A different kind of gift

My grandmother and I have always been very close. Since I became a mom 15 years ago we've become even closer. I also live 2 minutes away from her house and have been her little errand girl for some time now. Well, with her passing I had one of those Ah-ha moments yesterday that kind of helped me.
Before my grandmother passed this weekend we had been talking about how we had been thinking about my Great Aunt Helen who had passed. She kept thinking she was seeing my aunt out of the corner of her eye, and was dreaming of her so much it was really standing out in her mind. That very day I had seen a flitter of white out my bedroom that looked like a white butterfly. But when I looked nothing was out there. Then when I walked into the kitchen the same thing happened again out the back door. For some reason that made me think of my Aunt Helen. Then when she passed we were picking out her outfit and I told my mom and Aunt we should bury her with a purse and her makeup, and some other fun things. What bag did I happen to find first, one covered in Butterflies. Then my Aunt had me try on a ring and asked me to wear it for her since it didn't fit her and it is an Opal and gold butterfly. (Opal was my Grandmas birthstone.) Around this time I finally said, OK Auntie Helen I get it and laughed to myself. As I am telling my family this story I see another butterfly over my Aunt's shoulder. Later my DD opened a jewelry box and found 4 or 5 butterfly pins. What was so weird is this must be all the stuff she had in the whole house because she wan't really a butterfly person. I never thought of either my Aunt or grandmother that way but it all started when my Grandma and I were talking about my Aunt.
So, I've decided that was my sign and somehow as sad as I am that makes it a heck of a lot easier thinking my Aunt was there waiting for her.

Due to my grandmother passing, I'll be taking a break from the blog for a few days. Thank you all for your well wishes and understanding.

Fantastic FanFic!

One of my Christmas in July packages included a story that one of the TM's wrote. She did a fantastic job and it was great! Her story is based on the characters in The Twilight Saga and takes place after Breaking Dawn has ended. It involves a gift Bella gives Edward and the path that takes them on to in an attempt to give him a look at his human life. I was one of four people to have the honor of getting a copy, and one of four people to ever read the story.
Stories like this are considered "fanfiction". Since I don't know a lot about fanfiction I decided to look it up. This is what I got from Wikipedia,
"Fan fiction (alternately referred to as fanfiction, fanfic, FF, or fic) is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator. Works of fan fiction are rarely commissioned or authorized by the original work's owner, creator, or publisher; also, they are almost never professionally published. Fan fiction, therefore, is defined by being both related to its subject's canonical fictional universe and simultaneously existing outside the canon of that universe.[1] Most fan fiction writers assume that their work is read primarily by other fans, and therefore tend to presume that their readers have knowledge of the canon universe (created by a professional writer) in which their works are based."
As I searched for fanfiction I found whole sites dedicated to these stories and some for specific book, movie and TV series like Harry Potter, Star Trek and Twilight. What I think is so cool about these stories is that they are giving thousands, and thousands of people the opportunity to write freely with characters they already adore. What was special about the story my creative friend wrote was she actually incorporated a variety of characters from more then one series together to create a history for Edward. It was absolutely the most clever combination of ideas I can imagine, and I thank her for sharing her gift with me.

A Twilight Christmas in July!

Yesterday, was finally the celebration of Christmas in July! About a dozen of us from all over the world got online and opened our exchange cards and presents together! It was so fun to laugh and talk while being able to instantly see what everyone else got. It was great to see their faces when they opened a present from me and it was even more fun getting to open all my presents in front of them! It felt just like a real Christmas.
What I loved about the gifts was how much thought, time and love when into each of them. Between the handmade cards and crafts, gifts picked out specifically with me in mind, and the stories shared it just reminded me of how much I adore these women. It also reminded me that even though I've never met some of these woman in person, they really are my friends. They know things about me that even people who see me at work everyday don't know. They know the goofy things I LOVE and the stupid things that drive me crazy. They listen to me and have nothing but advice and kind words when things are hard and are thrilled for me when things are good.
It's a different kind of friendship then I have with my friends who live here. It's not better, or worse, or any less real... just different. I think for a lot of people who don't use the resources on the Internet to meet this way it can come across weird or somehow less genuine, but what a better way to meet people with your same interest then this? And I don't think there could be a better way to make the world a little smaller and more friendly.
And before I go for the day I have to sent out a special thanks to MJ, CCG, TD, and The Hale family, for thinking of me!

When meeting the stars is in the stars

Now I'm not one to get all hot and bothered over a "star" so this little "Krush" I have on Kellan Lutz is a little new and a bit weird to me. I've met rockstar after rockstar, and a handful of movie stars too, and pretty much nothing. Maybe a short conversation or a drink at the bar and a few autographs but that's it.
Oh, there was the next door neighbor in San Francisco, that was the basest for that rock band... OK, I'll admit it, I was impressed with her. When I walked into her apartment for the first time she had gold and platinum records hanging on the wall over her couch and photos of her with, if I remember correctly, The Rolling Stones. To my surprise she was not in some little garage band, touring churches, dive bars and playing anywhere they could get a free meal. I wonder what ever happened to her???
Anyway, This last spring I thought I had died and gone to Twi-nerd heaven. I went to a Twilight convention! -I know, I know... It's hard to look "normal" when you are going to any kind of convention that involves characters from a book, TV show or movie. So, here I am breaking the news to you all now...I've never been standardly "normal" by almost anyones definition.- OK, I knew it would be nerdy and fun, so for my first vacation away from my kids this was right up my alley.
I drove down to Los Angles with a friend and we had a blast. By Saturday night, we both had to admit we were having WAY more fun then we thought we were going to. Then there was Sunday... rather then try to explain what that day was like I'm just going to let you read what I wrote for my TM sister that Sunday night.

