tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48443453956857572712024-03-13T04:40:07.535-07:00Lynn Arbor's BlogLynn Arbor's Blog is about stories, memories & thoughts often with an art or writing connectionlynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-35517512055097451802023-03-23T10:53:00.003-07:002023-03-24T06:20:17.436-07:00The Laugh's on Me<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Yesterday I went for a routine doctor’s visit. The nurse wore bright pink scrubs. Cheerful pink. She directed me to the scale. I put my purse and coat on a hook.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I said, “I could take my boots off.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">She said, “Naa, I’ll just take off a pound off your weight.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span>“I’ll take off my shirt and pants,” I said, </span>going for a laugh. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">No response, just a look. Bored? Uninspired? I couldn’t quite assess the look.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">So, I said, “I was joking.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">No response.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I think I’ve mentioned before that I like to make people laugh. At least a smile. It’s my job. The pay sucks, by the way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">When I saw the Doc, she did laugh about something I said, so the day wasn’t a complete failure. The colonoscopy and endoscopy are scheduled for May. Both ends of me on the same visit. As Biden would say, “No Joke.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span>I wrangled to get out of the butt check using my elder creds with the Doc. But no deal. </span>She said, “Don’t worry, It’ll probably be the last one you’ll need.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Okay, so was she suggesting that I’ll croak before five years. They enjoy looking up “there” every five years? Or maybe you just don’t need it done after a CERTAIN age? Hmm.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Then driving home, it hit me…a conclusion (not a truck). That nurse who weighed me, she saw my wrinkled face, she knew I was old, and she probably figured I was a bit demented. She didn’t laugh. I bet she was tolerating an old lady. Or maybe she was terrified that I was actually going to strip right there. Then she’d have to see the awesome power gravity has on a person's body. Damn. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">And this—Am I wanting to have it both ways? Use my old age to avoid stuff (which didn’t work), but at the same time <b>not</b> wanting anyone to see me as old?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Okay, so now I’m going to weigh my boots.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoVQ9FfKusjwQ0NEHdakX-SDjVs8vgGqroQSNh6U0xOcdKOfKf2itfESzac6oBq4QZv4cdWKb1ZubOVadDywDdbsaAuzCw8pucw-flZDG-vjnYEiKsL9_PPw1g-v43hqeMPWUtnKJFtg5PuwPvbX-hGN_azKZXJw3nE30D7pqoKILDKyqZmSQ8gkynA/s4032/IMG_2304.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoVQ9FfKusjwQ0NEHdakX-SDjVs8vgGqroQSNh6U0xOcdKOfKf2itfESzac6oBq4QZv4cdWKb1ZubOVadDywDdbsaAuzCw8pucw-flZDG-vjnYEiKsL9_PPw1g-v43hqeMPWUtnKJFtg5PuwPvbX-hGN_azKZXJw3nE30D7pqoKILDKyqZmSQ8gkynA/s320/IMG_2304.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Maybe I should use the kitchen scale?</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p>lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-22221153701038623632023-03-06T10:23:00.036-08:002023-03-07T06:51:18.780-08:00Be Someone<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I was a freshman at Ferndale High School in Michigan, when we (Mom, stepfather Tom, and four-year-old Kathy) drove across the country to Palo Alto, California in March of 1959. Our one bedroom furnished apartment there had a dropdown bed in the living room when Mom and Tom slept. Kathy and I shared the double bed in the bedroom. She kicked. I had no friends at the new school, and I was homesick. When summer came, I babysat every weekday for two diapered young boys who lived in an apartment across the street. By the end of summer, I had saved enough money for small presents for everyone, and a plane ticket back to Michigan. Mom let me go.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I expected to move back to Ferndale where I’d be in the same school district I had been in before we moved. I thought I’d get to stay with my Aunt Katie and her gang, but no…my family had other ideas. I would be living with my grandparents, Nan and Papa in Beverly Hills.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2E-eTbR4uLloWAr5H9uNWMuZTzJD8bE1cRZgnxU4_NexhHjfyH8OsbrOqcFipdPKQBSqqZ8fgQeaPhxl8iQ1_TAIc6Y_K0rGg_K3-9Jx8VTRdKGftEMY_I-giH3VLJ7gh05Pj3Y3FG8i74nct9tqXEIgUnwyqU-0Jz_uQd56uyc4XfIahkaxDbekJRQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="731" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2E-eTbR4uLloWAr5H9uNWMuZTzJD8bE1cRZgnxU4_NexhHjfyH8OsbrOqcFipdPKQBSqqZ8fgQeaPhxl8iQ1_TAIc6Y_K0rGg_K3-9Jx8VTRdKGftEMY_I-giH3VLJ7gh05Pj3Y3FG8i74nct9tqXEIgUnwyqU-0Jz_uQd56uyc4XfIahkaxDbekJRQ" width="163" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /> Here's my grandmother posing for a Christmas card.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;">So, for the 10</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span style="text-align: left;"> and 11</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span style="text-align: left;"> grades I was in my third high school––Birmingham Groves. I now lived in a house filled with my grandparents’ tasteful combination of antiques and 50s modern furniture, where I had my own bedroom full of heavy maple furniture with a double bed just for me.</span></span></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">One girl at the school was given a brand-new pink Cadillac convertible for her sixteenth birthday. A boy got a new black Thunderbird. Very different from the kids in Ferndale, who, if they had a car, it was a beater that they fixed up themselves with the help of a mechanic dad. </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Bonus! I did make great new friends...Pat Burke, 60 years later is still my friend.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">During those years, what I heard most often from Nan was, “Be Someone.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I took it as an insult. Wasn’t I “someone” already? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">And where did this come from? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I knew her story. She was the youngest of ten kids. They lived in a big house in a rich neighborhood in Bay City. They needed the big house for their big family. Her father and older brothers worked in the coal mines to support the family. Nan’s friends were wealthy girls. Her three older sisters sewed her fashionable outfits, so she’d fit in with her friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span>Then she met Ted Sexton, who had been raised (after his parents’ death) by his mother’s brother––George P. Codd. Nan couldn’t check Wikipedia, but this is what they say now:</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0QeHw5mBANAOJpHyA35_F4jOCfxv844ZLpHFuPL9CrJlZgwxOTYG4MXbWbIr3N5GaTIMwzm6kBkrQwlTIVGur8v2ILmP9wGhF2EvLMdrCUDTpKPbS79AObPVBfNKmy5Ecg61fQR6vwPHan39cvxVP2F3M0srHTILXK7KhdXdzGlf2WnYZ0NFlQbzEw/s738/George%20P%20Cod.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="531" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv0QeHw5mBANAOJpHyA35_F4jOCfxv844ZLpHFuPL9CrJlZgwxOTYG4MXbWbIr3N5GaTIMwzm6kBkrQwlTIVGur8v2ILmP9wGhF2EvLMdrCUDTpKPbS79AObPVBfNKmy5Ecg61fQR6vwPHan39cvxVP2F3M0srHTILXK7KhdXdzGlf2WnYZ0NFlQbzEw/s320/George%20P%20Cod.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></i></div><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">George P. Codd, mayor of Detroit from 1905-1906, Regent of the University of Michigan from 1910-1911, circuit court judge of Wayne County from 1911-1921 and 1924-1927, and a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1921-1923.</span></i><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">He was SOMEONE.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">My grandmother married a man who had been raised by “SOMEONE”. But, to her great disappointment, my grandfather wanted nothing to do with his uncle. He and his brother Brad were treated so cruelly that he always cried over TV shows with orphans, and never shared details of his boyhood.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">But Nan wanted <i>me</i> to be someone. What did she mean? Should I be a star, a senator, heroic, notorious? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Or did she mean I should marry “someone” important, famous, rich? Women of her generation didn’t have many other choices.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I still don’t know. I can’t ask her. But, irrelevant of what she meant…I am, and always have been someone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I have six grandchildren. If I were to tell any of them to “be someone”, I’d add a word that my grandfather would applaud. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Be Someone Kind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p></div>lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-27548720685746090072022-12-29T12:22:00.000-08:002022-12-29T12:22:19.042-08:00For the Birds<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSNdY-r7CX3-3z5rUxPHQJLmD9JeZ2tBfN1jfVtvGuxscpbU6XDeEdnrZbxOxsko7-uBZSciJ2AqCc5EpihvRTSJ6L6GxDwMFrbP2f39alHfvhGN28wxMraHpVm-E1FogM46RgAizOib5KT7zuJOJKSqyEIbbk21Ya8ibUX0PI_aYCcoXiY7_jyxk6A/s1360/IMG_5353%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSNdY-r7CX3-3z5rUxPHQJLmD9JeZ2tBfN1jfVtvGuxscpbU6XDeEdnrZbxOxsko7-uBZSciJ2AqCc5EpihvRTSJ6L6GxDwMFrbP2f39alHfvhGN28wxMraHpVm-E1FogM46RgAizOib5KT7zuJOJKSqyEIbbk21Ya8ibUX0PI_aYCcoXiY7_jyxk6A/w193-h200/IMG_5353%202.jpeg" width="193" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 24px;">My mother hated birds. Seriously. They pooped on her car. She believed that if a bird got in the house, someone would die. And she had proof. My stepfather found a dead bird in the fireplace, a few days later he died after trying to save her life.</span><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Should I tell you that story now, or save it for another post?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;">Okay, if you insist—here goes. </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My mother had some repair work done on her car at a local garage. The next day she went out to the driveway and started the car. Whoof! It was engrossed in flames. My stepfather saw this and rushed out to her, opened the car door with flames shooting up, and pulled her out. In most cases that would be the happy ending of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But Tom was recovering from esophageal cancer and had a hole in his neck from the surgery. The smoke entered his lungs.A couple days later he was the one who died from the fire. But, to my mother, it wasn’t about cancer or smoke, it was that damn dead bird in the fireplace.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have a lot in common with my mother, except that I really like birds. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuM-32hxnPWS0HIfa54nyfYYhiBsyuvca16SBSusSqceQqxGiKUrR6HCOaLXnhQavLMCU_FbutdH_pzgDI16X23tHAdYWdJOKOCfMpHZrwnZYg2TGUsORjVs2GOSCL1mWX1QDiIEYTllBP7A-5_EKy1XXBQZKseNWavWoMzWVv42PxtTELRaJHMUB5A/s2877/IMG_1338.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2338" data-original-width="2877" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuM-32hxnPWS0HIfa54nyfYYhiBsyuvca16SBSusSqceQqxGiKUrR6HCOaLXnhQavLMCU_FbutdH_pzgDI16X23tHAdYWdJOKOCfMpHZrwnZYg2TGUsORjVs2GOSCL1mWX1QDiIEYTllBP7A-5_EKy1XXBQZKseNWavWoMzWVv42PxtTELRaJHMUB5A/w200-h163/IMG_1338.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tiny <b>hummingbirds</b> who fly so fast, I hold my breathe watching them at the bird feeder. I keep a tomato cage near the feeder and sometimes they’ll sit a minute, probably thinking up a flight plan.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>I have a nice video of hummingbirds in the garden...but it won't load. Drats.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last summer I went into the guest bedroom and heard chirping. I looked all around and then discovered a <b>robin</b>’s nest on the windowsill. After that I’d check everyday on the egg progress. Ms. Robin got used to me talking to her and stayed seated. Dad wasn’t as comfortable with me. And then there were babies…mostly consisting of open beaks. Sad part is we were in Wisconsin when the babies flew off. We missed graduation.</span></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC00H-3q8qBVxO8GQkSTccynISvq3KDPQaoua2fiiYLG6IK-MChO75esG8RBS0JnOzdpADmGCyJDdt9l_32or3eZ3SGcSN75rhCMYtL-41AIMJj8ZMsYKZFL1xC7NBPKJZOz6tHSoBe5bYm6Pdr_lNuxJ3ydJeqXaU-KU6P9bcHl0RJlL_LbpsExRoiQ/s4032/IMG_1998.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC00H-3q8qBVxO8GQkSTccynISvq3KDPQaoua2fiiYLG6IK-MChO75esG8RBS0JnOzdpADmGCyJDdt9l_32or3eZ3SGcSN75rhCMYtL-41AIMJj8ZMsYKZFL1xC7NBPKJZOz6tHSoBe5bYm6Pdr_lNuxJ3ydJeqXaU-KU6P9bcHl0RJlL_LbpsExRoiQ/w240-h320/IMG_1998.jpeg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And then there’s the big, big birds. Not as in Sesame Street, but as in <b>Turkey Vultures </b>(should that be all caps?). They’re very ugly in close-ups. But in the sky, floating on air, they are exhilarating. They have a wingspan of 68-72 inches.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQobQoXsKQPxJKmOqjQojBl-3Ip9suHCMOBk8n-Ven_f5PYpSm8xdleOM65fCNT2Sl3L_LN0WS0AB8Peo_PWg8SbGcCaOuKxSPCq9izLuxlIIW0WNSAqAPnR5gszosqm2V9BrVdV3wF65U_4Q2G8-Q6RkmOBdjsQPEr4WUrVavKaKRf8K_fXWSBHu9g/s7369/IMG_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="7369" data-original-width="3357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQobQoXsKQPxJKmOqjQojBl-3Ip9suHCMOBk8n-Ven_f5PYpSm8xdleOM65fCNT2Sl3L_LN0WS0AB8Peo_PWg8SbGcCaOuKxSPCq9izLuxlIIW0WNSAqAPnR5gszosqm2V9BrVdV3wF65U_4Q2G8-Q6RkmOBdjsQPEr4WUrVavKaKRf8K_fXWSBHu9g/s320/IMG_0171.JPG" width="146" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Turkey Vultures are raptors. Carnivorous clean-up crews. My granddaughter, Kristen, told me that because they eat roadkill and already dead animals, when finished with their lunch they pee on their feet. It works as a disinfectant for bacteria.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A lone bird will appear overhead. Watch it. And then another will join, and another. On Christmas eve I counted 18. They don’t even have to think about Covid. On the ground they’re a ‘committee’. In flight a group is a ‘kettle’. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx8npoq8pg0ELJgm6vg6Y1O1uqyqtxRmCmyT_raEzQh_LFDxYhI8lC8kFaxZ67l8Rf683CDkPt9fc7zLOGz5A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I only see them in flight. They rarely flap, mainly they catch the airwaves and soar. I feel something inside me lift with them, entranced by the community of them. There is joy and wonder. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Happy New Year, my friends. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Let your heart take flight like a bird, but I wouldn't suggest peeing on your feet.</span></span></p></div>lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com0Detroit, MI, USA43.7220913 -86.0649052999999924.8861662907113725 -156.3774053 82.558016309288632 -15.752405299999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-45887517498490942772022-09-07T08:39:00.008-07:002022-09-07T08:50:37.712-07:00THE USE-BY-DATE<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1ojq1YgqXrp1X37gtKNzo7Q0xO_wgWMJaaZWqPD3npfr8xQycQETcjU9BrA6Dau0SjYmroE3G8ztRq50nlZoJrCZ-i9yUFhQGQYt9fpqxSViro8xtFNHxW-gMl5coeQ52NOUtOEN0RuNzFBAhdv7YfUJRBTTJ8ef4ThNaKke_vYv-PoBN7Pd4hj-SiA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2038" data-original-width="3380" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1ojq1YgqXrp1X37gtKNzo7Q0xO_wgWMJaaZWqPD3npfr8xQycQETcjU9BrA6Dau0SjYmroE3G8ztRq50nlZoJrCZ-i9yUFhQGQYt9fpqxSViro8xtFNHxW-gMl5coeQ52NOUtOEN0RuNzFBAhdv7YfUJRBTTJ8ef4ThNaKke_vYv-PoBN7Pd4hj-SiA" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m getting close to my Use-By-Date…seventy-nine on my last birthday. And no need to be a math wiz, you know what comes next. Holy crap!</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;">I reconnected with a dear friend from my youth on Facebook, and asked John if I looked that old. He said, “Yes.” Sometimes what I like about him is his honesty. Sometimes. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Okay. So, I look my age. So What? I’m just gonna keep wearing a mask when I go out. Covid’s still around. Also, I like the <i>no makeup</i> part of mask wearing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB9qMFcubiyeVm2OXdINTqKzOfS7o9KgFFaUspvXMat01r_FLdBjIffg4xWwms2RX238aWNg2P1Eik2ITcsMQ8f-ZlbesRLgavqhChqXR9epev0poRGYfZpW49s5BWrDe264FB1CGUiP1eDNANMGqkXluelYFfd-K8ihvq7YJ0ZJE8rz5FgM0uQ9U-9Q" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1920" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiB9qMFcubiyeVm2OXdINTqKzOfS7o9KgFFaUspvXMat01r_FLdBjIffg4xWwms2RX238aWNg2P1Eik2ITcsMQ8f-ZlbesRLgavqhChqXR9epev0poRGYfZpW49s5BWrDe264FB1CGUiP1eDNANMGqkXluelYFfd-K8ihvq7YJ0ZJE8rz5FgM0uQ9U-9Q" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@jievani?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Jievani Weerasinghe</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/masks?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tragically, I’m also acting my age. I talk (out loud) to TV commercials. I mock them. Occasionally they deserve a yelling at. Also, I think I’m very good at an English accent when I help the woman with the voice over on the Viking Tours commercials.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-oYTKGQ-u2ORVgiIPYIFn_B-MSr-eoMIcdxF_QpUAmi2MeWt6seOJwJKBzcC_74oiqOFbNxYElsnsgf1Z7D9g9EhY9EFWYFWGfGOrAAtPo3HiWXqaJxRSPztJpNdMnQQUTFOdzMHJ_YOa7SbnxtkRVNCzghW61WyCshJmsY0UFsdrSs_tT4A010ZpcA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4896" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-oYTKGQ-u2ORVgiIPYIFn_B-MSr-eoMIcdxF_QpUAmi2MeWt6seOJwJKBzcC_74oiqOFbNxYElsnsgf1Z7D9g9EhY9EFWYFWGfGOrAAtPo3HiWXqaJxRSPztJpNdMnQQUTFOdzMHJ_YOa7SbnxtkRVNCzghW61WyCshJmsY0UFsdrSs_tT4A010ZpcA" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@steinart?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Steinar Engeland</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/vikings?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;">My memory is getting a tad slippery. I went to lunch with my daughter Sue, and I told her if I could go to a live concert from the past, I’d want to see Queen. The lead singer, umm, what’s his name. She suggested Adam Lambert. No, I said, the original lead who died. She said, Freddy Mercury. Right! Freddy. I watched the movie about him three times during the pandemic lock down. To be in that massive crowd at the Live Aid Concert, waving your arms, singing along, now that would be amazing.</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Okay, so I’m going to remember his name. Freddy Mercury. When I can’t remember something—think “Freddy Mercury.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mostly I attempt to hide my memory lapses. Yesterday, I asked John what he was going to do for the day? I answered for him: walk the mall, get a coffee and look at cat videos on_________ on his iPad. I wanted to use the word for the App with videos, but I couldn’t remember Instagram until I checked my own iPad. The technique is called, “Filling in the Blanks,” so no one catches you forgetting. Replacing a word you can't remember, quickly with another word (whether it fits or not). It's a skill.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2138" data-original-width="2496" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwb9bFiNoWtzfx9YgUttxONSFwU_7w6gH95dkeb_zq-luNK8q9l6DhpYAhErBcpeRbHFK1Ihh8RVvNsGzGzZ5KHw6-u_pnzVdrtUqhcxbfosdgg9ZWN8X2jMgcYdbK46mwG0nD4r5XEUXUF3UfgMM1yIyez9N54E7q2i_14d_AwWQOxhn-9flj1PXxKA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="280" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@vishnumaiea?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Vishnu Mohanan</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/memory-chip?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwb9bFiNoWtzfx9YgUttxONSFwU_7w6gH95dkeb_zq-luNK8q9l6DhpYAhErBcpeRbHFK1Ihh8RVvNsGzGzZ5KHw6-u_pnzVdrtUqhcxbfosdgg9ZWN8X2jMgcYdbK46mwG0nD4r5XEUXUF3UfgMM1yIyez9N54E7q2i_14d_AwWQOxhn-9flj1PXxKA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I once mentioned to my son, Jim, that sometimes I forget a word. He suggested I take Prevagen. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">“Okay, sorry, Jim. You get the tirade that I give the TV commercials. Google it, Prevagen DOES NOT WORK.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the people on those commercials say they’ve been taking Prevagen for ten years, at $40-$90 a month, do the math: $4800-$10,800 for a product that doesn’t work. It’s apoaequorin (jellyfish protein) and vitamin D. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Quincy Bioscience is making a fortune. Ads cost big bucks; I know that because I was in advertising for most of my career. And how often do you see their ads? Inundate us, why don’t you? The actors in the ads seem so genuine. I yell at them. I know some really bad words and use them. You don’t forget fuck.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So what can you do for memory? The Mediterranean diet is supposed to be good. But I really like ice cream, it’s not mentioned on the food list. And cheese. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have a good brain food recipe for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF3fVwD9dsDueCL9QKVPCzL6mn3sMg_dMga2WkI6QcWK6s9JE2WoetMZGFsdFnHyVd4GVLM0D3jrt0rpHmcRR1zuUW-KmeRyyx2IojLZpUd9F0gk4hqN7fHg8FMcow7zy_e6ezYDFKx29QCSlZY64RPhTaCv5UqjV3ELOw_WvvcWHXDfZNMcJ2SY9c6g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF3fVwD9dsDueCL9QKVPCzL6mn3sMg_dMga2WkI6QcWK6s9JE2WoetMZGFsdFnHyVd4GVLM0D3jrt0rpHmcRR1zuUW-KmeRyyx2IojLZpUd9F0gk4hqN7fHg8FMcow7zy_e6ezYDFKx29QCSlZY64RPhTaCv5UqjV3ELOw_WvvcWHXDfZNMcJ2SY9c6g" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@sushioutlaw?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Brian McGowan</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/kale?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: start; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">BRAIN SALAD</span></span></h3><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Ingredients</span></b></h4><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">No quantities are given, feel free to do as you like.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Kale:</b> Tear into bite size pieces, soak in water, drain, put in a salad spinner, spin, add a nice dressing (I like Brianna’s Lemon Tarrigon) massage the kale with the dressing. Using your bare hands also adds a nice moisturizing effect to your skin as you soften the kale.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Quinoa:</b> T<o:p></o:p>oss some quinoa into the slippery kale. It’ll stick.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Blueberries:</b> Add some Super BLUE brain food<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Walnuts:</b> Then go nuts with another super brain food...even better toasted in a dry frying pan.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eat this, it’s good for your brain. Then eat ice cream, it’s good for your, um, what’s the word?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Also, __________um, there was something else I wanted to mention. Um. Ahh, wait a minute. Let me think a sec. Um…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh yeah! Freddy Mercury!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://youtu.be/TkFHYODzRTs" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/TkFHYODzRTs</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">PS: John just read this over. He said, “It’s good except for the kale recipe.” His main problem with kale is that it’s green.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">PPS: If you leave a comment, <b>PLEASE</b> include a hint of who you are, so if Google lists you as Anonymous, I’ll be able to guess your name.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div>lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-52226628913534257962022-08-30T13:54:00.001-07:002022-08-30T13:54:34.333-07:00<h2 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">POWERLESS</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIPL3-W3dgV3OSqrujp08YxLuFSUnGVV7NNffG06FwihmDS7HeUyiREKN_OhNgZgmujtncXwlY5Kcd-hRc6wXc8iCxNwRPRTi9hirDZhFrxqi1o9e0iaJY_wQirgBBGLfYnU2BSI8vwlg0DSQHibmYM9c9kpknJ0nvqeRQpzBrHME4hCt-fu_eG8MGVA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIPL3-W3dgV3OSqrujp08YxLuFSUnGVV7NNffG06FwihmDS7HeUyiREKN_OhNgZgmujtncXwlY5Kcd-hRc6wXc8iCxNwRPRTi9hirDZhFrxqi1o9e0iaJY_wQirgBBGLfYnU2BSI8vwlg0DSQHibmYM9c9kpknJ0nvqeRQpzBrHME4hCt-fu_eG8MGVA=w244-h325" width="244" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">6:30 AM</span></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I am powerless. It has nothing to do with my age. It has nothing to do with being female. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The storm that hit at dinner time last night has taken my power. Twisting and turning and pounding, knocking out powerlines, and kicking two granite stones off Stonehead, which has always been a balancing act.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWeNVBBCJHncfinUdW-5SaDHIM79GCbvnfM3N3s7waGDJHLDP2lRoM82GcFETwwJ3ZpShLWo1JXOsmAwnahk6gxmKUiL-EGOYQ2UVF_spV1AX1rrA8SNGQzwWEnKipjwiN0Cvf__D1joxa-55UZthSllkc2XMnfWw1um-9G7JJKyE59V8OMfF31HByTw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3922" data-original-width="2646" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWeNVBBCJHncfinUdW-5SaDHIM79GCbvnfM3N3s7waGDJHLDP2lRoM82GcFETwwJ3ZpShLWo1JXOsmAwnahk6gxmKUiL-EGOYQ2UVF_spV1AX1rrA8SNGQzwWEnKipjwiN0Cvf__D1joxa-55UZthSllkc2XMnfWw1um-9G7JJKyE59V8OMfF31HByTw=w248-h368" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.66666603088379px;">Before<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCVJSjKg9maE9_J1Gi60oQHRt7D9wLJoJmxHPldgrfEDj_TUTPyPTUpwcC2VeLu0EXrz7jaZzKpSrth6VqdGSpR1DeJYqCWzPukbs2eQRfHQ_vnTRuPvdvq7L6OuDw-f2Waxx8gz1egxcpZxTYin0cBM_CvRklZtCKXTDDQJioTPPE1xDD347-AyDmxA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCVJSjKg9maE9_J1Gi60oQHRt7D9wLJoJmxHPldgrfEDj_TUTPyPTUpwcC2VeLu0EXrz7jaZzKpSrth6VqdGSpR1DeJYqCWzPukbs2eQRfHQ_vnTRuPvdvq7L6OuDw-f2Waxx8gz1egxcpZxTYin0cBM_CvRklZtCKXTDDQJioTPPE1xDD347-AyDmxA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf-riFj8vZRjV0T4I2yttrUlp-QVwjq_CDmRq1vAdlvhG4TLWO2Ed7B1WoN9KwXLUd97xnleHKI6YMMsKFsEVQkIATNYrjEPZk5-v7aCBUv6a2Po_n4IkQUtQ-1eN2x5BF6p08Kb9G_Joo8gZdgXdGfsjoIyX_NzPsR3lWiwzPQQFaxZZ-IG0HMWQyTg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1224" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhf-riFj8vZRjV0T4I2yttrUlp-QVwjq_CDmRq1vAdlvhG4TLWO2Ed7B1WoN9KwXLUd97xnleHKI6YMMsKFsEVQkIATNYrjEPZk5-v7aCBUv6a2Po_n4IkQUtQ-1eN2x5BF6p08Kb9G_Joo8gZdgXdGfsjoIyX_NzPsR3lWiwzPQQFaxZZ-IG0HMWQyTg=w260-h347" width="260" /></a></div><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.66666603088379px;">After</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">So, after a bad night’s sleep (two glasses of wine on the back porch last night didn’t help the snooze fairy), I got up in the dark not knowing what time it was—no red numbers lit up the old alarm clock. My usual good morning texts to Sue, Kristen and Joy, can’t happen today. My phone is dead. Cause of death: no juice. Starved. Powerless.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I come downstairs in the dark with my electric candle. Coffee first thing in the morning is always nice. The good thing is having gas stove burners, you can bypass the electric ignition by using a fire stick. I have one that works! Yay!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">So, coffee filter over a cup, spoon of caffeine, and I’m thinking, I’m pretty fancy…like this is a Starbuck’s pour-over. However, in the vague candle glow, I over pour the cup. Wet coffee grounds have plopped in places outside the cup. Somehow, I do get a cup of coffee, and it’s okay. But tea sounds better and easier.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I open my iPad naively expecting to see mail, the New York Times “Morning” and all the puzzles that start my day, but our WIFI is out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We have a gas water heater, and later when it’s light enough to see myself, I could possibly take a shower.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">My main plan today was lunch in a park with Ann. She’s making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I was going to bring cookies. But my car is inside the garage with an electric door opener. I’m trapped. I can’t call her because my phone is dead. I can’t email because the WIFI is out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I can’t check the weather, or what’s happening with the power company.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">And now I’m getting hungry, I could cook an egg, one of those beauties my brother Tom and his new wife Lizzie brought us. They have chickens. I have eggs. But they’re in the frig and I don’t want to open the door and let the cold escape.