Christmas Time Again

For those of you who want a little taste of Christmas -- you know we are at the half way mark already -- Fifty Shades of Santa will be on sale for 99 cents through this month at Amazon.

Do you love romance? What about humor? Then you'll find this ebook for under a buck is just what you need... and what's not to love about romance, humor and Santa Claus?

What's in your wallet... err, on your dresser?

I was cleaning off my husband’s dresser because I was trying to locate something and here’s what I found instead. And he thinks I’m a clutter-collector?

·      2 manuals from the new spa control

·      5 gift certificates (I’m going shopping)

·      Frank Sinatra cd

·      Reader’s Digest

·      some miscellaneous piece to something

·      rubber band

·      paperclips

·      sunscreen

·      bazillion used golf score cards (maybe looking at these helps improve your game?)

·      receipts from mostly Home Depot, out the yang yang

·      various papers

·      a mouse pad

·      2 bandaids

·      3 foreign coins

·      13 cents in change (I was hoping for the big bucks – you know, finders keepers…)

·      pencils from the golf course (maybe he can take these back and get a discount because they wouldn’t have to re-order for awhile)

·      5 reading glasses (he’s always asking, have you seen my glasses – well, look under all the stuff on your dresser buddy!)

·      10 packs of Dentyne Ice

·      1 watch

·      17 plastic collar thingys

·      baseball cap

·      3 golf tags

·      5 floss toothpicks

·      2 cigar cutters

·      4 pens

·      2 markers

·      7 golf tees

·      9 golf markers

·      4 golf divit removers

·      2 books of matches

·      1 lighter

·      2 pocket knives

·      zipper pull

·      2 fancy name tags

·      cloth for cleaning eye glasses (for the eye glasses he can’t find)

·      13 business cards from misc people

·      24 business cards of his own

I'm pretty sure he has me beat compared to what was in my purse. So, what’s on your dresser?

Super Sweet

Just when I think there could not possibly be any more awards out there, someone comes along and honors me and they are so sweet to do so, how can I turn them down? Thank you Estrella for honoring me with this award. Estrella at Life’s a Stage deserves the Super Sweet Blogger award because she really is super sweet. She’s kind and generous and has a huge heart. When I was doing the Letter Writing Challenge (writing a letter each day in the month of February), she asked if I would write to someone else rather than herself. I could babble on about Estrella, but you can check her out. Let’s get to the Super Sweet Blogging Award...

The Rules:

• Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you.
• Answer five Super Sweet questions.
• Include the Super Sweet Blogging award image in your blog post.
• Nominate a baker’s dozen (13) other bloggers.
• Notify your nominees on their blog.

The 5 Super Sweet Questions:

1. Cookies or Cake? – I lean toward cookies, but carrot cake ranks high… or my Aunt Electa’s apple cake…
2. Chocolate or Vanilla? – Chocolate, unless it’s cheesecake or gooey butter.
3. Favorite Sweet Treat? – Because I have a big ole sweet tooth, I have a zillion favorites. Depends on my mood.  My cherry pie with a plop of vanilla ice cream on top makes me feel like I’m in heaven.
4. When do you crave sweet things the most? – When I’m stressed, happy, tired, depressed, excited, after a meal, when I’m starving, okay just about any time. They might call that addiction.
5. Sweet Nick Name? – “Lester” – husband gave me that name and not that it’s all that “sweet” but sweet in that it’s my name from him.

And the baker’s dozen… okay, I can count, I just can't decide... and I think everyone deserves the Super Sweet Blogging Award... however, I couldn't list everyone I know. I figure this way maybe a baker's dozen will actually participate... or not.

Sioux

Tammy

Beth

Linda

Diane

Lisa

Kimmy

Donna

Pat

Victoria

Kate

Kathy

Cathy

Becky

Claudia

Val

Rita

Kim

Jess

Almost...

Don't forget to look at the blogpost Need a Little Excitement below for details about some upcoming events.

Next week I have two finals and then I'm out of school! Whoo-hoo! I'm still trying to figure out how to post my programs on this blog....

And I'm working on my website... so stayed tuned.

Need a Little Excitement?

Dear Mom,

You weren’t around when your sister, Rose was diagnosed with ALS. However, it was incorrectly diagnosed… which was both good and not-so-good. Good in that she lived a lot longer not having ALS, but not-so-good in that she was diagnosed with a much more rare disease that basically left her immobile before she passed. Her mind was sharp, and she had a phenomenally great attitude right to the end. Her daughter, Sharon got involved with ALS and although retired now, she told me about an event involving one of St. Louis’ own – Elaine Viets and ALS.

I was fortunate to meet Elaine at the MWG Conference. Now that I think about it, I’m also in an anthology with her… Storm Country. Not that she has any idea who I am, but... With all of these connections in one way or the other, how could I not attend this event?

            May 10, 2013

            5:30-7:00 p.m.