Honestly for the first time in my life I had a total fangirl moment, of course it was with Kellan! I've met many musical and movie stars and he absolutely stole my heart. He was so sweet and friendly I was actually taken aback!
When I first met him I was there in the morning to get my picture taken with both him and Peter. Before the photo he stopped for a minute to check out the necklace I was wearing. (It had a picture of Bella and Edward at prom on it.) He asked about it being a picture of "Rob" and I told him how one of my Twilight Mom friends made it for me. What struck me was that he really stopped to take a second and notice such a little detail and connect with a fan.
Then he had his interview session with (and then without Peter). God, if I was just 12 years younger... he is absolutely dreamy!!! He comes across so positive and loving. It didn't matter if he was talking about his dog Kevin, or his grandparents in Arizona, he spoke with such passion and tenderness.
Finally, I went to the "brunch" with both of them... The open seat at our table was next to me. Once I realized that was where they would both be sitting I was thrilled! So, Peter came to chat and he was great! I had made baseball cookies with "Cullen" written on them and he was super into them. I had made about 150+ cookies (6 different designs) for this event and some of them had found their way to the green room. Well, I guess cookies were the right move on my part because his kids where there and loved them, and he actually wanted to take the ones on the table with him when he left. Of course I said yes and told him I actually had a whole bag of them for him in my room that I had planned to bring down later during the signing for him. He seemed pleased as punch.
Then Kellan came and sat down with us. He was also into the cookies and when I gave him the bag of them he asked if he could open one up. Of course I said yes but also offered him a piece of mine that I had already broken into. So, he reached over broke off a piece and popped it into his mouth. From there we sat knees touching under the table chatting away. First, who wants to guess where that cookie is right now? LOL! I'm not going to keep it forever but I had to show my 14 year old. Second, Normally if I was sitting knees smashed up against some man under the table (and yes it was crowded, I wasn't just being creepy) I would go out of my way to move but since it was him, and he didn't make any effort to move, I just sat there and enjoyed the moment. The best part was before he left he took a second to sign my Twilight book. He wasn't able to stay for signing in the afternoon and he really wasn't signing anything for anyone else but in a quick moment before he moved onto the next table grabbed my pen and signed away.
He was just a doll!!! My heart now beats a little faster for Kellan!!!

And the cookie, I'll admit it, it is still here. I don't seem to have the heart to toss it... Oh, but here it is preKellen :)

The package came... empty!

Well, the mailman came and the package was delivered, ripped open and empty. The postman had no idea what to do so I called the post office. Frank, at the post office was very sweet and was able to give me the 800 number to place a report, but told me to call him back if I needed help. I called the 800 number and gave the woman there my info so she could place a report. The report goes to the recovery center and so should any stray items. When I asked the woman what my actual chances were of getting my item back she said there was no way to tell but that was "the purpose of the recovery center."
So, what did I do next? I sent a facebook message to Saint Anthony and Saint Nicholas of Japan. I just asked them to help my book find its way back to me. It can't hurt right! Then I went into the Twilightmoms site and posted a request to the Scribe Virgin. Yes, she is from another series of books but it can hurt can it? And so like Santa, the Toothfairy, and the Easter Bunny I believe!
I believe this gift from Stephenie, my Japanese Twilight will find me.

I think I've become a stalker!

Dear Mr. Mailman...
Just in cast you didn't know I'm home waiting for you!
I'm waiting for you to come see me!
I'm waiting for you to bring me my newest Twilight book!!!
I'm sure you'll bring it today... won't you?
PLEASE???
Pretty, please with sugar and a cherry on top?
Recently one of my Chicago Twilight Mom (TM) friends (A) heard about my collection on her way to Japan. So, she offered to pick a book up for me to add to my collection. She is home now and mailed out the book last week. Of course as excited as I am, it's killing me to wait. She shipped 5 other packages the same day she shipped my book and all 5 other people got their packages in the mail yesterday. One package even went all the way to England and got there yesterday too, and yet I'm still waiting... I just look out the window waiting and waiting and waiting...
To add salt to the the wound, I am also participating in a TM Christmas in July card exchange. Can you guess how many of my 5 packages have come? NONE, that's right NONE!!! So, I am waiting for them too! BUT, I know it's actually a gift that they haven't come. You see, I know myself well enough to know I would have gone crazy by now if 5 different packages were sitting here for weeks on end waiting to be opened. -We don't get to open them until the 25th of July.- But still each day I wait. Where is that mailman? Isn't it 3:00 PM yet??? I am really tired of WAITING!