I really do hope to get something posted before the night is over. There's so much going on right now!
I see a lot of my blog buddies are having contests because they have reached different milestones in the number of their Followers. Congrats to everyone concerned!
I'd love to post something for Tea Cup Tuesday, since I actually already took some photos and all I have to do is upload them and write a little something.
I had hoped to participate in Micro Fiction Monday, but I haven't even had a chance to see what the prompt is for today!
I have submissions I'm working on that need to be sent sometime soon.
PLUS, I'm still finishing up my birthday card project for June. They have to be there by this Wednesday, the 16th, so I'm determined to finish them tonight, and mail them first thing tomorrow! If not, I'll be hand-delivering them on Wednesday!
Oh, and I have an adorable video of a bunny that I hope to get posted sometime soon!
Ooohhh, I know it's bad to start every sentence with "I"....but I couldn't figure out any other way to do it!
"Calendars are for careful people, not passionate ones." -- Chuck Sigars
ALL WHO WANDER ARE NOT LOST.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
** If It's Past Midnight....It Must Be Sunday **
Happy Sunday Morning! Ever since I woke up Saturday morning at 6:00am, I've been planning to write on my blog. I managed to read my newest comments and respond to those. Thank you all so much! I browsed through a few blogs here and there and read my new e-mail.
One of those e-mails was from She Writes, congratulating me on being approved for membership! It looks like a wonderful site for writers in all genres, in all cities and countries. I haven't had much time to check it out completely, but it looks like a place I'd suggest to all my Writer-Gal-Pals! Just click on the button on the right, or on the link above.
Have any of you tried out Bloggers new "Template-Background" thingy?! All I can say is: BEWARE! There doesn't seem to be a "Trial" button, or a "Go back, I don't like this one!" button. It doesn't come with very clear instructions, either, in my mind. I found a really cute one I wanted to try out. It didn't do what it was supposed to do and it looked terrible. The more I tried to "fix" it, the worse it got. I don't know how I got back to my most recent (and present) one, but thank goodness I did! I also saw quite a few comments saying the same things on another blog...so again: Beware!
I have other things I want to write about, but those can wait until later Sunday, or maybe even Monday.
For now, I have a mahhhhhvelous poem by one of my newest writer-blogger-buddies: Susan Noyes Anderson. Sue has both a blog and a website and she is happy to share her poetry, provided the copyright information is clearly visible, which I'm very happy to do! I'm also including the links to both her blog and her website.
I chose this particular poem because it pretty much "Tells It Like It Is" concerning my relationship with my "current" body these days!
Renewing the Vows
©1996 by Susan Noyes Anderson, Poetpourri
I almost divorced my body
a couple of years ago.
Certainly, we were separated.
Irreconcilable differences.
Growing in different directions.
It, wider and older.
I, wiser and bolder.
(there was no consensus on this)
We got down to dividing
community property
and hit a snag.
Several, actually.
Limbs, lungs, kidneys,
ovaries, breasts––
Matched sets, all of them.
Not recommended for removal.
To be separated only in case
of medical emergency.
So we worked it out.
Cut each other some slack.
Rebonded. Rebounded.
Reached an understanding.
Made a commitment.
I take this body.
To have and to hold.
From this day forward.
As long as we both shall
Live.
It’s not perfect, but
consider the alternative.
"You can only perceive real beauty in a person as they get older." -- Anouk Aimee
One of those e-mails was from She Writes, congratulating me on being approved for membership! It looks like a wonderful site for writers in all genres, in all cities and countries. I haven't had much time to check it out completely, but it looks like a place I'd suggest to all my Writer-Gal-Pals! Just click on the button on the right, or on the link above.
Have any of you tried out Bloggers new "Template-Background" thingy?! All I can say is: BEWARE! There doesn't seem to be a "Trial" button, or a "Go back, I don't like this one!" button. It doesn't come with very clear instructions, either, in my mind. I found a really cute one I wanted to try out. It didn't do what it was supposed to do and it looked terrible. The more I tried to "fix" it, the worse it got. I don't know how I got back to my most recent (and present) one, but thank goodness I did! I also saw quite a few comments saying the same things on another blog...so again: Beware!
I have other things I want to write about, but those can wait until later Sunday, or maybe even Monday.
