Makeover

I like watching the makeover shows, like How Do I Look? and What Not to Wear. When you get to be my age, you wonder if you could've looked better if only you had known what colors to wear, what styles, and how to wear your hair. Last night I saw this How Do I Look? episode where this woman who had gone through rehab, lost her son, and now wanted him back since she had a job and was on track now, but her "look" was holding her back in both job and convincing the judge. That is pretty profound in seeing that yes, we should judge based on a person's heart and actions, but as a society people DO judge you by how you present yourself.

Colleen Coble over at Girls Write Out is looking for a new hairstyle. Her publisher, Thomas Nelson, thinks it's time for a new photo and new look to go along with her scary suspense novels. She's getting rid of her long hair (ahhh.) Colleen is a super friendly and warm person, but I do agree she needs to have some photos where what she writes is reflected in her appearance on books and her web site. I can even imagine what kind of photo would be good. Maybe a serious look as she overlooks the water in Michigan, or a semi-smile as she sits on the beach in Hawaii. Or wherever else her next book is set, because the setting in Colleen's books is always important, so her photos need a presence of her setting.

Anyway, she's been looking for a hairstyle. I went through that a while back and finally got a good haircut that my husband really liked, too. Well, I had to go to a young hairstylist after I got my initial style, who just wasn't "getting" this style, and I don't look anything like I did when this photo was taken:




I need to look for a new stylist and unfortunately, this is a tough process. I will probably drag this photo with me to explain to the stylist. Also, I realized that I probably am a "spring" in coloring, and my hair may be a bit too platinum blonde for my coloring, so I went to the place Colleen did to try on hairstyles and colors. I finally narrowed it down to two colors: Light Titian (which is a brownish red/copper color) and lightest copper blonde. These colors really look like my old photos before age and hair coloring took over.

See if you like any of these styles, and/or colors. Also, looking at this person, what kind of a novel would you expect from her? Remember these issues: I'm 50 (this photo I'm using was taken last fall,) I like to get up and "go" and not spend hours on my hair, and I prefer casual, western or sporty looks.


1.


2.


3.


4.


5. Go back to this look:



And what genre does this gal write? (the photo you chose) Remember that if needed, I could have a serious facial expression(grin.)

1. romantic comedy
2. women's fiction
3. romantic historical
4. romantic suspense
5. cozy mystery

By the way I have manuscripts and plots for all of the above. (ha)

If you leave a comment, I'll put your name in for a drawing of the book, Chill Out, Josey! by Susan May Warren. Leave a contact email or be sure I have your email if you win. Susan has written all of the above genres, I think, except maybe cozy mystery.


P.S. I forgot to show you the other color...lightest copper blonde. Really, it's pretty close to the Light Titian, but just to give you a comparison. The copper blonde is just a bit darker.


Color:
1. Light Titian
2. Lightest Copper Blonde

Pass the Wasabi

Will Trish Sakai be able to follow her three simple rules and hold out against two gorgeous guys?

Trish Sakai is ready for a change from her wild, flirtatious behavior. And her three cousins are anxious for her to change, too. Trish is always knocking something over, knocking herself out, and taking hard knocks in her perpetual confusion about men.

When Trish's ex-boyfriend, Kazuo the artist, keeps popping up at all the wrong moments, Trish decides to be firm with herself. She creates three simple rules from First and Second Corinthians and plans to follow them to the letter. No more looking at men! No more dating non-Christians! She will persevere in hardship by relying on God.

Except now Kazuo is claiming Trish is his muse, and he can't complete his major work of art without her. And a gorgeous coworker is reassigned, bringing him in daily contact with Trish. But her cousins are determined to hold her accountable to her plan. She thought three rules would be a cinch, but suddenly Trish's simple rules don't seem so simple after all.

This is Camy Tang's latest novel, Only Uni. I've known Camy now for several years, even before her first book, Sushi for One? was published, which I also just loved. Camy says of herself that she is "the loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick lit." She is definitely a delightful and bubbly person whose blog, Camy's Loft is one of my regular stops. I feel like I'm visiting a TV show and know all the characters: Camy, Captain Caffeine and Snickers the cutie dog, as well as watch their cooking forays and her knitting projects. As a biologist, worship team leader and a staff worker for her church youth group, she is not a one dimensional character by any means.

Brilliant and helpful, Camy also has a top notch critique service (The Story Sensei) for helping writers and gives away Christian novels every Monday and Thursday. Her generosity extends to this blog! If you leave a comment and your contact info on this blog, I'll draw a name and Camy will send you a free copy of her book, Only Uni. See below.

Camy is totally fun and answered my questions that I posed to her for us to learn something new about her.

CLM: Trish Sakai has three simple rules she created from First and Second Corinthians. What are your three simple rules to write by?

Camy:
1. Relax. Stress is bad. I have a nice little Tranquility Corner with
my tabletop water fountain, candle, aromatherapy, and M&Ms. :)

2. Standing at my desk is better on my back and helps me think better. I have my monitor, keyboard, and trackball elevated on some cardboard boxes.
3. I try to write every day. This is really important, because otherwise I get out of the rhythm of things.



CLM: Name three things to eat you can't live without:

Camy:
1. French fries (I try to have some once a week so I don't go into withdrawal and attack a McDonalds or something stupid like that)
2. Tea (several cups daily)
3. Cheese (any type, but my fav is gruyere)

CLM:Oh, wow, I love all those things, too, and French fries are absolutely a need.

CLM: Finish this sentence: You should know this about me....

Camy:
I am incredibly weird and you should run far, far away.

CLM: I think that just makes you more fun to be around!

CLM: Camy, tell us your favorite place to visit:
Camy: Hawaii! I miss Hawaiian food, but it has a tendency to like me too much. Those Portuguese sausages and loco moco breakfasts have settled permanently on my rear end.

CLM: Everyone should know that you grew up in Hawaii--how many people can claim that? Not many. Paradise, ahhhhhhh.

CLM: This is the Chat 'n' Chew Cafe' so besides here, where's your favorite place to eat?: (And yeah,we have fries to rival that Arched Nemesis!)

Camy: Kua'Aina hamburger joint on Oahu's North Shore. They have the BEST french fries on the planet--thin, with the skin still on.

