Calls for Submissions - Anthology

My fabulous friend, Pat Bubash, is putting together an anthology: "Marriage Blisters.The irritating spousal behaviors that rub you wrong or like a painful blister: raw." 

Isn't that a great title? Doesn't it make you want to read all about it? And, doesn't it make you want to contribute some of your darling, wonderful, and sometimes annoying husband's behaviors??  And don't worry. Everything will be confidential. No real names used.

Here is one of her quotes about her new book: "I refuse to believe that any couple has NO complaints - impossible, when we share space everyday with our other half. I know George Clooney(10 plus that he is) has to have one irritating behavior - maybe smiling too much!"


Pat is an extraordinary woman. Just look at her credentials! Marriage counselor, author, speaker. She published "Successful Second Marriages," in 2009. It can be purchased from Amazon in both paperback and Kindle edition.


Patricia Bubash, M.Ed, LPC
Counselor / Author / Speaker
Stephen Minister
St. Louis  314 842 5460
http://www.successfulsecondmarriages.com 


When thinking about a marriage counselor you may think: Serious, Straight Forward, Soft Spoken.
And yes, Pat has those traits, but she's also a warm, friendly, and funny woman. I'm so grateful that our paths crossed a couple of years ago at.....where else... a book function! At a library!


If you're interested in learning more about submitting a story (or more) for this anthology, please contact Pat at:

patriciathecounselor@successfulsecondmarriages.com


And tell her, Becky sent me! (yes, the very forgetful Becky who was supposed to post this days ago, but I made sure I did this morning, before my cousin and I begin our day.)

Wandering Wednesday

As far as my rant yesterday, I really don't know what all the changes will be when all is said and done, and I decided to Go With The Flow and not waste [any more of] my time stressing over it! (But I can still be mad, right?!) AND, I googled Free Blogs, and found a couple that I messed around with yesterday. Also found a couple that weren't free, but were reasonable. I'm ready to just wait and see. And as Doris Day always sang  --  ♪♫ Que Sera, Sera. Whatever will be, will be.. ♪♫


* Also, I apologize for not responding to your comments lately. I honestly appreciate everyone who reads my blog, and especially those who take the time to leave a comment. AND, I've also been terrible about getting around to read all the blogs I love. I'm going to try to do much better on that. *

~~~~~

I won't be posting anything new until at least Sunday night. One of my cousins and her husband are coming to town. I'm SO excited because we've only seen each other twice since we were little girls, and I've never met her husband! She's bringing some old photos to share, too. ☺

  ~~~~~

(photo taken by Becky)

The Ronald and I are really enjoying bird watching. We have one bird feeder in our back yard (in above photo) and three in the front, all hanging from tree branches. My favorite is the cardinal. The males seem to have a particularly brilliant color this year. I have no idea if it's mating season, or what...but when I see and/or hear one, I must stop and revel in their charm and beauty!



Do you have any plans for the weekend? What brings you joy?




"In memory everything seems to happen to music." - Tennessee Williams

* TO ALL BLOGGERS *

TO ALL BLOGSPOT FRIENDS ~~~~

THE "NEW" AND "IMPROVED" BLOGGER GUI << whatever GUI means....IS GOING TO BE

FORCED UPON ALL OF US, IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. AND WE ARE BEING TOLD

THERE IS NO WAY TO KEEP OUR OLD (AND MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY, UNIQUE,

BEAUTIFUL) TEMPLATES, HEADERS, BACKGROUNDS, ETC.

I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS IN DIFFERENT COMMENT AREAS, BUT I REALLY

DON'T THINK ANYONE AT GOOGLE/BLOGGER IS LISTENING. I ALREADY SENT THEM

MY FEELINGS WITH THIS: "IF I WANTED A PLAIN AND BORING BLOG, I WOULD'VE

USED WORDPRESS!!" (sorry to all the Wordpress users...but that's how I view them.)

IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO?? I REALLY DON'T KNOW. AND IF ANYONE HAS

INFORMATION PROVING THAT WE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR OWN CREATIVE

LOOK....PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT OR E-MAIL ME.

