Running With Quills: GOODY, GOODY . . . was it?

Welcome to Running With Quills, your online newsletter designed to keep you up to date with what your favorite authors (that would be us) are doing throughout the year. Here you will find the release dates of our new books and get information about our backlists. We'll preview our cover art here long before the books hit the stores and we'll keep you informed about works-in-progress and special projects. You'll also receive advance notice of signings and appearances. From time to time we'll give you a peek at our worlds, tell you what we're reading, and introduce you to some new authors.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

GOODY, GOODY . . . was it?

It's been a blu-u-ue Christmas without us... But now we're back, sort of.

Since I am apparently the only working schmuck on duty, I get to grab the good questions:

1. What is your favorite 2006 gift? (that would be a gift received by you)

2. Tee-hee, c'mon, you're among friends. What did you get that you absolutely can't stand, and what are you going to do with it?

~~~

No, I'm not tiddly (I don't drink), this is what happens when you have to work, be an entertaining wife, mom and friend, and be on jury duty--all at the same time. You sit around with a hundred or so of your favorite strangers and think about all the things you should, or would rather be doing. And you come up with the Quilee Questions all your buddies plan to ask when they get back from lolling around, eating bon bons.

I hope each of you is having a lovely time.

Cheers, Stella

32 Comments:

Lori of Canada said...: Hey Stella!!

Favourite gift? The tree that my brother surprised me with (he told me we weren't getting a tree but my father cut one down and brought it to my house. My brother/roommate wanted it to be a surprise).

I got a box of lotion/perfume and soap of a scent that I abhor (it is overwhelming and makes me want to cough more than I already do - and since I have a nasty winter cold that is already a lot). I haven't decide if I am going to put it away and try to forget about it or take it back to the store and exchange it for something else)

You didn't mention yours.....

Lori M; 12:17 AM
Anonymous said...: The absolute best gift is to have my whole family around me, happy, safe, healthy and doing well. Getting to meet all my baby cousins is also a treat. I don´t see nearly enough of them.
Sirry; 12:17 AM
DFender said...: Ha! Stella... Jury duty, too?? Sheesh. Talk about a busy season.

My favorite gift? A HUGE tin of cheddar cheese and caramel pop corn. Ahem. Which may be...er... almost gone.

My least favorite gift? A bottle of REALLY yucky semi-sweet table wine. Iew.

How 'bout you, Stella? Care to share? :-)

Cheers backatcha,
Deb; 3:17 AM
Cbell said...: My parents started me on the Waterford crystal "12 Days of Christmas" champagne flutes. Beautiful!; 6:53 AM
Genevieve said...: My favourite gift... Tickets to see Il Divo in April.; 9:30 AM
btuda said...: The best gift was finally having Christmas spirit when it counted. And that my step-son had a good Christmas. Sometimes that's a trick when you're shuffled from house to house.

The worst gift was finding out that the present I bought my husband, the one I scrimped and saved for, traveling all over town, was the same present given to him by my parents. So now I get to buy him something else (trust me, it was just easier that way).

I was going to say the worst present was the four pairs of really cheap earrings I got, but then I looked at it from the giver's perspective. I'm always loosing my earrings and for the price I have three additional options instead of just the one. Plus this person grew up in a home with very little money for presents and such a luxury is a tremendous compliment to the affection between us.

I think I just turned my worst into my best!; 9:34 AM
Karibear said...: My best gift was having my daughter call me, without having to cut short the conversation for a change.

The worst was sort of a mixed blessing - we were given a turkey, which was nice, and which tasted wonderful - but the downside was when I realized at 11 PM I was going to have to clean out the refrigerator to make room for the leftovers! NOT my idea of a fun thing to do at any time, let alone late on Christmas night.

