Brenda Youngerman

Monday's Musings - Tag

2012-01-29T23:49:00.000-08:00

How was your weekend? MINE? Well, I am feeling SOOO much better, thank you all for your well wishes.....
I went downtown Los Angeles Saturday morning and fed the homeless and it felt really good! I saw a lot of my friends... it is amazing how people get used to seeing you on a regular basis and when you get out of your routine it is noticed. We might think that just because they have nowhere to live they don't have routines...but they do! When I got home I managed to squeeze in a tiny little nap before cleaning the house. I also found a 'tag' in my mail and had to go find out what was going on... so.... keep reading.....

Over at my friend Hilary's place: Feeling Beachie she tagged me in this wacky post. She decided that Muttley and I should do a post together.... SO.... Miss Muttley, "I'm afraid of everything that moves" Gladden, and I spent the entire day Sunday clearing out the spare bedroom and discussing how to handle this post. We went for a 3 mile walk, had a bath, got brushed and even took a new portrait just for the occasion.

1. Describe yourself in 7 words:

Me- Honest, Ethical, Obsessive, early-bird, dedicated, mother, perfectionist

Muttley - Adorable, beautiful, charming, enchanting, patient, young-at-heart, Perfect!

2. What keeps you up at night?

Me- What doesn't?

Muttley - those stupid dogs next door!

3. Who would I like to be?

Me- I'm pretty happy being me!

Muttley - My mom! She gets to go away all the time, and she leaves me home!
4. What am I wearing now?

Me - Pajamas!

Muttley - My collar!

5. What scares me?

Me - the thought of one of my kids passing away before I do.

Muttley - EVERYthing! - fireworks, dogs, cats, snakes. squirrels, --- did I mention EVERYthing!

6. The best and worst of blogging:

Me - The best has to be all of the people I have met and all of the things that I've learned from those people! The worst is the dread of feeling that I have nothing to say and that I will miss a deadline that I have imposed upon myself.

Muttley - I can't type!

7. The last website I visited:

Me - Feeling Beachie - I had to check out this silly meme!

Muttley - I don't type!!!

8. What is the one thing I would change about myself

Me - I would stop thinking all the time and take a bit more time for relaxation

Muttley - I would get thumbs so I could type, and I would get a driver's license!

9. Slankets yes or no?

Me - No thank you!

Muttley - Sure, I'll take another blanket, slanket, snuggie, toy, anything you want to throw my way!

10. Tell us something about the person who tagged you:

Me - Hilary is, without a doubt, one of the most obsessive people I have ever encountered and I adore her to death! She is a great friend whom I've spoken to several times about so many different things. I'm sure if we didn't live on different coasts we'd end up having coffee, drinks, brunch, who knows what else together!

Muttley - He's a cat!

I am supposed to tag people now, so I will, but I really want to tag everyone… so if you want to play along….

Ruthi and Tidbit
Patty and Lucy

Tami and Kimmy Girl and Pandora Paige
McGuffy Ann and Maggie

How was your weekend?

Six Word Saturday - TGIFTW

2012-01-27T23:43:00.000-08:00

Glad this week is finally over

Thank God it's Finally the Weekend!

It is so hard to work a full week when you're not feeling 100%.... glad it's finally over!

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Want to play along? All that's necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words. For more information, go to Show My Face. and Cate explains it all....feel free to explain or not explain. Add an image, a video, a song, nothing.

Friday Four Fill in - Last Friday in January - 2012

2012-01-26T20:12:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

This week’s statements:

1. Nothing is better than.____

2. I ___my ___ in ___but never ____

3. Those _____ that are always _____ make me want to ___________

4. My favorite _________________ is when __________________________.

My Answers:

1. Nothing is better than a warm blanket, a cozy fire and a fluffy dog on a stormy Saturday when you don't feel good !

2. I sleep in my oversized t-shirts and pajama pants in the winter but never in the summer.

3. Those people that are always complaining about everything make me want to strangle them!_

4. My favorite _time of the day_ is when _everything I have to do is done and Muttley races me upstairs!

Pondering with a Purpose - Home?

2012-01-26T04:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

This is my weekly hop where I post a prompt and you get to write to it on your blog - come back here and add it to my linky and then we all get to go read what you wrote!

I started Pondering with a Purpose because -- simply put -- I am a writer - - that is what I do (I just can't help myself)! And although I love following all the hops, I wanted to see if I could bring out some creativity in not only myself, but some of my blogger friends as well.

The rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in my sidebar)
2. Look at the week's prompt
3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.
4. Come back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list below.
5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.
6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt is: Home?

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How do you know when you are home? I don't mean how do you know which home is yours... or yes maybe I do mean that. How do you determine that a house can become your home? Or what is it that sparks you into deciding that that is the one?
I was driving home from work -- in the rain -- and I have to cross a bridge to get home now.
I suppose a bit of a back story is necessary - - - I moved into a new house in August 2009 - and as soon as I walked into the house I knew it was the perfect house for me. My sons were gone, Michelle was moving out and I knew that I had to have a house that I could love and live in by myself. Now mind you when I walked into the front door everything - and I mean everything was white! I thought I had walked into the middle of a marshmallow. But I envisioned paint on the walls, furniture and pictures and turning it into my home. Now two and half years later I still love my home - the walls are blue - and I have made it a home. BUT I took a huge leap of faith. I moved into a town I knew nothing about - away from everything I ever knew. In hind sight, the house is not in the best neighborhood (in fact it's not in a good neighborhood at all), and I should have gotten to know the area better; but I fell in love with the house. And now all this time later I sit here, most of the time either on my couch downstairs, with my laptop, or upstairs in the bedroom. When I am downstairs and I am alone and it is cold I just turn on the fireplace. And then I am reminded that I love this house! I also have a really tiny kitchen . . . but it has a white tile counter with a bar - you know - the kind that divides the living area from the kitchen. Well the walls in the kitchen are white and the walls in the living room are a deep blue. So I come downstairs and enter the kitchen every morning and always think to myself - "I just entered my beach house." And then to make matters even better - I stenciled pelicans in the kitchen! Now when I cross that bridge - to get home - I know that I am home.

So what is it that makes your house a home?
I'd love it if you wrote a post and linked up - but if not, go ahead and leave a comment - or better yet - do both!

Happy Pondering!

Wordless Wednesday - Harbor Lights

2012-01-24T23:26:00.000-08:00

Life's Little Oddites - Tuesdays Coffee Chat

2012-01-24T09:05:00.000-08:00

So my friend Leslie over at Time out for Mom asked the question: What are those things in life that make you go hmmmm?

Well I say: Why do I always wake up BEFORE my alarm clock?Buy This at Allposters.com

and Why is it that I always wash my car and then the next day it rains?

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and here's a great one: WHY are you hungry two hours after you eat Chinese food?

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Why do people call salad rabbit food? Rabbits don't eat salad?

Last, but not least, if children are the greatest gift on earth.... why do they keep taking everything you have???

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Tuesday's Spotlight - Sheila Deeth

2012-01-23T23:12:00.000-08:00

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Today I have the immense pleasure of introducing all of my blogger friends to a talented woman I have known for quite a while. I actually ran across Sheila when I was active on Gather and we cross-commented each other on several occasions. Since then we seem to cross comment each other on blogs and I am always a great admirer of another self-published author who markets her own material. As you read through her spotlight you will see what I mean. When you are done then you can hop on over to her main blog and check out the multi-faceted author/reviewer/blogger Sheila Deeth:

How long have you been blogging?

Just over three years now

Do you have more than one blog?

I started with one blog and wrote about my self-published books, what it felt like trying to self-publish, why I self-published, and so on. Then I made a second for daily writing (my daily dribs’n drabs), and a third for Bible studies. Then there’s the one I made into my home page, another I’m still playing with, and… etc.

What do you normally blog about?

Good question. Maybe that’s the reason I ended up making so many blogs—I just couldn’t decide what I was blogging about. My main blog has lots of mini-book-reviews now, plus posts about writing and editing, interviews with other authors, notes about getting my stories published, and really whatever comes to mind.

I know you are an author as well as a blogger, what do you write about?

My writing’s about as mixed-up as my blogs. I self-publish Christian children’s stories based on the Bible. I’ve got some spiritual speculative ebooks out with Gypsy Shadow Publishing. My first novel—contemporary literary fiction—comes out with Stonegarden in July 2012. And I’m still looking for homes for my children’s and young adult books.

You also write book reviews. How do you choose which books to review?

At first I searched for authors looking for reviewers. Now it seems the authors find me first. I read quickly and I enjoy a wide range of books, so choosing is really just a matter of convincing myself I have time and energy. Then I read and review.

Have you ever read a book you really don't like? If so, how did you handle that?

I’ve read a few books I didn’t like, but that doesn’t mean no-one else would like them. When I review I try to work out what the author was trying to do and convey enough information so someone else can make their own decision. I really don’t like having to give ratings though—I don’t feel qualified to ‘judge.’

How much time a day/week do you spend blogging?

Is too much a good enough answer? I enjoy reading other people’s blogs as well as reading books. And being a quick reader definitely helps. I probably spend an hour or two, Monday to Friday, catching up on stuff. But I should spend more time writing.

What do you do in your spare time?

Read and write. What else would I do? I draw pictures too—some of my self-published books are self-illustrated. I’d walk the dog if we still had one—does anyone want to lend me one?

What attracts you to other blogs?

I enjoy the company of people who read and write. I belong to a local writers’ group which meets once a month. When we’re not meeting, I guess I belong to a global writers’ group in the world of blogs.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Well, I’d like to you for inviting me, Brenda. And I love the name of your blog—Fiction with a Purpose. I guess I’d agree that one person can make a difference, and I hope perhaps, in my writing, I might be that person for someone, somewhere out there.

Mondays Musings - Rainy Monday in January

2012-01-22T23:28:00.000-08:00

This had to be the most uneventful weekend I've had in a very LONG time...
Mostly because I was sick!!!!

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I never left the house --- I got home from work on Friday and planted my butt in my bed. Saturday morning I woke up and began the final edit of Skewered Halo - this is the LAST edit of the layout - the one right before the cover goes on! Then I took a nap and watched television for the rest of the afternoon. I do not remember doing that on a Saturday in FOREVER!
Sunday I got up and finished the edit of Skewered Halo and sent it off to the publisher and then actually went to the store and bought bananas! Then I took Muttley for a walk. That was enough to put me back on the couch for the rest of the day in front of the television!
Let's hope this flu is gone and the week goes by uneventfully!

How was your weekend?

Six word Saturday - the Flu

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Have the flu - Stupid Flu Shot

I wasn't sick before the shot!

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Friday Four Fill In - 3rd Friday in january '12 - already?

2012-01-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

This week’s statements:
1. I used to enjoy ______ but now I don’t really anymore except for when I____
2. My first job was ______
3. I am a bit obsessed with ________ at the moment
4. If I don’t have my ___________ at night, I don’t sleep well

My Answers

1. I used to enjoy _eating ice cream but now I don’t really anymore except for when I_oustide on a sunny day.___
2. My first job was typing up rental listings for a rental agency - on an old typewriter______
3. I am a bit obsessed with _work__ at the moment
4. If I don’t have my __pillow_________ at night, I don’t sleep well

Pondering with a Purpose - Resolutions

2012-01-18T21:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

I had decided not to make any resolutions because quite honestly I don't believe in them. It's not that I think that I don't have anything to improve upon -- far from it! There is always room to improve -- it's just that I feel like if I set up myself up with a list of resolutions it is just one more list of things that will not get completed and I am not really into setting myself up for more failures. So I stopped doing the whole resolution thing a few years ago . . . BUT two years ago I made a promise to myself to stop being so critical of others and not judge so harshly.

WELLL..... as you know I just changed jobs. I had a huge staff meeting today and met a whole lot of new people. And I work in a business where we need to know what we do, so self-confidence is really important. Now I have to say that I am quite proud of myself as I met everyone and actually kept an open mind about meeting new people and they were all quite nice.

Then I got in the car and started to drive home. Traffic is the pits in Los Angeles - in case you needed to be reminded - and I started out at 4:30. So when I was almost home and getting onto the final leg of my trip - which happens to be a 2 lane bridge, WHY would someone decide it is OK to scoot up the right side and try to SHIMMY in? DID they not see the lane end in the same PLACE everyone else did? What kind of an idiot were they anyway?

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Man that pissed me off.... all my hard work of not judging out the window in a nano second --- all because some jerk wanted to wait in line in FRONT of me . . . instead of BACK of me.

So... if you would like to write about what resolutions you have or have not made and post it and link it up . . . that would be great. If not, just go ahead and leave a comment!

Wordless Wednesday - Tree Fashion

2012-01-17T20:16:00.000-08:00

It's the latest fashion - all the trees are wearing them!

Coffee Chat - It just went dark!

2012-01-17T08:07:00.000-08:00

My friend Les at Time out for Mom has a weekly coffee chat where she asks people to come on over and sit down, grab a cup of coffee and chat. This week she has given us this prompt:

You’re home alone and the power goes out, what do you do?

What a great prompt!

First of all, I’m always home alone … well unless living with a great big fluffy dog counts for anything! It used to be that this would be a much more serious occurrence when I had kids living at home, but now it is not really a big deal! Actually it happened the night before Thanksgiving and I was supposed to do a bunch of cooking.. man did that put a crimp in the plans!

