Maybe doing the blog in two parts will confuse the gremlins.
Once Debbie was finished at the office, we drove back to her place, which, by the way, was decorated with no less than NINE Christmas trees and I don’t know how many Nativity Scenes–she collects those. To say the least, it was beautiful. Soon, members of the local Romance Writers of American chapter, along with a few non-writer friends, began showing up for the potluck luncheon Debbie had arranged. I had so much fun at this gathering, as many of the guests were long-time friends I hadn’t seen in way too long!
Busy enough for you? Well, hold onto your hat. No moss grows under Debbie’s feet, I’m here to tell you. As soon as the party was over, Debbie and I motored back to Seattle, where we checked into a hotel room, did a little shopping, and enjoyed a lovely dinner at a restaurant called Sullivan’s. More laughter, more shop talk, more catching up in general ensued. That was an early night, since the next day was slated to be a busy one, too. In the a.m., after a nice hotel breakfast and some bantering with a very personable waiter, we drove to Jayne Ann Krentz’s to enjoy her annual Christmas luncheon. As always, there was great food, a spectacular view of Elliott Bay from Jayne’s living room, and the best company, ever. All the guests are writers, and I’ve know most of them forever. It’s always a joy to see them again and, with all our lives so busy these days, about the only time I get to see these beloved friends is at Jayne’s party.
But wait, there’s still more. Debbie and I drove back to Port Orchard, stopping at a hotel near SeaTac airport on the way to pick up friends of Debbie’s (that story is hers to tell, so I won’t recount it here, except to say these folks are truly delightful.) We dropped the pair off at the Cedar Cove Bed and Breakfast (yes, it’s a real place), went back to Debbie’s, rested for an hour or so, and then went BACK to Seattle. (No, I’m not kidding.) Since Debbie and Wayne have a box at the Kingdome (they are serious Seahawk fans), and there was a party for the boxholders, we dove into yet another celebration. (We appear with Santa on Debbie’s Facebook page.) Well, suffice it to say, I had a blast. Debbie dropped me off at a hotel after the shindig, where I promptly collapsed in happy exhaustion, and I flew home to Spokane early the next morning. Now do you see why I was so upset when the gremlins ate my first account?
So now you’re up to speed on the most recent Debbie/Linda adventure. More tomorrow. Or the next day.
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NO KIngdom anymore!! Centurylink Field!! Glad your feeling better!!
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oh how much fun!!!! You will be loving these memories forever!
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Sounds like an awesome time! It sounds like a lot of you lady writers that I like live in that area, doesn’t Kristin Hannah live up there too? It sounds like a beautiful area.
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Yes. Kristin is a good friend and she was at the party, too.
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Sounds like a wonderful time! Your mention of Gig Harbor brought back many memories of times spent there. Must go again!!!
And glad you are feeling much better.
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Awesome celebration, thanks for sharing!
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Sounds absolutely wonderful!! I’m green with envy!! You guys are the absolute best!
Lynn
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Wow!! No wonder the bug has caught you. You were non-stop on the go. Love me some Debbie & JAK. Glad to hear that you were able to catch up with so many authors. It is a magical time of the year. It is also fun shopping for clothes in a smaller size. It reaffirms all the work you are putting into Weight Watchers. Feel better soon.
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You two sound like my life long friends (over 35 yrs.) we have those some kind of vacations together. Since we are all now scattered we have to make a real effort. I’m in Texas, Terry is in Tucson, AZ. and Becky in Chantilly, VA. with kids and all that comes along with them, we make it together about once every two years. We’ve made it a rule, no husband or kids, and the cell phones have to be left in the kitchen while we spend quality time catching up.
These are true vacations for us, as we just let ourselves do what we want, when we want.
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That was Awesome Linda!! Thanks for sharing all your fun with us, even if you did have to write it in two parts where the gremlins wouldn’t eat it. I really enjoyed it!!
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Good Lord Linda for being a sick lady, you could have fooled me! God Bless you it takes a lot more the this to keep you down. You Go Linda! Next time you see DM ask her if she knows me? Or better yet ask her “Who’s your Biggest Chicago Fan?”. Good Health to you.
Merry Christmas and Happy & Healthy 2015 to You & Your’s!
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I’ll bet she does remember you. Debbie has a phenomenal memory and she really loves her readers!
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First I am glad you are feeling better. Second, it sounds like you had a storybook weekend with all the good things that make a weekend fun. I am glad things are going well for you.
