But then I was all paranoid and stated asking Zoo questions like, what color was the bird? What color was the bird exactly? Because I had to figure out if it was an omen of death.

He wasn’t all that helpful, and got tired of me showing him googled pictures of birds and asking, does this look like the bird?

I finally decided it didn’t count at all since it didn’t come in through a window, but rather, an open garage door and then a door. Maybe.

The woodpecker came a few months later, drumming the shit out of our wooden shed. And then I think that same summer, a bird flew directly at my head. Seriously, if I didn’t duck, I probably would have died. Or been hurt. Or…something.

Anyway, so the other night I tell Zoo, a bird flew into me again.

Zoo: What do you mean, again?

Steph: It happened last year too.

Zoo: Something is really wrong with you.

Steph: With me, or the birds?

Zoo:

So anyway, the sparrow flew through the openings of a wrought iron fence around the patio into my thigh and I screamed and brushed at it and touched it because it happened so fast I really didn’t know what it was. And the sparrow was on the ground looking at me and kind of fluttered its wing and then it flew away. Like, the bird might’ve been giving me the bird. Gus, the incredible bird dog, did nothing. Because he’s a bird dog who does not notice birds at all. Seriously – he’ll walk into his pen and the birds sit on the ground waiting for him and then they fly into his face and scare him, and he runs back to me all freaked out.

I’m wondering if the bird wanted to attack me. Or if maybe I’m invisible to birds? Or maybe I have the power of invisibility and it just turns on at weird times? Like when I’m around birds? Or maybe the birds are working with the spiders and the crickets? There are so many possibilities.

Anyway, I went inside and asked my mother if I was going to die of bird flu. Wondered if I should change my pants. Because, hi, a bird just flew into me.

Her response? Wash your hands really well.

Has this ever happened to you? I mean, it doesn’t seem to have happened to anyone in the world because I googled things like, what does it mean if birds keep flying into you? and came up with nothing.

I was pretending it meant something good but then I found out some jackhole used my address to register their car and had to call the police. So right now, if I had to say, a bird flying into your thigh means someone is going to use your home address to register their 94 Impala.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Her next response?  If you think I’m dying in 2012, you’re crazy.

Point taken – sorry Mayans – she’s not going anywhere.

And after thinking about it for a few more minutes, she added, Imagine if I was the only one here?  Who would do my nails?!

I hope your Christmas was wonderful and that you all laughed and ate as much as we did here.  And um, hello blizzard heading rapidly to New York as I type…looks like it’s going to be impressive.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Tiny, tiny trees compared to what we had.  *sobs*  I need them to grow like 3 feet overnight because let me tell you – seeing my neighbor these last weeks has MORE than made up for the 10 years he was hidden behind trees.  So yes, I talk to them a lot and tell them that’s what they need to do.  I hope they listen better than Gus.  Because Gus seems to act like that’s not his name.  He must think, Man, that Gus must be a real pain in the ass because she’s always calling his name…

Anyway, Zane’s book revisions are done and Cam’s galleys are done (that’s pretty much my last step before it becomes a real book, so that’s good) – now I dive back into Mace’s book (I’m tentatively calling it In The Air Tonight but I don’t know if that will stick.)  But I’m really loving it – I’ve been waiting a couple of years to write it and it’s all new and fun and shiny.

Which means, give me a few weeks and I’ll start whining for sure.

What’s up with everyone?  Enjoying the weather?  Any good news / fun news?

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Maybe.

So Zoo’s alarm clock (aka my cube) woke me up to La Isla Bonita.  And you know when you’ve got a lyric in your mind wrong and you know it’s wrong but you can’t stop singing it wrong?

Yeah, I keeping hearing, young girls with eyes like potatoes, in my ear.  And I know that can’t be right.  Who has eyes like potataoes?

It’s like when my friend told me she thought the song, Big Old Jet Airliner was really, big ole chad had a rhino, and ruined the song for me.

There’s also a line in Cinderelmo where I swear the king says, cake and eat it (because, hi, cake – who wouldn’t want to eat cake?) but Zoo’s like, he’s saying, take an edict.

Granted, the edict line makes way more sense, but it’s Elmo.  He’s always got too many questions, he’s always scared of something and he’s always screwing up, so common sense isn’t really his friend.  So I’m sticking by my cake and eat it line.

Anyway, I have a lot to do – some last minute revisions on Zane and I almost can’t bear to drag myself through the manuscript again.  Don’t get me wrong – I love the book – love the way it’s turned out and the edits will only make it stronger but…I don’t want to!  (mature, I know) I want to work on shiny new stories, like Mace, where things still make sense and I have a lot to discover.

But I will be good and finish Zane.  I’m armed with candy.  A large, price club mixed bag of candy that includes Twix.  The Twix will inspire me.  If I can stop singing about the young girls with eyes like potatoes to myself…

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

So basically, I’m up for the day, coffee in hand and Scrivener (my writing program) open and ready to go.

Gus, on the other hand, is not looking forward to the rain.  Snow, yes, but rain makes him crazy.  He doesn’t like getting wet, even though I remind him that he’s a hunting dog and should really be swimming on a regular basis.  

Anyway, what are your plans for the day / the weekend?  Catching up on some reading / writing / TV?  Oh, let’s talk books and TV and movies.  I’m sort of sadly addicted to the Real Housewives (the OC just ended and the new season for NY just started) – and I’m liking LA Ink so far.  Burn Notice was awesome – can’t wait till it starts again in June.  And then Celebrity Apprentice starts again soon – and since Brett Michaels is no longer doing Rock of Love, maybe he’ll be as interesting on CA.  And Celebrity Rehab’s Sober House – the 1st episode depressed me as much as the entire season of Celebrity Rehab.

