** Tuesday's Tidbits **

An extra special Thank You goes to Sue at Sue's News, Views 'n Muse! After reading yesterday's post, Sue realized I was most likely referring to a memoir she glowingly reviewed recently. She even listed the link in her comment: http://grannysuesnews.blogspot.com/2010/09/lets-take-long-way-home.html. The name of the memoir is "Let's Take the Long Way Home," by Gail Caldwell. I was practically jumping for joy when I realized Sue did have the information! But, now, I have a quandry. Should I still read "The Condition" first, before mailing it to Bookie/Claudia? It's a BIG book.....Hmmm...I think I'll go ahead and mail it to Clauida with her other winnings. I hope my library has Gail Caldwell's book, since I already own a gazillion books, and haven't even read a large number of them, yet! Ahhhh...So Many Books. So Little Time! ☺
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I don't know if I've mentioned a newsletter I receive about once a month that is full of literary magazines and contests and calls for submissions, etc. I've posted some of the information about them, but not the newsletter itself. The website is: Poets & Writers. It's full of wonderful information. Sign up for the newsletter and you'll be kept in the loop!
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You know all that irritating junk (snail) mail that fills your mail box practically daily? For years, I opened everything, realized it was junk and threw it away. Then someone mentioned to me about the great Buy One Get One Free restaurant coupons they received, or the Save So-Much when you spend So-Much kind of coupons. So, I started opened up junk mail again. Good thing I did, because recently I received a nice little rebate check in a blank-looking envelope, that almost got tossed before I opened it. And the coupons are worth going through, even if you only find one that you would use. Okay....I told you all that, so I can tell you this: I wanted to send something special to my sister now that she's home from the hospital, but I couldn't think of anything other than a cute homemade card. WELL, yesterday while going through stacks of junk mail that I'd let pile up in my office, I came across one for $4.00 off an Edible Arrangement! Voile! The perfect special gift! They're rather pricey, but I got a small one, since it's just Marian and her husband. She called me today to thank me and was so pleased and surprised and feeling quite "special"!

"When you urgently serve others, attack problems, enact solutions, and express your sense of family and friendship, the rewards will come back to you with equal speed." -- Pat Croce

** Memoirs, I Love Memoirs **

First of all, I called my sister this evening and we talked for quite a while. She sounded really good, even though she said she was obviously very tired. Hopefully, she can finally get lots of sleep and rest, being at home and in her own bed! All is well in the world!
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I finished reading The Midwife; A Memoir of Birth, Joy & Hard Times, by Jennifer Worth. I REALLY enjoyed it! It was such a different book from what I normally read and at first I didn't think I'd like it, but I really did. I read every night until my eyes were too blurry to see! I will now mail it to a blog friend who asked to read it when I was finished.
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Now, I've begun The Condition, by Jennifer Haigh. It's the one Bookie-Claudia chose as her extra prize in my 100 Word Contest. I demanded asked politely if I could read it before I sent it, and she graciously agreed!
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Speaking of books, I've been racking my brain trying to remember what blog I was at, not too terribly long ago, where the Blogger was raving about a memoir she had just read. I think we commented back and forth a bit and she said she was sure I would like it. Now, of course, I don't remember where it was!! I've gone through my blog roll of my favorites, and nothing looked familiar. HELP! If anyone reading this knows what blog or book I'm thinking of.....please leave a comment or e-mail me! All I remember is that it was a woman's memoir. That ought to do the trick, don't ya think? DUH! Aaacckkkk!!


Martha's Way: Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it.

Maxine's Way: Brown sugar is supposed to be soft?

** A September Sunday Night **

I experienced some Big Things today.

                                      I enjoyed autumn-like weather! Yay!      

My St. Louis Rams WON a football game!! Woo-Hoo! 

I told my publisher I wouldn't have my book completed before the end of this year and she was perfectly okay with that! Whew!

My sister was released from the hospital and sent home! Yippee!   

