The bears excellent adventure

So yesterday Pandababy and Goldibear set out to get studded tires on their bear car. Simple, yes? Not. The tires were not here, they were still in the storage unit from when the bears moved.

First challenge: the car without studded tires would not go up the icy incline to storage. Enter bears, bundled up against 18 degree weather, carrying four tires down hill, across intersection in freezing bear-town.

Look, mama bear, look. See the funny bears carrying their tires? Where is the rest of their car, do you know? How could it possibly be, that tires is all they have left of their car? Oooh, see the lady bear fall down. I think she bounced at least three times. My, is it slippery out there, or what?

Once the tires were in the car, challenge number two - how to drive from storage to tire store and arrive un-dented. Oh My! See the pretty red pickup spinning through the intersection! Go, red pickup go! Just don't hit us bears, please. Whew! that was too close for comfort.

The bears shared a pot of honey at the local Smack-Donalds, celebrating the successful installation of four studded tires. All's well that ends well, or so they say. So this evening, a storm bigger than the one we just experienced is due to visit us. I think Pandababy willl just turn on the electric fireplace and wait this one out.

Sunset and Snow Fall

We've seen entire winters go by with no snow here in western Oregon, but this year is looking white already, with more snow on the way. What a difference a day makes to the view from our windows.

The Dangers of Being Too Lovable

Modern pandas have had to cope with the dangers of being crowded out of their natural habitat, and of being hunted for their pelts to be stuffed and mounted in museums, but a new danger has been rising in the one place pandas should feel most safe: their own enclosures in zoos. Pandas are just TOO cute! Some humans can't resist the impulse to touch, hug and kiss them. Now I ask you, if a perfect stranger jumped into your car or house, and put their arms around you, even grabbing a hug when you are just trying sleep - wouldn't you bite too? The trials and tribulations of being a panda.

Purple Nerf Football Knee

I never knew a knee could look like purple nerf football, but now I have personal proof on my right leg. We had been fortunate in our house renovation and relocation - no accidents or injuries - until last week. (Note to self: do NOT try to move a large bag of garbage over rough ground when exhausted and holding something in the other hand.) They say that most accidents happen in the home. Well, duh! Isn't that where most people are, most of the time? Still, one does feel safe in such a familiar setting. How could anything bad happen at daily, mundane tasks?

Why didn't I just let go of the bag and save myself? Why was I trying to throw one more useless piece of jetsam overboard when I was too tired to string a sentence together? Stubborn old cow, that's why! (Simple reason but too true.)

So instead I took a header into the ground, broke my glasses, got a bloody cheek and chin, sprained my right hand, added insult to injury with dirt all over my favorite jeans and fleece, and for the grand finale, nearly gave my husband a heart attack coming out of the shower that night. No, not that kind of heart attack (tch tch).

I didn't realize my knee was injured until he screamed. I have fibromyalgia, and random muscles and joints hurt every day. So yes, it sounds a little retarded, but I ignored my aching knee the way I ignore my other aches. Funny, it hurt a lot more once I looked down and saw a purple nerf football where my knee usually fit. Which just about sums up my philosophy of life - if it's going to hurt, don't look.

Whoosh!

Whoosh - that is the sound of stuff going out of our lives at a rapid pace. As Silvergull so rightly observed last month, "stuff and clutter blocks your energy flow. You should feel a lift as you declutter your life."

Last night I was invited to my niece's house for dinner. She has five adorable children, and what fun it was to listen to a few of them play the piano. She plays very well herself, and is teaching them, too. My sister was there, and played a duet with her youngest, who is only thirteen. A joyful evening to cap off a day of doing nothing (Sundays are wonderful for doing nothing!)

The youngest there was only two, and I thought to have a bit of fun with him, so while he was sitting in his daddy's lap, I played the old trick of 'stole your nose'. Ooops. Maybe a bit too young for that trick to come out the blue at him. His face screwed up with a seriously worried expression, and then he carefully raised his fingers to touch his nose -- just checking to see if was there -- or not! It was hard not laugh, he was so cute.

Today we are back to putting away things in the apartment. I started the morning by tossing out two large trash bags full of stuff. Feeling lighter and more energetic already.

Romance Genre, Characters and Motivation

Romance genre encompasses a vast range of style and content, from the light and witty dialog of Julia Quinn's historical novels, to the edgy banter in S. L. Viehl's "blade" trilogy; from the ingenuous maundering of Georgette Heyer to the explicit rapture of Elizabeth Hoyt. I'm fascinated with the endless variety of characters and motivation represented in the romance genre.

Although I occasionally dip into settings other than English or Scottish history, the majority of my romance library is drawn from the Georgian or Regency period. The social strictures on women and men in those times offer wonderful opportunity for creating characters with complex layers of motivation, endless opportunity for peril and tension, and devious plot twists that showcase clever, desperate, determined heroines and heroes.

Romance genre plus 'coming of age' plots may begin with the main character at an immature point and use adversity to demonstrate the character gaining wisdom with experience and moving from a needy self-involved personality to a mature, loving heroine.

What a challenge for a writer to demonstrate. "Married happily ever after" is the usual ending for romance novels, a defining point of the genre, even. I enjoy those endings, and even more, enjoy the creative and unusual paths that my favorite romance authors employ to arrive at an ending that is pretty much known from the beginning.

I also like reading the historical details, especially when they include information new to me, and sometimes I have to look up a reference to an obscure event or item. I admire writers who combine excellent historical research with original plots and characters, and who seamlessly include authentic historical details in their setting. One such writer who I previously mentioned is Jo Beverley, and Madeline Hunter is another. Well, back to packing today. Happy reading, all.