Still, the sandwiches the next day were lovely.; 9:55 AM
Ladytink_534 said...: My favorite gift would have to be my very nice gift card to Barnes and Noble. I can't think of anything I just outright hated but my soon-to-be mother-in-law did get me the first season of Chramed and a book that I already have. I feel bad about asking for a reciept to return Charmed (it's an ok show but after awhile I just stopped watching it) so I'm keeping it and the book I bought was paperback while the one she got me was hardback so it all works out ok in the end.; 11:17 AM
DFender said...: ...ohhh... I should have mentioned that I received several Border's giftcards! YaY! The HHP was THRILLED! lol

Deb; 3:20 PM
Ranurgis said...: If it actually works, my "bestest" present will be a newer computer that my brother set up for me. I still have a lot of installing to do before I can actually use it and profit from it. It wasn't really a Christmas present as such, but I got it Christmas Day when almost the whole family was together.

My sort of accident present came about when my brother who wasn't with us gave me a DVD set of what he thought was my favorite series and it has been proclaimed "TV's First Masterpiece". He got the actor right but the series wrong. I always felt somewhat baffled and frustrated by this one while the other was just fun.

But then, who knows, maybe after all these years I'll be able to appreciate the series more and somehow will still be able to manage to get the one I want. Yeah, I know, good luck to me.

Oh, and for the first time in my life, I actually got a Christmas stocking. That was a long time coming (grin). At home we always got our presents Christmas Eve and stockings are not part of the German Christmas tradition. We always got just goodie plates.

This year I was at my sister's for Christmas morning, and I'd already had my present from her and her husband: a trip from our resort in Playa del Carmen to Tulum and Xel-Ha, Mexico. I didn't expect anything at all but in addition to the goodies in the stocking, I also got some summer clothes--maybe for future resort or cruise trips with my clothes-conscious sisters-in-law.

All-in-all I'd say that this was the best and most harmonious Christmas I've had in a long time. I'm very thankful for that.

And Karibear, I was stuck that night with a sister-in-law who had to make room for turkey, etc. in her fridge while my brother tried to explain what he'd combined with what in the hope that my "new" computer would run better than this worn-out old thing.

She was crying by the end of the evening because everything hurt: she has arthritis. And she admitted that she can be quite (her word) bitchy when she's tired. Ahem, not only then but...It was okay.

Argh, ending on a negative note again. But it really was all right and overall better than all right. My sister's family pretty well guarantees that, especially her grandchildren, of whom I saw only one, the 4-year-old but he was totally wrapped up in his roboraptor and his Superman "computer" and as usual a darling.; 3:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Stella - December is not a good month to have jury duty! I hope you didn't have to go too often and that court was on vacation a lot.

My favorite gift came from the thrift store - I picked it out myself. It's a tv armoire with doors - I can shut them so our TV doesn't dominate our living room all the time!

Nothing too awful this year, fortunately. But no bookstore gift cards...I don't know what my family was thinking!; 4:20 PM
Mimmi said...: My favorite is gift, is, of course, a book. But it's a different kind of book than I usually tote around--it's called Furry Logic, A Guide To Life's Little Challenges. By Jane Seabrook. I don't know if any of you have seen this book, but it's wonderful!! It's got the greatest little pics of animals~~with little life lessons beside the. Like~~If at first you don't succeed, swall all evidence you tried. And The trouble with work is...it's so daily. I LOVE it!! My daughter got it for me, and it's just perfect. Makes me laugh at myself, ya know?
I am NOT tense, just terribly, terribly alert!!
He/he; 6:30 PM
Louis said...: My favorite gift...

I like paintings of people reading...so with my DD's help, my DW gave me a painting called "In a Lavender Garden"...a young lady seated in a lovely sun-lit garden and reading a book. The painter is Sandra Kuck...a new one for me.

Then there's the Borders card from one of my sons.

Happy New Year to all.; 7:43 PM
Marianne Arkins said...: My favorite gift were CDs made by a very old and cherished friend from her vinyl LPs -- four albums from my childhood that aren't available on CD.

Next favorite was the chance I got to meet a virtual writing friend in person when she traveled to my neck of the woods on vacation! What a treat!

Least fave? A red sequined belt (?!?!?!) from my SIL. Really, what was she thinking? That now belongs to my 7 y.o. DD who loves gaudy red clothes.

