* MY BLOG IS BONKERS! *

Soon after I logged-in to my blog this morning, intending to write a new post, it began looking different......

The right column disappeared, only to be found on the LEFT side, way at the bottom of the page.

The fonts in all the posts after Melissa Goodwin's interview, are HUGE, too.

I've looked at other blogs, and they all look NORMAL. I've "re-saved" my layout in both the regular setting AND the Blogger Template Designer, to no avail.

Does anyone have any ideas to help me??

These kinds of things drive ME bonkers, so if my blog is acting that way, I am, too!

 

Acccckkkkkkkkk!

 

 

(I'm excited to post news about a library book presentation I did last night, but that will have to wait until I get this wacky blog straightened out.)

* My Followers Disappeared & So Did Yours! *

Have you noticed that the little box that shows the faces of all your followers has gone missing?? I noticed it on mine this morning and knew I hadn't deleted it. I just checked a couple other blogs and theirs are missing, too! There's the word "My Followers," but that's it! Does anyone have any ideas about it? 

*Ah, yes....the cute little faces returned! Whew! *
Thank you to everyone who reassured me by leaving a comment, too!

* TESTING FOR BLOG UPDATE *

I just changed a setting on my blog, hoping it took care of my blog roll problems.......

Why am I feeling negative about this??!!

YAY IT WORKED! Thank you, Kathy M. for pointing me in the right direction to find the answer!! 

And now....I can say Nighty Night. 

We're expecting a pretty big snow storm here over the next 24 hours or more. Wherever you are, and whatever weather you're having, I hope you have a restful, peaceful Sunday. 

Ahhhh, Vern knows how to take it easy!

He's sleeping with his little stuffed animal here....awwww!

“Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” 
― Dean Koontz, False Memory

* A Plethora of Writing Contests - March 13 *

* A Plethora of Writing Contests *

Yesterday I deleted this post, hoping it might help restore my newest updates on Blogger Roll List, but it didn't. If you read this on your blog list, please stop by. I've posted on the 14th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st.....yet the Blog Roll List continues to show March 13th as the newest. I can't figure it out, can you?!

~~~~~

My intention for today's post was to mention a couple of Calls for Submission for anthologies, and maybe a contest or two. WELL, I seem to have discovered a treasure trove of them, all on one site: TETHERED BY LETTERS. 

* A Plethora of Writing Contests *

My intention for today's post was to mention a couple of Calls for Submission for anthologies, and maybe a contest or two. WELL, I seem to have discovered a treasure trove of them, all on one site: TETHERED BY LETTERS.

This one site will keep you busy for quite a while, jotting down titles and dates. And since I don't want to overwhelm my fellow writers.....like we're not overwhelmed enough already?!....I'll post more writerly information on another day. (Speaking of dates, today is 03/13/13. Just thought I'd throw that little tidbit of news in!)

Let me know if you intend to submit something to any of these, ok? Best of luck to everyone!

"My goal is to inspire you to make room in your life to be the writer you've always wanted to be." -- Adair Lara, author of Naked, Drunk, and Writing: Shed Your Inhibitions and Craft a Compelling Memoir or Personal Essay
This one site will keep you busy for quite a while, jotting down titles and dates. And since I don't want to overwhelm my fellow writers.....like we're not overwhelmed enough already?!....I'll post more writerly information on another day. (Speaking of dates, today is 03/13/13. Just thought I'd throw that little tidbit of news in!)


Let me know if you intend to submit something to any of these, ok? Best of luck to everyone!




"My goal is to inspire you to make room in your life to be the writer you've always wanted to be." -- Adair Lara, author of Naked, Drunk, and Writing: Shed Your Inhibitions and Craft a Compelling Memoir or Personal Essay

* HELP - BLOGGER NOT UPDATING MY POSTS *

If you happen upon this particular blog post, please leave a comment if you have any suggestions about my Blogger Roll List problem.

Yesterday while visiting other bloggers, I noticed that the ones who list mine on their Blog Roll, all showed my latest blog post as "A Plethora of Writing Contests" from March 13th. BUT, since that time, I've posted four more new posts: March 14th, 15th, 17th, and 19th.

I haven't made any changes to anything, other than my profile photo. I even put the previous one back on, just in case it had anything to do with it, which it did not.

Obviously this is not really a problem, in the big scheme of things, but it sure is annoying. When readers see that a blog hasn't had a new post in quite a while and/or since they last visited it, they're most likely to skip right past it.

One other thought. If you presently have my blog listed on your Blog Roll and it still shows March 13th as the most recent post, please remove it from your list and then put it back on. Maybe that will update it. Please let me know the outcome!

* NOTE: March 21, 11:00pm  I deleted that blog post from March 13, hoping it might make blog rolls show the current post....but that didn't work as far as I can tell. Oh well...I'm going to quit thinking about it. 

Anyone have any ideas?

Also, I decided it was time to change my template and background! It's been a long time...and I kind of like my new look! *


In the meantime, I'll be listening to some great music, or half-watching, half-listening to Andy Griffith reruns, as I continue to sort and pack household items.....getting ready for our move.

"Tough times don't last. Tough people do." - Gregory Peck 

Guess Who's a Guest Blogger?

ME! Before I thought of asking for VGBs for my blog, I was asked by Linda Joyce to be a guest blogger at hers. Thankfully, Linda is a very kind and patient person, because it took me forever to decide what to write about and keep it within the word limit. But finally last night, I e-mailed my post to her and it will be ready to read tomorrow, Wednesday the 20th at 8:00am CST. So please stop by and leave a comment to let Linda know you were there! Thanks, everyone.

* Note: I've been told that my post is not yet on Linda Joyce's blog. I'm sorry for any inconvenience. I've e-mailed her to ask about it. Thank you, Kathy! It's now 10:00 am CST. I'll add another update when I know more. 

* Okay, there was a minor glitch, but you can now read my guest post on Linda Joyce's blog. Thanks! 10:20 am CST

And speaking of VGBs......my next guest blogger will be Kathy Matthews from Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy. Her post will be here on Thursday, the 21st. I haven't come up with any kind of schedule for my VGBs, so there's no deadlines, etc., if anyone else is interested. I'll just keep using them every few days.

I leave you with 

"Stuff That's Been Keeping Me Busy"

Finishing and submitting my essay to Tiny Lights that was due 2/15.

Sending my memoir online to my local FedEx, to have it printed on both sides of paper, in its new and correct collation. I just picked it up two hours ago, but haven't had a chance to sit down and READ it yet! 

Gathering information about different contests and calls for submissions I've come across, so I'll have them in order and possibly remember to submit something in time. 

And a bunch of other stuff I don't have the energy to type. Geeez!

"The trick to getting things done is to list things to do in doable order." -- Robert Brault

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

Eek, Yikes, Grrrr

♪♫   In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning  ♪♫

I tried to read and leave comments in blogs last night, way past midnight.....Grrrr.

I read horror stories of bloggers totally losing their blog information.....Yikes!

I found a blog with "explanations" to some of the problems, partly which I don't even understand....Eek.



So, I'm taking this as a sign to stay completely away from Blogger. (at least for today!) I'll be doing my "homework"....answering Natalie Goldberg's questions in "Old Friend from Far Away" & fueling my writing soul.

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

 

P.S. I'm VERY aware of my two biggest struggles with my writing; and because they are Procrastinating & Perfection, they certainly explain why I haven't gotten much accomplished.....And so with that, I leave you with today's quote:

"This morning I took out a comma and this afternoon I put it back again." -- Oscar Wilde