, I have some warnings. If the fact that it's a horror novel isn't enough to cause you to steer clear, the Lord's name is used as a curse word no fewer than a dozen times, there are many sexual references (more than just references in the bonus material), and quite a bit of cursing.

(Note: I was not, nor will I be in any way compensated for this review or for any purchases of the book through the above link.)

Almost 13 years ago...

So, back in 1998, when our daughter was 6 months old, we took a trip (our first major road trip as a family) from Ft. Stewart, GA to Maine, where my parents lived. Maine was hit by a whopper of an ice storm shortly before we arrived. If I remember correctly, the power was already out by the time we got there, the wood stove was busily burning, and snow was being gathered for melting. I don't remember how long the power was out, but it was at least a couple of days. I do remember showering at a hotel or something, and losing a bottle of shampoo because it fell down a hole when I placed it on top of the stall wall, thinking it would be perfectly safe. I'll never trust stall walls again!

ANYWAY. There was a few other noteworthy things about that time in our lives:

1. While we were visiting, we were able to dedicate Morgan to the Lord at China Baptist Church. I had gone there for years and I was so glad that Pastor Ron was able to fit it in on such short notice.

2. My daughter got her first cold while we were there. Aaaw!

3. The back windshield of our Sentra apparently did not like all of the cold and decided to protest by shattering into a bajillionity pieces (I don't know exactly how to pronounce that, so don't ask).
 
4. Once the power came back on, everyone quickly gathered to their favorite electronic devices. During his time at the computer, my husband created this stunning work of art:

Is that not hilarious? In case anyone is confused, daughter's baby body and husband's adult head. CLASSIC.