A quick travelogue of our catamaran trip through the Florida Keys.  On the first day we sailed from Key Largo to Islamorada, where we anchored and rode a dinghy to the island.  Even here we were able to watch the super bowl game and saw the Saints go marching in!

Today we sailed from Islamorada to Marathon Key, where we saw flying fish and dolphins.  The scenery is gorgeous and the sea life is fantastic.  I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week has in store.   I think I’ll let my husband kidnap me more often!   

Wayne has an early Valentine gift for me.  One he planned himself last summer.  He's kidnapping me (believe me, I'm a willing victim!) and taking me on a catamaran trip in the Florida Keys for a week.  I'll need to bring some work with me as I've got deadlines to meet, but it will be a fun, relaxing time for us both and the best Valentine surprise ever.  It sure beats the box of chocolates he bought me last year, which he then proceeded to eat himself!

I was driving and chatting on my cell phone with my friend Nancy the other day.  She was telling me about three-foot-long icicles hanging from her roofline following an ice/snow storm in Oklahoma City.  I mentioned how chilly it remained in Florida.  I had my seat warmers on and the heater was blowing hot air.  She asked me the temperature, and the car readout said 70 degrees.  We both got a good laugh out of that.  She was in sub-freezing temperatures, and I was wearing a sweater and using the seat warmers at 70 degrees.  I guess it’s all relative. 

Good news!  I finished CALL ME MRS. MIRACLE and e-mailed it off to my editor.  It felt so good to push that SEND button.  I loved the story.  I hope it's not too cruel of me to say that without giving anyone an idea of the plot, and there are a couple of twists, too. 

After that satisfying conclusion, I was thinking I'd take a day to plot the next book and then remembered the revisions to the next Cedar Cove book are due, so its back to the computer for me.  And, I wouldn't want to be anyplace else.  Besides, it’s pouring buckets outside!

Wayne and I started our dance lessons last night.  We're learning the rumba, which, according to our instructor, has a three-beat step that we can dance to with nearly every type of music.  He proved it by having us rumba to a polka, a rap song and a waltz.  To put it gently, Wayne and I aren't exactly light on our feet.  In fact, I managed to step on Wayne's foot more than once.  I covered it by claiming it was what he deserved, and he does, I'm sure, for some past wrong that slipped under the radar.  It was simply delayed punishment!

I'm flying back to Washington State in a couple of weeks.  I need a grandkid fix!  While there I'll also have a new publicity photo taken.  I'm doing my best to look like my current photo, but sometimes the task is demanding.  When doing an autographing I've noticed people gazing at my picture on the back of my book, looking up at me with a slight frown, and then gazing once again at the photo.  Okay, so there's a little air brushing going on.  There probably will be with the new photo too! 

It's a sad day in Gettysburg today.  Our dear friend, Bob Mullen, died this weekend.  For the past three summers Wayne and I traveled to Pennsylvania to tour the Civil War battlegrounds.  Because Bob was on oxygen, we often sat on his back porch and listened to him list  battle details.  Bob was a renowned Battlefield Guide and will be buried in his Guide uniform.  We will miss the man known as Mr. Gettysburg.  He was a true historian and good friend to us.

I've always been an enthusiastic person; eager and naturally upbeat.  This morning, however, I outdid myself.  My walking partner, Martha Powers, and I meet at 7 a.m. to walk.  Because of the deep freeze we've been experiencing in the south the last couple of weeks we haven't been walking.  The alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. as usual and I did my normal morning writing and reading to start off my day.  When I glanced at the clock I was shocked at how quickly time had gotten away from me.  I hurriedly rushed out the door and drove to the walking track, only to discover I had arrived at six instead of seven.  There is something to be said about looking at the clock more closely!

I hope your day has a better start!

Feed me and I'm yours!  I'm visiting a local readers group this morning and joining them for lunch.  I always enjoy meeting people.  I guess you could say I'm a people person.  Everyone has a story and I'm fascinated to hear the way God's hand works in each of our lives.  I don't often have the opportunity to actually meet with the group physically--most of these sessions are done over the phone--so this will be special.  It doesn't hurt that it's a lunch meeting, either!

I boarded the plane bright and early Wednesday morning to catch a flight to Dallas for the Daystar television show I was on yesterday.  Once I was settled in my seat, the pilot's voice came over the intercom.  He apologized that we would be not be able to take off because of a rather unusual problem--the plane's wings were covered with ice.  In ORLANDO, FLORIDA!  Unfortunately, the airport had no de-icing equipment.  To solve the problem the pilot rolled the plane into the sun and we waited for thirty minutes until all the ice melted.

If you've been watching the news lately, no doubt you've heard about the cold spell here in Florida.  Actually, its been warmer in Seattle than it has in Vero Beach.  I was tempted to serve Baked Alaska and snow cones for dinner last night!  Temperatures have dipped below freezing for a week now.  Remember, this is Florida, the Sunshine State, and now the land of frozen orange juice!

I'm missing my grandchildren.  They are funny and smart.  Let me give you an example. 
 
Just before I left for Florida I was having a problem with my cell phone, so I did what every self-respecting grandmother does--I gave my cell phone to my 14 year-old granddaughter, Jazmine, who assured me she could help me.  She worked on it a couple of minutes and declared it fixed.  However, when I went to use it, the screen was blank and no button I pushed would work.  In a panic I called my daughter and said I needed to talk to Jazmine, who, naturally, was gone.  Jody suggested I try the ON button.  I did and the phone instantly came to life!  Later that day, James, Jody’s ten year-old, asked his mother, "Is Grandma dumb?"  Apparently so, my friends, apparently so! 

Wayne and I went to see the stage play, ELLA, based on the life of Ella Fitzgerald last night. Tina Fabrique played the starring role, and she was, in a word, incredible.  That woman can sing! 
 
The story of Ella Fitzgerald's life is intriguing.  She started out by winning a talent contest, but, after she won, the organizer claimed Ella was too ugly to be on stage.  What I found fascinating was Ella’s relationship with her younger sister.  If you have the opportunity to see ELLA, do yourself a favor and go.  You'll come away inspired as both Wayne and I were.

Wednesdays are a cool,  middle-of-the-week catch-up day for me.  I put aside whatever project I'm currently writing and tend to matters at hand.  Doctor appointments, errands, lunches, those sorts of things.  Oftentimes I'm in the office most of the day catching up on e-mail, writing articles or returning phone calls.  It's my take-a-breather day.  As it happened, I went shopping yesterday with a friend.  I'm back to work this morning refreshed and eager to write.  Emily Merkle (aka Mrs. Miracle) is impatiently waiting for my return.

Yesterday afternoon Wayne pulled me away from the computer to go to see the James Cameron movie Avatar in 3-D.  I resisted and reminded him I really needed to be writing.  Then my dear husband, who knows me so well, whispered those magical words--buttered popcorn.  I have to say the popcorn was great, and the movie was even better.  This show is destined to become a classic.  The special effects were breathtaking.  If this movie doesn't get a nod for the Oscars then there's something drastically wrong.  In as few words as possible:  I loved every minute.