My blanket. Thank you!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Lori's Cats: Chester
You're my forever-mom.
Sort-of like my forever home, but different.
Love, Chester
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I'm back... but only for a little bit...
Sometimes I look at the labels tab over there and I can't believe I had to make a tab for cancer for myself. It's staring me straight in the face, like the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about but everyone wants to really know why it's there and I can hear everyone's questions, even they are too polite to ask. When did it show up? Is it sticking around for long? Why is it pink?
*facepalm*
One of our friends expressed amazement at my calm, cool demeanor because she said that if she found out she had cancer, she would be in the surgeon's office demanding they cut the tumor out and start all treatment right then.
I rambled off something about how the surgeons at MD Anderson were putting together a plan that is tailored specifically for making sure I get the best treatment with minimal discomfort but in reality, what she said she would do is exactly what I want to do. I want to sit at the doctor's office until they see me but that would put a huge crink in my back.
Cancer is a big scary word. Even with as many advances as the doctors have made, it's still a monster that doesn't always respond to the treatment every time. My mom had state of the art treatment for her cancer, and we still lost her.
I used to be one of those people who heard thyroid cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma and think "At least they have one of the survivable cancers." The fact is, cancer is frightening and painful. I've had pain in my neck and shoulders for months. I almost drove my primary care nuts with going into him because my ears were killing me and I thought I had an infection. I even stopped listening to music in my headphones because it hurt too much.
Luckily, he didn't toss me out on my ear because he's the one who found the cancer.
And even while I'm sitting here in this horrible dark emotional hell, my cats are surrounding me and messing about, playing with each other and making me laugh. And thank god for Kele Moon, my CP and BFF, for laughing at all my stupid cancer jokes, for knowing that I'm the person who crack jokes when I'm terrified.
At this point, everyone asks if I know something more but I don't, other than it's malignant and that my next step is my appointment and then surgery. I don't even know what all they are taking out in surgery but I'm pleased with my doctor and I'm confident she'll make the right choice.
In regards to my stories, I have a lot in the hopper that is ready to be worked on. Several really hot stories about BDSM sex clubs, a few m/m stories but next on my list is working on Dangerous Submission, which is in the editing process. Thankfully, this should take my mind off of what is to come.
A huge thank you to my fans. I know you're eagerly awaiting Dangerous Submission and I'll try to do my best with it.
Lastly and certainly not the least, I want to say goodbye to a dear sweet woman who accepted me as her grandchild-in-law when I married my hubby 7 years ago. She reminded me of my own grandmother. When we went to see her last year, she needed her cane to get out of her chair. My husband lent her the cane he uses since he hurt his knee and I swear to goodness the cane almost as tall as she was. She told her husband later that she liked how I fussed over my hubby, because he was a bit under the weather.
Nan Toland, you will be greatly missed. Lots of love to you.
*facepalm*
One of our friends expressed amazement at my calm, cool demeanor because she said that if she found out she had cancer, she would be in the surgeon's office demanding they cut the tumor out and start all treatment right then.
I rambled off something about how the surgeons at MD Anderson were putting together a plan that is tailored specifically for making sure I get the best treatment with minimal discomfort but in reality, what she said she would do is exactly what I want to do. I want to sit at the doctor's office until they see me but that would put a huge crink in my back.
Cancer is a big scary word. Even with as many advances as the doctors have made, it's still a monster that doesn't always respond to the treatment every time. My mom had state of the art treatment for her cancer, and we still lost her.
I used to be one of those people who heard thyroid cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma and think "At least they have one of the survivable cancers." The fact is, cancer is frightening and painful. I've had pain in my neck and shoulders for months. I almost drove my primary care nuts with going into him because my ears were killing me and I thought I had an infection. I even stopped listening to music in my headphones because it hurt too much.
Luckily, he didn't toss me out on my ear because he's the one who found the cancer.
And even while I'm sitting here in this horrible dark emotional hell, my cats are surrounding me and messing about, playing with each other and making me laugh. And thank god for Kele Moon, my CP and BFF, for laughing at all my stupid cancer jokes, for knowing that I'm the person who crack jokes when I'm terrified.
At this point, everyone asks if I know something more but I don't, other than it's malignant and that my next step is my appointment and then surgery. I don't even know what all they are taking out in surgery but I'm pleased with my doctor and I'm confident she'll make the right choice.
In regards to my stories, I have a lot in the hopper that is ready to be worked on. Several really hot stories about BDSM sex clubs, a few m/m stories but next on my list is working on Dangerous Submission, which is in the editing process. Thankfully, this should take my mind off of what is to come.
A huge thank you to my fans. I know you're eagerly awaiting Dangerous Submission and I'll try to do my best with it.