CLM: Ooooooooo, ok, well, I would love to try those!

CLM: What do you like the most about writing over being a biologist/researcher?
Camy: I can write until 3 in the morning and get up late the next day. What can I say--I'm a night owl. Emphasis on the "night."

CLM: You and I are on the same planet with that one. It's currently going on midnight as I fashion this blog.

CLM: As you know, I've eaten Japanese food with my friends and didn't find anything I truly loved in those times. I figured I just needed better guidance. I would seriously try anything you chose for me (since we have similiar tastes in other foods.) So...You're at a Japanese luncheon with me. What should I order?

Camy: Well, I personally like the unagi (eel). But my second choice would be udon, which is fat noodles in broth with vegetables. I used to love that as a kid because the noodles looked like worms in my soup (but tasted better than worms, obviously). If the visual grosses you out, a good standby is tonkatsu, which is a breaded and fried pork cutlet
with a sweet-salty-sour sauce. My favorite way to eat tonkatsu is
tonkatsu donburi, which is a cutlet over rice with an egg and soy
sauce mixture-sauce poured over it, but not all restaurants have that
on their menu.

CLM: Ok, those things sound delicious! I would really love to try the tonkatsu, and especially the tonkatsu donburi. And as a first grade teacher, I would've loved to introduce the worms in the soup, because I used to rename foods (plums were eyeballs, for example.) Fun!

CLM: You always ask the question, "If you were a dessert, what would you be?" so I'm asking, If you were an entree' in the Chat 'n' Chew Cafe', what would you be?

Camy: I would be a bright pink frosting cupcake because:
I like pink
My writing is light and fluffy like frosting
I'm a little cupcake versus a weighty layer cake (I know, that probably makes NO sense, but too bad. LOL)

CLM: And you look absolutely fabulous in pink! But while you have tackled tough topics in your books, you also do it with a kick of fun, so I understand what you are saying.

CLM: In your Kid interview on my site you confess your love of anime as a child (my boys loved anime, too!) What's your favorite anime character of all time:

Camy: Bubblegum Crisis! It's an old anime show. I actually don't watch much anime these days because they tend to be a bit violent and dark for my taste.

CLM: I just love you, Camy. I admire your insight into Christian fiction and your loving, giving spirit with what you know. Thanks so much for being here!

Camy: Thanks for having me here, Crystal!

CLM: If you haven't read Camy's first book, do get that one, too.


Sushi for One?

Only Uni

Romance with a kick of wasabi

Visit her website at here and see what else you can learn about her as she goes around various blogs telling a little something at each one.

NOW, if you leave a comment here, you are entered into the drawing for Camy's book, Only Uni,where I will draw a name on Wednesday, March 19th. Please leave your contact info with the comment.

!!!!!!!!!!!!FEDORA WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Camy's next book:

Stuck in the Middle with Ginny Smith

Reading a book by Virginia Smith is always a fun and humorous experience, but you also are a part of her deep family relationships and friendships that translate so well in her books. Her books are real life, but it's also that uplifting feeling when something is deeper than just a laugh--it's a hope. If you don't have that hope and uplifted feeling conveyed in Ginny's books, then take a look at Ginny's outlook on life in the interview below, and be sure to get her latest book. Then, maybe you will want to plug into her main source for that hope: Jesus.

Virginia "Ginny" Smith new book above, Stuck in the Middle, just released in February and in celebration of it, she is having a huge $500. shopping spree. You will want to click on that link, but first let's find out a little more about the real girl in the proverbial middle:

CLM: What are three things you can't live without:

Ginny: What an interesting question! You stumped me for a minute, Crystal. But then I happened to glance sideways, and saw my half-packed suitcase. I travel a lot, and there are some things I absolutely must bring along no matter where I go: my laptop, my cell phone, and a stack of books in different genres (so I can choose one depending on my mood.)
Of course, the serious answer is: there is only one thing I can’t live without, and that’s my relationship with my heavenly Father.

CLM: How do you celebrate finishing a book (that you've written!)
Ginny: I dance around the house singing the Hallelujah Chorus for a minute. Then I skip out to the garage and sing, “I have achieved The End!” My husband tears himself away from whatever automotive project he’s working on at the moment to give me the appropriate response: “That’s great. Congratulations.” Then I float back into the house and send an e-mail to my critique group, my daughter, my sisters, and my mother. Most times, I’ll insist on dinner out if it happens during the week. (We never fight the restaurant crowds on the weekends!)

CLM: Finish this sentence: My life would be simpler if....
Ginny: … I could learn how to say ‘no’ every now and then. You know what they say – admitting you have a problem is the first step. Okay, so I admit it. I’m a People Pleaser. I agree to do everything anyone asks of me because I want them to think well of me. But I’ve started realizing that I cause myself a lot of stress by agreeing to take on every project I’m asked to get involved in. I’m resolved to do better and Just Say No.

CLM:What's your motto?

Ginny: My motto? Uh… I don’t have one! (Do I need one? Is it a severe character flaw not to have one? Oh, no!! I’ve got to get a motto!)
Okay, give me a minute. I need a phrase that encapsulates me in a few words – my passion, my desires, my outlook on life. The quintessential Ginny, expressed in a few words. (Crystal, don’t you know I’m a novelist?!?! I can’t say anything in under 60,000 words!)
Oooh, I have one! It’s a good one, too. My mom gave me a bumper sticker years ago that I hung on the wall right above my computer monitor in my office. I took a lot of comfort from it through all the years of collecting rejection letters when I was trying to break into publication. And I think it applies to everything we try to do, as long as we’re striving for God’s will in our lives. It said:
It will happen – you only have to believe!
I like that motto. I think I’ll keep it.

CLM: I like that,too. And you are a writer who writes her way out of a question--Ha!

CLM: Finish this sentence: I still can't quite get the hang of....
Ginny: Relaxing. I tend to work all the time. It’s even worse now that I work at home, because I never leave the office. Even at night while my husband watches television, I’ll have my laptop on and be checking e-mail or working on a retreat talk or doing a critique for another writer. Even when I read for pleasure, I have a hard time turning off that internal editor and just enjoying the story. This isn’t new – I’ve always been something of a workaholic. But lately I sense God urging me to learn how to relax and just enjoy the life He has given me. I’m working on it.