Now losing power – depending upon the time of day – can be a good thing – it forces me to GET off the computer! Well, not really because my laptop runs on a battery and I can go for hours without power! So that is good for a while. But I am pretty good at amusing myself. I can always do a jigsaw puzzle – by flashlight and I do have the flashlights in handy locations. I suppose that goes back to having kids and living in a fairly large home and never wanting to be in a situation where the power went out and not being able to have a light handy. (Maybe I just knew that someday I would need to write this post!)

I also always have a book handy to read and can do that by flashlight as well. It is rather interesting in retrospect as I write this that having a loss of power is really not a big deal to me anymore! Now don’t bring any kids into my house and turn off the power – there is something about the dark and kids that just doesn’t work!!

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Tuesday's Spotlight - Boca Frau

2012-01-16T23:35:00.000-08:00

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Another Tuesday... and another chance to introduce my friends to each other. If you have not met Susi from Boca Frau yet, you are missing out on a lot!!

I met Susi because she hopped over from Hilary's. It turned out that she and Hilary are actually friends in 'real' life and Susi is a new blogger - but you would NEVER know it - she figured this stuff out very quickly - in fact when I first went to her blog I had no idea she had just started it! I love the fact that she posts things about her family and that she is from Germany! And now she is a new American Citizen --- Yay!!! we are all so proud of her! . . . So when you are done checking out the spotlight.... go on over to her Boca Frau and check her out.

How long have you been blogging?

My first post was on October 7th, 2011. So for about 3 months now. I'm a newbie!!!

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

Actually, the hubby came up with the final name. We were throwing things around and I just couldn't make a decision. I wanted to combine with where I am now with where I came from.

What do you normally blog about?

I guess, I'm what you would call a mommy blogger. I am a mom. I blog... about the kids, the hubby, the pets and family life.
Anything that goes on in my life and around me.

How many hours a day/week do you spend on your blog?

Way too much time. And I enjoy every minute of it, except when I can't figure out what to write.
I would say I spend about 2 hours a day on my blog and commenting and reading others. Sometimes more...
You could say I've developed a slight addiction!!!

What is that attracts you to other people's blogs?

It's different. I guess, sometimes it's the writing, sometimes it's humor, sometimes it's a picture that pulls me in.
I can't really put it into words... either I like it or I don't. It's really as simple as that.

What makes you run for the hills?

Overload. If it's too overwhelming to make sense of what's even on a page. I don't like to wade through a lot of stuff.

What is your favorite part about blogging?

I love interacting with all the other bloggers. I love it when someone comments on my blog. It's just incredible how many people you "meet" and how different, yet alike we all are.

Your least favorite?

Trying to figure out what to write about. If I should write something or not. And also, finding the time to write.
With three kids running around it's not always easy to sit down and let everything else disappear.

Have you ever posted something and then later regretted putting it up?

I can't say I have. I'm still finding my way in this blogosphere and I take one day at a time.

Anything you would like to add?

I just would like to say a big "Thank you." to you for doing a Tuesday Spotlight on me. I feel like in this short amount of time I've been blogging that I have been embraced by some great bloggers. I also would like to give a shout-out to Hilary at Feeling Beachie for being such a big help to this newbie. And of course I'd like to thank each and every one of you who read my posts.

Monday's Musings - MLK Day

2012-01-16T06:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Holiday - to some of you! ME? I have to work!!!

So? How was your weekend? ME? I went to a wedding shower in Santa Barbara.... my eldest son is getting married - in 4 weeks! The shower was small - only 14 people were there - but this was the funniest part about it - her mother threw the shower - - and the game we played was a memory game where she passed around a tray of kitchen gadgets that we had to remember and then write down. How many of you have any clue what these things are:

Call me old-fashioned - but I've managed to make everything work in my kitchen - for years - with a knife and I had NO idea what any of these things were!

The shower as a whole was very nice and my future daughter-in-law got some nice gifts. The icing on the cake had to be when her step mother said good-bye to me and said, "It was very nice meeting you Raine." - Raine is my ex-husband's girl friend.

SO.... How was your weekend?

Six Word Saturday - Yippee!

2012-01-13T19:41:00.000-08:00

Going to a Bridal Shower --- Yippee!!!!

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Friday Four Fill In - Friday the 13th - in 2012

2012-01-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

1. I have never eaten ___
2. I like to ___ in ___
3. If I could go back and change one thing, it would be _______.
4. My greatest _____ for my ______ is ______.

My Answers:

1. I have never eaten frogs legs or escargot --- and I'm just FINE with that!
2. I like to sleep_ in my own bed... I'm not really much of a traveler___
3. If I could go back and change one thing, it would be the decision I made to break up with my boyfriend in college - now that doesn't mean it wouldn't have happened eventually - - - .
4. My greatest hope__ for my _children_____ is _that they find the love and happiness that I never did!

Pondering with a Purpose - Routine

2012-01-11T23:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

My entire routine has gone through somewhat of a shakeup in the past month and that got me to thinking that I guess I am a creature of habit. I don't suppose I ever quite realized that before....even though I always surmised it. When my kids were little of course I knew they had to be kept within a routine, it just made the most sense. Dinner at a certain time of the day, bedtime within 30 minutes - give or take - with a reading period ALWAYS before bed. There was always nap time - no matter what - and the world was at peace. As they got older and their bed times were pushed later and later mine seemed to get earlier (isn't that odd?) I guess that is because I was still the first one up in the morning, making sure that lunches were made, dinner was prepared - in advance if necessary, and everything was in motion for the day. Now that they are gone the routine seemed to just continue even without them here.

THEN - I got a new job and the hours are wonky - last week I worked 2nd shift - 12 noon to 9 PM - I feel like I lost the days - no matter how hard I tried I couldn't really sleep in - I mean who does that on a work day? And I didn't get home from work until 10:30 PM and who eats dinner at midnight? Not me! So not only was my routine messed up . . . I didn't even know what meal to eat at what time of the day - - - and to make matters worse - - Muttley didn't eat dinner when I came home - so what? Now dogs have routines too?

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Thankfully I am back to a normal schedule (whatever that means anymore) this week - I get up at 4 AM to be at work at 5:30 AM and don't get home until about 4:00 PM - but for some reason that seems to be more 'normal'.

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SOOOOO ---- this whole post had been written and scheduled to run in advance and then I was driving home from work and heard Concrete Angel by Martina McBride on the radio and it made me realize something so important that I had to re-open the post and add something to it. I realized why routine is so absolutely important to me. That song reminded me that 18 years ago the only thing I could count on was a routine because I was literally living one step at a time, a day at a time and the routine I set for myself - and my children - was the only thing that got me through. Now I am sure there are many of you who are shaking your head in agreement right now reading this and if you have been following me for a while you will have seen (at least once or twice) me write that I believe all things happen for a reason. That song played today for a reason and that memory flooded back in time for this post. In light of last weeks' post about wallowing and reminding myself of where I was and where I am - it is often times important to remember where we have BEEN so that we don't go back there.

On that note: How about you? Do you need to have a routine or are you okay just flying by the seat of your pants?
I'd love it if you wrote a post and linked up with the linky below.
Or if you'd prefer - - you can just leave comments (or both!)

Coffee Chat - Worst Movies

2012-01-11T05:54:00.000-08:00

SOOoooo.... over at my friend Rory's aka Leslie at Time Out For Mom she is doing her Tuesday Coffee Chat topic on Movies that make you go..... (and that is literally go -- as in out ....) [Yes.... I know today is Wednesday!]

So... I have this thing about sequels that should never have been made .....

First on my list:

Dirty Dancing - Havana Nights - NOW why would anyone WANT to make another movie after the original?

Better question? Why would anyone think they could ever make a movie that would stand up to the original? Well the obvious answer answer is that they didn't...... Enough said!

Second:

The Exorcist - the Beginning --- REALLY? The beginning was the original - probably the scariest movie anyone of my generation has ever seen! Why .. again that word! would anyone think that they could make a PREquel???

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The last one on my list for today is Speed 2 - Cruise Control - - now seriously ---- the original was SO much better - why would anyone want to ruin it's reputation with such a crappy sequel???

How about you --- what movies did you go ????? Seriously ???

Link on up at Rory's place!

Wordless Wednesday - Stop What?

2012-01-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

The senseless lights on trees????

Tuesday's Spotlight - The Conscientious Reader

2012-01-09T23:39:00.000-08:00

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Can you even imagine what it must be like to teach school, grade papers, raise a baby (who is downright adorable at that!) and then write on a blog to boot? And you think you are busy? I tell you . . . .oh yeah and she is on Facebook all the time! So, Stephanie . . . . is your computer on while you are teaching? Just asking.....

Anyway... back on track here . . . Stephanie aka The Conscientious Reader and I have been exchanging comments both on our blogs and Facebook for months now and I could never find her email address to ask her to be a part of this program... I finally decided to ask her on Facebook -- (how totally unbloggy of me) . . . But . . . I think that you will all see why I am such a huge fan.... please go check her out when you are done checking her out!:

How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging for a little over a year. I started December 23rd, 2010.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

There is this book that our AP Lang and Comp teacher uses called The Conscious Reader, a book of various types of essays by famous writers, it's a play on words from that. We should all be aware of how what we read influences who we are.

Do you have more than one blog?

Yes, I have a blog for my classroom called Sophomore English...I didn't update it at all during first semester...oops. http://www.lhssopheng.blogspot.com/

And, my teacher friends and I started a YA fiction blog called Teen Text Talk. http://www.teentexttalk.blogspot.com/

What do you normally blog about?

My life in reading, my kiddo, whatever tickles my fancy...it's really pretty random with a focus on books and reading.

How many hours a day/week do you blog?

Here lately, I've been doing more grading than blogging, but at least an hour a day is a minimum.

What draws you to someone's blog?

Depends on what kind of blog I'm looking for...if I want crafts the tutorials need to be clear and have lots of detailed pictures, same rules apply to a food blog, a good book blog just has to have honest reviews...if it's just a personal blog it just has to be honest stories...I enjoy a rant every now and again, but don't want to read them all the time.

Makes you run for the hills?

Lots of cussing for no reason...I mean everything has a time and a place, but when your cussing distracts me from what you are trying to say than it's bye-bye.

What advice would you give to someone just starting a new blog?

Make up rules that work for you...you know 'they' say that your blog should have one focus and should be updated regularly...but, you do your blog however you want to, if it makes you happy people will read it! :)

Do you think having a lot of followers is important?

No. In the beginning I kind of gauged if I was doing well by how many people followed, but I've realized people read my blog and they've never followed. It's interesting how following works...I suppose if I want to get more free swag I need more followers, but I don't really. I like where I am, well, I'd like it if I were all caught up with my blogging for this year! :D

Anything you would like to add?

I love that you do this and I love your blog! :)

Monday's Musings - Seriously?

2012-01-08T23:32:00.000-08:00

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So it is the second week of January - right?
Someone want to explain to me why the weather feels like summer here? And no, I don't live in Australia! I am used to mild winters - after all I live in Southern California - but let's be real! I don't think it has been colder than 70 degrees since last Wednesday! Now did I hear someone say that global warming didn't really exist - Seriously? move to California! it's warming here!!!

I had a really strange weekend - the reason for that was because I was on a strange schedule last week and I didn't get home from work on Friday night until 9:30 PM --
then I was up on Saturday morning at 6:45 to go feed the homeless and I was really out of sorts for most of the day but I wanted to get the majority of my chores done so I could try and spend Sunday as a 'down' day to try and rest for the coming week - Seriously? Does that ever really work for you either?

What I did manage to do was pretty exciting -- check this out....I have been having a really hard time managing the food around here because of the schedule so I decided to pre-prepare dinners. I made Potato cheese soup, a chicken pot pie and an egg plant parmesan - so they are all prepped and ready to go for the week.
Also, I had been having a tough time writing Ferry Tails - that was the novel about romance scammers - and I think there are a variety of reasons for that difficulty but the main reason is that there is another story that really needs to be told first so Cracked Cocoon is well on it's way to becoming the 8th work of Fiction with a Purpose. ---- NO you didn't miss the 7th! Skewered Halo just finished the editing stage and will be available for purchase sometime in March. So the conclusion to all of this is that my 'down' day was anything but 'down.'

How was your weekend?

Six Word Saturday - 2012 Already?

2012-01-06T23:25:00.000-08:00

A short week felt really long

I am happy it's the weekend

Friday Four Fill In - Happy 2012

2012-01-05T21:34:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

1. ________ is not my strongest virtue (patience)
2. _________ is my favorite meal of the day
3. ___________ is my ____________
4. Whenever ____________ happens, I always _____________.

My Answers:

1. Subtlety_ is not my strongest virtue.
2. I don't have a favorite meal of the day - I'm not a really big eater, so mealtime is not a big deal for me!
3. Baking____ is my _therapy___________
4. Whenever _the phone rings in the middle of the night, I always _assume the worst____________.

Pondering with a Purpose - Wallow

2012-01-04T23:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

This is my weekly hop where I post a prompt and you get to write to it on your blog - come back here and add it to my linky and then we all get to go read what you wrote!

I started Pondering with a Purpose because -- simply put -- I am a writer - - that is what I do (I just can't help myself)! And although I love following all the hops, I wanted to see if I could bring out some creativity in not only myself, but some of my blogger friends as well.

The rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in my sidebar)
2. Look at the week's prompt
3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.
4. Come back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list below.
5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.
6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

As I wandered through the blogs over the past week I couldn't help but see a recurring theme - people were sad... and it made me ponder what everyone else does..... which leads me to

This Week's prompt is: Wallow

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I was reminded of something my father said to me back in 1994 when he asked me if I would like to join him to go out to dinner and I turned him down. He said, "Why? Are you just going to stay home and wallow in self pity?" Now 1994 had to be the epitome of, what I thought, was the earth shattering around me. I was 34 with a 5,4 and 3 year old child. My ex-husband was a first rate bastard who would stop at nothing to make my life miserable at any opportunity he could come up with; I was literally working to make ends meet and I really had NO idea what I was doing with my life. If someone had told me this is what I was going to be doing at 34 I would have looked at that cock-eyed at gone, "Me? Are you kidding?" I had graduated college in 1982, law school in 1985 and gotten married in 1986. By 1993 the marriage was over and I was on my own. Every weekend HE had the kids, and I would sit on the couch, curled up in a ball, waiting for them to come home. That is until my father said THAT! And to this day whenever I get sad . . . oh Hell . . depressed! I refuse to wallow is self pity - - - and believe me I have had plenty to wallow about!!! Don't even start the stories . . . . . but do you want to know the truth of the matter? Wallowing does not do anyone any good - least of all me!!
So what do I do instead? Well... first I used to hit the vodka bottle - - - then I would get sick .....
Now... I go for long walks with Muttley!
Or I do a jigsaw puzzle
Or I watch a movie
Or I read a book
Or I write a book
Sometimes . . . but not too often. . . . I go out with friends. . . .
you see... my problem is . . . I really have learned not to trust too many people . . . .
Perhaps that is why blogging has become so great!

How about you? How do you wallow? I'd love it if you wrote a post and linked on up!

Wordless Wednesday - Now This is Foggy!

2012-01-03T23:01:00.000-08:00

and I wasn't commenting on my picture taking ability!

Tuesday's Spotlight It's Just Life

2012-01-02T23:47:00.000-08:00

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This is such an amazing journey we are all on! Wouldn't you agree? And I am so fortunate to be able to share the people I meet with the rest of the people I meet! This week I am spotlighting a woman I met through hopping along . . . literally . . and I'm not even sure how long we just 'commented' each other before we started talking..... and now we are Facebook friends and she's read a book or two or mine... and you know... she donates every month to a charity based upon the number of comments she gets on her blog - - NOW who does that???? I'll tell you who: Beth Ann Chiles from It's Just Life

So, when you're done reading all about her here... please head on over and check out her blog!

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” John Wesley

How long have you been blogging?

I started my blog in March 2008---so I have been at it for a long time. Hard to believe it has been that long. I started it originally to keep our family posted on our travel to Australia for a job interview and then I couldn't stop!!!!!

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

It just kind of came to me that what I was writing about was just my life and stuff! My original title was Beth Ann's Musings but that seemed pretty dull so it changed about 4 months in to It's Just Life--Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary. I think there are a lot of extraordinary things and people out there that go unnoticed.

What do you usually blog about?

I usually blog about my life, my travels, my observations, my faith, my family and about articles or things I have read or seen that strike me as blog-worthy.

How much time a day/week do you blog?

I probably spend at least 10 hours a week on my own blog writing and coming up with ideas. I try to answer every comment and that takes some time, too. I spend a lot more time reading other people's blogs and finding out what they are writing about.

What is your favorite part about blogging?

My favorite part is probably the same answer for about everyone else who blogs---the community of friends that is found through having a blog!!! I have friends that I lovingly call my "imaginary friends" who I have never met in real life but who have become my best friends through this platform. They offer support and love and friendship when it is most needed. The other favorite thing that I do is Comments for A Cause where I pick a charity each month and donate 50 cents for each legitimate comment that month to that cause. It has connected me with a lot of great people and hopefully my small donations have made a small difference.

Least favorite?

The only thing I can think of is when I write what "I" think is an absolutely fabulous and insightful post and nobody comments. That can be a real bummer!!! It doesn't happen too often but when I get cranked up and have a great post, in my opinion, and there are few views and no comments it makes me sad.

What attracts you to other people's sites?

I seem to be attracted to other bloggers who have similar values and who write about life and who are willing to expose themselves to the world out there by writing about what is important to them. I follow quite a variety of bloggers from humorous to poetry posts to spiritual to authors so it really runs the gamut which is refreshing.

Have you ever posted something and then regretted it?

I really haven't regretted anything that I have written/posted ...yet. I am pretty good at censoring what I write and edit it quite a bit. Not everything I write gets scheduled for a post which is a good thing!

What do people say when they find out you have a blog?

Depends! Some act interested. Some could care less. And of course there are those who have no idea what that is all about and why I would blog!!!! I have a pretty large "older generation" following which fascinates me and makes me wonder why but I think perhaps they have more time and I have a personal connection with them and they are interested in my life. Who knows?

Anything you would like to add?

Well of course I would like to thank Brenda for highlighting me today and for becoming one of my imaginary friends this year. I have great respect for anyone who can make their writing dream come true like she has and I am thrilled to be featured this week! I count it all joy that I am able to do this and that I live in a country where I do have the freedom to write about anything that comes into my head!!! I am blessed and am just always happy to meet new folks who might be interested in my ramblings!!!!

Monday's Musings - Welcome to 2012

2012-01-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

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I hope you all had a wonderful weekend . . .
A good way to end 2011 . . .
A great way to begin 2012 . . .
As for me - - well let me say that it was quiet and different than years' gone by. Today is Jaunary 2 and my youngest child turns 20! That means that I lived through the teen years - it also means that this was the first year that I spent the holidays completely alone. As most of you know my daughter is in Germany with her husband and their plans changed at the last moment and they didn't make it back here. I also have two sons - they are both in Santa Barbara and - well they are sons - (need I say more?) They are 21 and 22 and although I speak with them on the phone they are busy with their own lives - which is as it should be.
The solitude gave me a chance to do things I have not done in quite a while!
I watched movies - I watched American Psycho with Christian Bale - now that was interesting!
I watched a movie called Confidence with Ed Burns and Dustin Hoffman - that was good!
I also have a collection of Alfred Hitchcock movies I had never cracked open that I delved into - that was interesting as well - old black and whites ....
Muttley and I took a few rather long walks . . . . . she's beat!
I did not stay up until midnight...but the fireworks woke me up at New Year's eve!

2011 was not a really good year for me in several ways . . . however - - - being an optimist who tends to try and find the silver lining in everything I am trying to take what I have learned from 2011 and use it wisely for 2012.

The BEST part of 2011 has definitely been this blog and all the friends I have made . . .
I sincerely hope that 2012 is a better year for all of us - - - it is astounding to me how many of you have privately commented and agreed with me on the sentiments of 2011 being a tough year. Let's look forward with hope for a promising future.

How was your weekend?

Six Word Saturday - Usher it out

2011-12-31T09:05:00.000-08:00

Good Riddance to a Bad Year!

Let's Hope next year is better!

I'm going to enjoy my weekend!

Friday Four Fill In - last Friday for 2011

2011-12-29T18:23:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

1. Lately, I have been feeling a little___________

2. I am usually a ______

3. ________________________is always the best feeling at the end of the day

4. _________________________is the first thing I do in the morning

My answers:

1. Lately, I have been feeling a little_sad because this is really this is the first time I have been alone at the holidays__________

2. I am usually an optimist and can find the silver lining in EVERY situation ______

3. _Crawling into bed is always the best feeling at the end of the day

4. I say good morning to Muttley_is the first thing I do in the morning

I am not adding the linky to this hop...but I am adding this:

I do NOT have any idea when I joined this hop but I have met some amazing people along the way --- and I would not have been able to do that without the assistance of Hilary. . . . so Ms. Beachie.... this is for you... MUAH!!!!!

Pondering with a Purpose - Superstitions

2011-12-28T22:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

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As the whole world gets ready to leave 2011 behind and begin 2012 and I hop around to all of my friends' blogs I can't help but notice that a lot of people are reflecting on the past year while many others are debating the merits of resolutions - to make, break or simply forsake. So I've decided that this weeks pondering prompt is going to be:

Superstitions

Now all of us have heard the superstition that 2012 is the end. But where did that one come from? I've heard it came from the Mayan calendar and that is because that is the Mayan calendar ends in 2012. There just is no more calendar after that - so who says that means it's over?
I've also heard that Nostradamus predicted that 2012 will be the end of the world as we know it. Well --- AMEN to that brother - because I for one can certainly do with a new world --- how about you? anyone out there having a great time in the world the way it is today? Bring on a new one in 2012 ----

My grandmother would not sit at a table where 13 people were seated - She refused. She would either demand that there be two separate tables - or that someone not eat - or another person be invited. That might prove to be a bit difficult at the last minute if you only have 13 people over don't you think? She swore that that if you sat at a table with 13 people there would be a death in the family. - - - Personally I've done it numerous times - nothing's ever happened.

Here's another quirky one - same grandmother - - - if you pass the salt - you MUST put it down on the table before the other person can use it. Don't remember the reasoning behind that one - anyone ever heard of it before? But whatever you do, don't just hand it to someone!

And then of course - never name your child after someone who died a horrible death --- SO you realize that leaves out virtually EVERY single name on the face of the name book - no wonder people are making us such strange names these days!

PLEASE either add your superstitions to the comments or --- better yet --- write a post and add it to the linky!

Whatever you do - - I hope you all have a Happy New Year! And thanks for pondering along. . . . .

Tuesday's Spotlight - Tuesday's Spotlight

2011-12-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

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I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of my guests from this past year. They have all touched me in one way or another.... and hopefully .... you have all gained new insight into a new blogger. If for some reason you missed a spotlight or two throughout the year (and I only started this segment late in May...) please feel free to browse though...

I am taking suggestions if you would like to see anyone spotlighted in the coming weeks/months - simply send me an email and I'd be happy to consider anyone!

Again....here are the list of the spotlighted guests from the Tuesday's adventures:
Gale at Such Fun to Give

Marsha at Marsha's Spot
Ruthi aka abitosunshine
Scather at Scathing Weekly
Alison at Alison can Read
Cathy at I'm a Reader not a Writer
Nat at Reading Romances
Elizabeth at Silvers Reviews
Mary Ann at Tribute Books Mama
McGuffy Ann at McGuffy's Reader
Hilary at Feeling Beachie
Jade at Sort of Beautiful
Alexis at Reflections of a Bookaholic
Patty at Books, Thoughts and a Few Adventures
Donna at House on the Corner
Yvonne at Socrates Book Review
Elizabeth at Vampyre Kisses
Linda at The Laughing Housewife
Rory/Les at Time Out For Mom
Ticklebear

Cate at Show My Face
Cathy Kennedy
Vivienne at Vin In France
Betty at A Corgi In So Cal
Fi at Inspiration to Dream
Joseph at Josephs Real World
Cynthia at Wytching World
Tami at Empty Nest in Il
Jennifer at Just Another Day
Carole at Half over Just Begun

Happy New Year's all.......

Monday's Musings - After Christmas

2011-12-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

SOOO..... How was your holiday?
Mine? I cannot complain... (well everyone can complain) - - -
I had Friday off of work and decided that I would start my weekend early.... I took Mutlley for a very long, much needed walk - (I needed the walk too!) and that was after Michelle and I spoke on the phone for quite a while.
Saturday morning I awoke to record breaking cold and headed downtown to feed my friends. Unfortunately we ran out of food - again - That seems to be happening on a more regular basis. . . but we will get through this - just have to make more sandwiches I guess. As it is we make 900 - guess we have to kick it up a notch! But my favorite part has to be the smiles on the faces of the regulars when we come by. I know that I have said this before, but this is such a large part of my life - - OH - I had a conversation with two people in a gas station on Friday as I was filling with gas - they were both asking for spare change - which of course I didn't have. And as we were talking about how bitterly cold it was and how hard the times were I happened to mention - "Now how many people pretend you don't even exist?" And do you know what this woman said to me? "The worst part is when people pretend we are invisible!" If you have nothing to give - give a smile... at least they deserve the respect of being human.
When I returned home I decided to descend into the world of baking! I was going to make the gingerbread house found on Rory's Coffee Chat from last Tuesday, but decided that I would rather make gingerbread men instead. BUT then I realized that I no longer had a rolling pin - or the cookie cutters and had to brave a shopping trip - on Christmas Eve day - (are you serious?) I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and bought a set of Holiday cookie cutters.
The cookies are great and I even sent messages to Michelle.... via the cookie express:

and then on Christmas Day.... I sent her another one!

because she is right where she is supposed to be..... next to her man... even if he is a gingerbread man!

So now that all of the cookies are done and the celebrating is over....
How was your weekend?

Six Word Saturday - Twas the Night Before Christmas

2011-12-24T07:15:00.000-08:00

I am making Gingerbread Men Cookies

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Friday Four Fill In - Twas the night before the night before

2011-12-22T17:27:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

Each week, she lists four statements with a blank for us to fill in on our own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own check out her site. If she uses them, she will add you as co-host to the hop!This week’s co-host is ME! (I came up with the last two statements)

This week’s statements:

1. I have a love hate relationship with_____

2. I have been buying a lot of ___ lately

3. If I hear _____________ anymore I swear I will _________________

4. Whenever I see_____ makes me ____________ and then I ____________

My Answers:

1. I have a love hate relationship with chocolate... I love it...then I hate it... then I love it... then I hate it

2. I have been buying a lot of _sweaters__ lately. I noticed that all the ones I had were stretched out and I wanted to get new ones!

