Thursday, November 29, 2012

Castles, Cuckoo Clocks and Crazy Kings

Hey all,

Finally I get to tell you about our Castle Trip.  With the really BAD internet here and Blogger doing it's normal weirdness, I haven't had a chance to tell you some of what we did.

It was a great trip and we REALLY enjoyed our time with Jessaca.  It went by too quickly and we didn't have nearly enough time to do all we wanted to.  But I suppose that's the way it is with vacations.  So much to do...so little time.

But this time it wasn't just the journey or seeing the sights, though that was all awesome.  It was being able to spend time with our daughter.  She's my bestest girlfriend, and I've missed her so much.  I love knowing I can see her and it's as if we've never been apart.

We immediately went into kibitz mode and chatted until our voices dried up and called for mercy.  It was great!!!

The trip itself was so much fun.  We hit several places.  Amsterdam, the Romantic Road, Zurich, Fucking Austria (just to say we did), Paris and Cologne.  And a dozen places in between.  We saw castle ruins, medival towns, castles that had been restored to their original glory, churches, scenic waterways, forests and meadows, and beautiful, snow covered mountains.

We spent the first two days in Amsterdam so she could see all the sites we so much enjoyed.  We took her to our favorite castle there, Muiderslot, and on the way back to Dusseldorf, we stopped by a new castle, Het Loo.  And that was just the start of our castle touring.  Germany is almost as crowded with ruins as Ireland was!

We visited the castle in Mannheim, toured the ruins and fell in love with the town of Heidelberg.  We saw the castles in Johannisburg, Wertheim, and Wurzburg.  And that was just the first couple days.

We followed the Romantic Road through Germany, dipping in and out of small picturesque towns and wishing we were independently wealthy so we could spend more time in each of them.  We went back to Munich, this time to visit several of that cities castles, then we were off again to get our pictures taken with the sign of Fucking, Austria.  Just because we could.

We sighed over the beauty of the lake where Saint Bartholomew's Chapel sits and had snowball fights in the Tyrolean Alps.  And we spent almost two full days touring the castles of King Ludwig II. 

These I have to say were the highlights of the trip.  He may have been an odd duck, but Ludwig sure knew his architecture and artwork.  Each of the three castles we visited we outstanding.  No wonder Walt Disney chose one of them--Neuschwanstein--to be used as his signature castle in Disneyland.  And it's beauty also graced the big screen in the movie, Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang.

We spent two days in the Black Forest, showing Jessaca all the cute little towns and picking out our number one souvenir of Germany, a Cuckoo Clock.  It's my souvenir and Christmas gift all wrapped up into one.  LOL

Then it was on to Paris where we wandered the city, showing Jessaca the sights.  She LOVED it there, and I think she'll be planning another trip in her future!  We took her to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and a dozen other places.  I love Paris.  It's one of my favorite cities in Europe, and I think now it's Jessaca's too.

Then it was on to our last two stops...Aachen Germany, where we wandered the beautiful little medieval downtown and paid our respects to Charlemagne, who is buried in the Aachen Cathedral. Then, on our way home, we spent a day in Cologne, another picturesque German town with a lovely cathedral, waterway, fort and old town area.

We hated to get back to Dusseldorf, because we knew it was the end of not only our trip, but Jessaca's time with us.  It was so hard to say goodbye, and I cried for a whole day after she left.  I still tear up thinking about her.  

But it's not so long until I'll see her again.  We'll be heading to Florida to visit all our kids before we move to San Paulo, Brazil in South America.

And that's a whole 'nother story.  LOL

Until Sunday!

Hugs,

CJ England









Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/


Sunday, November 25, 2012

A New City---Berlin

Hey all,

Sorry about Thursday's blog.  I'm not sure what happened.  I had it set to go before I left, but for some reason it didn't post the text.  Just the title.  Sometimes I think Blogger hates me.  *sigh*

Not only that, the whole post disappeared.  Poof!  Right into cyberspace somewhere, so I get to start over.