CLM: Who are your major influences?
Ginny: My husband is a big influence on me. I have so much respect for his work ethic and his attention to detail. Well, obviously I respect a lot of things about him, but when it comes to writing and all the peripheral tasks that go along with launching a book, I hope I can approach those tasks like he approaches everything he does.
My mother is another big influence on me. Mom is one of those people who exudes God’s love to everyone she meets. She is so accepting and generous, and she’s always got a few ‘strays’ she’s shepherding. She treats everyone with the utmost respect. She truly sees every person as a child who God loves enough to send His Son to die for, and that’s how she makes them feel. Valued and special and loved.

CLM:Joan, in Stuck in the Middle has a job in a furniture rental store. I know you answered this before in your When I Was Just a Kid interview, but could you tell us what was your first job?
Ginny: I worked in my father’s store. He owned one of those awesome small-town landmark drugstores, where he knew everyone who walked through the door and took the time to talk to them while he filled their prescriptions (he was a pharmacist). When I was a young teenager he hired me to do a store-wide inventory. That was back before computers and every item on the shelves had to be counted by hand. Then he taught me to run the cash register, and when I turned 16 he let me become the delivery girl. I delivered prescriptions and other items all over Frankfort, Kentucky.

CLM: People are always curious about our creative process. Can you tell us, when the well runs dry, how do you fill it back up again?

Ginny: I pray. I know that God is the Source of all the awesome story ideas in the world, and I believe He carefully selects the perfect writer to tell each one. So if I’m coming up short on ideas, I ask what He has in mind for me to do next. He always comes through. Then as I’m writing it, if I hit a dry spell where I can’t figure out what happens next, I ask for His help. I figure He knows the story better than I do. My job is to hear from Him. The Bible says His sheep will listen for His voice, and that’s what I try to do.

CLM: Ok, then, how did you come up with the idea of Stuck in the Middle?

Ginny: The initial idea came during a family gathering at my mom’s house. My sisters and I are very close, but they have so much in common with each other that I sometimes feel left out. They have children the same age, while I had mine ten years before. They’re both very much into dramatic arts – they’re actresses, directors, and choreographers – while I have never been in a play. They’re both really bubbly and outgoing and energetic. I’m by far the quietest person in my family (which some find hard to believe!) So during this gathering, my sisters were holding court in their usual energetic, boisterous way, and I found myself sinking quietly into the background, just watching. I know they love me as deeply as I love them, every bit as much as they love each other. It’s just a difference in our personalities, but at times I feel a little left out.
So I decided to translate those feelings into a story. But I wanted to reflect all my feelings about my sisters – the deep love we have for each other, the sense of belonging, the certainty of acceptance no matter what. All those things come from sharing a lifetime of struggles and joys and tears and laughter. My relationship with my sisters is one of the most precious blessings God has given me. They’ve been with me through. . . well, everything! I wanted to write a book that reflects how important sisters can be to each other.

Beth on left and Susie on right with Ginny Stuck in the Middle

Joan's life is stuck -- what she needs is a little help from God, her big sister, and an enormous mutt with bad manners.

"...readers won't be disappointed. The sisters are spirited and fun..." -- Publisher's Weekly
A FOUR STAR review: "This is a great start to a new series." --- Romantic Times!

Read an excerpt here.

You can purchase copies of Virginia Smith's books, signed personally for you, at this site:

Signed by the Author.com

Author Virginia "Ginny" Smith

Click Here to find out how you can win a $500 shopping spree on March 31, 2008!

Skunky

The Covered Bridge upstream from us on the Mississinewa


I live in the rural area of my county with 7 acres of woods and a creek running through it to the mighty Mississinewa River. It's been a cruel, long winter with snow that sometimes kept us from venturing on the roads. Saturday night my college kid slid off the road and took a mud bath, despite the ice and snow he had slid on. God continues to keep that kid safe--no injuries this time (this is our kid who totaled our Jeep when he was hit, and who has a penchant for hunting deer with his front bumper.) We will have to check the wheel alignment, but except for the mud splattered from spinning wheels, it--and Bryce--are ok.

This snow and ice and cold has been getting me down. I am soooo ready for spring. Today we actually have sunshine and the snow is melting a little. But last night really ushered in spring time delights--I smelled skunk. I have a little dog whom I have to take out for walks several times a day. Most of the time when I take Lizzie out late at night, I'm not super concerned about what lurks out there. We have coyotes, raccoons, wild cats, deer and any number of more harmless creatures creeping around in the dark. The raccoon are the worst, usually, as they get into the trash, chew holes in our covered trash containers, sneak into the garage, and would kill Lizzie if she actually got ahold of one. (Lizzie's leashed, for her own protection, not anyone else's!)

But in the spring, the skunks get amorous, and they are spraying territory. Yeeeeck. Not nice. My biggest fear is to come around some corner and catch a skunk by surprise.

My niece's Weimaraners got into trouble this way. She used everything to get that skunk smell off--including gallons of tomato juice. For weeks whenever they would sweat, you could still smell skunk.

So, the smell of spring is here. Next, the skunk cabbage down in the ravine next to my house will be up, and that is when I know it's really here.(And it's far enough away--30 feet down--that I enjoy the green, but not the smell.)

But today I'm encouraged--and cautious. We have almost survived another winter back here in the wilderness where electricity is sporadic and the roads unnavigable at times.

(Oh, and I am having clock-lag with this change of time. We Hoosiers are still complaining about being put on that Daylight Savings Time. What a bummer. The cows are with me.)

The Captive Princess Contest!

NO FOOLING!

Wendy Lawton, Artist and Author, Celebrates Release of Her Seventh Novel With Fabulous April Fools Day Contest !


(THE WOODLANDS, TX) What do porcelain, Pocahontas, and prizes have in common? Wendy Lawton, author, sculptor and literary agent is on a mission to find the next Daughter of the Faith for her highly successful middle grade series. In celebration of the release of The Captive Princess: A Story Based on the Life of Young Pocahontas, her seventh novel in the series, Lawton is offering a plethora of prizes for contestants who are chosen from among those who post suggestions on Crystal Miller's When I Was Just a Kid blog. (To be eligible, you only need to follow directions for posting a comment here.)

