- Genuine interest and care for my well being. This includes bringing me into a conversation, asking me how my client meeting went or if my rough day got any better.
- Hugs and other forms of affection (yes, I will accept the back rub you offer me.)
- Little things you do to show that you notice I am paying attention to you. Thanking me for sending you that music I think you might like or for bringing you that item I don’t need any more but it’s perfect for you.
- Little things to show me that you are paying attention to me (sending me coffee because you think I might like to try it or giving me dark chocolate because you know it’s my favorite, sending an email to say you’re thinking about me or posting a blog comment with feedback – even negative feedback – just so I know you’re reading.

Character traits I despise:

- People who don’t keep their word. Why would you say something/promise something/claim to feel something if you don’t mean it?
- Poor listeners. No, I am not talking to hear myself talk. I appreciate conversation.
- People who interrupt. I understand at some points it’s necessary to keep the conversation going in the right direction or to correct or clarify what I am saying, and at those times I don’t mind it (I have been told I do it myself), but people who interrupt in general, especially when they are changing the topic and not contributing to the present conversation, are rude and it tells me they’re not listening (see above).
- People who assume things. If you’d get your head out of your own ass for one second, you would see that your brain is likely the one that needs fixing, not mine.

His lies touch her soul as he begs her
To never regret never forget
She laughs at his plea
What else is there to do?

I should clarify I do this for a living – so it’s a bit instinctual for me to want to hop on the design. Despite what everyone says, of course a book is judged by its cover!

Need your help though! Which cover design do you like, which photo of me, which fonts and what do you think of the colors? In other words – anything can be changed. OK, here goes: (This should be obvious, but you are seeing the back cover, the spine, and the front cover all together)

Cover option 1:

Cover option 2:

Cover option 3:

Cover option 4:

Hold on tight, honey
This ride isn’t for the faint of

Heart loses but that’s not important
We are only a fantasy; isn’t that right?

You never expected truth.

I called you yellow and you fired back red
but this room is green, what’s old really isn’t new

So put a fresh paint of coat on it
turn out the lights and play pretend
Tomorrow’s a new day; you will fall again

Better warn her not to hold onto you for dear life.

This poem was written in the late 90s.

That was two years ago,
and now you have
porcupine daggers in your eyes
when you look my way.
Our eyes touch in my sleep,
alone on your old couch,
and I can’t curl into
a tight enough ball
to get away from you.

On our second date,
you told me
it was the best date you’d ever had
because you got to kiss me
sloppy beer kisses in the parking lot
in front of your place.

If I could kiss you now
my teeth would be my weapon
against your porcupine daggers
and I would bite your bottom lip
until it bled like I’ve bled
and you would know not to say
things
you don’t mean.