3. If I hear anyone else tell me that Michelle knew what she was getting into anymore I swear I will haul off and deck them....I don't care anymore.... I didn't marry the army. I miss my daughter!

4. Whenever I see babies laugh and carry on it makes me _wish my kids were young again and then I feel guilty for all the times I could have been nicer to them.

Here is the linky in case you would like to join along!

Pondering with a Purpose - The Winter Solstice - 2011

2011-12-21T22:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

This week's prompt: Winter Solstice
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I can't help but recall so many stories of nights that were long and days that were short; especially considering that the Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year. I love this time of the year. I don't know why, perhaps it's because it was the time when I got to spend more time with my kids - they had vacations from school and I knew that they would be home more. Or maybe it is because it is colder outside and because of that I always know that the kitchen is the place that people tend to congregate. I suppose if I lived somewhere that snowed, or where there were blizzards or floods I wouldn't be so inclined to love this time of year, but being a native of Southern California and the most inconvenient thing we have to deal with is rain I have learned to leave extra time for traffic and put on a hood. I like wearing boots and sweaters and don't think I'd be too inclined to shoveling a driveway.

As I sit here and type this post up I do have to admit that I am somewhat of a wimp... the fireplace is lit, I'm wrapped up under a blanket and my laptop is on my lap... and it's only 45 degrees outside... and then I read RoryBore's post and it is minus degrees where she lives!

Now.... one of my favorite stories of the short days has to be when my kids were little and they did not know how to tell time.... you see it gets dark right around 5:00 .... so bedtime ended up being 6:30.... They didn't catch on until they were about 9 or 10. Being a single mom was pretty tough and I used any trick I could come up with! Looking back on it now I wonder what tricks they're going to use on their kids? Or worse.... what tricks they're going to come back and use on me when I can't even remember?

So... how about you? Any stories of winter's gone by you'd like to share?
Write a post and link on up.... We'd love to read all about it!

Wordless Wednesday - Family Portrait?

2011-12-21T04:51:00.000-08:00

See any resemblance . . .

Tuesday's Spotlight - Half Over Just Begun

2011-12-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

It's Tuesday and I have happy feet - - (I have to get one of those pictures of Snoopy!)
I have SO much fun getting to know new people and then getting to introduce new people to other people...
BUT this week.... well.... just wait until you read all about Carole . . . or is she really Carole???
Anyway.... I met Carole when I joined Leah for her month of giving Thanks and I really (and I mean really!) Liked everything Carole had to say on her blog - maybe it's because she vented and I thought she was real . . . or maybe it's because she commented on my blogs and I felt like she 'got' it. . . .
... or maybe it's just because there are just certain people out there that are meant to be friends and you hit it off with right at the beginning . . . BUT then after reading the spotlight . . . who knows?

Well you read it and judge for yourself. . . either way it is my pleasure to introduce you to Carole from Half Over Just Begun

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How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging on and off for the past five years.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

I started this blog just before my 45th birthday. I figure if I live to be 90, my life is half over and yet just beginning the second half.

What do you normally blog about?

This is my 'secret' blog. It's where I can be myself without having to worry about who reads it. I have even changed my name to keep my anonymity. But even though my name has been changed to protect the innocent, I am very real. So if I'm venting... I'm venting without worrying about who is going to read the blog. If I want to post about an activity, I can do so without discrimination. If I want to be silly... I can be silly. I do have a public blog, but the two are not connected.

How often do you post?

I post whenever I feel led to write something down. Sometimes it might be daily... other times weekly.

What do you like the most about blogging?

The community of bloggers is what I like most about blogging. It's been fun to connect with some new 'virtual' friends. I also like the freedom to be myself without having to maintain certain standards that people expect from me. I also enjoy writing and so this gives me a venue to express my opinions.

The least?

This comment pertains more to my public blog... but I HATE stalkers. I hate it when I run into people who never comment on my blog but they feel free to comment in person about all the things I've posted. I feel so..... transparent... almost naked... when that happens. I don't feel that way with my private blog because I don't run into any of my 'virtual' friends in public places.

What attracts you to other bloggers?

Comments. You gotta comment, people! Commenting is what builds the 'virtual community'. If you don't comment on my blog, it's not likely I will be back to visit your blog.

What made you want to start a blog?

I wanted a place where I could write whatever was on my heart without certain people reading it. My cousin convinced me to start a private 'secret' blog to which only she is privy.

Do you have any advice for anyone just starting out?

Keep it simple. Keep it real. Keep it short. Blogs with lots of pictures slow down my computer which tends to irritate me. I only tolerate it for a few special people. Long blog posts bore me. I check out after a few paragraphs if the author doesn't get to the point quickly. I'm a busy person and I want to get through my blogroll quickly. I don't care to spend too much time on any one blog. Write something to capture my attention... and then keep my attention.

Anything you would like to add?

Yes. I'd like to thank Brenda for the opportunity to be a guest on her Tuesday's Spotlight. I feel very honored to have been selected. Thanks, Brenda!

Monday's Musings - Let it Rain

2011-12-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

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Two weeks ago a new person appeared around the corner from the Staples Center. That is not really that unusual. He was standing in the middle of the road, wearing a nice blazer and had a red solo cup in his hand asking for money from the cars as they stopped at the red light. We asked him if he wanted food and he gladly accepted. Last week he was there again and recognized us. Gone was the blazer and in its' place was a sweatshirt. His beard had grown and he looked a bit scruffier. His solo cup had been replaced and gone was a bit of his swagger. Last week it was bitter cold and I asked this person his name. He was Jack. I also offered him a tarp - he took two. I offered him a blanket he thanked me - "darlin'". I also had some shirts, socks and and extra sweatshirt for him. I got an extra 'darlin' for that one. Now Jack could not have been more than thirty - probably not past twenty seven. I asked him how long he'd been out there and he said three months - but I doubted it. When we went out Saturday - No Jack. That is the way of the street - sometimes they make it and sometimes they don't --- but - there are always those random few that manage to wriggle their way into my psyche and make me want to put an end to this madness... and then of course I realize there are thousands of Jacks... and Ricos (see the post from October 3) and that is why I do this! The oddest part about Saturday morning was that on my way downtown I stopped at the library and dropped off my books and right by the drop box were 3 men sleeping. All the way along the drive I was trying to figure out how I could provide food for these men on a regular basis on my way to work each morning. I asked Brother Ben what was wrong with me and he said - "You want to save the world."

Sunday I Skyped with Michelle for well over an hour as her husband ended up working 'extra' duty and she finds herself with lots of extra time on her hands. She is trying to make the best of a not great situation. As we talked I realize what a phenomenal woman my daughter has turned out to be and how extremely lucky I am to know her.

So on a stranger note --- I found out that a family member has terminal brain cancer and rather than hearing -- "I'm sorry" - I want you to hold those near and dear to you close and realize that this is really a chance to get to tell someone how you feel about them before it is too late. It is a rare opportunity - something many people do not get. I never had the opportunity to say good-bye to my father - there are many things left unsaid. Hold those you love close and let them know how you feel!

I hope your week is filled with everything you hope for!

How was your weekend?

Six Word Saturday - Winter's Here!

2011-12-17T13:02:00.000-08:00

I Love this cold rainy weather!

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The dog's not loving it too much...but it is my favorite time of year!

Friday Four Fill In - 3rd Friday in December

2011-12-15T18:45:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

1. ____ is my ideal winter night.

2. I don’t remember the last time I ___ but, I really want to.

3. I will never turn down __________

4. To save money I like to ____________

My Answers:

1. Rainy, windy, stormy wet nights are my ideal winter night. as long as everyone I love is safe and sound!

2. I don’t remember the last time I went on a pleasure vacation___ but, I really want to.

3. I will never turn down sushi! (or a free massage!)

4. To save money I like to shop at the 99 cent store and eat at home____________

Pondering with a Purpose - Close Calls

2011-12-14T21:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

This is my weekly hop where I post a prompt and you get to write to it on your blog - come back here and add it to my linky and then we all get to go read what you wrote!

I started Pondering with a Purpose because -- simply put -- I am a writer - - that is what I do (I just can't help myself)! And although I love following all the hops, I wanted to see if I could bring out some creativity in not only myself, but some of my blogger friends as well.

The rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in my sidebar)
2. Look at the week's prompt
3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.
4. Come back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list below.
5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.
6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

Today a tanker truck exploded on one of the busiest freeways in Los Angeles. To see the news report you can go Here.
I decided after this happened that this week's prompt was going to be:

Close Calls

I want you to write a post and then link on up telling about a close call you or someone you know might have had.

When I was eighteen years old I was a camp counselor in the Sequoia mountains and for my weekend off I took a bunch of my friends and we went into Fresno for the night. I was driving a Dodge Colt. We we driving a mountain road and we were following behind a truck. Of course I was eighteen and thought absolutely nothing would ever happen to any of us. All a sudden the truck lost his tire and it came flying right at us - or should I say - ME!
I am sure the whole thing took less than ten seconds to occur but it felt like an eternity and when it was over I was shaking. No one else really knew what happened as I was the driver and they were not really paying attention. All they knew was that the truck broke down, I swerved and they were inconvenienced.
One minute we're driving along.... happy as can be... and the next minute a tire is flying right at us. Luckily it missed us.
To this day I cannot drive on a mountain road without freaking out. And I rarely drive behind trucks. NOW - think about that when you drive next time... I live in Los Angeles! Trucks are everywhere! One instant on a mountain road in the summer of 1978 has changed the way I drive... interesting --- hmmmm. I hadn't really thought about that in a very long time... Guess pondering really does work!

I think I would like to take this moment to say: Stop, look around and be thankful for everything you have, because in one moment it could be gone - just like that - close calls are all around us. We just never know what is around that next corner!

Write a post and add it to the linky below!
Happy pondering.....

Tuesday's Spotlight - Just another Day

2011-12-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

Buy This at Allposters.comI feel like I should be doing the Snoopy dance here now that it is Tuesday and I get to turn the spotlight on someone - one of my favorite things to do: Introduce one of my favorite people to others of my favorite people (can you picture my feet moving?) So this week we're going to South Carolina to visit with Jen from Just Another Day. She and I crossed paths several months ago and seemed to continue the correspondence game up, unlike other bloggers that come and go. Then she has the audacity to bestow this funky inspiration award on me ... lol! Well.... turn about is fair play.... and now it is her time to shine in the light! Please welcome to Tuesday's Spotlight . . my friend Jennifer:

How long have you been blogging?

I just celebrated my one year blogiversary!

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

Because my blog is "just another day" in the life of me!

What do you normally write about?

I've noticed that many of my posts are about movies, I watch too much TV. Mostly it is about things I like, things I do, and things I'd like to do.

How many hours a day/week do you spend blogging?

I would say that under normal circumstances I probably spend about 3-5 hours a week blogging. I have been slacking a bit lately though because work and school have been hectic lately.

What is your favorite part about blogging?

I love that my blog is an outlet. I can just ramble endlessly about my days and random things. I also love that I have met some really neat people! When I started blogging I didn't anticipate making friends, and I have, so that's a huge bonus!

Your least favorite part?

Negative comments. Fortunately I have not had any negative comments, but I have seen some on other blogs and it's just unfortunate. I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and that is what the blog world is all about, I get that, but sometimes people can be very hurtful and it's sad.

Have you ever really wished you could do something on your blog and just not been able to do it?

I would love to be able to reply directly to comments. I've seen a few different platforms for this but haven't had the opportunity to test any out or get feedback from users.

What makes you keep going back to some blogs and not others?

The content and the people behind them. Those are the two things that attract me in the first place.

Do you think having a lot of followers is important?

I appreciate all 34 of my known followers. I feel like I write better, or at least try to, because they are there. And I feel like I owe them a good post every now and then at the very least. But, I would probably still be rambling even if I didn't have followers because I like to talk. :) To really answer the question, I think followers are important, but whether you have 5 or 5000 isn't as relevant.

Have you ever written something and then regretted it?

Not really. I try to put a lot of thought in my posts. Sometimes I go back to edit to correct grammar or spelling if I catch it, but I don't think I've regretted anything I've posted. If my post is a real long ramble, I try to read it over and over again to make sure I'm not being offensive, not because I don't feel I can express myself freely, but rather because I care about my readers.

Anything you would like to add?

I want to thank Brenda for featuring me here! I also want to say hello to anyone who is reading, and welcome and thank you to anyone who chooses to stop by Just Another Day and follow!

Monday's Musings - A Pair of twelves

2011-12-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy middle of December --- Are you ready for the holidays?
I've been watching all the postings on Facebook about Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas and I have to say that I am just reading and chuckling... I find it rather amusing . . . considering the fact that I always found the entire season a bit too commercial for my taste and especially now... considering how bad off most of the world is the fact that there are huge displays of debauchery - anywhere - to me is completely ridiculous - I don't care what religious order you belong to .... OOPS --- sorry - off my soap box... that is not at all what I was going to muse about today!

I had such a great day on Saturday as a troop of Girl scouts joined us . . how much fun was that ??? And a group of kids from a Jesuit high school was there - they are required to put in community service hours -
SO to say the least it was a state of controlled pandemonium trying to accomplish the tasks at hand and allow these children to soak the breadth of the severity of the situation (for those of you new to this blog . . . I feed the homeless on Saturdays)..... so it just added a bit more hecticness to an already hectic week...

