I've decided it's redundant to start any of my blog posts by saying things like, "I've had a couple of really busy days lately", because that's pretty much how it always is!
Here's my "This 'n That" for today.
First: I've been trying to avoid reading all my blog buddies' blogs, since I'm working on my book so much more now, but I decided that I need that connection! I need to leave comments and let my friends know I'm thinking of them. And I need them to do the same for me! I was kind of "blah" yesterday, and couldn't really put my finger on why....although there were a couple of things I was aware of.....but this morning, I knew it was about my blog friends! Thank you all for being who you are. You're all wonderful people, or else I wouldn't like you! ☺
Second: Somehow, somewhere, I recently came across a fantastic site for writers. It is jam packed with "Open Submissions" and a lot of it is for Christian writers, which I know some of you are. There are also other genres, too. When you're there, be sure to click on "Home" and "Submission Deadlines". You'll be amazed at the variety and quantity.
Third: Patchwork Path Books has a Call Out for "Mom" stories. Deadline June 30 and is a paying anthology. Click on link to learn more.
Fourth: For any teachers, scrapbookers, moms, etc. who like fun, educational toys, school supplies, stickers, etc....you can find it all at Best Teacher Supply in O'Fallon, Missouri. Since this store isn't very far from my home, I was fortunate enough to visit it and go "Ga-Ga". (and I don't mean that strange girl singer!) I discovered the store has been there for YEARS and somehow it hasn't been very well known, ....at least by us "general public" kind of people! I found it by Googling award certificates that I needed to purchase for the Saturday Writers 3rd & 4th Grade Writers Contest. (Remember the 42 million certificates I had to write on?? Well, that's where I got them. The certificates were very good quality, the customer service was excellent....all in all a great store!
Fifth: Wednesday was an absolutely perfect day! Perfect weather, perfect driving conditions, and I had perfectly wonderful visits with two perfectly wonderful people! (My apologies. I just couldn't think of any better word than "perfect"!) My first stop was at Parks College of Engineering, Aviation & Technology.....part of St. Louis University, in St. Louis. I stopped by to visit Susan B. and pick up some photos of my dad she had borrowed last year. (If you're new to my blog, and would like to know more about this, go to my 2009 blogs: Parks College, Part of SLU 4/8/09, Update on Parks & NASA 4/29/09, Sentimental Journey 9/26/09)
After our visit, I drove to University City (right next to St. Louis) to have dinner with my son, Mark. I got there a little early, so I sat outside the Bread Co. which is near his apartment building. I drank iced tea, watched the people and cars go by, wrote a few notes, checked my e-mail and blogged a little on my Blackberry! He and I went to the Pasta House for dinner...one of his favorite places. That poor guy ate like he hadn't eaten in days! He said he's been living on PBJ's, Cheezits and frozen pizzas, which didn't surprise me one bit! We had a great time talking about a variety of things. Next stop: a shoe store where I bought him a pair of flip-flops and a pair of Sketchers. (He could practically pull his shoe apart, by the huge tear in it!) Final stop: grocery store and only bought enough items to use the Self Check Out!
See? Didn't I tell ya it was a perfect day??!!
Sixth: The Weather Channel is predicting quite a wacky weekend for a large part of the Midwest, my area included. I hope they are all wrong, because I certainly do not want to climb out of my basement and say to my beloved dog,....."Tiger, I don't think we're in Missouri anymore." If I do have to run downstairs, I'm taking my laptop, some Diet Pepsi and Tiger! And, if Ron, my hubby, is home...I'll have to drag him down with us, because he doesn't seem to believe in Tornado Warnings!
Guess that's it for now! I hope I haven't bored y'all to death. If you started to nod off, though, I'm sure you just went on to a different blog.....that's what I would do!! (Even after all this, I feel as if I've forgotten something I wanted to "say"....Oh well....I can always add it later!)
"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams." -- Ashley Smith
*footnote: But not too much wind, please!*
ALL WHO WANDER ARE NOT LOST.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
** Bliss = Spiritual Joy **
Sometimes it takes a while for things to sink in, ya know?! In my previous post, I went on and on about the "Twilight Zone" moments I've been having. Daisy left a comment and referred to them as "cosmic encouragement", which is a fabulous name, don't ya think?! Thank you, Daisy! So, after reading her words, it hit me! I'm FOLLOWING MY BLISS AND THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO (AND FOR) ME!
