** Appreciate Life More **

Today while driving home from getting my hair cut (really short and I love it!), I was still silently sulking about the shroud of fog that has engulfed our area the past few days. I was sick of the cloudiness, the damp cold, the absence of sunlight and warmth. I couldn't even find any decent music on my car radio as I scanned the stations. Then I had one of those moments....What is the matter with me? Look how fortunate I am: I'm driving a car, I have a lovely house to go home to, I have all the necessities in life, plus so much more, which many people might consider luxuries.....And so, I snapped out of it! No more whining or complaining! And in honor of how I felt, I searched for just the right quote to end with. Instead of a quote, I discovered a poem, which in reality is eight quotes, but some really good ones.
Do Less
DO LESS THINKING,
and pay more attention to your heart.
DO LESS ACQUIRING,
and pay more attention to what you already have.
DO LESS COMPLAINING,
and pay more attention to giving.
DO LESS CONTROLLING,
and pay more attention to letting go.
DO LESS CRITICIZING,
and pay more attention to complimenting.
DO LESS ARGUING,
and pay more attention to forgiveness.
DO LESS RUNNING AROUND,
and pay more attention to stillness.
DO LESS TALKING,
and pay more attention to silence.

Author -- Unknown

** Another Foggy, Dancin' Day in Paradise **

Various thoughts on another foggy morning......

Where's the sun?? I need the sunshine!!! I can only turn on so many lights inside my house, to make it bright and light and sunny-ish.....before the entire neighborhood loses their electricity!

Last night, I changed my Play List (again), because I wanted more..♪ Dancin' Music! ♫....Everybody dance now!! ♫♪  ..I can't be in a blah mood listening to these songs!

There's still plenty of time to enter my Book Give-Away Contest. Just scroll down, read all about it, and submit your comment(s). I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 24th.

Back to my cleaning and organizing. I am making fantastic progress in this office, and fitting in some writing, too! ☺

Have a happy day everyone! Paradise is in the eye of the beholder!


"The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.” – Unknown

** My First Blog Contest for a Book Give-Away **

Have you ever stumbled across a book in the library, bookstore, or online, when you were actually searching for something else?....And you were curious because of the title, book cover, or first couple of sentences you read? And it turned out to be an amazing book? One that made you remember why you love to read so much? A self-help book that helped you tremendously? A novel that you couldn’t forget? A book you had to tell others about? And try to find more by the same author?

That experience has happened to me quite a few times and I thought it would be fun to know if I'm not alone in this. I'd like to do this every other month or so, depending on the responses I receive! The prize this first time will be one of Kelly L. Stone's wonderful books, either "Thinking Write: The Secret to Freeing Your Creative Mind" or "Time to Write: Professional Writers Reveal How to Fit Writing into Your Busy Life". The winner can choose which one he or she would like, and Kelly will autograph a bookplate, especially to the winner! I'm choosing Kelly as my first author, because I stumbled across her book "Time to Write" in the library while searching for other books about writing. Just the first few sentences made such an impression on me that I borrowed it that evening, and purchased it shortly after, so I would have it forever and could always go back to it for more inspiration! Thanks, Kelly, for being part of my first blog contest!

Just a couple of “Rules.” Addendum: The copyright year (rule 3) is not that important! I'm mostly particular about the author not being famous. (rule 1)

1) It can’t be written by a “famous” author. Someone we’ve all heard of….Those people that are continually pumping out books and winding up on the Best Sellers List. I want to hear about unknowns & semi-unknowns, male or female writers.

2) It can’t be a book that someone recommended to you. You had to have found it all by yourself.

3) Leave a comment telling me the name of the book, the author, the copyright date, approximately when you read it, and a brief description about the affect it had on you.

4) You many enter up to 3 books, but they all must be on separate comments.

I’ve found most of my favorite writers this way and I’m curious about the rest of you! This should be a great way to share some of those hidden gems out there. I’m really looking forward to discovering more great writers! Tell your friends, too, to stop by my blog and enter for a chance to win.

*Don't fret if you don't see your comment immediately, or even really fast! I have the comment moderation on, so it may be awhile before I get around to checking them!*


Deadline will be next Saturday, January 23rd at midnight CST.
The winner’s name will be chosen randomly.
I will not post any comments I believe to be vulgar or in bad taste, etc. If the comment isn't posted, it obviously won't be eligible to win.


Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled "This could change your life." -- Helen Exley

** Cleaning To The Music **

I just love my Play List! I've been listening to it all day and this evening, while I've been working in my office. I have it set on the random shuffle mode and it's so much fun, I just had to take a break, dance a little, and write about it!

The last 3 songs that played were these:

"The Lord's Prayer"; by the awesome Italian tenors, Il Divo.
"An Everlasting Love"; by the fabulous Natalie Cole (from the Soundtrack of "While You Were Sleeping")
"Hey Ya"; by the group, Outkast. This song reminds me of something from the '60s or '70s. When my son informed me it was brand new a couple of years ago, I was really surprised.  Peanuts Dance to Hey Ya 
My writer-friend, Lynn O. sent me this video a few months ago, because she heard "Hey Ya" on my blog and also loves it. It cracks me up every time I see it, and now I can't hardly listen to the song, without seeing the Peanuts gang all dancing to it!

