It's almost here...

Can you beleive it tomorrow is April 1st and the beganing of the A to Z challange.

So are you ready?

(Humm, coffee....check, computer...check, wine...check, number to the funny farm...check, okay I think I'm as ready as I will ever be. Dang it, I forgot to take that speed-reading course.) 


Have you already got some of your post done?

(Crap is it the end of March already...I had better get by butt in gear.)


Are you doing a Theme? I know Laura Eno is all about Immortals, myths and legends I can't wait.

(It's spring right... I think I will do wildflowers of Texas. And what ever else pops into my head. Hey, it's really crowded up there. Sometimes I just can't keep it all in.)


Have you warmed up? You know you need to stretch your fingers, brain and eyes you don't want to get injured do you.

(Okay, eyes ....left...right...left...right...)


Here is the schedule of post....



Why not join the fun. Click on the badge on the left side bar to sign up. There are already 1500 bloggers signed up.

(1500... I need more coffee ... and more wine....)

Ready.... Set..... GO...

AHHH!!! My Muses are at war....

   Sorry I haven't posted, but it seems my Muses are at war with each other. It's not that they aren't giving me any ideas. They are... lots of them....all at once.

   Before I get a chance to write one down completely, another gets thrown at me. Everyone wants to be first. They are throwing their ideas so fast a furious that all I get is a great big wall of words that don't make any sense.

   There was something about a book, a party, rain, dogs, crocheting...I even think Dracula was in there somewhere.

   See what happens when you take time off. Now if I can just get them to take turns, I will be set for a while.

   HEY...What did I say about shoving. Get back in line...NO single file....


  This may take a while. Wish me luck...

I wonder if he ever had this problem?

I'm Back...

   So what does a blogger do when she doesn't have the internet....

Well, if your me you pull up your graphics program and get busy drawing.

drawing by Pamela Jo

I'm still not too happy with the surf spray. I'll have to work on that some more. But now it is time to catch up with everyone...

Early Warning...I might be off for awhile...

  Just thought I would give you all a heads up. I am not abandoning the blog world and all my old, as well as new friends. But if I disappear for awhile, I will be back.

   With all the hospital trips (3 for him, 2 for me) in the last couple of months, we are running a little long on expenses. So if I can't convince the our internet provider to give us a little break, they will turn it off before our next payday at the first of the month.

   So if I don't see you around; just know I am missing you all and counting the days until I'm back on.

   Oh yes, does anyone out there have a spell I can cast over the bills to make them disappear, or at least shrink???

   I seem to be flooded with them lately. Thank goodness I learned to swim when I was a younger. Come to think of it a boat might be in order too.

Now where did I put those life-jackets?

Drawing by Pamela Jo

Welcome to my new Followers...

  I would like to take a moment today to welcome all my new followers and fellow campaigners, and tell you a little something about me.

   Everyone who has been following me for a while, know I have a really weird sense of humor. Of course that is the nice way of saying I am off my rocker ... totally loony toons. If you didn't already know that, well I guess I just explained a lot, didn't I.

   All of you new followers... You have been warned.

   My philosophy  life is too short to spend it being serious all the time, (okay, okay for more than 2 seconds) and to get through this life sane...ish you can either laugh or cry. I chose to laugh, because crying makes my nose run and my eyes red. Not a pretty picture.

   I am a Proud Texan, born and raised. I was born many moons ago in San Antonio, the birthplace of the Alamo. (Yeah that Alamo, no, the real one. Not the Hollywood one.)

The Alamo San Antonio, Tx

   I have lived all over Texas: San Antonio, Corpus Christi. Fort Worth, Houston, Katy, Magnolia, Spring Branch, Shepherd and Coldspring. Yep, my family moved around a lot.

   I have been: an office worker, dance instructor, a massage therapist, delivery person, Insurance agent, sales person, Manager. I was even an extra on a movie once. I never did figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up.

   I have fallen out of trees, off boats, been through about 4 hurricanes, too many tornadoes to count, a few wreck (some NOT my fault) and now have a heart condition that has slowed me down.  Yes my Guardian Angel is up for platinum wings. She earned her silver and gold in record time.

   I like music, movies (old and new), books, gardening, sewing, crocheting, drawing (especially cartoons- the laugh thing again), cooking, dogs, astronomy.... long walks in the woods, okay now I sound like I'm looking for a date.