One lucky winner will receive all seven Daughters of the Faith novels ($49 value), while another will get all four books in the Real TV series ($44 value).

The grand prize--an autographed Courage to Run doll and book, (value $695.00) will be awarded if more than twenty people comment before April 1, 2008, with suggested Daughters of the Faith characters.

Keep in mind that each character in this series is a real girl from the pages of history who took a stand for her faith (usually at great cost) while she was still a girl. Nominees should not be someone who grew up to do great things or who married a great man, bur rather a girl like Pocahontas, the Captive Princess, who stepped out in faith.



The Captive Princess: A Story Based on the Life of Young Pocahontas
Is there an American student who doesn't know some version of the story of Pocahontas-- whether the fabricated Disney version or the equally fictitious but oft-told love story between Pocahontas and John Smith? Wendy Lawton digs into the history and tells it entirely through the eyes of the young Pocahontas. And though the romantic accounts are the stuff of legend and lore, Pocahontas' faith story remains one of the most beautiful love stories in history.


What others are saying:

"Pocahontas has long been a favorite character of mine, and Wendy Lawton brings her to glorious life in The Captive Princess. Through Lawton's excellent research and vivid writing, walked out of the dense forest and into my heart. This book is a treasure!"
Angela Hunt, author of Uncharted

"I jumped at the chance to read Wendy Lawton's latest book, The Captive Princess, because of her previous stories. Again, she wove her literary magic. Always true to historical facts and able to infuse spiritual truths naturally, Wendy Lawton is a master storyteller."
Donita K. Paul author of popular Christian fantasy including The DragonKeeper Chronicles

____________________



WENDY LAWTON feels equally comfortable on a computer, at a writer's conference or with a cool lump of clay in her hand. She's been an artist, a writer and now, a literary agent with the respected literary agency, Books & Such.

No stranger to the literary market, Lawton has written seven books in her middle grade Daughters of the Faith series. These books were followed by a series of teen books The Real TV series and her nonfiction book, Impressions in Clay (Moody).

______________________

Wendy Lawton is available for interview or blog appearance.

GRAND PRIZE OFFERED ONLY

if there are at least 20 comments, and a drawing from the comments will be held on April 1st for this doll:

Harriet Tubman, one of Wendy's dolls she created for this series of books she wrote.

Courage to Run Doll

11" tall, all porcelain

Valued at $695.00

The portrait doll of Harriet Tubman grew out of the character from Wendy's first book, Courage to Run.

"As I researched her life for this book, I fell in love with Harriet Tubman," Wendy says. "Her faith framed everything she achieved. By the time I finished writing the book, I couldn't wait to take clay and sculpt a portrait of Harriet as a child."

The historical Harriet Tubman epitomizes heroism for her life work in the Underground Railroad, but Courage to Run is the story of her girlhood when faith was born and courage discovered. The 11" porcelain doll wears a homespun, patched dress, tattered straw hat and much-worn leather work boots. Just as in the story, she carries her treasure, the quilt made for the homesick girl by her mother.

The doll was made in the Lawton workshops in California and was limited to an edition of 350.

CONTEST RUNS FROM MARCH 7 to APRIL 1st

Come on over and post a comment with your email contact and a suggestion for the next Daughters of Faith true life character.

What Author/Poet Are You?

The lovely and quick-witted Georgiana over at her blog had this cool quiz and of course, I had to do it! (Never leave school...) Geogiana was Shakespeare (so cool!) but I was mostly the masculine Ernest Hemingway (75%.) Go figure. My favorite work he wrote was The Old Man and the Sea. I mostly liked his furniture and the island setting where he wrote. Well, this quiz didn't have any female authors/poets, so it was one-sided. Check out my stats and see who you are. Then, come back and tell me your leanings.






Which famous author/poet are you?
You scored as a Ernest Hemingway

You are most like Ernest Hemingway, one of the 20th century’s greatest writers. Hemingway was a soldier and sportsman, who fought in many foreign wars and hunted big game in Africa. He’s famous for writing about very manly men, who always got the girl and always saved the day. He killed himself in 1961. His most loved works include Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Sun Also Rises.
My Test Score Percentages:

Ernest Hemingway
75%
Walt Whitman
67%
William Shakespeare
63%
James Joyce
58%
Edgar Allen Poe
17%

Stories of Girls

Mickinock and His Daughters

My Great-grandfather, Bernt Thompson, knew this guy and his family and tribe. Mickinock used to come by Bernt's house and borrow his shotgun and coonskin coat to hunt for food for his starving people. Whatever he killed, he would bring an offering back to Bernt and his family and return the shotgun and coat. My Great-grandmother, Ane Thompson, would go with Bernt to bring the children buckets of milk and loaves of cheese and bread. It was a friendship and mutual neighbor society between the Thompsons and Mickinock (who was head of his tribe,) despite some of the local community's animosity and prejudice toward the reservation and their people.


Once, Mickinock came into the Thompson's house(he never knocked, just walked in,) saw the new baby sleeping Anna (my grandmother) on the bed, snatched her up and stole her away. Hours later he returned her to her mother, snug as she had been when sleeping on the bed. It seems he wanted to show off Bernt's blonde-headed offspring to his people and family--the daughter of his friend. She was very blonde--the blondest of all Bernt's children and that seemed to fascinate the Good Medicine Man. Years later, Bernt's great-granddaughter,Sally, met up with Mickinock's great-granddaughter a long way away from the Minnesota territory where their great-grandparents had coexisted. They were good friends, too.

Bernt and Ane Thompson with their family, including my grandmother, Anna, the tiny blonde girl on the front row between them. She's the one "borrowed" for an afternoon by Mickinock.



More stories....

Wendy Lawton tells stories. Sometimes she uses words. Sometimes she has used porcelain. Starting tomorrow I will run a story about her childhood on my When I Was Just a Kid blog. It's a good story about her, but she also has piles of stories that have been published and some that have been handcrafted into porcelain dolls. And here's the kicker--she wants to share them with 3 people in a unique drawing. I'm not fooling!

