tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63933889665424402862024-03-13T15:31:49.023-07:00Woman Reinvents SelfTo know who you are means to understand your past. To know who you want to be is having the courage to transform dreams into reality.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-51181033691702054262017-05-13T23:21:00.003-07:002017-05-15T08:22:10.702-07:00#ChickLitMay Book Boyfriend Blog Hop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">If you could meet your celebrity crush, would you leap at the chance? Or would you be awestruck? What if it turned out that the celebrity in question was gorgeous and really funny? He must have at least one flaw, right? How does the world's sexiest celebrity transform from crush to boyfriend? He’s hoping his special someone can overlook one teensy, weensy, foible.</span></i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Bodybuilding.com</td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">If you could meet your celebrity crush, would you leap at the chance? Or would you be awestruck? What if it turned out that the celebrity in question was gorgeous and really funny? He must have at least one flaw, right? How does the world's sexiest celebrity transform from crush to boyfriend? He’s hoping his special someone can overlook one teensy, weensy, foible.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">“Giuliana, you look ravishing this evening.” Under the glare of the bright lights and scrutiny of millions of viewers, I leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss on her cheek before quietly letting the Fashion Police Hostess know that she had red lipstick on her brilliantly white teeth. As I stepped back, I caught sight of Emma Stone posing before the cameras, showing off the back of her gown. Mockingly, I began to strike a variety of poses I’d observed over the years.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Such a ridiculous procedure!<o:p></o:p></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">The cameraman zoomed in and captured me head to toe giving the makeup artist a chance to swoop in and fixed the faux pas. Giuliana mouthed, “thank you,” as I spun around, finishing up with my best Saturday Night Fever pose. Giuliana, laughing, spoke into the camera, “Don’t quit your day job.”<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">“I’m offended. I practiced that bit for weeks.” I turned watery eyes to the camera and cast an upward glance that screamed, ‘You've hurt my feelings,’ before giving into laughter. Take back control of the situation, Giuliana swept her hand the length of my ensemble, “Now, I really must know, who are you wearing tonight? And let’s hope they don’t regret it!”<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">The cameraman took in my black Tom Ford Tuxedo and Valentino shoes. Knowing no one cared in the slightest, I answered, “No lilac tuxedos were offered, so I went as traditional as I possibly could tonight. I did make one exception though.” I lifted my trouser leg, encouraging the cameraman to zero in on my socks. I’d had them custom-made for the sole purpose of letting the love of my life know that I was dead serious when I made my emotional declarations last week, and not drunk, as she accused me.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Wonder how she’ll make of this being on international television?<o:p></o:p></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Giuliana gushed, “<b>DES BANNERMAN</b>! In addition to being the King of Romantic Comedies, you are the king of real-life romance as well. Who is the lucky lady?”<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Ignoring her query, I admitted, “I am desperately trying to persuade her to love me back. Think the subtle ploy will work?” I dropped my trouser back into place, making sure they rested perfectly atop my shoe, covering the dark-purple socks with golden crowns woven throughout.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>She’ll know. That’s all that matters.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Turning to humor so that the hostess couldn’t ask more personal questions, my mission complete, I paraphrased Nottinghill, “If she rejects me, all that awaits me at home is a masturbating Welshman.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Blog Hop Fun!! Each author has a fun snippet for you to read, keep a list of the Book Boyfriends name, and once you’ve decided which man meets your fancy, email,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>traciebanister@gmail.com with the list of names to enter your name for the Grand Prize – a Kindle Paperwhite loaded with thirty novels!</span></i><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Tracie Banister <a href="http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/"><o:p></o:p>http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Becky Monson <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.beckymonson.com/blog">https://www.beckymonson.com/blog</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hilary Grossman <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.feelingbeachie.com/">www.feelingbeachie.com</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Glynis Astie <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.glynisastie.com/blog">http://www.glynisastie.com/blog</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jayne Denker <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://jaynedenker.com/">http://jaynedenker.com</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jennie Marts <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.jenniemarts.com/blog.html" target="_blank">http://www.jenniemarts.com/blog.html</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Barbara Valentin <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://barbaravalentin.com/blog/">https://barbaravalentin.com/blog/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Beth Labonte <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.secretary4life.com/">www.secretary4life.com</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Victoria Cooke <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://victoriacooke10.wordpress.com/">https://victoriacooke10.wordpress.