Getting to Know Us - Getting to Know all About Us....

I thought last night how wonderful a group of people we have round these here blogging lands. How supportive we are of each other. How we make each other laugh, cry, think, believe, join in, and et - cet-era et cetera et cetera!

So, on Saturdays I'd like to have a "getting to know us" post. And of course, anyone who wants to join in can. It's just a way of expanding just a little further/farther from blog to blog. Some of us visit all the same places, and some do not. (If right now you are reading this and thinking, "I hope she doesn't mention me, I like staying in my quiet corner of the blog world without any fingers pointing my way "- please let me know in the comments or email me!)

So my first Getting To Know Us starts off with Debbie at Suburb Sanity. Shes "a 46 year old married mom to 17 year old boy/girl twins as well as 15 and 11 year old sons. I love blogging about the crazy things in my life...and yours."

But Debbie is of course more than that. She's funny and ironic and mischievous, and though she'll go "pah, stop it..." when I say this, but she's also a nice person - warm and witty and kind. Debbie and I think we may have some of the same distant Kin....running around in bare-feet saying wise but awkward things while keeping downwind from the outhouse.

But, go by yourself if you haven't already, say a big "howdy do" to Debbie, and get to know her better.

Ta ta for now, everyone! Muwah! Have a wonderful Sat'dy ...

(google image from Debbie's place, and from one hundred and fifty cartoon friends)

Let me tell you about the...no not the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees, but links!

Friday is links day! And I’ll soon be by to visit you all. I love reading the comments – they come in my hotmail account and I laugh and smile and all that jazz. Then I come here and read them again *laughing*

…yesterday I spent all day on line by line edits of Tender Graces. It’s tedious work, but it has to be done and it’s an important part. Besides just typos and the like, there may be a question or clarification or two I have to address--luckily, I don't have but a few small things to deal with, for I had TG honed and honed by time it was sent to Bellebooks. I am much focused when I am working and try not to go to my emails or blog unless I take a short break. So again, I will have to apologize if I become distracted these next days!

Thanks for reading Woman Inside Out. It’s funny how some of my short stories turn out more bleak or raw or quirky-weird or whatever than my novels. TG is much more hopeful, more innocent, more...well, tender! I seldom write as starkly about marriage in the novels (so far); the marriages are always seen from “afar” or from the point of view of a kid/teen or whatever.

Okay....Links:

This is an interesting site. You can go vote your answer about grammar or sentence structure or whatever and later the answer is revealed at the sentence sleuth.

Duotrope Digest is a great clearinghouse to find places for your work.

I just love Vagabondage Press’s new cover art! I haven’t read their new issue yet. (They published my “Moonshine & Santy Claus” piece in their December issue and I love them for taking a chance on that quirky story! )

The Rose & Thorn has a podcast site, where you can listen to the stories or poetry. I think it’s pretty cool and I feel it gets lost and unnoticed!

Animal Planet animal solitaire game!

The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar – love this site! I want a t-shirt and I keep forgetting to order one *laugh*

I stumbled across this. I have to read it all myself, having just skimmed it, but it talks about synopsis writing. Maybe it'll give some insight for you if you need to write a synopsis.

1940’s fashion and etc…. I do research to make sure I’m getting the fashions of that day correct. I'm a stickler for getting things right! I hate laziness in that respect - I feel I owe it to readers to do my best to be accurate on as many things as I can, or why bother including them? I was looking for 50s/60s fashion at the time (for the TG book, since it spans many years), but came across that link, too, so I kept the bookmark, for something later I’m writing in the Virginia Kate series!

I received my business cards from Zazzle and I am very happy with them. They did a great job. So much to choose from. They were fast, too.

I think that's enough for now. Now everyone - take a deep breath, fill those lungs - let it out slooowwwwww ...then think about a memory (even if it was five minutes ago) that makes you feel happy ...that makes you calmed...that gives you peace. Think about that, breathe in and out, in and out - let that memory fill you up - positive positive positive energies...(I'm talking to you, too, M!)...now go do the day.

