On my soapbox

Hi all,
My first school year back in the classroom in coming to an end. It's crazy. It's beautiful. It brings out the bat shit crazy people!!! I'm not writing about writing here today. I'm making an observation about what I've seen this year, particularly yesterday afternoon.

I've had a very high maintenance parent/student combo in my class. I put parent first because the boy isn't really high maintenance when she isn't around. The first few days of school, he clung to her hand crying. She would do nothing except watch as I pried his off of her and led him into school by the hand while he cried. I couldn't understand this but I accepted in and dealt with it. After two weeks, I decided enough was enough. Instead of peeling him away from his mother, I stood at the front of the line with the rest of the students and asked him kindly but firmly to join his classmates because we were all going into the school now. The mother didn't like this and proceeded to complain to the principal that I wasn't a mothering type and wasn't addressing her son's needs. In my eyes, after two weeks, I was treating her child like everyone else in the class and creating expectations for him to follow just as twenty-five other children. She got over it and had a pretty good relationship over the rest of the year. I went even so far as to go in early to tutor her son for free, taking valuable writing time away from my characters.

Then we come to yesterday and the Honor Ceremony. It is to celebrate students who really excelled in the fourth quarter with their school work and behaviors. Out of twenty-six students, only seven fit the criteria of being honored. So the entire class went to cheer on the classmates on stage. The rest of them sat with me and cheered them on. I had no one ask why they weren't up there. There was no crying. No one was upset. At the end of the day, this mother approaches me and the following is the result.

Her, "I just want to get all of the facts before I go in and complain. Was there an assembly today?"
Me, "Yes."
Her, "Did all of the children attend?"
Me, "Yes."
Her, "Did only a few children get awards and not all of them."
Me, "Yes."
Her, "Well, that's not right. I'm going in and complaining to the principal."
Me, "If that's how you feel, you are totally within your right. Go ahead."

Well, she went in and must have been turned away quickly. When she walked back out and by me, she continued to talk to me.

Her, "I asked "D" how he felt by not receiving an award today and he said badly. So I'm going to make him his own award because I think he's an awesome kid."

Now no one is saying that "D" isn't an awesome kid. He just didn't fit the school's criteria was receiving an award.

I remember back in college, we were taught not to have games in the classroom that would produce a winner. I worked on campus in a classroom and the mentor teacher did. When I asked her about this, her explanation has stayed with me for years. She explained that in life there are winners in games and not winners. It's important to learn how to win but also learn how to behave when you don't win. You can't get everything you want out of life. There are disappointments around every corner. We are doing children a disservice by not teaching them that also.

Stepping off the soapbox now. What are your thoughts?

Peace out,
MRD

Secret Cravings Publishing Paranormal Blog Hop- Chances are...

If you say yes to the following questions, chances are you are a lover of paranormal romance?

Do you think that vampires are misunderstood and are really great guys? If yes, chances are you are a lover of paranormal romance.

Do you ever look at a wild animal and think that deep inside there is a hot shapeshifting guy just waiting for you to see his true potential? If yes, chances are you are a lover of paranormal romance.

Do you think a guy growling at you is one of the sexiest sounds you've ever heard? If yes, chances are you are a lover of paranormal romance.

Do you think that Professor Snape and Lilly Potter could have had a romance during their time at Hogwarts but the author just thought it too controversial to put in the books? If yes, chances are you are a lover of paranormal romance.

Do you secretly enjoy watching Vampire Diaries, Beautiful Creatures, and on occasion watched the first Twilight movie more than once? If yes, chances are you are a lover of paranormal romance.

Do you know deep in your heart, it is possible to have a relationship with a man who lived in the 18th century and is haunting his keep in Scotland for centuries until someone comes along and unlocks the curse he's under? If yes, chances are you are a lover of paranormal romance.

So I'd like to thank Jeff Foxworthy for ripping off, his "Redneck" skit for my blog. It's true, I can say yes to all of my questions. I'm a lover of paranormal romance!!! If you already couldn't tell. I like my romance hot and my chills thrilling.

I'm giving away a copy of my first paranormal romance, Bound in Evil to a lucky commenter. All you have to do is tell me what do you love, love, love about paranormal romance. Please remember to leave your e-mail address, so I can send you the book when the hop is over. I'm including my hot excerpt below to give you a little taste of what you can find between the pages.

Don't forget to click on the icon on the sidebar of the blog to take you back to SCP's blog main page, so you can find other deliciously thrill-worthy books to chill you to the bone and heat you up at the same time.