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Holly Kerr <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://hollykerr.ca/my-blog/">http://hollykerr.ca/my-blog/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Meredith Schorr <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.meredithschorr.com/">www.meredithschorr.com</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Stacey Wiedower <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.staceywiedower.com/blog/">www.staceywiedower.com/blog/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Laurie Baxter <a href="http://lauriebaxter.com/blog/">http://lauriebaxter.com/blog/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jennifer Farwell <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://jenniferfarwell.com/#blog">http://jenniferfarwell.com/#blog</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Natalina Reis <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://catarinadeobidos.wordpress.com/about/">https://catarinadeobidos.wordpress.com/about/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Celia Kennedy <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.womanreinventsself.blogspot.com/">www.womanreinventsself.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Beth Carter <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://banterwithbeth.blogspot.com/">http://banterwithbeth.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ellyn Oaksmith <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://ellynoaksmith.com/">http://ellynoaksmith.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">BJ Knapp <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://bjknapp.com/blog">http://bjknapp.com/blog</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Lizzie Lamb <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://lizzielamb.co.uk/lizzies-scribbles/">https://lizzielamb.co.uk/lizzies-scribbles/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sylvia Ashby <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://sylvia-ashby.com/?cat=64">http://sylvia-ashby.com/?cat=64</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Karen M. Cox <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://karenmcox.merytonpress.com/blog/">http://karenmcox.merytonpress.com/blog/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Lindsay Detwiler <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.lindsaydetwiler.com/">http://www.lindsaydetwiler.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Kirsty McManus <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.kirstymcmanus.com.au/category/blog-news/">http://www.kirstymcmanus.com.au/category/blog-news/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Melissa Baldwin <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.authormelissabaldwin.com/news.html">http://www.authormelissabaldwin.com/news.html</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Geralyn<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Corcillo <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://thingsthatmakemegommmrrh.blogspot.com/">http://thingsthatmakemegommmrrh.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Cassandra O'Leary <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.cassandraolearyauthor.com/blog/">www.cassandraolearyauthor.com/blog/</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Cat Lavoie <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.catlavoie.com/blog">http://www.catlavoie.com/blog</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Kate O'Keeffe <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://kateokeeffe.com/blog">http://kateokeeffe.com/blog</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Monique McDonell </span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.moniquemcdonellauthor.com/blog" style="font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 14pt;">www.moniquemcdonellauthor.com/blog</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 18pt;">Fall in love with <b>Des</b>? Fall in love with love, laughter, friendship and fashion, in <i>Prosecco</i> & Paparazzi! <span style="font-size: 18pt;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1srM2cX">http://amzn.to/1srM2cX</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-85270599115892427792016-05-15T12:20:00.000-07:002016-05-15T20:24:40.738-07:00DRESSED TO THE NINES!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">DRESSED
TO THE NINES!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">F is for Frippery.</span></b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"> The
<i>objets</i> of frippery – jewelry, clothing, shoes, perfume, make-up – are seductive
all by themselves. They sparkle, they accentuate, they leave a tantalizing
reminder of ourselves on those in our orbit, especially those we touch. Our
scent is left on their skin, our lipstick stains their body. The glimpse of
carefully accentuated flesh and the rustling of silk lingers in the memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">“<b>FRIPPERY</b>! </span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I’ll have you know it takes a lot of work to
look like this. And the reason I put so much work into looking like this?
