When I read the topic idea for this month I had mixed reactions.

First, I cringed—goodness, why would I want to relive embarrassing moments?

Then, I chuckled—having fun remembering all my embarrassing moments.

And if you ask my kids, there are plenty of them.

Finally, I grew pensive—hmm, which one should I choose?

After a while I realized, I’m a romance writer with heroines who often find themselves in embarrassing situations.

So, let me share a moment that I probably would have rather written about than experienced.

After a decades-long marriage that ended several years ago, it’s taken me a while to feel “ready” to get back in the dating scene. With my kids off to college, I’m on my own for the first time in ages.

That’s liberating, but also a little nerve-wracking.

I actually had to work up the confidence to do things like go to the movies on my own, or head out to dinner and request a table for one (honestly, I usually take my writing or read a book). But go out to a pub for a drink on my own?

YIKES!!

So picture this scene:

A young—okay not so young, but go with me here…What about this?

A young-ish newly single woman heads to a local pub to meet up with some friends. She’s coming from a university campus event, dressed in team colors and sportsfan shoes that might be a little over the top for anything but an alumni event.

She’s talking on the phone with a friend as she drives to the pub, and while waiting at a red light, decides to slip off her sportsfan sandals and slip on a pair of simple ones she brought along. You know, tone down her outfit a bit.

The light turns green, the young-ish woman drives away and arrives at the pub.

Her friends text; they’re delayed.

She takes a deep breath, reminding herself that she’s an independent woman and can certainly go in alone. After moment of hesitation, she heads in to order a drink at the bar and wait for a table to open up.

Twenty minutes her nervously scanning the area, but failing to recognize anyone go by. And still, her friends haven’t arrived.

Nearby, a woman accidentally drops her pint glass. It hits the tile floor and shatters. A pub employee rushes over to sweep up the mess.

The young—darn—young-ish woman sticks out her foot to point out a large, jagged piece of glass near her. That’s when she notices the shoe she’s pointing has a puffy blue flower on top of it.

It’s a sportsfan sandal. Just like the one she slipped off at the red…

A quick glance down alerts her to the fact that yes, she did slip off the right shoe and put on a simple white sandal. But her left foot still has the sportsfan sandal with the BIG BLUE GO TEAM FLOWER.

Cut to the young-ish woman surreptitiously setting down her own pint glass,

and then slinking out the side door to rush back to her car!

Talk about embarrassing moments!

Thankfully, this fabulously strong young-ish woman quickly changes her sandals. Takes an evaluative deep breath.

Stares at her reflection in her rearview mirror. And laughs.

Then, she freshens up her lipstick, gives herself a little wink, and heads back into the pub.

The fun is just beginning!

So, now it’s your turn!!!

If you’d like to keep smiling along with the rest of the  Writer Wednesdays bloggers, checkout the stories they’re posting by clicking on the names below and jumping over to their sites:

Carol Post / Tamra Baumann / Sharon Wray

And we hope to see you next month on the second Wednesday for another rendition of Writer Wednesdays!!

This month’s Writer Wednesdays blog is like a round robin game of Show and Tell as the WW authors share their favorite place to write. Personally, I’m excited to get a peek inside the various writing havens to see where my friends tap into their creativity and spend playtime with their muse.

For this Florida girl who spent her childhood summers visiting her Abuela in Puerto Rico, if I’m looking for inspiration or need to refill my creative well or if I #amediting, you’ll find me here…

or here

or here

often with my trusty sidekick, Addi.

If I #amwriting new pages, a blanket on the beach is a little too cozy, but I do love writing in a spot with a beach view.

For me the open ocean evokes a fulfilling sense that anything and everything is possible. I will  be published. I will  honor my characters by telling their story the best I know how. So if I can write in a place like this…

or this

I’m feeling like I #amblessed.

I’ll go back and forth between listening to the sound of the waves and popping in my headphones to let Pandora Radio serenade me with Spanish ballads like Luis Miguel’s “No Se Tu” or “Amarte es Un Placer.” The ocean waves and my favorite Spanish love songs never fail to put me in a romance-writing kind of mood.

Unfortunately, I don’t live right on the beach and my day job doesn’t need me to set up an office in a sandy alcove. I know, bummer. That means my jaunts to the ocean are relegated to the weekends when I can get away.

To appease my yearning for a sunny spot with a little shade, I’ll write in my home office for a while, then treat myself by moving my laptop out to my back yard. There I’ll set up shop on our picnic table underneath an awning.

If it’s been a long productive day and especially if I’ve met my writing goal, I treat myself even more by taking a nap on our hammock. 🙂

How about you? Where you do go for inspiration—if you’re a writer or for life in general?  I’d love to hear about your productive spot or your getaway place that helps you refill your creative or emotional well.

And if you’d like to see where the rest of the Writer Wednesdays group gets their writing done, hop on over to check out their special places by clicking these links:

Fellow contemporary romance writers: Tamra Baumann – Shelly Alexander

Romantic suspense writers: Carol J Post – Sharon Wray

Novels with romantic elements: Jean Willett

Faith-based and sweet romance writers: Kristen Ethridge

Yes, that’s right, the Writer Wednesday gang is doing it up Valentine’s Day style this year and we’re here to help you out with some romantic date ideas.

This  month I’m subscribing to the “a picture is worth a thousand words” idea. Thinking that a pic will get the point across faster. And with the clock ticking ever closer to V-Day on Sunday, you might need to get crackin’!

And of course you’ll want to check out the other Writer Wednesday author sites to see what they’ve cooked up for you.

Today, you’ll get a little smorgasbord of ideas, since there’s a smorgasbord of dates that I’d find romantic. 🙂

Of course, there’s the age old– sunset beach locale.

In my book, you can never go wrong with this place.

Whether it’s a blanket or a lounger with some snacks and a bottle of wine to share

Or if you take it a little further with chairs, a table and a meal

Or you go all out at a fancy restaurant with a killer ocean view

it’s a great way to WOW a girl who loves the sound of ocean waves lapping the shore, the smell of salt and sea in the air, and the relaxing sensation of her toes in the sand!

If she’s a dance lover, like me, maybe a night out at a club for a little salsa, merengue or bachata?

Maybe a movie night– in or out. I’m always up for a blanket, a picnic and great flick on a big screen in the park.

Or how about Shakespeare in the Park? ~~Sigh~~

For this English-major, book-lovin’ girl, the pic below is definitely

the start of romantic evening if I’ve ever seen one.

But if you know, or if you’ve checked out my website, you’ll know that one of my favorite ways to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon is sitting in the bleacher seats at Wrigley Field, cheering on my beloved Cubbies.

The warm sun shining on my face, a cool drink in one hand, the crack of the bat when a Cubbie gets a hit…

and a special someone at my side cheering with me .

But you know what?

After a busy week with a long To Do list, a quiet walk in the park just might do the trick.

A stop along the way, holding hands as we relax side by side on a bench.

No specific destination, no particular time to be somewhere other than right where we are, together.

My best advice if you’re trying to come up with a romantic date idea for someone special is to take a few moments to think about that person. What she (or he) likes to do, hasn’t had time to do, or what brings a smile to her/his face.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a grand gesture– well, at least not for me. 🙂

I’d love to hear what your idea of a romantic date might be. Hope you have some time to share!

Looking for more romantic date ideas? Check out my Writer Wednesday sisters and see what they have in mind:

Contemporary romance : Tamra Baumann and Shelly Alexander

Paranormal romance :  Kay Hudson

Romantic suspense: Sharon Wray

Novels with romantic elements: Jean Willett

Faith-based & Sweet: KD Fleming

Historical romance: Wendy LaCapra