Still didn't get my laptop, but I suppose I'll survive and ask Santa again next year!; 3:45 AM
Lori Foster said...: Hey Stella! You're here. I thought we were on break. LOL

I got a beautiful new ring from my husband, and the diamond in my old ring was made into a necklace. I love both.
If I don't count them (because I had a hand in choosing the settings) then I love the tranquil tabletop candlight/fountain, the vase/candle-holder, and the computerized picture frame that I got from my sons & Bev. They're all very beautiful, thoughtful, "ME" gifts. Awesome stuff!

Lori; 6:03 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: Eating bon bons, Stella? LOLOLOLOL
(Well, I have been nibbling on the delicious chocolates you sent for Christmas while I proof the author pages for my April book and still meet the required daily page count for my WIP. No rest for the...wicked?)

My favorite Christmas present is a new family photo in a beautiful red lacquer frame.

My least favorite. Honestly, I don't have one this year.

Wishing each and every one of you a happy and healthy 2007!
Suzanne; 8:16 AM
Anonymous said...: A DVD of the 1938 movie Holiday. A young Cary Grant--'nough said.; 11:13 AM
Stella said...: This is wonderful--I'm so curious about the things people buy for others.

My best Christmas gift was to meet our son at the airport when he flew in from San Francisco on Christmas Eve, and have our Houston daughter pop up suddenly from a hiding place and stick her head in the car. She only had twenty-four hours but what a wonderful time. Seeing our three children together was special.

A Cuddledown bathrobe isn't so bad either--or the fabulous big, fat, gaudy frog with golden wings sent to me by Suzanne!

Cheers, Stella; 9:34 PM
Ranurgis said...: You're actually on jury duty right now? That sort of slipped by me when I first read it. I'm sure it can't be much fun any way you look at it.

My sister had the "luck" of being called for jury duty twice in two years. I know of only one other person who was ever called to be selected. But then, in Canada you are expected (you may even have to swear) never to talk about any case you attend as a jury member. She refused to tell even me what the cases were about. So different in the U.S. where jurors tell can talk to anyone about how the jury reached its verdict.; 10:39 PM
Stella said...: Ranurgis: The rules about jury silence are the same here as in Canada. You've seen jurors talk after a trial in the US but if they do so during the trial they're apt to get kicked off.

I've been called so many times it amazes me. But your name just comes up at random so there's nothing to be done about it--except to go.

Cheers, Stella; 12:09 AM
Lori Foster said...: Stella, my dad sent me a "thank you" note after Christmas. The first I've ever gotten from him. It said how nice it was for him (he's 82) to see all 4 of his kids together, and all the grandkids, and great grandkids... I always have a houseful, and his note proved why I love doing it.
Family is so important, even when it's family you don't always get along with, and sometimes don't have much in common with.
I'm so glad that it meant something to Dad.

Hugs!

Lori; 6:04 AM
Jenni said...: 1. My favorite present I received was my close friend. (Ever since High school) Recently she took a picture I had made of us before going off to college, with a phrase on it that basically said 'It's going to be hard to say goodbye.'

She had printed it out, and put them in frames, and gave me one, and has hers mounted on the wall above her desk. <3

My worst gift was from my grandmother, who is slipping, or something. Because I recieved a barney blanket.... I think I might give it to my 3 year old cousin. lol.; 9:36 AM
Ranurgis said...: Hi, Stella,

I know jurors aren't allowed to talk about a case during a trial. However, here they can't (or may just don't) even talk about it after it's all done. Our last sensational Canadian trial after a fairly young couple kidnapped, sexually molested and eventually killed several girls has had no jurors come out after it was all over to talk to the press. And that was amazing considering how many jurors in the States do talk about all manner of aspects after the trial is over.

You'd think, though, that the judicial system would put those who've served as jurors into a separate pool after they've served once or more, especially in the bigger cities. I can see why my sister might have been chosen twice because they live in a low-density area --population-wise. Do you live right in Seattle or is it also a smaller area that you live in?

I guess it's something like winning a prize: some people are just plain lucky in that way while others just aren't, no matter how often they enter sweepstakes or the like.

