* Where Has the Time Gone? *

Gosh, I can't believe I haven't posted anything or commented on anyone's blogs since August 3rd!

Most of what took up a lot of time was looking online, trying to help Mark find an apartment in New Orleans that was in a safe neighborhood, fairly close to Tulane....and here's the kicker...affordable! 

I've never searched for a place to live without actually seeing the area, nor has Mark. He's been in our area all his life (which is why I'm SO sad to see him move away. And yeah, yeah, I know it's a wonderful opportunity, etc. and that he's certainly an adult...but a mom can still cry, can't she??)

Between him searching online, along with Ron and me (and thanks to a professor friend he already has down there) we found what looks like a great place! His prof friend told him which areas to stay out of and which were better. I hope the complex is everything it looks like in the photos! He's getting a tiny, studio apartment which is fine with him. I think he's most excited about having a washer/dryer in his own unit! It's a stackable, otherwise a side-by-side would take up half the apartment! Ha!

He's leaving this Thursday and a friend is going along to help drive and keep him company, which I am SO happy about. Not sure how the friend is coming back here...

Yesterday, Ron and I (and Charlie) drove to his current apartment to say our Goodbyes. I thought it would be less emotional than watching him drive away...which may or may not be true, because I cried my eyes out, and have been off and on for days. 😢 

I'm at work, so I better get back to...work!

* I'm So Proud of My Son, Mark! *

OMG! Fabulous news!!

Our son Mark just got hired to teach at Tulane University in New Orleans!! 

He has a one year contract to teach two philosophy classes and one cognitive science class. His title will be Visiting Assistant Professor. It's possible his contract could be extended, too. He'll be earning more money than he was getting presently at Washington University, and also free medical insurance!

He is very happy and excited, as are we. Classes start Aug 26, so he'll be moving soon! I'll share more info when I know more. (Obviously we will miss him, and even though we don't see him that much, just knowing he's only a few miles away has been wonderful.) 

I know I'll cry when I say goodbye to him. 🤧 I told him we'll have to Skype a lot.

* NINE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS?! *

Yes, Virginia there IS a Santa Claus....and yes, Becky is still alive and kicking! 😉

My 5 talks at the assisted living centers became only 3; I missed one because of illness, and the other was cancelled due to a large snowstorm we had.

I was a bit rusty in talking, but it seemed to go well. People laughed and smiled at the proper times.

I brought door prizes, print-outs of helpful online sites for writers, and lots of books to sell.

I sold Five Books 😞

Oh well... it was a great experience and I met some wonderful people. That's a gift in itself. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have I mentioned that Ron and I are moving again?? In August, we bought a used double-wide mobile home in a lake community and hope to actually move in next month! It was a mess and we're totally rehabbing it and it will be like a brand new home. If I'd never seen some of those make-over shows on HGTV, I would've never agreed to buy it. It was that bad! I'll share some before and after photos after we've moved in!

I'm not sending snail mail Christmas cards this year...first time in over half my life, but I just couldn't find the time or energy to do them. So, please don't think I've forgotten you, I wish all of you a

Very Merry Christmas!

May 2019 be a year of good health
 & happiness for us all!

It seems like most of my posts are about time flying by, and I intend to stop it! Yes, indeed! I'm going to stop it right now...Writing about it, that is.....since there's nothing I can actually do about slowing it down. You know that saying, "It is what it is."

I hope to begin blogging again with some type of routine. 

I miss the writing, which is a very good thing.

 

 

You Tube



 

I've got some ideas beginning to percolate, too, which is such a great feeling! I truly thought I'd lost the desire to write.