* I posted the following poem on April 21st, but I think it's well worth posting again. Have a wonderful, blissful day, everyone! *
"Follow Your Bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else."
-- Joseph Campbell
(image courtesy: zazzle.com)
Duh! I even put that at the top of my blog: Writer-Humorist-Bliss Follower.
What can I say? Sometimes I wonder about that crowbar incident. You'll have to read my book to find out what that means!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* I posted the following poem on April 21st, but I think it's well worth posting again. Have a wonderful, blissful day, everyone! *
"Follow Your Bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else."
-- Joseph Campbell
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
* ♫♪ Pieces of April ♫♪ *
In honor of tonight's post, I have one song on my Play List: Pieces of April, by Three Dog Night. I really loved this band when I was in high school. (yeah, I'm pretty darn old!) It's kind of a departure from their more rock 'n roll songs, which I also love. Hope you enjoy listening to it!
Ron and I went to Barnes & Noble this past weekend. We hadn't been there in quite some time, so it was great to be back "home"! I headed straight to the Really Great Bargain Table near the customer service desk. I spotted one of the signs I love to see: 75% Off, Already Marked Down Price. Oh yeah! There wasn't much left, mostly children's Easter books, & some odds and ends. I've learned to not judge a book by its cover, and also don't give up on a bargain table too quickly! I proudly skipped up to the check-out counter a while later with four novels in my little green basket and my total bill was $5.05 Oh Happy Day!!
Those of you who've been reading my blog for some time, know that I like to use "The Twilight Zone" term when those ESP-like, strange, weird, psychic kind of things happen to me...... WELL, in just the past 24 Hours, I've been getting so many of those Twilight Zone signals, that it's amazing, fascinating, and surreal. And it surrounds me with a feeling of Yes, I couldn't be more sure that now is the time to write this book.
Example One: Last night I was upstaris in my office, writing a chapter about my dad, when I went downstairs to get a drink. Ron was watching TV and before I even saw the screen, I knew what he was watching, just by hearing some of the dialogue. It was the movie: "Max Dugan Returns", which I wrote about in a Chicken Soup for the Soul story, that was about my dad and me. (I hadn't seen that movie in years!) *OMG*
Example Two: This morning, I got an e-mail from Amazon stating that a new CD is coming out next month by Bing Crosby. (Yes, I bought his Christmas CD! It is the "Soundtrack of My Christmas". And the song, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is also mentioned in my Chicken Soup story about my dad and me.) The title of Der Bingle's "new" release mentions the year I was born. *OMG*
Example Three: I had a doctor appointment today (after I'd read the Amazon e-mail). I took one of my newly purchased books along to read while sitting in the waiting room. Before I'd even gotten to page ten, I was shocked to read descriptions and phrases that are so similar to ones I've already written! *OMG*
Okay! I get it! I'm hearing it loud and clear! I was already motivated and excited about working on, and completing my book! But, these happenings have made me stop and do some deeper thinking, than I was already engaged in!
So, I'd like to ask.....What's your take on all this?? Can you come up with a better name for it other than "The Twilight Zone"??
"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." ~Sylvia Plath
Ron and I went to Barnes & Noble this past weekend. We hadn't been there in quite some time, so it was great to be back "home"! I headed straight to the Really Great Bargain Table near the customer service desk. I spotted one of the signs I love to see: 75% Off, Already Marked Down Price. Oh yeah! There wasn't much left, mostly children's Easter books, & some odds and ends. I've learned to not judge a book by its cover, and also don't give up on a bargain table too quickly! I proudly skipped up to the check-out counter a while later with four novels in my little green basket and my total bill was $5.05 Oh Happy Day!!
Those of you who've been reading my blog for some time, know that I like to use "The Twilight Zone" term when those ESP-like, strange, weird, psychic kind of things happen to me...... WELL, in just the past 24 Hours, I've been getting so many of those Twilight Zone signals, that it's amazing, fascinating, and surreal. And it surrounds me with a feeling of Yes, I couldn't be more sure that now is the time to write this book.