This is why all the girls in town follow him all around..all a-round!

Tee hee - I'm feeling all flattered and all a-blushed

My talented and handsome author friend, Bosnian turned Swede Adnan Mahmutovic, wrote up something on his Under the Midnight Sun blog after reading my Woman Inside Out story -- I feel all special now, I told him - "it's all like I have been put under a light that shines me more than what I am"....that's how he makes me sound, as if I am a better writer than I am. Here are his words about my story. Thank you Adnan. *smiling*

I find it interesting to see how others interpret a story. Like, will a woman read it differently than a man? Will someone else think she did not sleep with the young man who approaches her in the mall? What is the signifcance of the ending? I wonder these things - for sometimes the answers are pliable in stories and novels. If you read it, tell me what you thought about those things - if you don't mind - I really am curious.

(A P.S. - Woman Inside Out is a bit more "contemporary" than TG and my gentle Virginia Kate - the first paragraph in WIO is a little stark, so I'll warn anyone who clicks on it that you may, or may not, feel a little bit shocked at the wording?)

Anyway, look for more for Mahmutovic (his novella will be out soon - and more)- he is a beautifully gifted writer and an insightful reviewer (not meaning my stuff, for he reviews much more important and bigger writers than I could ever hope to be) - whatever he reads, he lifts it up to a higher level; whatever he writes, he is no less transcendental, but there is that raw edge - where he takes something that could very well be so very bleak and makes it into something tragically beautiful. (As an aside, if anyone wants one of his REFUGE[E] books the Rose & Thorn is giving them away for a $10 donation. Here's a review of the book.) If you just do not like to donate to magazines, or times are tough - I do have a few copies of his book and will send you one - email me.

I'm in the line editing phase of Tender Graces - which is why I may seem scattered and scarce. AND! here is something exciting! Bellebooks and I are talking about the future books of Virginia Kate's life! That means more Virginia Kate after Tender Graces! Yayyy! I already have the draft of the second book written and hope to finish that by summer so it can go in the works to be published next year - keep your fingers crossed it all works out. I've always wanted to do a series of books about Virginia Kate and her family. I'm excited and terrified! *laugh*

I'm enjoying all the comments and the thoughts on rocks - and some rocks will be going back and forth between places to and fro *laughing* - more on that later.

Namaste.

Hey wait a minute Mr. Post man...Why I don't live at the P.O. A true Story

So. I get the addresses and prepare to send my little "thank you thoughts," along with "More than a mother's" BRIDA. And, thank you guys for entrusting me with your Realness - *smiling* ....anyway, I wanted to get everything in the mail soonest because I'm impatient like that, and because of snow and I may be housebound for a few days...or not...who knows.

I gather together some things, and some envelopes, and the addresses, throw them in my huge bag, and I head off the mountain into the valley to stop at Jelly Bellies (a cute little place to buy tourist stuff) and I pick up a few little tiny items, but they don't have all that I want-dang!...so, I leave with my few little purchases, and it's snowing. I sit in my car and start stuffing things in the envelopes fast as I can- oh geez! the envelopes are smaller than I thought (except for yours More than a mother!)....well, too late - I'm off the mountain, the envelopes are already addressed...

I go to the post office in the next town since my little town's PO closes from 1-2. While there, add extra tape to the bulging tiny envelopes with the stuff in them. I step to the counter and pile the envelopes there. The postman picks up the first one, More than a Mother's, and feels it. He looks at me. Then he puts the postage on it, going waaayyy off somewhere that's not the US. Then he picks up a little envelope, going waaay off somewhere that isn't the US, and then another going waayyy off outside the US, then he starts in on the US tiny envelopes. He feels each one and looks at me.

Finally, he said, "What is this bumpy thing?"

I answer, "A buckeye from my mountain."

"A buckeye? Are you from Ohio?"

"Huhn?"

