Thursday 13

It's been a while since I've done a Thursday 13. Not much and everything is new these days.

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1. Along with JB, I'm three months into the South Beach diet: no carbs, no sugar, all the meat I care to eat, too many eggs, and, finally, some fruit and whole wheat pasta and breads. I've lost 25 pounds and I have another 25 to go. That won't change the fact that I still limp abit from wounded knees, but it can't hurt.

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2. This is where I live. Not exactly, since there are seven colleges within a twenty mile radius, but it doesn't take more than a thirty minute drive to be knee deep in rolling farmland. I've never lived in/near a rural area before, and I've become very fond of it.

3. You are looking at five heads of iceberg lettuce. Cut up, this became Chinese Chicken Salad which became lunch for the Art Fair.
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4. The Story of Alex and Lily, officially titled The Light Stays On, is in its final preparations. The cover is being designed, the pages have been laid out, the introductions are completed, and somewhere around Thanksgiving the book will be published. I have taken on a much more formidable task than I anticipated: the marketing and distribution will be no small matter. But I'm going for it.
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5. Where would you go for a few weeks if you could travel anywhere and do anything you wished in the wide world? I'd like suggestions.

6. Mr. Ryan's Mother broke her foot and cannot carry him. Not fair.

7. This is the book cover I first considered. That was until a friend of mine--you might just know her as the fantastic blogger ValGal--volunteered (yes, that's right: volunteered) to do an original painting specifically for my book. I've seen it. It is unbelievably awesome.

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8. Speaking of Mr. Ryan and his mother, these are cupcakes from his baptism. WWJD--What Would Jesus Do?--on cupcakes....HA!

9. It's almost winter here. This morning my car windows were frosted over. I am not a fan of winter. Fortunately, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, starting with the smell of the turkey roasting by mid morning.

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10. The economic crisis has wiped out more of my savings than I can even believe (35%). I'm not sure why I'm not totally upset by it; perhaps because hope floats.

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11. A week ago JB and I spent a late night at the Mohegan Sun Casino. I brought $ 300 and hoped for the best. I played with the house's money for most of the night--up $ 200 or more--until I couldn't resist the dollar slot machines. I lost the $200 I was up, plus the $ 300 I had in a little under 45 minutes. JB was playing elsewhere so I snuck to the ATM and withdrew another $ 200 (she would have firmly stopped me). I deluded myself that I would win back my losses. But guess what? I did! I ended up even, which was fine with me.
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12. Now three years into her forever home, Stella is one happy dog. She even talks and wiggles. She deserves cookies whenever she wants--even a little chicken sometimes.

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13. FYI:This is my "office"--where I write and pay bills, think deep thoughts, and look out the window.

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Have a good weekend!