Will Someone Please Rescue Charlie Sheen?

I don't watch the gossip shows on TV. I don't read any of that junk in magazines, newspapers or online. But just from what I've heard on the TV news the past few weeks, days, and hours....I honestly only feed sadness about Charlie Sheen.

I don't understand that kind of addiction because, thank goodness, I've never had to deal with anything that horrible relating to myself or anyone I know. But, I'm pretty sure that throwing millions of dollars toward an addict will only push him farther into his dependency and despair.

Robert Downey, Jr. somehow lived through something similar, got the help he needed, and look at him now. His career has been revitalized and I can only hope that he is happy and at peace with himself. Robert, are you out there? Can you please help Charlie? Somebody? Anybody?

Charlie Sheen is a gifted actor. He is a human being. He deserves to live....healthfully and peacefully.

"The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken." -- Unknown

* If I Think It's Thursday, It Must Be Tuesday *

I know I've used this title before, or something very similar, but it's exactly how I feel today! Deja Vu .... All Over Again!

My blog posts and comments are going to get fewer and far between. I'm getting down to the last stretch of the race.....completing my memoir......and I've got to concentrate on it now more than ever.

I will tell you this, too.....I'm 99% sure I've chosen the title.....and possibly the cover! I just have to get with my publisher and go over it with her.

It's hard to stay in my chair and keep writing and editing, when I'm bouncing off the walls with excitement! ☺

Oh, also Hello and Welcome to my two newest followers: Donna Fentanes & Catherine Lavoie! Thank you and I hope you continue to stop by whenever you have the time!

"Right now is the best time to lead and charge and check off one more action step toward the realization of your vision." -- Pat Croce

Benjamin Franklin a President - Who Knew?

Have you seen the recent Lowe's commercials on TV? They advertise their President's Day Sale, with animated currency floating down the screen....while a voice says something about saving lots of Benjamins and Washingtons.......hmmm.....I had to back it up the first time to make sure I heard it correctly. Yep. They think that Benjamin Franklin was a US President!! (old Ben is on the Hundred Dollar Bill) And why did they refer to him by his first name...and George Washington by his last?? And who wants to save a bunch of ONE DOLLAR BILLS anyway??!!

"Your ignorance cramps my conversation." ~ Anthony Hope

A Very Writerly Day

Today was one of my favorite kind of days. Talking about writing with other writers who love to talk about writing! Gimme that, a pen and paper, coffee, a snack....that's about all I need. Then after I'm home and have had time for everything to sink in, I open up my laptop and WRITE ABOUT MY WRITERLY DAY.

Got up early. Finally got my flash fiction contest story completed and mailed. (500 words or less...and I worked on it for hours/days....editing...writing....editing....and after the 10th or 15th edited version....It was ready to mail.)

Attended a brand new writers group. Met some new people. Also discussed and learned some things about the audio-visual business and how it works for promoting books.
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I've been asked a few times about Christian writers markets. I learned about one today that I didn't know of. It's a children's magazine, designed for 8 to 12 year olds: Pockets. I briefly looked it over. They pay for the accepted submissions, too, so if that's the genre you're looking for, click on the link and check it out. They accept stories/articles, poetry and what they referred to as "activities & games".
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I'm very happy to share portions of the e-mail I received today from author/designer extraordinaire, (Ms.) Michael Lee West:
I wanted to share exciting news about my new novel. The pub date for Gone With a Handsomer Man has been moved up to April 12. Barnes and Noble has selected the book as a Mother's Day pick, which was a delightful surprise and an honor.

When my first novel, Crazy Ladies, was published, the sticker price was under $10. Twenty one years later, the cost has gone up, up, up. So I thought I would pass along a pre-order discount for my new book, Gone With a Handsomer Man. You can save $10.94 by pre-ordering (hardcover). The price will increase to $24.99 on April 12. It should also be available at your local library (or via library loan) after the pub date.


You can read the first chapter at www.michaelleewest.com.


Also, if you'd like a free bookplate and bookmark, they should be ready soon. The bookplates have a darling peach logo, in honor of Teeny's peachy background. Just email me at (designsbygollum@gmail.com) if you are interested. Let me know how you would like the bookplate--autographed and/or personally inscribed. Also, let me know how many you'd like.
I already responded and asked for my bookplate because I'm definitely going to buy this book....AND definitely going to take advantage of the very generous pre-order price.

That's it for tonight, folks. I hope everyone had a beautiful, blissful day today. I know I did.

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else." -- Emily Dickinson

Borders is Closing - Big Sales

The Borders in St. Peters is closing. Not a surprise to many of us, since it's practically across the street from Barnes & Noble.....and also the fact that their inventory began to dwindle over a year ago. When I was in there a couple of weeks ago, it was really stripped down.

The good news for customers is the SALE PRICES. I just received an e-mail with the EVERYTHING MUST GO words in it. The sale starts today. I imagine it will be like the Christmas rush. I'm sure I'll have to stop by and at least LOOK!

