February 26, 2007

Amazing Grace Movie

BEHIND THE SONG YOU LOVE IS A STORY YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.

Great tag line.  And I'm hoping to see the Amazing Grace movie tonight.  I saw the trailer a couple of weeks ago and it looked fabulous.  Set in the 18th century, it is about a Member of Parliment who navigated backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire.  And tied in there somewhere is the story of the person who actually wrote the song, Amazing Grace.

It is directed by Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough, Coal Miners Daughter) and stars actors from Black Hawk Down, Erin Brockovich, Vanity Fair and Harry Potter.  Reviewers call it "Triumphant!" "Compellingly told, sumtuously shot, and masterfully acted."  "A must-see movie of the year."

Once again, let's go out in numbers and support these films so Hollywood knows just what kind of movies we'd like to see in the box office!  To find a theater near you, click here.

P.S.  Don't forget, if you leave a comment, you're eligible to win an advance copy of COURTING TROUBLE.

posted by Deeanne on 02/26/2007 - 17 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

February 22, 2007

Monthly Contest Winner

This contest winner is different from yesterday's "Leave A Comment" contest.  (There is no winner for that yet.  So, keep leaving comments and you'll be eligible to win an Advanced Copy of my new book, Courting Trouble.)

Anyhoo, today's winner is from our regular contest.  (See the "contest" treasure chest on the right hand side of this screen.)  The computer picked Sarah from Michigan.  She has visited with us many times in the comments sections.  So, it is always fun to see a familiar name pop up as a winner.  (Sarah is on the left.  Her best friend, Emmy, is on the right.)

 The question was:

Which foreign country did Deeanne live in when she was in the third grade?

• South America
• England
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Scotland

Here's how you voted:

• 33% voted for England
• 29% voted for Scotland
• 22% voted for Japan
• 13% voted for Indonesia
• 3% voted for South America

Sarah voted for Scotland, as did many others, but the correct answer is actually, South America.  Although, I have to confess, that wasn't really correct either--as my husband so stringently pointed out.

You see, I have a problem with my husband entering the contests.  I've told him he's not allowed.  I've even put a disclaimer on the contest page.  But you know how it is ... tell a man "no" and he's determined to do it anyway.  And he does.  He votes every single time.

Although this time, he voted, then emailed me as so ... and I quote:

'Dee,

 I now see how you have rigged it such that not only can I not win the contest, no one else can. I have not been able to correctly identify the country you lived in third grade. I could have sworn it was Venezuela, but the closest thing I could find to this was South America. Unfortunately, the last time I checked, South America was still a continent, not a country.

Since none of your other readers will have my geographical knowledge and wisdom, I think I should win this month. Next time you'd better consult with me first on anything to do with numbers or geography!! Goofy!!! I still love you.  Greg'

 Well ... enough said.  The *correct* answer is: Venzuela.  Fortunately, you don't have to guess correctly to win.  (And, for what it's worth, we still removed Greg's name from the contest entries.)

The new contest is up and since it does not involve geography, I feel certain there is a correct answer!  Good luck!

P.S.  Don't forget:  If you leave a comment, you'll be eligible to win an advance copy of COURTING TROUBLE.

posted by Deeanne on 02/22/2007 - 13 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

February 19, 2007

Peanut Butter Recall

I heard on the radio last week that a certain series of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butters were being recalled for possible salmonella contamination.  They called out a number--twentysomething.  I thought, Hmmmm.  We eat Peter Pan peanut butter.  Maybe I better check that out when I get home.  I forgot all about it. 

Then I was cleaning out the pantry, remembered, and checked the number on the top of the peanut butter jar.  Series 2111.  Hmmmm.  I have *terrible* number recall, but that sounded familiar.  Maybe I should look it up on the internet.  Nah.  What are the chances?  I put it back on the shelf.  Forgot all about it.

Was reading my friends' blogs last night.  When I visited Allison's ... she had some contaminated peanut butter!

Okay.  This was getting wierd.  Maybe Someone was trying to tell me something.  So, I look up the official information on the internet, go and check my peanut butter ... and it's the recall series!!

Now, we'd only used 1/2 cup of it so far.  The reason I know that is because I used it to make Puppy Chow for the teenagers.  Nobody--that I know of--got sick.  But maybe that was because our PB wasn't carrying or because it was all spread out in the Puppy Chow.

Okay.  Maybe I better pull up for a minute and explain--just in case some of you aren't aware:  Puppy Chow is not dogfood.  At least, not the kind you make with peanut butter.

The kind you make with peanut butter is this really yummy snack made with Chex cereal, but it looks like puppy chow.  Thus, the name.  Here's the recipe:

9 c. Crispie-X (the recipe calls for Chex, but we like Crispie-X better)
1 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/4 c. butter
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 c. powdered sugar (I use more.  We like our sugar in the Gist house.)

Put cereal in large bowl.  Melt chips, peanut butter and butter.  Remove from heat (I do this in the microwave) and add vanilla.  Pour over cereal, put in large plastic bag with sugar and shake to coat.  Spread on wax paper to cool.

Okay.  Those are the official directions.  I use one of those giant Tupperware bowls with a lid.  I mix it up in there, pour the sugar in, put the lid on and shake-shake-shake.  I don't cool it on wax paper.  Didn't even know you were suppose to until I copied it here for you.

Anyhoo, it is YUMMY STUFF.  So ... make yourself some Puppy Chow.  Just check the serial number of your peanut butter first!

posted by Deeanne on 02/19/2007 - 10 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

February 15, 2007

Win An Advanced Copy of Dee's New Book!

I have a new blog host.  I didn't get along very well with the one I was using before (blogger), so my *wonderful* web designer made me a Dee-friendly blog.    I know--it doesn't look any different to you--but there is a world of difference behind the scenes where I create my posts and add my pictures.

It is also a comment-friendly blog.  That means it is *much* easier for you to leave a comment then it used to be.  Instead of going through a bunch of complicated instructions, you simply sign up and *presto* you can leave comments.  The sign up is also linked to my newsletter mailing list, so you kill two birds with one stone!

In order to encourage all those folks who are lurking out there to post a comment, I'm holding a contest exclusively for the people who comment on my blog.  The ARCs (Advanced Readers Copy) of my June release, Courting Trouble, are due to come out late this month.

ARCs are nothing fancy.  They are basically a Word document bound up like a book.  There are no pretty chapter headings, no fancy layout designs.  Just my book in manuscript format.  They are ordinarily sent out to booksellers and reviewers so they can become familiar with the novel before it hits the shelves.

As the author, the publisher will send me a complimentary copy ... which I am going to sign and pass along to some lucky winner.  Here's what you have to do:

Leave a comment.

That's it!  When my ARC arrives, I will have the computer randomly select one "commenter" and that will be our winner!

So ... delurk!  Say "hello."  Introduce yourself.  Tell us how you heard about the website and how long you've been lurking (or participating, for my faithful few who leave comments all the time).

I'll let you know as soon as the ARC comes in and who the winner is!

P.S.  If you want to go back and read entries on my "old" blog, just click the "Previous Blog Archives" link on the right and you can read away!

P.P.S.  Hope you had a happy Valentine's Day!

posted by Deeanne on 02/15/2007 - 33 comments - Post a Comment    RSS FEED

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