Now THIS is something I know a little bit about ;D Travel is something I do often for the day job. This year I’ve been to four or five different countries and all over the danged states, too. As a matter of fact, as I type this post, I’m 3000 miles away from home.

So let’s do something a bit different, eh? Let’s go intergalactic!

In this snippet from Death and Roses, our heroine and hero are headed for a very important meeting…on another planet…that’s a bitch to get to. And one of our peeps would rather make use of the little white bag in the seat pocket in front of him. What made me think of this? My most recent trip to the East coast where I just knew I was gonna blow chunks as a result of the turbulence – gah!

After the post, enjoy all the Snippet Saturday authors via the links at the bottom of the page.

Tanil literally jumped into his clothes while moving toward the door. Scharsi didn’t bother. It would take her almost two minutes to get all the way back to the bridge. She had no time for modesty. It was the one disadvantage to having a large med ship. It had been converted into a fighting machine, but that didn’t change the size of the damn thing.

“What’s going on? What’s happening?” Tanil ran right behind her.

“The ship’s computer can’t handle getting us on the ground. Have you ever been to Mimnet?”

“Once. I don’t remember much of it. I got so airsick from all the turbul…ah shit!”

“Exactly. The turbulence. Mimnet is bad enough, but the computer said we’re coming up on Quantinium Moon. Landing on Mimnet itself might be a rocky proposition, but Quantinium is ten times as tricky.”

“Well at least I get a nice view of your ass while you run to save the ship.”

“Perv.”

“Definitely.”

Scharsi settled into the captain’s chair. Tanil ran back to her bunk, grabbed some clothes, then held tightly to the controls as she hopped up and dressed at record speed. Seated again, Scharsi thanked the Gods for her unusual strength. Piloting this craft through to the moon was a fucking fighting match—her against the atmosphere.

Tanil took the co-chair and brought up the topography grid. “Good Gods. Is there really something in this place? Scanners are coming up empty.”

“Must be or Vonner wouldn’t have sent us here.”

“Trust him that much, do you?”

“Actually, I do,” Scharsi said. “Men like him have their own code of conduct. Once they bring you into the fold, people like Ulric Vonner will treat you like family. Once we became BHI good guys, we became part of his crew.”

“Well, I don’t know about you, but you don’t send family into this kind of shit without warning.” Tanil grimaced as he held onto the arms of his chair for dear life.

“Yeah, but think about it this way, Tan, the people he’s sending us to hook up with are part of that family. He’s not going to out them just to make it easier for us to get to them. He has to protect them just as he would protect us. Period.”

“Makes sense. So now explain why it feels like my teeth are being rattled around in my head by this Gods-awful turbulence? If it keeps up, I’ll be painting the bridge floor with all kinds of new smelly colors.”

“The ice storms are bad enough, but the ground isn’t much better. Computer, magnify distance to thirty percent.”

“Yes, Commander.”

After a wicked drop in altitude, Scharsi pulled back on the controls to level them out. “See, look there. This place is one big mountain range covered with nothing but jagged peaks and a hell of a lot of snow and ice. One wrong move and we not only risk a nasty crash, but also being spotted by one of a bazillion sensors floating around in the black.”

“And we’re going there on purpose?”

“Looks like. Computer, disengage autopilot on my mark.”

“What? Disengage?” Yep, he was definitely going to blow chunks.

“There’s no choice but to pilot without the benefit of the computer’s quick calculations. Computer, five, four, three, two. Mark.”

“Autopilot disengaged, Commander.”

“Oh lord, we’re gonna die.”

“Oh stop,” Scharsi said playfully. “Thankfully this is an agile craft with good maneuverability.”

“Yeah, but she sure has a big ass,” Tanil grumbled.

“I thought you liked big asses.”

What could he say to that? It was beyond the truth, and Scharsi’s was a spankable piece of art that was permanently framed in his mind. He was a happy man. A nauseated one, but happy none the less.

