Vacation in May?

You may wonder if I uploaded the correct photos from my computer here, but I assure you, these photos were taken today on the last day of our vacation in Wisconsin! For a few more, come on over to http://facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Vacation Report

Well, we closed down the cottage today, loaded up the van and dragged our stuff back home again until Spring. It was a cold week, but the colors got better and better as the days progressed.

The good thing was I enjoyed shopping, going to dinner, going to the casino, and doing book signings. The bad thing was my cold dogged me most of the week. I did lots of sleeping in between doing things. I noticed lots of other people seemed to have colds also. Even tonight, the weatherman has one. It has to be a new strain, I guess, because they say once you have a cold you can't catch the same one again. Or is that a myth?

Anyway, I finally got the better of the germ by Friday when we went to visit WJJQ again in Tomahawk, WI. I'll be doing another interview there again in the Spring and a book signing at their local bookstore, Cover to Cover. Such is the life of an author - always looking for ways to get my books noticed. I'll be posting some pics later this week after I get kind of organized.

Forget Something?

It took an incredibly long time to get to our home in Illinois from the Minocqua, WI area, over 7 1/2 hours. Minocqua, WI, by the way, does play a role in Killer Career. Of course, the last hour seemed the longest. One reason was a bit of construction work which we couldn't avoid when we got closer to home.

Right now, I have bags and stuff from vacation all over the living room and dining room. I'm not sure how much I'll put away, since I have a feeling October will be here soon, judging by how the two months flew by since our June vacation.

Also, I'm the packer for vacation and the DH is the driver. This time, the packer forgot most of the DH's socks, plus his jeans. I'm kind of afraid to put away the stuff I brought home. There's danger I may forget to pack it all again next time.

One year, the DH forgot to bring his money, one of the few things he does pack himself. One time, quite a while back, before we had the transponder gizmo that we pay tolls for online, I forgot the change purse with the tollway coins.

What about you? Did you ever forget to bring something with on vacation?

Fiinding Stuff

First Day of vacation for someone like me is filled with putting stuff away and finding stuff. The DH and I use walkie talkies when he goes out on the lake in the boat and I'm in the cottage. They were great for keeping track of each other.

Anyway, I couldn't find the charging cord, but after a long search found it in a different bag than the radios themselves.

That cord was only one of the many things I had to find and put where it belonged. I think I've got everything where it should be for the 10 days we're here, but can't tell for sure. I wish I were more organized, but it's not in my blood. I just do the best I can. So far, I'm lucky. I don't think I forgot anything I wanted to bring with.

What about you? Do you have trouble finding stuff or getting it all together when you go on vacation?

Planting Flowers/Garden

We just got back from our first vacation last night, then rushed off to the DH's aunt's house for a Mother's Day celebration. I've got 25 more pages to go on my edits, plus some other decisions to make about Killer Career, which I hope to get out by September 1 if not sooner. Another vacation is scheduled at the end of May. Then we won't be going back to Wisconsin until around Labor Day.

Usually, we're gone to Wisconsin more during the summer, but this year we've got a long gap between the 2nd and 3rd vacations. That means, I might even be able to plant flowers and take care of them.

Still, since I'm a busy author, I won't be going overboard. I think geraniums are a good bet. I seem to remember they don't mind as much as other flowers if I neglect them and don't get around to watering them that much.

Any other suggestions of easy care flowers? What about you? Are you planting a garden? If so, what are you planting? Please share.

Does Doggy or Kitty Come With?

Here's Rascal in the van on the way to our cottage in Wisconsin. We're lucky to have a vacation spot where we don't have to worry about bringing our dog along. She's too much a part of our lives for us to leave her behind in someone else's care.

What about you? When you go on vacation does your pet come with? Or, maybe sometimes you wish you could bring your dog or cat with, but it's impossible. What do you do?

Getting Ready for Vacation

Vacation is fun, but getting ready is not fun. It's so hard to decide what to bring with. I just know I'll forget something and wish I'd thought of bringing it along.

