I’m opening up my second contest this week. The prize is a signed copy from my back list and a Mount Rushmore refrigerator magnet and Harney Peak post card.
Joye was the name selected from last week’s contest. Congrats, Joye. Contact me at debra@debrasalonen.com with your snail mail addy so I can get my book to you. 
NOw, about those out-of-town guests. Life is full of surprises, and we had a most pleasant one this weekend. My hubby’s first cousin’s daughter, Josie, was in Yosemite and wondered if she and her pal Jodi might “crash” at our house. (I think the idea of a hot shower and actual bed sounded pretty good to a couple of vagabonds on a road trip.)
Josie and Jodi were delightful. 
Jodi is on the left. And when I told them they’d be on my blog, they were actually thrilled. “We’re going to be famous.” Or, not. 
But here they are.
Have a great week! I just spent time in the old west with my characters. I told you this book was going to be different. 
Deb
-
Hi Deb
Your visit with Jodi and Josie sounded wonderful. Although I love nature and National Parks, my idea of roughing it is in a motel without HBO and a continental breakfast. Oh, to be young again and wiser as the youth of today is.
by Rosemary Simm
on May 9th, 2008 at 11:28 am
-
I have been to Mount Rushmore many years ago and would go again.
How nice to have company.
by RobynL
on May 9th, 2008 at 11:37 am
-
On a very hurried trip, we managed to stop at Mount Rushmore. Would have loved to stayed longer in the area.
by Jean P
on May 9th, 2008 at 11:40 am
-
Me, too, Rosemary. I’m with you. I can remember traveling like that when I was that young, but if I slept in the front seat of my car now, I probably wouldn’t be able to walk the next day. 
Robyn, I saw Mt. Rushmore this morning on Good Morning America. Very fun! And very foggy.
Jean, it’s a great place to visit and small enough that you can see and do a lot in a short amount of driving. I hope you make it back again. 
Thanks for the posts. I’ll draw a winner next Monday.
Deb
by Debra
on May 9th, 2008 at 11:48 am
-
Your trip sounds incredible and appealing. Lovely to have fun guests stay over especially when they are delightful young ladies.
by anne
on May 9th, 2008 at 11:56 am
-
Good Day! I bet they did enjoy staying at your home! I have never been to South Dakota, but I would love to go. A family that I know used to live there. They really liked living there. Thanks for a fun contest. Cindi
by Cindi
on May 9th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
-
You’re right, Anne. They were fun…and I warned them: what happens around here, usually winds up in my next book.
Hi, Cindi! Thanks for posting. I’ve added all of your names to the drawing list. It’s great fun to see you here.
Cindi, do you remember where they lived? I’m always curious. It’s a big state, yet with so few residents (compared to California) it feels small.
Deb
by Debra
on May 9th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
-
I bet it was nice to have you hubby cousin drop in like that. It is alway nice when family drop in.
by Virginia H.
on May 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
-
Not even a million people in the whole state! Grandson did a state report on SD so we worked a little on it together LOL I just met a woman and her adult daughter from just north of Soiux Falls-her husband is a farmer. The farm is thousands of acres.
by Barbs
on May 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
-
Hi, Virginia, we love company, but it seems like most people go for the more exotic locales for vacations–Hawaii or the Disneylands. Lots of cruises, too. But Yosemite is spectular. I highly recommend it. And the girls had fun, I think.
You’re so right, Barbs. My BIL’s idea of a traffic jam is four cars at a stop sign. He lives north of Sioux Falls, too, near my old home town of Brookings. Jane Smiley wrote a very compelling book called A Thousand Acres, but I think it was set in Iowa or Minnesota.
This is going to be a good drawing. I think I’ll keep all your names in the mix for the entire month. I’ll be picking a winner every week with extra little goodies thrown in.
Thanks for playing, everyone!
Deb
by Debra
on May 9th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
-
I haven’t had the chance to visit South Dakota, even though I was in the neighbourhood, in North Dakota and Fargo, a few years ago. But maybe next time.
by Minna
on May 9th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
-
I hope so, Minna. Fargo is a fine city, despite the movie. 
But there’s not usually any love loss between the two states. And SD has my heart.
Deb
by Debra
on May 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
-
I saw the movie a couple of days before I went to Fargo and NDSU. Fortunately the movie was on video and there was this nice button that allowed me to watch the movie with a bit more speed.
by Minna
on May 11th, 2008 at 2:51 am
-
What a lovely surprise!
Happy Mother’s Day, Debra!
by Susan
on May 11th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