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Sunday I caught up on a lot of household chores that needed tending to and spent a bit of time talking to my daughter, who unfortunately will not be coming home for the holidays even though they have already bought their tickets and have been planning the trip for weeks. To say she is disappointed is an understatement. The pain of parenting never seems to get any easier as I have absolutely NO words of comfort for her . . . and now I am scrounging around trying to figure out how to help her make a holiday for herself in a foreign land. I get so tired of people telling me she chose this life... honestly --- I don't care... she's 19 and I miss her! OOPS - sorry - (not really :)

SOOO ---- that was my weekend.... how was yours?

Six Word Saturday - Sad News

2011-12-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

They Won't Be Here as Planned

Follow Four Fill In - Holy Cow it's the second week in December!

2011-12-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

This week’s statements:

1. When I ___ I feel that ___ paid off

2. I just realized that____

3. My _______ come from _______.

4. If I had _____, I would ______.

My answers:

1. When I write I feel that all those hours and hours and hours of loneliness paid off

2. I just realized that I talk to myself a LOT!

3. My independence come from knowing that everyone else doesn't really care!_______.

4. If I had a kazillion bucks I would _quit working and volunteer full time (when I wasn't writing). I would also try to figure out how to end this homeless problem we seem to have in this country!___.

Pondering with a Purpose - Pondering

2011-12-08T07:04:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

This week's Prompt: Pondering

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So, I have been doing a LOT of thinking for the past week... and I was wondering - well actually pondering ... if that is okay.
You see, I have now been at a new job for 7 days and I am having such a great time
- It is Challenging
- I am meeting new people - albeit after this project I will never see them again
- It is Challenging
- I am Really busy
- I am learning new things
- It is Challenging
BUT it is a LOT of driving
and I am really tired - but I think that has to do with adjusting to a new schedule....
And then I get home at the end of the day and I really don't feel like turning on a computer - forget writing - - - and I wonder what the heck I just did to myself...Here I had the perfect set up - a job that allowed me to do the things I love to do -- but I was miserable all day long.
So as I pondered I realized that sometimes it is okay to shake things up a bit - because after all I am really and truly a firm believer in all things happen for a reason and this too happened for a reason.

So - please write a post and let me know what you are pondering.

Wordless Wednesday - Hello!

2011-12-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Tuesday's Spotlight - Time out for Mom - Take 2

2011-12-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

This is actually a repost - I posted this interview with my friend Leslie back in September - but today she has done me a great honor and has asked me to be her guest blogger on her Coffee Chat.
December she is using the theme of Giving and asked me to talk about my work with the homeless.

I think I feel in love with Leslie the first time I saw her blog and she commented on mine....and I'm not even sure how long ago that was. It took me a really long time to get up the nerve to ask her to be a guest on the Tuesday's Spotlight. You know how some bloggers just seem to have their stuff together? Leslie is one of those bloggers! When I grow up I want to be Leslie! You really need to check out Time Out For Mom. The site is beautiful...her posts are amazing...and I don't think I've ever left her site without a smile on my face!

Since this interview first posted she and I have actually gotten to know each other better and she is an AWESOME writer! She helped me create my new button that matches my new header! And the more I get to know her the more I really do want to be just like her. (Isn't it funny how we admire people from afar?)

To top things off....this interview will just make you like her more.

I have one question: Leslie --- were you voted most likely to succeed????

It is with a great deal of pleasure that I turn the spotlight on my friend RoryBore aka Leslie from Time out for Mom:

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How long have you been blogging?

My first post was March 2009. I had no clue what I was doing. Absolutely everything I did was based on learning as I go. Except, I could write. That was all I knew. I just recently passed 300 posts! There’ll be no living with those that say I have the gift for gab now.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

After my second child, I decided to take an extended absence from work and be a Stay at Home Mom. I didn’t necessarily think it would be easy, but I also wasn’t quite prepared for exactly how hard it could be some days. The isolation and loneliness: just wanting to have 10 minutes of adult conversation; 10 minutes of time to yourself: it was overwhelming. I discovered mommy blogs through social networking sites and suddenly didn’t feel so alone! I soon discovered the most difficult aspect of staying at home (with #3 now on the way), was that I was losing ME. And I needed to rediscover that lost person Fast! I longed to be a whole person. And the best way I could think to do that, was to start taking some time for me. To have something – just for me. And I had always loved to write. Of course, my kids didn’t like losing me to something else and my frustrated daughter declared with a stamped foot one day; “Bad mommy! You go to your room!” Really? Let’s see...I base time outs on 1 minute per age of the child, so let’s see.....”Right....see you in 37 minutes!” And thus, Time Out for Mom was born.

Do you have more than one blog?

Not currently. I would love to have a gardening blog, however: a) I live in Canada, thus for half the year the posts would be about inches of snow received and the number of times I had shovelled my driveway, and b) maintaining a 2nd blog about gardening would probably take away the time I actually have to spend in my real garden. It’s my Zen.

What do you normally write about on your blog?

I consider it a “peek into our lives”: warts and all. My children obviously provide much blog fodder. Often my poor husband, my “Left Brain” will be an unwilling guest. Mostly, I loved the image of women chatting over coffee; just random topics, thoughts, and tips that would arise from such fellowship. I very much believe in women raising one another up with encouragement and love, rather than tearing down our relationships with judgement, criticisms, or mean spiritedness. I so appreciate many who have been so helpful and supportive to me in the blogging community. I enjoy participating in some of the hops too – like Hilary at Feeling Beachie’s Friday fill in, and Mama’s Lounge Tuesday Night Poets. Hops are great ways to discover new blogs, and discover more about the current blog authors in your Reader.

As a Christian, I will also talk openly about my faith. However, I am more interested in discussing relationship with God, rather than Religion. My blog’s purpose is not to convert anyone, or to judge another’s faith, but simply share my own spiritual experiences. If it helps someone, great!

How much time do you spend writing?

I am always doing some kind of writing, whether it is blogging, poetry, or a journal where I record everything from random thoughts, to the strange dreams eating cheese nachos before bed seems to invite. My degree is English Literature, so I spent a good deal of my life either reading, or writing. When home, husband and children came along and life got busy – something had to give. Unfortunately it was my writing, and I am sure that is why I felt so disconnected and disgruntled for a spell. My body was busy creating 3 lives over those years, but my brain was a soggy, foggy mass of trapped creativity! It wanted OUT! Now, I have to write at least a little bit every day. Even if it just a couple of lines for a poem in progress, or a spontaneous bedtime story for my kids. You will find me posting almost daily.

What is your favorite part about being a blogger?

Exploring my own potential is definitely a major motivation. Remember the blog title? I also love that I am learning to use a completely different part of my brain since I knew nothing about blog design, or HTML codes, or how to even choose a background. I am quite pleased that I have been able to learn how to do my entire blog design myself. (Left Brain is quite happy that the there is no requirement for a “blog budget”.) I feel that all the technical jimbo-jambo, coupled with the creative writing and prose, brings me a good balance. I am doing something I love, but also branching out into new territory.

Secondly, of course, it’s not just all about Me. I am so impressed with all the talented bloggers out there!! There are so many excellent writers. On any given day of blog reading, I can be laughing hysterically one minute, and sitting with silent tears charting a course down my face the next. I love that! So many of them are very helpful – my blog would be a plain white page on the internet if many of them didn’t share their wisdom via tutorials.

You’d still totally read it though, right?

What is your least favorite part about it?

The flip side to discovering so many other wonderfully witty and wise writers (wow, unintentional alliteration) is that there is never enough time to read them all! It’s hard when you want to be a part of that community, but the 3 loads of forgotten laundry are heckling your futile attempt to catch up on your blog reading. And you still haven’t done your own post. Or made the kids lunches. Oh, and the husband has offered a foot rub, or back massage. *wink, wink*

What draws you to other blogs?

The writing style is almost always what I notice first. Even if the blog is the prettiest little piece of bloggyland that I have ever seen, if the first paragraph doesn’t draw me in, I am usually clicking away. It is not necessarily that the technical aspects of writing are perfect, but more the tone. Can I sense the author’s personality in the posts? Being a fan of prose, I am naturally often drawn to some of the more poetic blogs, but more important is feeling a sense of authenticity. Some bloggers might not adhere to all the “rules of writing”, but their writing grabs you nonetheless. You are drawn into their world. Some bloggers that I am thinking of have an amazing ability to paint you a picture with their words. You are there, in the moment, with them.

But yes, I also do have rare moments of locking covetous eyes upon some beautifully designed blog.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting a new blog?

Just keep at it. Don’t give up because you may not have a lot of followers, or comments. I didn’t have any for the longest time. I almost gave up – what was the point if no one was reading? Then I had a forced time out from my blog when I was put on bed rest, then hospitalized for 6 weeks during my 3rd pregnancy. When the baby arrived, I tried to blog again, but my mojo had fled. I did give up for awhile, but mostly because there were more pressing issues on the home-front; but I knew once things settled, I’d be back. I still had the fever to write. When I returned, I did a search for all the blog tips and tutorials I could find. I read articles that told you what you should be doing as a blogger, and articles that listed the top 10 things a blogger does to drive away traffic. I think I had 6 of the 10. I joined Twitter, blog hops, I commented, commented, commented. And lo and behold, one day.....I got a comment back. And then a follow. Then some more. You have to get out there and show yourself to some extent. The most important thing is that I stayed with it because of the original reason: it was something for me. That’s where the true value lay. And when I started writing for me – not to attract followers - my true voice started to emerge, and people noticed. I think they responded to that authentic voice.

Do you think having a lot of followers is important?

If your goal is to make money and become somewhat famous, then yeah, probably. If, like me, you just want to explore and provide an outlet for your own creativity, and share some fellowship with other bloggers, then no. I see blogs that have thousands of followers, and I think, how on earth did they attract so many readers? Their homepage only has 2 reviews and a contest on it. A contestwhich rules state to enter said contest.....you must follow the blog. Hmm. Now there is nothing wrong with those kinds of blogs, they offer valuable information and I often do check out the reviews before purchasing an item. And who doesn’t want to win an iPad? For myself, I am more interested in ongoing dialogue and some meaningful exchange. Sometimes that means you may only have a small band of loyal followers. And that is okay by me.

Anything you like to add?

When I tell people I have a Blog, I often get a mixed reaction. On one hand, people are naturally curious. A blogger? Sounds so mysterious. What do you write about? Why, I wouldn’t have the faintest notion of what to say. But on the other hand, there might be this other attitude – “dontcha have a real life/friends?” I don’t like this negative assumption that I blog to escape the real world. To avoid meaningful real life relationships. Your virtual interactions can have as much meaning as you desire them to. It can just be a fun, few hours to pass an evening, or you can reach deeper. With all the online social media networking, this world is growing ever smaller. It may seem that you are blogging in a bubble, with no lasting impact. But digital is forever baby. Whatever you put out there – remains. And reaches. Far. You never know when the words you struggled to get onto the page, might be a life-line to someone else. How can I be hiding or avoiding when writing is such a personal thing, which leaves one exposed and vulnerable? Words can have such power as to draw us together, or pull us apart. The pen is truly mightier than the sword. When you wield it wisely and truthfully, readers will leave your blog feeling all the better for having lingered.

That’s a well played time out.

Monday's Musings - Changes

2011-12-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

Baby It's Cold Outside!

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It is Sunday night and I am writing the Monday's Musings because I am getting up at 3AM to be at work at 5 AM! (No... it doesn't take me that long to get ready to go! I have a 60 minute drive tomorrow!) Things are in a whirlwind! And that is putting it mildly.
Friday saw the beginning of a new project and that is how my life is going to be now - and that is really exciting! And scary! And overwhelming! and you know what keeps running through my head? I won't have as much time for my blog anymore :( And that saddens me. So that just means that it will have to be more meaningful :)
So the new project is an hour away from home - without traffic - so I opted for really bizarre hours - 5AM start time to start with - it will change in a couple of weeks to a 10 AM start time - now won't that be fun?
Saturday was really cold in the morning and when we took to the streets to find our regulars a lot of them were not around. It appears as if they have found new 'winter' homes. BUT we did find some other people we have never seen before. I did see something I have NEVER seen before though - and I thought I would share it. There was a guy - a really happy dude - sitting on a bench. I offered him some lunch and when I got out of the van and took a closer look - he was wearing a bullet proof vest! - honest truth! No wonder he was so happy!
Sunday I spent the morning with family and had a great time! and the afternoon doing things that really needed to get done - so not a whole lot of down time this weekend. Somehow I have a feeling I am going to be feeling that come Friday....

How was your weekend?..

Six Word Saturday - Yuck

2011-12-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

Made Eggplant Lasagna - Won't repeat that!

So now that I cook for one - on a regular basis I get ambitious - most of the time it works.

This time it definitely did not!

I love eggplant Parmesan and decided that had to be something else out there ..... right?

Guess not... the ricotta just completely takes over the taste of the eggplant - now what's the point of that?

OOOPP..... way more than 6 words...

Have a great weekend!

Friday Four Fill-in - First Friday in December

2011-12-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

This week’s statements:

1. I can’t believe_____
2. ___is my favorite Christmas song
3. If I don’t have my ___________ in the morning, I cannot make it through the day.
4. I love my __________ dearly but wish ______ .

