Celebrating the Leap with Annie-isms!

Posted by Jo Robertson Feb 29 2012, 12:30 am in Annie, debut of "Frail Blood", Funny Stories, Jo Robertson, Leap Year

I have to confess I’d hoped to have my latest release launched today — FRAIL BLOOD, an historical thriller from Amazon — but looks like it’s going to be next week.

See the gorgeous cover?  Isn’t it lover-ly?  Bandita Suzanne Ferrell’s talented daughter Lyndsey did the cover for me.  Isn’t she amazing!  And the courthouse that’s shown in the background comes courtesy of the Placer County Museum in Auburn, California.

Since I’ve felt a little blue from not getting my book live by my deadline, I spent some time thinking about what I habitually do to cheer myself up.  I’m normally a fairly happy person (half-full kind of gal), but a sure-fire way to get me smiling, laughing, or giggling is with what Dr. Big and I call “Annie-isms.”

Annie-isms are a collection of all the clever things children and grandchildren say that make us so proud and happy. 

So here we go to celebrate, not my new release, but my Leap Year Birthday!! with a few of my favorite Annie-isms! 

Oh, didn’t I say that?  Bird Walk!  Today is my “real” birthday, the one I only get every four years.  I won’t insult anyone’s intelligence by explaining why we have Leap Year, but it relates to aligning the earth’s rotation around the sun with the Julian calendar.  Borrrring!

I hear now that parents who have children born on February 29 are given a choice of whether to put February 28 or March 1 on the birth certificate.  Hello?  Talk about screwing with genealogy!

Here we go with my Annie-isms:

Annie-ism #1: 

Drama Queen Annie (age 3 1/2): 

There were no cherry tomatoes left one day and this is the conversation that ensued…

Annie: “You’re ruining my life!”

Mom: “I’m ruining your LIFE?”

Annie: “You’re making my life sad.”

Mom: “Well, I’m sorry, honey, we just don’t have any tomatoes left.  Do you want some carrots instead?”

Annie: “No… I’m feeling my life and my life wants tomatoes.”

Annie-ism #2:

Sassy but cute (age 4)

Annie:  “Mom.  If you don’t be nice to me, you will get off my list.”

Mom:  “What sort of list?”

Annie:  “My friend list.  But you’ll still be my mom.”

Annie-ism #3:

Oh So Super Sweet (age 5)

Annie loves watching her mom do crafts for preschool (making paper dolls and busy buses, etc.).  She watched one day with her friend Hailey and Hailey wanted to go play but Annie wanted to stay and watch. 

Mom:  “You sure love watching me make paper dolls, huh?” 

Annie:  “Oh yeah.  I love it more than playing with my toys.” 

Mom:  “Wow.  That’s amazing.” 

Annie (casually):  “You should watch yourself sometime.  Then you’ll know what I mean.”

Annie-ism #4:  Stranger Danger (age 5)

Mom and Annie were walking home from her friend Hailey’s house.  It was dark and they were holding hands. 

Annie:  “Mom… I smell something.” 

Mom:  “What do you smell?” 

Annie (very seriously): “I smell… danger.

What tricks are in your feel-better bag, readers?  A massage?  Playing with the kids or grands?  A movie?  A night out with your other half? 

I’ll give away a free download of “Frail Blood,” my historical thriller, when it’s available in March to anyone who can guess my “real” age.  Okay, we know the number has to be divisible by four, so I’m either 40 (thank you, thank you!), 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, or 80.  Have at it!

93 Comments