   You probably got the picture. I have a wide variety of interests, which might explain why I hop from subject to subject like a hyper rabbit.

   OH YES...AND I CAN'T SPELL WORTH A DARN!!!! 

   So now you know a little about me.  Welcome, and come on in...If you dare. You can't say you haven't been warned.


  

I am a Campaigner...

   I have wanted to join Rachael Harrie of  Rach Writes on her crusades ever since she started them. I just always got there late. That old procrastination thingy again.

   But this time I made it before the deadline. I was so excited I joined a few different groups. I know I am an over achieving procrastinator, what can I say. But everyone has been having so much fun with Rachael that I just had to get in on the action too.

   Her new Campaign starts on August 22, 2011 and goes to October 3rd, 2011. But the deadline to join is August 31st, 2011. Check out The Writers' Platform- Building Campaign here, and join the fun.

One year today...

   Oh goodness.... I started this blog one year ago today. Can you believe it? I made my first anniversary.

This calls for a celebration!!!

   During the past year I have met so many interesting people on line, Mothers, Fathers, daughters and sons, city dwellers and country people, photographers, musicians, actors, directors, and of course authors. Lots and lots of authors.

   I have been able to travel and learn about the world, through the eyes of those who live there. I have seen so many wonderful places and things, through the lenses of some really amazing photographers. (India...Coffee Rings Everywhere and Australia....Publish or Parish, just to name 2 of many)

   I have been entertained daily with the humor, and the insightful stories of great story tellers. (I never realize how many people out there spent their days thinking up ways murder someone and getting paid for it, instead of arrested.) I have also discovered that Death loves peanuts and drives a Harley.

I wonder if it is this fire bike???

   I have learned I am not alone in this big old world. There are others out there just as crazy as I am. (What a relief. I will know a lot of people when they finally lock me away.)


   To all of you out there who take the time to read about little old me. (Humbly bows head) Thank You.  I don't know what I would do without you to keep me sane...ish.

   If you would like to read my very first post, you will find it here.


   (I wonder if I could knock off the IRS and call it research....)

S is for Spell-Check...

   When I write my blog or anything, the one tool that helps the most is Spell-check. It is also the one tool that causes the most aggravation.

   I have always had trouble with spelling. The best I can do is write the word and see if it looks right.

   Don't get me wrong I can read and understand lots of things. But when it comes to getting them from my mind to my hand...well, they sometimes get really jumbled up. I do have a mild case of dyslexia, mostly with numbers and mostly when I am tired.

   I sometimes feel like a teacher. Okay everyone line up in order we are going on a trip...Stay in line...is everyone here... No cutting in line. Get back to your place.

   But alas, like the substitute teacher taking on the unruly classroom. I some times fail miserably. That is when I count on my seating chart. otherwise know as Spell-check.

   But the problem arises when there is more than one student with the same name. Say you have 3 Bobbys (oh and by the way spell-check says Bobbys is wrong),  but which one is the right Bobby. To find the answer you check the last name. You now know who is Bobby Smith, who is Bobbee James, and who is Bobbie Lee.

   The problem with spell-check is it only tells you the first name. So how do I know which one to pick. What I need is a Dictionary or at least a Thesaurus. I never had this problem when I was looking words up in those.

   Why not use the dictionary on the computer, you may ask. Well you see, on the one I have it can't find the word if it is not spelled correctly. See my problem.

   Another problem some of the words I use are words that spell-check doesn't recognize (like the ones Laura at A Shift in Dimensions has been posting on her blog this month.) So I wind up changing the way I write sometimes to the way spell-check wants me to write.

   Ah, well apparently everyone is a critic...even my word processor in office.



Oh and by the way....


        HAPPY EARTH DAY....Get out there and plant something. Even if it is your butt on a bench at the park.

Support your planet, It supports you !!!

I want one..... Think it would help???

Now if I could just find one that will correct my sentence structure
and erase the errant commas.

L is for Lone Star...Texas that is...

   In my trip around the blogging world, I have seen so many badges. Canadian bloggers, blogging Moms, Australian bloggers, over 40 bloggers, homesteaders blog, etc...etc...

   I was feeling left out. *sniff-grabs tissue*  So I decided if I couldn't be invited to their party, I would have one of my own. So I grabbed a cup of coffee, locked myself into the office, pulled up my graphics program and...