My answers:

1. I can’t believe_it's already December!____
2. Rudolph___is my favorite Christmas song
3. If I don’t have my _coffee__________ in the morning, I cannot make it through the day.
4. I love my _house_________ dearly but wish _it was closer to my kids!_____ .

.

Pondering with a Purpose - New

2011-12-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

This week's prompt is: NEW

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Take the plunge...
Dive right in!
Go for it!
SO! I made a fritatta for dinner... It was so good and it was easy. Oh...that's not really what I'm talking about here. After thinking about it and going back and forth and then debating whether or not it was the right decision .... I did it!
I Started My New Job (yesterday) - and it was the craziest day I have had in a really LONG time - but you know what? I may be in OVER my head - (I don't really think so) ... but it is so fun and exciting - now who says that about work? - and it is so nice to get up in the morning and be excited about work again!

Why is it that we are afraid of new things? Is that something we learn... because I don't think so. We teach our children to go out and NOT be afraid of new things, yet as we get older we just get comfortable doing the same OLD things every day - even if they are not necessarily the right things. It's that tricky old 'cycle' that we get comfortable doing - and it is so hard to break.
You know they call it a rat race for a reason - SO - what have you done lately to break the cycle?
any NEWS?

Write a post and Link up!

Wordless Wednesday - La La La

2011-11-30T06:39:00.000-08:00

La La La .... La La La

Elmo's World

Tuesday's Spotlight - Empty Nest in Illinois

2011-11-29T01:00:00.000-08:00

Tuesday has definitely become my favorite day of the week for so many reasons.
First... It's not Monday!
Second well.. it's Tuesday..... and I get to share some of my favorite people with some of my favorite people and that should be enough reasons.
SO....today I want to tell you about a woman I have never met. BUT I feel like I know SO well. The reason I feel like I know her is because I feel like we are the same person. I found this blog quite by accident really. I thought she was someone else! AND Then I read a post she wrote about skyping with her daughter and started to cry and I don't mean cry... I mean CRY. My daughter had literally left the day before. (Tami, I never told you that story) You see, when you child is half a world away the whole world stops -- or at least mine did. And the funniest thing is that every time I read the answers to any of the fill ins or the questions from ANY of the memes - this woman's answers were the EXACT same answers I would have given. GIVE ME A BREAK! who was this woman...... now I am not exactly the most forward of people... (seriously!) so it took me a LONG time to ask her to visit us..... and it took me even longer to figure out her name as she goes by My Kid's Mom....

SO may I introduce to you..... Tami: (and did I tell you that we have a whole lot of things in common?) Oh yeah... we're both going to be grandmothers this year too!

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How long have you been blogging?

Since 2009 when my son and dil went to England – it started as just a way to keep in touch with them.

What do you normally blog about?

Anything – life in general I guess. I’ve used it as a sounding board and a self-motivator. I’ve found some of the challenges to be great in helping to keep myself on track – having“accountability” to others forces me to stay focused and I find myself not wanting to let anyone down.

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Meeting new people and learning from them.

Your least favorite thing?

Deadlines – trying to get a post done by a certain time.

What draws you to another person's blog?

When I see a post about something I can relate to. I get really excited when I find people who enjoy the same things I do - like canning and crochet to name a few.

What makes you stay away?

Too many ads. I’ve visited some blogs that seem to take forever to load and most of them are the ones with the ads.

What have you learned about yourself since you started blogging?

I’ve learned that I’m not alone – that there are lots of people out there going through the same things I struggle with.

What do your 'non-blogging' friends say once they find out you have a blog?

Except for my kids and my brother, I don’t think anyone knows about it.

What do your kids think about your blog?

My dil checks it regularly and comments on various posts. I believe she makes sure my son sees some of them; especially if there are pictures (he is more into facebook). I don’t think my daughter checks it very often. Believe it or not, she does not have home access to the internet, just uses her phone to post to facebook.

Anything you'd like to add?

I’m quite flattered that you would want to spotlight me. I really feel that my life –while precious to me – is just one insignificant little speck of sand making up the “beach.”Insignificant may not be the right word. I may not have made any major contribution to this world – wait a minute – I have made a significant contribution – twice – my children. They are wonderful individuals - kind, caring, God loving - and I truly believe that if there were more like them, this world would be a better place. I truly am, first and foremost “my kid’s mom.”I love getting feedback so please continue to comment.

Monday's Musings - Post Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T07:14:00.000-08:00

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SO - Did you eat too much?
I always find that to be the case for Thanksgiving but I didn't do that this year.... isn't it funny how I start my Monday's Musing this week and I am talking about last Thursday... seriously.... what???
Okay..back to reality. My weekend because that is really what the Monday Musing is all about anyway.
My weekend started on Thursday and I had a pleasant one... you?
Friday I ended up back at the beach and it was beautiful... Thursday... not so much it rained here
And Saturday... I drove up the coast and spent the afternoon with my son. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed that time. I did not enjoy the drive and NOW the car is in the shop - I suppose it is time for that - after all the new job starts in two days and I will be spending quite a bit of time in that car and that pesky 'check engine' light thing has been a problem.

Sunday was spent with the best of intentions and the worst of results --- do you ever have days like that? So now I am looking a house that still is in need of so much . . . Know anyone who feels like coming over and cleaning my house?

How was your weekend?

Book Review and Author Interview - Jennifer Oberth

2011-11-27T01:04:00.000-08:00

SOOOO --- I get this email asking me if I would like to participate in a blog tour for Married to Murder --- someone had suggested I would be a good fit (?)
I thought... what the heck.... an author reviewing another author ... sure... and oh by the way did I want to have a guest post or do an interview....
Well... anyone who knows me and my blog knows that answer right up front....
SO....Might I introduce to you a very talented author (and her answers are QUITE revealing!) Jennifer Oberth:

How long have you been writing?

Since I was seven (at least). I wrote my first novel when I was ten. I’ve kept journals, written mysteries and sci-fi and published articles in various newspapers and newsletters since then. It’s funny because I never considered myself a writer; I just always wrote. To me, it’s as natural as breathing.

Where do you get your ideas?

Ideas come from everywhere. It’s where to put them that becomes the problem. First, I have to get them down on paper (or a napkin if a notebook isn’t handy) and second I need to figure out which series will get to expound on the idea. Sometimes I’ll start a new series because the characters or setting I have simply wouldn’t work to bring an idea to life. An idea can come from snippets of overheard conversations, the news and online prompts. I’ll write down where an idea came from if there’s an obvious source, otherwise it just pops into my head, travelling from my subconscious mind to my imagination.

Have you thought about extending your works?

I like series so I don’t think too much about extending each piece because the next story in the series is the extension. I like short stories now because they’re a quick fun read and they make up a great collection. I actually have a plan to write 36 installments in the Ella Westin series. (So far, I’ve published Married To Murder and Honeymoon Homicide. I’ve written Toxic Train and will publish that after I get it back from my editor. Each short story has its own length. Married To Murder ended up about 6,000 words. Toxic Train is much longer, so far clocking in around 19,000. (It will still be 99¢.)

Do you have any other works you would like to discuss?

Sure. I’ve got another two series coming out soon. One is called the Georgia H. Mysteries, about two mismatched women who become unlikely partners in solving a murder that looks like a suicide. It’s a humorous mystery set in contemporary times.

The other series is The Masked Rider, the first novel is called Masked Rider: Origins. These are novel length books; Origins is 135,000 words of mystery humor adventure set in 1875. A cool note about this series – it stars Ella & Joe Westin’s grandchildren.

Is there anything else you would like my readers to know about you?

I love cozy, mystery, humor, adventures and that’s what I tend to write. I hope you guys’ll give Married To Murder a chance and see if you like it. I love feedback and I’m one of those ‘available’ authors who wants to involve readers. Do you adore this character and want to see more of him? Do you want to see her killed off ? I might take the hint and make the next mystery surrounding her strange death. You never know what I’ll do…You can actually change the course of a series! I like to be interactive – writing is NOT a solitary sport in my opinion. (Though in the case of the Masked Rider series, I’m already writing the 8th book)

Here is my book and contact information:

Married To Murder (Smashwords – you can check out 50% free; Amazon; Barnes and Noble)
Ella doesn't recall adding 'solve a murder' to her bridal to-do list but when she stumbles over the body of her matron of honor, she has no choice; her groom is the only suspect. Throw in a deaf hairdresser, a ruined wedding cake and a not so retired pirate and Ella wants to throttle everyone in sight. Can she catch the killer before the wedding is called off? Or will she be Married To Murder?

Honeymoon Homicide (Smashwords – you can check out 50% free; Amazon; Barnes and Noble)
Ella is awakened in the middle of the night by her new husband. But it's not what you think – he wants her to solve a murder. At 4 a.m. Can she do it? Or will she add another homicide to her honeymoon? This is the second story in the Ella Westin Mysteries.

I love Smashwords because you can download books to any eReading device you own – or read them on your computer screen.

I update my Blog regularly. You’ll find posts about writing, Sherlock Holmes, travels, conventions; I even post pics of my cats (Copper and Outlaw) and other miscellaneous stuff.

Thank you all for checking me out!

My website is here: www.jenniferoberth.com
My Blog is here: www.jenniferoberth.blogspot.com
Twitter: jenniferoberth
Facbook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Oberth-Books/130807510319849

Thank you for having me, Brenda - this has been fun!

Married to Murder

This Ella Westin Murder finds the bride with three hours to solve a murder or see her groom through the bars of a jail cell.

The story opens with a pair of shoes, and it is laced with humor throughout. It is fast paced, well written and unlike most 'who-done-its' there are quirks that the reader does not see coming.

Ms. Oberth shows huge potential and I, for one, will be following her progress!

Thank you for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Six Word Saturday - Muttley

2011-11-26T07:59:00.000-08:00

My dog is my best friend

Pondering with a Purpose - Giving something Up

2011-11-23T22:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

As we celebrate a day of Giving Thanks ... I thought I would have you all ponder this: Giving

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What is it that you would be willing to give up if push came to shove and you really had to?
If things got really bad? Or if they didn't get really bad you just wanted to make life simpler?
What are you willing to give up?
Now...granted I've had to time to think about my answer (after all I come up with the prompts)...but I did do quite a bit of soul searching to reach this conclusion.
I am willing to give up the joy of being a home owner - so much so that I am (have) put other things first in the past year with the attitude that the worst thing that can happen to me is that I will sell my house and end up renting again. Now....understand that NO ONE in my family rents...and I think I am the only one who only owns one home --- have I mentioned I am the black sheep before? - Oh that might be too harsh.... I have taken the unconventional path of life . . . ANYHOW... On this day of Thanksgiving I have really come to realize after a year of pitfalls (more pits and falls than most)..... that I still have SO much to be grateful for, and who owns the roof over my head doesn't really matter. What matters is what happens under the roof over my head.
I have a few sayings I have taught those whom I love most in the world:
The rich still put their heads down on a pillow at night.
The rich still put their pants on one leg at a time.
The rich still have to use a toilet to go to the bathroom.
The only who is really important at the end of the day is the person who is looking back at you in the mirror.
Perhaps today I should listen to my own advice and remember that as I embark upon a new journey.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Blogging family! You have truly blessed me this year and for that I thank you!

If you are so moved to post about giving something up....please feel free to add it to the linky below.

Wordless Wednesday - I'm in love with this sink!

2011-11-23T06:55:00.001-08:00

Tuesday's Spotlight - Cynthia Jones - Wytching World

2011-11-21T22:58:00.000-08:00

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My Tuesday's Spotlight has become has become a favorite of mine...it is a time when I get to share a blogger friend that I have made with all of my other blogger friends.

This week I get the extraordinary privilege of sharing Cynthia Jones from The Wytch's Mirror.
I have known Cynthia for over a year and she actually arranged the first Disrupted Lives blog tour for me... IN FACT, Cynthia came up with the cover design for Disrupted Lives and from there the publisher's art department put together the actual cover. She is a wonderfully talented artist, poet and writer and I hope you will enjoy her as much as I do!

How long have you been blogging?

More seriously for a little over a year. I first tried blogging in 2001 and really did not understand what blogging was. I more or less used blogger to add creative writing quickly to my web sites. In 2010, I started
working with my blog again and just started keeping a journal of sorts with short stories and poetry. After finding my friend Ruthi's book blog I followed her lead, and started writing reviews. These days, my book blog is my writing outlet completely.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

I was seeking a name that would place me in a blogging community of people that were on a spiritual journey and similar to my own. An attempt at blogging was meant to be a journal, or a personal blog. I misspelled witch intentionally to be different, to proudly share my faith, and to indicate an untraditional side.

Do you have more than one blog?

I do! Neither of these get updated nearly enough, and not nearly as much as The Wytch's Mirror. I'm still determined to work on them again one day :)

Givingwords.com is a web site I started in 2007 to promote awareness for Literacy. Giving Words opened as an award program to get those that share their writings online involved with the cause for literacy. It was my hope to promote their creative writing and while doing that to also encourage others to write. All in an effort to create awareness for Literacy. It was never meant to be a critque really, or a grading system of how well one could write. That is where lines were crossed and out of frustration I closed the award program portion. I
have kept the pages online for reference, along with the personal pages I created for each winner. There are a few of my own story starters and characters too.

I also have a blog called Wytching where I have shared some personal creative writing :)

What do you normally blog about?

