There it is. That dirty word. No one seems to want that title stuck to them. “Single.” It is like cursing. But worse.
And to be single on Valentine’s Day… some people look at me as horrified as if I had suggested I was going to start feeding my kids dirt because I felt it was all natural.

Why do we as a society feel that to be happy on Valentine’s Day, we have to be part of a couple?

“Well, who is going to buy you chocolates? Don’t you want to be with someone? Settle down…”

Personally, I don’t think I could get more settled down. I am a single mom of three wonderful kids. We live a very full and rich life. We have lived in the same place for three years now because it fits us nicely financially, geographically and physically. I write books for a living. Not a bad life.

“But you are all alone…”
Who the hell is this person and where do they come up with these questions? No, really, I am not all alone. My holiday is not made somehow worse because I am not slapping down $100 for a meal, $60 for flowers, and $40 for chocolates. Nor is it worse because someone else isn’t wasting that money on me. My kids tend to make me lovely paper valentines (my favorite being from one of my sons who, at a younger age, proclaimed they loved me because I didn’t suck.) I have friends.

But for some reason, this holiday is dressed in as much depressed wailing from the single folk as it is in Hallmark/Hershey glee.
Writing this blog isn’t going to convince anyone (especially my mother) that being single on Valentine’s Day is okay. It isn’t going to change the fact that hundreds are going to be spent on candies and cards sentimentalizing how much devotion can be found in a chocolate truffle. It isn’t going to stop this from being a great day to propose.

But I just wanted to point out that if your friends ARE single, the holiday isn’t necessarily the huge downer you think it is. Condolences are not needed, nor in some cases welcome as we don’t all feel like we are in a bad situation. Also, consider buying some condoms. I mean… a thousand years ago, it was a celebration of fertility.

You can have the fertility. I’m gonna stick with chocolates and cards from my kids. Thanks.
Virg

http://virginianelson.blogspot.com

http://virginianelson.webs.com

Virginia Nelson is an author and editor and her newest release, Lips of Velvet, a f/f erotic, is scheduled for release with Rebel Ink Press in May of 2012.

Blurb: Bookworm Sandra is dragged out for a night on the town by her sister. When she meets the sexy and exotic Lucy, she is instantly attracted to her. But will their spontaneous combustion burn out as quickly as it ignites or will it lead to a long term flame?

Lucy can’t help but be drawn in by Sandra’s intelligent and fun nature. But when Sandra suggests that she was just using Lucy for sex, Lucy is a strong enough woman to hide her broken heart and walk away. A chance meeting brings them back together.

Will Lucy seek revenge for a moment of stupidity?

Ian was always a ladies man, with raging hormones to sate. But lately he’s sick of the game. He wants to find his mate.

Andy is fed up and terrified of her abusive ex. Will she ever have a normal life again without him stalking her?

When Ian meets Andy the fireworks are immediate… For Ian. Andy is leary, what could this good looking surfer boy possibly want with her. She knows she’s not exactly skinny as her ex used to love to point out, but she sure as hell isn’t getting abused and lied to again!

Can this match be made in heaven or will they go through first to get there?

That’s Joe Lucero working on my tat of my family tree. He’s a damn genius with ink. Check out his website
I have a tattoo on my right leg of a Phoenix fairy rising from the flames and ash. My bro drew it and subsequently my daughter drew the tree. The Phoenix represents me growing and rising above my former self. The tree is my immediate family. The bat on my neck represents me and reminds me of who I am. The triad represenst my relationship with my hubby, loyalty respect and trust. The tramp stamp tribal art was when I was young and thin and ready to conquer the world. Although they have all come at different times in my life they all have significant meaning and are memories. My body is a blank canvas that I can’t wait to fill. U say yuck I say ink is art. I have three smallish gaged piercings in my ears. Two in the right and one in the left. Why are they gaged? Because I like them, not because they are the current cool trend. They look like hoop earrings.

But who am I to judge u if u pierce your nose or clit or lip? It’s ur body decorate it however u like despite public opinion. If my daughter shaved her hair off she’d still be the beautiful person I know now. Just because people don’t understand doesn’t mean it’s a sin or taboo. The world has become a really strange place in the modern era. Some for the good, some for the bad. Such as, no one wants a 13 year old getting pregnant, but it happens just the same. After that path has happened all we can do is support and help her. If a teenage boy says he’s gay in this day and age he’s being bullied and turned on?? WTF? Why? We as a people need to support each other with love and kindness. I am so sick of people who preach Christianity then turn around and preach hate. God is not hate people! He is love!! Always has been and his son Jesus was love incarnated. He died so u can treat each other like shit and be forgiven for it?? That’s crap. I would rather think he died so I could live me life in joy and peace. What about you?

