I'm over at the Amber Heat blog, talking about why women live longer than men--complete with pictures. Come on over and say hi!
But, before you do, here's a little somethin' somethin' for you:
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy." ~Dorothy Parker
I love history, especially of the Old West. One of my favorite shows is Old West Tech, on the History channel. Whenever I get a chance to head out to a town ripe with historical stuff, I'm so there.
Yesterday, the local gals in my critique group and I drove down to Bisbee, an old mining town turned tourist destination at an elevation of 5,300 feet, which means it's usually about 10 degrees cooler than Tucson, and as much as 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix. When the temps in those northern/lower elevation cities is over 100 degrees, every degree cooler counts!
We had a great time and I have pictures to show you--I think these'll be especially neat for those of you who haven't experienced a town like this.
First things first, though. One of the things my critique groups does really well is eat. LOL We stopped at a refurbished 50's diner for lunch:
Then we went on into the heart of Bisbee. The town was established after a civilian scout with the calvary in 1877 spotted mineral deposits that suggested to him the presence of lead, copper and possibly silver. Over the next several years, other prospectors came and filed claims. Many of the main buildings that currently stand were built in the early 1900s after a fire destroyed many of the earlier wooden structures. Most of the residential houses are original to the area.
A not uncommon sight: in between two building are steps leading up to a house (you pretty much have to climb steps to get to any of the houses):
The library (seen on the left in the picture below) was built in 1902 or thereabouts:
Here are some of the shops from one of the streets:
And the outside of the Copper Queen Hotel:
And here's a couple of pictures of the old mining houses (most of which are being lived in today), built on the sides of the hills. In this first pic, you can see a portion of the Copper Queen in the lower left corner (see the green-trimmed windows?):
And here's a more panoramic view:
The mine company executives lived farther away from the mine in what's now known as the Warren section of Bisbee. The picture below is of the mine president's house:
Hmm. Big difference between the mining president's house and the miner's houses, wouldn't you agree? Guess not much has changed in 100 years...
Now, if you'll pan back up and look at the sky in the first two pictures... then take a look at this:
This is the weather we drove home in. At least I got a rainbow. You can't tell from this picture, but it was a double rainbow--absolutely beautiful.
I love day trips in Arizona! *VBG*
"A little bad taste is like a dash of paprika." ~Dorothy Parker
Ooh, just lift that sheet a bit higher. Or move it a bit lower. Either one. I'm not picky.
I mean, beggars can't be choosers, right?
"Ducking for apples--change one letter and it's the story of my life." ~Dorothy Parker
Have y'all watched this show? (I catch it on the Sci-Fi Channel on Tuesday nights.) It's such a clever premise--a young woman (18 years old) is killed but, instead of going to Heaven or Hell or wherever, she is chosen to become a Grim Reaper. But she has to hold down a job to support herself--and learn life lessons she didn't before she died--while she's going around collecting souls of those about to die.
And she gets her assignments on little yellow sticky notes from her "boss", played by Mandy Patinkin. There are three other Reapers she hangs out with.
The opening credits show a bunch of Reaper-robed, er, Reapers, going about daily business-playing basketball (while holding their scythes in one hand), doing laundry at the laundromat, making copies at the office, etc.
Sometimes the show is funny, sometimes it's very poignant and makes me cry. (Though... I can cry at a commercial, so that may not be the best barometer...)
If you haven't seen it, you should tune in.
"All I need is room to lay a hat and a few friends." ~Dorothy Parker
Just in case you--like me--were having cowboy withdrawal...
Erm, I mean, you missed seeing pictures of yummy cowboys. *G*
"I wish I could drink like a lady; I can take one or two at the most. Three and I'm under the table; Four and I'm under the host." ~Dorothy Parker
I'm over at Love Romances Cafe today, sharing excerpts and being silly, as usual. I'm also having a contest there, so come on over. I'll be there from 9-9 EST, so there's plenty of time for you to come play with me!
Coming December 1st at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid - Sweet Treats, Part of the Christmas Candy anthology:
Jenna Sweet owns a coffee shop across the street from Gabriel Horne's trail outfitter store. She doesn't think the ruggedly handsome man had been serious in his flirtations with her, but when an opportunity presents itself to find out, she doesn't pass it up. And the treats Gabe gives her are sweet, indeed.