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizA850Pm0_EuJrSU7KhSjZCy_M1HlI6JHw8x1lwieTVNvyL9bjiuVQ78MSpsgumHGC-nKiQ-Yd-b-Iz-OVQ8Y7Fwa9t3bVrNdN1LHRFud4w7fgeybg9JOHuuKgYiSdzcijHIaARNaMuMXUVQzHc9yAody8XINAEctppoAkvXmmEfLv5gT0pA0RHc0UIA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1796" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizA850Pm0_EuJrSU7KhSjZCy_M1HlI6JHw8x1lwieTVNvyL9bjiuVQ78MSpsgumHGC-nKiQ-Yd-b-Iz-OVQ8Y7Fwa9t3bVrNdN1LHRFud4w7fgeybg9JOHuuKgYiSdzcijHIaARNaMuMXUVQzHc9yAody8XINAEctppoAkvXmmEfLv5gT0pA0RHc0UIA=w162-h363" width="162" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I could toast bread in a dry pan, but my bread is in the freezer. Do Not Open!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">There are things in the cupboard to eat. Oatmeal—ugh. Instant mashed potatoes—maybe. But then…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>8:30 am</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">John’s up. But wait! His car isn’t in the garage. He’s taking me to Panera for breakfast and WIFI plugins. It’s amazing how many places along our route still have power.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We sit in Panera with all our devices plugged in, and eat too much, and it takes too long for everything to get charged. A group of loud elder men are talking religion and politics next to me. I listen, eavesdrop, snope, but make no comments. I disagree with them on almost everything, but my powers out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We stop at a grocery store and buy bread and a few other things that we already have, but are trapped in the shut tight refrigerator at home. Dinner: open a can of chili, or maybe have PBJs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN1oNFxFgkrCea672Ufd3zoEdq3xLOjqHdhonyzAOyi9iHsRVfta69pi-JgIvBqFuwbP39chTiDyliREdeaxZDj-B5fr_eeQaIAaUnD09Yj3wW4jJsyqC9qQH8SO_3CSceSkQYv4_KAoWfgznevc7_kceSsjwAng-uJf7jCsfTJB2eH_sTr_K_jK2aXQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1551" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhN1oNFxFgkrCea672Ufd3zoEdq3xLOjqHdhonyzAOyi9iHsRVfta69pi-JgIvBqFuwbP39chTiDyliREdeaxZDj-B5fr_eeQaIAaUnD09Yj3wW4jJsyqC9qQH8SO_3CSceSkQYv4_KAoWfgznevc7_kceSsjwAng-uJf7jCsfTJB2eH_sTr_K_jK2aXQ=w390-h280" width="390" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">10:00 am</span></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Back home I try to reach Ann to cancel our plans but her phone just rings, and so I write an email. I worry about her and call several more times. And then, hours later discover that she had answered my email.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Exhausted I lay down to take a nap, and I think, “hmm, maybe I should do some quilting. But then I remember. My Singer is powerless.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>3:20 pm</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I’m lying on the couch reading Joan Didion and having nothing to do with her dated essays from the 60’s, my world lights up! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">All the lights we turned on last night in the dark are casting a gold glow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I have POWER! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I could flex an arm muscle, but you wouldn’t be impressed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com9Detroit, MI, USA42.331427 -83.045753816.12353585108713 -118.2020038 68.539318148912869 -47.8895038tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-28610760673879029372018-08-31T07:02:00.002-07:002018-08-31T07:02:58.726-07:00The Best Part of the Day<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="color: black; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.3in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some months ago (maybe a year, I forget) John built a new headboard for our bed. It has a shelf that’s three inches deep (I measured it). I bought orange bamboo sheets in Wisconsin, and my daughter Sue gave us her orange electric candles. At night it glows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have a new bedtime habit (this will not embarrass you, I promise). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We get into all that orange-ness and talk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question: <b>What was the best part of your day?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It could be as simple as the beauty of a single white cosmos with pink edges. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It could be a response from his client...finally. (Note: this can lead into a long discussion on door pulls.)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It could be a friendly phone voice at a pharmacy.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It could be pleasure in cooking (me).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It could be a good dinner (him).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes we have the think on it a while. Hmmm? What was the best thing? Some days are so ordinary—flipping back though the file cards of our day takes an effort. But there is always something good. </span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Self-congratulations for filling a whole yard waste bag with weeds.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finishing a bunk bed ladder for the Wisconsin trailer.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fulfilling my self-promise to do one sketch everyday in my journal. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes there’s an abundance of good, which keeps us awake longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although we worry about things going on in the world: the latest political scandal, wild fires or raging floods or blistering heat, and especially innocent children separated from their parents. We don’t go to sleep haunted by them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We go the sleep thinking about something good that happened in our day. And actually maybe the best part of our day is the happy ending.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So tell me, what was the best part of your day?</b></span></div>
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lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-84065355395405480492017-10-07T13:12:00.000-07:002018-08-31T07:11:08.101-07:00Spilling the Beans<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I spilled the beans…brewed beans…coffee. I knocked a whole cup over and stained the perfectly nice gray carpet in my study. I have a study to write in—I’m so lucky.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY9Qk48zXLsmzn7cqAoOvpvA6uizL6KzrpUTrvE4d4WGqkWWRzgdG96lIDKKfintpWesgzRutrW2X98mAVqSM6C-SMH1P0kcWACO4vG4cfdRAYOCkL1xfnpqwe3guryGSXResKEPJyZSI/s1600/merlene-goulet-51572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1600" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY9Qk48zXLsmzn7cqAoOvpvA6uizL6KzrpUTrvE4d4WGqkWWRzgdG96lIDKKfintpWesgzRutrW2X98mAVqSM6C-SMH1P0kcWACO4vG4cfdRAYOCkL1xfnpqwe3guryGSXResKEPJyZSI/s320/merlene-goulet-51572.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then I broke the garbage disposal by feeding it kale and eggshells and shrimp tails all at the same time. Yes, I ate shrimp—I’m so lucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had to take John’s car to the dealership this morning for the fourth time, ($360 today for a new wiring harness) because his power steering kept going out, ever since mice ate the power cables two summers ago when we were at the farm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We have a farmhouse and land and a beautiful lake in Wisconsin, that John and his two brothers inherited—we’re so lucky.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaHobDZhGAyHk2kmZGS_ByjNRdZBfalm9NdPTUcK-N2eSa2DIuyQILBlzZXkfo3irEq7YhHr_kw_9CwK_zarful7yTyRKnWW2y5bio6Aa8TjcsymtYg9e1TNQ2EQEjWhFvKErEAQ9TqtI/s1600/IMG_0392.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaHobDZhGAyHk2kmZGS_ByjNRdZBfalm9NdPTUcK-N2eSa2DIuyQILBlzZXkfo3irEq7YhHr_kw_9CwK_zarful7yTyRKnWW2y5bio6Aa8TjcsymtYg9e1TNQ2EQEjWhFvKErEAQ9TqtI/s320/IMG_0392.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday my car was at the dealership ($180) to clean-out my clogged fuel injectors. We have two cars—we’re so lucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And yesterday I stuck a spoon in the silverware holder in the dishwasher and a fork tine stabbed me under my thumbnail. It still hurts. We have a dishwasher—we’re so lucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">LUCKY.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I emailed my friend Pat. She and her husband are fleeing South Florida before IRMA hits. They’ve got the puppy with them. They’re preparing her to be a service dog for a soldier with PTSD. (PTSD—not lucky). What will home be like for them when they go back?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">People in Houston and Louisiana, are going home—but to what? Mud and mold. Homes and cars gone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Young people, who’ve made lives here, are unsure day by day, if and when they’ll be deported to a country they don’t know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fires are eating huge swathes of land and homes in Western states: California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Montana.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our president is twittering war games with North Korea, and threatening a trade war with China.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Things are really mucked up/f'ed up/un-lucked up. Big things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But for most of us, just in our day-to-day life, we are really lucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For those who aren’t so lucky—us lucky ones need to help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">DONATE!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then VOTE for people who aren’t climate change deniers. Who will honor the value of diversity in this country. And who won’t bumble us into another war.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AUY5vkYSMOVxD0kC2BZpOMD40tqdq5nCuR9rQDA7oCQqcXktrPJP9_MM0DOI507WFh8OFbTKkCHpHVzdA0-_CfE_F1a84rLf409N83nYpLUaxCCfnRWkhc1AIuj8zE_bx22GNCaxpVqy/s1600/takahiro-sakamoto-251514.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AUY5vkYSMOVxD0kC2BZpOMD40tqdq5nCuR9rQDA7oCQqcXktrPJP9_MM0DOI507WFh8OFbTKkCHpHVzdA0-_CfE_F1a84rLf409N83nYpLUaxCCfnRWkhc1AIuj8zE_bx22GNCaxpVqy/s320/takahiro-sakamoto-251514.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Note: I just banged my shin into the corner of the coffee table. I have a fresh cup of coffee and a coffee table—I’m so lucky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope you are too.</span>lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-68682677584533897402017-06-15T10:56:00.001-07:002017-06-15T14:18:46.335-07:00Fresh eyes<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First readers are an important
part of my writing process. I’m not talking about preschoolers, or first
graders, I’m talking about friends and family who read my novels before anyone
else. Before it’s an actual printed book, when it’s still in process or
finished (supposedly) with plenty of errors—typos, missed question marks, fuzzy
wording, maybe even fuzzy characters or situations. After I’ve read the book at
least a billion times it still needs reading by kind volunteers</span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK3"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></a>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Readers are
the people who “make it work,” as Tim Gunn might say on Project Runway. When
I’m writing a novel I can be too close to see it as clearly as a friend who
hasn’t been mulling this story over in their head for a couple years. Fresh
eyes!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7h1dI3S4ZgSNbr59fsq79CkhuX27cNoWuOH8HySO46b0ksUTlPi17yqDHOy6dpFSyb8CgwOJNcum924E7738WjoYRiz_OeVl1TOBuRp0PN8OrQTv-dn9K_YvOro6rAd7CuIojn19gGpa/s1600/book+boxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7h1dI3S4ZgSNbr59fsq79CkhuX27cNoWuOH8HySO46b0ksUTlPi17yqDHOy6dpFSyb8CgwOJNcum924E7738WjoYRiz_OeVl1TOBuRp0PN8OrQTv-dn9K_YvOro6rAd7CuIojn19gGpa/s400/book+boxes.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I
wrote <em>Intentional,</em> my first
readers all got paper manuscripts. For <em>A
Bird in the House</em> some readers said they’d prefer the book in
digital form. I did that. After all, reading my blemished manuscript is doing
me a big favor. But the problem with reading a book digitally is that errors
found are errors that have to be written down somewhere (or not), and it turns
out mostly Or Not applies. So the next novel will only be shared with early
readers in printed form.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
exception was John (husband) who read it in PDF Expert on his iPad. He was able
to mark it up in red on the screen with his Apple pen...he’s so fancy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I give
a reader the printed copy of the novel I try to include a red pen. “Please,” I
say, “write on it. I want to know where you like it, and where you hate it. If you
see a typo, or what you think may be a typo—mark it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You see,
I’m putting these friends to work. Help me, I’m begging.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However,
sometimes readers don’t want to mess up the paper. Sometimes they use a pencil
and write faintly to keep the manuscript clean. But how can I whine when they
were nice enough to read the damn book. After they finish with it, they nicely
tell me that they liked it. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My own
mother would be harder on me. Brutal. I miss my mother.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
Kristen Schoettle read <em>Intentional</em>
she inserted little hand drawn emojis on the margins. Smiles. Frowns. Tear
drops. Grammar corrections. “Ha-ha” here and there. She had suggestions for
additions—especially climate related. It was wonderful. Exactly what I longed
for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I was
only a third into writing <em>A Bird in the
House</em>, I reached a scary point where I was feeling vulnerable and
exposed—frozen. So I asked Kim McLott, my friend since the third grade, to read
what I had. The next day she called and told me to hurry up, “Get writing, and
don’t come out of your room until you’re done.” (French author Colette was
locked in a room by her husband Willy until she produced something salable.)