The "I'm Not Fooling" Contest
The contest drawing entries can be posted in the comments section and will run from March 7 to April 1st, 2008. You have this window to post a comment on Wendy Lawton's story on When I Was Just a Kid.

On April 1st at midnight I will draw three winners from the comments made on her interview. If you want to be in on the drawing to have a chance to win here's what you must do:

1. Come up with a suggestion to Wendy for her to use in her next Daughters of Faith book. It must be a girl who made a difference in faith and life as a CHILD, on whom Wendy can find plenty of historical evidence and story in order to write a full length book. She may not use it, but she will follow up all pertinent suggestions. She can be a part of official history (like Harriet Tubman) or if her story can be substantiated historically, it can be a girl who is not listed in history books.

2. Leave an email address on the comment for me to contact you.

3. If 20 posts/comments are made, all entries will be eligible to win Wendy Lawton's beautiful interpretation doll of Harriet Tubman, who was the main character in her book, Courage to Run. This doll is valued at $695. and was a limited edition collector's item.

So, see? Not so hard to do. And you will want to get all of your friends to post, because the doll will not be offered without 20 eligible comments.

First place winner will receive her entire collection of autographed Daughters of Faith books published by Moody Publishers. This includes the brand new Pocohantas.

Second place winner will receive her autographed teen book series.

Bonus will be the Daughters of Faith limited edition autographed Courage to Run doll, Harriet Tubman.

Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the books, the doll and Wendy, the author/creator/artist.

You won't want to miss this.

Aphorisms

A friend sent these aphorisms to me. See if you can't find some truth in them. I identify with number 19 today.

APHORISM: A SHORT, POINTED SENTENCE EXPRESSING A WISE OR CLEVER OBSERVATION OR A GENERAL TRUTH; ADAGE

1.The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.

2. Money will buy a fine dog but only kindness will make him wag his tail.

3. If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all.

4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.

5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.

6. How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of
the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?

7. Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.

8. Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone
else looks?

9. Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job.

10. No one has more driving ambition than the boy who wants to buy a car.

11. There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.

12. There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 AM. Like this: It could be a right number.

13. No one ever says "It's only a game" when their team is winning.

14. I've reached the age where the happy hour is a nap.

15. Be careful reading the fine print. There's no way you're going to like it.

16. The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.

17. Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos? (And rap music will be the Golden Oldies!)

18. Money can't buy happiness - but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than in a Yugo.

19. After 50 if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead.

Four Things

I love talking to people and hearing their stories. On my other blog, I delve into a person's past, and then, connect it with the person they have become. So whenever someone has one of these blog posts where you respond to questions, it's always fun to read them and also to answer the questions myself.

Check out my four things that Camy Tang also had on her blog (you can see hers on the link.) Then either post your own blog (leaving your link in the comments) or give me four things about you, answering one of these in the comment section below. It's always fun to see where we've been, what we favor, and who we are.



Things you may not have known about me:

A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Basketball coach and track coach
2. Dessert Girl at Ball State University cafeteria
3. First, Sixth Grade and Physical Education Teacher
4. Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the President of Ball State University

B) Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. In Her Shoes
2. Armageddon
3. You've Got Mail
4. Roman Holiday

C) Four places I have lived in my life:
1. Richmond, Indiana
2. Wayne County, Tennessee
3. Arcadia, Indiana
4. Noblesville,Indiana

D) Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Scrubs
2. Designed to Sell
3. 48 Hours
4. How Do I Look?

E) Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Michigan, golfing & hiking & eating
2. Seattle, Washington
3. Memphis, Tennessee
4. New Orleans, Louisiana

F) Web sites I visit almost every day:
1. When I Was Just a KidBlog
2. Amazon
3. Edit Cafe
4. Harlequin Writing

G) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Stuffed Filet at Rathskeller Restaurant in Indy(with a side of their red cabbage and their pretzel)
2. Italian salads (like at Olive Garden)
3. Cornbread and white beans with fresh garden tomatoes
4. Pizza, especially thin crust

H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Heaven
2. Aunt Linda's house visiting with her
3. Somewhere warm, balmy, quiet and outside where I'm reading
4. In my bed, reading!

Anyone want to join in? Leave your answers in the comments or a link to your blog!

Solomon's Beloved

Vonda Skelton is an author, playwright, lyricist, and entertaining speaker with a heart for women and their families. Her newest book, Seeing through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe, was released in January 2008 by Regal Books. Taken from the pages of real life, this book uses everyday humor to deliver a serious message about the lies women believe.

Her humor is part of her trademark in both writing and her speaking. Every-so-often you run across something funny on You Tube and Vonda has splashed onto the You Tube scene with her interpretation of Solomon's Perfect Babe (the book of Solomon in the Bible.) Let's just say that Solomon used rather flowery metaphors and Vonda took some things quite literally.

Enjoy!






Be sure to check out Vonda's blog and Chapter One of her new book above. Also, look for her to be featured on When I Was Just a Kid one day soon!

Leaping into the Celebration

I have to post today. I won't get another chance to post on this date for four more years. Yes, it's Leap Day, and this is Leap Year. Happy Birthday to Dennis Bolin, whom I think would be about 13 now. (Something like that, as I think he was born the year before me?) Anyway, I met Dennis in the 2-room Christian school I attended from first to fifth grade. He was in the grade ahead of me but from Day 1, he declared I was his girlfriend. He was outgoing and was from a family of six boys (I think that's right) and one Finally a Girl. All of the Bolin kids had "D" names. He broke his arm once and wore a cast for awhile, which I thought was cool. Also, when our class went anywhere, we had to have a partner--Dennis always grabbed my hand and we tore for the front of the line! (We were always up front.) He was my best friend, outside of Debbie Foss and my cousin Mary Beth.

So the smiling little girl in first grade above, who lived at 1004 West 11th Street, was mightily impressed by a Leap Year Baby. Even though I haven't seen him in 40 years, I still remember. I have no idea what happened to him and all those brothers and his sister.

By the way, tradition has it that if you are a woman, this is the day you can ask a man to marry you. If you're not married, you still have a few hours. If you are already married, you can ask your husband to take you out to dinner with no penalty of whining.