Example One: Last night I was upstaris in my office, writing a chapter about my dad, when I went downstairs to get a drink. Ron was watching TV and before I even saw the screen, I knew what he was watching, just by hearing some of the dialogue. It was the movie: "Max Dugan Returns", which I wrote about in a Chicken Soup for the Soul story, that was about my dad and me. (I hadn't seen that movie in years!) *OMG*
Example Two: This morning, I got an e-mail from Amazon stating that a new CD is coming out next month by Bing Crosby. (Yes, I bought his Christmas CD! It is the "Soundtrack of My Christmas". And the song, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is also mentioned in my Chicken Soup story about my dad and me.) The title of Der Bingle's "new" release mentions the year I was born. *OMG*
Example Three: I had a doctor appointment today (after I'd read the Amazon e-mail). I took one of my newly purchased books along to read while sitting in the waiting room. Before I'd even gotten to page ten, I was shocked to read descriptions and phrases that are so similar to ones I've already written! *OMG*
Okay! I get it! I'm hearing it loud and clear! I was already motivated and excited about working on, and completing my book! But, these happenings have made me stop and do some deeper thinking, than I was already engaged in!
So, I'd like to ask.....What's your take on all this?? Can you come up with a better name for it other than "The Twilight Zone"??
"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." ~Sylvia Plath
Sunday, April 25, 2010
* The Countdown is On *
Have you noticed my new Countdown gadget?! It's kind of hard to miss, isn't it?
I wish I could say I thought of it all by myself, but I did not. I saw a countdown gadget at a new blogger-friend's site. Her name is: June Freaking Cleaver! (I mean, how could I not check out a blog with a name like that!!) Actually, her blog's name is: The Ratio of Failures, but she lists the "June" name as hers!
Going along with my new determination to get my book completely written, and imposing a deadline on myself, I thought what better way than to have a visual countdown, right here on my blog. Because, after all, I do look at it from time to time!
My publisher told me I need to give her about 2 months from the time I complete my book, until it can finally be published, due to edits, re-writes, etc. I decided I'd like to have it published in time for The Big Read, which is every October in St. Louis. The date I've chosen does have significance in my life. It's the birthday of my late sister, Jo Ann, who died in 1984 from a brain tumor. I would like to honor her, by having accomplished my dream: (of which she never even knew) finishing my first book....part memoir and part current thoughts and observations.
Please send me lots of encouragement and support! I'll definitely need it!
"When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself." -- Isak Dinesen
I wish I could say I thought of it all by myself, but I did not. I saw a countdown gadget at a new blogger-friend's site. Her name is: June Freaking Cleaver! (I mean, how could I not check out a blog with a name like that!!) Actually, her blog's name is: The Ratio of Failures, but she lists the "June" name as hers!
Going along with my new determination to get my book completely written, and imposing a deadline on myself, I thought what better way than to have a visual countdown, right here on my blog. Because, after all, I do look at it from time to time!
My publisher told me I need to give her about 2 months from the time I complete my book, until it can finally be published, due to edits, re-writes, etc. I decided I'd like to have it published in time for The Big Read, which is every October in St. Louis. The date I've chosen does have significance in my life. It's the birthday of my late sister, Jo Ann, who died in 1984 from a brain tumor. I would like to honor her, by having accomplished my dream: (of which she never even knew) finishing my first book....part memoir and part current thoughts and observations.
Please send me lots of encouragement and support! I'll definitely need it!
"When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself." -- Isak Dinesen
Friday, April 23, 2010
** Time For A New Look - A New Beginning **
I've really had the urge to get a new template for my blog, especially after seeing so many really cool and unique ones .... But, I also feared trying to get technical and then totally screwing up what I already had, and I certainly didn't want to do that! So, I've chosen a relatively simple and safe one to go with, plus it seems to suit my style. What d'ya think?
It's a New Dawn (not really), a New Day (almost) and time for a New Look! On my blog, that is. I could also use a new look for "me", but one thing at a time!
I've also decided that this coming Sunday, April 25th, the beginning of a new week, will be My New Day, to get totally focused and stay totally focused on the writing of and completion of my book. I've allowed way too many things to get in the way of succeeding and That Stops Now! This is my New Look and my New Beginning!
"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts." ~ Unknown
It's a New Dawn (not really), a New Day (almost) and time for a New Look! On my blog, that is. I could also use a new look for "me", but one thing at a time!
