heidi's blog

Have you ever read a book that got major hype (fabulous reviews, lots of word-of-mouth, etc.) & that you expected to be fantastic...only to find that you either hated it or just didn't care for the story? Can you give an example?

I have to admit, this happens to me a lot. I'll hear so much about a particular book or a new author that I'll think, "Wow, I have to read that book!" But when I do, I'm terribly disappointed because the story doesn't do for me what it apparently did for so many others.

I can't think of any examples right this minute, but if you want to mention titles or authors, feel free. (I trust this not to turn into a bashing session; we're not like that. :-)) And if I can jog my memory, I'll name a few of my own personal disappointments as they come to me.

We've established that I've been running around like a crazy person this month, right?

Well, while I was out & about yesterday, I happened to stop in at one of the local Goodwill stores. I was just browsing around, minding my own business when a woman came up behind me & said, "May I have your autograph?"

At first, I thought she might be talking to somone else. My second thought was that it was someone I knew, & she was joking around. But when I turned, I didn't recognize her. And she was completely serious about the autograph. LOL Turns out, she'd recognized me--how scary is that?--& loves my books. Even though I was still a little stunned, we ended up having a really nice conversation. She just had a sheet of paper for me to sign, so I signed a bookmark for her instead.

But it doesn't end there.

While we were talking, another woman came up. She apparently recognized me, too, & also wanted a signed bookmark.

It was the oddest thing, I swear. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. Most times, even if I tell people my name & what I write, they still don't have a clue. :-p This was the complete opposite. And my picture isn't even in the back of my books anymore. LOL

So that was the highlight of my day yesterday. Maybe there's something to this leaving the house business, after all. *g*


Currently watching Fantastic Four
Currently reading Killer Takes All by Erica Spindler

This morning, I'm dressed in a brand new Eeyore top & scarfing down a quick breakfast before heading off to yet another doctor's appointment. I swear, I feel like I've spent the entire month of November on the run & in both waiting & examination rooms. :-p

And here's the kicker...there's nothing wrong with me!

Well, I have had this annoying sinus problem/infection since February. Saw a doctor then, got some antibiotics, & even though they helped, they didn't completely solve the problem. I should have gone back, but since I've been on such nasty deadlines, I decided to just suffer with the annoyance of whatever this is until I had a bit more free time.

Of course, I knew the bulk of my deadlines would have been reached by the first of November, so about three months ago, I started calling around to set up appointments for everything you can think of. LOL Switched health insurance companies, which also meant switching doctors, so I set up a first visit with him.

So far, he's great. He really wants to get to the bottom of whatever has set up camp & multiplied in my nasal cavity, so he sent me for a CT scan. Interesting; never had one of those before. :-p And since I'm a new patient, he also wanted get some baseline results for a bunch of other tests--all scheduled for 7am one day last week. Ugh. But I got them done & out of the way, & now I just need to go back for a follow-up to see if the CT scan showed anything & what the heck we can do to get rid of this...whatever it is causing me no end of ear, nose, & throat annoyance.

I'm actually hoping to get in to see him today, but they can only work me in if there's a cancellation. Still, fingers crossed, since I'm going to be right down the street from that office, anyway, since I have a dentist appointment in only a couple hours.

Sheesh. I feel insane doing all this running around, & my agent must think I'm at death's door. Every time I talk to him, I say, "Well, I have another appointment tomorrow, so I won't be home" or "Sorry I wasn't home, I was at the doctor." But, really, it's just me trying to get all this junk out of the way before I launch into my next book...which I should have started by now--aack!...& am under deadline pressure again.

So wish me luck. I'm actually hoping the doctor finds something from the CT scan when I finally get in to see him...nothing bad, nothing major, just something to explains what's been going on & that can be quickly & easily gotten rid of.

Okay, gotta go brush my teeth & gargle some mouthwash before the dentist starts poking around in my mouth. *g*

Ana Carolina sent me a few quotes she found online, & they're so cute, I just have to post them. From the sound of it, John Mayer is a man after my own heart... :-)

"Ladies, if you want to know the way to my heart...good spelling and good grammar, good punctuation, capitalize only where you are supposed to capitalize, it's done."
~singer and songwriter John Mayer


Currently watching The Nightmare Before Christmas
Currently reading Jude's Law by Lori Foster

Happy Thanksgiving to all my wonderful, faithful readers! This year--& every year--you're one of the things I'm most thankful for.

Have a safe & happy holiday, filled with love, laughter, & family!

Just in time for Thanksgiving, I'm drawing a name for the copy of Eileen Wilks's Tempting Danger.

And the winner is...