"You know, Ohio Buckeyes...."

"Um, no...these are buckeyes from my buckeye tree on my mountain - my special buckeye tree! Here in WNC! "

Mr Postman says, "Wale, don't you'uns think these people (he holds up some envelopes) may have a buckeye tree around where they live and don't need your buckeyes from your mountain?"

I say, "Um, I don't know. Well, anyway I told people I was sending something from my mountain and...."

Feels feels. "Wait, what else is in here? This ain't just a buckeye in here!"

"Um, well, there's a rock in them, too...you know, from my creek or from a mountain walk...I think some people got a cherokee tear and then I ran out, dang, I need more cherokee tears - the others may have wanted a cherokee tear - shoot...Although this one and this one could prolly get their own...and..hmmmm..."

Tap Tap Tapping of tiny bulging envelope. "You'uns sending rocks, too?" Eagle-eying me.

Me, "Well...yes, and some of them might have something else, if I remembered to put things in the right places and all...and..well....some bookmarks of the mountains...."

"Don'choo think these persons who lives HERE and HERE may already know what a mountain looks like and don't need your bookmark with a mountain on it cause they know what a mountain looks like...? Especially THIS one..." (holds up an envelope).

"Um...well, yeah, but....see, these are ...the rocks and buckeyes are from MY cove...and the bookmarks were purchased from good ole Maggie Valley and I think it wasn't mountains, I think it was waterfalls or something..um ..you know? I mean...um..."

He pea-eyes me, says, "So, let me get this here straight - you are spending (this amount) to send buckeyes and rocks all over the world? huhn well...I'll be..."

"I think there may be a keychain or a magnet in a couple of them....um...if I remembered to put them in there..." Me fumbling in my gigantic Betty Boop purse to see if I lost any rocks, or buckeyes, or a keychain, or Cherokee tears that didn't make it into those tiny bulging envelopes....I fear someone may not get all I meant for them to get! oh! Oh! "Yeah, just little thoughts, you know?...um..."

"Uh huhn." he feels an envelope. "What's this? it feels flat and kinda soft."

"Um, it's a piece of bark."

"A piece of Bark....."

"Well, one of the people said they like nature and things from nature on the mountain, so I....put....a piece of....um....bark in there....with moss on it...."

"Wale, uh huh. I see..." (but his eyes says he doesn't see).

He busies himself putting them all in the bin to go out, feeling each one again before he throws them in the piles, takes my money, grins at me, and then says, "You have a good day now, Ma'am!"

I say, "You, too! See you later!"

I slide on out the door...not turning around to see if he's staring at me with that quirked up grin and twinkly eyes.

I walk out into a furious falling snow, get in my Subaru, and drive home with snow slamming my windshield - and I never felt happier. Pieces of my mountain going all over the world - even if they are tiny pieces, even if the person can get their own rocks or their own buckeyes, they don't have one from Killian Knob! Ha! And some of the buckeyes even have little indentions to rub your finger like a worry stone--that's what I do as I walk the mountain. And the rocks are ANCIENT rocks - yeah! from some of the oldest mountains in the world--The Smoky Mountains! ha! Yeah! I humm... la tee dah - I drive back to my little cove and go inside my warm little log house. All is well.

(google image of postman pat www.theplayshack.co.uk)

On the day that I was born....la la la tee dah...

NOTE FROM KAT! I'm laughing at myself - I kept wondering "why are people wishing me a happy birthday?" then I looked back over my post and the title *laughing!* what a dummy I am -- Okay, today isn't my birthday - it's actually later this month....but, I'll accept birthday wishes and chocolate and gifts and botox for my forehead butt and.....laughing....*knock on my head*

When I get up in the morning, it's log in log in log in log in check this check that...I think I have too many places to go and people to see *laugh* ... but while I'm doing that, sometimes I'll come across the MSN page or Google page and see something that'll distract me/catch my eye and send me off on a tangent so that I "waste" part of my morning.