Jody Wallace
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
Delilah Devlin
Lacey Savage
Sasha White
Shelli Stevens

Tonight I’m going to dinner at a close by restaurant in the expedition square that I can’t even begin to pronounce, and I’m really looking forward to it. The word is that this place requires a reservation no matter what day you plan to go. Surprisingly enough, it’s also supposed to be affordable, which will be a welcome change. Why? ‘CAUSE SWITZERLAND IS DANGED EXPENSIVE!

Good lord, everything here is ridiculously high. My hotel room, probably worth about $700 (nice room but nothing special, no tea/coffee maker, a small deck and TV and that’s about all) is costing me $1300 instead. Gah! And believe it or not, I paid $19 CHF (Swiss Franks), which translates to about $21.75 USD, for a gyro, a falafel and a soda pop! Oh, and the five minute ride from the airport? Well, that was $42 CHF, or $48 USD.

According to the locals, this is normal even when the dollar is rallying high. It’s just expensive to live in Europe, period. Gas usually runs about $2 per liter…that about $8 per gallon on a good day. The folks here believe it’s because of the taxes and the ‘free’ government subsidized programs which aren’t free at all, but paid for through more taxes. The scenery is awesome…but I can’t wait to go home to $4.00 gas!

Okay, rant over ;D Tomorrow I’m off to France for the weekend before I head to the next customer site on Monday. When I get an internet connection I’ll be sure and tell you what I see, and I promise it won’t be a rant. Ooh la la!

Oh, someone asked me about the time difference between here and where I live on the West Coast of the U.S. Switzerland is 9 hours ahead, so it’s almost 1pm here on Friday afternoon, and almost 4am at home.

Catch you all later!

I also enjoy a good party. Can’t wait for the Mythos Masquerade ball and the Steampunk Ball for lovers of all things steampunk. The site is still being updated so stay tuned for new information.

Are you coming? If so, let’s plan to get together! Visit the Authors After Dark site with all the planned events and stuff. Or click the graphic below to see a list of workshops and authors who are on the panels.

I’ll be on workshop panels with the fabulous Larissa Ione and Sylvia Day. I’m so excited I am beyond squeeing! Be there or be square!

I made it home safely from my trip to Switzerland and I’m happy to be home. It was a work trip so I didn’t get to see very much of the sites, but it was an excellent trip all the same. I met some really cool people and had some great discussions about ‘life type stuff’. Tried some interesting new foods, too. Did you know that they eat a lot of horse over there? So when you order “steak” be sure you specify what kind ;D

I’m blogging at the Dynamic Trio site about some of the things I heard over there regarding our current political season in the USA. Click here to check it out.

Don’t forget about the Holiday Hottie contest – first winners will be announced next week. Also, the TJ On A Tangent newsletter will have all the prizes up for grabs in the next issue!

TJ

We’ve been eating like crazy! Lord, I just know I’m going to have to spend more time at the gym when I get back to keep my butt from heading too far South without the rest of me. Geesh!

TJ On A Tangent went out right before I left so hopefully you’re enjoying it – if you aren’t a subscriber to the newsletter, you can sign up any time. This issue contains an excerpt from my new book, CARAMEL KISSES, that was just sold to EC. ToT subscribers get to see it first, but I’ll put it up on the Sneak Peek page after I get back from vacation.

Talk to ya’ll later!

TJ

First is a pic from the national museum of a mock-up or model of the Hill of Tara. According to Wikipedia, “The Hill of Tara, known as Temair in gaeilge, was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland – 142 kings are said to have reigned there in prehistoric and historic times. In ancient Irish religion and mythology Temair was the sacred place of dwelling for the gods, and was the entrance to the otherworld.”

This is a really OLD church tower. It’s amazing that they are structure more than 1000 years old in Ireland. It’s just amazing.

And from England, we went to a really yummy Indian restaurant. Now is this a big vase, or what?

This is an old building with new musicians in front of it ;D

Have you ever seen a police station like this?

Me, concentrating REALLY hard on the menu trying to figure out what to order. Everything looked so fabulous, it was hard to choose! Yes, this is me with no makeup, no lipstick, no nothing. Somebody say ‘thank God for makeup!!’ ROFL!