Sandi Shilhanek | DFW Tea Group

Recently I celebrated a birthday. How I wondered would this year be celebrated? The answer to that was really very simple. Go to the DFW Tea Group book dinner that is held monthly. Good food, good drinks (even if I don’t drink), wonderful conversation, and the highlight of the evening getting to chat via telephone with an author.

Many years ago, don’t ask how many because truth be told I really don’t know, I accidentally discovered the DFW Tea Group. My first event was interesting, but I was an unknown stepping into a world that was as well established as any writer who writes an ongoing series might have. As would be expected the members of the group had to scope me out, and at the same time I had to be both outgoing, and shy so as to ensure my spot at future events.

Now years later I’m a long established member of the group, and look forward to finding out what exciting events I’m going to learn about because of the DFW Tea Group. Do you want to learn about us? Go to www.dfwtea.com/ We really are a friendly group and always looking for new members.

Anyway I digress, the actual day of my birthday didn’t go quite according to plan. I didn’t get the time off work I was hoping for, I forgot the coffee I had promised to bring and had to run home to grab it. Lastly the store where I was sent to buy the wine didn’t have the wine I was told to bring!

Arriving at the home where the dinner was being held I got great doggie welcomes, followed by warm greetings from the hostesses. I was handed a copy of the book being discussed, Take Me If You Can by Karen Kendall, so I could finish reading it, as my copy was in another room. Didn’t quite make it to finishing before dinner was served.

Lovely chat with Karen, who even though she might have been being bombarded by rain(she lives in Florida) let her personality shine through while she talked with us. The only flaw to this point was I really like to know what the author of the month likes to read, and I nor any of my tablemates thought to ask that question before the end of the discussion. Next time!

The evening was topped off with chocolate birthday cake, coffee, and a wonderful present. So, while the day didn’t start out happy and celebratory as birthdays should, it certainly ended on a high note that I believe will be hard to duplicate!

So my day was almost perfection. Tell me what do you like to do to celebrate your special day? Does it include books, friends and/or drinks Inquiring minds want…no need to know!

Amanda McIntyre | Perceptions

As I step ever so lightly toward another birthday this week, the one that comes "after" the milestone one we all remember our parents getting to. I am reminded again of how very different perceptions of youth, not to mention birthdays can be.

I honestly don’t think about growing older. I don’t think I would trade all that I have learned, for the chance to go back and relive it. Besides, I’ve far too many adventures ahead of me yet to want to return to the blossom of my youth.

Nevertheless, to each his/her own; though we joke about it, I have a dear friend (who looks much younger than I look, but is, only by a month and killer genes, I’m guessing) who has made me swear I must never allow her to be placed in a nursing home. She claims *GASP-those are for old people. She isn’t going to get old. Given that, I should never have to worry seeing her in a home for the aged, since she never plans to be old. Her humor and attitude though, is what I admire and emulate. We see ourselves as an aging Thelma and Louise, making our spur of the moment road trips, creating havoc wherever we go, and enjoying the ride. (Our husbands, btw, just shake their heads and offer wry smiles.)

Old to me is more of a 'state of mind', than candles on a cake, (which btw, I prefer not to have anymore after the last one where the fire department accidentally showed up at my door. Hysterical, not.)

It’s less about how others see my age and more how I see myself. The gifts that are unique to me, the experiences that have given me every laugh line (or every gray hair.)

And no, btw, I’m not yet ready for silvery doos just yet. Look at George Clooney, Richard Gere, or how about Sean Connery and Harrison Ford? These guys make growing old a pleasure!

Perceptions are an integral part of the reason I chose to write DIARY OF COZETTE, (HQ-SPICE 10/08) a story about a young English girl, orphaned by poverty and caught in the dark side of Victorian England. To survive, she must face and deal with the prejudices and perceptions of a very constricted society with a great many double standards. In young womanhood, fate takes her hand and walks her across the line into the lives of the affluent of London. Yet, even here, she encounters the stilted perceptions and prejudices on all levels of the household. As the year’s progress and her experiences serve to give her greater insight, she soon realizes that no matter what your social rank, people will always believe what they want about you, but what is most important, is how you feel about yourself.

And me? I plan to have a wonderful birthday, surrounded by my family and the many memories of experiences, places and people that have shaped me into the person I am, with one open as I jostle up the next hill of this great roller coaster ride called life!

Visit Amanda and sign up for her newsletter at http://www.amandamcintyre.net/ or www.myspace.com/amandamcintyre For fun, and a chance to win great prizes, come name our rakish Lord at Lust in Time-my new blog launched this week with buddies Kristina Cook and Charlotte Featherstone. http://www.lustintime.blogspot.com/