Arizona Celebrates 100 Years Of Statehood!

This past school year I've been catching up on US history - my girls get notes daily and we walk around the neighborhood studying for their Friday tests. It's been an eye opening experience. It's incredible how much I've forgotten - this is just one class - imagine over the years how much knowledge has gone in and out of my brain! Why - I could've been a Genius! But I guess I've just got to settle for ... forgetful.

Anyway, what was I saying?

Oh, yeah, AZ Statehood. I just got back from a visit of downtown Tucson where there is a big celebration going on. Truthfully, this is a huge month for us in the So. Arizona. We've got the Gem and Mineral Show, the Accenture Golf Tournament and the awesome La Fiesta de los Vaqueros - the Tucson Rodeo. 

Today, we went to the Fox Theater (one of those old places your parents say they used to get in for a dime). It took forever getting through traffic, finding parking and finally making our way through the promotional booths and roping a pvc bull. Then we stopped at the Rodeo Museum display of old wagons – that are still used annually in the rodeo parade and spoke with a man who knew about my great grandfather. My great grandfather, Adolfo Vasquez, was a blacksmith who built wagons. 

Once inside the Fox we sat down right as the program was starting. We were supposed to be late. And the first thing the man portraying an important Tucsonan back in 1912 says is that he was an apprentice and influenced by Adolfo Vasquez!

It was like we were meant to be there. 

So, there Willow Smith! Have your big, fancy, famous, rich, gorgeous parents and open for Justin Bieber because I've got Adolfo Vasquez!

Happy 100 Years!

Kate 

I Am A Victim Of Tiny Towers - Someone call a psychotherapist, quick!

If I'm too old for zits – how did I fall for the most boring app ever? My oldest 12 year-old started this a couple of weeks ago. And truthfully it is as boring to play as it is to watch. But my youngest 12 year-old asked if she could download it on my ipad. Why not? It's free.

She and I were going to 'share' the tower. I didn't want it - I don't have time for video games, apps, wii - Now I have 20 floors. I write on my laptop and use the ipad for research so I don't have to toggle .. yesterday I wrote with Tiny Towers by my side ???? Really?

Please don't tell Brent! Not that he's Shrek but ... I would have to explain what the heck I'm doing and I just can't. I still have a Moon Over Monsters dust jacket to write, a query letter to revise and a 90K Melanie book to write.

That's it! I have seen the light ... or wait ... no, it's just "a time to restock" box.

But there is good news - if you're going to be in Tucson March 10 and 11 - Saturday, I will be on a panel at the Book Festival. Sunday I'm speaking in the Alumni Author's Tent and selling books at the Mostly Book table.

I'll let you know more when I get more info - but this is way cool!

My advice today is stay away, far away from free apps - they are not free!

Be safe,
Kate

Jennifer

I went to the funeral of my cousin's daughter yesterday. She was placed beside her mom.

It's been a difficult week. And I'm tired to trying to make sense of the whole thing. The best I've come up with is that I have no idea how anything works. People speak of fairness and injustice. I don't know but if there was ever a case for unfairness in life ... this feels like it.

What do you think about fate vs. free will? Does it matter how you live or do we all just have an expiration date stamped on our soul? Everyone dies. Athletes, young kids, drug addicts, the elderly, those who don't look both ways – the only ones who seem immune are celebrities. Crazy.

I am so sorry for the loss of Jennifer. She was sweet and smiling and I'm very sorry for the gap this has left in people's lives. For some the gap is great and their grief is unimaginable.

Was it last week when I suggested Love All? Well, feels like ages ago but it still sounds like a good idea.

Kate

Love All - Should that include the jerk that cuts in front?

Janet Evanovich's One For The Money is released in theaters tomorrow. Though, I wasn't sold on the actress who plays Stephanie Plum (can't spell her name - so I won't) I'm kind of getting used to the idea.

I have to admit - I've thought of Living Lies on the big screen and I've kept my eye out for someone who reminds me of Melanie. A long time ago I was watching Lost and thought Evangaline Lily (All my names might be misspelled - sorry) might work, she's sporty but she might be too tall. There was a girl in Rookie Blue - she seemed like she could grow with the character. I guess if I'm going to imagine I could imagine BIG. Is there a big star out there that fits? They all seem either too old or too girly. Who am I missing?

Adam is tough. I don't even want to try.

Danny. I sort of like the guy who was in Easy A - Todd.

Trish? Tall, gorgeous and raw - should be easy to find in Hollywood.

Javier - there used to be a dancer on Dancing With The Stars - I think his name is Alec.

It's fun to do until I hit that point where it sort of makes me sad to think about. I'm there now. I think it would make a really great movie - I can see every scene but what I think doesn't seem to matter. I really need to make more money. I read a book once (ha-that's funny 'cuz I've read at least two) that the girl was in deep debt and it didn't occur to her to spend less - her first thought was to make more. I am the exact opposite. I go right to spend less and completely forget about the other option. My point with this is that I have to dream bigger. Do you? Are you limited by your own imagination of yourself? What point of view do you need to change? Because why not? Those big stars I was writing about ... are they really so great? How did they get there and where's my path?

