Pass Christian Mardi Gras Parade

We had such a fabulous day at the Pass Parade today. Whoot. What a way to celebrate Mardi Gras. Each year, each town across the Mississippi Gulf Coast has their own parade, but our family and friends tend to congregate at the Pass Christian parade every year. It all started years ago as a get together because a distant relative of my sister used to live on the parade route so we had access to a bathroom and a kitchen to serve food. But Hurricane Katrina took her relative's house and then he passed away a few years after that, so now we 'tailgate' by enjoying good food, beverage and fun. I was unable to attend last year due to chemotherapy weakening me so much. This year I wanted to go so bad. We always have loads of fun and this year was no exception. My brother-in-law fried wings while his brother fried everything else from corn dogs to chicken tenders. We also feasted on sausage balls, pasta salads, chips/dip, brownies, nestle toll house bars and chicken salad croussants. I said I wasn't going to drink, but Jeaneen, my sister, brought a batch of Mango Tangos so I had to have some. :) Something new we did this time, was rent a Port-a-Potty. You should of seen people looking at us when we were driving along hwy 90, towing this thing. It turned out to be the best decision: our own CLEAN private bathroom. What a blessing. Several people even offered us money to use our toilet. :) This year's Pass Parade-local term for the city of Pass Christian, MS' parade-consisted of 65 floats & one marching band. In a few of the parade picture's you can pick out vacant beach front property that hasn't been rebuilt since Hurricane Katrina. In fact, that's where we set up camp today, in an empty grass lot where a house used to stand.

So, you might be wondering what the heck Mardi Gras is. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. It refers to events of the carnival celebration ending on the day before Ash Wednesday, before the lent season, but it is not observed nationally throughout the US. It arrived in North America as a sedate French Catholic tradition in the late 17th Century with the Le Moyne brothers, who were sent by King Louis XIV to defend France's claim on the Louisiana Territory, which is present day Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. In 1703 Mardi Gras began with French settlers.

Here are a few pictures of today's festivities:

You can find more picture at my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1108624493&ref=profile

or on myspace: www.myspace.com/debbiemacklin

Happy Mardi Gras ya'll,

Deb

Surviving as an Author

Everyone thinks if you are an author it's a full time job. We'd love it to be a full time job, but for the vast majority of us it's not. That doesn't mean that we quit thinking about what we are writing when we aren't busy writing.

Unfortunately I had to go to work today. Fortunately there's lots of work which means a better paycheck. Paychecks are important! So there I am at work and my mind is drifting over what my my characters are doing. (I work in a huge cube farm and I'm trying not to giggle.) It's quite simple. I left my characters in bed with a can of whipped cream! They will be stuck there until tomorrow night when I can rescue them from their predicament.

I know that I write in snatches of time that I can steal from busy days. I don't have the luxury to write full time, but the need to write is always with me. Writers write, that's what we do. It keeps us sane! As fast as we can write one novel there's another brewing in our brains.

Some authors plot everything out. I envy them. I know where my stories are going, but that doesn't mean I know every path the characters will take. I allow my characters to drive the story. I try to stay ahead of them so that I can steer them. They need to now what route to take to get where they are supposed to go, but I give them the freedom to sight see along the way. It's amazing what they will do with that freedom!

I do need to wrestle that can of whipped cream from my characters' hands. I had enough trouble convincing her that she didn't need to drag out the chocolate syrup too! It'll take them another thirty years before they will ever settle down, they're having too much fun. But isn't that part of finding true love? Unbridled enthusiasm and the willingness to excite and please the one you love?

I don't write erotic, just contemporary romance. And yes, it's always about finding true love.
E.

Valentine's Day, or, Romance During a Recession

With the recession and ongoing cutbacks in our personal lives, I thought Valentine's Day would pass with nothing more than a verbal acknowledgement between DH and me. The kids were another concern! Try to ignore any holiday that involves candy, and we'll have an open revolt on our hands. So I was surprised and pleased when Walter (such a bland name for a true hero) gave each kid a toy, a heart box of candy, and bag of chocolate hearts. They squealed with delight - literally. My little boy has a high-pitched scream that can be picked up by satellites. Walter presented me with my favorite (and his!) Lindt truffles and 2 cards! I had neglected to buy him or the kids anything, and I'm so glad he remembered. Gone may be the days of expensive roses and dining out, but the sentiment is the most important part. I remembered later that we became engaged on Valentine's Day, 14 years ago. So much worrying and scrimping here and there almost made me forget the true meaning of these commercial holidays. A love note from my favorite valentine is more precious than diamonds.