HERE'S WHERE I FOUND THE MOST RECENT INFO:

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2012/04/better-get-into-new-blogger-gui-soon.html

  ** I am angry! How about you?! **

* Additional Info - 5:00 PM, CDT *

I've been searching for alternative, free blogs, that are user friendly AND have unique/creative templates, etc. So far, I've been playing around with www.simplesite.com. Please check out mine!http://www.simplesite.com/beckywritergal and let me know what you think...so far! I only have 1% of info on it! :)

"They paved paradise...And put up a parking lot..." -- Joni Mitchell

* Nostalgic Sundays *

Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

 

Off and on for the past couple of years, I've thought about the cardboard sewing cards I had when I was a little girl. They were lightweight cardboard, about 6" square, and had drawings on them, with holes punched in certain areas. The set also came with colorful yarn lengths that had the little plastic coating at the ends, so they wouldn't unravel.

(Above two pictures are from Kim

at Musings from Kim K.)

 

Here's one from Back 2 Vintage

See the "sewing" around Wendy on the left, and the tea pot on the right? I didn't  have these exact cards, but I had hours of fun with mine. They were great because they could be used over and over.

(google image)

Another favorite of mine....Paper Dolls!

And I LOVED the Lennon Sisters.

My family watched them every week on

The Lawrence Welk Show.

 Since I had two older sisters, I always felt like I was Janet,

 the youngest Lennon sister.

We even sang and harmonized a little bit.

I have such wonderful memories of my early years.

What about you? Did you have sewing cards and/or paper dolls? What were your favorites?

 

* Welcome to my newest follower, Anne from A Little Fur in the Paint. (Love that title!) I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! *

"There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again." ~Elizabeth Lawrence

* Calls for Submissions/Contests *

On Tuesday while lamenting about not having enough time for everything.....blah, blah, blah, I could've easily typed those few words that were actually about the contests and calls for submissions that I wanted to share. Duh!

So, without further ado ...(ahem...wasting more time)... here are just a few, that may be new to you. There I go, writing bad poetry again. Someone stop me, please!


Terri Weeding’s SUMMERTIME Little Ole Humor Writin’ Contest: No Fee
(I didn't see a Deadline, but did see this: Next Contest Opening Date: June 20, 2012 
http://terriweeding.com/little-ole-humor-writin-contest/


Women Who Write 2012 International Poetry & Short Prose Contest:
Entry Fee: $12.00 DEADLINE: June 30, 2012http://www.womenwhowrite.com/Submit.html

The Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest: Entry Fee $5.00/$10.00

DEADLINE: Postmark by July 31, 2012

http://www.dreamquestone.com/rules.html


Chicken Soup for the Soul: Calls for Submissions, Various Deadlines
Currently there are SIX anthologies that need your stories. A couple of them are recently posted, too. It's always a good idea to check their website often.
http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books


These are just a few that I happened upon. I'm only familiar with Chicken Soup, but the other ones do look legit. And don't forget....you can't get published or win anything, if you don't at least TRY! Enter. Submit. You never know! Good Luck!

"The role of the writer is not to say what we can all say but what we are unable to say." - Anaïs Nin

* To Do Lists *

What kind of things are on your To Do List? Mine just seems to keep getting more added to it, and hardly any crossed off. Go to post office and mail packages. Pick up photographs from art contest. Type up those notes from that meeting a month ago, that I've promised to different people. Do a blog post about different anthologies and contests I want to mention. Read those three library books I borrowed and already had to renew. Contact so-and-so about a guest blog post and book give-away. Write. Write. Write. Calls for Submissions, Contests, and my memoir. Add a zillion more things I need and/or want to accomplish. There's 24 Hours every day, yet even when I'm very careful about not wasting time, I feel like I don't have much to show for it when midnight rolls around. (Notice I haven't even mentioned house cleaning or laundry!)

Every day for the past week, I've told myself that TODAY is the day I'll reply to comments. I'll answer e-mails. I'll get to many of the blogs I want to stop at, read, and comment on. And another day goes by, and it's 12:30am and I have to get some sleep.

Well, at least I did work a lot on a chapter for my memoir the past two days, and I'm very pleased with myself for that. As The Ronald always says, "I've got that going for me!"

"How long a minute is, depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on." ~ Zall's Second Law

* Writers Make the World Go 'Round *

Two nights ago, I watched a fascinating interview on TCM - Turner Classic Movies. The actor Peter O'Toole (79 years old) told riveting and charming stories of his life before and during his stage and screen career. He's probably best known for his role as writer, T.E. Lawrence, in Lawrence of Arabia. Mr. O'Toole recounted hilarious tales about himself and one of his co-stars, Omar Sharif, during the filming of the famous "charge" scene, and how both tried to stay in the camels' saddles. (Can you believe they didn't use stunt men?) He talked at length about his various roles and co-stars and was highly entertaining.

