Tanya Writes About Lefthandedness

It's one of my favorite things about myself although I clearly recall in grade two, handwriting J's like F's just as the principal came into the classroom to observe. Although heat flooded me, he didn't seem to mind a bit.

Did you know males are more likely left-handed than females? How special am I? In fact, there are twice as many left-handed boys as girls. Neither of my kids got it, though.

I share the stage with some pretty cool left-handed folks: Picasso, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Beethoven, Paul Mc Cartney, Lou Gehrig, Helen Keller, Prezzes Garfield, George H.W. Bush, Clinton and Reagan (is Obama, too?), and some other guys I like: Ben Franklin and Mark Twain.

Well, I've no politics in me, but I did major in Art in college and I do play the piano pretty well. And since the right side of a brain controls the left side of a body, this surely this means I'm in my right mind.

(Although my hero pictured with me at our daughter's recent wedding may lovingly disagree.)

Tanya Writes About The Falconer

Current read: The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown
Just finished: The Falconer, Elaine Clark McCarthy, A++ a perfect read


I'm not a reviewer or a critic, but this book really touched my heart. I guess because cancer rears its ugly head in it, and the hero puts out wildfires and it's set in California. So many things that make up my up the fabric of my life.

Thing is, I've had this book in the attic for years. It was released in the mid-90's and I don't know how it got into my hands. Maybe someone who knew my hero is a firefighter. Dunno. It's slim and spare with a beautiful cover but somehow didn't make the cut of a TBR list.

But I found it again, going up into the attic for fall decorations. It's short, almost a one-sitting read, with the lyrical prose that I love and our MTV culture usually doesn't.

But oh god she wanted him. She wanted his hands to reinvent her skin, she wanted his eyes to find here there behind her face and release her. She wanted her heart thrown into the sky; she wanted to fly. She wanted it before the dark closed in. So mucy dark and so soon.

The only trouble was, she didn't know if he could want it too. But he might. Please, whatever god may be he might.

The author claimed it only took three days to write. But she to my knowledge never wrote anything else. Sad. It's timeless and wondrous and worth your time. A keeper. A re-read. Again and again and again.

(Ps. If I used this cover image and shouldn't have, please let me know., and I'll remove it)

Tanya Writes About the USS New York

I got this in an e-mail from some fire-buddies and can't help but pass it along. We visited Ground Zero a summer ago on our first (but it won't be last!) trip to New York. Still get chills. Still get tears, thinking of the great sacrifices of 9/11.

Maybe this ship is a kind of phoenix, something rising from the ashes. Something hopeful out of the destruction on that day the world as we knew it stopped turning.

This ship was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center destroyed on that horrific September day.

The fifth in a new class of warship, she's designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. She will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there."

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my
neck stood up. It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back..."

Notice her twin towers? Her motto?

“Never forget.”

Tanya Writes About Kama Sutra

Current read: The Falconer by Elaine Clark McCarthy

Oh yum. Of course the picture isn't my hero and me. Although....mmmmm....you could photoshop our faces on there. Because I just went to a Kama Sutra party and got some pretty great stuff LOL.

You see, I live on a neat little cul de sac. We have Fourth of July block parties--this year's was a 50's theme with poodle skirts and an Elvis Impersonator, and Christmas parties where we gals go caroling after a few glasses of wine, and a bunch of us get together most Wednesdays for Zumba, Latin American aerobics. (Oh, I'm terrible at it but it does feel good.) Julie, our lithe and lovely Argentine neighbor leads us and it was her idea to hold the KS party.

What could be finer for a romance writer than a party like that? How about some oils of love with names like chocolate mint, cherry almond, and strawberries and champagne?

A stimulating pleasure balm called raspberry kiss?

Lickable body souffle creams such as chocolate creme brulee?

How about lickable honey dust body powder? Sweet honeysuckle tickle your fancy?

Aromatic massage oils called Serenity, Pleasure Garden and Soaring Spirit intrigued me for sure, but Sweet Almond won out.

And oooooh, personal lubricants like love liquid and pleasure potion had some of the gals heading for demo's in private.

Don't let me get started on the, ahem, playthings. I'll tantalize you with a couple of product names: mini-tongue and classix rabbit pearl.

I can't wait for our next trip to try out my Weekender pack. A beautiful little box of airplane-regulation size goodies.

By the way, my hero is really glad I went to the party.

Ps. I have been considering trying an erotic short story. Somehow I'm kinda in the mood...WDYT?

Tanya Writes About Sunflowers

Just finished Lady X's Cowboy, by Zoe Archer. Grade B+



Please stop by Petticoats and Pistols today for a bit of history on the sunflower. The sunflower has a history?

Yes indeedy. See you there. If nothing else, the pictures rock.

And who doesn't feel better after getting smiled at by a sunflower?

Tanya Writes About Yellow Ribbons

Well, they're yellow. But these ribbons aren't for our daughter's wedding. We just got back from a fantastic trip to Sacramento where I picked up some information about the symbol of the yellow ribbon. And with today being the anniversary of that horrible day the world stopped turning eight years ago, I'm featuring this post here as well as at the Western authors blog, Cactus Rose at The Wild Rose Press.

I never liked the song much, Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree, but that doesn't mean I can't sing it at will all these years later! And I remember wearing a yellow ribbon during the Iran Hostage Crises of 1981-82. These days, I see frequent reminders to pray for our troops on yellow-ribbon car magnets.

But not until last week, visiting Old Sacramento, did I learn the origins of the yellow ribbon. For almost 150 years, displaying a yellow ribbon is a sign of loyalty to family, friends and loved ones far away from home in difficult situations such as war or captivity.

According to legend, the custom of a yellow ribbon showing support for a loved one far away began during the Civil War. At this time, the United States Cavalry wore yellow piping on their uniforms. Women who were married or promised to a Cavalryman wore yellow ribbons while waiting for their soldiers' return. Supposedly the practice kept prospective suitors at bay as well as warned of reprisal by the soldier if his lover was harmed.

Another version of the custom traces its origins to the horrific Andersonville Prison. Officially known as Camp Sumpter, Andersonville was one of the largest, most notorious Confederate prison camps. During its 14 months of operation, more than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined, 13,000 losing their lives from disease, malnutrition, overcrowding, and exposure.

Supposedly a member of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry who had been a Confederate prisoner there for several years, wrote to his wife with the suggestion that, rather than wear her ribbon, she tie it to a signpost near the train station so he could see it upon his return. The tale soon became part of Civil War lore.

The following song spread throughout the North, its words set to an old British drinking song:

Around her neck she wore a yellow ribbon
She wore it in the Springtime and in the month of May.
And if you ask her why the hells he wore it,
She wore it for her soldier who is far, far away.

(Chorus)
Far away, far away.
She wore it for her soldier who is far, far away.

During the 1991 Gulf War and following 9/11, the yellow ribbon symbol has gained widespread popularity as it sends our service members the message that they are never far from our hearts.

Sincere thanks to the Old Sacramento School House Museum for this information.