 

AND, I miss my blog friends! Yes! I miss reading your blogs and staying connected!

~~~~~

The two following sentences were included in my post of January 2nd of this year:

1) I do hope to fit in some other creative-type pursuits.
2) And I truly want to become consistent in living an organized life.

 

I'm working on those and succeeding quite a bit, especially the "organized life" part. Have I mentioned that Ron and I moved again?? I feel like a military wife....a very old military wife! Ha! In fact this last move...and I DO mean LAST....is part of what inspired me to start writing again...so, as usual, Everything Happens For a Reason.

And as I wrote on the upper right column of my blog, in November 2016: I'm not sure what my dreams are, but I'm anxious to find out. Maybe when I get to that fork in the road, I should take it!

P.S. Did any of you click on the percolator to hear its sound? I had to turn my volume all the way up to hear it. Loved it. It's such a neat reminder of an every day occurrence in my mother's kitchen when I was growing up.
 

"SOMETIMES ON THE WAY TO YOUR DREAM, YOU GET LOST AND FIND A BETTER ONE." - Unknown (as seen on River's blog, "Drifting Through Life")

*** Aaaacccckkkkk! Please let me know if you see a few sentences in teeny-tiny print! I keep changing the font size over and over and over.....and I keep seeing it as tiny! This blogger is *&@#$!    Yep, it's fixed finally!

* A CONDO, A LAKE, AND WRITING OPPORTUNITIES *

Over the past few months, I've been on a blog dry spell, in fact it's been so dry, it's been more like a desert, or White Sands, New Mexico!

I haven't been posting, replying to comments, or commenting on other blogs the way I used to, while feeling terribly guilty at the same time. I kept telling myself that I didn't have the time, didn't have the energy, etc. But I've come to realize those were not the problems. I just didn't feel motivated.

This evening, though, I have the desire to share some writing information, plus some photos. I took the four pictures below just the other day and wrote about them on Facebook. If we're "Friends" on Facebook, I'm sure you can read it there, too, if you'd like.

Custom clay chimes made about 40 years ago

 by my deceased sister, Jo Ann.

 



 

Vern checking out the scenery!

 



 

Vern and I walking on the boardwalk next to the lake.

 



 

I love this photo! We were walking and I called his name so that he might stop and look at me.....which he obviously did! J

 

 

This is where we've moved! It's a beautiful area not far from our previous house, and we just can't get over the fact that we LIVE here! We still feel as if we've been on a working vacation....helping friends move into this condo, and then we remember...WE LIVE HERE! J

~~~

 



Hey, all you writers out there! Here are some great Calls for Submissions and other info.

 

Monkey Star Press http://monkeystarpressbooks.com/call-for-submissions/ is looking for stories for two upcoming "Mom" anthologies. I don't know anything about this press, but I think it looks like a good place to submit your stories.

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics is also looking for stories for eight upcoming anthologies. We all know that Chicken Soup for the Soul has a fantastic reputation. Give it a try! What's holding you back?

 

Are you aware of the site Winning Writers? https://winningwriters.com/ It is one of THE best sources for just about everything concerning writing: Good, reliable contests to enter, contests and services to avoid, tons of resources to help you find what you're looking for, etc.etc. I just love this site. Every year they host the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest with a deadline date of April 1st.....which I totally forgot about this year. Hmm, guess I had too much to remember, therefore lots of things were forgotten! J

 

~~~

 

Oh, how true!!

 

 

 

Hmm, if I read this one paragraph one more time

I think I'll scream!

 

 

Isn't it funny that I've mentioned Chicken Soup for the Soul books in my past few posts?? Even if you've NEVER submitted anything before, give it a try! Leave a comment about it, too, please! 







* FOLLOWING MY BLISS *

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

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

~~~

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

one of my favorite walking trails (2009)

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 



* POOR VERN IS LOOKING SAD & WORRIED *

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

* KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE *

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

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

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

* WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES - PART ONE *

I love the song, "What a Difference a Day Makes." The lyrics are powerful and when sung by Dinah Washington, pure gold. It popped into my mind the other day when I was thinking about my life last year at this time and how different it is now.

 

 

 

 

The Ronald and I moved last spring which was a huge change and yet thinking back on it, went rather smoothly. I didn't write much of anything for quite a while except blog posts. (Do they count as "writing?!") My mind was a jumbled mess, but hey....that's nothin' new for me, is it?