Like....what moon were you born under? here's mine: On the day you were born, the Moon was in Capricorn. Your emotional nature is very earthy and direct. You use caution before you show your feelings to someone, since you fear rejection. But you shouldn't! You have loyalty and love to offer a romantic partner, you take care of your family members, and you have a very dry and witty sense of humor with those who know you.

And, while I was thinking about being born, I put "1957" in google just to see what would show up.

I was feeling silly then, and just out of curiosity, I typed "my toe" into google...

Then I went by the Dream Dictionary and looked for "Giant Chicken" but it wasn't there! Humph. Well, dang it all, guess I'll never figure out the meaning of the giant chicken dream. However, when I googled about giant chicken dreams (which was interesting and in some cases a bit disturbing), I found where apparently someone else had a giant chicken in their dream! ha!

Then I read how the planet Uranus was first named George. Huhn. So. I guess it was the knowledge that in classrooms everywhere children would twitter whenever the teach would say, "And the planet Uranus..." *twitter twitter wink wink - did you hear that, she said ur-anus...twitter twitter*... no one thinks George is very funny or even very interesting - sorry George's of the world - it's a perfectly fine name, just not for a planet I suppose.

What kinds of places do you like to browse? Any funny or interesting sites you want to share?

Okay, I need to get to work now -but first, I'll come round visting!

(I have a story up, too *smiling* on Sotto Voce...something a little different from my usual.)

Photographs and brain-memories...

Voting is over! More Than Just A Mother will receive the copy of Paulo Coelho's BRIDA. Thanks everyone - it was so much fun and I was honored to have your words on my blog - beautifully done...Brava All!

Nothing remains static. The world turns with all our energies both expelled and absorbed from pre-beginning to after-end; we become a part of a greater energy. Everything is pulsating, a part of each other. So how could something so dynamic not change and morph? Even require it. There is The Good Change, and there is The Bad Change. And then there are the snapshots filed away in drawers, albums, and the parts of the brain made just for remembrance.

I have this brain-snapshot shouting loud. It comes uncalled and unbidden, but it comes. It is winter, and the snow is falling, blanketing an already white-washed world. The backdrop is sepia-toned, shades of black and white with that tinge of old-timey photograph brown. I am dressed warm, and by my side are my husband and my two dogs. We’re on the Muse Trail, Level Two. I have my camera and I’ve set it to video and as I turn 360 degrees, I say, “Isn’t this lovely? Isn’t this the best life ever? Don’t you wish you were me?” My dogs, off their leashes, run in the snow, their paws kicking up sprays of snow and arcs of ice that hover for just a moment before falling back down to earth; some catch prisms. The branches are laden with snow and some hang heavy, ready to smack a head and sent showers of cold upon them. We walk in the most perfect silence ever: you know the silence? The one that muffles footsteps, but makes bird calls ring so clear through the air that you hear it in perfect pitch. Changes came that make the memory one I am grateful for, even as I wish for the day back, Human that I am. Yet, would the memory stand in such sharp gorgeous relief if the changes had not altered it beyond repair? No. I’d have taken it for granted, knowing I could have that feeling over and over again. That Perfect Day has become one I feel the most profound sense of gratitude for. I miss my old dog - my old girl, Kayla. Simple and as complicated as that.

Still Time to "Vote," and to Get R&T Newsletter

Just popping in to say that I'm emailing out The Rose & Thorn Newsletter today. If you are interested in signing up (your email is safe!) then click HERE; I'll wait a little bit to give anyone time to sign up!

And the winter issue of R&T is live - read and support our writers and the magazines and zines who publish them!

"Voting" ends tomorrow at 11:00 AM...(see below and at sidebar). It's hard to pick a favorite, isn't it? They're all beautifully done. Which one punches you in the gut? Brings the character into the room? Makes you laugh/cry/think/guffaw/sigh? All of them do one or all of these things? yup, that's why I'm glad I'm not voting.