* * * *
Lastly and certainly not the least, I want to say goodbye to a dear sweet woman who accepted me as her grandchild-in-law when I married my hubby 7 years ago. She reminded me of my own grandmother. When we went to see her last year, she needed her cane to get out of her chair. My husband lent her the cane he uses since he hurt his knee and I swear to goodness the cane almost as tall as she was. She told her husband later that she liked how I fussed over my hubby, because he was a bit under the weather.
Nan Toland, you will be greatly missed. Lots of love to you.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Lori's Cats: Milly and Chester
No, Daddy, you can't get three more cats to fill up the other cubes.
(This was an actual conversation between hubby and I)
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Well, that was quick... and bad news.
Every time I look at this, I laugh :)
Last Friday I got the news that my biopsy results were back and the cells they found in the nodule were malignant. It was a real shock, one because I wasn't expecting any news until January 24th and two.. well because I thought this wasn't serious.
As funny as the picture above is, cancer is pretty serious. I don't really have even a definitive diagnosis yet since the surgeon is still reviewing my case. I've been told I need to get clearance for surgery, which I don't think will be a problem but it's looming in the future and everything is up in air.
I've been dealing with all this by cracking jokes all the time, which has unfortunately upset my husband. I haven't even told my dad yet, since he's in Canada on the ski slopes. I told him. :( I would have prepared him but I didn't think I would get any information about my biopsy. But that's how I deal with all this, besides writing.
Not to sound like a broken record... but more information when I get it. Laterz!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
New Year's Kisses!
Join us for a celebration at Kay Berrisford and Tara Lain
More info here: http://kayberrisford.com/2012/
There's lots of hot excerpts so check them out!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Lori's Cats: Milly and Chester
And with this blanket, there shall be peace on earth and goodwill to cats!
They are still like this today!
(No, seriously. Pictures of them together are rare because they fight like
brother and sister and this blanket has brought them together :))
Happy 2013!
Friday, December 28, 2012
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, C'MON! #Xmasgiveaway and more winners!
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| Image courtesy of Vlado/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Anyway, I'm looking forward to 2013. It's the year of the Snake. 2012 was the year of the Dragon (my sign) so maybe it was a transitional year for myself, turning over into a new era.
But anyway, enough navel gazing. I'm here to give away some books!! Woo HOO!
As for the giveaways over at Reading Romances for a copy of Payback, congrats to Josie Hink and Raquel!
On the giveaway of a $10 Amazon Gift card and a copy of Payback over at SmexyBooks, congrats to Victoria!
For the giveaway of a copy of Payback at Fiction Vixen, congrats to Stacy!
And finally, drumroll please! The winner of the three books in the #Xmasgiveaway is: Nancy!
Thanks to all who entered. I'll be contacting (or I have already) all the winners.
See you in 2013!
Lots of Love,
Lori Toland
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Christmas Giveaway! #XmasGiveaway
#XmasGIVEAWAY
Gifting Books Christmas hop was organized by Reading Romances!
We are having a happy holiday season here at my blog and I wanted to share some of my favorite erotic romance with you. Last year, I exchanged copies of a book of mine with another author and it was a lot of fun. :) I like presents, receiving and giving. So join in on the fun!
What you can win here: A copy of Virgin Territory by Cari Quinn, StarCrossed by Kele Moon and Dubai Nights by Emily Cale. ETA: And a copy of my latest release Payback! (All these books are available in Digital eBook format only at this time)
Number of winners: 1 will win all books listed!
Open to (INT, US or US/CAN): International (through Amazon.com or ARe)How to enter: Just leave a comment here with your e-mail address super ninja style (like this lori at loritoland dot com)
'Stop your whinging and go home'... or was that my wishful thinking?
So... if you've read my Twitter or Facebook, you'll see that I had an appointment with an head and neck surgical oncologist. I know you're probably saying "Whoa, back up a little. You looked fine at GRL and you just visited England."
For about a few months now, I've been struggling with my thyroid and having trouble getting it under control. I thought it was the stress of being diagnosed with lupus but I noticed a couple of symptoms, including a lump in my throat. After chatting with my primary care (who got mad when he heard how long I had been silent about it) I was shuffled to ultrasound which showed the nodule in my thyroid.
Now, nodules in thyroids are pretty common, especially with hypothyroidism. So when I went into my appointment with the surgeon, I expected her to say, "No problem with this nodule. We'll remove it since you're having trouble swallowing." Or I expected her to shove me out the door and tell me to stop wasting their time.
Instead, I got the talk about 80% of nodules are benign but we're going to test it and get a sample from your thyroid before we schedule you for surgery because this could be cancerous and at that time, we would have to remove your thyroid instead of just the nodule.