Mardi Gras is in full swing to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Next weekend, my family and I will be attending the Pass Christian parade. Party time! Food, fun, beads, and drinks. (except for me :P) I'll be sippin on soda. I don't like beer. I also get a day off due to the holiday. Last tuesday of the month. Whoot.
Happy Mardi Gras, ya'll.
Finished final draft of edits yesterday early am and sent them off. should have a release date soon. Double Whoot.
And finally, I'll be a Coffee House Author at Coffee Time Romance. You can find me on their boards often. Especially their 'diggin' questions of the week on the forums. I love those questions.
Also, look me up on myspace, twitter and plurk.
http://twitter.com/DeborahPanger
http://myspace.com/debbiemacklin
http://www.plurk.com/joviangeldeb
and, if your on facebook, I'm listed as Deborah J Panger. See you there.
Deb

Happy Valentine's Day from Saje and Dirk. A couple months ago we shared a story about the importance of love and life. With tomorrow being February 14th, I thought it worthy of repeating:

Dirk ran through the forest, his feet tromping heavily through the fallen leaves, small twigs cracked under his weight while sprigs of leaves smacked his face.The forest was the home of the Edelwiess Pirates, a teen resistance group protesting the Nazis. It didn't matter the protest was non violent, the man pursuing him would end the chase with a bullet if he had to.A shadowed object appeared before him. Sliding on the fallen leaves, Dirk skidded to a halt, weapon drawn."I see you require my aid," the stranger declared, ignoring Dirk's weapon. His grayish wings came to rest against his back.Dirk held his luger steady, this wasn't the man who was chasing him."Aid? yes I am trying to apprehend a traitor. Did you see which way he went."Dirk strained his eyes against the dark, there was a small gust of wind and a gentle flapping noise as a shadow seemed to fall behind the person. Shadows playing tricks."I've been sent to rescue you from harm.""You're going to keep me from harm?" Dirk smirked. "Harm from whom? The SS has no fear of this rabble" He could only assume the stranger meant the resistance. There was something different about the stranger, Gregor sensed an energy emanating from his presence. Something ancient. Why didn't he know?"What are you?" Dirk asked. He no longer heard the menacing footsteps behind him. Had he eluded capture? Was the stranger one of the SS?"A Woodland Fae. But nevermind that, I need to get you out of here." Saje knocked the gun away and grabbed onto Dirk's biceps so fast, the man had no time to react before he summoned his magic. The next second, they were back in 2009........The strangers voice lulled him for a moment. Woodland fae? He must have hit his head on a branch.'What the?" Dirk was disarmed, before he could reach for the dagger, the stranger gripped his arm, in a merging of light and dark Dirk moved without moving. He whirled on the stranger."Where are we?"Saje spun the man around to face the scene before them. "Our future." His eyes misted as he looked at his unborn, unnamed children nestled upon Amanda's lap while she told them a bedtime story. Soft lamp light illuminated her dark hair as they all sat on a beige oversized chair. A lump rose in his throat at the beautiful sight. "Our future? What is this?" Dirk asked, standing still, afraid to disrupt the peace he witnessed."My wife and my future family."Dirk pulled away from his grip and surveyed the room around them. "What does this have to do with me?""You are part of their ancestry and my happiness.""Oh."Saje stepped beside him. "If you stay on the course you take, you will be killed prior to siring a child. The Nazi's will eventually have you murdered. I cannot allow that. Without your offspring, my wife will not exist in this time.""The Nazi's will kill me? I am one of them." He was resistance. Even if Dirk fooled the Nazis into believing him loyal his father wasn't. The man hated all the Nazis stood for. Dirk watched the children for a moment. His gaze shifted to the mother, a silver necklace graced her pale skin, catching the light as she moved. Dirk recognized the edelwiess pendant. It looked like the medal given to his father years ago, it was a medal of honor made to resemble this token of pure love. Dirk reached for the medal in his pocket, his fingers curled around the silver medallion. He handed it to the man."How? Who?" he studied the young woman again. his eyes misted.Saje turned the medallion in his palm and fingered it's fine silver. He pocketed the treasure for Amanda later. "Hitler, because of your father's beliefs." "Does my father get killed?" Dirk asked. "Yes."Dirk looked him in the eye. "I need to save him.""And you?""Now that I am aware, I can protect myself and him from death." The resistance will continue the fight.Could he trust him? Saje watched Amanda's face. He loved her so much. He looked at Dirk again. "I will bring you back to save your father, but I keep the medallion."Dirk had to face facts. It was possible the Germans could win the war. Self interest aside, he loved his father. His loyalty lost him his best friends, he couldn't lose his father too. All the talk of honor and glory could never replace the man who raised him. He had to try."Keep the medallion. Family honor comes first. I have no future without it."Dirk slipped the medallion into the stranger's hand. He squinted his eyes before the image of the woman and children could fade. Events would pass into history but family was forever.

I was going to begin a blog on weapons, but this seemed inherently wrong on Valentine's day. Instead, tribute is paid some of my favorite couples from history.

First, technically second, is John Adams and his wife, Abigail. The second, first couple of the United States. They courted, fell in love, had children, moved to the president's house and nurtured a new country. Feminist studies usually include a series of tender letters the two wrote each through their lives.
Abigail was anti slavery, and a believer in education for all sexes and races, her husband shared her progressive ideas. He admired her wit and intelligence, the tone of his letters were always loving.