Welcome and Hello to my newest follower, Patti! Thanks so much, Patti, and I hope you always enjoy stopping by.
"So many books, so little time." -- Unknown

Borders, Books, Dogs & Cats

* Yesterday I made an impromptu stop at a neaby animal rescue, knowing full well I'm not ready to get another dog. So, what did I do? I looked at the cats. I saw one in particular that reminded me of some  friends' gorgeous cats. He/she kept rubbing right up against the cage and letting me pet/scratch him/her. "It" was the only one in the entire room of cats I was interested in, so I went to the desk to ask about being able to hold it. There was paper work to be filled out. Then an attendant walked with me to the cat area. Inside the little "getting to know each other" room, the cat had no interest in me whatsoever. The little rascal only wanted attention while IN THE CAGE. Not to worry, says the attendant. I've got just the right cat for you. She brings back a boney, scrawny cat that doesn't seem any more interested than the previous one. This one, though, has a special effect on me. I STARTED TO BREAK OUT IN A RASH THAT ITCHED. (yes, I have been "kind of" allergic to some cats before, but that thought never occurred to me. Duh!)

Tiger-Girl   1/1/1997 - 12/13/2010  (I miss her so.)

Okay, so I allowed myself to be escorted back to the dog cages. There were about 20 dogs, and none of them did a thing for me. Just proves I am NOT ready for another dog in my life. And maybe I never will......And it also proved to me that I really do NOT want a cat, either...and that's good to know.

* This evening I got an e-mail from Mike Edwards, President & CEO of Borders. Betcha didn't know I was such good friends with him, did ya? Ahhh, I can't lie. It was a mass e-mail to everyone on their mass e-mail list. The good news is that Borders IS NOT going out of business. Whether Borders is your favorite book store or not isn't really important. As a book lover and published writer, I don't want to see any book store or publisher or agent go out of business, but that's exactly what is happening in the industry. Partly due to the economy and partly because of ebooks and self publishing. (That's a whole other subject which I'm not going to go into.) I'm just happy to know that Borders, as of today, filed for Chapter 11 and is reorganizing. Anyone interested in reading more about it, here's the link: www.bordersreorganization.com.

(The book stores and online store are all supposed to be Open For Business, as usual.)

A special Welcome and Thank You to my newest Follower: Beth Fred. Thanks, Beth! I hope you enjoy stopping here from time to time!

And, speaking of stopping by blogs....I want to apologize... I just can't seem to keep up with all the blogs I want to check on! I do peek at some, from time to time and just don't leave comments, and some I don't even get around to very often. I hope no one takes it personally. All my blog friends mean so much to me. Please understand that I'm desperately trying to get my memoir completed. That is at the top of my list, and other things are suffering because of it. But, Wow....is it ever gonna be worth it when I'm finished!

"Give me a home with stacks and stacks of books, warmth in the cold of winter, and coolness during a heat wave. Give me plenty of my favorite drink(s): coffee, tea and diet soda. Give me my loving husband and entire family and friends.....and still with all of this.....I weep because Tiger-Girl is not here to share it with me." -- Becky Povich

Love, Friendships & Inspirations

I'm not ignoring the fact that today was/is Valentine's Day, but since the 11th is our wedding anniversary, The Ronald and I always celebrate the two Love Events at the same time. We don't give each other gifts anymore, either, because after all.....we ARE each other's gifts!

A big Welcome and Thank You to my newest follower: Zev! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you continue to like what you read and see here.

I've been trying to remember which blog friend's book I was planning on buying next....Does anyone remember if I even mentioned it? I may have to change my plans and buy one every other month or so. I still have such a huge stack of books in my To Be Read pile, I feel as if I should tackle a few of them. I've got two in mind, in particular, that I really want to start, and they're both on my night stand. Hmmm, which one will win out?

Wonderful friend, Tammy, presented this awesome "You Inspire Me" award last month and I kept forgetting to post it...until just now. Thank you so much, Tammy. You inspire Me constantly. Below is what Tammy said about me on her blog:

"And finally, to Becky, great friend and writer, who inspires me as both...even though my stupid computer won't even show me most of her blog page. SIGH...."

Thanks again, Tam. And I hope sometime soon you'll get rid of the gremlins in your computer!

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with friendship." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Book Review - "The Somebody Who"

Last night I finished reading a fabulous novel, The Somebody Who, by my blog friend, Katie Gates.

I think it was last month I declared that I wanted to buy one book a month, from one of my published blog friends. I don't recall if there was any particular reason I chose Katie's....but somebody had to be first, right?!

I am not good at giving book reviews, in the proper "being-paid-to-write-book-reviews" sense. In fact, sometimes I don't even read book reviews, or the inside flaps of books, because I've been disappointed so many times by being given "TMI"....too much information! I don't want to know the beginning, the middle, and the end of a book before I even read it! Duh!

So, here's my thoughts on: The Somebody Who. I am an impatient reader. If a book doesn't grab me in the first couple of paragraphs, or pages, or at least the first chapter, I'm putting it back on the shelf. This book grabbed me from the very beginning.

Katie's descriptions are wonderful. I could visualize everything. I became friends with Evelyn and her housekeeper, Claudia. I felt the sadness and sense of loss, knowing that Evelyn's husband, Davy, had once been not only a brilliant man, but a loving husband and father to their four now grown children. Davy has Alzheimer's. Most of the book takes place around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Evelyn's love for Davy, her children and grandchildren is shown so well. There's also a touch of mystery, in the sense of questions that haven't been satisfactorily answered.

If I were giving out ratings for books, I'd give this one the highest rating -- ☺☺☺☺☺ Five Happy Faces!

I e-mailed Katie shortly after I began reading The Somebody Who, and told her it was one of those books I couldn't wait to get back to at night. I read and read until the words were so blurry, I had to stop, even when I wanted to keep on reading. I highly recommend it!