For now, I have a mahhhhhvelous poem by one of my newest writer-blogger-buddies: Susan Noyes Anderson. Sue has both a blog and a website and she is happy to share her poetry, provided the copyright information is clearly visible, which I'm very happy to do! I'm also including the links to both her blog and her website.
I chose this particular poem because it pretty much "Tells It Like It Is" concerning my relationship with my "current" body these days!
Renewing the Vows
©1996 by Susan Noyes Anderson, Poetpourri
I almost divorced my body
a couple of years ago.
Certainly, we were separated.
Irreconcilable differences.
Growing in different directions.
It, wider and older.
I, wiser and bolder.
(there was no consensus on this)
We got down to dividing
community property
and hit a snag.
Several, actually.
Limbs, lungs, kidneys,
ovaries, breasts––
Matched sets, all of them.
Not recommended for removal.
To be separated only in case
of medical emergency.
So we worked it out.
Cut each other some slack.
Rebonded. Rebounded.
Reached an understanding.
Made a commitment.
I take this body.
To have and to hold.
From this day forward.
As long as we both shall
Live.
It’s not perfect, but
consider the alternative.
"You can only perceive real beauty in a person as they get older." -- Anouk Aimee
Thursday, June 10, 2010
** IT'S MY 300th POST **
I just noticed earlier this evening that I had 299 posts on my blog, which I began November 10, 2008. At that time, I didn't think I needed or wanted a blog, but a few writer friends encouraged me, especially Karrie McAllister! Thank you, Karrie! When I accept my Blogger Award (someday) I'll say in my acceptance speech, that I owe it all to you!!
Karrie received the Number One Thank You because she told me about blogspot in the first place, gave some suggestions, and promptly answered any questions I had.....all by e-mail. That's because Karrie lives in Ohio and she and I have never met (in person, that is!) If I remember correctly, I first contacted Karrie by e-mail when I came across her fabulous writing online somewhere.....don't know where or when that was, but what a wonderful writer/person/friend I met!!
I have more to say....as usual....but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
"Authentic female friendship is when we allow another woman to see our core, go to our core, and risk sharing our souls." -- Sue Monk Kidd
Karrie received the Number One Thank You because she told me about blogspot in the first place, gave some suggestions, and promptly answered any questions I had.....all by e-mail. That's because Karrie lives in Ohio and she and I have never met (in person, that is!) If I remember correctly, I first contacted Karrie by e-mail when I came across her fabulous writing online somewhere.....don't know where or when that was, but what a wonderful writer/person/friend I met!!
I have more to say....as usual....but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
"Authentic female friendship is when we allow another woman to see our core, go to our core, and risk sharing our souls." -- Sue Monk Kidd
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Remember just two days ago when I wrote about the awesome deal for address labels going on at Vista Prints? I received my order already today! And I didn't pay for express shipping. They are adorable! I even took a picture to show them off! They are 2-1/2" x 3/4", pale yellow striped background, with a stack of books!! (I cut off my address, just for privacy reasons.) Aren't they cute?? If y'all e-mail your addresses to me, I'll send you a hand-written note! *Update: I just checked the website and it appears this particular special is over, but they do have other special pricing, so if you're interested, give it a look!
I forgot to mention that last Wednesday, June 2nd, I participated in a Career Day at one of my grandsons' schools. He is in the 3rd Grade and I spoke to three different 3rd grade classes about being a writer. Each presentation was only 20 minutes and everything went as planned. The kids had good questions and comments and grandson, Scotty, seemed pretty proud of his grandma! I love talking to kids about "going for their dreams", at any age, etc. I always take one or two of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books that I have stories in, a couple newspaper columns, a literary magazine that I have an article in, etc. I also took some "school papers" that I thought they might like. I handed them out toward the end of each session and hopefully at least some of them took them home! I have fun typing them up....I feel like a real teacher! ☺
This paper asks what they learned from me. What kinds of books do they like to read. Do they write in a journal, or would they like to. It also says to ask their parents or grandparents or adult relative to tell them some things about their lives when they were young, and maybe have them write down their memories for them, etc. I told them how I wished I had something like that now, because people didn't really think about those things when I was young. Anyway, it was great fun and they were so well behaved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One more thing. Pal Donna at Donna's Book Pub posted some time ago about an upcoming Call for Submissions for a contest by Mozark Press. The deadline had been May 30th, but has been extended to June 15th, which is next Tuesday. This sounds really neat and I hope to get something sent in. The name of the contest is: A Shaker of Margaritas: Hot Flash Mommas. Fiction, Fun, and Forties Writing Contest.