As for books, I just finished One Foot in the Grave by Jeanine Frost – really liking Cat and Bones, although first person and continuing love stories don’t always thrill me.  I’m in for the 2nd though (it’s already loaded up onto Kindle)  I’m also 1/3 through the new Pamela Clare, Naked Edge and I’m waiting for all 3 of Christy Reece’s new trilogy to release before I read them, but it’s hard to wait.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

So Zoo’s co-workers gave him a snuggie for Christmas.  He looks like a cross between a monk and a cult leader.  And then today, the same people gave Gus a snuggie.  A large snuggie.

Large snuggies are not made for large weims.  Never mind the fact that Gus was totally humiliated and would never wear this.  Currently, he’s not speaking to us.

But dude, look at the floating orbs!  They’re only in that picture…maybe it’s the ghost that lives on my second floor?  No really, he does.  And, at times, he smokes cigars.  Drives me nuts.

Anyway, TOO HOT TO HOLD (aka Nick’s book) is out in 6 days!  Well, five by the time I post this.   And on New Year’s Eve, I’ll be guest blogging over at RomCon, so come on over and say hello!  (I’ll update with a direct link when I have it.)

I have a book due on Jan 4th, btw.  Instead of writing, I’m watching Chip Coffey get pushed down some stairs on Paranormal State.  I blame the snuggies.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Gus agrees, especially because there’s snow for him.

So, Merry Christmas to all!  Thanks to everyone who stops by to say hi or who comes by and simply reads.  Thanks to all my blogger friends and writer friends and readers.  Thanks for all the fantastic emails I’ve been getting in regards to Hard to Hold – when I tell you your email makes my day, I’m not lying.  Reader mail is simply the best stuff there is, and I love knowing that someone’s getting enjoyment from something that I loved creating.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

2.  I’ll be chatting tomorrow night over at LIST at 8PM EST – come on over and have some fun!

3.  The tree is up.  Gus, however, is far too enthralled by the idea of having an actual piece of the outdoors in the house.  He’s like, dude, it’s like having a stick anytime I want – all I need to do is rip it off myself!

Me:  Zoo, Gus is chewing on a piece of the tree!

Zoo:  At least his breath will be evergreen fresh.

4.  Amount of actual Christmas shopping accomplished :  Zero.  Why can’t the tree be enough?! It is for Gus…

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

2. I’m exhausted.  Like, fall asleep while typing exhausted.  Migraine isn’t helping.  Blog writing might.

3. I love fall.  Beautiful sleeping weather.  And obviously, I need the sleep.

4. I got my first review for HARD TO HOLD from Suspense Romance Writers!!!  YAY!  My favorite part:   “Ms. Tyler has written an amazing story about the will to survive.”

5. I’m working on Zane’s book.  Official title:  PROMISES IN THE DARK.  Love the title.  Would like Zane to talk to me a little more, though.  I’m not above begging.

6. If all goes well, LIE WITH ME (Cam’s book) and PROMISES IN THE DARK will be out back to back in Fall 2010.  As always, this is tentative.  Again, I’m not above begging…

7. Did anyone else catch Mike Tyson on Oprah? It was very hard to watch.  He’s like a man-child with super-strength, which makes him truly frightening to me.

8. 42 more days until HARD TO HOLD is released.  Says so right there on the Sprout.

9. I would like Rachel Zoe to come to pick out my entire wardrobe.  Unfortunately, I don’t think she’ll approve of pajamas and sweats, so there could be some conflict.  I’m willing to chance it, though.

10.  Next week (ish), Larissa and I start Sydney Croft book 6 – Stryker’s book.  It’s going to be a busy couple of months.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

Anyone else watching?  I mean, besides Jaci.  ;)

(I have an unnatural attachment to Tig…am I alone here?  Yes?  S’okay because then he’s mine.  When he’s not like, murdering people and stuff.)

Speaking of TV, Zoo is ready to commit me because I’ve been watching the Sex and the City movie over and over whenever it’s on.  It’s not so much that I really like the movie, but…

(you’re going to think I’m weird.  which you probably do anyway, so what the hell…)

I love the way Carrie’s home office looks.  And so I’ll watch the entire movie just for glimpses of it.  Just me?  Probably.  And I’m okay with that.  I also really like the color of her apartment walls.

(stop looking at me like that.  trust me – watch the movie and you’ll want her home office.  and Jennifer Hudson as your assistant)

I feel a Staples order coming on.  Because home office = new office supplies.

I think I need less caffeine today.

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

First, he got the little fishy on the line – here little fishy….

And then Kenny (fishing guide) urged the nice little fish closer to the boat…

Kenny wants to show you the little fish

The little fish is apparently quite heavy

The little fish has a nice, wide smile

Fisherman hug for the joy of it all…

And then they praise the gods of fishing for a good day.

Not bad work if you can get it…

*edited to add – if you’re looking for a great in-short fishing experience in Southern Florida (Ft. Lauderdale, Miami area, contact Kenny.  Zoo’s been fishing with him for five years and it’s always been a blast for him*

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.

I tell her that I’ve been following all of this forever at this point and say yes.

Then she’s like, you know, I was washing dishes when I heard it and I stopped to watch the story.  And then I turned back to washing the dishes and I thought, you know, this is something Stephanie should write about.  She should write about the SEALs.

(This is the point where I tell my new readers that my mom has never read any of my books.)

She continues, And then I thought, wait, I think she does write about Navy SEALs.  But I don’t think you have a plot like this. You should write this exact plot.  It would be so timely.  And all the work is already done for you…

©2012 Stephanie Tyler's Weblog. All Rights Reserved.