 

As we unpacked and I began to get settled in, I mentally searched for answers concerning my memoir. At the time, I still wasn't finished with it! The chapters were complete, but not in any kind of order. I hadn't written a forward or acknowledgments, either. And I was still trying to decide how to publish it.

 

Another thing that was happening was I'd made up my mind to lose weight. I don't think I blogged about it because usually when I make "the big announcement" about being on a diet, I immediately lose all will power. The day we moved, I made up my mind then and there, to begin the following day. And I did. And I stuck to it. And over the summer I lost 25 lbs. (Don't start applauding, yet, though!) I walked a lot, did a few simple floor exercises, and practically went Cold Turkey as far as eating was concerned. I ate tiny servings of food, no matter what it was. I didn't give up anything, but I also lived on less than 1000 calories a day. I did not suffer. I loved it and it felt so good to fit into smaller sizes of clothing. (It was easy! It reminded me of when I quit smoking, Cold Turkey, about 30 years ago. It was just the Right Time for each accomplishment, I guess, since I began and quit smoking and dieting zillions of times.)

 

I made my publication decisions. I completed my memoir. And I self-published it with Createspace in November. All in all, it was quite a year.

 

Stay tuned for the next installment of "What a difference a year makes." Hope to see you there! (I changed the color on five important words above!.....)

 

~~~

 

P.S. Sometimes when I leave to go on errands, I turn the TV to a music channel for Vern to listen to while I'm gone! Yes, I really do! He likes Golden Oldies and Classic Country the best, so yesterday it was Classic Country. You won't believe what song was playing when I walked in the door..... Charlie Rich's "Rollin' With the Flow." True! (see blog post from June 27th.) Ahhh, another one of my Twilight Zoney, Cosmic moments.

 

 

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." ~Alan W. Watts 





* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

Where has the time gone? It's been four weeks since my previous Nostalgic Sunday, and seven weeks since we moved. Along with the unpacking and deciding what goes where, The Ronald and I have also come across items that we "brought along" that really "don't belong." So....more trips to Goodwill. (I really like the newest one in our area. It has a Drive Up & Drop Off Door!☺)

It's been interesting how I've felt about giving away and/or selling furniture and decorative items that used to mean a lot to me. This move has been much more than just a physical move. It's also been serendipitous.

I've taken time to sit on our deck, enjoying the beautiful trees and flowering bushes as they sway in the breezes.......and the birds chirping back and forth with their loud conversations.....and to almost meditate about life....the past, present, and future. 

And that, of course, brings the memories from the past, and thoughts about my memoir. I still have no definite publication date, but I can assure anyone who is interested, that it WILL be sometime fairly soon.

I've always proclaimed that patience is not one of my virtues, but during the past couple of years, I've learned to at least accept the concept of patience! 

Ahhh, and here's a bit of nostalgia to share!

Seen on the Adair County Free Press facebook page

"My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather."-- Loire Hartwould

Here's What You've Been Waiting For!

I'm only posting these photos now because I know my family and friends will understand my non-perfect house! So far, the only two rooms that are showable are the living room and the kitchen! 

One wall of the living room. This is my favorite part of the room! A comfy chair, large bookcase, and behind the chair is a small radio/CD player. The paper wreath over the chair was made by one of my daughters-in-law! Click on the photo for a larger view. After my book is in print, she's going to make a different one from its pages!

Another wall in the living room. As you can see, to the right is the kitchen and to the left is a hallway. The three pencil sketches above the love seat were drawn by my deceased sister, Jo Ann, in 1973. I had them hanging in the upstairs hallway in our previous house, which was silly because nobody ever saw them.

Another wall in our living room...complete with Vern on the couch! The Peace Sign blanket is his personal one! From the moment I saw that framed picture years ago, I was in love with it! But again, it had been hanging in a room where it wasn't seen very often. It's as if we have new furniture and accessories here!

Here's one view of our kitchen. I really love the huge windows we have in every room. (The Baker's Shelf is NOT finished being "decorated." Right now, it's full of junk!)

