444: Bliss writes for Zane.

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Hey y'all.

Just wanted to share some good news...

My short story "Sayulita Siesta" is now in print in Zane's "Caramel Flava II".



Caveat lector: if you don't like erotica, you can bypass this one.




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443: Poolside manners.

Ladies,

Do y'all remember the man at the pool?

Well he's back.

I've seen him out there several times while looking out my window or standing on the balcony.

He is a swim instructor and he has a bunch of clients here in our development, children and adults.

Yesterday Baby Bliss and I had an extended session at the pool. She wanted to swim, it was very hot, and I needed to work out. So I decided an aqua boogie workout would be cool.

It was a beautiful sunny day, fluffy clouds lolling, some minutes of peeking sun instead of full. I got in about an hour of water works before a sista-friend dropped by (unannounced).

Mr. Bliss also stopped by, after work, on his way to the gym.

He finished his workout (rather swiftly it seemed) and was walking back through the pool area, on his return to the penthouse. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the swim coach coming in the gate.

I was on the sidelines, talking to my sista-friend. But I knew the swim coach was coming because one of the little girls Baby Bliss was playing with said she was waiting to take her swim lesson.

I didn't think anything of it, except to become a little self-conscious at being seen in my almost-bikini by a (relative) stranger. (The exhibitionist in me is always shy when half-naked around people I don't know.)

Mr. Bliss hung around long enough to see that nothing out of the way was going on (which he likes to insinuate every so often) then he went back to the gym to fetch cups of water for my guest and I.

He left me with a few words of caution about the swim coach then hightailed it home for a shower and a playtime on Baby Bliss's computer.

Uh, yeah.

Time went by... I talked to my friend and crocheted. Baby Bliss swam and chit-chatted with her new friend.

Eventually my friend left and I got back in the pool.

I took extra care to stay out of the way of the people getting lessons and made sure Baby Bliss did the same.

Finally the lessons ended.

Swim Coach struck up a conversation with Baby Bliss and I.

He started by asking Baby Bliss if I was her mama. Then he asked if we remembered him and his son from the library. (Which initially we didn't. I know it was at least a year ago but after I thought about it more, I got a vague recollection.)

He said we always looked so serious, both of us intently staring into our laptop screens.

I imagined the visual, him watching and thinking us so serious. I thought it was funny because it was more likely that we were both playing games on King.com around the time I think he was referring to.

The conversation continued for about 30 minutes. We talked about parenting, the county school system, my hometown and how much he loved it (yuck! okay?), his time in the military, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah.

Nothing serious and nothing out of the way.

Then his clients came and he started his second session of lessons.

Baby Bliss and I enjoyed the pool for another hour or so. Realizing I was starving, I had to convince Baby Bliss that it was time for dinner so I could get her out of the water.

We said our goodbyes to everyone. Swim Coach flashed a mega-watt smile my way, waved and nodded us off.

I knew I would hear it when I got in. It didn't take long.

Five minutes after I walked in the door, Mr. Bliss was on it.

He followed me into the bathroom and said, "Yeah, I saw you out there talking to Sport Coat."

I said, "Uh, yeah you did. Our windows all face the pool, I was in the pool talking to the guy, and I wasn't doing anything wrong. Why you tripping? And he is not my Sport Coat!"

Mr. Bliss laughed and said he was just joking.

Yeah right.

Not that I think of myself as unattractive but I know for sure that I am not every man's type. Just because a man strikes up a conversation with me, regardless of what Mr. Bliss thinks, it does not mean the dude is trying to get some nookie.

Some men genuinely enjoy pleasant conversation and nothing more.

And even though I happen to think the Swim Coach is attractive, that doesn't mean I want to jump his bones or anything similar.

And even if I was thinking that way, and tempted to give in to temptation, why in hell would I be stupid enough to lay the path in full view of my home, where I know my husband is looking out the window?

And why is Mr. Bliss acting like he caught me with my hand in the cookie jar? I was only being my self, friendly and always open to the possibility of expanding my professional networking circle.

Nothing wrong with that, is there?



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442: What the...?