Women, Abigail believed, should not be bound by laws in conflict with their best interest. In a letter to the continental congress, she addressed this issue:"...I cannot say that I think you are very generous to the ladies; for, whilst you are proclaiming peace and good-will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives."But you must remember that arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken; and, notwithstanding all your wise laws and maxims, we have it in our power, not only to free ourselves, but to subdue our masters, and without violence, throw both your natural and legal authority at our feet."

John replied, commenting on her sauciness:"We are obliged to go fair and softly, and, in practice, you know we are the subjects.
"We have only the name of masters, and rather than give up this, which would completely subject us to the despotism of the petticoat, I hope General Washington and all our brave heroes would fight."Their love never faded through the challenges of raising children and countries. Upon her death, Abigail's last words were: "Do not grieve, my friend, my dearest friend. I am ready to go. And John, it will not be long."


Winston Churchill doesn't seem like the typical romantic hero. He was brash, drank a bit, his humor was quick and cutting at times. He knew his destiny and saw England through two world wars. His wife, Clementine and he were married in 1904. while Winston excelled in all things military, Clementine was chairman of the Red Cross aid to Russia fund, and president of the young Christian women's association. She stood by her husband even when he was criticized for his hawkish views by those who favored appeasement with the Nazi's.

One woman, so annoyed by Churchill's views told him: "If you were my husband, I would poison your coffee."Winston assured her "If I were your husband, I would drink it."

Despite his never say die philosophy, he held his wife in deepest regard. When a reporter asked "If you could be anyone in the world other than you, who would it be." Without hesitation winston replied "Mrs. Churchill's second husband."


Across the channel, boxer Max Schmeling had his own issues with appeasement. He married Anny Ondra, an Austrio-Hungarian actress. Politely refused Hitler's request for him to join the Nazi party, rescued two Jewish children from Gestapo and smuggled them to America. he refused to fire his Jewish manager and enraged the Nazi's by refusing to be part of thier propganda.

Anny begged him to be more compliant, reminding him he is not untouchable.Max was saddled with many titles he never wanted in his pursuit of the one he wanted, heavy weight champion of the world. Angry Max wouldn't comply with the party, Hitler sent him on suicide missions as a paratrooper.

Max survived the war and lived to be 99. His beloved Anny at his side through it all until her death. Max said in an interview: " I had a happy marriage and a nice wife. I accomplished everything you can. What more can you want?"

Love gives you the strength to be something better than you would be without it.

Skyway Bridge

I lived in Sarasota, Florida since I was ten.

This bridge has held deep meaning for me since then. I moved from St. Petersburg, across the water, to Sarasota. It hurt. I had friends and the thought of going to a new school was one I dreaded.

My teen years were spent in Sarasota, only moving once, as though transitioning further from childhood to adulthood. The new house representing another stage in my growth as a woman.

In 1980, the bridge was hit by a drunk driver, taking out a piece of the span. One car fell over onto the barge that hit the bridge, another car stopped inches from where the span was broken. The people in both cars survived. A grayhound bus landed in the water, all died.
For a time, only one span was used to service traffic going both ways on the bridge. The new design was made with one span instead of two seperate ones.

The accident happened a year before I graduated high school. Struck down but not destroyed, the new bridge went up, after a few years of rebuilding.

In the time before the new bridge, I had run into abusive people, challenges, and things that flew in the face of my Christian upbringing. It was hard to accept that there were people who didn't accept things I did, simple things. Sexual harassment, propositions to cheat, using the elderly instead of helping them. I thought my head was going to explode, I couldn't believe how day to day these things were.

Then the bridge was rebuilt.
Stronger, more beautiful than the last one. She leads the way across smooth water to the opposite shore, offering a safe passage.

I can be like that.

There might be sharks in the water, hazards on land, but I have a choice to navigate my way. I don't have to fall into the water, or be victim to land sharks either.

I can be true to myself.

Maybe I give too much credit to a hunk of steel and concrete. I even have pieces of the old skyway in my jewelry box. She is a beacon to me, a symbol of what it is to reach out and effect your part of the world, no matter how small it is.

Is there a landmark, any place, you feel drawn toward?
tell me about it.

Jen

Facets

We are Universal Timing.

So named as time is beyond our control yet so often works in harmony with our goals and aspirations. Like the facets of a diamond, our writing encompasses many genres. Scifi/Fantasy, Historical, Western, Contemporary, Inspirational and Paranormal, others will surely follow.

Our lives have taken many turns, and the paths have not always been easy. Through our writing we hope to share this crazy journey we call life, and share a laugh or two with fellow pilgrims making the same trip.

We're glad you're here. Leave a comment, share a story, and remember anything you say might come from our heroine's mouth down the road, but it will never be used against you.

Thanks and be well,
Jennifer