Wait, back-up. WHAT?
Now I've known a few people who had thyroid cancer. You have surgery, maybe some radiation. It's serious but you have like a 99% survival rate. So I was cool. Even with this big fat camera scope they pulled out to check out my throat, I was doing okay dealing with this. Great odds and my nervousness was disappearing because my doctor had a great bedside manner, as did her nurse and PA.
I drifted down the hall trying to absorb all the details and when I sat down at scheduling, which was by the front lobby and a small waiting room, I looked around. Big mistake.
All around me, there were the people with cancer and it shocked the hell out of me. Some people might be lucky and escape with a scare. I hope I'm one of them. But the people who were tired of fighting and the people who fought and won but bore scars, they frightened me.
I was among their numbers now and it sunk in fast that this was serious. It took me a day not to just be in complete shock. Even my posts on FB and Twitter were slightly disjointed. I'm still dealing and just taking it one day at a time, which is all I can do.
So the biopsy on the 26th looms. It's a day most people won't notice but for me and my family, it'll be an important day. So think of me and mine on that day and think good thoughts please. I'd appreciate it.
On a side note, Chester cuddled to me the night before my appointment. He knew exactly what his mum needed: lots of tender loving care. :)
So more when I know more. Laterz! :)
For about a few months now, I've been struggling with my thyroid and having trouble getting it under control. I thought it was the stress of being diagnosed with lupus but I noticed a couple of symptoms, including a lump in my throat. After chatting with my primary care (who got mad when he heard how long I had been silent about it) I was shuffled to ultrasound which showed the nodule in my thyroid.
Now, nodules in thyroids are pretty common, especially with hypothyroidism. So when I went into my appointment with the surgeon, I expected her to say, "No problem with this nodule. We'll remove it since you're having trouble swallowing." Or I expected her to shove me out the door and tell me to stop wasting their time.
Instead, I got the talk about 80% of nodules are benign but we're going to test it and get a sample from your thyroid before we schedule you for surgery because this could be cancerous and at that time, we would have to remove your thyroid instead of just the nodule.
Wait, back-up. WHAT?
Now I've known a few people who had thyroid cancer. You have surgery, maybe some radiation. It's serious but you have like a 99% survival rate. So I was cool. Even with this big fat camera scope they pulled out to check out my throat, I was doing okay dealing with this. Great odds and my nervousness was disappearing because my doctor had a great bedside manner, as did her nurse and PA.
I drifted down the hall trying to absorb all the details and when I sat down at scheduling, which was by the front lobby and a small waiting room, I looked around. Big mistake.
All around me, there were the people with cancer and it shocked the hell out of me. Some people might be lucky and escape with a scare. I hope I'm one of them. But the people who were tired of fighting and the people who fought and won but bore scars, they frightened me.
I was among their numbers now and it sunk in fast that this was serious. It took me a day not to just be in complete shock. Even my posts on FB and Twitter were slightly disjointed. I'm still dealing and just taking it one day at a time, which is all I can do.
So the biopsy on the 26th looms. It's a day most people won't notice but for me and my family, it'll be an important day. So think of me and mine on that day and think good thoughts please. I'd appreciate it.
On a side note, Chester cuddled to me the night before my appointment. He knew exactly what his mum needed: lots of tender loving care. :)
So more when I know more. Laterz! :)
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Lori's Cats: Chester
.JPG)
Mom's filing box is the best place in the house!
Should I file this under "C" for Cat or "P" for Purrrrr?
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Season's Greetings!! What a lovely time of year!
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| Image courtesy of marin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
I really love this time of year. It's nice and cool in Florida and my husband isn't complaining about the weather. We're really enjoying ourselves. Also, since my business is more of a year-round retail and wholesaling business, Christmas is sort of our downtime, where we can relax a bit.
We don't put up a tree since my husband is atheist and I come from a family with so many religious backgrounds, it became difficult to honor all of them so I said forget it and do nothing each year except attend all the celebrations. Hey, it's the thought that counts (and the free beer for my husband).
So to all my followers, have a very joyous holiday season, what ever you may celebrate!
All that being said, I enjoy Holiday music and I'm a huge fan of Mannheim Steamroller. While writing Payback, I listened to a bunch of his albums on my Payback playlist.
Thanks to everyone who has purchased Payback. My next book in the Firehouse 69 series is Seducing Dylan which should be coming out in early 2013. I'll be posting more about that in the coming months.
And that brings me to some really exciting news. About the time Payback released, I received a contract for Dangerous Submission, which is the sequel for The Long Con. So look for more information about that in 2013 as well.
Next year is shaping up to be pretty awesome so stay tuned!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
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