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Sounds to me like you had a great time. Its always nice to get together with friends. I think that is why I enjoy the holidays. As I said earlier I am trying to get ready for the holidays, wrapped a few things today and tried to make fudge but I think it flopped. Also in the middle of all that I fell in the kitchen floor, tripped over a stoop. About scarded me to death because I landed on my new hip, but I think I am all right.
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Wow!!! Aren’t you just the little busy bee. Glad you got your sticker!!!! They are important!!!!
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I absolutely love your blog! I think of all the authors as mystery people and you make me realize you are just normal, wonderful people who do regular fun things. Thank you for sharing!
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What a fantastic adventure. Thank you for sharing.
Tammy
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Sounds like a blast! Wish I had half your energy! Blessings.
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Boy were you busy. Does not sound like any of you got to much rest. Glad to hear you a good visit.
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Sounds like a blast! Were there other authors that we might recognize? Have a good day.
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Glad you had such a great time
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Linda, I’m commenting on part one and two…I don’t have the energy you had to have had to do all of that, almost non-stop. It made me tired to read it.
I’m glad you’re feeling better, and when you said it might be phycological that you feel better already, there is more truth to that than some people know. You can have some intense pain and it’ll hurt like crazy, till you go to the doctor and he/she tells you that you don’t have cancer, or a broken bone, and right away, the pain diminishes. It is the not knowing that causes the stress that causes the extra discomfort.
No, I don’t have a medical degree, I’ve just been there and done that, so I speak from experience. I’m just glad you feel better, regardless.
I think I told you I just finished Debbie’s Dakota series last week. It was good.
I hope you do well at WW tomorrow. After all the partying, you may not have retained your weight level, but you sure had a good time. But, here’s hoping.
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Sounds like you had way much fun! I would loved to have been a fly on the wall at all those celebrations. Merry Christmas to you and yours and God bless you.
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glad you had a good time,hope your holidays are joyous.
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Way too much fun in one trip. What a great time! And I’m sure the effort of the doubly redone saga is appreciated by all. I know I enjoyed it.
But, PS: You do know that the King Dome was torn down many years ago.
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Sounds like a wonderful time. I love that area!
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My goodness, you sure had a busy time. Sounds like it was a wonderful, fun filled time with your friends.
Sure hope you are feeling lots better.
May you have a wonderful, peaceful Christmas and blessed
days ahead.
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I cannot imagine decorating 9 trees. I love Christmas trees but I never liked decorating them.
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Seriously envious!! That sounded like a fabulous trip with some of my favorite authors.
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What a wonderful time you gals had ! How nice to catch up with old friends . Have a wonderful Christmas & a healthy one.
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Wow! I lived in Seattle/Renton for 20 years 69-89 and I never
covered so much ground in that short of time.. So glad you
had all that fun. And buying smaller sizes gives credit to all
your hard work!
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Glad you enjoyed your trip. Susan Anderson posted pics of Jayne Krentz dinner. Knew all but two, had to ask. Hope you keep feeling better.
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WOW!!!!! That makes me tired just reading it, but I bet it was a ton of fun.
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so are some of those activities going to appear in one of your books?!
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Wow, you were definitely busy. Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Hope you keep feeling better. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us.
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I am exhausted just reading about it
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I thought I read that the dr said continue what you were doing “resting” but I must have mis-read!!?? Where do you get your energy Linda. Sounds like a fab time was had by all!! Merry Christmas to one and all. I’ve got to rest up, I’m exhausted by all your excitement! lol
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Wow !! I was exhausted just from reading that! How do you keep going ? Lol.
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So glad you had a great time. Merry Christmas!!!
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I am worn out from reading about all your running around. It is so nice to have wonderful friends to spend time with. You are truly blessed so have Debbie in your life.
I have gone through all my Christmas stories – almost all Miller and Macomber books – and am awaiting The Marriage Charm! Keep writing those wonderful stories.
Glad you’re feeling much better.
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Sounds like a very nice time. Glad you are feeling a lot better now. Just keep going that way.
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Sounds like you had a great time. Glad you are feeling better.
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I love it !!!! You girls sure do know how to enjoy yourselves.
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Century Link Field for sure. Kingdome went down in a splat. Glad you had a good time. It really sounds wonderful.
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I just finished reading one of your older books that I found at the used book store, one I had never seen. State Secrets. It was OK but sure do like you Western themed books better.
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It is a lot of fun to read of your adventures in a part of the country which I have never visited. Sounds wonderful!
May all of you have a peaceful holiday season.