Because you like it! Admit it. You wouldn’t have given me a second look without
all the </span><i style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">frippery.</i><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">His eyes glide the length of me, pausing at my décolletage –
where the low-cut burgundy silk almost bursts at the seams from working so hard
at containing me – and lingers on the sparkly diamond and ruby necklace that
accentuates my cleavage and neck, and has the balls to look at me,
stupefied. "You really think that?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, in <i>The Devil Wears Prada</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">What I love
about </span><i style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The Devil Wears Prada</i><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">, by
Lauren Weisberger, is that she takes us inside the world of all that encompasses
frippery and shows us that at the core of an iconic business woman beats the
heart of someone who wants love. Needs love. There is so much more going
on below the surface, and that we need to look beyond the superficial.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ultimately, I think that is what we all love about Chicklit! To be transported elsewhere, to be breathless with anticipation and laughter. And then, to be reminded that all that truly matters is obtainable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">In <i>Prosecco & Paparazzi, </i>you meet five
vivacious, can-do women, who revel in all things frippery, but much like our
heroine in <i>The Devil Wears Prada</i>, Andrea Sachs, they learn that, "not all that glitters
is gold!" <i>Prosecco & Paparazzi</i>, when a mere mortal and a celebrity god collide. (Chapter One is available on Wattpad.com.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">GRAND
PRIZE - Want to win a Kindle Paperwhite + a $100 Amazon gift card? Visit each
of the 26 stops on the #ChickLitMay A to Z Scavenger Hunt and collect the
alphabet word at each stop (A, B, C, D, etc.), then submit the A-Z list of
words via e-mail with the subject line "A to Z Scavenger Hunt Entry."
Entries will be accepted until Sunday, May 22nd at midnight E.D.T. A winner
will be chosen on Monday, May 23rd. Good luck!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">The
next stop on the Scavenger Hunt (is the letter<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>G</b>)
is <a href="http://staceywiedower.com/chicklitmay-scavenger-hunt-g-is-for-giffin/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">If
you'd like to start back at the beginning of the Scavenger Hunt (the letter </span><b style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', serif; font-size: 14pt;">A</b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">),
go <a href="http://katieoliver.com/ko/2016/05/chick-lit-a-to-z-scavenger-hunt" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0.5in;">Good Luck and thanks for playing!</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-30216796733869227382016-04-25T09:13:00.001-07:002016-04-25T10:21:29.014-07:00Confessions of a Regionalist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 107%;">Fashion Tips by Jeff Foxworthy, You Might Be a Redneck<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is spring
in the Pacific Northwest, gardening capital of the universe. I would liken a
plant nursery to downtown New York City on a Saturday afternoon. Cheek by jowl, gardeners troll the rows of plants, looking for new hybrids, looking for
faithful specimens, and deep in conversation with a random stranger about whether or not the
trailing begonia is better than the common fuchsia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, how do
rednecks and gardeners relate? In the “Greater Seattle Area” there are many a
fine nursery who cater to the wealthy locals. Where you can purchase a 4” wave
petunia for $7.99. Those who don’t mind scouring the outlying areas will do so,
happily paying $2.99 for the same plant. Serious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yesterday I
found myself scouring the outlying regions, and visited one of my favorite
haunts – Flower World.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As I tootled
along the highways and bi-ways to get to this remote location, I listened to country
music. I turned off the ancient highway onto a side road, full of ruts, sharp
turns, and grazing deer, and the country music cut out. Not even static. Just
silence. I fiddled, as you do, with the dials on my radio, but found nothing
but… heavy metal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This begot a
thought. This is going to make me sound like an utter “regionalist” but shouldn’t
music particular to a certain environmental location be available? Classical
music in the city. Pop in suburbs. And yes, country, in the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I continued
to ponder this thought as I stood amongst my gardening brethren. Being the “everything
must be designed” person that I am, I had already figured out that in my lime
green pots I was going to put a combination of dark green, coral, salmon, and
dark blue. So, there I was, selecting a collection of plants when I heard a
woman say, “You know I hate lime-green and coral colored plants.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I made
eye-contact with the very embarrassed young man pulling her cart while he said
to her averted gaze, “Grandma, I think they can be pretty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She wasn’t
having any of it, she didn’t even turn to look at him, “No. They are just in
bad taste.” I gave the mid-twenties, plaid-clad, man a smile and shrugged a shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Just about
then, because I was still standing in front of the Gartenmeister fuchsia’s,
another voice, one quite posh said, “I love your color combinations.” I turned
to see someone who could rival the Queen of England. “Er’, thanks,” I said,
over the background music, which was some kind of bluesy jazz piano piece.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Once Her
Majesty and I chatted about my potting plans, I trudged over to where all
things glaucous were on display.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here, I
lingered, caressing the soft, furry, and plump leaves as music from the Zen
area gently wafted out through a door left ajar. I collected my array of
