We’re almost ready for Halloween here, also known as the official Portent of Doom because it is the start of the entire series of holidays that require so much work from the mom in the family. You can read more about my mixed feelings about Halloween in my latest DotMoms column, Bunnies and bears, oh my. Anybody else have a love/hate relationship with the holidays?
My daughter always wants to cut up a jack-o-lantern. I am TERRIBLE at this, so my husband helped her cut this one up on Saturday. She was thrilled with all the disgusting nastiness of scraping out the gunk. Me, I can’t stand seeing her holding a knife. I always think the blood drips the kids want painted on their faces for Halloween are going to be real when they start cutting up a pumpkin.
In more exciting news for the coming week, Third Sight should be out in stores soon! Tell me if you see it! Me, I don’t even have author copies yet!!!
What is up with that??? I WANT COPIES! :hissyfit:
Read the latest review of Third Sight at Revision14!!
And on a sad note, avid romance reader Elizabeth Benway and her daughter were killed on Interstate 10 during the Katrina evacuation. She was also a huge John deSalvo fan, and I remember talking to her in 2000 when one of my Bouquets, It Only Takes A Moment, had a John deSalvo cover. She has one of the most extensive reader websites around. You can check it out here, and please take a moment to think good thoughts for her family.
Mary says:
How sad about Elizabeth. I’m so sorry. On a lighter note: I have never carved a pumpkin.:bananadance:
On October 24, 2005 at 9:17 am
Peggy says:
Not a big fan of carving pumpkins. Keep telling myself to buy one of those already carved ones in the stores, but the kids won’t let me.
Such a sad story about Elizabeth and her daughter.
On October 24, 2005 at 9:35 am
Melissa says:
:thumbsdown: Except for Halloween, I hate the holidays. They are soooo depressing and the mail doesn’t come.
:thumbsup: Roasted pumpkin seeds are yummy!
😥 I’ve known about Lizzy for a while. She was a good friend and I think about her all the time.
I want a copy of THIRD SIGHT too!! :hissyfit: Author copy would be nice.:wink:
On October 24, 2005 at 9:55 am
Rene says:
I too have a love/hate relationship with the holidays. Halloween has gotten easier because a) we don’t get tric-or-treaters on my street so I don’t really have to decorate or have candy and b) I discovered it is cheaper, easier and makes the kids just as happy if I buy their Halloween costumes rather than make them.
Thanksgiving is a total freak fest for me since I host. I started planning on Nov. 1 and hand out assignments that week.
I’d heard about Elizabeth awhile back. WHat a terrible tragedy.
On October 24, 2005 at 10:04 am
Jill says:
Omg, I didn’t know about Lizzy. Heartbreak. 😥
On October 24, 2005 at 10:32 am
Robyn says:
So sad about Elizabeth and daughter.
Our pumpkin is still sitting there without a face; hubby will help. I have 2 pumpkin
faced orange leaf bags that need filling yet; help!!!
On October 24, 2005 at 10:51 am
Eve says:
So sorry about the news.
I love the holidays – especially Christmas, since it’s my birthday!
And I bought Third Sight at Walmart yesterday!
On October 24, 2005 at 11:19 am
Toni Anderson says:
Sorry about Elizabeth 😥
Very sad.
On October 24, 2005 at 11:35 am
Tori says:
How sad about Elizabeth & her daughter. 🙁
Holidays. I don’t have to do a lot with them except shop for Christmas presents which is tough enough on its own. But on the plus side, I can break out the Christmas music and annoy everyone by playing Santa Baby over and over and over. :rotfl:
On October 24, 2005 at 12:05 pm
Ashley says:
My kids wanted to carve pumpkins but my daughter wouldn’t touch the goo.
On October 24, 2005 at 2:05 pm
Maddie says:
I enjoy the holidays. I DON’T make a point to stick to old traditions too faithfully if they are too involved..I have reinvented some of our celebrations to be easier on “MOM (me.) For instance, I no longer try to obtain the DRIED MUSHROOMS FROM POLAND for my Christmas Eve soup. Plain old american mushrooms taste better,even.
And I am going to get one of those new Jennie O turkeys in a bag you can cook FROM FROZEN. No more 4 day defrost in the refrig.
Gonna make the hubby take me OUT for more meals in December!
AND– I love to make Christmas cakes, not cookies, so there.
Christmas morning, I just don’t like going to my crabby sister in laws so we go to a movie instead.
I dress up for Halloween and try to scare the children who come to my door.
Really.. I do enjoy the glow and music, the meals ,concerts, and the family times.
Have gotten over the formal parties, though!
Happy Halloween…
On October 24, 2005 at 3:18 pm
Kelly says:
That’s awful about your reader friend, so sorry to hear that.
And I have a love/hate relationship with the holidays. 😉
On October 24, 2005 at 5:34 pm
Danica says:
I still have to take the kiddos to the pumpkin patch. SOooo not looking forward to it.
On October 24, 2005 at 6:42 pm
Joely says:
Suzanne, I just picked up Third Sight at Wal-Mart here in MO! I really had to look for it–it was covered up with a different kind and only TWO were left! Now only one. :thumbsup:
On October 24, 2005 at 8:54 pm
ruby55 says:
I can report a “Third Sight” sighting 😕 here in London, ON. Sorry, but I didn’t buy it yet. Zeller’s like Wal-Mart has 25% off books but they won’t be at Zeller’s until tomorrow. The magazine and book guy was there today putting out mags. Said he’d be back tomorrow with the books. However, I must do more packing tomorrow for my move so I won’t get the book until Wednesday when I have to go out anyway.
When you know someone who died as a result of a disaster, even if not directly, it makes it so much more real to you. I’m sorry for all the authors who lost a faithful friend and reader.:sad:
As for holidays, it’s definitely hate/like. It seems that at every family get-together, I, as the only single in the family, get “whacked” somehow. I don’t do anything except buy presents which everybody tells me I shouldn’t do–probably I shouldn’t because I don’t get many presents myself. But somehow I always seem to find something for “him” or “her” or “them”. Sometimes I don’t even get any thanks. But I just stick to “It’s more blessed to give than to receive” though I sometimes wonder. Psychologists do say that especially Christmas is one of the greatest stress factors in life. I can certainly understand that. This year I already know what I’m getting: a trip to the Dominican Republic in early January, if–and that’s a big IF this year–the hotel the family is booked in is still standing after the hurricane season is over. 😛
On October 24, 2005 at 9:17 pm
Michelle says:
I haven’t carved our pumpkins yet, but I hate the guts, too. Ick.
Poor Elizabeth and her daughter. So sad!:sad:
On October 24, 2005 at 9:28 pm
Carol says:
I heard about Elizabeth and her daughter a while ago too. It is very sad.
Holidays are too much work. Women don’t really get to enjoy them. I don’t look forward to them at all! :no:
On October 24, 2005 at 10:37 pm