What in my world is going on...

Ta da!  Those were the words I was sure would come out of my mouth when I reached the top of Seattle’s tallest skyscraper.  Ah, The Big Climb, a monster of an event: 1,311 steps, 69 flights, 19 steps per flight, and 788 feet of vertical elevation gain.  What was I thinking?  Well, I know what I was thinking…this is for a good cause: it’s the race for the cure, put on by the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.  Still, Ta da had changed to God help me by the 10th floor, and by the 15th floor, I thought I’d suddenly become an asthmatic.  By the time I reached the 20th floor, I was wondering where the hell the bucket of water was that I so desperately needed, but by the time I reached the 40th floor—where the medics were waiting off to one side, asking each competitor how they were doing—I was in a smooth groove.  I was chugging along, my breathing had evened out, I didn’t even need any water.  Clearly, I was delirious.  I wasn’t passing anyone, but the only people passing me were men—young ones—and so I felt pretty good about my position.  Still, I couldn’t resist making a snide comment to one twenty-something as he surged past me on my left.  “Yeah, but I’m a lot older than you,” I told him.  His response to me: “I just came from running a marathon.”  Needless to say, I shut my trap and kept up my mantra left, right, left, right…

I passed a couple more medics and even managed a smile when they asked me something stupid like, You doing okay?  Couldn’t they see I was doing okay?  I was still breathing, wasn’t I?  I was still vertical, wasn’t I?

Okay, so I’m approaching the last ten flights and I hear the sweet, sweet Rocky melody.  I’m darn near there, I think and, Thank God, not a moment too soon.  I instantly forget about the burning in my lungs, and that the top of my head is about to fly off, and I get into my finishing rhythm.  But wait!  I reach the 69th floor and What!?  Where’s the finish line?  All I see is a white piece of paper taped to the wall that says five more floors to go.  What?!  What happened to 69 floors?  I’m supposed to be crossing the finish line.  I’m supposed to be saying Ta da! #$%!

I suck in another deep breath.  Okay, I’ve come this far, I can climb five more floors.  I may have to get down on my hands and knees, but I’ll get there.

I square my shoulders and keep moving.  Then finally! I’m at the top, the real top.  I see a woman clapping, I hear voices cheering and I remember, this year they’re video taping each entrant as they cross the finish line to show at McCormicks restaurant, for the entire world to see.  Okay, just Seattle, but whatever.  I pause for just a moment to gather myself.  Ta da  no longer seems the right choice—maybe because I don’t have enough energy to utter the words—so I put both hands to my lips and toss my greeters a kiss.  Everyone seems to like this.  They clap harder, cheer louder and so I come out of the stairwell and toss another kiss to the camera…the one that will be shown at McCormicks.  I am a romance author, after all.

And then it’s over.  They steer me to the recovery room, I grab a bottle of water, and I leave.  My time was 18 plus minutes, not bad, but not as good as I would have liked, so I vow to put myself through this again next year and decrease my time by at least one minute, maybe even two.  Maybe I’ll even have enough oxygen left in my lungs to jump out of the last stairwell and sing Ta da to my greeters.

It’s not too late…until April 4, if you’d like to donate to this worthy cause as one of my supporters, you can go to www.active.com/donate/20008bigclimb/bc08ADarin. Thank you so much!

Don’t forget to check out Chapter 3 on my Love Trip page for my continuing romantic adventures with Carter Davis, hero of Kisses Don’t Lie. Happy reading, until next time…

Ever yours,

Alexa

Appearances and Events …

April 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Rose City Reader’s Luncheon, Governor Hotel, 614 SW 11th Ave.  I’ll be there, along with many other authors for a fun-filled afternoon.  Go to www.rosecityromancewriters.com for more information.

Books I Highly Suggest:

Good Dog, Stay, by Anna Quindlen (warning:  if you’re prone to tears, have plenty of tissue handy)
How to Eat Like a Hot Chick, by Jodi Lipper & Cerina Vincent (Fun and sensible advice on how to eat right and keep on being a hot chick!) www.heydayproductions.com
Chosen by a Horse, by Susan Richards (a must-read for horse lovers…but you’re gonna need more tissue)
Flirting With Forty, by Jane Porter (One of my favorites from 2007.  If you’ve forgotten what it feels like to fall in love, or if you’ve never been in love, this book is a must-read. ) www.JanePorter.com

Special Thanks:

So, so many people have made this writing gig a pleasure, and I thank all of you for your letters and cards, but I want to especially thank a few who’ve made me smile—and laugh—with their kind words and/or actions…

Phyllis H. – Thank you for your glowing review of  Kisses Don’t Lie. I’m keeping my fingers crossed you’ll find your very own Security Guy some day.

Paul R. – Thanks for staying in touch and for being man enough to admit you enjoy reading my Love Trip page.

Erica P. – Thanks for including Kisses Don’t Lie in your top five favorite books.

Phyllis M. – Thanks for comparing me to the great Janet Evanovich. Wow!

Taylor H. – Thanks for spurring me on to write the sequel to Kisses Don’t Lie.

Mystery Man – You know who you are…thanks for all your inspiration in the creation of Carter Davis, hero of KDL.

My Links:

www.rwanational.org – Romance Writers of America
www.romantictimes.com – magazine for writers
www.romancevagabonds.com (fun for readers and writers)
www.freshfiction.com/authors (contests and new books from your favorite authors)
www.booktour.com (sign up to receive news of upcoming author events)

and last, but certainly not least…

www.stars-and-strikers.blogspot.com – Great weekly blog about the bowling adventures of the Stars and Strikers league in Silverdale, Washington. Not a member? No worries. You’ll enjoy the quick wit of Andrew C. Jordan, anyway. Not only is he a great bowler, but he’s also got quite a writing talent and I fully expect to see his books on the bookstore shelves one day.