I don’t have much more room in the apartment for plants, but there’s a nice spot in the kitchen that’s been dying for some color — so I settled on geraniums (the plant with the fronds has been with us for a while, and needed to be re-potted…or else its roots were going to strangle someone in the night).

I love geraniums…they are the friendliest plants, and under the right conditions (hint: a lot of sun, a warm room, and some fertilizer), they can grow to be huge monsters that will live for years and years.  I’m going to see how long I can keep these Boston geraniums going — I’m not entirely convinced there will be enough light in the kitchen, but fingers crossed.

I also keep orchids, and truth be told, those are my babies.  I’ve had them for well over a year, some close to two, and now the reblooming phase has begun, and wow — it’s happening like crazy.  New blooms, new fast-growing stalks, a couple keikis — it’s orchid madness!

Plants add so much life to a home.  Are there any in particular you’re fond of?

When it comes to the things that matter, words are—for the most part—inadequate. Yet, all of us are here because of those who have come before—in flesh and in spirit—and as this weekend belongs to mothers and their mothers, and so on, I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to my mother, both my grandmothers, and all those others who came before—for being Red Sonjas and Pippi Longstockings: fearless, moral, compassionate, quirky, and unbreakable.

Happy Mother’s Day, with all my love.

Happy Mother's Day! Pictured here: both my grandmothers, and my mother (and me).

So, there are things that happen when I take a break from deadlines to hang out with my cousin.  I watch her eat a banana-nutella sandwich (yes, that exists), I beam a little with familial-pride that she’s finished her first year of college (feels just like yesterday that I moved her into her dorm), we both take a walk in the rain, contemplating the cupcake store across the street — and then, then, when I least expect it — I walk into Urban Outfitters, and discover that my Thursday afternoon has suddenly gotten a little weird.

Because in front of me, hanging on the rack, are unicorn pants.

Not just any unicorn pants, but THE MOST AWESOME unicorn pants I’ve ever seen.  Actually, they’re more like leggings, but who cares?  They are purple, with stars, and rainbows, and UNICORNS — and I think water is probably purified, sins cast away, and diseases cured, just by standing in their presence.

Maya, holding up the unicorn pants. Because a little bit of distance is needed in order to fully appreciate their majesty.

Going eye to eye with the unicorn...

I totally could not resist trying these on. After that, I was a goner.

I’ve already worn them.  And not just in the dressing room of Urban Outfitters.  Also, not on the street.  But I have modeled them around the house, gotten cozy in them (because they’re actually incredibly soft, comfy leggings).  And now, I think I can safely say, unicorn pants have become part of my deadline wardrobe (consisting of sweatshirts, jogging pants, etc).

Because, my friends, unicorns ROCK.

Back when I started thinking about this storyline, all I knew was that I wanted to write about Iceman.  Bobby Drake is a favorite character of mine — the jokester, the nice guy, the occasional voice of sanity on the X-team.  But there’s always been more to him than that. Where to start, though? What’s his problem?

Well, it turns out Bobby has a lot of problems.  And like any normal person, he’s been good at avoiding his problems.  Until, finally, it all catches up with him.

And bad things happen.

If you’re interested in checking this issue out — and it’s a good place to start if you’ve never read my comics before — you can find it at your local comic book store, or you can purchase it as a digital read at Comixology.

In fact (with the exception of the last few days) the most I’ve been doing on the internet is checking email, with an occasional Tweet, and glance at Facebook.  Two days ago, though, I did my customary run-through — and saw something that gave me pause.

A friend needed help.  Taughnee, the woman responsible for making this website look beautiful, was in trouble.  The love of her life, incredibly ill in a hospital — on the other side of the world.  You can read about it at her blog (Don’t Wait, Love Big | The Tall Guy at Small Door | The Ultimate Roof).  Be prepared to cry.