~~~

That's about it for now. Every day seems to fly by and I get a few more things accomplished. It's probably going to be a LONG time before I can post any bedroom/office photos!

* Welcome to my newest follower McGuffy Ann, from McGuffy's Reader. It hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! *

"A house that does not have one worn, comfy chair in it is soulless." -- May Sarton

"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." -- Jane Austen

"Housework is what a woman does that nobody notices unless she hasn't done it." -- Evan Esar

"Home is where you can say anything you like 'cause nobody listens to you anyway." -- Author Unknown

* IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN TO ME *

I didn't plan on writing another blog post so soon, but something happened shortly after noon today, that I just had to share.

* I swear all of the following information and photos are real *

Vern had a 1:00 pm appointment with his favorite vet: Dr. Brister. (Actually he only has one vet, but she's the best around in both our opinions!)

Okay, SO....since we're still unpacking and finding things that we really don't need or want, I have quite a few items in my car to take to Goodwill.

As I opened the door on the driver's side of my PT Cruiser, I noticed The Ronald had put two large, decorative plate holders in the back floor, on the passenger's side. As I held the door open,Vern jumped into the backseat and settled onto his pillows. Right away I could see he didn't like the looks or the rattling of those metal contraptions. SO......since I didn't want Vern to be traumatized on the ride to the vet and back....I closed my door and walked around to the other side to pull them out.

I could only open the passenger side door a few inches because stacks of boxes were in the way. I still easily reached in and grabbed both at the same time and began to pull. I had to walk backwards a bit, as I tried to yank them out at a 90° angle, which obviously didn't work since they were hard metal and not flexible.

Somehow during those few seconds, the black plate holder got stuck in the one and only crevice that was there. Plus, by that time, the gold one had latched onto the black one and they were both stuck, and I do mean stuck.

* SEE PHOTOS BELOW *

View from the front of the car

View from the side

View from the back

Another from the back and side

Close up view: Look a little below and to the right of the red piece of fabric. The  black part that is stuck is hard to see....it's kind of horizontal, right under a large, funny looking, kind-of-a-"C".

I yanked and pulled and cussed as poor Vern watched from the back seat. So, I put his leash on him and we went outside for a walk. I called the vet's office and told the receptionist I couldn't make the appointment and that she would NOT believe my excuse. She and I both laughed as I attempted to describe it all to her.

I also called The Ronald to see if he was anywhere near home, but he wasn't. I kept explaining the situation and he kept saying he couldn't visualize it. I don't blame him! He said he'd come home as soon as possible and take a look at the situation...Hmmm.....

Thank goodness the car is in the garage because it's been raining off and on all day. BUT, since the car door obviously won't shut, my battery may run low.......

* Tuesday 4/16/13 Addendum: The Ronald and I both worked together to get the tangled mess untangled, and I was able to drive Vern to his rescheduled vet appointment! (Also, since I changed my template back to a Blogger design, I'm now able to reply individually to comments. I love it!) 

Ahhhh.......Life is full of fun and surprises! I had a very good laugh today, and at my own expense!
I leave you with two quotes from one of my favorite comedians.....



"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" -- Steven Wright

"Is it weird in here, or is it just me?" -- Steven Wright

* HOME UPDATE *

Hello Blog Friends!

I'm alive and well, still unpacking boxes, still donating more items to Goodwill, and not nearly finished. But one day at a time, right? The Ronald, Vern, and I are all loving our new place of residence. The second or third day we were here, I told The Ronald I feel like a newlywed, unpacking and deciding what to put where. ☺

I've only hung four items on walls so far because I have no idea where or if I'll want to hang the rest of the paintings, plaques, drawings, etc. 

The four I've hung:

A clock on a kitchen wall

A calendar on a kitchen wall

A very small plaque that says Home: Your Soft Place to Fall

A larger plaque that says Home is Where Your Story Begins 

(I think I'll cross out the "Begins" and write "Continues" on it. What are your thoughts on that?!)

I've taken a couple of photos, but haven't downloaded them onto my laptop yet, and of course I can't locate the camera and case at the moment.