One year my husband forgot his travelers' checks, another year, one of his pairs of glasses.
I forgot the change purse once for the tollway. That was a while ago. Now we use one of those transponders,or whatever they call it, to sail through. I forgot jeans another year.

What about you? Do you hate packing,too? Have you ever forgotten to bring something with on vacation? Please share.

Which is Worse?

Which is worse, packing for vacation or packing to go home from vacation? I say the latter. Why? Because I have to look forward to going back to work on Monday instead of goofing off.

One thing I will be happy to get back to and that is my DSL. I know, I rag about the slow network card too much while I'm in the NorthWoods, but I do get so frustrated when I want to get more accomplished and have to be patient. I'm not used to being patient any more. I'm so very spoiled.

I set this post up ahead of time since I know we'll be on the road for at least seven hours and then unpacking. We'll be lucky enough to have time for dinner and getting ready for work the next day.

Though the weather could have been better and I lost money at the casino, all in all I did have a good time. It will be at least seven months until we get to come back and I know I'll miss Wisconsin and my dear friend, Jeanne, who promises to visit our neck of the woods for Christmas.

Overpacking by Morgan Mandel

We've got one more trip left to visit our cottage in Wisconsin next weekend. Before we owned one, I thought if we had our own place I wouldn't need to pack as much.

Wrong. I pack even more. Not only that, I overpack. Then I get to the cottage and have to unpack. Since it's not a large place, finding room for everything presents a challenge.

The same thing can happen with manuscripts. It's easy to make an exception here and there. Pretty soon the manuscript is loaded down with adjectives, adverbs and those little no-no words, like just, that, so.

There's little room for them. Remember to get the majority of them them out before you send your manuscript off on a trip to an editor.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com

A Vacation From Writing? By Morgan Mandel

I'll be posting more while I'm on vacation, as time permits, but wanted to leave you with a few thoughts to ponder.

Writing is not always typing onto the computer or putting something down on paper. It's also gathering ideas and deciding which ones you wnat to accept in your manuscript or blog.

So, I may be on vacation right now, but here's no rest from my being a writer.

Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com

VACATION FUN, FOOD, SLOTS - BOOK WORLD BOOK SIGNING

Morgan Mandel at Book World in Minocqua

I combined pleasure with pleasure on my last vacation. I confess to eating an overabundance of evil food, since vacation calories don't count. So I digged into the butter burgers and concrete shakes at Culver's, the fish and shrimp at the fish fry at Tula's, the fried chicken at Fibber's, and raspberry with white chocolate truffle ice cream at Cathy's. No, not at the same time. (g)

I also spent way too much time and money at Lake of the Torches Casino because I'm a player. Players play slots if they win or lose. When we win, we keep going since we have more money to play with. When we lose, the next spin has to be better than the last.

Besides participating in the evil sports of overeating and playing slots this past vacation, I also held a book signing on Saturday, July 26 at Book World on the main drag in Minocqua, Wisconsin. I had a great time talking to readers and telling them about my books.

Armed with a fresh review of my new romantic comedy, GIRL OF MY DREAMS, written in the nick of time by Joyce Laabs of the Lakeland Times newspaper, and the flyers in the window the past month, I set up my table at Book World.

Advance publicity does help. One woman said she'd hear of the book signing and that's why she came in. A younger woman, when she saw the cover of GIRL OF MY DREAMS on the table, said she'd seen the book before.

When I hear such comments I'm heartened to know my name and books are becoming known.

Anyway, Book World also stocked my debut mystery, TWO WRONGS. That was a good thing, since surprisingly that day more readers were in the mood for a mystery than a romance.

I'm looking forward to another booksigning during Cranberry Fest in Eagle River, WI on October 4. It's a very popular event, judging from the response I received last year at my book signing.

More exciting book signings being finalized.

Until then,
Take care,
Morgan Mandel
www.morganmandel.com
http://blogsthatrule.blogspot.comhttp://http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com