* This 'n That on a Saturday Morning *

Good morning! First of all, welcome to my two newest followers: The Quintessential Magpie & Rosemills! Thank you both for taking the time to stop and comment, and also become a follower. I truly appreciate it!

(courtesy: perfectlittlestiches.com)

Blog friend, TK Richardson over at My Writing Masquerade just listed 13 great links to various writer and publishing sites. She also has a contest that ends late Sunday, November 14th. Be sure and stop by!

Writing Contest: The Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Non-Fiction. I wanted to enter this last year and just got busy and missed the deadline. Here's part of what Brad Schreiber says: "Humor is subjective. Uniqueness is suggested. Weirdness is encouraged." So, I know some of you out there definitely fit those categories! It's a "snail mail" entry and must be postmarked by December 1st.

Writing Contest: Fine Lines 55 Word Writing Contest. Fiction only. E-mail or snail-mail. Deadline December 31st. I don't know anything about this one, but it sure looks like a fun challenge! Come on, you microfiction writers out there!

Writing Contest: Windmill Women Writers. Fiction, 1000 word limit, Deadline December 3rd. Here's the kicker....you story must have the word "Christmas" in it. It doesn't have to be ABOUT Christmas, though! Hmmm, interesting! Also, it doesn't mention that little bit of very important information on the Contest Guidelines page...only on the Home Page! Again, I don't know anything about this, other than it looked interesting and challenging!

I'm curious as to how many of you have entered any of the contests I've mentioned in the last few months. Please let me know, and obviously, I certainly want to hear the fantastic news of any winners or honorable mentions, etc.!! It's just for my own curiousity. I don't get paid anything for mentioning any of the contests or calls for submissions I post. I just like to share whatever information I come across that looks like it's worth sharing!

Have a beautiful, blissful Saturday!

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship." Louisa May Alcott  (Little Women)

** A September Sunday Night **

I experienced some Big Things today.

                                      I enjoyed autumn-like weather! Yay!      

My St. Louis Rams WON a football game!! Woo-Hoo! 

I told my publisher I wouldn't have my book completed before the end of this year and she was perfectly okay with that! Whew!

My sister was released from the hospital and sent home! Yippee!   

Notice I posted these in the opposite order of importance....although my sister and my publisher were hard to choose between...Just Kidding!!   BUT, I've been struggling, AGAIN, with staying focused, slipping in and out of The Zone, feeling inadequate....all those writer issues. I know it happens to ALL writers, famous and/or totally unknown, but it hadn't happened to me in quite a while. So, I finally "gave myself permission" to take a break from writing. I haven't spent more than a fleeting second or two even thinking about my book. I've turned to other interests that I hadn't been paying any attention to...making some greeting cards AND reading more! I also want to enter some writing contests (look out Sioux here I come!) and submit to all kinds of other publications. THAT should really help get my creative juices flowing again.

I still haven't talked to my sister, but have been kept up to date talking with my two adult nieces. I'll definitely call Marian tomorrow! If she says she wants me to come and stay awhile, you can bet I'll be hopping on a plane to Atlanta! Look out all my Atlanta-area blog friends!! I may be giving you a call, too!

Have a fabulously, blissful week y'all!

"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." ~ John Barrymore

** Comment Like Crazy Wednesday **

Hey Everybody! It's Comment Like Crazy Wednesday!  The fabulous TK Richardson, of My Writing Masquerade, came up with this wonderful meme, as a way to keep up with blog reading and commenting! She asked if I'd like to join along and I said "Sure"!

I believe many people struggle with issues about trying to write something on their blog every day or every other day. Some maybe don't have much going on at the moment that seems "Blog Worthy", or in most cases, don't have the time! SO, instead of struggling, trying to write something to post, how about taking the day off, and go visit your blog buddies....Read...and.... Comment Like Crazy!

(I'm not sure yet if Comment Like Crazy will be a weekly feature on my blog, since this is my first one, so I'll see what happens! TK said she will be doing it weekly, but not necessarily every Wednesday.)

 Here's how it works:

1. Instead of writing my normal blog post for (maybe) one day of the week, I will Comment Like Crazy on your blogs! (sounds simple, huh?)

2. The purpose of Comment Like Crazy is not to gain more followers, but to connect with those who follow me and those I follow. After all, how will you know I've read your blog if I don't say something?

3. It doesn't matter which day of the week I choose as long as I Comment Like Crazy when I do! So, this week it's Wednesday. Next week who knows?

4. I encourage all of you to grab the Comment Like Crazy button, and join in. The "rules" are simple and you'll be interacting with one of the best communities out there - bloggers! It's like hanging a "Gone Fishing" sign on your blog....only you won't be fishing! Readers will know you'll be back the next day, with one of your "scathingly brilliant" posts! (Thanks, Cathy C. for letting me borrow one of your/my favorite expressions!..and thanks to The Angels!)

Blogging takes a lot of time, energy, and thought. We put more into our blogs than people realize, and when we leave comments it gives us the fuel we need to keep on trucking - er, I mean blogging!

Thanks again to TK Richardson for suggesting this fun, interactive meme!

Ahhh, the pressure is off for today. No fabulous post to write. No photos to search for and download. I get to do one of my very favorite things: Visit my blog friends and let 'em know I was there! I can't wait!☺

"Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.” -- Unknown