I know…..enough with the old rocker dudes…but, I have to comment on my recent trip to Toronto to see Crue Fest…..Now, back in the day I was never a huge fan of the Crue…hubby was, but not me….I was more of a Bon Jovi kinda gal. But a few months ago I picked up a copy of the Heroin Diaries….Nikki Sixx’s account and personl diaries of his heroin addiction back when the Crue were one of the biggest rock acts around. It was harrowing, disgusting, compelling, nausiating and totally engrossing. I couldn’t put it down and read it over two nights. I personally don’t know how anyone could become addicted to heroin after reading his book. What an awful drug and it’s true…it ruins people’s lives. Along with the book he formed a band called Sixx Am and they recorded an accompanying cd….it rocks…..totally rocks…and since Sixx Am was one of the opening bands….off we went to Crue fest…..Papa Roach, Trapt, and BuckCherry performed as well…..it was loud….and all of the bands were great….even I have to say, even though Vince Neil is a tad overweight ( he’d do well to check out how amazing Billy Idol is holding up) and well, lets face it he’s always been a weak vocalist…..he ran around and gave the Crue fans what they wanted……Glad didn’t take my son though…lots of nudity from audience members and the semi- porn they had playing on the big screens…..it was fun…took me to back in the day….but I have never seen so many people stuck in the 80′s…..bad mullets….tons of them…..really bad….and women who wore clothes from twenty years ago….but geesh……they’ve gained like 20 pounds…..again, it was a nice way to kick off the long weekend…..we had a wedding yesterday….hubby and I performed at the ceremony….it was a beautiful day, awesome reception….great food and great friends….today we have a pig roast to go to……and the weather is cooperating for once!
So, what do you have planned for the last long weekend of the summer????

I read a blog last week, Vonna Harpers and she was talking about the wonderful power of friendship, in relation to her writing world. It got me thinking about my own circle of friends and how incredibly amazing they are. I’m lucky…I have an awesome group of girlfriends who support me, laugh with me and when I need to bitch about something they listen. They are all intelligent and run the gamut from stay at home moms, to business owners, to successful sales people to nurses….I could go on and on.
I’ve also managed to snag a select number of cyber writing buddies who are just as amazing, and it was surreal to be able to meet some of those women when I travelled to San Fran for Nationals.

It got me thinking about the power of friendship and how sad it would be if I was on this crazy ride to publication with no one to share it with.

It also made me realize that for the most part I think of my close friends as extended family…so celebrate the many friendships that you’ve managed to accumulate in whatever number of years you’ve been living! And cherish them….sometimes there are bumps in the road and you let go of a friendship, but when it comes back around, it’s just that much sweeter!

What about you? Are your friends just as important as family?

I guess the titles should be “Older Dudes!”….because someone in their fifties suddenly, doesn’t seem too damn old to me.

I went to see Def Leppard and Billy Idol the other night. Had great seats. You know the kind where you can not only see the sweat rolling off their bodies, you can almost smell it!

Now, I am a die hard Leppard fan. Have been since the early 80′s. I had my share of ripped jeans, and wore the british flag proudly. I have loved Joe and the boys for a long time…..and they didn’t dissapoint at all. Joe, well, he might have been a little vocally challenged, but hey, they still sounded great. All their old songs and a few of their newest…..and vivian and Phil….wow, they are in shape….like, um, really good shape!

But, Billy Idol is not someone I was too keen on seeing. I mean, when we originally bought our tickets…it was supposed to be Styx and REO Speedwagon opening…I was very dissapointed when they had to reschedule and Billy Idol was added.

Key word being WAS. He was amazing. More than amazing actually. He sounded great, Looked fabulous….had his original guitarist, Steve Stevens who rocked…..and I totally enjoyed his show….as much as I did my beloved Leppards….and I don’t think it was because I had such low expectations….kudos to Billy……He Rocked the House!

So, what band from your past have you seen lately, and were they as great as you thought they’d be?

Well, I did it. Made it to my first writers conference and lived to tell the tale. And oh, what a tale to tell….so many memorable moments……and I’ll share……
1. first off, getting to meet my crit partners and the various writers I’ve met via eharl was incredible. Lauren Hawkeye is a doll and was an absolute pleasure as a room mate…..Barbara and Amanda were so sweet….it was just really great to meet them in person, instead of chatting via the cyber world.

2.Being able to go to dinner with Brenda Novak and Christine Feehan was again….surreal…..really freaking surreal! And I got to sit in between them to boot! Brenda was not only incredibly gracious, but beautiful and incredibly sweet, but miss Christine, well, can we say fan moment? She is a goddess, and was so down to earth, full of advice and wisdom which she freely shared. At one point she said she felt like my mother!!!!!!!!!!! (yay me!). I have written down everything she told me….and it’s all mine!!!!

3. The Harlequin party on friday night was awesome. Lauren was invited, because, well the girl has sold to Spice…..I just crashed it with her! The room was decorated with various San Fran landmarks, from a huge golden gate bridge down the center ( and it supported a great bar!) to the fishermans warf etc, it was well done….the music was great and if you want to be in a room and just author spot….this was the place to be…..from Miss Nora Roberts ( who loves to boogie her butt off btw) to Nalini Singh ( who took a pic of Lauren and I) Gina Showalter and Holly Jacobs,Ann Agguire, Heather Graham…..it was author heaven……and yeah, I behaved myself

4. Meeting my agent Laura Bradford was another great moment, and I can honestly say she’s as sweet in person as she was on the phone…very cute to boot as well! big sigh of relief cause I”m thinking I made the right decision…..

5. Meeting the lovely girls who are part of the Calgary chapter…Suzanne, Julie and Wenda….I want to be an honorable member!!!!!!!!

6. And the workshops were pretty good too! I especially liked the YA ones that I attended…..Simone Ekeles is a hoot!

But, truthfully I was happy to get home Sunday, tired but so excited to see my kiddies and hubby….and yeah…..thinking that I should join Mandy in Florida next April for RT!!!!