Drum roll please…..Kim W of Illinois of is the winner of this week’s giveaway!! Kim, a signed copy of BAD BOYS IN KILTS is on its way to you!

So, I’m not feeling all that hot, and I’m spending most of the day (and night) chained to my computer…and, I’m thinking maybe I’m due a wee break in there somewhere.

And what better way to spend it than watching Survivor, eh? (Okay, there might have been some ice cream involved…) Whereas it’s all Jill’s fault that I watch Amazing Race, it’s my youngest’s fault I got hooked on this show a few seasons back. But I have to say, when it’s “in season” I’ve really look forward to our Thursday night “dates.” My oldest works on Thursdays, so Spence and I usually order in Chinese and sit and watch/snark/analyze the latest round of castaways. We skipped the sesame chicken this week (my poor tummy’s still not right…altho it did manage to handle the ice cream juuuuuust fine…imagine that….) but the show more than made up for the lack.

So….here’s my Friday MAC: (Morning After Commentary for you blog newbs…and hi! Thanks for dropping by!!)

Okay, I know I’m not the only unrepentant Survivor fangirl out there. What did you all think of the way things went down tonight?

I am consistently amazed at how well Casaya holds their stuff together in challenges. Dysfunctionally functional indeed. They did lose immunity this week, but came from behind to make it a close race. I have to say, I’m loving Cirie more every week. (”What, you don’ t eat fish?” Cirie eye roll. “So shoot me.” Love her.) Love the game she’s playing. You go! Have to say that it’s a sad day when Shane is making more sense than his tribemates. But for all that his people skills aren’t exactly up to snuff, he does have his head on straight about the game. So who died and made Aras god anyway? (And why is it that I feel his name shouldn’t have that “r” in it?) His arrogant pomposity grates. I am not a Courtney fan (get out of Bruce’s rock garden!) but I was all ready to high five her and Danielle (who I think was the real brains behind that maneuver) to shift the tide on Aas, oops Aras, and vote Bobby out. And could there be a more self-unaware man than Bob Dawg? The man can seriously chop some fish up, and I get that he had zero patience with his tribe, but dude, the game isn’t played just at challenges. His unrepentant wine drinking behind deserved to go. I was glad Bruce stayed, if for no other reason than to grate on Aras’s last arrogant nerve.

Oh, and the look on A’s face when the votes were read? Yeah. Uh huh. I was very okay with that. Glad the women stopped sitting around and figured things out. But don’t vote out Shane, vote Aras out. Although, Shane will be the bigger threat down the line. Shane reads people way better than anyone, save for maybe Cirie, in that tribe. And for as little love as I had for that guy, I gave him props for sticking by his promise. It wasn’t even a consideration for him to go back on his word. You gotta respect that. (Whereas Bob had no problem putting Bruce’s name down after promising him he wouldn’t. Yeah, they were drunk, but Bruce wouldn’t have done it - and didn’t.) Although Shane was a bit naive to think that Bob’s word was as good as his.

As for the other tribe…yeah, considering where my body’s been at the past week or so, watching the Bean Incident was no fun. Given the amount of time I’ve spent residing in Casa del Charmin, I defnitely felt for those guys. Glad they hung in there the next day. I was just happy to see both tribes get some food to eat.

Next week looks fun. Oh…and one thing about Exile Island - when do you think these teams will wise up and stop sending the tribe leader to Exile Island? I get they think it will weaken the team left behind (tho it never has) but has ANYONE stopped to think that you’re giving the strongest person the chance for individual immunity later? Repeated chances in the case of Terry. Wake up, Survivors!

At the moment, I’m rooting for Cirie. And part of me is even rooting for Shane. I know, go figure. Now if those two would team up for an alliance…well….that would be something.

So…what did you think? Who are you rooting for?

Tags: Writing by Donna
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This will be short today - sorry! - as deadline is staring me straight between the eyes. I’ve been under the weather for awhile now (me, who never gets sick. Ever. Not even the sniffles. The nerve of my body to betray me in my hour of need. Honestly!) and am thus running a bit behind. So, it’s time to hoard the goldfish and diet coke (along with the Advil, the DayQuil, the Pepto, the hot tea and honey) and go underground for the duration. Or Monday, whichever comes first.