Kim wanted to know what happened next. I might never have finished without her
enthusiasm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And then
there were long phone calls with Lynn Bell, helping me solve the problem of a
four-year old who was smarter than she should be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Carol
Winslow brought me a stack of research on social services, and read and reread
scenes that I struggled with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ed
Sharples, retired professor of literature, was as tough on me as my mother
would have been, and I am grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My daughter
Sue said, “You write better than the author of <em>Fifty Shades of Gray</em>.” Whew! That’s a relief.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ann Amenta
said, “You can’t play Fur Elise if you’ve never had piano lessons.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdYkSmsuj_vLbMNmOFcUzrHpej3VqXJG6aVoOYBVj6qKm-jjMYt7ec21c8AccXGg-FVjfh-K6DEB0D-wD5DZZYGa1iyc2RM-ZHRr476Bp177CsuWzNeq5ifcfsbq6fDYzbZMmEWSPj2T9/s1600/BA+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdYkSmsuj_vLbMNmOFcUzrHpej3VqXJG6aVoOYBVj6qKm-jjMYt7ec21c8AccXGg-FVjfh-K6DEB0D-wD5DZZYGa1iyc2RM-ZHRr476Bp177CsuWzNeq5ifcfsbq6fDYzbZMmEWSPj2T9/s400/BA+book.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Barbara Aylward listed comments</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">on a sweet note with her grandsons photo.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are
many others—each finding a blip here or there, but all commenting in supportive
ways.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK3;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK4;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK5;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK6;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They say
that writing is a lonely endeavor, but its outcome is so much better with a
little help from your friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-32207587550557197052016-12-11T14:58:00.000-08:002016-12-12T10:13:49.663-08:00Give That Woman A Fish<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It’s a winter
wonderland out there. Snow is snowing. Wind is blowing. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">All this
snow, plus all the pretty lights on peoples’ house fronts, plus all the ads for
sales—Amazon keeps flashing me images of forbidden treats, jiggling temptations
before my computer illuminated eyes (could this be customer harassment?) all
this Xmasy stuff leaves no doubt that it’s present giving time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1vsZKCwFx4aSDYTSU0Br4e5ubrUWkkVwiyX6U3KhkHfKOMAtLUlrSKUCv_JlRYwN-TXTbjz-nB2c51x3NzknXimwyprvMDNNdj53l8LsNFL26LLaVmFaEhPqn3VXahOq11ZGCCQA1hj7/s1600/IMG_2369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1vsZKCwFx4aSDYTSU0Br4e5ubrUWkkVwiyX6U3KhkHfKOMAtLUlrSKUCv_JlRYwN-TXTbjz-nB2c51x3NzknXimwyprvMDNNdj53l8LsNFL26LLaVmFaEhPqn3VXahOq11ZGCCQA1hj7/s400/IMG_2369.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Santa will be
coming soon</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I’ve known that since October when Costco had Xmas candles and Halloween
costumes doing row dances for the holly/jolly days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But, Hey! What
happened to Thanksgiving?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ahh, but
Gobble-Gobble day</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">—a sweet dream of a trip to the country, over the river and through the woods—</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">is past, spent devouring my brother Tom’s turkey slathered in
bacon. Family. It’s a good thing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Black Friday is
over too, and I duly supported Citi Cards. Now, as Xmas eve draws near, I look
forward to the delight of another family gathering...and I’m thinking of my
mother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My mother was a
bit of a Grinch. For many years she balanced herself on a tiny stool in the
back of the Birmingham Post Office throwing/sorting mail on the midnight
shift. Christmas involved everyone in the world sending everyone else in the
world a card. She never got a day off from Thanksgiving to New Years, which tends to make
a one cranky or go postal. She chose cranky. She slept days, and dreaded the holidays. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I was already a
grown-up with my own family then. She lived with my grandmother and my (way
younger) brother and sister. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "\22 times\22 " , "\22 times new roman\22 " , serif; font-size: large;">She was a very overworked single mom, and adored by all of us, including our friends. She was a person you could talk to about anything. She was funny (I got my weird sense of humor from her), sarcastic (I got that too), and loving (I hope I got that). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“So, Mom, when
aren't you working or sleeping so we can celebrate Christmas,” I’d ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Baa, humbug,”
she’d answer. But she did get one day off</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Christmas Day</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">and we did get together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Gifts were a
serious problem. She didn’t like anything. I gave her some cute outfits, but at Easter they still graced the dining room table in their boxes. One year Tom gave
her a beautiful down coat that she never wore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">She was
compulsively frugal. Seriously. <i>Clinically</i> frugal. Maybe because of the Depression, maybe because most of the time she was the bread-winner and women didn't get paid all that well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Her greatest pleasure was
finding good (not bulging) dented cans of food and day old bread. </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">She liked brussel sprouts, s</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">o one autumn I
gave her a stalk of sprouts from the Farmers’ Market. She called me a couple days later and said, “Don’t ever do that
again.” The sprouts were too much work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUXpbqxFnEJq0EXPgu6NpyTRXFuxdEW9GX1KGmB6VO6mMwx9a2fpfSGh32Oj6bun5326uXuMsp2ZrJZ82XkjbNQdsxvg-sQCOte3CDIdBzbCuQSl4vrm3nm2hsGKGSq33Y0MwzyBj66ez/s1600/brussel-sprouts-plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUXpbqxFnEJq0EXPgu6NpyTRXFuxdEW9GX1KGmB6VO6mMwx9a2fpfSGh32Oj6bun5326uXuMsp2ZrJZ82XkjbNQdsxvg-sQCOte3CDIdBzbCuQSl4vrm3nm2hsGKGSq33Y0MwzyBj66ez/s200/brussel-sprouts-plant.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">At Christmas,
birthdays, and any, and all holidays, if you gave her a card it should be
unsigned so she could give it back to you on the next holiday. Cards were not
her favorite thing...remember, she worked at the post office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So one Christmas,
when I was at a total loss of what to get her, I bought her a whole salmon. A whole
friggin’ salmon is more work than a stalk of sprouts, but I did it anyway. I
was nervous. How should you wrap a twelve-pound salmon? In Santa paper? No, she
wouldn’t want me to waste money on wrapping. So I just left it in the grocery
bag, and when I handed it to her, I said, “Merry Christmas, Mom.” She took the fish. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And then, shock of all shocks: it was the best present she ever got. She told me so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dear Friends,</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> the lesson
here is </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">if you’re ever in doubt about a gift</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">give that woman a
fish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jyZDMXiPyaSTZDgLLf83hBmpklIJgDQh8R5_dHv33_OHrBog6Ap8RRIcGDlXszE844bbX9cx-sAHSXESe2EO062urScKn1IfhPuUnPWRgVmI8tWtjwCRlWQnU1-4qjNQLEA5Y4tGEix9/s1600/IMG_2368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jyZDMXiPyaSTZDgLLf83hBmpklIJgDQh8R5_dHv33_OHrBog6Ap8RRIcGDlXszE844bbX9cx-sAHSXESe2EO062urScKn1IfhPuUnPWRgVmI8tWtjwCRlWQnU1-4qjNQLEA5Y4tGEix9/s200/IMG_2368.jpg" width="200" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas, Everyone. </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>I miss you, Mom.</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-11162694447927767062016-11-09T11:57:00.000-08:002016-11-09T12:41:46.957-08:00What's Left<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a terrible headache
last night. When I woke up this morning, it was worse. In bed, I reached one
hand up to my head, analyzing where the pain was located. I opened my eyes</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">no spots. I used to get migraines. This wasn’t one.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5:00 a.m. I checked my iPhone. NY
Times News Alert...Donald Trump won the election.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After some aspirin and a
mouthful of bread, I just wanted quiet. No news is good news right? But being a
glutton for punishment, I pressed the TV remote’s buttons anyway. Someone said,
“The educated coastal elites haven’t been paying enough attention to middle
America... and that’s why Trump lovers were so mad” or something like that.
That’s why Trump won. I turned the TV off. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am a rustbelt-far-left-leaning-liberal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDxwkNy_R-vBmB3C0UWMWBJJ1LITPnPGtwgdybLduRzBZQSfIYgPEkoIFs9yB0lZ1Xdquurcix7VFxQgT0qDYdevrJeV5DUKLQrYGmlsN_jiKLULZr_zyMM_NEqpQhwJs5Jg8TCZCgEFO/s1600/IMG_2878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDxwkNy_R-vBmB3C0UWMWBJJ1LITPnPGtwgdybLduRzBZQSfIYgPEkoIFs9yB0lZ1Xdquurcix7VFxQgT0qDYdevrJeV5DUKLQrYGmlsN_jiKLULZr_zyMM_NEqpQhwJs5Jg8TCZCgEFO/s200/IMG_2878.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">I voted for Bernie, and
then, without holding my nose, or thinking I was picking the lesser of too
evils</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">I voted for Hillary. She had devoted her life to public service. Trump
devoted his to acquiring: wives, buildings, debts he didn’t pay, a school that
was a con, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first hours of grief are
the hardest. The novel I’ve been working on for the past two years seemed
worthless. Why bother. But there’s always eating, so I did quite a bit of that,
then I decided to clean...something I don’t decide to do very often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next, I checked out what my
liberal friends were saying on Facebook. There were several mentions of moving
to Canada. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought again about the
derogatory comment about liberals. So I asked myself what is a liberal? What am
I?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Answer: I am a leftie.
Right handed, left politically. Actually, <span style="color: #16191f;">I’m one
of those dangerous <b>extreme</b> liberals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As an Extreme
Leftie: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
that we should treat each other with respect—whatever our race, religion,
sexual orientation, or financial status.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
that sick people should be able to get health care.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
that children are entitled to a good public education.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
in helping the less privileged.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
old people (especially those in physical jobs) shouldn’t have to work until 70
to get Social Security. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe college should be affordable.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
in paying my taxes.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
people must have clean water.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
black lives matter. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe that each woman should be able to decide whether or not she gives
birth.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
that climate change is real.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe
in kindness, caring and listening. (I’m trying to get better at that
listening one).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Arial;">Although
Canada is a lovely country, I will stay here. I'm an American. And I will continue
having (and expressing) my extreme views.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-42552315632764755142016-02-09T04:32:00.000-08:002016-02-09T04:32:17.941-08:00Dull Drums<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7eeRxuCuV73QKMrHuOElwMIktnsa_4ukhFn68BiciNBd0ZgpLMSu7p2D3Ir2G90Hkne_oVmrfM4FIWFw_3GhukbIqIJ2KH15qeEK8ygeuCkabH8dzvkvRvRMht891KImUkjj1JhoJpl-/s1600/IMG_2568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7eeRxuCuV73QKMrHuOElwMIktnsa_4ukhFn68BiciNBd0ZgpLMSu7p2D3Ir2G90Hkne_oVmrfM4FIWFw_3GhukbIqIJ2KH15qeEK8ygeuCkabH8dzvkvRvRMht891KImUkjj1JhoJpl-/s200/IMG_2568.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I confess. I’ve been in the dull drums for months (yes, I
intended to say dull drums, not doldrums). Feeling dull, my drums gone quiet. I’ve
been pacing the house or sitting watching TV. Feeling old. Tired. Not in the
mood for anything, even murder mysteries on the boob tube couldn’t hold my full
attention. I was getting sick of myself. I did shower, and cook, and grocery
shop, but beyond that I just wasn’t happy. Maybe “depressed” fits. Maybe it
doesn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">My next novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Bird
in the House</i>, was sitting in the computer. Waiting. I thought about it
often. What happens next? Who does what to whom? Couldn’t make up my mind.
Too many pieces. Too complicated. Too hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">One day I decided to clean a closet. There was a huge plastic garbage bag filled with fabric
scraps that hadn’t been touched in at least fifteen years. It was a jumble of
little squares, tangles of frayed thread, and odd bigger chunks of cotton cloth. I
pulled the bag out and started sorting by colors. All the greens went into a
zip-lock bag. All the beiges went into another. Eventually I had sorted all the
scraps into their own little color coordinated homes. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Bags of colors filled two wicker baskets. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That was months ago. </span></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6iYXKYc3-B-Lg-GWiqyqNDkMFVwp1YSfsEJVcbyjqzgiZ81zouLF1Zzl2jRr2uHKWVtcBnI5uA5LaapysK2rTFc2VOSQMxiHKKayYjn79E3c-h344a29F4mEJfTX4Yhboi8cX8kkOcLj/s1600/IMG_2575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6iYXKYc3-B-Lg-GWiqyqNDkMFVwp1YSfsEJVcbyjqzgiZ81zouLF1Zzl2jRr2uHKWVtcBnI5uA5LaapysK2rTFc2VOSQMxiHKKayYjn79E3c-h344a29F4mEJfTX4Yhboi8cX8kkOcLj/s200/IMG_2575.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I cleaned out another closet. I discovered 18 inch squares of pieced together red and purple fabric that had
been centerpieces for a dinner I organized eighteen years ago. Memories of
that dinner aren’t happy, but the pieced squares were nice. I spread the </span><span style="font-size: large;">nine squares</span><span style="font-size: large;"> out,
side by side on my bed. If I added few more pieces (sixteen), it would be a whole
quilt.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I moved the sewing machine i</span><span style="font-size: large;">nto the room where I write and loaded it </span><span style="font-size: large;">with red thread. For the past two weeks I’ve been buying more
fabric and sewing my silly head off. No TV in the daytime. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9kvdpDFFJ_9EuUQv8eiHFfGKvVCroGfVFhG13qvn97c_1kFTw57Aj6FNhX4ewqU2IA0LIsopKo0aYEjbNhdeHNB5YstEVItYmcXXN2InyJRWGcnQLYIt0m945vTvRJ_9XBYjmJqap4WB/s1600/IMG_2578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9kvdpDFFJ_9EuUQv8eiHFfGKvVCroGfVFhG13qvn97c_1kFTw57Aj6FNhX4ewqU2IA0LIsopKo0aYEjbNhdeHNB5YstEVItYmcXXN2InyJRWGcnQLYIt0m945vTvRJ_9XBYjmJqap4WB/s320/IMG_2578.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Three days ago I
opened the laptop and read some of the novel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read pieces of story, events not fully sewn. I found lines that needed to be cleaner, straighter, more to the point. Dark
sections needed more humor. Purple needs red. Short sentences need long ones to
avoid boredom. Fabric combined in little squares and big chunks is more interesting.
Words are little squares. Paragraphs are pieced together blocks. And
what about transitions, how should I connect the pieces or paragraphs to create flow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday, in the middle of quilting mayhem, the novel got
900 new words. Today I wrote another 800. Life is good. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This afternoon, I have
work to do. I have another idea for the quilt. One craft feeds the other.</span></div>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-59940022055969794772015-10-18T09:58:00.000-07:002015-10-18T09:58:26.519-07:00Books! Hot dogs! Me!<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dear Friends, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's been awhile since my last blog post. Basically, I've been being a slug. It's nothing sad in my head, nothing to get excited about. Just being a slug. So I guess it's time to get up off my butt, do some jumping jacks, then sit right back down on my butt and write something. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have a fun event coming up next Sunday. I've been invited, along with more than 50 other writers, to take part in Leon & Lulu's Book & Authors event. They'll have 25 copies of my book, <i>Intentional, a novel,</i> available. So, if you don't have a copy yet, here's your chance. Woo Hoo! If you already have one of my books, come anyway and say hi. And maybe (highly likely) you'll find a treasure by another writer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hope to see you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Xo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Lynn</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHElJLRiHGMShez_KdMFSV_0lmn4r_NvstfOrk0nXu67ekVLQhIwte-DDNj3sv28CQLw8oegXpZaUHrVI3qDX-b-s4lHMviuFhthhYf-uE_OD71VBKkIiP7m5laG6JlzV5zagb8NIGIxaR/s1600/Lulu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHElJLRiHGMShez_KdMFSV_0lmn4r_NvstfOrk0nXu67ekVLQhIwte-DDNj3sv28CQLw8oegXpZaUHrVI3qDX-b-s4lHMviuFhthhYf-uE_OD71VBKkIiP7m5laG6JlzV5zagb8NIGIxaR/s640/Lulu.jpg" width="595" /></a></div>
<br />lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-81886868914239545432015-08-27T08:15:00.000-07:002015-08-27T14:51:58.996-07:00The Salad Bowl Mystery<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">On July 1st, </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">I was in our backyard unstrangling bindweed from the Rose of Sharon bushes, when I discovered a very pretty shell stuck on a leaf. It was creamy white with a brown line twirling into the center. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Our grandchildren, Megan and Jonathan were
visiting from Georgia. John (Papa) was at the pool at the corner of our block
watching the kids swim and dive. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">I took the interesting shell and put in on the back porch step</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">to show the kids when
they came home, and went back to weeding. But when I came back to the porch the
shell had moved. IT WAS ALIVE! (Drum roll here, or imagine the music from
Jaws).</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a snail.
