Wishing u a wonderful New Year's celebration. May joy, peace & prosperity reign! Happy 2009!

Goin to Mom's house for a steak New Year's Eve dinner. Yum!

Made bunkbed into pink fort. Playin games & havin late nite slumber party w 8 yr old daughter. Fun!

Had very successful mtg w illustrator re new pic book project. Can't wait to see completed dummy! Mtgs are always great over lunch & fraps.

Meeting w Illustrator Holly Stone-Barker on a book collaboration - Mama's Bayou.

Local Barnes & Noble has my book, The Cajun Cornbread Boy, in the window and on "New Arrivals" tower in front of store! Yay!

Just created a new album on FaceBook - Dianne's Gourmet Meals. Dinner party, anyone? LOL

Cooked sausage, artichoke & mushrm puff pastry stacks w Harry David pears & Chardonnnay.

Hanging out w Eliana. Cooking Scotch eggs (hard boiled egg in sausage & layer of bread crumbs, baked til golden brown) w stuffed Fr toast.

Saw "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Wow! & it was all filmed here in New Orleans. Great movie. Brad will be nominated for Oscar.

Bedtime Stories w Adam Sandler was awesome! Began & ended w storytelling. Fabulous family flick! Take kids to see it before school starts!

Watchin Bedtime Stories w Eliana, my 8 yr old. It begins w storytelling!! 2 cool!

Posted Christmas pics to FaceBook. Will post to blog ltr. It's nearly 6am & I need to get some Z's. What an awesome Christmas!

Wonderful Christmas day. Lechon was delish. Tons & tons of gifts. Fam, friends & good times! Clean-up then bed! Zzzzz

Merry Christmas, friends! Visit Story Connection blog 4 a Christmas wish! http://ping.fm/8ymWr May ur day be merry & bright!

Santa visited Louisiana! Our stockings are stuffed full! So excited I can hardly wait until early morning... Merry Christmas!

U better watch out, U better not cry! Better not pout, I'm tellin U why. Santa Claus is comin 2 town... TONITE! Woo hoo! Stuff my stocking!

Rec'd Christmas pkgs fr friends! Harry & David's - yum! And a relaxation gift - tea, candles, foam bath, Enya CD. I luv it all! Thx & Merry!

Rec'd pumpkin & choc fudge fr my friend, MyLinda, yesterday. Almost gone! Came in incredible box handmade fr a Christmas card! Wow & Thx!

Eatin homebaked cookies & watching Wall-E w 8 yr old daughter. Luv the holidays!

Updated Story Connection blog re Christmas Caroling & Holiday Concert featuring Vince Vance http://ping.fm/8ymWr

Saw Dr. today 4 post-surgery ck-up & he said I'm healing nicely. Told me not to overdo it tho. LOL I feel fantastic! Merry! Merry!

Created new social network for Fil-Ams and Filipinos. Totally Flipped Out! Join! http://ping.fm/2CQeg

Home now - had so much fun w fam caroling but cold - windy 40s! Then we're up to 75 on Christmas Day! New Orleans is weird like that.

Caroling w fam @ holiday concert w Vince Vance, creator of #1 Christmas song "All I want 4 Christmas Is U"

Updated blog & posted pics of book signing of The Cajun Cornbread Boy. http://ping.fm/8ymWr

Going to World Market to buy new entertainment for the 50" plasma monster I bought hubby for Christmas.

Working in ofc, clearing desk. Signing books ordered by ppl @ hubby & mom's wk, invoicing, writing TY notes, doing last[-min Christmas cards

Great day! Successful book signing w great sales. Gave Tangram Tales to my mom. She was surprised to see dedication of book to her. :)

Dancing w joy!! My new book, Tangram Tales, arrived! OMG! 2 books out in 1 week! Book signing tomorrow. Pinch me. Am I dreaming? Amazing!!

Still stumped as to what to get me 4 Christmas?! Here's a hint. I LOVE jewelry. Diamonds are 4ever, baby! LOL

Just got off the phone w a dear friend from high school, reconnected thru FaceBook. I luv FB!! I luv u, Lanie and your sis, Fe! My girls!

Watched "Mamma Mia!" w college daughter. Love it. Love ABBA! "Dancing Queen, feel the beat of the tambourine - ooh yeah! You can dance..."

Today was such a good day. Great business and personal connections! :)

Talking to my good friend, Fe Reyes, my BFF from high school. Love you, Fe!

Fielding more book orders for The Cajun Cornbread Boy. Yay! Still time to order before Christmas http://ping.fm/t1okz

Just spoke w Jon Bard of Children's Book Insider. Awesome guy! All children's book writers should subscribe! http://ping.fm/BZtgj

Filling book orders. Order The Cajun Cornbread Boy picture book fr http://ping.fm/Mzl3g to arrive before Christmas!

Created order form, updated website, blogged, announced new book to 11,000 ppl, made Cornbread Boy puppet, pkged mail & wrote TY notes.

Made Cajun Cornbread Boy puppet. Look! http://ping.fm/VXjDB

Went to dinner w family to celebrate arrival of my first children's picture book - The Cajun Cornbread Boy! Woo hoo!