Because it's Leap Day and I can do whatever I want, I'm leaving you with some President Ronald Reagan quotes. (He had a great sense of humor and wise insight):

"Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose.

- Ronald Reagan


"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

- Ronald Reagan


"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong." - Ronald Reagan



"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress." - Ronald Reagan




"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination." - Ronald Reagan


"Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other." - Ronald Reagan



"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program." - Ronald Reagan




"I've laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even if it's in the middle of a Cabinet meeting." - Ronald Reagan




"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first." - Ronald Reagan



"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." - Ronald Reagan




"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book." - Ronald Reagan




"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. - Ronald Reagan




If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan



Check back with me in four years....

Do You Know Who This Is?

This little girl (on the right) loved books and dolls when she was just a kid. (The other girl is her sister.) She grew up and...she still loves books and dolls. In fact she has built her life and careers out of both.

At the end of next week, her story is going up on my blog, When I Was Just a Kid and here's the story--she is offering some wonderful things to those who leave a specific type of comment.

First prize will be a complete set of her middle grade novels(ages 8-12) of real girls who made a difference. Second prize will be a complete set of her teen novels.

AND one more thing--she will offer one more prize if we receive 20 comments meeting the criteria she specifies for the comments. All comments will be placed in a drawing and one winner will receive a prize that will make you the envy of all.

Be thinking right now of a Christian girl who either made a difference as a child, or who grew up to make a difference as an adult in faith and life. As the time draws near, I'll give more details. Be sure to get everyone you know to come and leave a comment.

Stay tuned! You won't want to miss this special feature.

Happy Birthday, Max

 

 

My youngest of the four sons is having a birthday today. He went off to school feeling quite ill this a.m. His psychology teacher challenged them to fast for 24 hours (for extra credit points) and journal about it. He was quite grouchy this morning and having physical illness. And that is just for a 24-hour period. He's 6-foot tall and barely weighs 120 pounds, and he's growing. He took a lunch to break his fast at 1:30 this afternoon.

When he was born, his Grandfather Miller had died on the 19th. We were preparing for a funeral when Max fought his way into the world. We had sat around the kitchen table on the 20th, while Mr. Hunt, the funeral director laid out choices and everyone, including my three oldest boys, stated their memories and what they wanted to see in the ceremony. It was a hard day. I wasn't feeling well, but my body was in grief mode, so that was to be expected. Then, the next day around noon, Max Christian was born.

My oldest son made a banner for his Grandmother's house announcing his name and the details. It was bittersweet. At the funeral home, no one liked Max's name so someone got the bright idea to pass around a paper to give us suggestions. That paper was lost in the hospital (I wish I still had it.) I just remember a sentimental cousin suggesting the name Eugene (my husband's father's name) and Uncle John suggesting "John." John's sister, my mother-in-law, threatened me saying I couldn't name any of my boys John because he would be mean. (LOL) But their suggestions fell on deaf ears, and while my husband was busy at home with details, I had already filled out the birth certificate with our choice that was made months before.

Max had a bit of a rough start and we weren't sure if he would make it, but he is a fighter and has been tough ever since. I don't even know how to describe the intense feelings of love I have about my sons, and Max is no exception to that.Despite my own medical problems right then, and the grieving, there is something about a baby that still will bring a smile to my face.

 

 

 

But today, once again, our family is in grief mode. Max has a fascination with the Grandfather he never got to meet, and who had such a profound influence on the rest of us. I don't want him to always associate his birthday with funerals and talking about death, but it is a part of life. We try to be honest and one of our family things is to sit around the table and talk about even the rawest details. There are no euphemisms, or punches pulled. We have a pragmatic and humorous look at life with hope in the next life laced in.

Tonight we will celebrate Max with lots of food(at least this is what Max is looking forward to) and talk and laughter (as long as the fasting didn't do Max in today. He has been violently ill on his birthday!  That wasn't nice.) All of these things have a way of becoming part of the fabric and legends of our family, and the stories we tell.

 

But his birthday is embroidered with death. On the day that my father-in-law died (from heart disease all those years before) my Uncle Alton Lee(my Dad's brother) died. We are greatly sad today about this.  I have both sad and funny stories about him and those stories have already been discussed.  I suppose more will surface in the days to come. I feel the worst for my Grandmother who has now survived over all of her siblings, two husbands, and now two sons. My Dad was her oldest son who died some years before,  and Alton Lee was her youngest son. He was only 15 years older than me, and like an older brother to me. We will miss him and are sorry he felt such a burden in his life.

 

Happier Days with the Warrens:

front row,l to r: Linda, Gayla Paulette, Sue

Second row l to r: Alton Lee(deceased,) Wilburn (my dad,deceased)Lillian (my mom,deceased,) Pauline (my grandmother, 93,) Roy Lee (my Granddaddy, deceased,) Rob (married to my Aunt Nell, deceased,) Nell

 

God bless Max, and God be with our family in the days to come.

So What Are You Reading?

First, those of you who finally guessed Barbara Bush on the photo in the previous blog post are correct. Wasn't she a babe? She still is a stately woman, tall and regal, and one whom I admire.

Today I'm asking you to participate in a reading exercise. Whatever is by your computer (or that you are reading right now) is what I am interested in. I am going to tag a few people who also write blogs, but if you have a blog and want to play, you are welcome to steal it. And if you don't have a blog or don't have a blog where you play memes, play in the comments. I told you I love to know what people are reading!

LeAnne Martin of the Christians in the Arts blog tagged me with this book meme. If you haven't checked LeAnne's two blogs and her web site out, you must. Simply beautiful and inspiring.

The Rules:

Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

LeAnne was reading It was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God (Square Halo Books).

She says,"It’s a collection of essays edited by Ned Bustard, who I featured in December. Page 123 falls in the middle of a piece titled “Why We Need Artists” by Tim Keller, founding pastor of Manhattan’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church, known for its arts program."

Crystal again: I usually keep several books going at once. The first book I have here is a historical romance just released this month called The Rogue's Redemption by Ruth Axtell Morren (Steeple Hill.) Ruth lives in the Netherlands with her husband and three children and she has won many awards for her writing. She is nearly as interesting as the historical romances she pens.
Steeple Hill Books
mass market, Feb.2008
ISBN-10: 037378600X
READ AN EXCERPT here.