            J.C. Penney Conference Center

            UMSL, Room 92

            One University Drive

            St. Louis, MO  63121

To reserve a seat and your book, contact:

The ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter, 314-432-7257 or

Dianna Wunning, 314-725-4832, wunning(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

For every copy of “Board Stiff” sold for $23.95 by the ALS Association, Elaine Viets will donate 40% of the cover price, $9.58! Is that generous or what?

Since I’m talking about events…

Here’s another event I plan to support. Lucky for me these events take place after I'm out of school! Whoo-hoo, what a way to celebrate.

“Listen to Your Mother” is a live, ninety-minute stage performance, which has roots in 24 cities across America. Now it’s time for St. Louis to shine. Thirteen cast members will read their stories about motherhood. My friend and critique group member, Linda O’Connell has been chosen. Another friend, Kim Lenhoff will also be performing.

May 11, 2013

Two shows only - $15 or 2/$25

10am

2pm

Emerson Auditorium at St. Luke’s Hospital Institute of Health Education

232 South Woods Mill Road – Chesterfield, MO 63017

http://www.listentoyourmothershow.com/stlouis/about/show-information/

50% of ticket proceeds will be donated to Connections to Success, helping break the cycle of poverty through resources, hope and a plan.

It’s a nice thing that so many people contribute in all kinds of ways to worthy organizations, all in the name of helping one another.

Classes, Funeral, Play

Dear Mom,

Study, homework, read, study, class, get up and do it all over again. That’s been my life. All work and no play makes Lynn a very dull girl—and that's been my thinking lately.

I attended the funeral mass for Uncle Bob—Dad’s brother-in-law. Uncle Bob’s oldest son got up to say a few words. A beautiful tribute. I had rummaged through my purse for my pen and notebook when my cousin said that his dad said something like, “When you stop playing, that’s when you become an old man.” Uncle Bob was 92, and even though I didn’t really know him other than what I've heard—he played right to the end.

Hearing this made me realize that I’m not playing at all. Although I've recently met with some friends for dinner. I also meet my critique pals every other week. There are a few other things I allow myself since I've been in school, but daily? I don’t play daily.

That made me think, what constitutes play? Enjoying what you’re doing? Yes? I mean, if you’re having fun, even if it’s so called work, then to me you’re playing.

I journal every morning—which I love and enjoy. Maybe I am playing every day.

If programming weren’t so frustrating and confusing to me most of the time, I might even consider that play. But not so much, yet.

That made me think of something else. (Oh, I can hear my husband, son and stepson now… oh here she goes… they're the ones who give me the most trouble about running my mouth) I suppose my chatting can be like a program that has an infinite loop – ha – I made an analogy with programming. Not surprising, I dream in code.

We had a mid-term final. This class is about an hour and a half long. After what seemed like ten minutes, some genius gets up because he’s finished. I tried not to panic. I was probably on question 3 (of 25). I finished after using the entire class time. I’ll be lucky if half are correct… yeah, and it was open book. Go figure.

Okay, back to my point. (Yes… an infinite loop.)

After the exam, I was feeling dumb again. How’d that kid answer all of those questions so quickly? Who knows really, and it’s not right for me to compare. Maybe he grew up with a computer in his mouth. Maybe that’s all he does in his spare time. I thought, put him in a kitchen next to me and we’ll see who’s the genius. He’ll still be breaking eggs while my soufflé is baking in the oven. Okay, not really because I don’t do soufflés, but most anything else. But that doesn’t mean geek genius is dumb… he’s just not as experienced in the kitchen. And it doesn’t mean I’m smarter either... just more experienced as a cook.

So that’s my point. None of us are dumb. Some of us apply ourselves more than others in certain things, and some of us have more experience in certain subjects than others. That’s what makes us all so unique and interesting.

Uncle Bob, I’m glad your son shared your words of wisdom to play.

Speaking of playing, take a look at Lavender Dreams and see what she’s been playing with…

Anniversary & Advice

Dear Mom,

I could have used the piece of advice that Suzanne shared with me the other night when I was getting ready for the Camp Wyman Gala.

As always, I let doubts and insecurities slip in while getting ready, when I know darn well it makes no difference AT ALL, really. So Suzanne said, “Here’s a piece of advice Mom told me when I was a teenager fussing around preparing for a date. ‘Suzanne, get ready the best you can, then forget about it, and focus on everyone else.’”

Such words of wisdom. How many times could those words have saved me from useless worry and anxiety?

I can apply this advice in many areas, not just getting ready for an event. Whenever I’m muddled in my own self-delusions of pity or pain, I have a choice to redirect that and focus on someone else. I will remind myself of this when I slip into that black hole, to remember: I have a choice. What do I want to pay attention to?

Today, I’m paying attention to you. On the anniversary of your death 43 years ago, and the anniversary of this blog, 3 years ago.

Mothers never leave us.