It’s also a profound reminder of the privileges we are given, the everyday miracles and blessings in our lives, that we cannot take for granted:

“Live life in full color and love as big as you can. Accept the people you love for all that they are and enjoy the experience of loving fully and unconditionally. And if you don’t have someone else to share that with, and even if you do, turn that love and acceptance inward and start with yourself. We only get one shot at life, what are we waiting for?”

We are all on a journey, with just one chance to make something beautiful, even if it’s for a short while.

Taughnee has amazing people in her life and they came together to help raise enough money for her to fly to France and be with her man.  My wishes are for her happiness, his health, and their continued adventure, together.  In a similar way, my wish is the same for all of you: happiness, health, adventure, companionship.

Love big, and love a lot.

And, in other news…I give you chipmunks!  Not just any chipmunks, but young chipmunks.  They’ve been playing like crazy around these rocks — four little nest mates, practically doing cartwheels in the leaves.  No fear, either.  At least not of humans.  Caution, at best.  One of them almost got snatched up by a hawk, but our nesting crows came to the rescue — they’ve been guarding the skies around here, and drove off the predator when it circled around for another try at the chipmunks.

Adorable.  I want a chipmunk spirit guide that’s always perched on my shoulder or hiding in my pockets.

Let me assure you: I have just finished reading the book, and it is superb.  I rarely make recommendations, but I believe in this book, and I think readers — young, kinda young, older, and onward — will go gaga over it.  You can read more about RUSH at Eve’s website, but in the meantime, I’m giving away a signed ARC to one lucky reader!

Just leave your name in the comments and tomorrow night, May 6th, at 9 pm EST, I’ll draw a winner and send you the book.  And while you’re at it, check out Eve’s DRIVEN, which is a dystopian romance about ICE TRUCKERS, ICE PIRATES, and the woman who kicks all their asses.  It’s so good.

I’ve been writing, on deadline, which is the reason why — and it’s a good reason, right?  Blogging can be the perfect tool for the procrastinator, but right now, procrastination is the enemy.  I have a ton of work to do.

Still, there are some small things that have recently brought me a great deal of enjoyment:

1.  Barbara Vey’s Reader Appreciation Luncheon (see photos below)
2.  Eve Silver’s smiling face, and the ARC of her upcoming sci-fi YA, RUSH.
3.  Chipmunks.
4.  Marchez Vous shoes.
5. Channing Tatum and Jaime Foxx blowing things up.
6. Giant robots fighting giant monsters and blowing things up.
7.  Willie Nelson Auditioning for Lord of the Rings.
8.  Cats. On my keyboard. In my lap. Drinking my water. MEoWing at me.

The importance of a good cat cannot be overstated.

***

Also, Barbara Vey’s Reader Appreciation Luncheon is the best.  I haven’t been attending many conventions, but I went to Barbara’s event last year, this year — and I plan on attending next year, as well (Debbie Macomber will be the keynote speaker).  Why?  Because it’s so much fun.  The focus is entirely on the readers, which is the way it should be.  For one afternoon, we all get together to eat, talk, relax — in a setting that isn’t rushed with panels or appointments.  Tickets for next year’s event will go on sale in August, I think — stay tuned for more.

Boston has become a second home to me, in ways that I never expected.  Mostly, because of the friends I’ve made. All of us were very lucky that day — we were safe, friends were safe — family, too.  The week unfolded, with more tragedy and insanity — and then the week ended, and life went on.  For us, anyway.  Certainly, not for others, and those forced to deal with the aftermath in very personal, devastating, ways.

There are plenty of sites out there where people can donate money to help the victims — Celeste and Sydney Recovery Fund, Roseann’s Recovery Fund, The One Fund (just to start).  Give blood, of course, which helps everyone.  Or just send a warm, good, thought.

Actually, let’s do that anyway, all the time. The world could use more warmth, and prayers for kindness and good hearts.

Japan was amazing, though, in more ways than I can express.  I would live there in a heartbeat. Maybe not forever, because home remains home, but I felt good in Tokyo, and the city was alive in ways that so many other cities are not.  The land hummed.

More later.  I have some announcements to make about upcoming appearances, including WonderCon — which is next week!