**Double sigh**

Anyway, at the bottom of the post I'll announce the winner of the Castle Trip Contest and everyone who entered should receive a postcard sometime in the next month.  Depending on the mail.  LOL

But today's blog isn't about the trip.  I'll redo THAT one on a later date.  Today's blog is about my new city.  Berlin, Germany.  I've been out a couple of times since we've been here. (Been getting unpacked and I had edits on a plus size novel to work on.)  But so far, the area where we're staying is very close to most of the museums and beautiful churches and buildings that I want to visit. 

I walked around on Thursday a bit, just to clear my head, and I found some beautiful things.  The university is set in a building that looks like an old palace--have to do some research on that.  Then there is the Museum Island complex.  Five museums all in one area.  Beautiful buildings and area.

The Deutscher Dom--a big cathedral, and the smaller St. Hedwigs were two churches I wandered by.  There are more, but I forced myself to stay in the neighborhood for my first walk.  I did see the Christmas markets all being built.  Most of them open on Monday, so I'm champing at the bit to go see those.

Monuments are everywhere.  The Neue Wache (New Guard) memorial has the graves of the Unknown Soldier AND the Unknown Concentration Camp Prisoner.  It looks a bit like a smaller version of the Lincoln Memorial.  

What I found really interesting is there are placards stating information about the buildings in the area.  What they were used for throughout the years--even info about what the Nazis used them for.  At first I was a bit put off by that, but once I thought about it, I realized they weren't editorializing or commemorating that time of history, they were just reporting the facts.  So people could know and learn.  That I appreciated.

From our apartment window, we can see the dome of the Berliner Dom and the Funkturm Radio Tower on the right and the Tiergarten (big gianormus park) and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe to the left.  Around the block is the Brandenburg Tor--once a gate between West and East Germany.

And on Thanksgiving night, after we ate our dinner, we walked the remains of part of the Berlin wall and talked about what we could be thankful for and the freedom we so often take for granted.

I've only been here a few days and I'm looking forward to seeing what the city offers.  I can't wait to see the East Side Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror Museum.  The Second World War and that part of history is more Jonathon's forte, so I'm curious as to what I can learn about that time, not to mention the other attractions the city has to offer.  The churches, parks, zoo and theatres.  

But for now, I'm off to finish up some paperwork, then I may go out again and wander.  It's a gloomy day, but it's late November.  If I wait for sunshine, I'll be in San Paulo Brazil before that happens!

See you on Thursday with a rant and a smile!!!  And don't forget to scroll down to find the name of the winner of the contest!!!

Hugs,

CJ England









Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/




















Thanks to everyone who entered.   I loved all the comments!!!!

 The Grand prize winner is.....


<<<Jennifer Mathis>>>




Runner Up and winner of a


<<<Phylis>>>


Congratulations, ladies.  Please send an email to womanofthwind1@yahoo.com to give me your snail mail address, as well as the address you want your free book sent to.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Happy Birthday Midnight Seductions

Hey all,

Just a quick detour from our regularly scheduled programming.  

I'd totally forgotten that my Midnight Seductions group is having it's FIVE YEAR BIRTHDAY PARTY this weekend, and we're celebrating with a Blog Hop.

So, we'll push back the Caption Contest for another week.  That will give everyone a bit more time to enter.  For anyone interested in playing, go HERE for the rules and the beginning of the contest. Or see the last installment of photos to caption, HERE.

But today, in honor of our five year celebration, I have a blog about birthdays.  We all have them, so what exactly makes a birthday a day to remember?

According to Websters Dictionary, it means... a: the day of a person's birth, b : a day of origin, c : an anniversary of a birth.  But personally, I like Sammy Hagar's meaning best. 

Every year on your birthday, you get a chance to start new.

I love that.  The idea of getting a fresh new start each and every year of your life.  To take what you've learned the year before and make it a starting point from that moment on.  To build on the ups and downs...the rights and wrongs and look toward the future.

At Midnight Seductions, we've come a long way in five years and I've enjoyed every minute of it.  We've built on what we've done and what we've learned together, and we've all benefited from each other's mistakes and triumphs.  I've not been as active this last year since I'm overseas, but the friends and professional relationships I've made will last a lifetime.

One of the best things about birthdays is getting presents, but the Midnight Seduction's Authors aren't the ones getting the gifts...we're going to give them.  On the Blog Hop, for all our fans, we're giving away the chance for a fantastic prize.

