* I WONDER *

It's Friday and time for another "I Wonder."

Usually, I can't read more than one book at a time, although I know many of you can. Right now, though, I'm reading two :

1) The Wildwater Walking Club, by Claire Cook (love her books)

2) Reading & Writing from Literature (textbook)

1) I'm only on Chapter 8 (which are called Days, not Chapters....three women walk together every day...so it's Day 1, etc.) but I know I'll zip right through it.

2) I LOVE the textbook! I have no idea where it came from and it looks brand new. I discovered it last week when I was in the midst of my on-going-loft de-cluttering. There are three book shelves in a room not big enough for them, plus the other furniture. Anyway, why do I love this book? Many reasons:

The Paper. It is almost tissue paper thin. It is so delicate that I touch and turn the pages as if they were made of ...what ?...something so precious I'd never want them to break.

The Scent: Have you ever stuck your nose inside a book? Come on, admit it. It's not too weird. It smells as lovely as the paper is delicate.

The Multitude of Remarkable Writers and Knowledge: Ray Bradbury, Walt Whitman, James Joyce, Eugene O'Neill, Maya Angelou, etc.etc.etc! Short stories, poems, essays, and plays. Point of View, Characters, Dialogue.

I feel the way I did when I was a young girl in September, and it was time for school to start again.

So, my I Wonder for today is: How many books can you read at the same time? What are you reading now? AND, do you like the scent of a book?

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers."-- Charles W. Eliot





* SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT OF MAXINE HELPS *

Wow! It's amazing how much I can accomplish when I wake up and I mean Wide Awake, at 5:00 am. After just a few minutes, I realized I wasn't going back to sleep, so I got up and began my day. I glanced at the time I began writing this and was shocked to see it wasn't even noon yet. Woo-hoo...I'm going to make real progress on numerous tasks today. AND, all you writers will be pleased to know I wrote quite a bit in my memoir this morning. I'll be writing much more, too, before the night is over.

Those who've been stopping by for a few months or more, also know that every now and then I get in a mood about choosing a title for my memoir. I make myself crazy for a few days, thinking I can't possibly write another word until THE TITLE is chosen. I've even listed chapter names and asked who thought any of them would make a good title. But that's a bit difficult, since none of you have read any of it yet...well, except for a few people in my critique group!

Part of my predicament is the fact that *I DID have a title. For YEARS. I just KNEW* it was a fabulous, eye-catching title. But...a couple of things have made me question it over the past few months...so I'm kind of back to square one.

Addem: 6:50pm CDT: As some of you know, the title I've been carrying around in my mind, FOR YEARS, is "That Crowbar Changed Everything".  A pretty important person doesn't like it, but everyone else who's ever heard it, loves it and wants to know...."HUH?" What's the story? And as I type this, I'm leaning back toward it again... ☺

What about you? If you're a writer, what makes you crazy from time to time?
And if you're not a writer, I'd like to know what makes you crazy, too!

Also welcome to my newest followers: Mommies Frugal Finds, Sandi, and Linda Medrano. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"Yelling really loud can sometimes ease tension…and sometimes it makes everyone else in the library jump out of their skin." -- Maxine

Microfiction Muse #19

Welcome to a new weekly feature from Diane Estrella: The Microfiction Muse! 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).

Ha! It's gonna be so fun taking my first slide down that water slide around the back. They'll never figure out how I got up here, either!

(my count: 137)

* Nostalgic Sundays *

It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday.

I think I've mentioned more than once that I love iced tea in the summertime.

No matter what cold drink you sip or guzzle in hot weather, the drinking glass (whether it's really glass or plastic, etc.) tends to get tiny droplets of moisture on the outside.

When I was a little girl, in the 1950s, no kitchen was without very important, priceless items, made just for that little inconvenience.......

Little Terrycloth "Sweaters"!

How many of you remember these? You wouldn't believe how time consuming it was to find a set of these in the twenty-first century! I have a set of four: hot pink, pale pink, bright yellow and pale blue.

How I love drinking my iced tea, or Diet soda, from a glass filled with ice cubes.....using my "little terrycloth sweater"!

