I’m still in Florida and am SO ready to get home. The past several weeks have been insane for me, but they’ve honestly been even worse for Bruce. Here’s what his schedule has looked like.
July 22-July 29: Boulder, CO
July 29-July 31: Maryland
August 1-August 3: San Francisco
August 3-August 6: Sonoma, CA
August 7-August 10: Maryland
August 11-August 15: Boulder, CO
August 16-now: Florida
Wednesday, we drive back to MD, about two steps behind a hurricane.
And he is getting ready to go to Boulder again.
So, anyway, with his schedule, I’m not going to whine about sleeping in yet another bed last night (especially not going to complain about that because that bed was in the fabulous Cami Dalton’s house! She was our guest blogger Saturday and wasn’t she wonderful?)
I’m too brain dead to come up with something fabulous and witty, so I thought I’d leave you guys with a few pics of our travels.
PS: How’s everybody else doing?
One of the nice things that came out of this impromptu trip to Florida…a chance to get together with my entire family, which happens all too rarely. This was the first time in FIVE years that my siblings and I and our Dad have all been in the same place at the same time!
We had a photo shoot out on the beach and here are a few of my favorites.
(Me and my sisters)
Our baby brother and the newest addition to our family:
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Wow, poor Bruce! Crazy schedule.
I love the pics with your family, and look at you and all your blonde sisters – all so pretty and happy. And welcome to the new family addition. How wonderful. You all look like such a happy family.
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Nice photos of your siblings – And congrats on the baby. One brother huh? Is he the baby of the sibs?
Enjoy and stay safe.
AS for me, am planning my daughter’s baby shower for next month. Can’t believe my granddaughter will be here in 3 mos.
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Duh, I should have read more carefully. I see he is your BABY bro.
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I can’t keep up with that schedule. I don’t know how he does it.
I absolutely love your pics. What a beautiful group of siblings!
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Good morning jungle friends, Les, the pics of your family look awesome…you all look great…how is it that your family was blessed with blond hair?…I didn’t realize that you had so many sibs…I am glad that you were able to be with everyone…it seems like you guys are really close…my favorite pic of all is the one where everyone is holding hands and jumping…are you the baby of the sisters? Congratulations on the new addition to your family…is the baby a boy or a girl? I will try to swing by later on today…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Leslie…I love that picture….
Your August is like my September. I hardly see my husband. I have given up figuring out where he is and just when he is gone (and don’t really bother cooking!).
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What a great picture with your sisters, Les. I’m so glad you all were able to get together, and with your dad, too. :hug2:
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Whoa, what a schedule! That’s brutal to say the least.
Love the pictures! How lucky you are to such wonderful siblings.
Have a terrific day all,
Cher
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Leslie, Lovely photos of the Smiths (& Bruce, too [what a schedule for him!]). The photo of the kids jumping on the beach is my fave. Sorry for the reason you were all together, but, it must be nice to have lots of family members to help console each other.
Couldn’t get my post to make it to the blog, but, your tribute to your aunt was so lovely. She sounds like she was a wonderful woman, & I know you will miss her greatly.
Is everything OK at Julie’s house? Saw on the news about the hurricane’s approach. So sorry you have that worry on your way home.
Patricia
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I’m fine. School’s out and there’s no garbage pickup, but we haven’t had a drop of rain. Fay petered out…so far! And took a sharp right toward Leslie, leaving my side of the state nice and dry.
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Thanks for sharing all the great pictures Leslie! I love th picture of you with your sisters. I hope my whole family will be able to get together after Christmas. With my brother on the road so much with theater, we will have to take our gatherings when they can happen. He will be staying with me for about a month in October, but I’m not sure if my sister and dad will be able to make it to my house while he is here.
I’m doing pretty well. I’m getting around slowly with my foot right now, but can drive and get out when needed. I go back to the doctor on Friday, so I’ll finally get to see what my foot looks like without all of the bandages.
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Aww Leslie the pictures are great! Your sisters look so much like you! Hope all goes well with the storm :yikes:
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Ok, now that the pouting is over… the picture of the leaping girls should be a book cover. It’s magnificent and really captures an essence of friendship that transcends blood and squabbles and all those things we do with our sisters. :) Loved it!
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Leslie, Great Photos.
Just keeping repeating, “There’s No Place Like Home.”
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Leslie…I just started the first of your two new books..love it so far!
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Those pics are wonderful and it’s amazing how much you and your sisters look alike! I didn’t know you had that many sisters and only 1 brother…poor guy. I bet he could tell some horrible stories on all the things his sisters put him through!
Be safe driving home and good luck to Bruce with the rest of his travels!!
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Leslie, thanks for sharing all those wonderful pictures. I hope you and Bruce enjoyed Sonoma. Has Bruce seen anything of Boulder? It is beautiful there. My daughter lived in nearby Longmont for about 8 & half years. How wonderful that your family was able to get together although too bad it happened as a result of your aunt passing away. The last time we had a big family get together was when my Grandma turned 100. She was with us for a little more than a year after that. Now my Mom, one of the aunts & an uncle are all gone. The one remaining uncle doesn’t know his only child. I’m so glad we had the big get together and had so much fun while they were all still with us. Thanks for the memories.
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Leslie,
I love the pic of you all jumping. I agree it should be a book cover.
Also, it is nice that you could see each other, but I am sorry that is was for such a sad reason. It seems that only tragedy really makes us have time for each other, when we really should be cherishing each other with the time we do have.
Poor Bruce. I always wanted a job where I could travel, but the reality of it does seem like it could be overwhelming.
Stay safe.
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Travel has been insane indeed. I’m still having trouble remembering what time zone I’m in. I did enjoy spending a little time in San Francisco particularly in my role as Leslie’s arm candy at RWA. The high point of all the crazy travel was, of course, Sonoma. It was really beautiful and I loved visiting the wineries but spending a few days alone with Leslie was just fantastic and much needed.
Donna, I have gotten to see a little of Boulder but not as much as I’d like. It is a beautiful city and the mountains and trails around there are incredible.
Arwen, I was in Boulder not Leslie. Although it’s not on the schedule at the moment I’m sure I will have to go back probably sometime in September. If it turns out to be for any length of time I may try to talk Leslie to joining me for a few days. I have a huge interest in Tarot and I’ll definitely check out your blog.
In spite of the tropical storm that Julie was kind enough to whip up for us (’cause you know how much we missed’em) I’m enjoying sitting in one location for a couple of days but it sure will be nice to get home.
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I love the one of you all jumping on the beach. That’s one to blow up and frame for everyone for Christmas.
Glad to know you are having a good time, but we are ready for you to come home too.
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Thanks for sharing your pics Leslie I like the one of you and your sisters jumping. I also agree it shld be a book cover
Good Luck Bruce on your travels
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Love all the photographs! I have hopes of getting all my siblings
together for the holidays and getting some photos of all of us.
Pat Cochran