A KINDLE FIRE!!!!!!

How awesome is that?

And it's easy for all of you to win this wonderful new ebook reader.  To find out how to enter, go to the Midnight Seductions Blog.  There you'll get all the deets, as well as find the other authors for the blog hop.

Some of the authors also have individual contests as well, and you enter them to be a part of the main contest.  How do you enter my individual contest?  Easy Peasy.  Only two things to do.

1.  Leave a comment below with your favorite birthday memory.  That's the EASY part.  

2.  Now the PEASY.  :-)  Join my Chat group.  (The link is below)  Send an email to the group introducing yourself.


That's it.  Do the above and you'll be entered!  For my individual contest, I'll pick a winner early next week and announce it on my upcoming Thursday blog.  And the prize for it?  Your choice of my latest release, Luck Be A Lady or my upcoming Christmas release, Frosty...The Real Man.  (If you have-or have pre-ordered one of the books already, send me the receipt and we'll find another of my books you don't have.)

So take the time and get to know a few new authors. 

Different genres, heat levels and styles, but sure to please.  And you might be the one who takes home the Grand Prize of a KINDLE FIRE. 


And that will be a BIG Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!

Good Luck and I look forward to hearing all your great birthday memories!!!!

Hugs to all,

CJ England









 Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, November 15, 2012

CJ's Vaction Blog Contest - Last Thursday Pics



Hey all,

I've never been able to take a picture of my cat smirking, so this one just made my day!!!  Love the satisfied look on his face.  *snicker*

~*~

And now we have your very last chance to enter the blog contest.  You can go back to past blogs if you need to make up your five entries, but make sure you go over each other them carefully so you have everything you need to win the contest!!!

Remember you can do up to three captions/quotes per picture.  And this one, taken off the coast of Amsterdam, is a beautiful one to play with.  So get that brain a working!!!!  Need to see the rules again?  Check HERE for that.   Good luck and Have Fun!!!!




Hugs to all,

CJ England









Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Sunday, November 11, 2012

CJ's Vaction Blog Contest - 3rd Sunday's Pics



Hey all,

This historical one is another of my faves.  I about fell over laughing, but that wouldn't have been ladylike.  LOL

~*~

Now, here we go with your next picture to work on.  This one has too many possibilities to count!  *grin*

Remember you can do up to three captions/quotes per picture.  So get that brain a working!!!!  Need to see the rules again?  Check HERE for that.   Good luck and Have Fun!!!!



Hugs to all,

CJ England









Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Thursday, November 8, 2012

CJ's Vaction Blog Contest - 3rd Thursday's Pics



Hey all,

I'm not sure why this one makes me laugh like a loon, but it does. ROTFL.  Hope it gives you the giggles, too!

~*~

Now, here we go with your next picture to work on.  I took this here in Dusseldorf.  See what you can come up with...

Remember you can do up to three captions/quotes per picture.  So get that brain a working!!!!  Need to see the rules again?  Check HERE for that.   Good luck and Have Fun!!!!



Hugs to all,

CJ England









Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Sunday, November 4, 2012

CJ's Vaction Blog Contest - 2nd Sunday's Pics



Hey all,

I love this one.  And since I used to bike ride on roads just like this back in Florida, I really can relate to this funny!  LOL

~*~

Now, here we go with your next picture to work on.  As a Trekkie, I couldn't help bringing in a Spock pic to play with. *grin*

Remember you can do up to three captions/quotes per picture.  So get that brain a working!!!!  Need to see the rules again?  Check HERE for that.   Good luck and Have Fun!!!!



Hugs to all,

CJ England









Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Thursday, November 1, 2012

CJ's Vaction Blog Contest - 2nd Thursday's Pics



Hey all,

All I can say about this picture is... *SIGH*  I adore Sean Connery.

~*~

Now, here we go with your next picture to work on.  This quiet, beautiful place is a perfect one to find a caption or quote for.

Remember you can do up to three captions/quotes per picture.  So get that brain a working!!!!  Need to see the rules again?  Check HERE for that.   Good luck and Have Fun!!!!


Hugs to all,

CJ England









Follow Your Dreams
http://cjengland.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/