* Nostalgic Sundays *

It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday.

Thanks to Toby Speed's blog post of May 19th, "Things I miss about the low-tech life", I've begun writing snail mail letters/note cards again. And, it was the inspiration for my Nostalgic Sundays, too.

When I was a young girl, I had lots of pen-pals. I loved writing and receiving letters. How exciting to open the mail box and find envelopes addressed to me. As an adult, I wrote to my mother, sisters, brother, friends, etc. when I lived out of the state or country. Shopping at a stationery store was one of my favorite things. The boxes themselves were lovely, and then all the varieties of beautiful paper: parchment, onion skin, papyrus, vellum....all with matching or coordinating envelopes. Some women love shoes. Some love purses. I love paper!

The note cards above are the three I've received in the past month or so. The one on the left is obviously a beach scene. Ahhhh, beautiful and restful. The one in the middle is Nurse J. Rosebeetle, a wheelchair and a cliff. It came from a box titled: Neglected Murderesses. (isn't that a hoot?!) And finally the one on the right is a handmade card with tissue/parchment paper art. (And Patti, I couldn't find yours at the moment. I apologize. I will blog about it later, ok?!)

So, on this nostalgic Sunday, if you would like to receive a handwritten note from me, just send me an e-mail with your mailing address, and I will be happy to write one! (my e-mail is on my profile page)

P.S. It didn't occur to me until recently that writing letters WAS writing! Especially since I write personal essays and memoir. So, I guess I have been a writer for many years...and didn't even realize it! And....although I did type this blog post and I do type 99% of my writing...I believe I can handle both centuries!

** Also welcome to my newest followers: septembermom and Jo W. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

“I can envision a small cottage somewhere, with a lot of writing paper, and a dog, and a fireplace and maybe enough money to give myself some Irish coffee now and then and entertain my two friends.” --

Lt Richard Van de Geer

* Saturday Centus *

It's Saturday Centus time again.

In a nutshell, Jenny Matlock gives us a prompt from either herself or a guest submitter and then we have to write 100 words or less related to the prompt, (the prompt doesn't count toward the 100 words) in any style of story you choose. The only restriction is that your post must be PG! It's open until the following Saturday, so that means you have all week to participate by either reading or writing. The prompt this week is "..and the sign read..."

My take is below:

Wandering along a beautiful tree-lined trail, deep in my thoughts, I completely lost track of time. I realized though I should turn around and go back to my car. Ahead, though, a small sign caught my eye and I was curious about it. It appeared to be homemade. As I stepped closer I felt my knees get weak….and the sign read… Darling, I made a terrible mistake. I’m sorry. Please come home.

That was all it took. I literally ran back to my car and raced home. I wondered how many other broken-hearted lovers that sign had brought back together, even with no names.

(exactly 104 words including the prompt)

** Also welcome to my newest followers: Judi and joyful. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

* I WONDER *

Time for another "I Wonder" blog post.

I Wonder: Are any of you writing for any anthologies or contests? I mentioned this last Friday and I'm happy to say that I submitted a story on July 4th for Storm Country. That's kind of appropriate isn't it? Sending it in on our country's birthday.

I Wonder: Will I be able to write two stories to submit to Chicken Soup for the Soul before July 31st? I do believe I will. I've already begun one for the "Say Goodbye to Back Pain" book, and I have my eye on a couple of others. 

I Wonder: What books are you reading right now? I just picked up a book from the library (remember...no more buying books...at least for a while!) that I had to wait a couple of weeks to get. That's always a good sign when all the copies are checked out and on reserve, don't you think? The name of it is "Best Staged Plans" by Claire Cook. I happened upon Claire's blog and/or website last month (I have no idea how I arrived there.) She's having a give-away and other things going on. If you want to be inspired, you really must hop over and read about her. She has an amazing story...one that sounds dream-like, but is real. *Hint: one of her books was made into a very popular movie! 

** Also welcome to my newest followers: Diane, Deb, and Harry Goaz. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined."-- Henry David Thoreau

Microfiction Muse #14

This is my first time to take part in a new microfiction blogpost.

(*Note: I realized my wording was kind of misleading here. I've written microfiction before, but just not on Diane's blog. It was on Stony River's Microfiction Mondays, and those have been discontinued for quite some time. So, I was so happy to discover Diane's!)

Microfiction means the shortest of short stories. Think Aesop’s fables, comic strips, or even jokes: complete stories that can be told in under a minute. 

You are invited to write a story about a select picture in 140 characters or less (including spaces and punctuation).

 It is hosted by Diane Estrella. Please stop by her blog if you'd like to participate, too.

Here is my take on the photo:

"You are getting sleepy. Very, very sleepy.  You will obey my every command. Got that, mister?"

(95 characters)

** Also welcome to my newest follower: Marsha. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"My great mistake, the fault for which I can't forgive myself, is that one day I ceased my obstinate pursuit of my own individuality." -- Oscar Wilde

Happy Birthday, America!