A wonderful New Year's Day and a great 2007 to all the Quills.; 10:14 AM
Karibear said...: Juries are different, and so are trials. I've been on petit juries and grand juries both. Sometimes there's a gag order as part of whatever happens. The one time I was on a grand jury [there was an extended period where I was supposed to be available, but we only heard one case], there was eventually a court trial, but it involved a minor and we were instructed never to talk about it. The final sentence of the subsequent criminal trial was known, but no specifics about the case itself.

The petit juries, if they aren't involved in a case involving a violetn crime, have more latitude. One case I was on the jury for involved a commercial fishing violatioin. That doesn't sound so tricky, but if the person had lost the trial, he'd have lost his entire livelyhood and been in debt for the rest of his natural life. That one we found in his favor, and every single one of the opposition searched out all the jurors later and asked us why - which we were quite happy to tell them. It wasn't so much that he was right, it was that the state was wrong, and he was misinformed. Their bad, not his.

Another time I was involved in a civil litigation, and a gag order was part of the final settlement.

It's not always up to the jurors as to what they can and can't say. I think if a juror does say anything during a trial, it negates the whole process and a mistrial is declared, and the whole thing has to start over again. And sometimes if a juror says too much about the deliberations and it comes out that the jury made its decision based on anything other than what they were supposed to consider, that also may lead to an appeal and another trial. It may seem like there's a lot of stuff in the papers etc about what's happened, but that's really a very small percentage of all the trials that occur.; 1:40 PM
Stella said...: Hi Lori: Keep that note from your dad, you probably would anyway. These things are special and I'm glad he wrote.

Stella; 5:04 PM
Stella said...: Jenni:

Your friend knows something very important, friendship is a great gift.

On the Barney blanket: What do you mean, your grandmother is slipping? Sounds good to me!

Stella; 5:06 PM
Stella said...: Ranurgis and Karibear:

Thank you both for insights into jury systems. I misunderstood the comment about jurors not being able to talk about a case and wasn't aware that in Canada the gag order continues.

Cheers, Stella; 5:14 PM
Pia said...: Since my hubby and I still don't have any children. This Christmas, we gave each other a long list of things we would like to have as gifts (but we did have a budget so we agreed that we would put about 10 things on the list but not all would be bought). The best Christmas gift I got was my entire list, since my hubby went over our individual budget and got me almost everything on my list - PSP games, a booklight, books and a really great watch.
To be honest, this is the best Christmas since there was nothing I received that I really did not like.
Happy New Year to all!; 12:46 AM
DFender said...: HAPPY NEW YEAR, QUILLS!!
Deb; 12:18 PM
AgTigress said...: Stella: the basic rule in British jury service is that jurors are never allowed to discuss anything that was said or done in the jurors' room when discussing the case and reaching the conclusions that led to their verdict. Other material, the proceedings in the courtroom itself, are all in the public domain anyway. The kind of thing one must never say is, 'we had to beat one juror severely over the head with the tea-tray, not to mention blocking her access to the Jaffacakes, before she would go along with us so that we could return a unanimous verdict'.

In the London area, one would be very surprised indeed to be called more than once for jury service. I served once in the 1980s, and I doubt if I shall ever be landed with it again. Over the age of 70, we are exempt. One of the big problems here is that many citizens from specific ethnic groups are lackadaisical about making sure they are registered on the electoral roll, so their upstanding citizens don't get called for jury service - and then defendants from those racial minorities are understandably aggrieved when they encounter an all-white middle-class jury whose ancestors were born here back to the nth generation, and cry 'unfair!'. Duh.

Hope you had a great Christmas, and Happy New Year to you, and to everybody here.; 1:02 PM
Anonymous said...: I live in a high-density area and have had jury duty three times in the past 15 years. My husband has had it twice. I think jurors are selected from the voter registration lists here in Virginia and we always vote. But I could be wrong...

Happy New Year, everyone!
Carolyn; 2:56 PM
Stella said...: Tigress and Carolyn: Informative insights, thank you. Seems Canada, Britain and US are more alike than different even given the varying rules on silence.

Stella; 5:37 PM

Previous Posts

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

GOODY, GOODY . . . was it?

32 Comments: