Is there an echo in here?

H-e-l-l-o-o-o

Is there an echo in here? :cough: :cough: See me waving the cobwebs away? It’s been so long since I’ve been, the dust bunnies have had babies and grandbabies.

Yes, I’ve neglected my blog lately, and I’ve been giving a lot of thought to whether I really want a blog. It takes, time, commitment, and a steady stream of topics to write about. I have time. I can commit myself (or maybe I should be committed, but that’s another post). It’s the subject matter that stalls me every time. There are a hundred things to write about or photograph every day, right? So why is this so hard?

I’ve come to the conclusion (with a little help from my friends) that a blog needs a theme. Three of my friends, Suzannne, Kacey, and Tori have recently changed the focus of their blogs and given them themes, and their blogs are now more popular than ever.

I need a theme. So, what? Travel? Life after retirement? Lake living? Pool? Crafts? So many choices. But which theme is the BEST theme?

For the next few weeks, I’ll be on vacation. But I’d love to hear your opinions, so make a comment. Let me know what you’d like me to ramble on about, and please check back later.

Until next time,
Margery

Tagged

I got tagged for this meme. Thanks, Kacey.

First, the rules.
1. Link to the person that tagged you. (Check)
2. Post the rules on your blog. (Check)
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (Check - see below)
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (The only person I know who hasn’t been tagged already is Cindy.)
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website. (Check)

Six random things about me:
1. I LOVE shooting pool.
2. I was an extra in two movies, a made-for-TV called The Deadly Look of Love, and a feature, Finding Forrester. with Sean Connery.
3. People think I’m a bit over-analytical and anal - but it’s not true. It’s all an act.
4. I construct crossword puzzles and sell them.
5. I’m basically lazy.
6. I’m phobic about bees, wasps and hornets. The other flying insects don’t bother me, though.

This was harder than I thought.

Hey, Chiquita!

From my front door, this morning. Hubby thought he’d better get out there early, since it’s still coming down.

Good thing I finished my sweater last night. Yellow makes me think of sunshine, and warm weather, and the beach, and palm trees, and all things summer. So what if I look like a little round banana? At this point, I need all the help I can get to survive winter.

How I spent my weekend

In a dull, stuffy, pool hall where we drank gallons of coffee that tasted like watered-down mud, ate cold pizza and chocolate bars, and played non-stop for twelve hours at a time. But there has been one improvement - it’s illegal to smoke inside now. It used to be unbearable, and trying to shoot pool through a haze of smoke was like driving through fog.

It was playoff time again. It seems every time I turn around, we’re in playoffs. Four times a year, and if we’re lucky, we advance to the regional championships in June.

It was difficult to get photos, because pool players tend to get a little testy when flashes go off just when they’re trying to shoot. But what would be the point of taking pictures if nobody is at the tables?

The hall is kept relatively dark, too, with the brightest lights being just above the tables. If I had a fancy camera, I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem, but this one … well, let’s just say it’s not exactly top of the line.

This is the best I could do under the circumstances.

In the end, we lost in the final. My ranking went up at the worst possible time, and I got slaughtered in every one of my matches. Needless to say, it should go back down today - a little too late. Oh well, there’s another playoff in May.

Bulldozer wanted

I know I made a resolution to blog more, which only goes to show resolutions don’t work But I did make one resolution I’ve already started on - simplifying and minimizing my life. This is the year to get rid of the junk I’ve accumulated in the 30+ years I’ve lived in this house. And the one room that needs it the most - my office. I’d have a photo of what it looked like before I started, but I couldn’t find my camera So even though I haven’t been blogging, I’ve been busy.

My office is jammed - wall-to-wall shelves, an office desk, stereo, another smaller shelving unit, assorted boxes holding paper, a scanner I never had room to set up, a photo printer, and a new printer that wouldn’t connect to my old computer. All this in a 9×9 room.

I estimate there were over 1000 books in my office. This is what they look like when they aren’t stuffed into every square inch of shelves and piled on the floor behind the door.

I’ve managed to weed out about 200. I’m taking this batch to the hospital where they sell them in the gift shop. I have a stack of magazines I’ll take there too for the waiting rooms, and another batch of hardcovers to go to the library for their annual book sale. But I NEED the rest. Really.

Now back to work.

Until next time,
Margery

2008

Wishing all of you a year filled with happiness, good health and success. May this be the year all your dreams come true.

I won’t be making resolutions this year. They usually last a week and a half, and then I feel like a dismal failure So, instead of making useless promises to myself, I’m going to “try” to meet some goals I’ve set for myself. Just try. Was it Yoda who said “there is no try; there is only do?” He would be horrified if he heard my plan, I’m sure. Sorry, Yoda.

One of my goals is to blog more regularly, if I can find blog-worthy topics to write about, that is. That means I have to actually get out there and not live such a boring life. Ooh, that’s two goals Okay, the list is getting longer.

What about you? How will New Years Day 2009 be different than today?

The results

I didn’t win the Chase the Dream contest, but I’d like to thank all of you who took the time to cast a vote. It was such a nice surprise to even be nominated that it has inspired me more than I ever thought a contest placement could. And even though I didn’t win, both an agent and an editor have asked to see more of this project, which is really exciting. If you’d like to read the winners’ entries, click here.

Meanwhile, I suppose I should start Christmas shopping one day soon. The big day is going to be here way too soon. How about you? Are you finished buying? Wrapping? Baking? Or are you a procrastinator like me?

A brand new blog

Do you know how to build a website? Install Wordpress? Promote yourself? No? Then let me point you in the right direction to learn what you need to know to make your website/blog the best it can be.

Two very good friends of mine came up with a great idea . Suzanne and Kacey have teamed up to start a new blog offering information and instructions (including pictures for those of us who need to be shown, not just told) on setting up a website, blogging tips and strategies to increase traffic, promotion ideas and other business-y topics for anyone in any artistic field.

I don’t know about you, but I can use all the help I can get. Click here to check it out.

Oops

I spent the morning trying to figure out why Wordpress refuses to notify me when someone comments on my blog. No matter what I did, nothing changed. I even changed the email address for notification, entered a test comment, and waited. Still nothing.

So I went back to delete the comment, and clicked the wrong button and deleted the entire post. So, my apologies to those who were nice enough to comment. I wasn’t deleting you, honest

Don’t forget voting is still open until November 30. My entry is titled “Stranger in Paradise” and I’m the week #8 finalist. Click here to cast your ballot. Thanks for your support.

Until next time,
Margery

Writers’ weekend

This past weekend, two writer friends and I packed up our laptops, jammies and snacks and headed to the lake for a writers’ retreat. Almost as good as RWA’s national conference, but closer to home and MUCH cheaper. I’d have photos, but the batteries on my camera died - again!!

The weather co-operated, staying chilly enough that we weren’t tempted to venture outside, and the sky was crystal clear, most important for watching the stars at night through the skylights where my friends were sleeping.

I personally didn’t do much actual writing in the evening, but I could still hear the other two working madly, the keyboards clicking away after I’d given up and gone to bed. I did play around with a few ideas though, and I tried converting a novel into a screenplay. Let me tell you, scriptwriting isn’t as easy as it seems, although I do LOVE the idea of not having to write much description and introspection! I gained a lot of respect for those TV and film writers who are out on strike right now. I also gained something else - about three pounds.

I think writers’ weekends should be mandatory, if for no other reason than to hang out with other people who don’t think you’re crazy because imaginary people talk to you.