Congratulations, Jennifer! If you e-mail me (heidi@heidibetts.com) with your mailing address, I'll send the book right after the holiday weekend. :-D

This is Camden Christopher, my neighbor's five-month-old nephew, whom I absolutely adore. I've basically been going over on a daily basis since he was three months old to get my "baby fix." (That's an outfit I bought him, by the way. Isn't he handsome? :-))

Yes, yes, I know other people have children & think they're pretty darn cute, but I'm sorry, this is the cutest baby ever! And that's coming from someone who's not particularly fond of children of any age.

When I met my friend in Grove City a couple weekends ago, I asked if she wanted to see a picture of my new baby. (Hey, his parents weren't around; they couldn't stop me, right? *g*) And, yes, I actually carry pictures of Camden around with me in my wallet. :-) So I pulled out the pictures & showed them to her, & she says, "Oh! It's a real baby! I thought you were going to show me pictures of your cat." LOL

Most of the time, this baby is a complete sweetheart, but even when he's fussy & screaming, I still think he's adorable. (Go figure. Usually, you'd see me running about a hundred miles an hour in the opposite direction of a crying child. LOL) Instead of handing him back & hightailing it back home when he starts crying, I just bounce around hushing & singing. And there's nothing better than holding him while he's drinking his bottle. :-)

The best part, though, is when he starts smiling & giggling. Now that's adorable.

In fact, I've come up with another excuse to drop in again this morning, so I'd better get going. I told you, I need my baby fix. :-D

Another busy day, which is why I haven't had a chance to post before now.

Had more veteranarian appointments today, but at least these were ones I had scheduled well ahead of time. Annual check-ups for the kiddos. Of course, everyone there wanted to know how the new kitty was working out. (Just fine, thank you very much. :-)) Even the doctor said, "That was a cute kitty you brought in the other day." Well, what do you expect? He's a Betts now. *vbg*

I also spent about an hour this morning at my neighbor's house, playing with her five month old nephew. Normally I avoid babies & children, but this one has me completely enthralled. Even when he starts to fuss or cry, I rock & sing to him instead of just handing him back & going home. LOL

After the vet appointments, I realized I was getting low on new kitty food already...Tigger eats like a horse...so I ran out to get more. And also ended up buying a giant cat tree for the kids for Christmas. It weighs a ton & is a little too big to hide for the next month, so I went ahead & put it in the dining room for them to play with now. So far only Tigger has used it, but I think the others will enjoy it, too, once they've had time to investigate it thoroughly & figure out what it's for.

When I got home & checked e-mail, I discovered two very cool things...

Number One is the new artwork for my February Desire, BLACKMAILED INTO BED.


It's gorgeous, if I do say so myself. Don't you think? Let me know what you think!

Number Two was an e-mail from Kim Harrison, who's editing the HOTTER THAN HELL erotic paranormal collection for HarperCollins that I'm ever so lucky enough to be a part of. :-) She's in charge of reading through all the stories for the collection, of course, & here's what she said about mine: "I read through it this weekend, and wow, how cool was that? *grin* I really liked it! You pulled a few twists on me I wasn't expecting, so Bravo!"

Aack! I'm plotzing. It's amazing enough to realize Kim & I have been e-mailing back & forth since the RWA conference last July, but then to know she's reading my story & passing it along for inclusion in the anthology... I may have to pinch myself to be sure I'm not dreaming. :-)

All right, that's it for tonight. I suspect I'll be doing more running around tomorrow, as I still have some errands to run. But if I'm lucky, I may also be home long enough to get some work done. :-p

This is the last quote I'll have for you from Queen of Babble. But it's a good one... :-)

"If you can't say anything good about someone, sit right here by me."
~Alice Roosevelt Longworth, U.S. author and wit


Currently watching Memento
Currently reading Bubbles Ablaze by Sarah Strohmeyer

Well, I told you I had news, didn't I? This wasn't exactly expected, though. :-) And thankfully, this little addition to the family didn't result in stretch marks or eighteen hours of labor. *g*

This is the kitty currently known as Tigger. Isn't he adorable?

Yes, yes, I know. I already have four cats & need another one like I need poison oak. But for the record, I did not go looking for this little guy. (I never go looking for them, they just sort of come to me.)

This time, I first spotted Tigger out by one of the bird feeders...probably hunting for food, poor baby. And I shooed him away, really I did. My cats can go a bit nuts if a stray is in the yard, so I try to discourage that sort of thing. Yes, I thought he was cute, but I tamped down my maternal instincts & forgot all about him.

Next day, Tigger came around again. I tried to ignore him, tried to steel myself against those adorable amber eyes & that cute, fuzzy little gray body. When he came up to me while I was outside, I admit I couldn't resist giving him a little pat, but it was only for five minutes or so! :-p

Day after that, I'd just gotten up & was in the bathroom brushing my teeth when I heard a kitty crying. Not one of my kitties...I can identify their meows from a mile away. :-) I just knew it was that little gray stray. His pathetic mewls tugged at me, but I pretended not to hear & hoped like heck he wouldn't still be there when I got downstairs.