“All I want for Christmas is a big, sexy man. A big, sexy man. Oh, a big, sexy man.”
“Would. You. Shut. Up.” Even though she secretly wished the same thing, Jenna Sweet glared at her friend and business partner, Taylor Evans, as the other woman sang the distorted Christmas tune off-key. Taylor was beautiful with a lush, gorgeous body, but she couldn’t sing worth spit.
And the way Taylor constantly teased her about Gabriel Horne… well, she was an off-key pain in the ass.
“All I want for Christmas is a big, sexy maaaaaaaan…” Taylor grinned and winked as the door to the coffee shop opened and the big, sexy man in question walked in. Just as he reached the counter, Taylor finished in a sultry tone, “So I can have a very merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you, too, Taylor.” Gabriel Horne rested one fist on the glass-topped counter. Jenna stared at that hand for a couple of seconds, heart thudding against her ribs like a mariachi band gone wild. Long, square-tipped fingers led to a broad hand with a smattering of dark hair over the back.
Her gaze traveled up his jacketed arm, over his wide shoulder and turtleneck-covered throat, up to lapis lazuli eyes made darker by the rich royal blue of his shirt. He ducked his head just a bit to put their faces more on eye level. “Merry Christmas, Jennasweet,” he murmured, running her name together as he usually did. “You look… edible this morning.”
His deep voice was rough with the lingering effects of the cold she knew he was trying to get over. Black hair fell over his brow and he impatiently brushed it away from his eyes. The thin scar on his left cheek and the day-old beard darkening his jaw gave him a dangerous, bad-boy look impossible to ignore, and it was getting harder and harder to resist him.
Even though she wore a thin long-sleeved blouse, Jenna felt overheated, like she had too many clothes on. She tried to ignore the hot lust turning her core liquid. Just pour the man’s coffee, Jenna, and he’ll go away. You can get back to your staid, boring, safe life.
“Merry Christmas, Gabe.” Ignoring his comment about her edibility, she poured a cup of hot espresso, then added cocoa, milk, a dash of vanilla extract and a pinch of cinnamon. She topped it off with whipped cream and handed it to him. Glancing out the window, she saw two extended cab pickup trucks parked in front of his trail outfitter store across the street. With Gabe wearing his heavy sheepskin coat, she figured he was readying to go out again. “You’re going out with a group?”
His fingers deliberately brushed hers as he took the cup. Her breath hitched. When he handed her a ten dollar bill, she practically snatched it from his hand, her fingers trembling. God, what was wrong with her? He came into Sweet Treats every morning for his mocha latte and a banana-nut muffin. She should be used to his flirting by now.
But every morning she worked herself up into a tizzy until he came, acted like a blushing schoolgirl while he was here, then kicked herself seven ways ’til Sunday once he’d gone. Even when she’d finally agreed to go to dinner with him—exactly twice—she’d been nervous and quiet.
She just never really thought a man like him, former special ops macho Marine and all that went with it—tall, gorgeous and world-wise—would be serious about a shy little bookworm like her. She didn’t understand what kept him coming back for more of… nothing. Trying to concentrate on getting his change, she finally slapped the bills and coins down a little too hard on the counter.
“Got a group of businessmen down from Denver,” he said, his drawl sending shivers through her as it always did. “They want to go up on the mountain and spend a weekend at the cabin without their wives before, as they put it, the craziness of Christmas begins.”
Unlike Jenna, who’d been born in the North and had transplanted herself in Colorado to run the coffee shop after her grandfather passed away, Gabe was born and raised in Langton, with the Rocky Mountains as his playground. “I could use some company,” he went on. “I don’t want to sit around watching a bunch of yahoos playing poker. Why don’t you come along?”
He asked her that all the time, in the same dark tones with the same hot, intense look in his eyes. As if he really meant that he wanted to spend time with her, when she knew he was flirting. Period. He couldn’t be serious.
Could he?
She shook her head. “Thanks, but—”
“I have to work,” he finished the excuse she gave each time she refused his offer. Leaning over the counter, he slid one hand behind her head, pulling her forward until their faces were only inches apart. “One day, Jennasweet, I’m gonna change your mind.” His mouth came down gently on hers, coaxing her lips apart. His tongue slipped between her lips to slide along hers, stealing her breath.