He was tall and dark with eyes as blue as cobalt.
In a London ballroom Miss Hester Leighton saw a man who interested her more than anyone she'd met since coming to town. A woman of deep faith, Hester knew she should not keep company wiht Major Gerrit Hawkes, a jaded, penniless soldier haunted by nightmares of war. But their connection would not be denied.
Hester was the ony woman who'd ever made Gerrit feel truly worthy of love, and he would not lose her. Separated from her by her father--and an ocean--Gerrit must decide whether he will risk his life and his soul to earn a home in Hester's arms forever.




On page 123 I'm part way into Chapter 7. The fifth line and next 3 lines:

She stood with her back toward him, a bow poised in her hands, her head tilted to one side as she took aim. Beside her stood a bevy of young men, all intent on the target ahead.

The arrow flew straight and true and landed just at the edge of the bull's eye circle.


"Bravo, Miss Leighton! Well done!" the gentlemen congratulated her.


The second book I'm reading through (that is right by my computer) is a writing craft book published by W.W. Norton called The Making of a Story by Alice LaPlante. It's a guide to creative writing. In the section on page 123 she is discussing metaphors and the use and abuse of symbols.

It must be part of the story (or poem) yet mean more than the story (or poem.) It can be a shared symbol, something common to our culture, language, religion, nationality; or it can be created within the work of fiction or poetry.

It's no accident that a figure of speech is, "X has become a symbol," or "Y is becoming a symbol."



Back cover copy for The Barefoot Believers:

Three sisters. One Secret.
Once there were three Cromwell girls. But their father abducted the baby...and neither was seen again. The has haunted sisters Kate and Jo ever since, though they can't bear to talk about it.
And then life's ups and downs send the Cromwell women back to tiny Santa Sofia, Florida. To the cottage containing their worst--and best--memories. Where Kate will reconnect with the magnetic single father she'd run from years ago.
Where Jo will fall for the handsome minister of the Traveler's Wayside Chapel.
And where the cottage caretaker, a familiar young woman named Moxie Weatherby, will get the surprise of her life.

I figure I'm the boss of this blog and if I want to put a third book, I can.

In The Barefoot Believers by Annie Jones (Steeple Hill,) on page 123, the fifth line and next three sentences are,

"In Santa Sofia. In the house across the street. This is where we need help, Jo."

"But this place is only temporary...I mean, for us."

"Everything but this place has been temporary for us, Jo."

Now comes the part where I tag five bloggers. Here are people who might play along. Be sure to check the links.



1. Nancy J. Ring at Anchors, Signposts and Wanderings. Nancy is a Chicago gal who posts on Forks, bends, detours, scenery, and fellow travelers I've discovered while Exploring the Path Home. She currently is working on her 101 Goals!! Wow. I'm impressed.



2. Delia at Gatorskunkz and Mudcats. Delia is a Christian, a wife, a mother, a wannabe writer, an avid reader, and finder of all things lost, and writer of one of my favorite blogs.



3. Cara Putnam at Books, the Law and Life.

Cara is a wife, an attorney, law professor, mom to three (one still in utero until about May,) and author. Her first book, Canteen Dreams, released in October 2007 from Barbour's Heartsong Presents line followed by Sandhill Dreams in May 2008 and Captive Dreams in September 2008. Love Inspired Suspense will publish her first romantic suspense Deadly Exposure in May 2008. Be sure to check out Cara's Musings and web site.



4. Sabrina Fox at Hijinks from the Heartland.

Sabrina is a wife and mother who also works outside the home. She does freelance journalism and is a first reader for a major New York publisher. She's finished one book, Prescription for Murder, and started a second book, Rock Bottom, which is a sarcastic, deep-lit type of story that is a 2007 ACFW Genesis Chick-Lit finalist.



5. Camy Tang at Camy's Loft.
Camy is the self-proclaimed loud Asian chick who has written some of my favorite books (I have the first two.) Her blog is something I'm addicted to as she posts photos of her hunky Captain Caffeine, her dog Snickers, the food they prepare, and her knitting.(Maybe I need to get a life? Well, she is just interesting!) Oh, and she has a lot to say about writing, how to write and books.
The Sushi Series
Sushi for One?, September 2007
Read an excerpt of book 1
Only Uni, February 2008
Read an excerpt of book 2
Single Sashimi, August 2008
The Sushi Series



So, what are you reading?

Who Is This?

Who is my Mystery Reader of the Day?





You may have noticed that I love digging up old photos--my own, yours, and whoever else's I can find. Can you tell me who this is? She is reading, which makes her one of my tribe, but she is very famous. She is famous not so much for what she has done in the world of her own, but for the people she has influenced in many, many ways. She has been an intimate part of the lives of some of the most powerful men in history, and that makes her powerful.(Go ahead; edit that sentence. LOL. I know, I know, too many prepositional phrases....) A reading woman is a woman of great influence in the world.

While you mull on that, it's time to tell the whole story about President Ronald Reagan and how he influenced one author's career. Maybe we would've heard about that author eventually, but I do believe that there are no coincidences. I believe there is a plan in every person's life and it unfolds as we are obedient to our calling. Who knows how being faithful to your dreams will influence others?

You have to go back to the February 7th post and then read Carrie's guess. Carrie is a super smart woman and a reader (like the woman above) so while she may not have heard this story, she put together my sparse clues and is very sharp! The author that President Reagan skyrocketed into fame was Tom Clancy and the book was The Hunt for Red October. The actor who played Jack Ryan was Alec Baldwin. Sean Connery played Captain Marko Ramius of the Russian sub. I feel as if I should send Wild Blue Yonder Girl a prize, but knowing her, she has enough to read.

I have a meme that I am going to post soon about what you are reading, so be sure to put a really good book that you are reading close to your computer. I will tag some of my blogger friends, but I also want those of you who don't blog to post yours on this blog, either on the comments or you can send them to me. Stay tuned!

Post your guesses below on my Mystery Reader of the Day!

So You Wanna Be Published?

