If you are like us here at Murdershewrites.com, you have been biting the nails a bit as you wait for information from loved ones in the midst of Hurricane Gustav.

We have heard from Deborah LeBlanc (her hometown was right in the pathway of Gustav) and she is safe, although without power and cell service. She also said her town is out of fuel, and although we didn’t see the devastation of Katrina, there is still a LOT of damage.

We are GLAD you are okay, Deb. We are also cheering that Toni McGee Causey, a regular here at MSW, is safe as well.

When I wrote WIVES AND SISTERS, I listened to the album LITTLE EARTHQUAKES, by Tori Amos, repeatedly. So many of the songs seemed to fit what I was writing about, in particular, Precious Things.

You can read the lyrics to this song here, but it deals a lot with religion, and a young girl fighting back against repression. At least that was MY take on it. And it fit the book. Like this song spoke to me, the book W&S spoke to many people from many different backgrounds.

I think in many ways, books and songs are a lot alike.

Right now, I have taken a liking to a song by The Veronicas, called Nobody Wins.

You can listen to this song here. Interestingly enough, I went to about six different lyric sites, trying to find the correct lyrics, and they were ALL different. This one was the closest.

This song has relevance to me now, in my current life situation, as well as relevance to the character I have created for THE TIES THAT BIND. And it’s helping me move the book along. I think that music is a powerful source of inspiration for me.

And I know I’m not alone.

Some other things I really like right now:

Gavin Rossdale’s Love Remains the Same. My attraction to this song tells me that no matter how jaded I might believe I am, I still believe it’s out there. Love, and someone who will love you enough to write this kind of song about you.

Current favorites also include Spell by Marie Digby, as well as her Miss Invisible.

Marie has said that Miss Invisible details her time spent in junior high school, and who can’t relate to that? It also makes my heart ache a lot for all the Miss Invisibles of the world. It’s hard to grow up, and how many of us manage to do it totally unscathed? I don’t think I did.

And even now, I know I joke a lot to hide insecurities that I still have.

I’m also listening to Lifehouse’s album Who We Are. In particular, I love the song Storm.

A song that really has nothing to do with me or my life, but which has struck a chord with me nonetheless is Blue October’s Hate Me. This song apparently deals with the lead singer’s drug addiction and the effect it had on his mother. I also like their song, Into the Ocean.

I have always liked Peter Gabriel and I think that this group–and especially the lead singer’s voice–reminds me of vintage Peter. On my iPod, I have In Your Eyes, a longtime favorite. I also love Don’t Give Up, which he sings with phenomenal vocalist Kate Bush.

So, that’s what is playing on my life Soundtrack.

How about you?

I’ve made some pretty bad decisions in my life.

For instance, there was the time I decided to get a perm. I have naturally wavy/frizzy/icky hair that I spend much of my life trying to tame. After giving it much thought, I decided to get a perm. BAD DECISION! I have no idea what I was thinking! I was basically giving my hair the frizzy, curly version of steroids. When I got home sporting my new perm, my youngest son, a baby, took one look at me, then hid his face in his dad’s shoulder and cried. (My husband was trying not to laugh…I give him credit for trying…)

My three year old son stared at me, then said, “Can you fix it?” If I wasn’t so lazy, I’d search out a picture and scan it for you all…but I am lazy, so let’s just say that hair perms are not for me.

Ever.

I’ve made my share of bad decisions.

But…some decisions people made just baffle me. Like this one: A man tired of battling the mother of his son for custody decides to hire someone to kill her.

And the bad decision keep piling up. Like the decision to ask a random friend if he knew someone who could kill the woman. Oh yeah, he’s going to hire someone to commit MURDER and he just asks around for the name of a killer.

Now you’d think maybe he’d go home and say to himself, “Hmm, this is probably not a good idea.” But no, instead he meets with the “killer” the next day.

And gets arrested.

Of course the friend went to the cops, who sent an undercover detective to pose as a killer. The friend was clearly wanted nothing to do with this bonehead scheme (GOOD DECISION!)

In retrospect, my perm decision doesn’t seem to bad…

Okay lets have fun. Share your bad decision…trust me they can’t be as bad as trying to hire a killer…or my infamous perm!