It’s probably obvious that I have no snail experience on my resume. I gave it a
new home inside a high walled glass salad bowl, with a bumpy rock set in the
middle and some leaves for his lunch.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">I haven’t had a
pet since my old cat died in 1983, so I googled garden snails. They need dirt
for calcium that helps them build shell...so I put dirt in the salad bowl. I
fed him organic (from my garden) cucumber peels, basil, and strawberry leaves, and sprinkled in some
water (you don’t want your snail to dehydrate). <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">One Google snail site was for kids. A boy suggested putting a lid on your snail jar with holes punched in it for air. But that seemed mean (the lid, not the air), besides Speedy Sam always went back inside the bowl after a little stroll. Also the nasty kid in the video poked at the tiny snail's horns to show how they retract when touched. I wonder if that kid will be out twirling cats by their tails some day? </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Jonathan named our
new pet Speedy (oh, the irony!), and Megan named him Sam</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">that’s how we knew it
was a boy snail. Actually snails are Hermaphrodites, but still need another
snail to reproduce (Thank you, Google).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV1O5jNIKq8VGlHtyl7XhwTjTHk4I7CL5GPTSN0rrEVN5CriHnU6sj3nMEV2vPXHkdP864KWsojhgHcP-Txn5JLKkNG2hFtmeyCWkfunrO8hfDYo-FjSQujFpKaDHqt1HZXcyQDsBBjVK/s1600/IMG_1871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV1O5jNIKq8VGlHtyl7XhwTjTHk4I7CL5GPTSN0rrEVN5CriHnU6sj3nMEV2vPXHkdP864KWsojhgHcP-Txn5JLKkNG2hFtmeyCWkfunrO8hfDYo-FjSQujFpKaDHqt1HZXcyQDsBBjVK/s320/IMG_1871.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speedy Sam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">I told my
daughter-in-law about our new pet. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bonnie asked, “Are you going to eat
him?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">“What? Eat
Speedy Sam!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Snails are
escargot,” she <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">reminded me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Are you going
to eat Archie?” I asked. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Archie’s a Golden Retriever. They aren’t going to eat
Archie.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmIxCHlt2GGvoWfo03k78grt1JU9wm54lb8FfcJ38RsKDvmzVL2hf7kZT1FhjPYhMETwT-wPEJu1Qfp6FZf1TQSPLLCR26zQUE7uzmNSplFk8QcW-jfQW1Kqi0bjZi8J-URTluebEi6kI/s1600/IMG_1880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmIxCHlt2GGvoWfo03k78grt1JU9wm54lb8FfcJ38RsKDvmzVL2hf7kZT1FhjPYhMETwT-wPEJu1Qfp6FZf1TQSPLLCR26zQUE7uzmNSplFk8QcW-jfQW1Kqi0bjZi8J-URTluebEi6kI/s320/IMG_1880.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before dirt outside of the bowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">The kids went
home to Georgia and I kept feeding and watering Speedy Sam, but I have to tell you—I often
felt guilty watching him walk (slither) along the bowl’s rim. I’d say to John,
“Maybe we should put him back in the yard. Let him be free.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">This is liberal guilt rearing its do-gooder head. I’m against the death penalty,
against unjustified imprisonment. Shouldn’t this beautiful snail get to live in
the garden? He didn’t do anything wrong. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-ZIQK8mlrgUH9c8zgRzDE-EdcBrGe5Mdghebv5BqruwChLZ38VIYpKq-QlZS9m_05dk330HQJrNjUypbT07py9R7RRPcGAKInPZSyT8p4oAj3sA2nzQHlJntp__yJNdBVGcj_U9KZE5p/s1600/IMG_1974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-ZIQK8mlrgUH9c8zgRzDE-EdcBrGe5Mdghebv5BqruwChLZ38VIYpKq-QlZS9m_05dk330HQJrNjUypbT07py9R7RRPcGAKInPZSyT8p4oAj3sA2nzQHlJntp__yJNdBVGcj_U9KZE5p/s320/IMG_1974.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">After dirt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">But John liked watching him, and I
admit, I did too, so he stayed in the salad bowl sitting on a high table on our
screened back porch. We were family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Five days ago
Speedy Sam disappeared. When we checked his bowl in the morning, he was gone. We
took out his celery stalk. Occasionally we found him clinging to it upside down—but
not this day. We took out his half cucumber. We took out the rock and checked
under it. We pushed the dirt around with the celery stick. No Speedy Sam. We
searched the whole porch, under tables and chairs, ceiling, walls, screens.
Gone!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Two days later I
was weeding the vegetable garden and I found another snail. Is this Karma? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
brought it in, put it in Speedy Sam’s cleaned bowl, and added the rock and some
salad mix. This was a different snail. Darker. Smaller.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Two days later Snail
#2 was gone. Speedy Sam hung out with us for about fifty days. Snail #2 was
here just two days. Do snails have some telepathic means of telling each other
how to get out of a screened porch? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Is Karma crap? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Snails can see, but
their sense of smell is strongest, and they’re nocturnal. But how the heck did
they get out of the porch? I’m open to theories.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Epilogue:</span><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">As I wrote about
a snail</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">s sense of smell, I looked around our screened porch. On the west side the
screen is covered with ivy. That’s the way a smart snail would go—head for the
foliage. The green outdoor carpet is a little longer than the concrete floor on
that side, so it bends up about two inches. I moved chairs out of the way and
lifted the rug. And there was Speedy Sam. Dead...I was sure. But then several
times over the past weeks I thought he was dead. The phrase shouldn’t be,
“Playing possum,” it should be “Playing snail.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">He looked
wrecked. Dirty. So I put him back in the bowl with some cilantro I had just
picked, and showered a half-cup of water on his filthy shell. He didn’t move.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday
morning I checked the salad bowl. Speedy Sam was slithering around on the cilantro.
Later John and I took him out to the garden and had a little ceremony. I put
Speedy Sam back where I found him on a Rose of Sharon leaf. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: large;">I felt better</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: large;">relieved—I could quit feeling guilty...but it’s a little lonely. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: large;">Several times
during the day we checked and Speedy Sam was still clinging to the leaf. This
morning he was gone, perhaps off to find a boy/girl friend.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla3rG_GcldfbWGZtcWwDDBYk7IMphRO7jMpJMe1E0CylUCNjuLfz7J-zbHeGvj_9g-JCtHA40fXCoaJye0yW89sJnDbWICbflduZmDFZIUTpY0AhKaffdjDuQsFjGjw6DesWF5WvbtcoC/s1600/IMG_2042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla3rG_GcldfbWGZtcWwDDBYk7IMphRO7jMpJMe1E0CylUCNjuLfz7J-zbHeGvj_9g-JCtHA40fXCoaJye0yW89sJnDbWICbflduZmDFZIUTpY0AhKaffdjDuQsFjGjw6DesWF5WvbtcoC/s320/IMG_2042.jpg" width="290" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Freedom</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>PS. We still don’t
know where Snail #2 went?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-83800184690155281072015-07-23T13:39:00.001-07:002015-07-23T16:57:34.074-07:00Casting a Long Shadow<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">7:46 a.m.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I follow my shadow
West on our morning walk,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>When we head South,
the shadow (attached at my feet) is beside me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>When we turn again
the shadow chases me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sometimes the shadow
is obscured </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>by more dominating shadows of trees and buildings,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>but I know it’s
always there.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0amWJsuhmrNPOYkcKD5OWjBnMdjlDlzJiMJCN-K68Psflo1DRe8uYOTF25mFAkWYnCQQraF4jNwuPJwxmmK1VF4ErDrxat7nGY9ggbsAp67-K_4HRW9HtHU3ue9kLUOtxjQEgmRQ2YyMf/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0amWJsuhmrNPOYkcKD5OWjBnMdjlDlzJiMJCN-K68Psflo1DRe8uYOTF25mFAkWYnCQQraF4jNwuPJwxmmK1VF4ErDrxat7nGY9ggbsAp67-K_4HRW9HtHU3ue9kLUOtxjQEgmRQ2YyMf/s400/IMG_2966.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Nurses ask, “On a scale of one to ten how do you feel?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A graphic designer asks, “On a gray scale with white being
exquisite bliss and black being a black funk, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">just how funked up are you?”</span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY9L1S35LSPh6LMvlpzYLch3bSqVHy3aWp_vyVX43i8riUyHKyYGvlJekosxKP4qW61zPh7TcGurJEOmv6G3upevSUrUW7bpQxZV8dPsIiCl1Wjdx8yDV976trJELRAxVTy64-d9TN0Lo/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY9L1S35LSPh6LMvlpzYLch3bSqVHy3aWp_vyVX43i8riUyHKyYGvlJekosxKP4qW61zPh7TcGurJEOmv6G3upevSUrUW7bpQxZV8dPsIiCl1Wjdx8yDV976trJELRAxVTy64-d9TN0Lo/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray Scale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes 60%, sometimes 80%.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">So what are your symptoms?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">Lack of concentration.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">Eating too much.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Starting projects and not finishing.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">Staring at the wall.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Starting to do ordinary paperwork, li</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">ke
recording bills and filing and then stopping to stare at the wall some more.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Watching Netflix ALL DAY.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">Being tired.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Forgetting things. I just thought of something I forgot, but now I can't remember what I forgot.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">Feel redundant.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Not doing anything (Did I say that already?).</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Sounds like some depression (I saw those symptoms on a pill commercial).</span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><o:p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Hmm, but what if it’s alzheimer’s or dementia?</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">And why do you think this is happening to you?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">Maybe it’s an “after a big project is done” slump?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Maybe I’m sick of trying to promote my novel?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">Maybe I can’t figure out what happens in the
next novel? </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">15,745 words in, and I don’t know where I’m going.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Maybe I’m just tired?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">Maybe I’m eating too much sugar?</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Maybe it’s old age? Please not alzheimer's!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">So what are you doing to fix the funk?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">Taking a two-mile morning walk with John (and our
shadows) should help. But then I come home exhausted and sweaty, and need to watch Simon Baker
in “The Guardian” for a couple episodes. I doubt if that’s fixing anything.
Everyday, I say I’m not going to turn the TV on, but then I’m tired, so I turn
it on. Tomorrow, I promise not to turn the tv on.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">During previous summers, I discovered that walking did something good to my
brain--</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">plot issues would get resolved. So I'll keep walking everyday. Physical
activity is good for your mood and your brain and maybe your plot.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">The garden helps, like digging out weeds that
have been hogging the raised flowerbed for years. But I have to focus <i>only</i> on the shovel and the immediate weeds. If I look at the rest of the yard, I get
overwhelmed which leads to an 80% black funk.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #666666;">Focus on one flower. Make my eyes like a camera
lens and let all the background go fuzzy.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Read more of</span><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Super
Brain</span></i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: large;">and learn just how our amazing brains can be.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Should I try yoga? More organic food? Less sugar?</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Talk to friends. That really helps!</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;">Write a blog to myself, maybe I’ll find
answers...</span></span></li>
</ul>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-42586269016591770472015-05-24T13:25:00.000-07:002015-05-24T13:38:33.558-07:00The Urge to Purge<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I’m allergic to dust—seriously. A few years ago when I went
to the allergist for the first time, after some poking and scratching at my
surfaces, he discovered that I’m allergic to dust, grass, trees, and cats. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I
like cats. I had one for nine years, but then its nine lives ran out and I
didn’t have a cat anymore. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I don’t like dust. I mostly leave it alone. I tend
to treat it like I treat strange dogs, I walk by it quietly pretending to
ignore it so it won’t bite me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">At this point you can start humming “Another one Bites the
Dust” by Queen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Last Monday, I began purging in my dining room. If you
decide to purge, don’t do it in front of others. It can get ugly. Anyway, my
urge to purge comes from an overwhelming need to own less. My eyes are
constantly assaulted by STUFF. The fact that we have walls of open bookcases in
the living room and dining room doesn’t help (although they do look nice—John
built them, so of course, they’re wonderful).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My urge to purge is also inspired by Ann Amenta, my dear
friend who had a stroke last September. Ann is the most generous person I know,
she always gives dollars to homeless people, and months ago—even before the
stroke—she gathered piles of clothes and books and treasures from her house and
delivered them to a charity...not once asking for a receipt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After seeing Ann last Monday, I decided it was time to
tackle the dining room shelves. I should mention here that Ann sent me home
with six white bumpy bowls and a stack of square white little plates, when John
saw them he slapped himself on the forehead. Too many dishes. Too many bowls.
To make room for Ann’s presents I better start elimination. Purgery was about
to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By the time I finished culling, the dining room table was crammed
with goodies someone else would love (and dust). But all the Windex in the
Costco jug couldn’t tame the dust. My nose was dripping like an outdoor faucet
you accidently run into with your father’s car. (Don’t take that personally,
Laura). And then the sore throat came along to keep the runny nose company.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxEyxkjT8ltJ8u5I6C3o3rYYKTc_FMF2_FUUizpdLZdCA_bmyc2ZRvyZ4x7zuFf2VmUPIkyOSBXQzXLH6Otdj0lL5-Mp8F5_QDVDObi6lgAPunLBPkEuju6lxtk4oUST6n-HSKz9Ad9V9/s1600/IMG_1690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxEyxkjT8ltJ8u5I6C3o3rYYKTc_FMF2_FUUizpdLZdCA_bmyc2ZRvyZ4x7zuFf2VmUPIkyOSBXQzXLH6Otdj0lL5-Mp8F5_QDVDObi6lgAPunLBPkEuju6lxtk4oUST6n-HSKz9Ad9V9/s320/IMG_1690.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Loaded dining room table</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So for the rest of the week I sat on John’s recliner
sniffin’ and drippin’. The massive (not exaggerating) allergy attack turned
into a bad cold, then to avoid pneumonia the doc put me on antibiotics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But, listen to this, all the time sitting in the
chair I was itching to sort out more bookcases and closets. Purging is highly
addictive (Ann warned me). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My granddaughter, Kristen, is coming this afternoon to
select treasures from the dining room table. Grandson, Ryan, wants to snag a
few goodies too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dining room
cabinets look emptier and better than ever, and John gave me a dust mask from
his workshop (the garage).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5QOS3XNzeyEYpWPOB6Htw00Cp1okdpCjHrShm2pzbQfLO066VdapyphCvYFXimdP9kQl_aiT96OikTf3VC610Ray8wJqIYnSn5xN6gXV8LtDtS-LmGmS0_BoJforLJmkrv62dqiU4u5u/s1600/IMG_1695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5QOS3XNzeyEYpWPOB6Htw00Cp1okdpCjHrShm2pzbQfLO066VdapyphCvYFXimdP9kQl_aiT96OikTf3VC610Ray8wJqIYnSn5xN6gXV8LtDtS-LmGmS0_BoJforLJmkrv62dqiU4u5u/s320/IMG_1695.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Purged cabinets</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Next week more purging will happen! Dust be damned. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Is an addiction something you do even when you know there
might be suffering afterwards?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><o:p> Here's a tidbit (interesting or not). In my book, <i>Intentional, a novel</i> </o:p>the main character is named Dust. Hmmm?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you've read it and would like to give it a rating and/or review go here: <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Intentional-novel-Lynn-Arbor/dp/0986220604">http://www.amazon.com/Intentional-novel-Lynn-Arbor/dp/0986220604</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Every review counts. I've sold or given away a total of 110 books. There are 15 reviews (Thank you, reviewers!) I'm greedy, I need more. Please...</span></div>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-21066909327044533162015-04-10T12:56:00.000-07:002015-04-10T13:28:02.199-07:00Sniff, sigh, wipe a tear from your eye<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: large;">My children were
four and five years old, my first husband named John was in Chicago for three
months training for his new job, and my job was to find us a house. And I did.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a
charming little house with character, a repossession that FHA had cleaned up. They’d
cleared out trash (left by the previous owners), painted, reroofed, and
refinished the hardwood floors. It was a bargain—but for a young family just
out of the Air Force, expensive—$13,500. Whoa baby, it was scary to think we
were in so much debt after we signed the mortgage papers. This was 1967.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkNfi6kndjiEcaSZcYPoV5vL0yW9Qmr4TlBjujxKbosACq-Z2tG5t__xFUX9Xkj6cqAOqQFUWbHBfHfqWERQp6pRppJBL4bSQopvQhAxXSkZFjleOFq532iTZ9KJSUkAprDUhfXm3knET/s1600/412+N+Connecticut-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkNfi6kndjiEcaSZcYPoV5vL0yW9Qmr4TlBjujxKbosACq-Z2tG5t__xFUX9Xkj6cqAOqQFUWbHBfHfqWERQp6pRppJBL4bSQopvQhAxXSkZFjleOFq532iTZ9KJSUkAprDUhfXm3knET/s1600/412+N+Connecticut-3.jpg" height="320" width="303" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The only pictures I have of our little brown house.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">It was our first
house after six years of rentals near military bases in California and
Massachusetts. There were two small
bedrooms and bath on the main floor, a tiny dining room, and likewise, a tiny
kitchen, a finished attic bedroom, and a garage you couldn’t park a car in
because there were two big oak trees in front of it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">My kids grew up
there, and I grew up there too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">I loved that
house. When my first husband named John when out of town for a week to six
weeks for more job training, I always had a surprise for his return. Once I took out
all the upper cabinets in the kitchen and put in mirrors and open shelves.
Another time I removed the plaster from the outer walls in the cold, cold bedrooms,
insulated and put up new plasterboard. I built a concrete sculpture on a
chicken wire armature in the back yard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">My children
opened Christmas presents under the tree in that living room. They played with
our dog, Teddy. They dressed up for Halloween there. Sue learned to play the
clarinet, and Jim built a telescope out of a cardboard tube. They went though
grade school and junior high while we lived in that house. They survived their
parents’ divorce when they were 12 and 13, and still that house was their home.
The summer after Sue graduated from high school, and Jim finished the eleventh
grade, I sold the house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">I sometimes
drive by “our” house. I don’t know why. Maybe just to check on it? In Spring I
check to see if the twenty mail order 6 inch azaleas that I planted are still blooming. Last
year they were huge festoons of shocking pink, at least 5 feet high, surrounding the brick front terrace that Sue and I built.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">A few days ago,
I drove by and a high cyclone fence that came out to the front sidewalk
surrounded the house. Why, I wondered? Was it condemned or what? I didn’t see
any notice in the window.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Then the day
before yesterday, not even thinking about the fence, I was on my way home from
Costco and just turned down North Connecticut. I was confused for a moment.
Something was missing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">It was the
house. Totally gone. Gone. I felt weepy. I looked at that small bare lot and thought
about how big our lives were when we lived there, and what a small about of
space we took up in the world. Our four lives were full and rich in less than 700 square feet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7NQrvBpoXVsg5euf4MJttfA6O-udvwKFtp5CNF1CxEMieqEmDuWv_kcZPQIzrsMMIHNe0EtBThlJPvSfqKP3IYC4XHObxmeXPfkjy-a0-932QUd6AkQavb-lxiErJ8IymyQJc1cby8Ie/s1600/no+house-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7NQrvBpoXVsg5euf4MJttfA6O-udvwKFtp5CNF1CxEMieqEmDuWv_kcZPQIzrsMMIHNe0EtBThlJPvSfqKP3IYC4XHObxmeXPfkjy-a0-932QUd6AkQavb-lxiErJ8IymyQJc1cby8Ie/s1600/no+house-1.jpg" height="320" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The three big oaks still stand, will they disappear too.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">That night I
called my kids. They were both distressed. Sue talked about how her elementary
school and her junior high school were both gone, and her high school was now a
junior high...nothing of her childhood still existed. Jim said he still had
dreams about that house (I do too). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe I shouldn’t
have told them? Maybe they never do drive-bys? But it mattered to both of them,
and in my sadness I had to talk to someone who’d share that loss.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t drive
down our old block again. I don’t want to see the big-foot that will replace
our little brown house, but then again...no promises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-18978036977947084412015-03-21T17:51:00.000-07:002015-03-22T12:06:17.394-07:00The Doing of It<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The novel’s written, the launch party’s over...so now what
do I do with myself? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For weeks when John left the house each day to see clients
or work in his </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">office</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> at Panera, I wanted to say, “Don’t leave. I don’t know what
to do with myself.” I didn’t say it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then here I was pacing the house. I couldn’t clean.
Cleaning takes concentration. I thought about putting things in piles—donate,
sell, keep. Pare down. Get my life and this house in order. I’d pick up an old
box of some cleaning product, and I’d think, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I should take this to the recycling center where
they could properly dispose of it.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> And then I’d put it back in the same spot. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was too quiet. I watched TV. I ate things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was exhausted. I had pains. Maybe my arteries were clogging? Maybe I
was catching John’s heart problem? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to the doctor.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I was healthy as a horse. <i>But why
is health equated with horses? </i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I reread <i>Intentional </i>and discovered some formatting errors. Imperfection. Aargh! Revisions would mean getting a new ISBN number, a new bar code. Resubmitting, fussing with the cover, redoing the Kindle and Smashwords versions. Would it mean a
new Library of Congress number too? Just thinking about it made me feel even
more exhausted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The thing is, I was suffering from post book depression.
Maybe it should be called Post Bookum Depression. It happens. When you're finishing a
big creative project (or maybe any big project) there are frantic, final,
all consuming finishing touches. When all the tasks are done, you’re wiped out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s
over. Now what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This isn’t to say that the month since the book launch has
been all bad. Many people sent emails or even cards saying they liked my novel. And on March 11th, I got an
email from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kirkus Reviews</i> saying:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Your review for
"Intentional" was selected by our Indie Editors to be featured in <i>Kirkus Reviews</i> 3/1
Issue. Congratulations! Your review appeared as one of the 20 reviews in the Indie section of
the magazine which is sent out to over 5,000 industry professionals (librarians, publishers,
agents, etc.) Less than 10% of our Indie reviews
are chosen for this, so it's a great honor. You can view the 3/1 issue here:</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/02r3p9urpffgckd/Kirkus_Online_030115.pdf?dl=0"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.dropbox.com/s/02r3p9urpffgckd/Kirkus_Online_030115.pdf?dl=0</span></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></o:p></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And that was wonderful. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I was still in a funk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then yesterday I went into the room where I write. I’ve
heard that sitting too much isn’t good for you, and I’ve been sitting too much.
So I piled some things up and arranged my laptop at elbow height. I would stand at
least part of the time to write the next novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stood there reading over the first few chapters of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Bird in the House</i>, which I’d started months ago when <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Intentional</i> was off at the
copyeditor’s. Then I wrote the gist of each chapter on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">post-it notes</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, so I could
rearrange them on my white board, clarifying the order of events, and hopefully stop confusing myself.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hh9s2eeFA9BEBikkeXaJkxAgPOZTp_N5MgZaXYIvFZwekotpN1uZOgnFzlbzsWj6IresG6-27GAH2c3bgHicxeEylgsY3gEC63KMmdTiUr296jDpwbl2YmJqf7_O6rBO6_DkICcuzFNa/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hh9s2eeFA9BEBikkeXaJkxAgPOZTp_N5MgZaXYIvFZwekotpN1uZOgnFzlbzsWj6IresG6-27GAH2c3bgHicxeEylgsY3gEC63KMmdTiUr296jDpwbl2YmJqf7_O6rBO6_DkICcuzFNa/s1600/images.jpeg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bird</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked out the window and there was a shockingly red
cardinal in the oak tree. All the chapters in the new book start with a bird
quote or fact. Cardinal? Yes! Chapter 4 would be titled, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Cardinal Sin”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I started
writing the new chapter. A sentence. Another sentence, and then it
happened...words appeared on the computer screen that I hadn’t planned. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was it. The fun part! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The funk lifted. It was my best day
in a month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best part isn't the party. It</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">’</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s not the wine and hugs. It</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">’</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s not the compliments on a job
well done, a</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lthough those are all very wonderful. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">he very best part is </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><i>the doing of it</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;">.</span></div>
<br />lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-22256813751881074902015-02-16T10:29:00.004-08:002015-03-21T18:28:09.752-07:00The Book Report<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to all my friends and family, </span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">who came out on </span></b></i><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">a cold dark Monday night </span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">to help launch my book. </span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been a busy week since my book launch party last Monday night. Here's the story...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">February 8th.</span></b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">..</span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sunday</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I spent the day having an anxiety attack. It was supposed to rain and it was freezing cold. Rain and cold equals ICE! No one would come. I wouldn't even be able to get to the church. I expected to hear travel alerts any minute. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pacing. Nervous. What would I say. I hadn't written a speech. Damn, I should have written a speech. Whatever was I thinking? But then, why worry? Freezing rain—<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">no one would come.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>February 9th...</b></span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #3d85c6;">Monday morning.</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #3d85c6;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No ice on our driveway. NO ICE! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I drove north to the church to get the key, so we could lock up after the party. I dropped off a couple books. Talked to Jim Shettel about the arrangement of chairs and tables in the Pavilion. Butt tested a table—I was thinking I'd sit on the table edge instead of standing at the podium. Nice and relaxed, unless you break the table and fall on the floor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the way home I stopped at Trader Joes for more treats and wine. <i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; text-align: center;">No ice on the road!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My sister-in-law Terry stopped by. She brought a huge hug and a beautiful bouquet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I studied my book, finding passages to read after John confirmed or looked skeptical. I decided against reading one of my favorite lines in the book, “What the fuck, Chuck!” I was going to be reading in a church, for God’s sake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">That Night</span></b><b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My dear husband, who had heart surgery in September, loaded boxes—four heavy boxes filled with 100 books and a case of wine—into the van. (Here, so you’ll know I’m a good and loving wife, I will mention that he’s been working out everyday—including a lot of weight lifting.) I loaded bags of treats and sweets, and we picked up Ann Amenta in route to BOOK NIGHT.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CmDw2dYCh8gdXwECQMjyKPjDxlVR1ih_u3ST9G0GC45MWxOhNxnUMVEvWoM9g_EfIDjgl0tohSo5w2wFwFiRV5VQRgWkUDjuCj4zILmANu2ZiwMSpiGkL3uKmX_VGb3EFbaEM36FeLvR/s1600/Helpers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1CmDw2dYCh8gdXwECQMjyKPjDxlVR1ih_u3ST9G0GC45MWxOhNxnUMVEvWoM9g_EfIDjgl0tohSo5w2wFwFiRV5VQRgWkUDjuCj4zILmANu2ZiwMSpiGkL3uKmX_VGb3EFbaEM36FeLvR/s1600/Helpers.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My Helpers: Keith Brown, Ann Amenta and Joy Powell.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John's busy somewhere. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Keith arrived early to set up the church’s coffee pot. The red and white checked tablecloth was spread on the treat table, and things were looking good. Ann arranged Terry’s bouquet. Joy arranged cookies. </span>John and<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> I arranged the books in piles on a table at the front of the room—same table that would hold my butt.