I will definitely announce the giveaway winner tomorrow - keep those entries coming in. Wow, it’s been a wild one this week! Thanks so much for participating!! And also thanks for all the nice notes on the new release. It’s always fun and exciting to see another book hit the shelves. I always sort of don’t believe it until I actually see it out there. (Like, this time they’ll finally figure out I have NO idea what I’m doing and not publish it. I swear, it could happen.)

Oh, and with the return of my DSL (kneeling to the DSL gods, it’s thunder storming today, please please don’t shut down) has come the return of my bunny slippers. I thought you would enjoy a peek at them. (Yes, they really exist!)

(My sister gave these to me. They say “It’s Cute How You Think I’m Listening.”)

Happy Thursday everyone!

Tags: Writing by Donna
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BAD BOYS IN KILTS hits the stands today! This marks my thirty-second full length release, 42nd release all told if you count the novellas. Later today I’ll trek out to my local Borders so I can actually see it on the shelves. Thirteen years and 40-plus releases later and seeing all that hard work finally culminate in an actual book sitting on the shelf (preferably up front, center table spot ) never gets old.

Of course, then I can’t step into a bookstore for another month so I don’t have to notice that they still have the same number in stock this week as last week. I can sit home and pretend they’re just flying off the shelves like bagels. (TM Heidi Klum.)

Speaking of Heidi Klum, tonight is part one of the Project Runway finale. I’ve really enjoyed this series and look forward to the next season. Glad I stumbled across this one. It’s been very interesting watching other creative types work through their own unique process. Of the three remaining, I’d be happy with either a Chloe or Daniel win. Santino? Not so much.

Okay, I must MAC my race…

So…last night My Phil returned, complete with devastating Eyebrow Popping. And after the much maligned Family Edition, I’m thrilled to see that My Race is back! Thirty minutes in and we’re already in Brazil. Yay! I think the teams are really interesting this time.

My preliminary faves - surprisingly, Team Nerd totally won me over. What a cute couple and they’re just having a blast. I also like Ray and Yolanda (dang, she’s got some legs) and Team Hippie (BJ and Tyler.) It’s great to see couples who are totally enjoying the experience along with being good competitors. My Yolanda love was sealed when the local men were jeering at her legs and body and she simply kept on with the task, taking care of her own self, and not whining to Ray to “do something about it” either. Which I believe he would have loved to have done, so love to Ray, too - but respected that she could handle herself. Nice team.

Lake and Michelle? Not really liking either of them. I know Lake is “the villain” this season but his spouse isn’t impressing me much either. I see a case of “they deserve each other” - not as bad as Jonathan and Victoria, but…well, it wouldn’t break my heart if they got booted early. Unfortunately, they look like good racers.

Same goes for Team Glamazon. I really want to like these women. I come from a household of Amazon Women (at 5′8″ I am the shrimpboat in my family,) so I was pre-disposed to be the Frosties biggest cheerleader. Maybe if they’d cut down on the screeching (my ears are still bleeding) and the bladder status over-share I could find some enthusiasm. As it was, I was kinda rooting for Team Genie to beat them in the final minutes. (A shame their Genie Magic failed them.)

And Team Mojo - mostly because they named themselves, I’m not having much love. That and they only seem to be pleasant when they’re winning. And not really enjoying the experience much. However, they did tag Lake as Scott Peterson and, yes, I’m going straight to hell, because I laughed.

Teams I’m still on the fence with - Team Seniors. I really like them and really want to see them succeed, but come on, five times up and down one bridge and you can’t find a clue box that’s free standing right in front of your face? I was heartened, however, when they pulled it out in the end and hope they move up my favorite chart.

Team Double D (or Team Pink) - was predisposed not to like these girls, but I’m kinda middling on them at the moment.

Team Frat Boys - also was predisposed not to auto-like this years Young Studs team. The double nipple rings didn’t help. They’ll be good racers and I do like their dynamic with Team Hippie..so they’re just meh for now, but have potential to go either way.

Team Mom/Daughter - I like them, they’re near the top of my “Not Sure” list. Like the daughter, mom’s a bit intense, but they seem to be good racers and a good match for each other. Time will tell.

All in all, a pretty great opening leg. If you enjoy a bit of snarkalicious fun, check out the bulletin boards for Amazing Race (Survivor, too) over at Television Without Pity. Some funny folks over there who share my sorry little addiction. Link is in the right hand column.

Happy Hump Day! I’m off to the bookstore.

Tags: Writing by Donna
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