I normally blog about books, their authors, and our interviews. For the most part, I blog to write!

How many hours a day/week do you blog?

There's not really a scheduled set of time per day. I blog when I get a good read to blog about and what ever time I have to commmit, that is what I do. I can blog 4 - 6 hours a day sometimes I blog from the time I get up until the time I go to bed, adding up to 12 hours a day easily. Then again, I take long breaks with no blogging at all maybe for weeks or months.

What draws you to someone else's blog?

book titles, authors, giveaways, and a speedy load time :)

Makes you run for the hills?

Not much really. I try to give every one and everything a fair shot.Everyone of us are unique or at least we should be, and I appreciate everyone for who they are. When we avoid or run from someone or something, we deny ourselves information, and sometimes we lose out by running for the hills.

What have you learned about yourself since you started blogging?

That I get discouraged too easily and, a confirmation if you will, that I take things too personally.

Do you think having a lot of followers is important?

Not in the true sense of success. No matter how many followers one has, if you are doing what you enjoy and feel you have written something well, then a personal amount of success is already achieved. However, Followers are your community and your community is what you are writing for essentially. Word is passed around and the more that read it, the more that share it, the further that word is passed. For certain, followers are appreciated and yes they are important, they matter, but every individual blogger should blog and write for
themselves first.

Anything else you would like to add?

Brenda, you are one of those rare finds. My reading is usually dark fiction of some sort with vampires, werewolves, or just a creepy story of horror. The things that I crave in my reading are not found in your
books, and even so, your books made an impact in my life. Without a doubt, knowing you has been a bright spot in my life. Your spirit, and your heart make you a gem of a person to know and to be involved with.
I have been grateful to know you.

Monday's Musings - Pre Thanksgiving Edition

2011-11-21T07:57:00.000-08:00

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It is very difficult for me to discuss this weekend without looking forward to coming week of Thanksgiving activities as Saturday was filled with Thanksgiving activities.

Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving we change up the weekly routine for the weekly outreach on the streets of Los Angeles. Where we usually give two ham (turkey ham) sandwiches, some sort of sweet, and a cup of iced tea, the week before Thanksgiving and again the week before Christmas we use real turkey. We also give out fruit, juice or soda, potato salad, chips and any other sorts of food that has been donated. BUT more than that... we are FLOODED with people who volunteer to help. Now this has sort of become a running joke among the people who know me the best. We have weeks where we barely have enough people to get the work done, but for some reason during the holidays it seems like people come out of the woodwork --- PEOPLE --- are there only homeless people one day of the year? (Sorry.... I guess I still needed to vent a little!) THEN... on top of all of that there was a woman there who I have NEVER seen in my entire life and she decided it was her job this week to tell everyone how to make the sandwiches... So I let her! Until we ended up with 100 extra sandwiches and I walked into the room and simply announced - NO MORE SANDWICHES.... you could have heard a pin drop! Wow.... I didn't even know I was going to write all of that.... phew.... guess I needed to get it out! It was an extremely long morning - not one of my favorite Saturdays of the year... I really wish those people would choose a different locale to participate in - like the big shelters where they can stand in a line and feel useful.

Sunday poured... and I mean POURED!!! Muttley and I watched the rain and wished we could go take a walk...but we couldn't. So we caught up on a lot of meaningless things around the house. I did, however receive a phone call from my cousin asking if I could make a turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving. SO.... looks like I'll be cooking after all!

As I was meandering through other blogs I realized that a LOT of us spill our guts out on our blogs.... and a lot of our blogger friends know more about us than our families do . . . I am just wondering... as I do my Monday musing.... do you find that to be true for you? Do your friends know more about you than your family?

six Word Saturday - Thanksgiving - Already?

2011-11-19T06:48:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving week! Let the baking begin

I have always gathered at my mother's home for Thanksgiving where there were approximately 40 people. In addition to making the turkey and stuffing, I always made the pumpkin pie (from scratch), homemade banana bread, brownies, cookies, and other muffins. Well this year we are celebrating at my cousins' home and I volunteered to bring dessert - although not pie.

So - I will begin baking the bread today --- BUT the biggest difference by far is that this is the first year I do not have a child residing in my home to ask, "Can I have some?"

So I suppose this week will be a bit bittersweet for me... alas we all need to grow and change, don't we.... what alternatives do we have?

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends!

Follow Four Fill In -3rd Friday in November

2011-11-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

This week’s statements:

1. I love the smell of ____

2. When I fly, I ____

3. I don’t like ___ but I ___.

4. My favorite ___ is ___.

My Answers

This week’s statements:

1. I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee first thing in the morning! (or fresh cinnamon rolls!)__

2. When I fly, I really wish I could just sleep through it____

3. I don’t like going out and socializing___ but I know I have to do it!.

4. My favorite place in the world___ is home___.

Pondering with a Purpose - What the heck?

2011-11-16T23:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

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This weeks prompt: What the Heck?

I find that I have spent so much of my life balancing between right and wrong; doing the right thing just so that I can survive and support my children that I lost sight of what I wanted to do. When I was growing up I don't remember dreaming of being single and working all the time. NOPE! I wanted to be a teacher. HA.... that didn't happen! I followed someone else's dreams and I didn't even know I was doing it until it was way too late. In fact by the time I was almost done with law school I got really sick - and I mean REALLY sick --- sick enough that I re-evaluated what I was doing and I didn't become a lawyer. That was probably the first time in my life I had my own free will --- but then what happened? I think my free will got up and left. SO at the ripe old age of 26 I got married and by the age of 31 I had three children and by 34 I was divorced with 3 kids under the age of 4. I then found myself working and working hard so that I could put food on the table ...
One day someone asked me "Why don't you go back to school and become a teacher?"
WHAT the heck? How am I supposed to afford that?

SO --- Today I did something --- my free will came back --- What the heck????
I quit my job --- No - I'm not going to be a teacher --- but after 10 years - I'm going back into consulting - something I stopped doing so that I could have a solid check and food on the table - but now my kids are gone - Yeah - I still need food - but - I'm going out on a limb - what have I got to lose (except a house?) --- Houses are over rated these days anyways - I can always rent an apartment!

Sometimes you just need to take a chance and say What the Heck --- I think you're supposed to do this when you're younger.... but my boat left without me... so I just caught the later boat.

How about you..... what have you said "What the Heck?" about?

If you are looking for a new job why not check out this new site? Jooble

Go ahead and write a post about this and add to the linky below.

Wordless Wednesday - But Mom - He Started it!

2011-11-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

Tuesday's Spotlight - Joseph Alsarraf

2011-11-14T22:34:00.000-08:00

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I started doing Tuesday's Spotlight because I had a gap in my weekly calendar and wanted to share some of the people I had met with some of the other people I had met. What has not happened is that I have become OBSESSED with finding new people to introduce to everyone. Not that I don't meet new people every week....because believe me... I do! The thing is that this spotlight has become SO much fun to do that keeping up with it has become another job! I almost missed my deadline this week and I was panicking trying to figure out what I was going to do if I didn't have a spotlight to fill in....but alas... no worries....

If you were to read: I like to play with toy cars while I write what would you think?

I'm not sure, but it made me stop. That is pretty much how everything is when I read stuff Joseph writes.... I don't know if he means to be funny... but he is! I discovered him when he started writing one-liners on my posts - you know what I mean ---- 4 or 5 word comments. But then I began to notice that Joseph started leaving comments Every day! on Every post! so I started going over to check out his blog --- but Joseph doesn't have ONE blog --- NO he has 5! and they are really interesting.

You want to know what else is interesting - - Joseph Alsarraf is the first person I have ever sent a list of questions to that has only sent back HALF of them!!! Go figure.....

What do you normally blog about? I usually write about the animals and the weather, I have a whole blog devoted to the weather. : ) I also like to write about the random things that are happening in my life and the other things that i'm interested in.

What's your favorite thing about blogging? I enjoy reading people's comments.

Your least favorite part about blogging? Having a deadline, I used to make new a post everyday and some days I didn't know what to write about so, I just sat there for hours trying to think of something to write about and it ended up being short and poorly written.

Have you learned anything about yourself since you've started blogging? Yes, I've learned about the things that I'm most interested in and that I don't really write as good as I thought I did. (Joseph...that should say well ... tee hee hee)

Do you think having a lot of followers is important? I used to but, what's the point in having alot of followers if they are not actually reading what you are posting, not that I want to force anyone to read any of my posts if they don't want to. I just enjoy reading the comments.

Anything you would like to add? I just wanted to say thanks for letting me join in on your spotlight and being able to tell people about my blogs.

Thank you! : )

Monday's Musings - November's Half Over!

2011-11-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

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I love the rain! But...when it comes to going out and feeding the homeless in it well.... that makes for a different story... it is cold and it is wet and well... did I say it is cold? But enough for my complaining... can you imagine what it must feel like to live on the street when it is cold and wet? I can't ... but I do try to do my part every week by assisting . . . Once again I went with my friends and handed out food on the streets of Los Angeles on Saturday morning and in case you hadn't figured it out yet... it was cold and raining! We didn't see a lot of our 'regulars'. They must have been seeking shelter in dryer locations.
All the while I was out I kept thinking about going home and making a pot of hot soup.... but instead I made Homemade chicken pot pie! Now... not ever following a recipe to the tea is my specialty so I switched up the carrots and peas for spinach and celery and I have to tell you it was so darn good!! So in line with my Giving Thanks Challenge - I am thankful for my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook!

Sunday morning I awoke to a bright and sunny day! Muttley and I took a 2 mile walk along the beach - it was glorious!
Then I managed to catch up with all three of my kids - via phone and skype - before I knew it the day was half over --- where does that time fly by?
Then those silly household chores took over - you know the ones - ironing, vacuuming, mopping, dusting --- ugh!!! BUT I am so glad (thankful) that I know how to iron - - - do you know how many people (teens) have NO idea how to do that these days?

OH... and before I go --- make sure you stop by my really good friend Hilary's and check this out: I was Interviewed

How was your weekend?

Six Word Saturday - Books

2011-11-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

Got a good book to read?

It is never too early to start thinking about holiday gifts and I am offering something this year that I have never done before......
As my 7th book was completed this week and will be available some time in Spring .... I am offering a fully signed gift set of the first 6 for $100.00 (includes shipping - US only)
For more information on each individual book:

and of course they can be purchased separately.

If you're interested or want more information..... feel free to contact me!

Library List - Thanks Everyone!

2011-11-11T17:21:00.000-08:00

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Well......I've lived in my 'new' home for almost 30 months and I'm just getting around to visiting my library - tomorrow ... tee hee hee (well actually I went today but it's Veteran's Day and it's closed :( )
AND....
I am in desperate need of some really good suggestions for books and I KNOW that everyone one of you has great ideas! so.... PLEASE lay them on me and that is what I am thankful for today!!!!

Follow Four Fill In - All Elevens !!!

2011-11-10T18:08:00.000-08:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

This week’s statements:

1. My first car was a ___
2. I find a ___ very relaxing
Red ___________ make me think of _______________.
Next year, ___________ will ______________.

My Answers:

1. My first car was a a Dodge colt with a stick shift that I promptly sputtered out of at the driveway. Thankfully my brother talked me through it and I managed to figure out how to drive!

2. I find a hot baths very relaxing
3 Red hot candies___________ make me think of my childhood!_______________.
4. Next year,like it or not, I will _become a grandmother_____________.

Thanks work ethic!

2011-11-10T17:44:00.000-08:00

I have a really good friend who told me that I should write blog posts more about my personal life....people would want to read about them.....

I spent 5-1/2 hours today on a job interview --- can you imagine that? I met 9 different people and truth of the matter is that the job would be perfect! But do I think that I got it... heck I don't know!
who really knows with these things? In fact I'm not even sure what anything is anymore...this is supposed to be my Friday (well Thursday's night jump on Friday's) hops... but with joining in on Leah's Giving Thanks Challenge from South Breeze Farm

so I decided it was time to determine what I was thankful for on this Thursday AND you know what I came up with?

MY WORK ETHIC....

Now I know that is a long stretch... but.... ....

now that I find myself back in the the market in the ripe old age of 51 AND I am not the ONLY one!!!!!!

I find that my work ethic and my resume is pretty presentable and not that shabby

God I hope that no one from work sees this!!!!

LOL~

Pondering with a Purpose - What Moves You

2011-11-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

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This Weeks Prompt:

What Moves You?

Whenever I finish a book it reminds me why I started writing in the first place and what a long journey I have been on now that I wrote the final words on my 7th novel this week... (phew!) and I thought I would take a moment and share what moves and how Fiction with a Purpose was started in the first place.

My first novel - Private Scars - follows the story of a young woman who finds herself involved in a situation she cannot handle without the help of her family - her "Prince Charming" has turned into her worst nightmare. I feel very strongly about educating young women about 'happily ever after' and what happens when domestic abuse rears it's ugly head. Unfortunately too many situations go undetected and there is help available in so many locations. I have a website (www.brendayoungerman.com) that lists the hotline for all 50 states.

But my first novel was really only the beginning for me - it turns out - as I found that I seem to have a drive to uncover all sorts of injustices as my subjects have now ranged from domestic abuse to alcoholism to homelessness to racism and teen suicide. Fortunately I have the ability to weave a story that enthralls and captures a reader at the same time - so I guess that is what moves me - Unfortunately life gets in the way and I have the opportunity to remind myself every Saturday morning that the little stuff really doesn't matter.

