Monday, August 20, 2012

Why I Love My Wife

My wife :)
I snapped at my wife today. I snapped and hated it.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

My nostrils flared at that, my eyes narrowed. "I cleaned the bathroom yesterday, and guess what I found? An open yogurt. An open yogurt in the bathroom, on the floor, right beside the toilet!"  I flung my hands around, constructing the scene, flinging rage across the kitchen. "One of the kids did it." One of our demon kids made that atrocious mess. I just knew it.

But that's not all they did. Oh no. "And today, I found something even worse." So horrible, so twisted and unimaginable, I could barely describe it. "A spoon covered in peanut butter. A spoon on the toilet." I shivered as my last words hung in the air.

A spoon on the toilet.

None of my children had come into the kitchen. No one was willing to confess and apologize. So I took a step forward, determined to hunt them down, when I heard a sizzle. The bacon! Shit. I ran to the stove and started mixing the crispy, burned meat, as curses spewed from my mouth. "I'm getting so pissed." And then I heard myself for the first time. Really heard myself.

I'm getting so pissed. Not a confession. Not a declaration. A threat. A threat that anger clawed inside me and someone would pay.

Someone had payed. For a stupid spoon, I'd yelled at my wife and scowled at her.

I'd snapped at my wife, and yet she touched my arm. "It's okay, Honey. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too. There's just too many things I have to do at the same time. Breakfast. Laundry. Cleaning. My own work."

She smiled. "I understand. I wish I could help more, but I really have to get this book done." My wife had locked herself in her room, alienated herself for two straight days, so she could finish her novel on time.  

"I know." And I did, I really did know. My wife had made a promise to her publisher, that she would deliver the final manuscript in a few days though she still had much work to do. She wouldn't break that promise.

And I wouldn't break mine. I would take care of my family.  I would take care of my wife. And if that meant watching the kids 24/7, slaving over a hot oven in the middle of summer, doing all the dishes (in hot water), doing the laundry, and feeding our two dogs and two kittens so she could finish her novel...

Then I would do it.

I'd do it because I love my wife. And it'll be worth it. I know. I've done it before.

A year ago, my wife had committed an entire week to finishing her first novel. And I committed to taking care of everything else. Yes, it was stressful. And yes, I snapped at my wife, because sometimes the thoughts Can't you just write this later, Can't you just put this off for another time and help me, crossed my mind.

But she didn't put it off.

That's why I love my wife. That's why I'm proud of her. She didn't put off her dreams. She stayed committed and finished that first novel. It went on to win an award and become a bestseller on Amazon.

So do I regret keeping the family together for a week? No. I take care my wife. I love seeing her smile and cheer as she does what she loves most.

So help a guy out here. That first novel my wife finished a year ago? Well, it's having a sale on Amazon.com today. It's only 99 cents. If you ask me, that's pretty cheap considering all the cooking and cleaning I had to do on my own, not to mention dealing with the whiny children. (You know I love you girls.)

So, if you have a second, and a dollar, go to the link right below this. If you think you might like the book, give it a shot. My wife wrote it, and it's just as daring and funny as she is.

So help a guy out here. Help a guy make his wife smile.

Here's the link: Buy on Amazon

My wife's kitten, Shadow, with my wife's book.

PS: I love you, Kimberly. Sorry I snapped at you today. I know you'll take care of the entire house for me next time I'm deep in some project. But know, that you don't have to.

I love you, baby.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Blog Tour de Troops


A guest post by Terri Giuliano Long, bestselling author.

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
Winston Churchill

This weekend, November 11 – 14, Terri Giuliano Long, author of the bestselling novel In Leah’s Wake, joins 50 indie authors in Blog Tour de Troops, a charity blog hop sponsored by the Indie Book Collective.

To celebrate, Terri is hosting Emmy-winning film editor Nina Gilberti, currently a full-time editor for the hit CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. Nina is also an indie filmmaker. On Terri’s blog, Nina talks about her upcoming documentary, When Jane and Johnny Coming Marching Homeless, a powerful film about the horrors faced by some veterans upon their return home after war.

In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter of the battlefield.
Douglas MacArthur

Did you know that one-third of the people living on the streets are veterans who served in the Vietnam War?

In addition to physical homelessness - whether couch surfing, living in a car or existing on the street – many vets also face emotional, psychological, and spiritual homelessness. While they may seem fine on the outside, within they struggle with the hidden wounds of war - issues like Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD), nightmares, hyper-vigilance, meaning they are on high alert all the time, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), drug & alcohol abuse and addiction, prescription drug addiction – resulting in high divorce rates, joblessness, spousal abuse, and suicide. Naturally, these life-altering problems also affect the spouse, children, and parents of veterans.

With her film, When Jane & Johnny Come Marching Homeless, Nina hopes to inspire our nation to care, to generate real compassion - and perhaps create a movement towards profound healing and understanding for these veterans and their families.

Blog Tour de Troops

This Veteran’s Day Weekend, November 11 – 14, 50 indie authors are participating in a daisy chain blog hop to support U.S. troops. Anyone who leaves a comment on a participating author’s blog will receive a coupon for a free eBook  - plus the author will give a free eBook to one active-duty U.S. troop. This means you have a chance to collect 50, yes 50, FREE eBooks.  

For details and a list of participating authors, please visit the Indie Book Collective site: http://indiebookcollective.wordpress.com


AMAZING PRIZES

Leave a comment on Terri’s blog and receive a coupon for an In Leah’s Wake eBook – for every comment, Terri will also give a free eBook to an active-duty troop.

PLUS, just for leaving a comment, you’ll be entered in a random drawing for one of these amazing prizes:

FIRST PRIZE
a $ 50 Amazon gift card, a copy of the Criminal Minds script for episode 701- the season seven opener written by executive producer and writer Erica Messer, SIGNED BY MS. MESSER AND THE ENTIRE CM CAST, PLUS an autographed photo of the Criminal Minds cast!

SECOND PRIZE (total 3) – autographed photograph of the Criminal Minds cast!

WIN A CARE PACKAGE FOR YOUR FAVORITE SOLDIER

With your comment, leave the name of a U.S. troop and he or she will be eligible to win an awesome care package, consisting of:  $ 100 Amazon gift card, a boxed video set of Criminal Minds, Season 6, PLUS an autographed photo of the CM cast!

* Winners to be determined by a random number generator, using random.org.

To learn more about the film When Jane & Johnny Come Marching Homeless and to enter the raffle, please visit Terri’s blog: http://www.tglong.com/blog/2011/11/blog-tour-de-troops/