** A Charles Dickens Christmas **

The movie: A Christmas Carol and the other versions of the wonderful Dickens tale (Scrooge...the musical with the fantastic Albert Finney, and Scrooged...the comedy with hilarious Bill Murray) have been favorites of mine for many years. I love the story of a miserable, greedy man learning how to be loving and giving again, especially at such a late stage in his life.

At this holiday time of year, when giving is stressed....especially to people who are less fortunate than we are, it's always wonderful to see people doing good things for others on the television news, instead of the usual pain and suffering we're constantly subjected to. And many of us ask ourselves, after the cheer and good will is gone and forgotten....WHY is it forgotten? Why do most of us tend to only think of those in need during the holidays? I've heard of a saying that's something like: Need knows no season.

I received a Christmas card today from the wonderful people at the local Habitat for Humanity office. I was immediately struck by the quote on the front of the card, and knew that I must post it on my blog:

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." --- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

I will often remind myself of this quote and I request all my friends to do the same. There are millions of people in our world that are so much more worse off than any of us may think we are.

** Various Thoughts on a Sunday Evening **

This morning I decided to change my comment formatting from Open Comments, to Saving for Publication, and I'll receive an e-mail to review them before they actually appear on my blog. I really don't like doing it that way, but until further notice, that's how it will work. Just wanted to point that out for anyone who leaves a comment and wonders why it didn't post automatically. 

I had a combo-weekend: both productive and lazy! And so, I'm ready for a very productive day tomorrow. No time for laziness the rest of this week. I've got lots to do, in every corner of my life!

** Incredible Coincidence & Friendships for a Lifetime **

My writer friends and I have similar likes and dislikes, mostly I guess because we are creative, thinking women, who really see the world around us.We have such camaraderie, kindness, generosity, support for each other, and hilarious times together.

Last night, two of my writer friends and I got together for dinner and the exchanging of Christmas gifts. One of the friends and I discovered last week that we both had bought the exact same gift for the third friend. Out of all the millions of "writer related" gifts we could've chosen, how in the world did we buy the exact same day planner??? It's called The Reading Woman and contains gorgeous pictures of various works of art depicting women reading! Plus it contains many inspirational quotes. (Tammy and I are still mystified and shaking our heads about this incredible coincidence! She happened upon hers at a local book store. I bought mine online after browsing for "writer gifts", "women writers gifts", journals and calendars.)

I've never experienced such acquaintances, friendships, or allies, all pertaining to one particular "group" of people. I've even developed immediate friendships online, due to my contacting someone because I loved the way she wrote, and vice versa.

How amazing it is to be a writer.....a published writer.....at this stage of my life!

All I can say is, with the continued support of my wonderful writer friends, "the best is yet to come"!

Trouble With Posting My Photos

I haven't posted anything since our big Chicken Soup for the Soul book signing on Saturday, the 12th, because I wanted to include some photos I took, but my computer is not cooperating! The camera worked fine, the pictures look great, but when I try to install them onto my laptop, it says something like it can't find my photo program! And when I tried to download it again, something didn't work properly. Eeeeeekkk!!!

I really dislike computer problems!!!!

Guess I'll have to do a little more investigating tomorrow and hopefully can get it fixed! Until then.....

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas! ♪♫♪♪♫

** CHARLES DICKENS-ESQUE ATMOSPHERE **

* Reminder: Tomorrow, Saturday December 12th,
    Main Street Books in Historic St. Charles:

  Chicken Soup for the Soul --- Canned Soup for the Body

  Please stop by between 1:00 and 3:00 pm, bring one canned good for a local food pantry, save 10% on your total purchase. Buy some of your Christmas gifts: Chicken Soup for the Soul books, autographed by local authors!!  (Photo below is of 4 of the 7 writers attending, myself included.)

  Hope to see many people there!  

  http://www.stcharleschristmas.com/    

   http://www.mainstreetbooks.net/

*** Did Somebody Say WIND?? ***

We're not getting the blizzard that many states are suffering from today, BUT....since around midnight or so last night, the wind has been causing some damage, and waking up quite a few people...yours truly included!

It's enough to take breath away (including Tiger's!), scoot around patio furniture, and blow empty, Christmasy-wrapped boxes out of the little, wooden wagon in our front yard! Luckily, when I looked out my door for about the 6th time this morning, and noticed that 2 of them had jumped right out of that wagon, they were still in MY yard. I grabbed a coat, ran out and retrieved them, plus the ones still in the wagon, and brought them inside. (Another fortunate thing was that I was not still in my jammies!) ☺

I think it's definitely a good day to stay inside and do a little baking, work on my Christmas cards, and get some writing accomplished! I think I'll call some of my relatives in Iowa, too, and see how they're doing.

I'm soooo grateful I don't have to go anywhere today!

** Christmas Joy on Main Street **

Those of you that live near me, are very aware of our beautiful and quaint Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri. During the Christmas Season, it is filled with charm, enchantment, & so many activities: http://www.stcharleschristmas.com/

Please stop by Main Street Books this Saturday, December 12th, from 1:00 to 3:00pm for a special event:

Chicken Soup for the Soul….Canned Soup for the Body

Seven St. Charles/St. Louis area Chicken Soup for the Soul writers will participate in a multi-author book-signing on Saturday, December 12th, 2009 from 1-3 p.m. at Main Street Books, 307 S. Main Street, St. Charles, MO 63301. Customers can bring in a canned good to be donated to a St. Charles food pantry and receive 10% off their entire purchase that day. Refreshments will be served at the signing. For more information, please visit: http://www.mainstreetbooks.net/.

I will be part of this with my writer-gal-friends: Tammy Goodsell, Teri Sanders, Linda O'Connell, Pat Wahler, Sherri Stanczak, and Patsy Zettler. Between the 7 of us, I think we must be published in about 20 Chicken Soup for the Soul books! Purchase some wonderful, autographed books, enjoy some free refreshments, and help a good cause by bringing at least one canned good!! And, no, they don't have to be canned soup! Any canned good will be greatly appreciated!!

** Various Ponderings on a Sunday Evening **

Parties: Yesterday, two of the writers groups I belong to, held their Christmas Parties. I hated the thought of missing one of them, but it really wasn't that big of a decision when one was about 2 miles from my house, and the other about 30 miles! (Sorry SLWG friends! Too bad we couldn't "tele-commute"(is that the word I want??) both parties!

So.... I attended the Saturday Writers party and had a great time. A few people read some of their work and they were all really good. As I recall, all had funny moments that got laughs and chuckles. I had a chance to chat with friends I don't see very often and also met some new writers, wishing to join our group. Oh, and did I mention lots of yummy food? All in all, a very good time!

Blogs: I've "met" some wonderful people because of my blog, and not too long ago discovered a couple of neat options. Did you know if you click on the "Next Blog" link on your home page, it takes you to a person's blog that shares your interests? Blogspot recently changed this option. It used to just randomly take you to anyone's blog...maybe in a different language and sometimes in a genre you might not want to see! I tried it again yesterday and came across different writer or book lover blogs. I didn't have time then to really read them, but put a couple in my favorites and will go back to them later. Also, if you go to your Profile page, and click on one of your favorite movies or books, etc. it will take you to a page full of others that also has that movie or book in their profile! Sometimes, you won't automatically find anyone who might be of interest to you, but other times it works! That's how I just "met" Daisy, who also loves Erma Bombeck books! We have already become Followers of each other's blogs. Give it a try and see how many fantastic people you can meet!