* 28 YEARS AGO TODAY AND..... LAUGH WEEK *

Twenty eight years ago on this date, I called all my relatives (no internet then!) and began each conversation with these words: "This is NOT an April Fool's Joke....I am pregnant!"

I was 34 years old, had one son who was 14 years old, and I had not intended on having any more children. But, The Ronald and I received the greatest surprise gift, our son, Mark, in October 1987!

A story I wrote about that experience is in Chicken Soup for the New Mom's Soul (2007), and also included in my memoir (2013).

 

~~~

 

 

According to http://www.123greetings.com all this week (4/1 - 4/7) is Laugh Week! So, here's one of the many Aunty Acid jokes that I like.

 

 

 



* FOLLOWING MY BLISS *

The past few days have been stressful and tiring, and yet also joyful and exhilarating. I guess that's "normal" when moving to a new home, especially when downsizing. 

How much can I throw away? What can be given to Goodwill? What do I absolutely have to take with me? Within a week, though, The Ronald and I (and Vern, of course!) will be living in our delightful, little condo, beginning a new adventure. Life never fails to surprise me.

~~~

 

As Vern and I strolled along during one of our walks yesterday, he with his nose down, sniffing and zig-zagging,

 

 

I thought about the direction my writing is headed. Although I'm definitely working on the sequel to my memoir, it's been slow going, and I'll be putting it on the back burner for a while. I want to focus on a different idea that keeps coming back to me:

 

 

a humorous and hopefully laugh-out-loud funny book about men: how they drive us crazy, the idiotic things they sometimes say and/or do, etc. The title will be Men Ought to Be a Four-Letter Word. (which is also one of the chapters in my memoir, inspired by The Ronald!)

 

I'm not sure where this particular road will take me, but my writing is about the journey, and I have to follow my bliss. (The following words are extremely meaningful to me. Thank you again, Robin Theiss.)

 

one of my favorite walking trails (2009)

 

"Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else." - Joseph Campbell

 

 

 

* I would love to know everyone's thoughts and/or advice. Please leave comments! *

 

 



* POOR VERN IS LOOKING SAD & WORRIED *

HEY, MOM AND DAD - PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO TAKE ME, TOO, WHEN YOU MOVE INTO YOUR NEW CONDO!

 

Poor Vern! He knows something is going on, and in fact probably remembers the same kinds of things happening two years ago when we moved from our house into this townhouse. Now, we're packing and getting ready to move again, into a darling little condo with a lakeside view.... and I swear, we are NOT moving again!

(I swear I did NOT coax him to do this. He just crawled into the packing paper and stayed there for quite a long time. He looks just too pitiful, doesn't he? Don't worry, though, The Ronald and I have been giving him heaps of love and telling him that he's definitely coming with us!)

Note: I just realized that four years ago TODAY, March 12th, we adopted Vern!! I knew it was sometime in March, but I swear I did not know what day until just now when I looked it up! What a wonderful gift he's been to us; so lovable and sweet.

I'll post more info about our move as soon as I can.

"Old dogs, like old shoes, are comfortable. They might be a bit out of shape and a little worn around the edges, but they fit well." -- Bonnie Wilcox 'Old Dogs, Old Friends'

"I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source." - Doris Day

* KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE *

I really miss blogging but can't seem to get back into it yet. I have so much information that I'd like to share, too, but it will have to wait until I can actually sit at my laptop for more than five minutes.

Just one message I have for now: For all my women friends out there in Blogland who are moving in the near future....or EVER for that matter.....

Do NOT let your husband do any of the packing or throwing away of ANYTHING unless you are close enough to keep a watchful eye! LOL

* THE OSCARS - ALWAYS WORTH WATCHING! *

I always love watching The Academy Awards, even though for the past few/many years, I haven't seen any of the movies nominated! I'm just not a big movie-goer. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE movies. And I love being in a crowded theater where everyone in the audience experiences it with me. But the few movies I have seen in the past few years, there's only been a handful of other people there. I guess I need to save my money and attend the grown-up, later night shows, not the "cheaper" matinees. Anyway......I still love watching The Oscars. I've heard and read all the hype about who should win what category, etc. I've already seen The Golden Globes and other award shows, so I'm excited and ready to watch.

My favorite parts last night were those unexpected ones:

* John Travolta poking fun at himself for last year's major faux-pas in pronouncing Idina Menzel's name incorrectly.

* Pawel Pawlikowski talking through the music in his thank-you speech and receiving cheers from the audience.

* Lady Gaga's amazing "Sound of Music" tribute. (Who knew she could sing like that??) And then Julie Andrews coming onstage, almost in tears, hugging and congratulating her. Magical!  2/24 * I'm adding the best You tube link I could find of this. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqGGYJxVRFI 

There were others, but those are my top three. (Although I also loved the rendition of "Glory", and it was very powerful, it wasn't a huge surprise, so that's why it's not in my "favorite (unexpected) parts.")


