More bark than bite?

I missed True Blood last night.

The drive home from my Dad and (new!) stepmom's house is just over 10 hours, and no matter what time my husband and I leave BC, it's a long, windy, and often emotional drive home. Yeah, I'll throw it out there, I'm a bit of a Daddy's girl.

But this time, the 'good-bye' felt a little more poignant. After a stunning wedding, I've just gained an awesome stepmom and three new siblings - two beautiful stepsisters and a handsome - albeit accident-prone stepbrother.

Not to mention the joy of a brief visit with cousins, aunties and uncles, grandparents, old friends, and my sister, who I rarely see since we live on opposite sides of the country. I love how weddings can bring a family together, no matter their typical geographical distance.

In two weeks, my handsome hubby and I will be making that trek again, not for a wedding, but to celebrate our one year anniversary at the lake where we got married. It's not just a celebration, but also personal solace, an opportunity to give the proverbial finger to the naysayers who said we wouldn't make it. No, one year is not a lifetime, but my husband and I faced some incredible obstacles over the past twelve months and still, my love for him continues to grow.

Thankfully, we didn't have to fight those obstacles on our own. For the past two years, my stepmom has been the one person I could talk to about life, about love, about hurts and fears. She's a straight shooter, but like me, she wears her heart on her sleeve. She understands there are two sides to every story and offers unwavering support. My stepmom has taught me to be 'me' - without judgement.

I need to spend a lot more time with myself.

Which means writing again.

I'd considered making my stepmom my muse avatar this week, but despite her beauty, she isn't a fan of having her picture posted on the Internet. (Which is too bad since her dress had everyone - including my Dad - awestruck.)

So instead I give you Joe Manganiello, a new character on this season of True Blood where all the men seem to have ripped abs. He plays a werewolf on the show - as well as Sookie's protector. I figure since she's got half of Bon Temps vying for the job, she won't mind sharing Joe this week.

I'll have no time keeping him busy. In addition to the role of muse avatar, I could use a tough guy to help me fight through a bit of emotional upheaval. Here's hoping Joe's bite is just as strong as his bark.

The Book In My Bag Today: Kindred in Death, J.D. Robb