Notice I posted these in the opposite order of importance....although my sister and my publisher were hard to choose between...Just Kidding!!   BUT, I've been struggling, AGAIN, with staying focused, slipping in and out of The Zone, feeling inadequate....all those writer issues. I know it happens to ALL writers, famous and/or totally unknown, but it hadn't happened to me in quite a while. So, I finally "gave myself permission" to take a break from writing. I haven't spent more than a fleeting second or two even thinking about my book. I've turned to other interests that I hadn't been paying any attention to...making some greeting cards AND reading more! I also want to enter some writing contests (look out Sioux here I come!) and submit to all kinds of other publications. THAT should really help get my creative juices flowing again.

I still haven't talked to my sister, but have been kept up to date talking with my two adult nieces. I'll definitely call Marian tomorrow! If she says she wants me to come and stay awhile, you can bet I'll be hopping on a plane to Atlanta! Look out all my Atlanta-area blog friends!! I may be giving you a call, too!

Have a fabulously, blissful week y'all!

"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." ~ John Barrymore

** Friday Night Announcements **

** I've made the decision to attempt to respond to everyone's comments via e-mail. (I realize I've said this before, but hopefully I will follow through this time!) After my day or two of "commenting like crazy", an idea came to me. I want to make it as easy as possible for anyone who takes the time to leave a comment for me, to see if I have acknowledged them! Because, how can we all remember where we left comments? And THEN, go back to those blogs to see if our scathingly brilliant comments received a comment back from the blog owner?! Too much time! Too crazy! And none of us need any of that, do we? SO, I'm definitely NOT discouraging leaving comments. No, please do! I read every one of them and they...and you....all mean so much to me. This way, you just won't have to stop back by unless you want to read something new, etc.

** I stumbled across another (new to me) blog this evening.  Here is the blog of Lynda Schab's "On the Write Track".  She has many publishing credits, and also provides links to various writing sites. Those of you who are interested in Christian writing, she has links for those, too. She is having a 12 Books of Christmas Contest/give-away, beginning this coming Monday! I'm definitely not one to rush Christmas, and reading about this contest didn't make me feel that way whatsoever. It just perked me up and made me happy! More books! More books! Oh and guess what? She has the books background that I had until I recently changed to my autumn leaves. SO, she must be a wonderful gal, don't you think?

** I heard absolutely no news concerning my sister today, so that tells me she must be okay. I'll definitely call tomorrow to see what the latest information is. Thanks for all your kind comments and e-mails. I so appreciate all of you.

** Have a wonderful, blissful weekend!


"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -- Leo Buscaglia

** It's Friday...Again, Already? **

** Comment Like Crazy (Wednesday) went fairly well....although I only made it to about 1/5 of the blogs I follow! I visited quite a few more yesterday and hope to finish up today. I think my next Comment Like Crazy Day will be a week from Sunday, the 3rd of October. That should work out just about right! It was great fun catching up on so many fabulous blogs! Gee, that must be why I follow them! (Oh, BTW, I'm going through them alphabetically, so I don't lose track as to where I've been yet...so I'm sorry if you're at the end of the alphabet.

** My sister, Marian, who lives in the Atlanta area had surgery this past Tuesday. It was supposed to be one of those "routine" surgeries, but there were some frightening complications. She's still in the hospital and I'm not sure when she'll be released. I've talked to my brother-in-law and both (grown) nieces, so they are keeping me up to date. I just wish I didn't live so far away. She hasn't been able to, or in the mood to talk on the phone to anyone yet, but she knows her long-distance family members have made multiple calls to find out how she's doing, etc. I'm hoping she'll be much better by later today.

That's it for now. It's way past midnight and I still have some reading to do. Until later........♥

“The house does not rest upon the ground, but upon a woman” -- Mexican Proverb Quote

** IT'S CHOCOLATE DAY!! **

According to 123 Greetings, today is Chocolate Day!!  I find this little bit of news particularly verrrry interesting....because just last night, when I was at the check-out lane in Target, a Hershey Bar called my name! Indeed it did. It said, "Hey, Becky! Over here. You know you want me, so just give in and indulge." And since I'm at a stage in my life where I have absolutely no willpower, (hopefully this too shall pass) I grabbed that chocolate bar and threw it on the converyer belt along with my few necessities: printer ink, diet coke, yogurt, and yellow zingers! See what I mean?? At least I bought some yogurt and DIET soda!

