Did you guess Arkansas?

Of course you did, dear reader. Home of Lake Ouachita (pronounced Wash-i-taw), an enormous lake, 900 miles of shoreline with no development on it. It's amazing and amazingly beautiful, surrounded by Ouachita National Forest and one of the cleanest lakes in the country. All these little inlets and private nooks are everywhere with hardly any other boaters.



The only thing I don't like is finding a tree to hide behind for bathroom activities. The thought of a snake biting me was enough to keep me in the boat. Actually, the thought of just seeing a snake kept me there.






Here is the captain, first mate and first dog.









Zoe the Wonder Dog, Queen of all she sees.















Remember this guy?
He used to live in my mother's back yard. St. Francis of Assisi, who used to torment this little creature....







Miss Muffet, if you can see her over to the right. They have been joined by a cherub, kind of a fat little dude who keeps them from too much mischief.


F of A:YOU'RE STILL VERY IMMODEST , MISS M.

MM: NO, I'M NOT. YOU'RE JUST A BIG BUTTINSKY WITH UNFORTUNATE TENDENCIES.

Cherub: SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU. THERE'S PLENTY OF ROCKS HERE IN THIS YARD. DON'T THINK I WON'T USE THEM.

It gets kind of loud out there in my dad's new back yard, what with all the statuary screaming at each other, but whatever. Dad enjoys his post on the patio.




I made two key lime pies for him this time. I don't think I can keep up that pace.

View of Lake Hamilton from my brother's back deck. You feel like you are on the Meditteranean, except the water temperature is much warmer. Also there are fewer sightings of Paris Hilton. I don't like to swim. I don't like to get water in my ears. Yuck. I don't like to get my hair wet. Equal yuck. If I fell out of a boat now, I would probably sink in under five minutes. There's a cheerful thought.





One true cheerful thought is how good my brother is on the gee-tar. He is into Blood, Sweat, and Tears right now and it sounds great.








Family members








I am once again Living the Dream, dear reader.

And loving it.
A bientot
love,
becky

Are you reading? I'm writing to you. I think about you all the time, baby.

Guess Where I'm Going!

Yes, dear reader, it's a place where azaleas abound and they look like blankets stretched across the landscape. Sadly, they have already bloomed, so I'm only giving the azleas as a hint.

Are you getting it now, dear reader?

Is it making sense?


Ah yes, it must be pretty clear, I'd think.

And speaking of Vel--Vel--I can't quite say it-- there must have been a time when they tried to do "provocative." I'll let you be the judge of its success.

Yikes. That's a lot of cheese dip right there.
I know, I know. You're thinking I posed for this back in the day.

Velveeta! Choose from small, large, extra large, or Big Ass sizes!

I may be asked to pose for the cellulite edition. Anyway, do you know where I"m going?

See you when I get back!
A bientot
love,
becky

Saturday at Well Read Books

The rain was coming down, but spirits were high. Well Read Books in Plaistow NH is a great place to poke around and get an unexpected "find." I came away with a delicious biography of Dorothy Parker. It was great fun.

How did I get away without a picture of Jeff, the owner, his lovely family, and Eileen, my buddy? Somehow I did.

I signed some books.

I signed the wall.

(not the Berlin Wall--ask Eileen about that!)

And I even came home with a lovely new mug and saucer.

I'm not used to the luxury of a saucer and I may switch to this full time.

And so now I'm back in my regular routine. I'm almost finished grading, though I was about ready to explode at some of the, um, poor quality of submissions.

"The second amendment clearly says 'you have the right to keep and bare arms.'" AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH. And on that note.....

"He couldn't bare his living conditions." AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH.

And the somewhat more perplexing..."The death penalty could kill innocent by standards."

And finally, who can argue with the fear of knowing that... "lives are at steak."

Happy Mother's Day, dear reader. Go call your mom!

love,

becky

Book Signing

That's right, dear reader, I am doing a book signing, after all this time!

Actually, this is Pamela Anderson at HER book signing, but since I may likely be wearing the same color, it seemed fair to use her picture. My book will be Coupon Girl, though.

And my signing will be at the very wonderful Well Read Books
37 Plaistow Road, Rte. 125
Plaistow, NH
603-819-5116
12-2pm
Saturday, May 8

Please come by if you can! Refreshments are promised! New England boiled dinner for everyone--no, wait, I might have that wrong. It might be chocolate of some kind--yum!
http://www.wellreadbookstore.com/events/ Read about the event here-- Gosh, I will have to do my hair. I'm nervous already.

Soon my semester will be over. And I will be once again

the Queen of Sheba, shown here, just outside Hannaford's parking lot reclining on the banks of the Assabet. You can't see the bonbons, but they're there. And what a cute hat. I don't actually like the serpentine aspect of the river. I didn't sign up for the Adam and Eve segment, okay?

A student wrote about a study

done about effects of marijuana at "Wake Frost University."

and another about the different gun laws in "Easter Europe."

Seriously think about coming out next Saturday, dear reader. I would love to see you!

A bientot

becky