(Lawrence of Arabia - 1963)

(age 79 - 2011)

Toward the end of the interview, Mr. O'Toole spoke about his writing. He's written two memoirs; Loitering with Intent: The Child and Loitering With Intent: The Apprentice. He said he is working on his third book, but didn't specify what it was about. But, he did say this about writing:

I love it, the writing process, but I don't have to like it. It's so frustrating. You feel you've written rubbish and you tear up the papers and walk around the room in circles. But it's a love affair. I like getting down there and putting on to paper. I never wanted to write until I was 40 or 50.

I didn't use quotes with the above, because I'm sure I don't have it verbatim, but it's very close. I especially enjoyed learning he didn't think about, or want to write until he was "older." I'll definitely check out his memoirs. If his writing is anywhere near as marvelous as his acting, then he's been given more than one precious, gift of talent.

One more thing. Sometimes we forget that although it takes a very good/great actor to create extraordinary performances.....none of it can happen without superb writing.....Writers make the world go 'round.....

* Also.... Welcome to my newest follower, Karen. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! *

"Writing is a kind of performing art, and I can't sit down to write unless I'm dressed. I don't mean dressed in a suit, but dressed well and comfortably and I have to be shaved and bathed." - -- Peter O'toole



* And The Winner Is...*

Good Morning! Happy Thursday! (Hey, I know what day it is today.) This post will be short and sweet, just like my review of Lois' memoir >> see yesterday's post.

Since being back from our little get-away at The Lake, I haven't gotten much accomplished, so today I'm kicking into high gear. Recently I read something about setting a timer for 30 minute intervals, in which to get various tasks done. (AND to keep from wasting time!) So, that's my plan of action for today!

And now, without further ado........THE WINNER of Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self, .........is............scroll down.........keep going......

VAL!

Since  many left TWO comments, I thought the most trustworthy way of choosing a winner, would be the old-fashioned way. Write names on tiny pieces of paper, fold, throw into a bowl, and pick one randomly.

It was kind of difficult, squatting down so I wouldn't see any names, getting my camera in position to snap the picture, AND grasp a piece of paper....but I did it, and didn't even lose my balance and fall over! (which wouldn't be uncommon for me)

Congratulations, Val! And many thanks to everyone who was kind enough to stop by and leave a comment or two.

As I'm cleaning house today, I'll have some of my favorite music blasting! (remember to check out my Play List) And when I'm writing, I'll either have no music, or soft instrumentals. Whatever you do today, make it magnificent!

"Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living." -- Anais Nin

* Blog Tour Book Review - Caring Lessons *

In last Wednesday's blog post, I wrote a little about Lois Roelofs, and my participation in the WOW - Women on Writing Blog Tour. Then yesterday, I mentioned it again.

Today I'm (finally!) posting my review of Lois' book: Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self.