Um, I think someone is throwing rocks at my office window.

I've been hearing objects of various size pelt the glass for an hour or so. Not steadily or continuously but I know what I'm hearing.

Here's the thing: we're on the third floor.

Unless they're hiding on my downstairs neighbor's patio, there's no one down on the ground. (I checked. )

I don't think the missiles are coming from the pool because that's too far. (Unless someone is using a slingshot.)

I believe the children in the townhouse on the end might be the culprits but that's a bit of a stretch. Their door is open but the angle is off.

So I called the office to report it, was told they would send maintenance to stroll the grounds back there.

*Shrug*

I just wanted to let them know in case the window gets broken. Some of those missiles sounded rather sizable.



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441: It's been toooooooooooo long!

Howdy folks!

I can't believe it's June already and I haven't posted since March.

Wow.

We certainly have been busy here Chez Bliss but that's no excuse. I have had some free time but I have to tell y'all, Facebook eats most of it.

Add my regular to-do list:

1. homeschooling Baby Bliss
2. laundry
3. cleaning
4. running errands
5. taking grandma to run her errands
6. monitoring bank accounts
7. paying bills
8. arranging services
9. taking care of my work-related stuff
10. taking care of my personal stuff
11. taking care of Mr. Bliss's stuff
12. checking e-mail
    
13. a gazillion other duties as they arise
    

and it's a wonder I have time to eat.

Baby Bliss says I'm a Facebook-a-holic.

I fear she's right...

_________________________

Currently Baby Bliss and I are gearing up for an extended trip to my home town. We were supposed to attend a family reunion during that time but it's been cancelled.

But we're still making the trip.

I have business there: a filmmaker is interested in one of my short stories. So I'll be attending at least one meeting while I'm home.

Hurray for me! (^o^)

We'll also be seeing bunches of friends and family while there. At some point...

Hurray.

Mr. Bliss is heading home too. He's going on a different day though.

While our visits will overlap, I don't plan to see him while we're there.

I'm trying to get a lil vacation time while I'm home. That means no husbands allowed. 'o)

In fact, as soon as we hit town, I'm dropping Baby Bliss at my mama's for the duration. Or most of it any way. She also wants to spend time with her BFF.

Which I'm happy to oblige cuz I'm gonna spend time with my BFF too while I'm there.



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440: Coupons for Organic Foods and More.

Hey folks.

I found a cool blog that has a great post on links to coupons for organic foods.

The blog is Affluent Pauper and the post for the coupons is here.

Affluent Pauper also has other cool ways to save money, get free stuff, etc.

Go check 'em out.

439: Paying the Piper.

Hey y'all.

Mr. Bliss and I have been having way too much fun playing around over the past several months.

Now I'm feeling like we might be paying for our good times for the next 18 years or so.

Yeah.

Stay tuned...

438: So I went to the yarn shop.

Hey y'all.

I went to the yarn shop.

And I bought yarn.

Expensive yarn.

I tried to fight the urge and it was a long fight. (I was in there for at least two hours.) But in the end, the beautifully bountiful and softly squishy yarns lured me into their knitted and crocheted webs and I was unable to leave the store without some of them.

A few of the fibers I bought were very nice yarn and on the pricey side. But every ounce I bought was on sale so even the expensive stuff wasn't super expensive.

And I used the remains of my Christmas money so I didn't put even a small dent in the family budget.

That yarn store is going out of business soon and I'm sure I'll make another trek out there just to have the pleasure of mingling 'mongst the Malabrigo and nestling 'midst the Noro.

Everything is on sale because everything must go before they shutter the doors and windows one last time. There were silk fibers in the back room that were $72 a hank. I can't help but wonder how low the prices will go on the final day of sales.

However, rest assured that never again will I buy a ball of fluff that costs more than a few bucks. Our local dollar store gets a wide variety of fibers and I've found incredible balls of stuff I just couldn't leave without.

I have several shoebox-sized bins in my craft closet, stuffed with tens of thousands of yards of... pretties, to testify to this truth. There they sit, waiting for Divine Inspiration to strike.

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