Hmmm....I haven't read the small print. I hope it's okay to be older than "forties"!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh! One more thing!! I came across a pretty fabulous looking site earlier today. Do you ever "Google" yourself? It's good to do from time to time, to see if there's any incorrect or bad information "out there" about you. I found out that my blog is on this site called NewPages.com! This link will take you directly to the blogs listed. There must be hundreds of them....and I'm one of them! I swear I've never heard of this site before, so I don't know how I wound up there. They have Contest Magazines, Contests Books, Calls For Submissions, etc. Tons of places that were new to me! Give it a look....you just might find The Perfect Place to submit your work!!
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope or confidence." -- Helen Keller
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Tid Bit Tuesday - Part 2 - My Sister, Jo Ann
When I wrote the first part of Tid Bit Tuesday, my deceased sister Jo Ann was also on my mind, due to a couple of reasons. Obviously when I saw the huge sign on the old Circuit City building that read Jo-Ann's Fabrics, I thought of her. There's various ways to spell Jo Ann, and most of the time they aren't spelled like hers.
The other reason was because she died in the month of June, 1984. I never remember the date of someone's death. I only remember their birth dates. Conscious decision or not? I'm not sure. Anyway, after seeing the Jo-Ann's Fabrics sign, I decided I really needed to know. I needed and wanted to know the date she lost her battle with cancer.
I e-mailed my other sister, my brother and sister-in-law, etc. My sister replied first, that she too didn't know the exact date. (Well, I guess I'm not so weird after all.) After I read her reply, I went downstairs to our basement, walked directly over to a junky dresser where old birthday cards, photographs, kids' school work, etc. are kept and found what I was looking for. After only 5 minutes or less, I uncovered Jo Ann's obituary, in perfect condition. It had been clipped from a newspaper, was folded nicely and obviously quite yellow with age.
I scanned over it quickly.....yes, she was born on such and such a date.....Then there it was, ..."passed away June 8, 1984.."
Oh my gosh! Today! Today is the 8th of June. HOW did I seem to know that? WHY did I become so determined to find out? WHAT or WHO led me to the exact place I must've looked numerous times before?
Y'all know I like to talk about my Twilight Zone moments. This is one for the books, as the saying goes. Help me, though. I'd really like to give a better, more meaningful name to what I've experienced over the past 24 Hours or so.
"My god, you've lost your mother." -- what a therapist said when I told her about my relationship with Jo Ann.
(I was devastated when she died. She was 16 years older than me. She was my sister, my friend, my mother)
The other reason was because she died in the month of June, 1984. I never remember the date of someone's death. I only remember their birth dates. Conscious decision or not? I'm not sure. Anyway, after seeing the Jo-Ann's Fabrics sign, I decided I really needed to know. I needed and wanted to know the date she lost her battle with cancer.
I e-mailed my other sister, my brother and sister-in-law, etc. My sister replied first, that she too didn't know the exact date. (Well, I guess I'm not so weird after all.) After I read her reply, I went downstairs to our basement, walked directly over to a junky dresser where old birthday cards, photographs, kids' school work, etc. are kept and found what I was looking for. After only 5 minutes or less, I uncovered Jo Ann's obituary, in perfect condition. It had been clipped from a newspaper, was folded nicely and obviously quite yellow with age.
I scanned over it quickly.....yes, she was born on such and such a date.....Then there it was, ..."passed away June 8, 1984.."
Oh my gosh! Today! Today is the 8th of June. HOW did I seem to know that? WHY did I become so determined to find out? WHAT or WHO led me to the exact place I must've looked numerous times before?
Y'all know I like to talk about my Twilight Zone moments. This is one for the books, as the saying goes. Help me, though. I'd really like to give a better, more meaningful name to what I've experienced over the past 24 Hours or so.
"My god, you've lost your mother." -- what a therapist said when I told her about my relationship with Jo Ann.
(I was devastated when she died. She was 16 years older than me. She was my sister, my friend, my mother)
** Tid Bit Tuesday **
Since I didn't get around to taking any pictures of my newest tea cup finds, I won't be participating in today's Tea Cup Tuesday. Instead, my title is: Tid Bit Tuesday....because that's exactly what this is.