And he wasn't! Wow, what luck, right? So I went on with my life. About half an hour later, I heard a bunch of noise on the enclosed front porch & looked to find my mother hunkered down with the little guy, petting him while he ate from a big bowl of food she'd given him.

You can see where this is going, right? And once again, for the record, I was not the one to give in first. Oh, I'd have probably capitulated & let the poor thing in eventually, but I was actually standing pretty strong at that particular moment. My own mother, who protests that I already have enough cats--&, hey, I'm not arguing, even though I'd defend each & every one of them to the death--made the decision for me.

But here's the problem... Okay, problems...

Now that my cats are 100% indoors, they don't need as many shots as they did when they were also allowed outside. And when the vet agreed to forego their feline leukemia vaccinations, he made me vow not to bring in any new/stray cats until they'd been tested for the virus themselves, otherwise they could all die. (Yeah, like I'm going to let that happen.)

So I made sure to keep the kitty on the front porch, away from the others. Then I got on the phone to the vet's office. I love my veterinarian & his entire staff. They are the bomb! This particular day, Patti saved me. :-) She assured me that as long as I kept the cats in separate rooms, everything should be okay. The stray, if he indeed had feline leukemia, would have to either scratch, spit at, or eat out of the same food dish as the others to pass the disease. Then she said that if we could bring the stray in that afternoon, they would test him for feline leukemia. And if we left him overnight, the vet would give him his exam, shots, & even neuter him the next morning.

I was ecstatic. Normally it takes at least a week or two to get in for a spay or neuter, but we lucked out in that there'd been a cancellation & they slipped us right in. And even though at the time, I was thinking, "I cannot have another cat. I cannot keep him," I truly believe that all pets should be spayed & neutered, & even if I didn't end up keeping him, I figured at least that way it would be done. But if I did keep him, then it would be that much sooner that the testosterone would start working its way out of his system & I'd hopefully have less trouble getting him to mesh with my other cats.

I had a doctor appointment in the same town where my vet is that day, anyway, so I dug out the pet carrier, popped him in, & took off. He was a prince in the car, by the way. Cried about halfway there, really nervous...he'd never been in a car--or carrier--before in his life, I'm sure...but then he settled down & fell asleep. LOL

Skip ahead to the feline leukemia test...it was negative. He's healthy as a horse. :-) He did have a tick, which I'd spotted when I picked him up to put him in the carrier, so they got that out & checked him for others, as well as fleas. He also had pretty bad earmites...not surprised; strays usually do...so they dosed him for that & also dewormed him, just in case.

Before heading home that evening, I stopped at the vet's again to check on him. (The folks at the vet are pretty used to me doing this sort of thing. I have a problem dropping my pets off & leaving them to sit in a cage all night; I don't deal well with it.) That's when I got the news that the feline leukemia test had been A-okay, & they let me go back to see him.

Well, it turns out Tigger is a charmer. All the ladies working that evening were ga-ga over him. They gushed about how cute he was & how they couldn't pass by the cage without stopping to play with him. They let me hold him for a bit, but after a while, the little booger actually leaned out of my arms until he could get back in the cage. He actually liked it! Hey, after living outside for God knows how long, in all kinds of cold, inclement weather, a warm metal box with a blanket, litter pan, & food dish would seem like Heaven to me, too. :-)

Thursday, he had his surgery, so I called in the afternoon to check on him. (Did I mention that the bonding process was pretty much immediate? It took, like, ten minutes before I started trying to think of a name for him.) And before the girl on the phone went back to see how he was doing, she gushed about how adorable he is. What can I say? My kids are the best. Even the ones who have only "belonged" to me for twelve hours. *g*

Yesterday, I picked him up & brought him home. The process of introducing him to the others & getting them all to get along is going to be a touchy one, but it's going well so far. I'm keeping a very close eye on everyone & praying there are no fights...& that my oldest doesn't start spraying again just to show his displeasure at this new interloper. So far, so good. They're all wary of each other, but no outright fear or fighting.

But the name Tigger suits this little guy, so unless something better comes to mind, it will probably stick. And unless something horrible happens between him & the other cats, he'll probably stay.

As I said, I didn't go looking for him. I even tried to pretend he wasn't there. But I can only believe that God sent him to me to be taken care of. He sends us what we need, right? Or maybe what/who needs us. :-) (I once had someone tell me that when he died, he wanted to come back as one of my cats, I treat them so well. *g*)

So go ahead & say it: I am the Cat Lady of Kylertown. And darn proud of it! :-D