Mary DeMuth knows what it is like to be rejected. She also has a lot of experience with being published. She has a new blog up to help writers find their way through the publisher jungle and today she put my tips up on it. It's about attending a conference, particularly the part where you sit at the conference tables at meal times with agents and editors.

If you are needing guidance for getting published, this is a blog I highly recommend. Be sure to check out her web site and also her other blog Relevant Blog. Also, if you are interested in her life when she was a child and her books, do check out my interview with Mary When I Was Just a Kid. Mary is generous with her knowledge and spot on about this business. Don't miss her blog.

Another Quiz/Yesterday's Photo

This quiz is to determine your "color" or your personality. What color are you?

You Are A Green Girl

You feel most at home in a world of ideas. You're curious and logical - and enjoy a good intellectual challenge. You're super cool, calm, and collected. Very little tries your patience. Your only fear? People not realizing how smart and able you are!

What Color Girl Are You?

(Just call me Green Hornet Girl. )

So, do you know who this is?

Did you guess Robert DeNiro? I have no idea what he is reading. I would like to know what kinds of material someone like him reads, wouldn't you?

I like even my friends sharing with me what they read. One friend sent me a copy yesterday of The Shack by William P. Young and I'm looking forward to reading this grassroots, much-talked-about book. It interests me that he self-published it and that Eugene Peterson endorses it on the cover. Wynona Judd endorses it on the back cover, along with Michael W. Smith. Have any of you read it?

Sometimes a friend has absolutely loved a book--and I can barely turn the pages. They weigh ten tons! Sometimes you have to "get into" the book before you fall for it. That has happened to me before. Those are the ones I wished that I could have worked on it before it was published.

Now, have you heard this story?

When President Reagan was convalescing in the hospital after being shot, he came to the balcony to talk to reporters to let the nation know he was doing ok and for a daily report.

One day, he put his thumb in his book he was reading, and walked out to the waiting crowd. Of course, these writerly types are wondering, "What are you reading, Mr. President?" He went into a winning description and how much he liked it.

Do you know what he was reading?

I'll give you hints:

1. It was first published by a small military press and less than 5000 copies were made.

2. The next day there was a huge rush on the book, and the small press sold the book to a huge publisher--because they could not possibly keep up with the sudden orders. (They had completely sold out.)

3. It was made into a movie.

Now, question 2, who played the main character of that book in the movie?

Stay tuned....

Name That Reader

I have this natural nibbiness that has sometimes gotten me into trouble, but has always been interesting. I like peeks into people's real lives, their interests, what they eat for breakfast. I suppose that is why I love doing the When I Was Just a Kid blog interviews. I like knowing what you behind the curtain, what your dog looks like, what you read, what dreams you had growing up.

This photo is of someone famous. Can you make out what he is reading? Do you know who he is?

This got me to thinking about what I write and what I'm doing. I would love to nib into your lives. I loved seeing your results to your brain color quiz. These kinds of things are constantly pecking at my brain when I meet someone. This is why I should've kept my journalism scholarship and finished that out, instead of bending to pressure to get my elementary education degree and then teach. (Woulda, coulda, shouldas.)

It's almost that time of year when they show the movie, The Wizard of Oz. I didn't realize how much I use that movie to evaluate all sorts of things. I recently got a pin that has the ruby slippers with a wand, and it's so true of me--I think there is no place like home, but only after being swept away from the home I loved. Maybe someday I'll discover that all I have to do is tap my heels together and close my eyes and I'm there.

But of all the characters in the Wizard of Oz, which one describes you the most?

I'll tell you mine--I'm Toto! I go and look behind the curtain and see that the Great Wizard is just a nice old man, who is brilliant and a bit absentminded. I am terrified of the Wicked Witch next door (oops, yes, I am) and of her flying monkeys. (I used to close my eyes on that part.) I am loyal to Dorothy, but am feisty and brave if I need to be. I am loved and protected.

Tell me if you know the reader pictured above. And then tell me which Wizard of Oz character you most resemble.

Color Your World with Brain Waves

I've had color on the brain. I've thought about colors best for me to wear and colors to use in my house. When it is winter and day after day is gray, I flood my eyes with magazines, and anything bursting in color. Well, did you know you have a brain color? Me, neither. This was kind of fun.

Your Brain is Purple

Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Maybe you don't know me, but this is sooo me. My whole life I have been pretending in my mind about being a variety of people, in all kinds of roles. From the time I was in first grade, I was cast in plays and acted. I flirted with the idea of being an actor! I was even voted best actress of my high school class. Did I mention I'm from the same hometown as James Dean?

I was a total failure in my goals this month for my own writing. My accountability partner, Judy, checked up on me, though I've been so busy, I haven't even checked in on her! She is truly the best. I had so many things happen this month, that I wanted to run away a couple times. Life is like that sometimes and the only escape is to dream. Yesterday I was quite down on myself, and my usual optimistic outlook was buried under layers of dullness and dark and gray.

The Groundhog saw his shadow--six more weeks of winter! So, with that on my plate, I decided to start thinking colorfully, and get going on writing that fiction again. This time I'm dreaming I'm the characters--and maybe I'll just get it done.

Come back and let me know what color your brain was, ok?

Snow Day

This snow bank by our driveway back at our other house (a few years ago) measured over five feet. Our house was about a quarter mile off the road and we parked our truck at the end of the driveway so we could get out. My husband's cousin came over with a backhoe to dig out our drive. It was unbelievable. And no, we don't live in Minnesota, North Dakota or Alaska--just Indiana.

Today we have a snow day from school (I still have one kid left in high school) and it is not nearly that impressive. We have some hilly backroads and there was a layer of ice on top of the snow. They were calling for about 10 inches of snow--I think we got less than an inch, just judging by my short-legged dog not having to "hop" in the snow (or me to have to dig her a path.)

These boys are all about 6-foot or taller now. They don't bother bundling up like I made them back then. One of them still loves the snow. He was born in February so the weather in his birth month suits him. He was disappointed that we didn't get that much snow.

Tomorrow is one of my favorite days--Groundhog Day! That is one of my favorite movies (Groundhog Day. It's the day we see if the Groundhog sees his shadow.

In the meantime, I might could actually get something done today--or not.