Hubby picked up a case of my newest book: The Cajun Cornbread Boy. Even have booksigning scheduled before Christmas! Exciting!

Today marks a week since surgery. Recovery has been difficult. I can't wait to be "normal" again.

Eating Harry & David Royal Riviera pears & listening to holiday jazz CD fr friend. Any suggestions for post-surgery activities? Going crazy!

Girls had Breakfast w Santa. Sang carols, made crafts & took pics w Santa. Girls now making gingerbread house, our annual tradition.

Rec'd wonderful Get Well cards fr. publisher & friends. Also got pair of aromatherapy warm-up booties for my feet. Smells great!

1st full day @ home post hysterectomy. Still on pain meds but I'm walking fine. Sleep lots - feel so unproductive & lazy. Love today's snow!

Fluffy white snow is falling in New Orleans. I see the snow outside my window!

WOW! It's snowing in Louisiana!!

Came home fr hosp. to kisses fr Eliana, vase of roses & a new plasma TV in bedroom. Hubby so thoughtful! What a homecoming!

I am discharged fr hospital. Yay! There's no place like home...

Had bad allergic reaction to Percoset. Dr. changed my meds. Hosp. wking on discharge paperwk so I can go home today.

Had bad allergic reaction to Percoset. Dr. changed my meds. Hosp. wking on discharge paperwk so I can go home today.

Had bad allergic reaction to Percoset. Dr. changed my meds. Hosp. wking on discharge paperwk so I can go home today.

Day 3 in hospital. Had allergic reaction to pain meds. I walk thru hosp. halls as ordered, walking thru pain. Hoping to be discharged today.

Got hospital WiFi running. Yay! I'm even managing some work fr bed on my mini. LOL Thank you, friends, for all your well wishes! Hugs!

Just had a room full of visitors. Lots of flowers & balloons. Nice to be loved!! :)

No WiFi in hosp. room. Using cell phone to ck email & update status. Showered & dressed w makeup & jewelry. LOL

Took first walk around hosp. halls. Ate a couple bites for brkfst but don't have appetite. In pain. Staff very nice.

Surgery successful. Pain is persistent so I'll prob. be discharged tomorrow.

Time to go to the hospital. Today is the big surgery day. Please pray for me. Thank you so much for all your notes of encouragement! Hugs...

Finished Story Connection Express b4 surgery Yay! Theme: Holiday Celebrations Around the World. Sign up at http://ping.fm/t1okz

Going to hospital for my blood type & match for tomorrow's surgery. Dr. wants 2 units of blood ready just in case...

Eliana rec'd a sweet letter & Good List Certificate fr Santa Claus. She's ecstatic! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Eliana rec'd a sweet letter & Good List Certificate fr Santa Claus. She's ecstatic! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Going to vote & take Eliana see Santa at Lakeside Mall - open til 11pm! My last chance to do any "Christmas" stuff this weekend...

Took Eliana to bday tea party. Going to Lakeside Mall to see the decorations. Later - Miracle on Fulton Street in New Orleans to see "snow."

Back fr fieldtrip. Had a blast @ back of the bus w 3rd gr girls! Now headed to Eliana's dental appt. After that, Christmas party! Busy day!

Chaperoning Eliana's field trip to Nutcracker. A bus full of 3rd graders! Round songs anyone?

Added Thanksgiving photos to Facebook and Story Connection blog. http://ping.fm/8ymWr

Posted a new Story Connection blog re MS Library Commission Conference http://ping.fm/8ymWr

Smart-e toys available @ Kohl's & Amazon.com. Program cuddly toy w fave kids music & stories, incl mine! Great holiday gift. smartebear.com

I'm going to SCBWI NYC end of January. Bringing daughter & rooming w illustrator friend. Thanks, Holly! It's going to be fun - cold but fun!

Shaq didn't play but Hornets put the Suns to bed 104-91!! Woo!

Shaq didn't play but Hornets put the Suns to bed 104-91!! Woo!

Going to New Orleans arena to watch New Orleans Hornets play Phoenix Suns. Be cool watching Shaq play again even if he is on opposing team.

Finished requested revisions to a new picture book MS and sent to my editor. Let's hope she offers a contract for this book!

Was supposed to go to bed but ended up working. Crossing off the to-do list one by one...

Pre-op consult included EKG, labwork & chest x-rays. Was at the hospital for 4 hrs today! Dec. 8 is surgery date - now the wait...

@ hospital for pre-op mtgs. Spent over 1 hr in admit ofc due to insurance bungle. Now wait on mtg w nurse.

@ hospital for pre-op mtgs. Spent over 1 hr in admit ofc due to insurance bungle. Now wait on mtg w nurse.

@ hospital for pre-op mtgs. Spent over 1 hr in admit ofc due to insurance bungle. Now wait on mtg w nurse.

Delivered MS & goodies to my editor. Luv my promotions & sales team @ Pelican Publishing! Can't wait for Cajun Cornbread Boy :)

Heading to my publisher's office to deliver final manuscript and holiday goodies!