plants, chosen for the singular purpose of brightening up a filtered sun area,
and continued along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then, a most
magical thing occurred. I took a wrong turn and ended back in the wavy petunia
area, and "When Doves Cry" was belting out the speakers. A handful of people
(those who were in their teens in the 1980’s) began to sing along. It was quite
sweet. A spontaneous tribute. An ode to their past and Prince’s passing. I
found myself grabbing up a tray of purple wave petunias. All summer, as I flip
the dial between country and pop, between classical and jazz, I will see these
cascading pots, and be reminded of one magical man, and one magical
summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-56274677561367373512016-04-11T09:17:00.000-07:002016-04-11T09:27:11.472-07:00Billy Joel and Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sight or
sound? How do you remember things? When I was an architecture and landscape
architecture student our professors insisted that we were visual <i>learners</i>. I wanted to harrumph and tell them, “No. I’m an audio girl. Tell me and I will learn it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Over the
years of studying design, I definitely became a visual person. I’m officially a
hybrid. (I chose the Kia Soul because of the color, because of it's name, because it is an affordable, high performance vehicle - tells you so much about me.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Upon
reflection, I realize I have always been ahead of the curve and have been a
hybrid for quite some time. If you ask me what year I was in second grade, I
would first try to remember where we lived (I’m an Army Brat) and an image of
our house in Arizona will pop into my memory. Quickly thereafter, I remember
our front door, and the sound of silence. Those hot, sunny days where people
hid indoors made for a quiet outdoor life. I spent a lot of time sitting in
the shade out front our house, reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are selling
our house. Nine years ago we asked our real estate agent to find us the worst
house he could in the neighborhood. And he did. It was disgusting. He literally
told us the path from the front door to the back deck. Once inside, that was
the first route we took. The house is the size of a postage stamp, so while the
trek not long, the stench was powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But now it looks like this, it looks like us:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In listening
to Billy Joels song, “And So It Goes,” these words resonated strongly:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And every time I've held a rose</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(A place of
security)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>It seems I only felt the thorns</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(Wanderlust)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And so it goes and so it goes</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(Our time anywhere, fleeting)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And so will you soon, I suppose</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(This home that hold
memories will soon be a place in my past)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For me,
walking through the house is like flipping through a scrapbook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A bedroom is
a seven-year-old's birthday sleepover with eight wriggling bodies giggling on the bedroom
floor. A scuff on the ceiling is from a drone flown through the house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Behind
the stove are words my children painted – our time capsule. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;">The front yard is all me – all the times I need to dig in the soil and work something out – a plot device or heartache, or a place to sow a dream – a new blueberry vine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But, it is
time to move on. Time to paint the scuff mark, time to sit amongst the mess and
remember all the love that was experienced here. Time to remember the hours of
Guitar Hero and dance parties in the kitchen. Time to remember obstacle courses
and s’mores around the fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I would say
to the new owner:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And this is why my eyes are closed</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(I leave my vision for
what this house could be)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>It's just as well for all I've seen</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(So many dreams and
hours spent building a home)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And so it goes and so it goes</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(The dreams I take; the
house is yours)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And you're the only one who knows</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(The memories you make
will meld with ours,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">and seep into the walls)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So in the
end, I am a visual and auditory learner. I am a dreamer and a romantic. I need
roots and miles to roam. I am the girl who lived everywhere and always looked
forward. I am the woman who wishes that time would stop and I could go back and
peel the memories off, and paste them down, where next I land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And so we go.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-83111421204377711252016-03-07T10:49:00.003-08:002016-03-07T18:25:56.954-08:00Must Haves! For Who?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 19.9733px;">When I was trolling my brain for what I wanted to write about on this rainy, Monday morning, as I battle a case of the stomach flu, I went to the interwebs and searched for inspiration. I stumbled across, Spring 2016 Fashion Must Haves. I think my attention was captured as a result of the unexpected weight loss program my body signed me up for on Friday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">As you know, I love fashion. I follow fashion bloggers and
tweeters. I love shoes, I love purses, I love clothes. (Oddly, not a giant fan of jewelry.) I love looking at them.