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">People started coming, lots of hugs happened. Then some folks wanted books but couldn’t stay, so John and I stationed ourselves at the table. He took money and I signed books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The room filled. All these people had come out in the cold on a Monday night. As I looked around at all the faces, I realized that these people were all my friends. People I liked, who liked me back. I wasn’t nervous. I plopped my butt down on the edge of the table and talked. I read some passages (none with the F word). The table didn't break. At one point I meant to take a sip of wine, and the glass shook so bad that the wine splashed out. Okay, so I wasn’t nervous…the wine glass was. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKHWKCSkIsipFnqnlIQz63klyyJDg_0xif6oJnWWq9K8Ge_T3NBNZqE4purfiXxTiLCvbNnh5n9Y59mUBVLTfHRKBj05Ts0ZSSfFCVUNUNYBhjXHd2KKsnXMT0VRwwm-ISLIGUjHw6z1W/s1600/lynn+at+book+launch.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKHWKCSkIsipFnqnlIQz63klyyJDg_0xif6oJnWWq9K8Ge_T3NBNZqE4purfiXxTiLCvbNnh5n9Y59mUBVLTfHRKBj05Ts0ZSSfFCVUNUNYBhjXHd2KKsnXMT0VRwwm-ISLIGUjHw6z1W/s1600/lynn+at+book+launch.tiff" height="196" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Relaxing after my talking was done.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">At the end of my talking and answering a few questions, John spoke up. He told everyone that he wasn’t there at the conception of my book. He was though…I remember running ideas past him and his fertile encouragement. Then he said, right there in front of everyone, “I’m really proud of you.” It was a high point for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">John thinks that 70 people came. I'm not sure, but I was thrilled and honored that each one of you took the time to come out.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Thank you all!</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">This week I’ve met friends who wanted a book, but missed the launch party. I still have more deliveries to make. Libraries: Huntington Woods and Royal Oak each have a copy, and this week Ferndale and Birmingham are also getting gift books. So if you don’t have one, and want to read it, ask your librarian.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cEh6QiCDhYgf_e0vm0pRj8xaEobEorxROggeUW003Sne9y4iqhVwOzrkKmjuIA3hoaigncep_MhquDy-EFr5GhuFpyxqI-uV2UPwGvSISCEMprv7utcE1Jr7Sgmq4lp6i7IweB-qcqfb/s1600/books+on+the+shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cEh6QiCDhYgf_e0vm0pRj8xaEobEorxROggeUW003Sne9y4iqhVwOzrkKmjuIA3hoaigncep_MhquDy-EFr5GhuFpyxqI-uV2UPwGvSISCEMprv7utcE1Jr7Sgmq4lp6i7IweB-qcqfb/s1600/books+on+the+shelf.jpg" height="168" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vertical books are waiting for their owners.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Horizontal books are resting until they're adopted.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Books are also available on </span><a href="http://amazon.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="color: blue;">amazon.com</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> for paperbacks, and Kindle books. And </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: blue;"><a href="http://smashwords.com/">smashwords.com</a> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">has iBooks.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">PS. After the love and kindness you’ve all shown, I feel guilty asking one more thing. But, if you're so inclined, please consider writing a brief (or long) review and rate the book on my Amazon page. You don’t have to buy the book from Amazon to write a review. <b>Reviews really do matter.</b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white;">Love you all!</b></span></i></div>
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lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-32492197107617433732015-01-29T10:04:00.001-08:002015-02-16T11:06:53.151-08:00IT'S A BOOK!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyC4c94SUzpxx28xahcX6bqIy31NhUVfVFM8Vr0URtGvhJXMCyeuRsq8OLKSEJ9Gh6kv-b0dhpfqZpR1IVuhQn2xCznz848GWULtNKQjfm89XE5XC1P-bHOd9p3Y3n0awqQUGvdxrqpwV/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyC4c94SUzpxx28xahcX6bqIy31NhUVfVFM8Vr0URtGvhJXMCyeuRsq8OLKSEJ9Gh6kv-b0dhpfqZpR1IVuhQn2xCznz848GWULtNKQjfm89XE5XC1P-bHOd9p3Y3n0awqQUGvdxrqpwV/s1600/book.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b> </b></span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;"><b>Delivered:</b> January 24th </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">(After 3 proof copies)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Weight:</b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 1 pound</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Height:</b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 9 inches, Width:
6 inches, Pages: 264</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Given name:</b><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Intentional,
A Novel</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIVat_erh5kkUq7URO_5SguREckehxCkOBEjzNujq6RKzCk8YK__BC9u2RmsbGCkHD_GMw6SIbKMMQszVfaxqnJiaVNgXOzJmFM0QxfRgv7McCd-MsouuvxfW_AupwfJVHZOfOnFjnHad/s1600/INTENTIONAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIVat_erh5kkUq7URO_5SguREckehxCkOBEjzNujq6RKzCk8YK__BC9u2RmsbGCkHD_GMw6SIbKMMQszVfaxqnJiaVNgXOzJmFM0QxfRgv7McCd-MsouuvxfW_AupwfJVHZOfOnFjnHad/s1600/INTENTIONAL.jpg" height="79" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There will be a party
celebrating this book's very difficult delivery.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>YOU'RE INVITED!</b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Monday, <b><span style="color: magenta;">February 9th</span></b>, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">7:00 till 9:00</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The book's Mom will read
a bit </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(showing off her new born), </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">
and answer questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Get your autographed
copy</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There with be copies available for purchase </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">($15.00 each)</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The mom is covering
shipping costs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Such a deal!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p> </o:p>Wine, sweets and coffee
will be served.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Location:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Birmingham Unitarian Church</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">38651 Woodward Avenue</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just North of Lone Pine Road </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Please RSVP</span> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Facebook friends RSVP in comments.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Blog Friends RSVP by email.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you forget to RSVP, come anyway. Bring friends.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you can't come, you
can get a signed book from me,</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">or shop on Amazon.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">E-book versions will be
available-- </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Kindle, Smashwords and iBooks after February 7th.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">PS. I've read it, and it's pretty good.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The shiny cover feels good to the touch. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yeah, I admit it, </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I pet the book. </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-79260372773598080562015-01-14T11:23:00.000-08:002015-03-21T18:29:43.940-07:00Oh Baby, the Sun was Shining<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been nervously waiting for several weeks to hear what
Kirkus Review would write about my novel. Then when the email came yesterday, I
was afraid to open it. But forcing myself to be brave, I clicked on it, and it was very
good news. The reviewer didn't use any of those words I was worried about, like "boring," "sappy," "stupid," "icky," or "don't bother with this one." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was good.
And most exciting...the reviewer read the exact book I wrote. He or she got it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then another good thing happened on sunshiny Monday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4MZf7ufKQZUdRO6D9rNhwRUL7g0ot9Z4ml-XToDyJrOtSLdq0aTuiWpEMgTR8lEl7l6YIJ6a7ni6kORKrExlmlBXLe3xHXuSnfcP3d-7jIZfrgFu0_yciSYCDLzLL7LfF8-kLxcWa0sj/s1600/book+proof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4MZf7ufKQZUdRO6D9rNhwRUL7g0ot9Z4ml-XToDyJrOtSLdq0aTuiWpEMgTR8lEl7l6YIJ6a7ni6kORKrExlmlBXLe3xHXuSnfcP3d-7jIZfrgFu0_yciSYCDLzLL7LfF8-kLxcWa0sj/s1600/book+proof.jpg" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The proof copy of <i>Intentional </i>came from CreateSpace, and I'm
thrilled. It looks better than I expected. IT'S A REAL BOOK! White and Shiny.
There were a couple things that I need to fix (like adding a "praise page"
using some lines from the Kirkus Review) and putting the Acknowledgements page
back in (now how the heck did that get lost). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I'm hoping for a publishing date of January
30. Crossed fingers. We'll see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, here's the review...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">KIRKUS REVIEW</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In this novel, a woman’s friends and family deal with the
aftermath of her suicide as they try to understand her reasons and their own
roles.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The last Lily Cummings hears from her best friend, Dust
Steward, is a text message: “I love U. Be.” Be what? Dust (shortened from
Dusty) can never tell her, because she shoots herself with her husband’s gun in
the fancy bathroom of their home’s luxurious new addition. Lily, 37, together
with Dust’s husband, daughter, mother and neighbor, struggles with her grief,
confusion and guilt. Dust left no note and had apparently been planning the
suicide for some time. Why? A passionate environmentalist, Dust hated the house
extension and its enormous carbon footprint—concerns that her husband, Robert,
with his conservative political ambitions, dismissed. He also threatened to
keep their daughter, Grace, from her if she tried to divorce. Now, he must face
up to his role: “I’m not innocent….Everything she believed in, I smacked down.
I did it.” With good cause or without, everyone wonders if they could have done
more. Dust’s suicide becomes a catalyst for other major life changes
elsewhere—a collapsing marriage, rapprochement with a long-gone mother, etc.
Throughout this intelligent and perceptive novel, Arbor traces with strength
and delicacy the many strands leading up to and away from a suicide. She brings
out the textures of people’s lives through their in-jokes and little customs so
that readers can feel the web of living connections that Dust was part of and
left behind. The childhood friendship between Lily and Dust is shown to be full
of the shared fears, hopes and joys that kept them friends into adulthood,
which helps define the scope of loss. Though everyone tries to play detective
to understand Dust’s suicide, the answers are messy. After Dust’s death, one of
her jigsaw puzzles, unfinished, lies gathering dust, the pieces never put
together.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A thoughtful, sensitive but never saccharine exploration of
what suicide leaves behind.--<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kirkus
Review</i></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-26839587652237631112015-01-04T12:16:00.002-08:002015-03-21T18:30:36.949-07:00INCOMPATIBILITY<style>@font-face {
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}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }.MsoChpDefault { font-family: Cambria; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, no, don’t get excited, this isn’t about anyone’s
marriage. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is about the final drama of making a
manuscript become a book. Ugh. This isn’t the fun part.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two and a half years ago, on July 2, 2012, I wrote the first 500 words of my novel. It was the
beginning of the fun part. I'd wake up at 5:00 a.m. with some idea gelling in
the dark, then get up and hang out with imaginary friends, while writing in the Pages program on my Mac laptop. This was very entertaining. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But at some point I discovered that publishers only want books written
in Microsoft Word, so in 2013 Santa brought me <i>Word for Mac</i> for Christmas. This year Santa bought himself a new PC
laptop and Mrs. Santa gave him the latest version of Microsoft Word for PC’s.
Aren’t we romantic?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning a new computer program was a struggle, but hey, Wonder
Woman can conquer anything. All you have to do is stand in the middle of a room
and twirl. Yeah, right. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I did it. I figured out <i>Word for Mac</i>. I completed the novel,
sent out the manuscript, and got the rejected manuscript back several times. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO660CbjJQ1DANrIr9kIVlATu9OCw-gfsHR9g2kwX5x_D5ElZY6VswBjOjPzOIdxZSo9RyfCHhTfBMHgDhxF3YaKmbnR3x4YLilPz1Fuf_ehKis5lO9dLcYGH0oJ94jWESBaxfepxvvlc4/s1600/Bug-flattened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO660CbjJQ1DANrIr9kIVlATu9OCw-gfsHR9g2kwX5x_D5ElZY6VswBjOjPzOIdxZSo9RyfCHhTfBMHgDhxF3YaKmbnR3x4YLilPz1Fuf_ehKis5lO9dLcYGH0oJ94jWESBaxfepxvvlc4/s1600/Bug-flattened.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I decided that before I was buried six feet under with my skin
decomposing, I would make it a real book. I decided to use CreateSpace
(Amazon) for paperbacks, and Smashwords for e-books. I would become an Indie (Independent)
Publisher, so I registered my assumed identity with the State of Michigan for
ten bucks. Ta da! Now I’m Spring Forward Publishing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nancy Massa designed
my logo. Awesome. Life is sweet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then came the cover design. Since I spent years at the College for Creative Studies learning how to do such a thing, there was no question—I
would (with tweaking help from Nancy) design my own cover and the inside pages of the novel. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were several incarnations of cover designs: a dark
room with candles flickering (it seemed to be selling a
spiritual-self-help-New-Age book); hot air balloons floating in a New Mexico
blue sky. Although there’s a scene in the book with hot air balloons, it just looked
too light and fluffy. Finally with votes from my blog friends and Facebook
friends, the white cover was the winner. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did I mention that I had to buy a bullet for
the cover image? Ms. Anti-gun got the heebie-jeebies going up to the gun
counter. John hid in another part of the store while I had a clerk pull bullets
out of boxes so I could pick the prettiest. I only needed one, but I had to buy
a whole box. $24.99 plus tax. I'll donate them to our police department.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, I learned that I’d need to buy ISBN numbers from
Bowker. Since I might print other versions of my book and write more books
in the future, it’s recommended that I buy a package of ISBN numbers. So I
did. Then I needed to buy a bar code for this book. So I did. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I almost forgot about the emails to Rogers and Hammerstein for permission to use the lyrics from "My Favorite Things." That'll be $75 up front for the license which covers 500 copies of the book. Thank you very much. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW97eXa5pQihnic_IMaefI550EY6QVVZnt5nC59lh-GYwQGg8rHW1JdKN_qKMXOCRE8KRRMvlDdw-xn5pwc3LsfTZfcG9a0XOR3DrwPplMf_G2eJ_8ZAsBM_LqR19wSSiXuS7TC7qOdmA/s1600/IMG_1019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW97eXa5pQihnic_IMaefI550EY6QVVZnt5nC59lh-GYwQGg8rHW1JdKN_qKMXOCRE8KRRMvlDdw-xn5pwc3LsfTZfcG9a0XOR3DrwPplMf_G2eJ_8ZAsBM_LqR19wSSiXuS7TC7qOdmA/s1600/IMG_1019.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">White board with my To-Do list</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a very good art/graphic design education, but my grammar knowledge makes
me insecure. You can ask your friends to read the book. But, you should never
ask them to check your grammar. Who knows, you might need a kidney donor some
day. I needed some serious professional help, so I hired a copy editor...very
expensive, very worth it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m going to need a Library of Congress number too. So yesterday
I filed a request and in a week I should have a form to fill out and return. If
you get one through Amazon they charge, but if you go though the actual Library of Congress it’s free.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then yesterday I ran into a huge snag. The book has to be
submitted by email as a PDF file. When I made the PDF, my page numbers were
missing their cute little bottom halves. After several hours of tearing my hair
out and reading on line forums, I decided to move the numbers to the top of the
pages. When I did that, the headers disappeared. That’s the area at the top of
the facing pages that should have my
name and the books title. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Desperate, I took my book file via a little detachable drive downstairs and plugged it into John's PC. SOLUTION! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not so fast. Word on the PC is a different animal, a wet dog
maybe. The whole program looked alien. The
buttons, knobs and pulleys were all in different places. Damn you, Bill Gates! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was tempted to throw in the towel. I was also tempted to
throw both the computers out the window. Maybe I
should just let someone at CreateSpace deal with my layout? For $199
CreateSpace would format my book for me. Or just forget the whole thing? Just stick the damn book in a
file drawer and be done with it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No. Hell no. I’ve already invested so
much I can’t just discard the book. My heart's in there...plus thousands of hours
and dollars. I bought bullets for God’s sake.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, calm down. Find the help menu. Read it. No, don’t just
skim it. Read it again...every word. Hey, there’s a button I didn’t know I was supposed to
click (it’s not on the Mac version). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Woo Hoo, I got page numbers and heads at the top of the page.
