Listening to Pandora and blogging. I love Pandora radio. Except no matter how many times I say “I don’t like it,” they slip in Jack Johnson and Coldplay. I know I’m alone in this, but I can’t stand either one. Especially Johnson. Please don’t make voodoo dolls in my image.

Today was my first day at home on summer vacation. I had no idea what to do with myself…so I did nothing. I napped. And Facebooked. I did get a lot of great feedback about this cover today:

There’s still time to chime in. Like it? Dislike it? Offended by cow tongue? For every comment, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win Breaking Up Is Hard to Do. Last day to enter is Thursday at 8pm CT. The winner will be announced on Friday’s blog. Assuming I have time to write one–with all my napping and Facebooking and all.

So Jon and Kate. SIGH. I mean SERIOUSLY? Lived apart for two years? Jon’s “excited?” Kate says she has to do this for the kids? Can you imagine spending your whole life in front of cameras? How jacked up would you be if you were the star your entire life? Those kids need to be in the real world and get some real perspective. TLC has put the show on a temporary break. Good. I’ve said this before, but. . .the Duggar’s do not have these problems. Maybe Jon and Kate need more God, more hairspray.

Jason Mraz is on Pandora right now. I love him. I could write sonnets for him. His music is awesome. So unappreciated in the music industry. Here’s the ultra cool song playing:

Before I jump into my trip pics (there are only 1200 of them…), I wanted to finish showing off my Wal-Mart Shareholder meeting photos. I think these pictures become cooler when reminded I got up at four a.m. for this event. FOUR A.M. As in the time I’m usually awake before a trip because I’m not through packing.

Here’s Michael Jordan (with his Hanes covered up).

I love this picture because he’s with a Wal-Mart pwerhouse big wig who came UNDONE upon meeting the guy. She was a giggley school girl. It was really cute. You could TELL she was a huge fan, and it was quite a moment to be talking to be standing next to him, let alone talking to him.

Then there was Kris Allen.

He was good. Sang that goofy AI song that no one including his mother likes. Sang Heartless by Kanye. He talked about how important Wal-Mart was to Arkansas. This is true. When I lived in his town of Conway, Wal-Mart was not just where you got your toilet paper. It was where you hung out. There was one theater and an El Chico there at the time. Wal-Mart was my entertainment when we had seen everything at the two-plex. Plus a poor college girl can always scrounge up some money for a new nail polish. Or at least a candy bar.

Smoky Robinson sang a few songs. I love Motown, but. . .Smoky probably needs to retire. His voice isn’t what it used to be. Neither should he be in shiny, tight pants. I’m still working on getting that image out of my head. Kris Allen came back out and sand with him, and that was pretty good.

I couldn’t get a clear shot of Smoky’s tight pants, but don’t think I didn’t try. I did. I really put my heart into it, but nothing. The pic above does not do the inappropriateness justice.

This is the point I always tune out.

“And. . . I’m done. Time for more free donuts.”

I don’t mind hearing about business, but when they pull out the charts and graphs, my brain shudders.
Cannot. Handle. Charts.
Graphs. Should. Be. Wiped. Off. Planet.

But Wal-Mart seems to be taking good care of my one solitary share, so until next year, I will leave it in their capable hands. Oh, and the angry nuns were no-shows AGAIN. The people who fight for the Equal Opportunity definition to include the transgender community got voted down again. Maybe the nuns were home praying for them.

It is really hot in Arkansas. Like 96-102 degrees. What’s your weather like? We have no rain in sight, and I’m really wanting a nice rainstorm to nap work by. Plus I’m SICK of watering my yard. I got this tiny patch of sod in a new sideyard, and the fix-it guy said it would be low maintenance. Um, watering for like an hour a day? Not low maintenance. I meant throw some gravel out and let’s be done with it. Maybe some astroturf?

So when I got back from my trip, I had some apples that had turned mushy. I do not eat mushy apples. (I also don’t eat ripe bananas. They make me gag, and then I usually do some projectile spitting. It’s attractive.) A friend of mine always throws his apples out his back yard because we live around wildlife. So that’s what I did. And within ten minutes I had deer in my backyard! It was like they were hiding and waiting for a snack.

I think after they ate my apples, they went to my neighbors and ate their flowers. That’s what they get for trying to outdo me with their fancy landscaping anyway. They should stick with dead ferns like me. One on each side of the front door. Lovely.

Another Jason Mraz song is on! I like this one too.

And subtitles in case you want to work on your reading skills and sing along!

So I read A Bride in the Bargain. I like the cover. Though it reminds me of Miss Havisham from Great Expectations. A woman I teach with has a life size Miss Havisham doll she’d set out every year when her classes read that book. It kinda creeped me out. The doll got lost when we all moved to a new building. I wasn’t sad. But anyway, this is not Miss H on the cover, but actually the author’s daughter, so that’s cool and totally UNcreepy! It’s about a young woman who goes to Seattle thinking she’s being hired as a cook, but she’s actually being tricked into becoming a wife for hire. I guess (true story) back in the mid 180os the women were scarce in the the Seattle, so a man came up with a scheme to lure young widows and orphans to all the single men. I didn’t know about this moment in history, so that part was interesting. Love when I learn about history when reading a book.  You can read the synopsis and sample chapter after my signature.

Have a great rest of the week. Stay cool.

JEN

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Bride In The Bargain
Bethany House (June 1, 2009)
by
Deeanne Gist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deeanne Gist, the bestselling author of A Bride Most Begrudging and The Measure of a Lady, has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People magazine, Parents, and Parenting. With a line of parenting products called “I Did It!® Productions” and a degree from Texas A&M, she continues her writing and speaking. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.

Since the debut of those novels, her very original, very fun romances have rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere. Add to this two consecutive Christy Awards, two RITA nominations, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Wedding Is All Planned…
Someone Just Needs to Tell the Bride
In 1860s Seattle, redwoods were plentiful but women scarce. Yet a man with a wife could secure 640 acres of timberland for free.

Joe Denton doesn’t have a wife, though. His died before she could follow him to Seattle and now the local judge is threatening to take away his claim. In desperation, he buys himself a Mercer bride–one of the eastern widows and orphans brought to the Territory by entrepreneur Asa Mercer.

Anna Ivey’s journey west with Mercer is an escape from the aftermath of the Civil War. She signed on to become a cook–not a bride. When she’s handed over to Denton, her stubborn refusal to wed jeopardizes his land. With only a few months before he loses all he holds dear, can he convince this provoking, but beguiling, easterner to become his lawfully wedded wife?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Bride In The Bargain, go HERE