Hubby and I went shopping for a new couch. We don’t buy stuff like that often or lightly so it was an adventure. Trekked down to Furnitureland South in Jamestown, NC. Now that is one amazing furniture store.  The iconic dresser in the picture below is more than three stories high.

Can’t tell you how many buildings were there, we were only in one. But it was acres and acres of showrooms. You actually need a guide to find things.  There is a Starbucks and a cafeteria because people take days to shop there. If you have a problem making decisions, stay very far away.

But I grew up around furniture manufacturing. Lived near Lenior when I was younger – where most of the furniture I’d ever heard of was made – Broyhill, Hickory White, Kincaid, Thomasville, Bernhardt.  My brother-in-law was plant engineer for Broyhill 6 for thirty years until they closed.

The couch I bought will be made in North Carolina, so I know it will be made right.

If you’re in the mode for furniture shopping – check it out Furnitureland South

First, let me say I know I do not deserve a snow day.  I had a wonderful, long Christmas break, then took a week off to celebrate Second Christmas with La Daughter when she came, but…

They’re calling for snow tonight and tomorrow! (Skipping with glee around the office)

I want it.

I want it bad.

Think about it, a four day holiday and time to work on my edits for Wraith’s Heart and get some traction on Alien Beginnings (working title only).  A day when I know I don’t have to go outside for any reason. I can pull the shawl off the back of the chair and put it around my shoulders (or feet) and be snug and productive at the same time.

As a kid in school I always wanted a snow day. Back then we had them fairly often even this far south. Now they’re so scarce the TV goes crazy with the possibility and bread and milk disappear days in advance instead of hours.  Aside – I’ll always wonder what people do with all that bread and milk anyway.  Even in my memory we were never snowed in – that is really snowed in where you couldn’t get out – for twenty-four whole hours.

Also as a kid I was under the impression that teachers hated snow days because you missed a day of learning and it had to be made up.  It never occurred to me that teachers and other adults wanted a snow day as bad as I did. Then my sister became a school teacher.  The truth is out – the teachers want them a lot more than the kids!! I know Sis is probably making sacrifices to the snow gods as I type.  I’d help her if I wasn’t at work.

What would you do with a beautiful, get-out-of-jail free snow day?

Oh yeah….  (Pics from the blizzard in NYC in Dec 2009)

This morning! 1/18 –

Second Christmas is over and finally the decorations are coming down. My apologies to the neighbors, but it was grand fun. All outside decorations will be down soon. La Daughter was here for five days (fifty years too short but you have to adapt). The family came (except for El Son who came at 1st Christmas) and we had a grand time. The spicy rib-eye roast was cooked and devoured, presents were exchanged and laughter exploded all over.

Special news – my nephew and his partner will be getting married and we’re all delighted for them. I’ll have to find an aunt of the grooms outfit, but don’t have to worry about that today. I can lose 50 pounds easily by then. Hey, I write fiction, anything can happen!

But it is kind of nice to have the house back to myself. TV off, no music in the background, hubby still at work for now. And I’m writing, maybe not on one of the manuscripts I have under construction, but I am writing, so that’s something. Feels like ages since I had the time and spare brain power. Have a HCRW meeting tomorrow and nothing gets the juices flowing like being in a room with those people for any length of time. The atmosphere fairly crackles with inspiration.

‘Course these guys are pretty inspirational too. Miss them already.

Just signed the contract with Rebel Ink to publish my next novel – check it out  Wraith’s Heart

More details asap!