  

The Lone Star Blogger

   The A to Z challenge just seemed like the right time to introduce this to y'all (Hey, I am Texan through and through).

   If you are a Texas blogger...(yes Lori you are one too. Once a Texan always a Texan)... grab the badge and proudly proclaim for all to see "I am a Texas Blogger".

   If you would like let me know and I will add you to the Texas Blogger page I created.

   Come on Texans lets show our colors....

F is for ??? ....

   Help I am frantic.

   My muses are missing in action. They are probably frolicking with friends. Leaving me to flounder in front of the computer.

   They are the ones that said we should flock together in fellowship (I sure don't talk that way) with the bloggers in the A to Z challenge... and then they were late on the letter E.

   Today for the letter F they are no where to be found. They are freaking me out. If you find them could you please forward their location to me. Better yet just Fax it.  I am so furious at their flight from their function in this partnership, I just might fire them.

   Who am I fooling, we all know I will forgive them when they finally fly back.  Besides the fables they will fabricate are the fiber that forms my posts.

“Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from the flukes of the universe, the kindness of the muses.”

 Amy Tan

A Beautiful Award...

   The other day I was checking my blog comments and I got one from Deidria Eden-Coppel of A Storybook World. She was letting me know she really likes my blog and that she had something for me over on her blog. So off I went to check it out.

Look what I found....

                                           Wow...Isn't it gorgeous.


   I am so thrilled not only by the award but by her blog. You really have to check this one out.
 
   Go now here now. I'll wait.

   Okay welcome back. Isn't she the cutest thing? I learned Deidria is  a full time writer and she also does animation for ebooks. Talk about talented...and busy. She also has a website.

    So once again I would like to thank Deidria very much for the award. It is now proudly posted on my new awards page as well. As a matter of fact it is the award that got my butt in gear to make an awards page.

Wish list Wednesday...

   Since last weeks wish list was postponed due to the electric going out and frying the modem, it got me thinking about emergencies, power falures and *SHUDDER* hurricanes.

   So my practical wish this week is....




   Aladdin Mantle lamps... they put off a lot more light than candles and other wick type lamps... or so a lot of bloggers out there have told me.  With the lights going off during storms.... or when the power company trims the trees and knocks it out by accident....these would we great to have around.







   You should see the collection they have.  If you think they are too expensive for emergencies only, plan a lights out family night.  Light the lamps, pull out the boardgames, and reconnect with those strangers  who live under your roof.

  Of course I already have candles, flashlights and wick lanterns...but would you just look how these look. Who wouldn't want one.











    Of course my all time wish for this situation would be....



   Lights go out a minute later... let there be light.  It should even keep the modem up. Oh and the freezer going, that is always a good thing. 

And lets not forget the coffee maker...




I guess I need one of these until then.








    What would I wish to learn....

    How to knit. My Aunt Darla taught me when I was little but I forgot.  I really would like to learn again and get good at it. 



The types of yarn out there are so great. The colors are pretty and the varieties.  Wool...what kind? Alpaca, cashmere, merino, washable wool, blended.

   Of course, I can crochet and I love it. But the patterns you can create with knitted stitches are so great. I would love to be able to make my own funky socks and sweaters.







   Who do I wish I could have lunch with this week, hmmm....

     How about Ron Howard... yep, Opie, Richie Cunningham...him.

Image by New England Secession via Flickr

   And of course, my last wish is that the DSL is never down and my muses are always up.

Time for a change...

   I am feeling the need for a change. I need new fresh, clean outlook on my life so... I changed my blog design.
   Hey it is a whole lot easier than spring cleaning the house, and it doesn't require chemicals being lugged around.

Image by Chiot's Run via Flickr

 
 
  Besides my muses were getting a little tired of the mountains. Now that I have a fresh look, maybe I can refresh my blogging schedule and my muses.

Image by Josh Liba via Flickr

Okay, okay. Maybe I should also clean my desk...

Beware the Ides of March---Blogfest...

Hart's blogfest @ Confessions of a Watery Tart

   Hart Johnson over at Confessions of a Watery Tart is having a blogfest. I have had so much fun doing these in the past, that I decided to do this one as well.

Here are the piticulars stright from Hart...

BEHOLD... THE DELUSIONAL DOOM BLOGFEST!

When: The Ides of March (March 15) obviously
Where: Your blog and Hart's
WHAT: SOMEONE WILL DIE!