I've also decided that this coming Sunday, April 25th, the beginning of a new week, will be My New Day, to get totally focused and stay totally focused on the writing of and completion of my book. I've allowed way too many things to get in the way of succeeding and That Stops Now! This is my New Look and my New Beginning!
"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts." ~ Unknown
* Hallelujah - Celebrate - I'm Finished! *
In honor of completing my 42 million, hand written certificates, for the children's writing contest.....
I have changed my Play List to play just a snippet of the only song that I feel is appropriate....
You may join in the Sing-a-Long, if you'd like!
*Sorry...no quote on this post. I'm too tired to find one on being too tired.*
I have changed my Play List to play just a snippet of the only song that I feel is appropriate....
You may join in the Sing-a-Long, if you'd like!
*Sorry...no quote on this post. I'm too tired to find one on being too tired.*
** If It's Friday, I Know Where I Am **
I was up rather late again last night, hand writing all the necessary info on the certificates I've been working on for a couple of days. I'm so very happy to announce that I am now on the downhill slope and will have everything completed early today. Knowing that it's for 3rd & 4th Graders who entered a writing contest, made it much more fun than say, for... something adults participated in! And it was a great assignment to help improve my penmanship! Boy, there's a word you don't hear anymore. I proved to myself that I can still write, without it looking like a doctor's prescription for meds.
Okay. Much to do today, so this will be short and sweet! Ah yes....just like me!
"For many children, joy comes as the result of mining something unique and wondrous about themselves from some inner shaft." -- Thomas J. Cottle
Okay. Much to do today, so this will be short and sweet! Ah yes....just like me!
"For many children, joy comes as the result of mining something unique and wondrous about themselves from some inner shaft." -- Thomas J. Cottle
Thursday, April 22, 2010
** What? .... It Isn't Still Tuesday?! **
Due to the necessary evils of opening junk mail and bills (no, not a single handwritten note or letter!), and then deciding which bill was urgent enough to pay today.... I don't have much time to blog right now.
PLUS, the fact that I still have 42 million "Participation Awards" to fill out and 10 "Congratulations Awards" to fill out...all in my pretty-as-possible handwriting, which I absolutely must have completed by tomorrow night! Aacckkkk!!
Just wanted to mention two new books that are coming out next month, by two of my favorite authors.
"The Family Man" by Elinor Lipman
"The Red Thread" by Ann Hood
I learned a long time ago, NOT to read the front jackets or much of ANY information about a book. They used to just give enough information for the reader to decide if they might want to read it or not. Then the day came where the jacket gave me the entire plot, AND ruined the story for me!
So, all I can tell you about both books is this:
Elinor's is humorous, while Ann's is (as one review said) a tearjerker!
One more thing. I've read a book or two by both authors, that weren't exactly my favorites and/or didn't quite live up to my expectations, but all in all, I'm really glad I read them all.
P.S. If you have your volume turned off because you don't like hearing music while you read blogs, please give mine a listen. I've changed it again, back to some incredibly beautiful songs.
"Real luxury is time and opportunity to read for pleasure." -- Jane Brody
PLUS, the fact that I still have 42 million "Participation Awards" to fill out and 10 "Congratulations Awards" to fill out...all in my pretty-as-possible handwriting, which I absolutely must have completed by tomorrow night! Aacckkkk!!
Just wanted to mention two new books that are coming out next month, by two of my favorite authors.
"The Family Man" by Elinor Lipman
"The Red Thread" by Ann Hood
I learned a long time ago, NOT to read the front jackets or much of ANY information about a book. They used to just give enough information for the reader to decide if they might want to read it or not. Then the day came where the jacket gave me the entire plot, AND ruined the story for me!
So, all I can tell you about both books is this:
Elinor's is humorous, while Ann's is (as one review said) a tearjerker!
One more thing. I've read a book or two by both authors, that weren't exactly my favorites and/or didn't quite live up to my expectations, but all in all, I'm really glad I read them all.
P.S. If you have your volume turned off because you don't like hearing music while you read blogs, please give mine a listen. I've changed it again, back to some incredibly beautiful songs.
"Real luxury is time and opportunity to read for pleasure." -- Jane Brody
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