I've never done a book review before, although I've read plenty of them. Mine will be different than most, I think. Mine will be short and sweet. If you'd like a longer one, those can be found at Amazon. It has a typical book synopsis and three reviews from readers.....all being 5-Star!

~~~~~~~

Lois began nursing school because her parents allowed only two careers for the girls in her family: Become a teacher or a nurse....without discussion or question. Helping her fifth-grade-teacher mother grade papers every night after supper, the only choice for Lois was nursing.


I love the way Lois writes. She drew me in right from the beginning. I hurt right along with her when she called home and begged to leave nursing school. I felt embarrassed with her when she didn't place the surgeon's gloves on correctly the first time, and also indignant about his verbal abuse.


Through her entire memoir, Lois bravely shares ups and downs in her professional and personal life, sometimes humorous, sometimes quite sad. There were parts I laughed out loud, and others I actually shed tears.


When I'd finished the book, I felt as if it went by too fast, just like Lois' amazing career seemed to do....from nursing student to a Ph.D. This is one of those rare books that I could read a second time, and I'm sure I will, sometime soon!


I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. You don't need to be in the health care industry or education to like it. If you're a woman and you like memoirs, you'll like it!  Run, drive, walk, or jog to your nearest book store and purchase a copy or two! OR search online and buy with a click or two. OR be sure and leave a comment here, or ask Lois a question, and you'll be eligible to win a FREE copy, directly from Lois. If you've already left a comment on last Wednesday's post, remember you can leave one again here, and have twice the chance of winning. Winner will be drawn and announced tomorrow.


* Just added at 11:30 AM.*
 Lois wrote some very lovely things about me on her blog post of today. Thank you, Lois!

Here's another line from Caring Lessons. I particularly love this one because it shows Lois' sense of humor, so much like mine!

"...we formed a human pyramid, cocked our heads up toward our classmates, and droned the Oscar Meyer wiener song. Our classmates had roared." Lois Hoitenga Roelofs

* It's Tuesday, and I'm Confused *

Yep, I'm confused...but that's nothing new, is it?! The Ronald and I spent most of Easter weekend with wonderful friends who own a house at "The Lake." We came home last night, so today feels like Monday to me.

These pictures were taken last September, because I forgot my camera this time....Grrrr...This is a view from their back deck, surrounded by ancient trees, sun and shade, a variety of birds, and other critters....and in the background, The Lake! Only a few houses separate them from the calming lull and beauty of the water.

 

This is a view while riding in their pontoon boat. Although this weekend, the water was almost continually as smooth as glass....and not a cloud in the glorious blue sky!

Ahhhh, can you say Relaxing?

Tomorrow I'll be back with my review of Lois Roelof's memoir, Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self which I previewed HERE. If you missed that blog post, please click on the link and check it out. To be eligible to receive a free copy of Lois' book, just leave a comment on that blog post, and/or on this one. Two comments  =  two chances to win.

I'm thrilled to say that I read most of it while relaxing on a certain deck Sunday and Monday! I feel as if I know Lois so well and that I'm one of her friends. To find out more about Lois, if you haven't already, please go to her BLOG.

So, come back tomorrow. I'll announce the winner of the memoir on Thursday. For my quote of the day, I'm using a sentence I particularly loved from Lois' book:

* Also.... Welcome to my newest follower, Beautiful Dees. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! *

"I loved teaching theory-based nursing, and in these post-conferences the students' reports played inspiring background music in my mind." - Lois Hoitenga Roelofs

* Happy Easter Weekend *

Happy Easter Weekend, everyone!  I'm not sure when I'll post something new, but wanted to wish you all a beautiful weekend.

Bunny with S&P Shakers

photo taken by Becky 2010



* Welcome to my newest follower, Audry Fryer. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! *

"On this Easter Sunday…. Forgive someone. Tell someone you love them. Let your light shine." -- Unknown

* Lois Roelofs - Guest Blog Post *

Hello everyone & Welcome! I'm excited to take part in a WOW-Women on Writing Blog Tour.

Since I'm writing my memoir, it made perfect sense to host Lois Roelofs, whose own memoir, Caring Lessons: A Nursing Professor's Journey of Faith and Self, was recently published by Deep River Books.

Lois was kind enough to not only provide me with an e-book, but with a snail-mailed copy, too. I'll be posting my review of it next Wednesday, April 11th, and will remind everyone a few days before then. I'm a little over half-way through it and I will say this much. I Love It! Lois writes so well and has an easy going style. I immediately became part of her story, as if I was one of her best friends. It's one of those books I read and read until the page becomes a blurry mess and I have to stop for awhile. I can't wait to finish it, yet I think I'll be sad then, too, because it will be over...you know?

Below is Lois' guest post, which she wrote specifically for today.

Hot Fudge Friends

by Lois Roelofs

In the seventies, my new friend Marianna and I abandoned our suburban sandbox lives to become urban graduate students at the University of Illinois. Every Friday, having survived the week, we celebrated at Marshall Field’s on State Street. Loving hot fudge, we’d order Frango Mint sundaes at the Crystal Palace, then glance at our tired but happy faces in the mirrored walls of the old-fashioned ice cream parlor.

 As we rehashed life in the era of Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique, our sundaes would melt into a mudslide of our newly feminist desires to plant our children in traffic, tie our husbands’ necks in ropes, and resume our nursing careers.

We became Hot Fudge Friends—ones who understood that neither of us really wanted to murder our families and return to nursing full time. Soon after graduation, Marianna moved away. Hot fudge sundaes stopped soothing my soul.   

Women who lose their Hot Fudge Friend can eat their sundaes alone. But without the sharing, the hot fudge and ice cream simply feel like calories racing to the hips.

A perfect day for separated Hot Fudge Friends has become annual visits. For over thirty years, we’ve had meet-ups at her home or mine. On my visits to her, we’ve visited Eleanor Roosevelt’s sculpture in Washington, D.C. and, after another move, Rodin’s The Thinker at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

When Marianna visits me, we traipse our old haunts in Chicago, no more Marshall Field’s, no more Crystal Palace, but we can still find hot fudge sundaes at Peterson’s Ice Cream, near her former home in Oak Park and close to Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie-style home.

We’ve also had meet-ups in other cities. We’ve flown to St. Petersburg Beach and bombed on our first attempt at karaoke, she on Leroy Brown and I on Love Can Build a Bridge. We’ve flown to New York City and stood silently together at Ground Zero. And we’ve flown to Atlanta and listened on tape to Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech in Ebenezer Baptist Church.   

Each meet-up Marianna and I hunt for hot fudge sundaes. Smooth silken hot fudge, topped with a mountain of whipped cream, the cherry, and a sprinkling of nuts. We reminisce, sharing the food of soul mates: parents’ deaths, husbands’ long-time support of our friendship, children’s’ successes, grandchildren’s brilliance. Careers ending, her breast cancer, my husband’s prostate cancer. Our aging, our writing, our blogging. Our exciting futures.

Marianna, my Hot Fudge Friend, nourishes my soul.