Have you ever been listening to your car radio, and the time and the station numbers are the same? And for a minute, you click the button a couple of times, thinking something's wrong with it. Then you figure it out! That happened to me again the other day. It's so weird! It was exactly 10:33 and the radio station was 103.3. Other times, it's been 10:25, and I'm listening to 102.5....Wacky!!
For those of you that live in my area, did you notice that a business is moving into the Circuit City store that was vacated last year....the one next to Best Buy and Mid Rivers Mall?? It's Jo-Ann's Fabrics! I hardly ever think to shop at Jo-Ann's, and I guess I'm not on their mailing list anymore. They usually do have some great bargains in their craft and decor items. That's what I go there for. Unfortunately, I cannot sew, or quilt, or crochet, or knit. (those things all require talent AND counting) I used to enjoy doing the old-fashioned cross stitch...the kind where the X's were stamped onto the fabric. I don't want to have to COUNT to figure out where my next stitches go.....thank you very much! Most of you know I have a problem with COUNTING. Math and I do not get along!
(borrowed from Ms. Sparkle-Farkle)
"The greatest unsolved theorem in mathematics is why some people are better at it than others." -- Adrian Mathesis
Monday, June 7, 2010
** This 'n That on a Happy Monday **
Most people probably wouldn't choose a Monday as a particularly happy day. I certainly didn't, during those years I worked at stressful jobs. But now I have the luxury of staying home....and I do mean luxury. I know how very fortunate I am and whenever I'm feeling stressed about all the things I have to do.......sheesh, I remind myself how it used to be, and how it could be, and that usually stops my whining!
I'm happy today for various reasons, which is typical for me. So many things contribute to my happiness: my home, my family, my dog, nature, writing, reading, thinking, observing, creating, helping, etc. And, today, as in most days, I have been, or will do....all of them. Some days, washing the dishes makes me happy! Yeah, I know....I'm a freak!
Okay.....Here's my Monday News:
1) I have declared that it is officially summer (at least on my blog) and that's why I've changed my Play List to summer time songs. Hope you enjoy them. If you have any other favorites to suggest, let me know and maybe I can add them.
2) Since I'm feeling quite happy today, my favorite songs on this list would be: #22 Life is Wonderful by Jason Mraz, and #24 Oh Happy Day by the Edwin Hawkin Singers.
3) There's a mistake on song #47 Summertime. That is definitely NOT Aretha Franklin singing with Louis Armstrong. I'm not sure WHO it is, but it isn't Ms. Franklin! (anybody can add songs to the main play list, and I run into mistakes fairly often.)
4) I am thrilled to say that my followers have now reached 61. When the number reaches 100, I will have a Big-Give-Away-Contest! Woo-Hoo!
5) I hope to be participating in Tea Cup Tuesday tomorrow. I have a couple of new goodies to show off, recently purchased at a nearby Antique Mall, for fabulous prices!
6) One more thing. Somewhere in Blog Land, I came across a site that is all about coupons and freebies. Talk about spending a lot of time on the old computer! I had to get away from that one really fast, or I would've been there for hours. I do have one really cool thing to share. Vista Prints is giving away FREE return address labels! If you click on the link I've provided, it will take you right there. You can get 140 labels FREE and just pay the shipping. I went ahead and doubled mine because the price for another 140 is only $1.49, plus shipping. So, I ordered a total of 280 lables and paid $6.14, including shipping! They're not just plain labels, either. There are 100's to choose from. I got mine with a stack of books on them Hhhmmm, wonder why?! (I think this is a Limited Time Offer, so get thee over to their site.)
Even if you don't snail-mail many things anymore, they can be used for all types of things. You could use them in your books, in your kids' books, DVD's, for identifying purposes, etc.
**And NO, I'm not getting paid anything, from anybody, for sharing this information. **
And thanks to a friend who started off my Happy Monday with a sweet and thoughtful gift. We had coffee and conversation, both vowing to "get some work done today". (so far, I haven't crossed off a single thing on my Things To Do List! Eeek!)
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~ Abraham Lincoln
Happiness pulses with every beat of my heart. ~ Terri Guillemets
There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction. ~ Salvador Dali
(and just because I'm so happy today, I'm leaving you with THREE....count 'em.....THREE quotes!)
