Music to the Rescue!

This has been a crazy day and when things get crazy, I turn to music to change my mood or at least calm me down.

These are my top five song choices in no particular order for mellowing out:


I LOVE this song. It helps keep everything in perspective.


So joyful and full of hope. I listen to this song and remember things aren't half crazy as they seem.


I can listen to this song over and over. I love when the audience joins in with her.


You can't listen to this without tapping your foot or shaking your bum.


Having a bad hair day or worse? Make this song your mantra and you'll feel "Cold-Blooded". *G*

I could post a hundred songs on here, but I'm going to keep it short and sweet as I turn up the volume and soak in the good vibes.


~AN

Summer Heat = Summer Storms!

You can't have summer heat without crazy thunderstorms. Last week, we had a couple and one in particular took out our power for a few hours. I actually enjoy watching thunderstorms from the safety of my window. There's something unexplainable that comes over me when I see trees swaying in the ferocious wind as lightening and rain pound the pavement and windows. I imagine scenes for the paranormal WIP's I'm working on and marvel at the awesome power of nature.

I'm always humbled during a black out by the immediate reminder of how dependent I am on electricity. I'm sure it's not just me, but most of the world. It takes moments like experiencing a black out to remember just how vulnerable we would be if we were without ANY power for a long period of time.

I'm addicted to my laptop, but I can always settle in with a good book. Still, I couldn't help thinking how far we've come in this technological age. Many of us would have to totally regroup in a world without DVR, blackberries, cell phones and oh, you get the idea.

I empathize when I see other countries in war or devastated by natural disasters. I marvel at the resilience of humankind in the face of such tragedies. How do we move towards the future without forgetting some of the critical survival techniques of yesterday year? Should we even worry about it? I never truly think about something happening so huge in America that could take away our power indefinitely, but when the lights went out last week, I thought it was a question each of us should consider.

~AN

It's Unofficially Summer...

It actually felt like summer last week and of course as soon as the weekend hit...rain and 60 degree temps. I can't wait for more consistently warm days, but in all honesty I'm not crazy about summer time. I don't like the super hot humid days. When the humidity gets past 50 percent, I'm done with outdoor fun. Here in the Windy City it can get pretty sticky indeed.

Now, my son is done with preschool and I've got to plan things for him and my daughter to do to keep them from driving each other crazy and me. What's amazing to me is no matter how many fun things I plan as soon as we get back home or finish a project without fail about ten minutes later my son will come to me and say: "Mommy, I'm bored."

Oh, well, it'll be Autumn before you know it.

~AN

(photo courtesy of Duchessa)

New Contract, New Publisher!!

Over the weekend, I found out my work will be published with another publisher! I'm really excited and happy. This was just what I needed to refuel my heart and hunger to keep reaching for my dreams as a writer.

I wish I could say more, but this contract was for my pen name and I've decided to keep the two separate. I love having the freedom to pen what I want, but using a pen name is also challenging. Just last week, I accidentally posted something for my personal page on my alter ego page! I'm realizing more and more that it might be impossible to keep the two completely separate. Plus, I want to shout the news of my new publisher to everyone I know, but of course I won't . . . or at least, not yet!

~AN

Memorial Day

"Greater love hath no man than to give up his life for another..."

24 Will Be Missed!

I watched the series finale of 24 last night on the edge of my seat until the very last minute. After eight intense years of hijacking, butt-kicking, shoot 'em up, blow 'em up thrills, I'm not sure what Monday night TV will look like. I should be happy for one less distraction from writing, but I'm not. I loved the show. I love Jack Bauer!

Remember Tony and Michelle's romance admist the chaos? And I'll never forget President Palmer or his iconic role as the first black president. Who would have guessed that would actually happen in 2010? There were so many great characters, plot lines, sub-plot lines that I was never bored with the show.

I actually discovered 24 a season late and I'll never forget my husband and I scooping up every available copy of the past season to catch up. We went to two or three different video stores to get them all in order and then had a 24 marathon for the next 2 days, staying up to like 2 a.m. !!

The show will be missed by many and like those fans, I anxiously await 24 on the big screen!

~AN

Merry-go-round

I can't change you but I can change me

It's taken me awhile to get that

But now I see...

That no matter what I say

Or what I do

You hear me and still do you

And so we keep spinning 'round and 'round

So dizzy and sick

I can't see the ground

Don't try to get me

It just gets twisted

In fact the point I'm making now-

You've surely missed it

And so we keep spinning 'round and 'round

Can you hear the cracks splintering?

I can't take the sound

And I can't tell if it's me or you

Losing grip as we fall

I'm finally ready to admit

I feel like letting go

It's okay

Don't worry

I don't expect you to change

I just know I can't stay the same

I've finally decided that's it

I'm free

I can't change you but I can change me

By Angela Nichelle Bradley