~~~~~

Thank you for writing such a beautiful story for us! Lois is also generously providing a copy of her book for a give-away, too. To be eligible, all that is required is to leave a comment or question for Lois here. That's it. No other fancy schmancy rules. BUT, if you also come back on the 11th and do the same thing on that post, you'll be entered twice.

** And those of you who Tweet, please help let others know about it, too! Use the hastag #Caring Lessons.

~~~

“Perhaps it seems odd that a casual meeting on the street could have brought about such change. But sometimes life is like that, isn't it?” -- Arthur Golden

* Hot Fun in the....Springtime *

Remember that fabulous song from 1969, Hot Fun in the Summertime, by Sly & The Family Stone? I've been singing it for days....in my mind.....and out loud! (My apologies to anyone who heard me.)

I am LOVING this weather and not taking it for granted. Who knows what kind of summer, fall, and winter awaits us. Friday I drove all around town with the top down on my PT Cruiser! FUN! (I have a silver one like the photos below....and it's paid for!) Yay!

(both images courtesy Google)



Tomorrow a record high temp of 90° is predicted. I have to keep reminding myself that it is just the beginning of April!

I don't know if it's this glorious weather, or the Vitamin D I've been absorbing, but I'm very happy. I'm looking forward to waking up tomorrow and finding out what the day holds for me. It will definitely include as much outdoor time as possible, for me....and Vern!

Vern on our deck, keeping me company!

A funny thing happened on the way to 300 Followers....It changed again! (See yesterday's post.)
When I logged on to type this blog post, my number was down to 299! I thought....Sheesh, I seem to be going the wrong way, which I intended to mention here. THEN, while still doing this post, I hopped to another site or two, and when I came back...BAM....I'm back to 300! Thanks to Joanne at A Certain Book. 

So, welcome to my newest follower, Joanne! I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

Wherever you are, and whatever kind of weather you're having, remember to Enjoy Yourself. Make yourself and others happy by your attitude. Smile! It almost always brings one back to you.



"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown,
for going out, I found, was really going in." - John Muir

* Nostalgic Sundays *

Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

Last year on November 30th, I wrote about Doris Day. It had to do with coming across a blogger's profile which said she loves Doris' movies. I have to admit I've probably watched every single movie of hers, numerous times. When I was growing up, I wished I looked like her, could sing like her, and be in movies like her. Well, we all know that didn't happen!

(Doris in the 1950s - courtesy Google)

BUT, as I also wrote in that November post, she did save my life!

(Doris in the 1960s - courtesy Google)

I actually wrote to Miss Day many years ago, telling her that reading her biography gave me the courage to get out of a bad marriage. A chapter in my memoir, Doris Day, A.E. Hotchner, and Me explains it all.

Would you believe I received a reply?? I sure did! She thanked me for writing. (I imagine she had a secretary who answered all her correspondence, but there was her signature.....as far as I know!) And can you also believe I have misplaced that note?? Yep. But, I know it is here, somewhere. I've looked in all the places I would keep something as important as that. I actually kept it in the same file for years. Why and how it got moved, I have no idea. Finding it is high on my List of Things to Do.

I'm writing about Doris again today because her 88th birthday is April 3rd. I have other blog posts already planned for the week, and where better to depict her than Nostalgic Sunday?

* Welcome to my newest follower, Gwen Buchanan. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! * (A funny side note: I reached 300 Followers with Jessie, on Wednesday the 28th, and right away lovely Gwen became 301....until today, that is. Somewhere along the line, I lost somebody, so now I'm at 300 again. And that is perfectly OKAY. I understand those kinds of things. So, Gwen, if you'd like to receive a tiny gift for being my 2nd 300th Follower, please let me know!!

Que sera sera
Whatever will be will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera sera