You can do ANY (or all) of the following:

Predict your own death
Predict someone ELSES death
Write your own obituary
Write someone ELSES obituary
Plot a murder of someone sorely asking for it, step by step

   She doesn't care how you write it. A story, news article, prophecy you decide. The only requirement is the Death has to be either very strange unusual, bizarre, conspiratorial or the reporting be entertaining.

  With rules like that the sky is the limit.  She does ask that if it is very graphic to please post a warning for the readers.

   Enough said head over here and sign up. Remember someone must die on March 15th. Who will it be???

Thank you Nicole...

   As most of you know Wednesday was the BPB (Bernard Pivot Blogfest).  I would first like to thank Nicole at One Significant Moment at a Time for hosting this event.  It was a lot of fun, both answering the questions and reading everyone else's answers.

   I learned a lot from participating in this vlogfest. (Vlogfest, hey I like the sound of that. I think I'll keep it.)  Namely, I need to take up speed reading, and polish my typing skills.  Though by the 2nd day I was getting pretty good at not looking at the keyboard.

   I also found a lot of very interesting blogs and bloggers out there.  This is a big problem...how am I to read all these great blogs and write???  (Note to self sign up for Evelyn Wood's class today.) 

   I also found a lot of ideas for future blogs.  This will really help me out on the April blogging from A to Z challenge.  (Crap!  Where did I put that list.)
 
   If you haven't signed up for the challenge yet why not click the button on my sidebar and sign up today.  It sounds like it will be a lot of fun.  I can also write my blogs ahead of time and schedule them for the proper day...

   Okay, we all know that's going to happen, right.  I am a pro-procrastinator.  I will be typing at midnight hoping to get it in before the day ends.  But hey I can dream can't I.

   Well, I got to get back to checking out the other blogs before I get started reading this weeks fridayflash stories.

    Busy...busy....busy.


   I'll see all of yall around the bloggersphear.  Happy writing and reading.



   Guess what I just found.  I looked up Evelyn Wood to link here and this came up....

Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood

   Ah, I'm not crazy enough to say anything bad about man caring a sword, so I will let you make your own assumptions.

BPB Blogfest...

  Nicole over at One Significant Moment at a Time is hosting a blogfest today based on the Bernard Pivot questionnaire.  This is the same questionnaire that is used in the reality show 'Inside the Actor's Studio'.
   Laura Eno wrote about this on her blog and it sounded like fun so I joined as well.  Make sure you check out all the entries.

Image via Wikipedia

Bernard Pivot

Okay, here's Bernard Pivot's famous questionnaire and my answers:

1. What is your favorite word?

         Chocolate...I start smiling and feel euphoric just hearing the word.

2. What is your least favorite word?

         No... It is the first word I remember hearing and the one I have heard 

         the most my entire life.  Nothing gets my hackled up faster than telling

         me no I can't do something. It is a guarantee that I will do everything I        can to do it.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

          A beautiful sunset or landscape. It feels my spirit and heart with a           calmness, and quites the voices in my head. If only for a little while.

4. What turns you off?

          Rap music, no just kidding....maybe.

5. What is your favorite curse word?

        F--k, (this is a PG blog) It brings the most interesting images and                                memories to mind.

6. What sound or noise do you love?

          The ding of the timer that tells me the chocolate brownies are done.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?

         The sound of a drill. It sets my teeth on edge just thinking of it.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

         Chief... oh wait, I already do that at home. Actor... uh got that one  

         covered too. Author...oops, I am a blogger. Okay just pay me for 

         the above and I would be happy.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

          Animal trainer, I have already spent too many years training wild

          beasts... I mean teenagers.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
    

           Welcome to Heaven, where everyone is your friend, the internet is 

           always up, the chocolate and coffee are unlimited and free, and 

           there is no such thing as calories.

Image via Wikipedia

Now that is a Heavenly picture.

Is it just me....

   Okay.  I was reading some of the blogs I follow and Tiffany at Pineapples and Pickles posted about some sconces she bought at West Elm.  (They are cute...check them out here.) 
   Well the commenters were talking about how they love the store.  I had never been or seen a cataloge so I googled it.
   They do have some great stuff... But then I saw this...

David Stark Zebra Rug

    Okay yes it is cute, but it just seems to be missing something to me.  So I looked up Zebra...