How about you? Did any of you watch The Oscars? What were your favorite moments, if you had any? Did you see any of the nominated or winning films?



".....Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.....Silver white winters that melt into spring..."      COME ON SPRING!!

WRITING AND CONTESTS AND DEADLINES

Two years ago, I was one of 30 people chosen to audition for the Listen to Your Mother show in St. Louis, Missouri. I didn't do well at my audition and I'm sure that's the reason I wasn't chosen to read my story at the actual event. I knew I blew it, so I wasn't upset with the judges.

I considered submitting a mother-related story again last year, but I was busy promoting my memoir, and didn't participate.

This year, though, as the submission days began to zoom by, I considered it further and determined that if my muse would cooperate, I'd give it a try. And so, at 11:45pm on February 16th, (15 minutes before the deadline!) I hit the "Send" button and it was officially entered into the contest.

The show is Saturday, May 9th, 2015.

Many days, my time seems to go by like this, but when there's a deadline looming, I make myself work - - which is writing - - which is work!

 

This morning at 9:14am, I received an e-mail that began like this:
"Congratulations! We enjoyed reading your [...]." 

And even though it said "Congratulations," I still thought it was going to be a kindhearted rejection letter!

But as I continued reading, it said I was one of 40 chosen to audition! I'm a bit more confident this year, so hopefully I'll do a better job reading my story. My time slot is Saturday, February 28th at 2:00pm. Wish me luck!!

~~~

What about all of you?? What are you working on? Any particular contests or calls for submissions? Writing on your blog or in a journal? I'm interested, so please comment and let us know, especially if you have anything new to share.

~  ~  ~

My fonts are messing with me again and I'm trying to ignore the problem. Acckkk!

* ANOTHER YEAR OF WEDDED BLISS *

* This blog post consists of some previous anniversary posts! *

The Ronald and I are celebrating a wedding anniversary today: 32 Years! I don't know how this can be possible since I'm only 35 years old! J

Seriously, where have the years gone?? Sure, we've had our ups and downs over the years, but managed to always work things out, and keep loving each other. A story I wrote about our marriage is in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Love Stories (2007)

Notice the jagged edge on the left bottom? Our big, ol' puppy at that time, Rocky, decided a few of our wedding pictures were quite tasty. That little bit of information is included in a story I wrote for NYMB...On Dogs (2012)

Two more photos from that special day in 1983.

Have I mentioned The Ronald is a foot taller than I am??!! That comes in handy when I need something from the top shelf! ☺

 

"There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage." ~ Martin Luther

 

"I couldn't be me, without you being you, allowing me to be me." - Becky Lewellen Povich (said to The Ronald one evening when discussing my writing)



** P.S. I forgot to mention that the two stories I referred to are also in my memoir. **

HAVING A WRITERLY KIND OF WEEK

~ Thanks to everyone who stopped by my previous post, and especially to those who left comments, for Karen Lange about her book, Write for Life. ~

* *

 



Welcome to my newest follower, Jessica Haight at DMS

I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see!

Thank you!

* *

* Before I forget, I've been having problems with the fonts and text size on my blog lately. Does this happen to anyone else? I keep going back and forth, updating the entire post, or just certain parts, trying to change it to look the way I want. Grrr... *

I've actually been writing quite often lately and it's a great feeling. I've never been able to follow any kind of schedule or deadlines that I've attempted to impose upon myself, so when the muse hits, I take full advantage!

I don't know about other writers, but it sometimes takes me hours, or days to write the first sentence or first paragraph of what I'm working on! (Checking that thesaurus continually, searching for that one, perfect word!) And although I know all the "rules" about not self-editing as I write, I just can't help it. I believe that since my first writing assignment was for a newspaper column, which allowed for only so many words, and had to be perfect when I submitted it, that's why I'm the way I am. And yes, it certainly makes it a slow-go, but it works for me. Why race through it, just to get the words "on paper," when it all has to be corrected and rewritten anyway? I'm definitely not saying this is the best way to write, so please don't think I'm encouraging it. Different methods work for different people.

I'm working on two different submissions right now (which will fit perfectly into my sequel, too. Lucky me!) One is the Listen to Your Mother piece I mentioned a while back. The deadline is February 16, so I really need to kick it into high gear.

* *

 

It's feeling like spring here and what a wonderful feeling that is! I've seen and heard more birds chirping, especially cardinals, even when it's chilly. But today and tomorrow are supposed to be around 60 degrees, with no rain. Let's hope the weather prognosticators are correct! I also work again today which I'm really looking forward to. The great weather brings out more shoppers and that makes it more fun!

 

 

 

 



 



Happy Saturday! Wishing you a beautiful, blissful day!



And don’t get your panties in a bunch!