I've been Missing in Action...

I know. I know. My bad. But I'm spending some time in California – taking a break from everything. In fact, I did a four day road trip with my mother...and I didn't kill her...yet.

Right.

So now that I'm settled in - tan, a little blonder, and did I mention 15 pounds lighter, I'll be getting back into writing, um, when I'm not pursuing my new career as a dog walker. Come on! Everybody needs a break! And I have to say walking dogs up and down these canyon roads can really get a girl's posterior in shape. A bonus! Seriously, California has a way of inspiring you to lose your winter Chicago fat. The muffin top is nearly gone! (That's when your stomach hangs over your jeans; more swimming, more dog walking...and hasta la vista muffin top. Take that stomach fat!)

Don't worry. I'm not going to turn into one of those scary, lollypop headed, skinny actresses.

I hope.

On the writing side: Today, I sent three new queries out on Maverick...plus the dreaded stat query. I'm waiting for one of my readers to give me comments back on the first chapter of Goddess, the rest he thought made the Percy Jackson series look like a pile of childish dog #$@#. (Gotta love comments like that!) And I'm on the third chapter of Seven Letters...

That's about it. I'm getting back into the swing of things, ready to hit the ball out of the park.

Nigerian "Witch" Kids

"Mary is a pretty five-year-old girl with big brown eyes and a father who kicked her out onto the streets in one of the most dangerous parts of the world. Her crime: the local priest had denounced her as a witch and blamed her "evil powers" for causing her mother's death."

If a picture speaks a thousand words, the photo pictured above doesn't tell the complete story, or even half of it. The fact of the matter is this: Children in Nigeria are being thrown out onto the streets in one of the most dangerous places on our planet. Some are even killed by being drowned, stabbed, buried alive, or poisoned. Why? Because these kids are pawns in a vicious game – a game being played out by spiritual leaders at extremist churches.

Now we're faced with a modern day witch hunt led by priests. "The priests spread the message that child-witches bring destruction, disease and death to their families. And they say that, once possessed, children can cast spells and contaminate others".

And what better way to rid your child of demons? A ceremony...

"The ceremonies are highly lucrative for the spiritual leaders many of whom enjoy a lifestyle of large homes, expensive cars and designer clothes."

And others are capitalizing on this horror. One woman wrote a popular book on how to identify if your child is a servant of Satan – screaming, crying, high fevers, decaying health– all symptoms of children living in an impoverished country with the worst of health care.

No, they're not being burned at the stake, but shaken violently, dragged around a room, and potions are poured into their eyes. If they cry, this ceremony has failed to cleanse them.

"Mary was found by a British charity worker and today lives at a refuge in Akwa Ibom province with 150 other children who have been branded witches, blamed for all their family's woes, and abandoned. "

Mary didn't suffer the fate of the other's like her. She's lucky to be alive.

The children's shelter was started five years ago when Sam Itauma, a Nigerian, opened his house to four youngsters accused of witchcraft. Today, he and his five staff care for 150 youngsters – 150 children who are not allowed back in their villages, branded as witches.

What is going on in the world?

Little Sweetie Dies

When you're worth 4.2 billion dollars, you can get away with wearing your hair in pigtails, mini skirts, and bobby socks. For that, Asia's richest women, Nina Wang, otherwise known as "Little Sweetie," was one of China's tabloid princesses. But despite her wealth, she preferred to eat fast food and shop at discount outlets, dressing like a child in lieu of haute couture.

Little Sweetie's husband, Teddy Wang, was kidnapped, never to be seen or heard from again in 1990.

Thus, Little Sweetie inherited her late husband's fortune.

And now she's passed away at the ripe old age of 69.

According to her attorney, Little Sweetie has left her entire estate to her feng shui advisor, Mr. Chan, who understood her personal philosophy. Oh yes, rest assured, there will be a court battle.

Am I the only person who finds this story bizarre?

Manau: Eye and Ear Candy

That's it. The lead singer's name is Martial Tricoche. And he's French. Need I say more???


Yum.

A rocker chick for KELLY

Who said white chicks can't dance? Kelly, I couldn't find GNR, but I think Stevie will suffice...

Before I leave, a little pre-Friday fun...

Snowball, the dancing cockatoo, grooves to the Backstreet Boys and about 1,000 YouTube videos. Proves that some animals "dance" to a musical beat.


Come on, let me see you shake your tail feather...

I'm feeling Sassy...

So my college reunion is this Saturday in NYC. And I can't wait. I need to let loose, to dance, and generally spaz out with my friends. To prepare, yesterday I had my hair done. And I went a little blonder. Woo hoo! Sassssssy.

Also, bought the cutest little top at Forever 21, because you know, I'm so forever 21. Like totally. Ugh. I see I'm bringing back the '80s. Fer sure.

On that point, I've decided to get braces to straighten out my bottom teeth. For real. BUT I can't do a mouthful of metal. NO WAY. Can you imagine??? Remember that Sex in the City episode with Miranda? I don't think so.

Luckily, I'm a candidate for invisalign.

Yes, this is a random post, but I'm in a wildly, giddy mood.

Bring on the mutants!