I'm happy today for various reasons, which is typical for me. So many things contribute to my happiness: my home, my family, my dog, nature, writing, reading, thinking, observing, creating, helping, etc. And, today, as in most days, I have been, or will do....all of them. Some days, washing the dishes makes me happy! Yeah, I know....I'm a freak!
Okay.....Here's my Monday News:
1) I have declared that it is officially summer (at least on my blog) and that's why I've changed my Play List to summer time songs. Hope you enjoy them. If you have any other favorites to suggest, let me know and maybe I can add them.
2) Since I'm feeling quite happy today, my favorite songs on this list would be: #22 Life is Wonderful by Jason Mraz, and #24 Oh Happy Day by the Edwin Hawkin Singers.
3) There's a mistake on song #47 Summertime. That is definitely NOT Aretha Franklin singing with Louis Armstrong. I'm not sure WHO it is, but it isn't Ms. Franklin! (anybody can add songs to the main play list, and I run into mistakes fairly often.)
4) I am thrilled to say that my followers have now reached 61. When the number reaches 100, I will have a Big-Give-Away-Contest! Woo-Hoo!
5) I hope to be participating in Tea Cup Tuesday tomorrow. I have a couple of new goodies to show off, recently purchased at a nearby Antique Mall, for fabulous prices!
6) One more thing. Somewhere in Blog Land, I came across a site that is all about coupons and freebies. Talk about spending a lot of time on the old computer! I had to get away from that one really fast, or I would've been there for hours. I do have one really cool thing to share. Vista Prints is giving away FREE return address labels! If you click on the link I've provided, it will take you right there. You can get 140 labels FREE and just pay the shipping. I went ahead and doubled mine because the price for another 140 is only $1.49, plus shipping. So, I ordered a total of 280 lables and paid $6.14, including shipping! They're not just plain labels, either. There are 100's to choose from. I got mine with a stack of books on them Hhhmmm, wonder why?! (I think this is a Limited Time Offer, so get thee over to their site.)
Even if you don't snail-mail many things anymore, they can be used for all types of things. You could use them in your books, in your kids' books, DVD's, for identifying purposes, etc.
**And NO, I'm not getting paid anything, from anybody, for sharing this information. **
And thanks to a friend who started off my Happy Monday with a sweet and thoughtful gift. We had coffee and conversation, both vowing to "get some work done today". (so far, I haven't crossed off a single thing on my Things To Do List! Eeek!)
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~ Abraham Lincoln
Happiness pulses with every beat of my heart. ~ Terri Guillemets
There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction. ~ Salvador Dali
(and just because I'm so happy today, I'm leaving you with THREE....count 'em.....THREE quotes!)
Sunday, June 6, 2010
* Saturday Centus Week 5 *
This is a themed writing meme. Come on and join the fun!!
Each Saturday Jenny Matlock will be giving a new "prompt" for the week and you have the entire week to link your work to the meme and you can link more than one story if you like.
Each linked essay must be 100 words or less, not including the "prompt" words. No pictures should be used. No profanity. The prompt words can be used in any place within your story but must be left intact.
Please display link button or just a hyper-link back to Saturday Centus. Be careful to link your SC URL to the Linky and not just link to your main blog.
Jenny would suggest that since these are so short, if you can't think of a title just use your blog name as the title in the Linky.
Jenny also says it would be great if you would try and visit the rest of the links. Actually, it will be fun for you because they were wonderful last week for sure!
This link will be live until next Saturday morning around 7 am. And please, remember to link to your SC URL...not your main blog.
Here's mine for this week's prompt.....(coming in at exactly 100 words) Prompt is in italics.
I settled into the comfortable movie theater seat with awkward 3D glasses perched on my nose, a small tub of popcorn on my lap, and a bottle of water lodged into the seat holder. Then anxiety kicked in. Why did I come here? Being alone in a theater always makes you look…lonely. Oh well. I can't help that.
A few people strolled in and sat down. Another thing I didn't like….a bunch of empty seats, especially during a comedy. My laughter would echo as if in a cave!
I snorted, cackled, and hooted, all through the movie, and seemed to be the only one doing so.
As the lights came up, I realized why no one else appreciated the hilarious movie. Those few people were members of the PWNSOH Club. Ah, that explained it!
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