I miss visiting your blogs and I'll get back into the swing of things when I can!

P.S. I did find my hairspray and makeup, but would you believe I haven't used any of it yet?? Whenever I do need to go anywhere, I just plop on my white baseball cap!

There's nothing better than being happy where you are and with what you have....

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." -- Denis Waitley

* WE'RE HOME *

I'm definitely in one of my "What day is it?" modes. We moved into our townhouse on Easter Sunday, so I feel like Easter hasn't even arrived yet. I was at Walmart yesterday evening, picking up a few essentials.....shower curtain liner, cheapie toilet brushes, etc....And especially a can opener because we haven't found ours yet! ....and the young checker asked me how my Easter was. I had to stop for a minute and think....Uhhh, I didn't know Easter came and went already....and then I remembered....

We love our new home ....it's not a "new" townhouse, but it's new to us and I can't wait to make it completely ours. Vern has adapted really well, too, which we wondered about. The biggest obstacle...so to speak.... right now, is the maze of boxes on our living room! He's managed to squeeze through and find a place to rest and chew on a bone, or up on the couch next to us!

I'm not sure how soon we'll have internet at home, so I'm at the Bread Co right now, accepting their free wi-fi! The past few days I've been using my cell phone for texting and e-mailing, and even some web browsing, so I am HAPPY to be able to use my laptop for a little while. And it's a minor miracle that I even found my laptop and plug-in cord.....in two separate boxes! 

The main thing I just have to find today is my makeup and hair spray!!!!! I've been looking like an old hag, and I'm not exaggerating one bit!!

That's it for  now. Thanks to everyone who has left recent comments and also for recent e-mails. I hope to attempt to catch up.....someday. 

AND I'm rarin' to go to finish those last few sentences in my memoir, and add the photos!!

I'll be thinking of y'all as I unpack...

The Ronald and I definitely have wonderful friends who have given us a hand, in more ways than one. 

Have a beautiful, blissful day!

"I always tell my kids if you lay down, people will step over you. But if you keep scrambling, if you keep going, someone will always, always give you a hand. Always. But you gotta keep dancing, you gotta keep your feet moving." -- Morgan Freeman  

Packing and Getting Ready to Go!

While The Ronald and I pack, Vern sniffs around on our deck. 

I have no idea what he found, but his head is completely in the snow!

One of the trees in our front yard.

The birds kept coming to the feeder all day long. The one on the right, about half way up the pole is in flight. He's in the air, not on the ground!

We're so excited about downsizing. I can't wait to get moved into our new home and begin this next chapter in our lives!

* HELP - BLOGGER NOT UPDATING MY POSTS *

If you happen upon this particular blog post, please leave a comment if you have any suggestions about my Blogger Roll List problem.

Yesterday while visiting other bloggers, I noticed that the ones who list mine on their Blog Roll, all showed my latest blog post as "A Plethora of Writing Contests" from March 13th. BUT, since that time, I've posted four more new posts: March 14th, 15th, 17th, and 19th.

I haven't made any changes to anything, other than my profile photo. I even put the previous one back on, just in case it had anything to do with it, which it did not.

Obviously this is not really a problem, in the big scheme of things, but it sure is annoying. When readers see that a blog hasn't had a new post in quite a while and/or since they last visited it, they're most likely to skip right past it.

One other thought. If you presently have my blog listed on your Blog Roll and it still shows March 13th as the most recent post, please remove it from your list and then put it back on. Maybe that will update it. Please let me know the outcome!

* NOTE: March 21, 11:00pm  I deleted that blog post from March 13, hoping it might make blog rolls show the current post....but that didn't work as far as I can tell. Oh well...I'm going to quit thinking about it. 

Anyone have any ideas?

Also, I decided it was time to change my template and background! It's been a long time...and I kind of like my new look! *


In the meantime, I'll be listening to some great music, or half-watching, half-listening to Andy Griffith reruns, as I continue to sort and pack household items.....getting ready for our move.

"Tough times don't last. Tough people do." - Gregory Peck