Anyway, I have not eaten the Hershey Bar yet....ta-dah! So, here is my gift to everyone, on this special day.

The Hershey Bar is real. The other items are stickers from my greeting card/sticker collection.

Consider this your E-Card for the day!!

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

"Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces." -- Judith Viorst

** Comment Like Crazy Wednesday **

Hey Everybody! It's Comment Like Crazy Wednesday!  The fabulous TK Richardson, of My Writing Masquerade, came up with this wonderful meme, as a way to keep up with blog reading and commenting! She asked if I'd like to join along and I said "Sure"!

I believe many people struggle with issues about trying to write something on their blog every day or every other day. Some maybe don't have much going on at the moment that seems "Blog Worthy", or in most cases, don't have the time! SO, instead of struggling, trying to write something to post, how about taking the day off, and go visit your blog buddies....Read...and.... Comment Like Crazy!

(I'm not sure yet if Comment Like Crazy will be a weekly feature on my blog, since this is my first one, so I'll see what happens! TK said she will be doing it weekly, but not necessarily every Wednesday.)

 Here's how it works:

1. Instead of writing my normal blog post for (maybe) one day of the week, I will Comment Like Crazy on your blogs! (sounds simple, huh?)

2. The purpose of Comment Like Crazy is not to gain more followers, but to connect with those who follow me and those I follow. After all, how will you know I've read your blog if I don't say something?

3. It doesn't matter which day of the week I choose as long as I Comment Like Crazy when I do! So, this week it's Wednesday. Next week who knows?

4. I encourage all of you to grab the Comment Like Crazy button, and join in. The "rules" are simple and you'll be interacting with one of the best communities out there - bloggers! It's like hanging a "Gone Fishing" sign on your blog....only you won't be fishing! Readers will know you'll be back the next day, with one of your "scathingly brilliant" posts! (Thanks, Cathy C. for letting me borrow one of your/my favorite expressions!..and thanks to The Angels!)

Blogging takes a lot of time, energy, and thought. We put more into our blogs than people realize, and when we leave comments it gives us the fuel we need to keep on trucking - er, I mean blogging!

Thanks again to TK Richardson for suggesting this fun, interactive meme!

Ahhh, the pressure is off for today. No fabulous post to write. No photos to search for and download. I get to do one of my very favorite things: Visit my blog friends and let 'em know I was there! I can't wait!☺

"Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.” -- Unknown

** Tuesday's Tidbits **

*Contest Entrants: I'd like to acknowledge everyone who entered my contest and include links to their blogs; partly to showcase their beautiful blogs and various talents, but also because at least one of them that I know of, is hosting her own contest right now!

Barb Hodges, Donna Volkenannt, Nancy Olson, Kathy Matthews, Myrna R., Jennee Thompson, Janel G., OJ, Sioux, Bookie-Claudia, Susan W., and last but not least.... June Freaking Cleaver!

Honorable Mention goes to: Tammy Goodsell. Tammy wrote a hilarious story, but alas...the word count was over the 100 word limit.

*Newest Followers: I'd also like to acknowledge my 15 newest followers! I was so thrilled when I reached the magic number of 100, which seems like just a week or so ago. In the past couple of days, that number has somehow risen to 115. I appreciate every one of you...from the very first one, to the 20th, 40th, and so on. It's wonderful following "old" friends, AND meeting new blogger friends.

*Blog Highlight:  Now, I'd like to introduce you to one of my three lovely daughters-in-law, Sara. My (bonus) son, Matt, and Sara have 8 beautiful children, ranging in age from 13 years old to 1 year old. She is an amazing mom!! I am delighted to be part of their wonderful family! Please check out Sara's blog. I love the title of it: 8aplenty. I think you'll enjoy reading about a "typical" day in their household and seeing photos of all the kids! (Sara is my only daughter-in-law who has a blog, so don't think I'm playing favorites!)☺

"The best part of life is when your family becomes your friends, and your friends become your family."- Danica Whitfield