In the blink of an eye…

Buffy, thanks so much for having me today. I’m looking forward to meeting some of your readers.

I cannot possibly be the only person amazed at how quickly time passes. Every July I tell my sister-in-law the same thing: “Christmas will be here before we know it.” And every July she says, “How can you even think about that now?”

The answer is quite easy. The summer months are filled with time spent outdoors at the beach or cramming in every activity we can think of during nice long, sunny days. Then Labor Day hits and we enjoy the late summer weather and move right into fall and apple picking and planning for Thanksgiving. Then the wild frenzy of Christmas preparations hits. We decorate. We plan meals. We bake cookies. We send Christmas cards. We shop. We wrap. We check our lists obsessively to be sure we haven’t forgotten a thing. We celebrate. And it’s over.

Then, it’s New Years and the thick of winter. If you’re life is like mine, your job ramps up into hyper-speed and January zooms by without so much as a second thought and the next thing you know you’re wondering what you should get your husband for Valentine’s Day.

February is a short month, even in a leap year so you wouldn’t even notice it, if not for Valentine’s Day. Then it’s March and spring is on the horizon. Warmer weather. Of course, in New England it hasn’t been a bad winter. So, the season doesn’t seem to be dragging at all. With the temps above average, you don’t much mind the short days.

Next it’s April when the days are noticeably longer and warmer. Daffodils and tulips begin emerging. And then we’re anticipating Memorial Day, the kick-off for summer, strawberries and blueberry picking. And then in June we’re back to lying on the beach and thinking about 4th of July cookouts.

Do you see how fast time flies?

My advice, even though you haven’t asked for it, is to stop and smell the tulips and the strawberries and the apples and the Christmas trees and the roses. Don’t let even one minute be wasted. Life is just too damn fast!

By the way, what are you getting your Valentine this year?

After trying her hand at many, many things- from crafting and art classes to cooking and sewing classes to running her own handbag business, Jordan finally figured out how to channel her creativity. With an active imagination and a little encouragement from her husband she sat down and began to write, each night clicking away at the keys with her black Labrador, Dino curled up under the desk.

A few short years later she’s entered the publishing arena with no plans to ever turn back.

Jordan’s a member of Rhode Island Romance Writers, as well as RWA National, and the New England (NEC), Connecticut, and Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal (FFnP) Chapters.

Her first book, Perpetual Light, releases in February of 2012 from Crescent Moon Press.

Find Jordan on her website at www.jordankrose.com.
Follow her tweets on https://twitter.com/#!/jordankrose
Friend her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jordankrose

And now a blurb from Jordan’s book coming this Winter!

Perpetual Light Back Cover Blurb

Fate is cruel. Especially when the one you’ve sworn to love for all eternity, the very soul who changed your destiny is the last person you should trust.

After more than three hundred years of running, Lucia Dicomano must make a choice.

Forced to take her place as a Pharo of Redemption, the divine slayer needs to master her forgotten powers. Lucia turns to Vittorio, the one vampire she’s failed to deliver from eternal damnation. But overcoming smoldering remnants of love, lust and anger aren’t their only obstacles.

Samuel, who may know Lucia better than she knows herself, hunts her with a fervor stoked by a thousand years of vengeful hatred. His plan—capture and enslave the weakened Pharo then take control of her elusive power.

Can Lucia trust Vittorio long enough to reclaim her powers? Or will she have no choice but to kill him and battle Samuel alone?

Today I lost a friend. By trying to be introspective I have actually given myself a headache. Technically I didn’t necessarily do anything wrong. But from her POV I did.

I am feeling okay about this split and think that maybe it is for the best. Maybe we are both at the point that it is time to change, to grow and move on. Maybe we have out grown our friendship and need for one another.

I will miss my friend and am happy that she took the time to tell me what she felt went wrong. Unfortunately I am not able to go past that mark right now.

I am currently in my room with my wax burner on so there is soft light and I am going to put on some jazz and rest. Yesterday and today have been very difficult days for me and I need to center before I return to work from my long vacation.