So....what moves you? I'd love it if you linked up and joined me this week with a post on your site!

Sharing a Treasure

2011-11-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

To continue with Leah's Giving Thanks Challenge I found something I would like to share:

I spent quite a while hopping around looking at other blogs this morning from the Wordless Wednesday blog hop. By the time I added my link I was #196 and at the time I'm writing this post it is already up to 223. I don't know who owns this hop and I don't know who manages it. I do know that it gets entries from all over the world. BUT this morning I found something that was not wordless and I really wanted to share it. And this is going to be what I am entering as my 'thankful for' today:

Angel In Fatigues

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Wordless Wednesday - Remember?

2011-11-09T06:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks for Skype!

2011-11-08T18:23:00.000-08:00

So as I sit here on my Tuesday night and continue with Leah's Giving Thanks Challenge and have to admit that I am not really sure how life existed before Skype. Now mind you it is my life line to my daughter, but tonight it actually became the lifeline to a job interview! Go figure!!! So maybe it actually became a real Life line! ha ha ha ha!!!!

Tuesday's Spotlight - Inspiration to Dream

2011-11-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

FIRST - let me say that I absolutely LOVE the name of Fiona's blog! (and btw Fiona do you know that Fiona is the really bad person in my latest book????) Anyways.... on with the subject at hand!!!! I usually use a poster for the spotlight but today I decided to use something else:

I just love this !!! not just the saying --- but the whole effect....

I ran across Fi on a SWS so many weeks ago I don't even remember . . . and I think what struck me the most was that she was always so positive! So I hemmed and hawed a LONG time before I asked her to be on the spotlight because frankly I don't really know her and I don't get around to her blog that often (sorry :( ) but I thought maybe we could all get to know her together.....so without further ado I am turning the spotlight on Fiona from Inspiration to Dream

How long have you been blogging?

Since July last year - I tried to do it several times over the last few years but couldn't commit to writing regularly and didn't really know enough about it. Life was busy and I didn't have the self motivation to stick with it.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

Inspiration to Dream is me, my life. I believe all of us should be inspired to dream of doing whatever our heart desires and then go out and do it. The quote on my blog header says it all - "Whatever you can or dream you can do, then do it. Boldness has genius, magic and power in it. Begin it now" Life is too short.

Do you have more than one blog?

My primary blog is this one however I have two others which I've designed but have put on hold for now. I'd rather give my all to one blog than half hearted attempts to several.

What do you normally blog about?

Really boring things - me, my life, my family, my children, my writing, my work, my dreams, my frustrations. Anything that I have an opinion on, that I want to share or that I read about.

Do you find that you are drawn to one certain type of blog rather than another?

Most definitely - anything to do with writing, self improvement or family life (specifically with teenagers in the mix) are high on my list of favourites.

Have you learned anything about yourself since you started blogging?

If I wrote all the things that I'd learnt about myself since I started blogging I'd probably put all potential new bloggers off starting - plus it would take you a week to read this post. Seriously though, I've always considered blogging like therapy - once you get it out there it frees it up, you don't worry so much about it. You can look at it with less emotion and you get some amazing support from the blogging community who can make you see different sides of a problem or a dream or an idea. Blogging also has a certain level of anonymity to it as well which sometimes makes you a little braver about putting things out there.

What advice would you give someone who wanted to start a blog?

A smart person once wrote a quote which answers this question - Whatever you can or dream you can do, then do it. Boldness has genius, magic and power in it. Begin it now

Read, read and read some more of as many blogs as you can first. Find what sort of things you like (google the type of blog that interests you e.g I googled writers blogs, mum blogs and self improvement blogs) determine what is appealing before you even attempt to put one together. There's also heaps of posts out there about easy ways to do things on blogs. The other thing, when you find blogs that you like to read - read their blogroll and visit the blogs that they like, also click on the links of intelligent comments on others blogs. All of these will lead to you finding your own little community of blogs that you will visit and will give you heaps of ideas.

What makes you run away from a blog?

Bad writing, lack of paragraphs, too much moaning about life. Deep down the writer in me is frustrated by lazy and boring writing. A blog that has no logical design and is hard to navigate is also painful. I also steer clear of black backgrounds because I find this really difficult to read

How much time a day/week do you spend blogging?

Way, way too much - well according to my hubby anyway. I probably spend a couple of hours a day on the computer - this is blog writing plus reading and commenting on other blogs. I have a pretty set list of blogs that I read on a regular basis.

Do you think it is important to have a lot of followers?

No, in fact I often steer clear of blogs with massive amounts of followers because I feel like they lose their personal feel. Some blogs get a real commercial feel about them and that's not what I like about blogging. Fifty plus comments on a post is a good sign that people are reading your posts but I like the individual connection with like minded people that comes from blogging. There's no way that you can respond or give attention to 50 comments or more per post. I may not reply to all comments but I like to try and get to all commenters blogs to return the favour and engage with what they've written.

Anything you would like to add?

Only to thank Brenda for this opportunity to dribble some more about how much I love blogging - I love unique and interesting blog ideas and also getting to know a bit more about fellow bloggers.

Monday's Musings - 11/7/11 - How odd!

2011-11-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

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It was a rainy weekend in Southern California and I personally loved it! But it does wreak havoc on a lot of activities in and around the southland (as they call it!)
It also didn't help that this was the weekend that time fell back and we gained an hour .... why is it that even when we gain time it feels like we lose time --- do you feel that way too?

Saturday morning I got out of bed and the dog didn't .. tee hee hee ... and by the time I got downtown the sun had managed to break through the clouds. We found extra hungry people on the streets, albeit they were soaked to the skin. We took blankets and tarps with us, along with extra socks. It's always such a great feeling to see a smiling face waiting for us! By the time I got back home Muttley was waiting and we went for a walk - not to the park because it was too wet, but we managed to walk to a nearby cemetery that I had wanted to tromp through for quite a while. I found some markers that dated back to the early 1800's. There were family plots and I actually found one as recent as 1977. This Cemetery definitely requires more time from me! the rest of the day was spent catching up on emails....

Sunday was devoted to editing...editing....editing. Yes, it is time for Skewered Halo to be sent in for publication, but not before my final edit is done. and this might sound extraordinarily silly to those of you new to me, or my work...but I have been writing this book for well.... an awfully long time.... and that is unusual for me as Disrupted Lives only took 10 weeks.... and Skewered Halo is a REALLY good book!! Kind of shocked myself here... so it will be hitting the publisher by the end of next week and then we get to sit back and wait for them to do their stuff. Expect it by April 2012!

And now.... the review on the soup: It was SO easy to make and it was SO delicious! But I used Colby/Jack - not Swiss --- and I used Green onions, not a regular onion. I even have enough for lunch today at work.... Yummy ... and I will definitely be making it again!!!

Now to continue with Leah's Giving Thanks Challenge - today I am thankful for my daughter Michelle. I know I already said I was thankful for my children as a whole, but I would be completely at a loss if it weren't for my daughter. She and I talk every day about all sorts of things and she is really my best friend. She has taught me so many wonderful things - most of all what it means to love - unconditionally - - and what it truly means to forgive!

SO ---- how was your weekend?

Sunday Soup - Yum Yum

2011-11-06T13:40:00.000-08:00

In my continuation of Leah's Giving Thanks Challenge from South Breeze Farm, I am thankful today for All Recipe's.com - as it is still raining here and I was in desperate want of some Potato Cheese soup. This is my 'go to' site whenever I have a hankering of something delicious and I don't have it in my own personal repertoire. SOOO--- I found this yummy looking recipe and I will let you know in the Monday's Musings if it is any good, but the reviews are great!

Ingredients

4 potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 small carrot, finely chopped
1/2 stalk celery, finely chopped
1 small onion, minced
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, vegetable broth and salt to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until potatoes are just tender. Do not rinse: mash mixture slightly. Stir in milk.
In a small mixing bowl, blend butter, flour, parsley, and pepper; stir into potato mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.
Remove from heat: add cheese and stir until cheese is almost melted. Let soup stand for 5 minutes.

Six Word Saturday - It's Raining!

2011-11-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to stay in bed today!

Now to continue with Leah over at South Breeze Farm and:

Today is Saturday and I am up bright and early --- even though the sun is not out.... and I am going downtown to feed the homeless. So although I grumble about my personal and business issues... I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and the capacity to put food on my table. But more than that I am thankful that I have the will and desire to get up every Saturday and go help these people...because it means so much to me!
Have a great Saturday!!!

Friday Four Fill-in-Fun - First November Friday - Thankful for Friday!!!

2011-11-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

Four Fill-In Fun Blog Hop

This is the deal: Hilary at Feeling Beachie is the host of this Hop.

This week’s statements:

1. I have never been to ___

2. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I tend to be ____

3. If I didn’t have___________________I’d be completely lost

4. _________________________is always the best feeling at the end of the day

My Answers:

1. I have never been to England and I have always wanted to go!

2. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I tend to be impatient____

3. If I didn’t have_my GPS__I’d be completely lost. I used to have to take out a map before I went anywhere!

4. Taking my shoes off! or climbing into bed____is always the best feeling at the end of the day

and now to further my: I am really thankful for Friday .... this week has been horrendous (I know this is sort of cheating!) but there are a LOT of things going on in my personal life and I really need this week to be over to recharge!..... so I promise this will be the only day of this month I take a freebie!!!!

Pondering with a Purpose - Online Friends to be thankful for

2011-11-03T06:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Pondering with a Purpose -

I have embarked upon a journey that I don't think...no that I don't want... to reverse course on. We are all a part of something that is MUCH bigger than we are. It is this wonderful thing called the internet. Some people are using it for monetary gain...some people are using it for scam . . . yes Alexis (romance Scammers) . . . some people are using it for knowledge - online education .... and WE are using it to blog and express our opinions ON so many subjects. Have you ever sat back and really thought about how absolutely amazing that is? Think about fifty years ago? What would we all be doing? We would all be frustrated housewives --- or in my case I would be a frustrated single woman living alone with no one to talk to!!

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You, my friends are my outlet .... and that is my case in point for this Pondering with a Purpose.... my online friends! If you are not mentioned.... I am sorry.... I really hope to get to know you much better and make you my friend...because I really could use you!!!!

I decided to make this week's prompt:

Online Friendships that I am thankful for!

Ruthi - I would not even be here if it were not for this woman... and I am dead serious! She kicked me in the butt so many times I cannot tell you! She is responsible for the badge for this prompt and I do not thank her often enough for her friendship. So right here, right now... Thank you!!!

Hilary - For some unknown reason there is a bond between two people. Hilary and I clicked instantly! We are seriously sisters from different mothers --- even though I think I'm old enough to be her mother! She loves my books and is probably my biggest fan. I think I could write her an email and pour my heart out the her and she would understand completely. Who does that?

McGuffy Ann - Do you know what it feels like when you go visit a blog and it feels like you are at home? That is what it feels like when you go visit McGuffy.... and I felt like that instantly. AND every time we talk it feels the same way! I really think we would be best friends if we ever met.... but.........

Ticklebear - there is something about Bruno --- I don't know what it is . I don't care that he is gay. I know a lot of people might.... but I just don't care.... His photography is beautiful! You really need to go check it out!!! And seriously.... I really think that if I lived near him... we would be friends!

Jade - my day is not complete until I go check out what is going on with Jade!

Betty There are times during the day when you really just need to go somewhere and talk - - or just know that there is somewhere who gets you . . you know what I mean??? Betty at A Corgi in Southern California is that person for me! I go over and read her posts - or she has left me a message and it just makes me sigh and know all is good!

Leslie - Time out for Mom has become one of my favorite blogs to frequent. Leslie has become a great online friend! And I love going over there to chat and share a few stories!

Now that I am joining in this November month of giving Thanks I am looking forward to making some new friends!

Leah - Leah is the host of the Giving Thanks Challenge and I really hope that I get to know her and become her friend; not only during this month but throughout......

Cheryl = do you remember when you were in school and you wanted to be near the 'cool' kids? Well this is how I felt when I went on "Say What?" I really hope that Cheryl and I become friends.... I guess that time will tell......

Carole = now check out this name for a blog .... half over and just begun --- isn't that the coolest thing you've ever heard --- I LOVE IT!!! You go Carole!!! I'm older than you and I couldn't agree more!!! I hope you and I become blogging friends...so far we are off to a great start!!!

so......how about you...... which blogging friends are you thankful for???

Why I love Wednesdays - The Artful Dodger & Giving Thanks Day 2

2011-11-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

Over at my friend Alexis's place Reflections of a Bookaholic she has a feature on Wednesdays - Why I Love: And this week's love is for Favorite book Hero or Heroine. Now I am going to go out on a limb here and pick someone that most of you would not usually think of as a hero --- Jack Dawkins - - commonly known as the Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist.

Now my love of the classics runs VERY deep and my love of the Underdog was discussed in a previous post ... so this just seemed to run right in line with that...... If you have never read this book... you really must. The Dodger is such a scamp, and a thief and really just a kid looking for love --- in all the wrong places. But true to form Dickens creates a world where he manages to take a lost child and harbor him.

How about you.... who are your heros or heroines????

NOW: my thankful for the day????? I am thankful for this wonderful blogging world I have discovered. As I wandered through the Wordless Wednesday posts this morning and found some from across the world that were written in foreign languages, I realized how small the internet has made the world.