Now just put it on my Mac upstairs and check how it prints.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dang! All my nice Helvetica Light chapter heads had
transformed into something obnoxious. My darling husband and I have
incompatible fonts. However, the Garamond body copy looked fine. Now what? Use
the C word. Compromise. I changed all the heads to Garamond. Not exactly what I
wanted, but it would work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember Geppetto in Pinocchio, wishing for a real boy.
Well, I’m wishing for a real book. Someday. But it’s harder than wishing. You
have to push the right button.</span></div>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-19112268410210083542014-12-28T12:32:00.000-08:002014-12-28T13:21:49.045-08:00When OK isn't okay<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back when dinosaurs roamed the planet, I worked as a graphic
designer and shared a room in a graphics studio with Nancy Massa for about twenty years. Nancy’s
nickname was Half-Point, because she would send copy back to the typesetters
and ask them to reduce the spacing by a half point—that’s like a hair’s
difference. She's a meticulous designer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, of course, Nancy was the person I wanted to help me when I was working on my book's cover. We spent hours together nudging the elements
(title, post-it notes, chalk, chalk crumbs, bullet, etc.) into position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember how Nancy used to squint at paragraphs of type. It should look consistently gray—never blobby or bumpy with
some letters looking thinner or thicker than the rest. The way black type colors up on a white page matters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg776P76b3Ocs9m3HIlW7L9k5zkZrE2HjT2-uhFtvlHlAvy2LezAPXIrrLbRr4yLMGIH65AzmkhBz4jGhZVS0_t-GUPwUJ-co-6E45pv4oVFZOEghbtHKyRWoYaNM4T20WLqWSfWGMxHjEr/s1600/OK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg776P76b3Ocs9m3HIlW7L9k5zkZrE2HjT2-uhFtvlHlAvy2LezAPXIrrLbRr4yLMGIH65AzmkhBz4jGhZVS0_t-GUPwUJ-co-6E45pv4oVFZOEghbtHKyRWoYaNM4T20WLqWSfWGMxHjEr/s1600/OK.jpg" height="191" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple weeks ago, my novel came back from the copyeditor. She fixed my misuse of commas, found misplaced words, removed the
extra “L” that I consistently added to the word </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cancelled</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, oops, I mean </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">canceled</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.
One L is common in American English, while two L’s is common in Britain,
Canada, and Australia. She broke up my run-on sentences. She corrected my
tenses, “been there, done that,” “is there, doin’ that,” “will be there, and do
that.” I’m getting tense just thinking about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She also changed “okay” to “OK”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went through the
manuscript and made the corrections she suggested, but the “OK’s” haunted me. “OK”
seemed too loud, the capital letters almost acted like bold type. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OK </b>jumped out of the paragraph and
yelled at me. Whereas, “okay” with it’s lowercase letters, was quiet, more
passive and colored up better on the page. It merged with the other words and didn't draw special attention to itself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The word “okay” is easy, calm, not excited. Well,
unless you’re in a pissed-off mood, and someone’s bugging you to do something
that you don’t want to, and you have to yell, “Okay, already!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In many publications, okay is not OK. Only a third of publications use “okay.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wall Street
Journal</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Chicago Manual of
Style,</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 16th edition uses OK.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New York Times</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
uses O.K.</span></li>
<li><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reuters</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> uses okay.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, too bad. I don’t like the way "OK" colors up on the
page. Nancy would agree. "OK" is just too loud. So I went back through the
manuscript and typed “ok” into the search box in Microsoft Word. I changed </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the "OK’s" back to "okay" (consistency
is important).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are creative liberties to consider here. In her
wonderful novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Orchardist</i>,
Amanda Coplin wrote the dialog without quote marks. It added a sense of quiet
to the pages.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My novel has people who talk with quote marks around their
words, maybe not as creative as Coplin, but that's okay. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-86394132096915200492014-12-18T06:55:00.000-08:002014-12-18T06:55:14.961-08:00Help me choose a cover<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tis the Season: shopping, baking stars and gingerbread men,
trimming trees, decking the halls and voting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Voting, yes!</span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbDdCK_nFrUCWUDzZxfjt3myP1W1YScoz6mA5ILxnezsaFFzei8f60GT9VDyv3cGz8fmDGUACK_HQvB4Fbcg2RO8K8l3ggAXYdNnjRk_dlhdoDjJsAQySr4bpeumdywvxn8OKRxwo_LnL/s1600/Cover+images+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbDdCK_nFrUCWUDzZxfjt3myP1W1YScoz6mA5ILxnezsaFFzei8f60GT9VDyv3cGz8fmDGUACK_HQvB4Fbcg2RO8K8l3ggAXYdNnjRk_dlhdoDjJsAQySr4bpeumdywvxn8OKRxwo_LnL/s1600/Cover+images+for+blog.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please help me pick the best
cover for my novel. Imagine you’re in a bookstore and these three covers are in
front of you. Which would you pick up? All have the same elements. It’s just
the backgrounds that are different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then email me at <a href="mailto:lynnarbor@me.com">lynnarbor@me.com</a>. In the subject line write
1, or 2 or 3. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can say more in the
email if you want, but I know you still have shopping to get done. And
wrapping! Oh my gosh, there’s so much to do. Forgive me for bothering you, but I
really want your opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks, and Happy Holidays to you all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lynn</span></div>
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lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-6635379140800282652014-12-13T06:51:00.000-08:002014-12-13T08:12:12.023-08:00Six<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When I was six, Santa brought me a cocker
spaniel, and I liked building houses out of cardboard boxes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When my husband, John, was six, his parents
brought him to the US on a ship from Austria. Before he could speak any English, he liked
exploring Chicago on his way home from school. He still likes exploring Chicago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When my daughter, Sue, was six or seven, she
got her first pair of glasses, collected feathers, and loved animals. She now has two cats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When my son, Jim, was six, Neil Armstrong
walked on the moon. Mrs. Santa made him a huge flat moon on a piece of plywood
with heavy gesso craters, Santa brought him little space ships and astronauts. He still likes looking at stars.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnsSdhzw3bsqVFizROhK6JOeCcmy3J1C_b2zQ0td529LNFSDNTbVQTAF0uQXImUFdy4cT4Pn5KDLUopbXHE6SFQukhlld48n51y7BJEA7SvcVZ8K1wK_gili-154AQaULYLL8ylIeb0Mf/s1600/Jim+and+Sue+with+Teddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnsSdhzw3bsqVFizROhK6JOeCcmy3J1C_b2zQ0td529LNFSDNTbVQTAF0uQXImUFdy4cT4Pn5KDLUopbXHE6SFQukhlld48n51y7BJEA7SvcVZ8K1wK_gili-154AQaULYLL8ylIeb0Mf/s1600/Jim+and+Sue+with+Teddy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Schoettle, Sue Schoettle and Teddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When John’s daughter Alison was six, she liked
helping her Grandpa Perring with his rose garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When John’s daughter Laura was six, she liked ballet dancing and Strawberry Shortcake dolls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When our granddaughter Kristen was six, she
loved music and making potpourri from flowers in my garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When our grandson Ryan was six, he went on a
cruise of the Mediterranean Sea with his sister and parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When our granddaughter Julia was six, she liked
calamari and olive tapenade, and writing and drawing in her journals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When our grandson Jonathan was six, he liked
basketball and helping his dad with yard work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">When our grandson Tristan was six, he liked puzzles and performing in school concerts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Our granddaughter Megan IS six. She likes
singing the Frozen theme song and hanging from monkey bars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">What were you like at six? I imagine that you
were special. Unique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">What if your life had ended then?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Two years ago tomorrow—on December 14, 2012—twenty children aged six
and seven, and six adults were shot and killed in Sandyhook Elementary School
in Newtown, Connecticut. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">What has changed since then? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Were we inspired to create new laws
banning automatic weapons? Adam Lanza used a semi-automatic AR-15 assault rifle made by Bushmaster to blow through the locked door of the school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Manufacturers of automatic weapons (gun makers are the backbone of the NRA) are
subsidized by violence. Their coffers are filled by hate. And to keep their
businesses flourishing, they fund the campaigns of our elected officials. After Sandyhook they told us the way to stop school violence is to arm teachers. More guns
equals more sales. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Most of us are fine with hunters, but no hunter I know would consider using an automatic weapon to gun down a herd of deer. No one should ever be able to gun down a classroom of little (or big) children and teachers (or a theater filled with people just out to see a movie).</span><br />
<br />
How do we stop them?</div>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4844345395685757271.post-15150056214288398012014-11-19T12:57:00.000-08:002014-11-19T12:57:20.242-08:00Being Steven King<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
So you’re a creative person who
likes to make things with words or paint. You’re also a nice person, or anyway,
you usually think you are. There are love stories in you, flower petals to
paint, and poems to your new baby or grandchild. You make pretty art; you paint
sweet words; you kiss butterflies on the nose.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b>Then again...</b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
What if you’re a nice person who
also wants to cover a canvas in thick black paint, or fill it with naked bodies
writhing in erotic passion? Can you allow yourself? What will people think?
What if, in the story you’re writing, the bad guy—or worse, the good guy—licks
the spit-up off the baby’s face. Ick. That's totally gross.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
What if what comes out of your
keyboard is unintentionally mean, revengie, and/or disgusting? Or worse...what if
it’s sappy, stupid, preachy, or boring. <span style="line-height: 115%;">What if it’s bad and you’re humiliated
for life?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
But what if it’s good and no one
sees it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
Insecurity is having a party in my
head, self-questioning is dancing a polka, doubt is twerking it’s fat butt at
me. <span style="line-height: 115%;">I just finished </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">a</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> final—I can’t say “</span><i style="line-height: 115%;">the</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> final”—revision of
my novel about a suicide and what happens to the survivors, and I’m trying to
be brave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
You can be creative without being
brave. Your can hide your manuscript in a drawer or in a file folder on the
computer, your drawings can be held captive in the closet. <span style="line-height: 115%;">If you never expose
your work, no one can judge you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
When Steven King writes one of his scary novels do you think he worries about whether anyone thinks he’s nice (which I’ve read, he is). He just does what he does, and then has a few trusted friends read it before going seriously public. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
So the first step after writing
the book (which is really the first step) is imposing your masterpiece on some
of your friends. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
The reviews of my novel (if graphed) would look like bad teeth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Barbara, John, Ann, and Joy all said they liked it. Were they being nice, or did they <i>really</i> like it? Maybe I should ask them again?</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Pat hated it (but loves me), and emailed, “I thought the characters were too black and white. Lacking nuances.” She was disappointed not to see the sly humor of my blog, which—since I’ve been working on novels—has been neglected. (The sly humor and the blog.)</span></li>
<li>Carol wrote, “So intelligent and perceptive—a flowing, delightful writing style. The characters were very real.”</li>
<li>Kristen, my environmentalist granddaughter, loved it and interspersed the manuscript with post-its of “Fun Facts,” most of which I added.</li>
<li>Louise read two pages and returned it, she didn’t have time then, but never asked for it back.</li>
<li>Jim DeLorey, who wrote an exciting thriller<i>, Scream Cruise</i>, took the time to write pages of valuable positive and negative comments. </li>
<li>Ed, retired professor of literature, had some helpful suggestions, but, bottom line, he said it deserved to be published. </li>
<li>My daughter, Sue, liked it, and I know she <i>always</i> tells me what she really thinks. </li>
<li>Bonnie said, “Ehh.” </li>
<li>Colette thought I should write a sequel. </li>
<li>Mary Cay said she liked it so much that she read it twice.</li>
<li>Alison said, “The way you interwove the environmental issues felt very much like what Barbara Kingsolver does in her work, and I thought you did it equally well.” I immediately reread <i>Flight Patterns</i>. Alison’s comment was a stretch, but fun to hear, especially since I’m a fan of Kingsolver.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Most of these folks (likers and
dislikers alike) had suggestions—excellent, helpful, and wise. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Then five agents rejected the book</b>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">After six months, with only an auto
response saying they got it—the agent I was most hoping to work with</span>—<span style="line-height: 115%;">emailed,
<b>“We would be pleased to <u>consider</u> your manuscript, INTENTIONAL, for possible
representation.” </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="color: magenta;">Woo Hoo! Yippee! Yay! Can you
believe! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
Nine weeks later—NINE WEEKS LATER!—that
agent sent a rejection email, a nice one, but still a rejection. <span style="line-height: 115%;">Six months
plus nine weeks, that’s a lot of waiting time, and I’m aging quickly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
Friends say, “Hey, listen, five
rejections is nothing. You know how many times Harry Potter was rejected?” The
reassuring legend grows; the last I heard J.K. Rowling <span style="line-height: 115%;">was rejected
twenty-seven times.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
Steven King is, from what I’ve
read, a nice person, a gifted literary writer who writes <span style="line-height: 115%;">terror in black paint.
“Carrie” was rejected ten times.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
But I’ve decided I’ve had enough
rejection. Years ago self-publishing was a huge no-no, but times have changed.
I’m going to be brave. I want people to read me. If they like me, great, if
not, that’s okay too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two weeks ago I sent my book to a professional copyeditor. I
should have it back in early December. Then, after more editing by me, and more
fussing with my cover design, hopefully, by January (two and a half years since I
began) it’ll be a real book. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>PS. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent (my much appreciated readers). I want to be able to ask them to read the next one.</i></div>
lynn arborhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07090795761047856740noreply@blogger.com0