In the few minutes it took for those three songs to play, my mood went from calm & serene, to delighted & joyful, to boisterous & dancing. I just can't stop myself from singing when I know the words; humming when I don't; and dancing no matter what!

“We are fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.” - Japanese Proverb

** Family, Friends, and Love **

(clip art picture)

First of all, Happy Birthday to my wonderful sister-in-law, Alice!! (I thought I better post that, since she's an avid reader of my blog!) We have so much in common, especially our love of books and reading....and of course, being fabulous women!  Have a great weekend, Sis! Wish I was there to celebrate with you!

(My office; photo taken by Becky)

I'm in the midst of:  Being in a writing blitz. Going through my piles of junk; what to save and where; what to throw out or recycle. Doing loads of laundry. Paying bills. Reading friends' blogs. Cleaning up the kitchen. Putting away folded clothes. Letting my dog, Tiger out, letting Tiger back in, letting Tiger back out ....It occurred to me tonight that every one of my days and evenings are almost exactly the same, and yet, I'm not bored. I don't wish I was someone else, or lived somewhere else. I'm enjoying my life so very, very much. I am happy. I sing. I dance. I laugh. I joke. I talk to my husband, family, friends, Tiger......whoever will listen! I know I'm so fortunate to have a happy marriage, a great family, wonderful friends. Of course, my life is not perfect. I've had tremendous worries, I've suffered losses, and some of my younger years were awful, but I got through it all. And I've decided that what helped me get through the tough times was Love. Each time I needed help, each time I needed a solution, each time I needed comfort....it was love that saved me. At times it was the love of a sister, or my husband, or a friend, or that spiritual kind of love I've experienced a few times in my life. It happened either by reading something so comforting, listening to beautiful music, or hearing words that helped me make sense of things. That feeling...a peacefulness, a serenity that calmed me, I believe that is with me always. That is my cloak of comfort. That is my cloak of happiness.

(Plaque hanging on my wall. photo taken by Becky)

My quote for the day is the one on this plaque.
"Live as though Heaven is on earth." -- Alfred Souza

*** Do Something to Help Area Kids ***

I first learned about Lift for Life Gym in August 2009. That's when my friend, photographer Jonathan Pollack, posted pictures and comments about the gym on his blog: http://www.jpollackphoto.blogspot.com/.
A little background: These are inner city kids (St.Louis, Mo) and 91% of them are from families living below the federal poverty level. In addition, 70% of the kids who regularly attend the Gym are between 15 and 18 -- at an age when it's usually hardest to get kids to "join" anything. But the kids wait outside the door in the afternoons for the Gym to open.

I was immediately drawn to the kids who were benefiting from this wonderful facility and wanted to help in some way. I contacted Susan Kelter via e-mail and we wrote back and forth a time or two until I realized what I would like to do. When I discovered many of the kids do not receive a birthday gift or even a card, I offered to make homemade birthday cards for each child. My cards are nothing fancy...just plain card stock, some age and gender appropriate stickers, words of encouragement, and my young-at-heart printing. When I heard how much the kids liked the cards, I was so touched. I'll continue to make them as long as they want.

The reason for this post is not to draw attention to myself, but to ask others to help, as well. Please go to the website: http://www.liftforlife.org/ click on "About the Gym" and see what you may be able to do. (There is also a charter school, Lift for Life Academy, but the cards I make are for the kids that hang out at the gym.) A little bit of thought and kindness, goes a long way!

"Nine-tenths of education is encouragement." -- Anatole France

** I Did It....I Did It!! **

Today was the first day I've felt like writing in quite some time. Must have something to do with the weather, dont'cha think? It's actually above freezing today!

Ever since I posted the info about the Erma Bombeck Writing Contest, I've had these thoughts:
1) Gosh, with millions of entries, why should I even bother?
2) I have NO ideas. What can I write about?

Then this morning, I thought:
3) Hey, what about that one essay I started about a year ago? The one with only a few sentences, typed at random?
4) Yeah, I could work on this and maybe it'd be a fairly decent story.

So, that's exactly what I did. I wrote and rewrote and edited, etc....added words, deleted words, etc....Only 450 Word Count Maximum! Thank goodness I'm used to writing "less" because of space allowed in my newspaper column. When I decided it was "as good as it's gonna get".....I filled out all the online info, and hit the "Submit" button! Woo-hoo!! I actually made the deadline on a contest that I really want to win. (Don't we all?!) Good luck and good writing to everyone entering!

"All the great decisions in my life have been made in less than half an hour." -- Carmen Maura

** Another Day In Paradise.....Part 2 **

I decided it was time to change my Play List again. I had Holiday Music for quite some time, then switched to Beautiful Music because I wasn't quite ready to leave the softness ....but this afternoon.......it occurred to me that I need some Dancin' Music!! So, enjoy the variety and I hope if you have the chance....get up and dance!! (Right, Daisy?!)  ♪♪♫♪

"There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them." -- Vicki Baum