The romance and erotica writer, Adrianna Dane and I have swapped links. It seemed like a really good exchange for both of us. Then I decided to spend some time on her website checking out her books. While I do think she could use a site design update, there are great books and stories about romance, homosexuality, bondage and much more. I know this will sound silly, but I clicked on Esmerelda’s Secret because when I was much younger and had small children, I’d get really sick of “Mom!!” “Mom!!” coming from all parts of the house. So I’d tell them that my name was no longer mom but Esmerelda Pissemeyer and I wouldn’t respond to anything else. It shut them up for a while.

Anyway, moving back to Adrianna Dane, it seems Esmerelda’s Secret is not about your kids yelling, Esmerelda is a town in Massachusetts and the story is about two lovers that haven’t been together for ten years and then see each other again.

One of her reviews on Fictionwise.com:

“4 1/2 Roses … A story that will pull you in from the beginning and doesn’t want to release you until the end.

Ms. Dane is able to draw you into the story to feel all the hurt, pain, sadness and love that Willow and J.W. feel. Willow and J.W. compliment each other in both their actions and their love for one another.

The depth of their love is what helps them move forward and leaves them with only the happy memories from their past.

Esmerelda’s Secret is a short story and the debut story for Ms. Dane, and what a great way to start! I will be watching and waiting for more stories from Ms. Dane.”–Pam Clifton, A Romance Review

Check her out. You might find a story that would be a great companion on a rainy day. Heck, you might read them all!

I was shopping yesterday and came across the prettiest young woman I’ve seen in a long time. She had lovely auburn hair halfway down her back, a slender but curvy figure and a smile that would melt an army. I thought to myself that she must have the world by the tail.

It was just a passing moment and I kept shopping and when I got to the checkout, she was in front of me in the queue. That’s when I noticed it.

She was dirty. There were smudgy marks on her neck where she hadn’t washed for oh, a week or so probably. Not only that, she had a tank top on and the straps were not covering her bra straps. They were nasty. You know the ones I’m talking about.. those used to be white but they were grey with dirt.

How difficult is it to keep yourself clean? If she had money to shop, she had money to buy soap. Gross, Gross, Gross!

I couldn’t imagine sleeping with a dirty person. Maybe I’m too old and crotchety, I don’t know for sure, but to me dirty equals lazy and who wants to fuck a lazy person?

People, if you’re worried that people will think you’re religious if you keep yourself clean (cleanliness is next to godliness), it’s not going to happen. I never look at a clean person and think, “Geez, he must be holy.” Get in the shower! (not you, her over there)

Many of you will succumb to what I call the Post Holiday Dumping Syndrome or PHDS. Why do I think you’re vulnerable, you ask?

It’s simple logic.

Many people in a relationship decide in the later months of the year that their feelings have changed and it’s time for a split-up. Not wanting distress during the long holiday season from before Thanksgiving til after New Year’s Day, many wait til the 2nd or 3rd week in January to make the cut. They might not want you to be alone during that time, or they don’t want to feel like a shit in front of their friends at this time of the year or most probably they need someone to go out to all the holiday events with right up to New Year’s Eve.

So, if you find that this week or next you’re a newly single person, don’t worry, I can help.

You’ll need to be quick and make some New Year’s resolutions (back dated) to get yourself back in dating mode and to boost your self esteem.

Sear these words into your consciousness:

1. I will not fall in love with the first sort of attractive person who crosses my path. Not the second or third either. If you want to fall in lust, be my guest.
2. I will take better care of the only body I have. I will drink less alcohol and eat more fibre. Nothing makes you grumpier than being full of crap.
3. I will update my wardrobe. I will dump all the holey undies and socks and get new ones. I will get good quality, well fitting clothes that don’t make me look like Donald or Daisy Duck.
4. I will learn conversation starters that are better than, “Great outfit, it would look nice in a heap on my floor.”
5. I will not get desperate about a lack of dates until the end of the first week of February. Nobody wants to be alone on Valentine’s Day, right?

Ok, let’s hear it for better sex in 2008. For the few of you with a terrific, perfect sex life — phtbbbbbbt, we’re jealous, is that enough? For the rest of us, let’s resolve not to have boring sex ever again. Here’s what I plan to do and I’m thinkin maybe the old guy I live with will think this is a goer.

I decided that I wanted to have sex or some sort of intimacy every day. I want something that says I find you sexy and desirable.

In order to feel desire on this level, we’ll have to make sure that we put each other near the top of the priority list. This includes doing all those little things that show you’re thinking about your partner when you’re apart. (This is a bit difficult for us since we’re together 24/7 - but I’ll work on this.)

So that was my resolution and so far I’ve lost my resolve. Come on, give me some encouragement to get back on track!

I’m going to start over right now and pretend that it’s New Year’s Day all over again.