P.S.  After posting this, I searched online for somewhere to buy these cute little terry cloth covers, and I hit the pay dirt when I wound up on The Vermont Country Store, because they not only have the adorable covers, but also the fabulous, colorful aluminum tumblers of my childhood! These are the drinking glasses we had and used the "sweaters" on!! ☺

(Both photos courtesy The Vermont Country Store)

 "Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world." -- Ada Louise Huxtable

* Intuitive Mentoring *

I did it! About an hour ago, I submitted my story for the Chicken Soup for the Soul book, "Say Goodbye to Stress!" The deadline is tomorrow and I didn't want to be stressing about getting it sent in time. I spent a lot of time on this one, so it probably won't be accepted. Sometimes you can write a story to death. I don't think I did that to this one, but the buzzards were beginning to hover.

That was my third submission to Chicken Soup in two weeks, which is indeed a record. I don't know what's happened to me, but whatever it is, I'm hanging onto it with both hands. I can't wait to begin working on another submission and/or chapter in my memoir. I swear I have never been this enthused and motivated and had such a desire to write.

It would be too much of a coincidence if I didn't consider the Intuitive Mentoring Package I received the end of June, from Eliza Fayle at Silver & Grace. As I've gotten older, I've become more open to new and different ideas, especially when it has something to do with figuring out things about myself. And because of that, I'm truly grateful I won the "A Good Old Rant" package. Ever since then, I have been writing with this new drive and energy. Thank you, Eliza! You are a fabulous mentor.

Please click on the links to learn more about this very neat lady.

"Self-esteem is a huge piece of my work. You have to believe it's possible and believe in yourself. Because after you've decided what you want, you have to believe it's possible, and possible for you, not just for other people. Then you need to seek out models, mentors, and coaches." -- Jack Canfield

* I WONDER *

I Wonder: I wonder if I can get all the things accomplished that's on my "List of Things to Do", between right now and Sunday night. At the top of the "List" is writing! Writing my memoir, writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul, writing for another anthology, etc. etc.

And because I'm in such a Mojo-Mode of Muse...I'm wackier than ever!


http://boscafelife.wordpress.com/bos-cafe-life-contests/

http://www.penwrights.com/Home

http://www.writing-world.com/index.shtml

http://www.tennesseewilliams.net/article.php?story=2012-1actplaycontest

http://www.bookcatcher.com/

I found these various Writerly Links in the past few days, and I apologize for not explaining what they are, but you'll find out as you click on one after another and arrive in a new place!

Happy Friday, everyone! 

 

" The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." -- Ayn Rand

* Writerly News *

* I guess my newest contest give-away was a bit too complicated, because there was only one entrant; Susan of Writing Straight from the Heart. Susan and I cooresponded and she was so gracious, asking not to be the winner, soley by default! So, the prizes will go back into my office closet until they are needed. Thanks to all who commented on Susan Bono's Two-Part Interview. I really enjoyed learning more about her.

* Calls for Submission: Bylines Calendar: By, For and About Writers is now accepting submissions for their 2013 desk calendar. Click on Guidelines for information. Publisher/Editor Sylvia Forbes is a delightful woman. I look forward to purchasing the 2012 calendar. ** I forgot to mention that Bylines website is a bit out of date. It's in the process of getting renovated. Sylvia really is taking submissions for the 2013 calendar! **

*This is a really cool calendar, especially for writers!* The website also features tons of links for various websites of interest to .....you guessed it: Writers! (In past years, I know that the lovely Cathy C. Hall and C. Hope Clark both appeared in it. In addition to having a snippet of your writing featured, so is your photo...one of which you provide!)

* Once again I feel I must apologize for not getting around to all the blogs I want to visit. I've been spending much more time actually writing which is a very good thing! So, if you don't see me often, that's the reason. And the same goes for e-mails. If I owe anyone an e-mail and haven't replied in a "normal" amout of time, please contact me. Maybe I didn't receive it or maybe forgot!

"Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?" -- Winnie the Pooh

Thoughts on Another Hot Monday

This is the 7-Day Forecast for the St. Louis area.

It's approximately the 17th day in a row

of an Excessive Heat Advisory.

(courtesy KSDK TV Channel 5)

Iced tea is my favorite drink in the summer time,

and especially this year.

The pitcher is too dark in this photo, but I wanted

to point out the green grass in the backyard.

This was taken on June 27, 2011.

Our grass now is dry & brown & non-existent.

"What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance." -- Jane Austen