Excerpt

Meg held her breath as he took her hand and led her on to the dance floor, pulling her against his body, and started swaying to the music. As she stood there swaying with him, she felt the hard erection in his pants brushing against her stomach. She pressed her body closer enjoying how his body tensed and trembled against her. He tightened his arms around her so the heat of his body burned her through her clothes. A groan rumbled in his chest under her ear and she snuggled deeper into his tight embrace. The smell of his cologne mixed with his own unique scent filled and intoxicated her senses.
“You’re making it very hard for me to keep my intentions honorable,” he whispered huskily.
Meg leaned back bringing her lower body snugger against his and stared at him hoping the desire he ignited in her body showed in her eyes as it did his. “At least one of us is trying to remain honorable. You must be much stronger than I am because right now my body is screaming for less than honorable things to be done to it.”
She didn’t think it possible but his gaze flared hotter. The desire in his eyes caused her to gasp at the intensity. She felt her body immediately respond.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the dance floor. “Come with me.”
Meg stumbled along behind him as he brought her farther and farther away from the light of the square and deeper and deeper into the darkness of the hot, sultry night.
By the light of the full moon, he led her to a huge weeping willow tree silhouetted against the darkness, its beautiful branches bowing low to the ground creating a perfect natural curtain. Meg watched as he pushed the branches aside creating a doorway to an inner private sanctuary just for them.
“Do you trust me?”
Meg took a deep breath. Her whole being wanted to shout, “I trust you with my body, heart, and soul.” Even in a haze of desire, she didn’t think now was the time to confess never-ending devotion. There was something about this man that completely made her forget about her wary nature. She loved how she felt when around him and didn’t want to scare him off.
She firmly entwined her fingers with his and squeezed his hand, unsure if he could see the expression on her face in the darkness. “Yes, I trust you.”
He pulled her into the darkness and dropped the curtain of branches, blocking out all light from the moon. Meg stood there in the darkness, her breathing shallow and heard pounding in her chest. He stood close to her because she could feel the heat of his body and hear his own shallow breathing in the darkness. Since she couldn’t see, Meg closed her eyes and listened to her surrounding with all of her senses. She didn’t know if the darkness or his closeness made her senses feel sharper and clearer. Her body felt electrified.
His hand stroked down her exposed neck and arm causing her to gasp at the trail of sensations and heat his stroke left behind. Meg felt the small tendrils of her hair next to her ear sway from his breath. Her whole body tensed in anticipation of what he would do next. The whispered caress of his soft lips on the lobe of her ear caused her body to tremble.
“Tell me,” he whispered against her ear. “Watching me this afternoon, did it turn you on?”
Meg’s breasts swelled and constricted in the bodice of her dress. She nodded her head in the darkness, not trusting her own voice. His steely arm stole around her waist and roughly dragged her back against his hard body.
“The words, Meg. I need to hear the words. Were you turned on today?” The forcefulness of his words turned her on even more. She arched back and rubbed herself against the hardness nestled against her back.
“Yes,” she moaned. “It turned me on. I thought about it all day.”
His lips played with her earlobe as his hands slid up and cupped her heavy breasts. He tested their weight in his hands before pinching her painfully erect nipples through the fabric of her dress. Meg let out a small shriek as the sensations shot directly down to her pussy causing it to spasm and released a flood of desire between her legs.
The pressure on her nipples increased and a moan slipped past her lips. The darkness and the fact she couldn’t see him amplified all of the feelings within her body. She could no longer think a rational thought except how she wanted his hands on her skin, anywhere, everywhere.
Meg couldn’t control her body anymore. Like a cat, she sensuously rubbed the back of her body against his hard form. It thrilled her to hear his breath catch in his throat. It felt good to know she wasn’t the only one close to losing control.
“Do you want to know a secret?” His lips traced the line of her jaw. Meg tilted her head to give him better access.
“Yes.”
“I knew you were there watching me and it turned me on more. Did you go home and play with yourself and think about me?”
“No, I took a cold shower,” Meg moaned as his hand brushed the V between her legs through her dress and slowly started to inch the hem up her body.
From the darkness behind her, she heard him chuckle. It’s sensual nature filled with desire and dark promises. Unspoken promises which made the walls of her pussy clench in anticipation. She continued to rub against him trying to provide herself with any type of relief. All she truly accomplished was to feed the flame of their desire.
“My poor, poor, baby. Did it work?” She felt her dress being tugged up inch by tantalizing inch higher and higher.
“No, it did nothing. I think it made me want you more.”

Featured author blog

Hi all,
Remember me? Maybe or maybe not, I have been terrible about blogging lately because life has gotten in the way. I am really going to make a vow to at least blog two times a week.

Here is an update at what's happening in "Marie-land":

1. As you know,  the hubs and I are in the middle of adopting a baby. I can't say middle anymore, I should say more towards the end. So much at the end, that if you heard a massive "thud" last Thursday, it was our jaws as we were offered a baby out of the blue!!! To say that we were shocked was an understatement. Although we felt for the little guy, he wasn't "our baby" and good thing because they found his dad and he wants to try and be parent. I will him all the luck in the world but this taught I that things could change at a moments notice. So it kicked our butts in gear and we started on massive home improvements. I'm bruised and battered but things are moving here. If we could just get the weather to cooperate. The dumpster is finally in the backyard and we had one weekend of intense cleaning of the basement but ever since the rain has descended upon us. So, hopefully when the rain stops this weekend, it will be go, go, go again!

2. School is winding down with that the paperwork is ramping up. I can't believe my first year back in the classroom will be over in 5 school days. It's crazy how fast this year has gone by!!! Of course, we've have been dealing with the dreaded lice in my class for the past month and anyone who knows me and knows how much hair I have, knows this is a constant fear in my life. So being me, I decided to research and I found that if you mixed tea tree oil in your shampoo, it's supposed to repel the lice. So I have been doing it. WELL, it seems that this noxious mixture is not supposed to get anywhere near your eyes. Now I have extremely puffy, peeling, and cracking eyelids. It's so bad that I can't wear my contact lenses. My choice now is to stop the oil treatment and save my eyelids or risk bringing home some little friends. Grrr.....

3. The writing has been going slowly but Bound in Deceit the second novel in the Bound Trilogy will be submitted by the end of the month and released the beginning of August. Yay!!!! I'm also the featured author today on Romancing the Books. If you're reading this, please come over after 6am eastern time and give me some love.

Here's the link...
http://romancing-the-book.com/2013/06/aad-spotlight-contest-marie-rose-dufour.html

That's all for now- peace out,
MRD