You’ve each won a $100 Visa gift card, and your prizes will be sent out as soon as you shoot your snail mail addresses to llmfb@msn.com.
Congratulations!!!
Since I have internet again–obviously–I will continue my tales of the rodeo.
Wednesday, which happened to be 12-12-12, was a very, very busy day, with way too much good food in it. 
We started off by having breakfast at the Paris, courtesy of Ana and Marianna, my newest friends at Harlequin. They took excellent care of me, during the whole trip. After breakfast, which was, of course, delicious, we headed over to Cowboy Christmas, at the convention center. There are several big shows like this one during the rodeo finals, scattered up and down the Strip, but CC is my favorite, so I always get there one way or another. I bought lots of Christmas presents and a few things for myself, I admit–including a Buck Taylor watercolor of James Arness, as Matt Dillon. “Gunsmoke” was hands-down my dad’s favorite show–he used to come home from patrolling the mean streets of Northport (:)) especially to catch that week’s episode. So the picture is more a tribute to Dad than to Marshal Dillon. Since Buck, the artist, is one of those new friends I mentioned on Monday, that makes it extra special.
As if that wasn’t fun enough, Buck gave Jenni and I each one of his prints, and we treasure them.
Once the shopping was out of our system, we all met up and headed back to the hotel for lunch. Another too-big, too-scrumptious meal. (Yikes. Expect more D.I.E.T. talk after the holidays!)
That afternoon, I did a signing, hosted by the folks at Caesar’s Entertainment, right there at the Paris. There were over 200 people!!! It was SO much fun to meet readers, new and not-so-new, face to face. I hope to do another signing at next year’s rodeo.
By the time that signing was over, I was getting pretty zonked, but there was still one more meal, and it was a humdinger. Harlequin (Ana and Marianna) treated Jenni, Alisa and I to dinner at Gordon Ramsey’s new steak house, also in the Paris hotel. Zounds, batman. I knew the man could cook, but this food was over-the-top delicious! Alas, the steak I ordered was more like a pot roast, so I barely made a dent in it, and the side dishes? Well. Even Julia Child would have raved. Unbe-freakin’-lievable!
After dinner, I played a few slot machines, then went upstairs and collapsed.
Thursday, the 13th, found Alisa, Jenni and I back at Cowboy Chrismtas. I bought a few prizes that will be given away on this blog in the near future–after Christmas–and had a great time.
That evening, my brother Jerry, his friend Paul, Alisa and I went to the rodeo. It was a great show, like always, and when we came outside afterwards, it was raining. While the rain might have dampened our clothes, it couldn’t touch our spirits–we were all rodeoed up!
On Friday, Alisa returned to Virginia and Jenni and I headed back to Spokane, grateful for all the fun we had and the new people we met, but glad to be home again, too.
So that’s the rodeo for this year.
Do something nice for somebody today–without them knowing.
And be blessed, my dear friends.
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Sounds like you had a grand time! Those Buck Taylor prints of Matt Dillion must be awesome.
Enjoy your holidays and congratulations to the winners!
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Welcome home!!! Can’t wait to finish your book!!! Xox
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Norma and Lois, congratulations!
Linda, you must need a rest after all that !! Thank goodness Christmas is coming, you can relax for a couple of days
I really enjoy Gunsmoke, I am awaiting series 8 to start.
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Thanks Sam and Linda it is nice to received something special. Linda is sounds like you have a very busy time and lots of fun. Someday I would love to see the rodeo and do some shopping at cowboy christmas events.
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HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY, SAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
I you had a good one yesterday!!!
I would have baked you a cake, but…I did make some Blueberry Muffins a few moniutes ago and I ate one for you and one for me.
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I left out the HOPE and we should never lose HOPE.
I HOPE you had a good one!!!!!!
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Thank you Sam.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas.
Norma
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And I hope you have a good christmas too.
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Hi Linda,
Glad that you had breakfast at Paris, with Ana and Marianna taking care of you.
So the convention center had the Cowboy Christmas that you like down the strip.
So Gunsmoke was your Dad’s favorite show? That was nice that Buck gave you one of his prints.
I would love to have one of your book sign. I read lot of your books.
Again thank you for the $100 card i appreciate it.
Norma Stanforth
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Congratulations, ladies! I’ve kind of lost track…is this the prize for the best Christmas ever or best gift, or ….?
Linda, are you going to be posting any pics of cowboys walking away…?
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Congrats to the lucky winners!!
It wouldn’t be hard to talk my husband into going to Vegas during the Nationals next year…especially if that’s where I’d have to go to visit one of Linda’s book signings!
Sounds like you had another fab trip, girl!
Sam! Are we jealous of that James Arness watercolor?!
I can almost see it without actually having it in front of me.
Would that we could talk privately. Saw ads for the …Midwife yesterday! :>)
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Juanita, That would be nice
My e-mail address is; chappie@ffc16.orangehome.co.uk
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Congratulations to Norma and Lois!!!!
I’m with Hilda, what did the ladies win for?
Linda, I’m glad you had so much fun.
Sam, I’m confused…what James Arness watercolor? Did I miss something?
And, Hilda…why do you want a picture of a cowboy walking away? I’d rather have one walking towards me, and holding a hammer and a saw, and…know how to use both.
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Gloria, you crack me up!
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Sounds like a wonderful, busy time. I am very excited and I guess you have done that for me today. I got both the hard copy of Big Sky River and also had it downloaded on my Nook. I’m about to take a shower, get into my pajamas and start reading. Can’t wait! what a perfect holiday present. Parable, here I come. Merry Christmas to you, too. Here is hoping for a happy, healthy new year for all of us.
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Best Christmas present ever when I was able to purchase “Big Sky River” today.
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Sound like quite a busy and fun trip. Glad you’re home to “relax”.
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I watched the rodeo on the TV with my sons. They covered the Cowboy Christmas at the convention center. I’m jealous.
From what I saw on TV, I understand why you had so much fun shopping. Someday I hope to be able to shop there during a rodeo.
I started to read the new Big Sky River. Can’t wait to see how it evolves.
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Salut votre redaction est incroyable mais vrai! c’est vraiment agreable; je vous dis a bientot.