We are not a perfect country, by a long shot, but we are free and have every opportunity to grow, learn, and enjoy a good life.

Welcome to my newest follower: Jen. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you." ~Author unknown, sometimes attributed to M. Grundler

* Nostalgic Sundays *

It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday.

(courtesy: google)

Who remembers this TV show and board game? I loved both! I thought it was so neat that the contestants could actually walk on the "game board" set up in the studio. And so, I just had to have the game. I think I bought it with my allowance!

 

(courtesy: google)

How about this game? Ever heard of or played this one?

The only times I've ever seen it or played it was with my cousins in Colorado. That was another one of our summer vacation destinations. They lived in the country and there wasn't much of anything to do but play card games and board games. This was my favorite because it has little plastic milk bottles, slabs of cheese, etc. What fond memories!

What about you? Do you have fond memories of board games? And were any of them just played during vacation, or just at certain homes?

Memories (sung by Elvis Presley)

Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind

Memories, sweetened thru the ages just like wine --Written by Bill Strange and Scott Davis

Surrounded by Books

Have you ever seen that episode on "Two and a Half Men" where Alan totally loses it in the book store? He's sad and upset that his little boy is growing up and doesn't need him as much anymore. So, Charlie, actually trying to be helpful, tells Alan that now he'll have the time to do the things he really wants to do. At first, Alan agrees and is happy, thinking about reading....and then becomes unglued, thinking he doesn't have enough time left in his life to read all the books he yearns to read. He starts yelling as he pulls one book after another off the shelves, and finally slips down onto the floor, sobbing as he drops books everywhere. (I found it hilarious, but then I have a warped sense of humor.)

 (courtesy: Google)

Yesterday afternoon I was attempting yet again to de-clutter my loft. It's such a beautiful room, with large windows, a ceiling fan, overlooks our entry foyer. I also have my collection of CD's, a few books and knick-knacks on a shabby-chic bookshelf. But, since we really don't use the room, over the years it's become my "craft" room. I work on my homemade cards there. I stash old photos, magazines and books in there. All with the promise to myself that I'll get it cleaned up and organized soon. But, unfortunately, the minute I walk past it, going down the stairs, I forget about it...until the next time I come up the stairs, go down the stairs, etc.

So, yesterday, I said to myself, "Self, you are going to get a good start on this room. You have no excuses, particularly since you're in kind of a writing slump!"  Hmmm...KIND OF?!

First things first. Pull out all the books that are in the shelf with really deep shelves, and then dust it. OMG, I found all kinds of books that I'd completely forgotten I had! It was like Christmas.....at first...but then, I began to feel a little like Alan. I have all these books I WANT to read. Some I even began at one time, but for some reason, just couldn't get into. Novels, memoirs, How-To books about writing (boy, do I ever need to start on those!)...

       (photo: courtesy The Overweight Bookshelf blog)

So, I began stacks of books.

One - books to definitely read asap.

Two - books to read after I read all in stack number one.

Three - books to donate to library

Four - books to use in my blog give-aways

Five - books to sell in our Saturday Writers Silent-Auction

I found myself completely surrounded by books and feeling overwhelmed. That's when the TV episode crossed my mind. I also felt a bit like the girl in the photo above, only I was sitting on the floor. How had this happened? Why wasn't I reading as much as I used to? I can think of two reasons: The time I spend writing my book, and the time I spend blogging. I need to make up my mind what the most important thing(s) are in my life (besides family & friends) and spend quality time on those. And reading is being pushed up to Number One for the month of July.

What about you? Do you have a task you keep putting off? Do you feel you are spending your time on what's really important to YOU?

Welcome to my newest follower: Jo. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! 

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead." —Louisa May Alcott

* I WONDER *

Can it possibly be Friday again, already?

** Psst....notice my new graphic to the top right  →
The one that says: "The One-Minute Writer.You have 1,440 minutes a day. Use one of them to write."

Isn't that fabulous? And doesn't it go perfectly with today's post? Thanks to brand new blogger friend, Jo, of Memorable Meanders, because that's where I saw it!

 I Wonder: How many anthologies will I submit something to during the month of July? I plan to write and enter at least three. It's so unproductive and uncreative of me not to do so. (and rather stupid, I must say! Although I would never say "stupid" about anyone else, I can say it about me!) Why is that? Because anything I write for an anthology can most likely be included in my memoir. And, if I get paid for it along the way....well, duh!

I Wonder: How many of you will join me in writing and submitting something to an anthology or contest? Let's keep track of our progress. We can help, advise, and encourage each other. What d'ya say? Come on! Let's go for it!

*After I wrote this post yesterday (and then realized it didn't seem like Friday yet, because it wasn't!) I did begin writing a story for one of the anthologies mentioned above! Yay! I'm so proud of myself. ☺
I'm working on one for the Storm Country book. I hope to have it finished way before the July 15th deadline.*

Welcome to my newest follower: Debora.  I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! 

"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