How to sell more books? Which isn't the only goal - I want people to fall in love. Fall in Love - so that their hearts speed up with a single kiss. Fall in Love with a handsome, capable chef. Love is good. We should all love more. And I'm not talking about the fool in the car beside you - the one who has forgotten how to drive. I'm talking those you eat dinner with and those souls around the world that you don't even know. I suppose that could be the fool in the car because truthfully ... they're the ones that need the most Love.

Love,
Kate

Happy Year Of The Dragon!

Just a quick note before I begin my Moon Over Monsters update.

I went to lunch today with my mom, niece and husband - it was a quick-fast-food place and it's always terrifying to be up at the counter, ordering with my mom. She's a maniac! She asks, "What do you want?" and then proceeds to order whatever she thinks you should have. Brent and I usually split a meal - they give too much for a single person and it works. We don't have left overs, we don't waste and we're not over stuffed. My mom disagrees.
So, today we're at the counter and I'm hanging back because we usually get into a squabble right in front of person - and we do. (Though I hate to admit it ... It was sort of my fault. I'm okay with that so long as my mom never finds out.)
We confused the man and in the end the four of us snacked/lunched for $8.36. He got the order mostly wrong and we just accepted whatever came on the tray. I'm not sure what this says about any of us ... and don't think that you've solved my problem by having me wait for the next person to take my order. My mom scolds and waves me over until I relent. She means well. She usually buys. I love my mom.

Moon Over Monsters - spent all day Saturday reading it to the girls. We're a third of the way through and it's going well - they're asking good questions, giving ideas and we're catching a couple of typing, wording errors.

I've forgotten how long this process takes. Poor, poor Melanie is waiting in the wings. I've been playing her relationship with Adam over and over in my head. I'm just not sure which way she's leaning. I love Adam and I know there's feelings there for Melanie, too ... but are they strong enough?

I guess I'm going to have to listen and see what she has to say.

Happy Year Of The Dragon!

Best Wishes,
Kate

What Do They Know?

Starting tomorrow I am giving up sugar. Not all sugar just simple kinds - like Pixie Sticks. I've been doing family research - speaking with my aunts and uncles and one thing I've learned is that there is a history of kidney failure and my great-grandmother's sister was blind. Sounds like diabetes to me. I don't do well with too much sugar - I think I'm going to try limiting my intake.

This history report started out with a fact finding mission - talk to my 80-something-year-old relatives - learn about Tucson in the past 7 decades. Learn about my grandparents and answer questions that I've wondered about all my life.

If you have aging relatives - I'd suggest you sit down with them and take a video account of their stories. You might find out more than you ever knew existed. Like maybe it'd be wise to decrease your sugar. History is a funny thing. Everyone has their own account of what happened, why, when and getting different perspectives of the same even is a great way to whittle down the truth.

The farther back you can reach - the closer you are to history. The uncle that I'm seeing tomorrow was in WWII. I cannot wait to learn about the things he's witnessed. First hand. There is a name for this ... getting knowledge from the source but for the life of me I can't remember. Fortunately my uncle has a better memory than I do.

Take care,
Kate

The Story of Jack and Libby .... and Luxa ... and Tori

My oldest dog is 8. She's got really bad allergies and to be honest I think she was from a puppy farm. Her name is Libby and the choice was between her and her much quieter sister. We bought her when she was about 5 months old and paid way too much. But I couldn't leave her and I couldn't chose which puppy to take - I waited in the car and let Brent pick one. Terrible.

But I have to say Libby (her sister, too) was beautiful. We'd just lost two of our three Springer Spaniels and the one left was very sad - so we got him a puppy. He loved her for about three hours and then did his best to be a carmudgeon. He was 91 people years old and looking back I guess he had right to scold her but it was how he did it that made him a grumpy old man.

When he passed, two years later, Libby was sad - are we seeing a pattern? Anyway, that's when we decided she needed company ... so we got Jack. Not from a puppy mill but a nice family. Jack is better than handsome – he's the David Beckham of dogs. And since they're both so beautiful I had the brilliant idea that they should propagate. Not to make money but because beauty like theirs shouldn't be ended.

Libby grew enormous and at the end we had ten puppies that didn't make it, three that survived and a vet bill that was twice as enormous as Libby. On a good note - one of my twins decided puppy birth was really gross and changed her mind on becoming a veterinarian saving us a bundle on tuition. Well, I couldn't release the three brave survivors to just anyone ... so, my brother adopted one, we called her Juliet and they named her Casper.

And that is how one family of four has a exact canine replica living in their house with them. It hasn't really been too bad but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it either.

I don't really know why I wrote about them ... other than they're laying around me, baking in the winter sun.

Take care,
Kate