   Then I checked out the rug again...

  Is it just me ... I just don't see the resemblence.

   Hey don't take my word for it check it out for yourself here.

He Thinks I'm Sweet...

    I would like to thank Al at Publish or Parish for awarding me the Sweet Blog award. Al is an author in Australia who happens to be an outstanding photographer as well. If you haven't dropped by and checked him out you are missing out. His blog is very entertaining, informative and down right good.

The photos he takes of landscapes and birds are breathtaking in their detail. Oh and they make great wallpapers...How do I know this. Check him out here.

    Now the really fun part passing along this award. There are so many really good sweet blogs out there it is really hard to chose, but there are a few outstanding crafty ones I follow. I would like to pass this along to these crafty wonderful people.

Minna at Karuski... she is a wonderful crafter from Finland

Parsley at Seasons of My Mind... another wonderful crafter. I loved her aprons.

Lori at Lorikeet Designs... a fellow classmate now living and scrap booking in Australia.

Danielle at Notes from the Rookery... a great artist in a number of medias.

Stephanie at 50 Toes Photography... The mother of 5 really cute kids...need I say more.

    Please take a moment or two and check out these exceptional people. You will be glad that you did.

    I would like to thank everyone for following, reading and sharing your comments on my blog. I really enjoy having all of you drop by and visiting you as well. As I have said before the passing on of the award is always the most fun and the hardest part of getting an award. I hate choosing between all the really great people out here in blog land. And of course ....

   Okay why are still here reading all this dribble.... Click on the links above and discover some new outstanding people. You can come back later and listen to me.

"I'm A Literacy Builder"

   Are you ready for the next award?   What your not on the edge of your seat yet.  Well get really here it is.

   Today I would like to thank Laura Eno for giving me the "I'm A Literacy Builder" Award.  Laura is a really great writer with a very entertaining blog.  Her #Fridayflashes keep a lot of us wanting more.  I can't wait to see what she comes up with week after week.  See what she is up to this week here.

The rules for this one are as follows:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.

2. Display the award logo on your blog site.

3. Tell us five of your favorite words and why you like them, (add as many as you like).

4. Pass the award on to three bloggers you feel are excellent literacy builders, and link to their sites.

5. Contact the bloggers you’ve chosen and let them know about the award.


Wow my five favorite words.  Let me fire up the old gray matter and see what I can come up with...
Nada... Okay, this is going to take me awhile so just talk amongst yourselves while I think on it.

Here are 5 of my favorite words, or at least 5 that I can remember right now.

Artifacts  - I just love how that word sounds.  Plus it I have always liked
                  history, not the dates the people and places.

Bifocal-  I don't think of the glasses when I hear this.  I think of two points of
              view of the same of the image.

Friends -  Because everyone needs them.  No one is truly complete on their
                 own.

Classic -  Because I hate fads,  they cost too much.  Classic is just a classy
               word.

Laughter -  There is just not enough these days.  And laughter is the only
                   way you can make it through this world and stay sane.


The three people I would like to give this too.  

Denise at L'Aussie Writing
Clarissa at Listen to The Voices
Sharon at Channeling Ricky

 This is the hardest part because a lot of you really deserve this award.

Lovely Blog...Ahh! Thanks!!!

   Wow.  You people really know how to make a girl blush.  In the last week I have received 4 count them 4 awards.   But know I got to go back and remember who gave me what and what are the rules.  We I guess I have some work to do.  So let's get started. 
   Canadian Blogger Girl gave me the One lovely blog award.  Blogger Girl is a military man's wife and the mother of a toddler living on a base in Canada.  She had her ups and downs with base housing, neighbors and family.  She also has a wicked since of humor that she lets loose with every once in awhile.  Drop by and say hi.  It will make her day.

   On this award she didn't say what the rules where except you needed to pass it along to others.  So here are the ones I am passing it to:

1.Brooke at Roots and Wings
2.Dogmom Diva
3.Kristen at Hiccup
4.Jonie at Tales of a Nightcrafter
5.Tracy at The Crazy Suburban Mom
6.Bossy Betty
7.Kittie at The Block
8.Donna B at Mystical Jouneys

I don't know how many I can pass it along to,  and I have probably exceeded the limit.  But as far as I'm concerned you all have Lovely Blogs so feel free to post the award on your site from me.  Leave your blog site in the comments and I will check it out.