I love designers and reading what inspires a collection. I legitimately LOVE
fashion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I recently watched this interview with Rahul Mishra. The thought and creativity of his vision dazzled me. I'd let this man dress me any day of the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, back to the blogs and trying to find something that would perk me up. After scouring websites, I landed upon an article in Elle Magazine and found pictures of "Must Haves." The question that quickly came to mind, is, “For who?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve read many an article where designers claim to want to design
clothes for the “Everyday Woman.” Do these look like clothes you could put on?
Seriously? Could you, the average woman, put them on? And if you could, would all your parts stay
in place? Would a boob pop free, would your shoe stay on, would you get a
sexual harassment charge filed against you? (Okay, that was a trick question,
cause’ we all know that no man is going to file one against a woman whose boob
has popped out of her top.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What do you <i>need</i> to bring the “Must Have” party, besides a bulging wallet full of cash and credit cards? A ripped body. Toned
abs, thighs, arms, and one presumes, arse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We haven’t seen the backside of these outfits, but I’m willing to bet good money that the back of this dress
shows some bum cleavage. But, to be fair, I would wear this dress. It is utterly gorgeous. Full disclosure, on what I'd wear. Not what I would look like in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Which collection are you more likely to wear? This?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-05fyfIUuLxM/Vt272RTvZBI/AAAAAAAAM64/l8wFDx4t9qk/s1600/fashionmusthaves5.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-05fyfIUuLxM/Vt272RTvZBI/AAAAAAAAM64/l8wFDx4t9qk/s640/fashionmusthaves5.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Or this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-byrS_JQ1ciE/Vt277zklAQI/AAAAAAAAM68/7i8J2_8xY-E/s1600/fashionmusthaves6.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-byrS_JQ1ciE/Vt277zklAQI/AAAAAAAAM68/7i8J2_8xY-E/s640/fashionmusthaves6.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All I can say is, don’t look like this!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNkjzX9M5dg/Vt29G8chg7I/AAAAAAAAM7E/sTogjiH679A/s1600/modelfalling.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNkjzX9M5dg/Vt29G8chg7I/AAAAAAAAM7E/sTogjiH679A/s1600/modelfalling.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Take a page from Manish Arora's sense of whimsy, Kanye West. <i><b>He</b></i> puts the fun in fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks for reading!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-52761884041194063332016-02-29T08:29:00.001-08:002016-02-29T10:01:27.644-08:00The Voices in My head!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kpUXRe1RgXU/VtRsnnvNZKI/AAAAAAAAM5A/jrqHasvWnRo/s1600/womanthinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kpUXRe1RgXU/VtRsnnvNZKI/AAAAAAAAM5A/jrqHasvWnRo/s400/womanthinking.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I cannot
speak for others who write, but I find that the fictional world I step into
every day leaves me more than a little schizophrenic. To have room in my head
for all the characters in a book, I have to park a huge part of me on a shelf,
otherwise the results can be wonky, there just isn’t enough room in there for
all of us. I live in Seattle, and after thirty-days of dark gray skies and
buckets of rain, the characters in my book start fighting with each other or
going on extravagant vacations they cannot afford. This rarely manifests itself
in reality, but to be honest, I have been known to impulsively buy summer
sandals in the middle of February (and it doesn’t quit raining for another five
months). </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m5a8hE_bGqo/VtRxtmir5DI/AAAAAAAAM5w/ESiP8U2yz0E/s1600/pinksandals.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m5a8hE_bGqo/VtRxtmir5DI/AAAAAAAAM5w/ESiP8U2yz0E/s320/pinksandals.PNG" width="185" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I have a
theory. When you write contemporary fiction, escaping from your real life to
enter another possibility of real life is a massive emotional undertaking. I
haven’t written historical, sci-fi, paranormal, or non-fiction, so I have to be
careful what I say here. I believe, </span><i style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">for
myself</i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">, leaping into a world that is largely constructed of mythical
creatures in alternative universes might be more challenging conceptually, but
the ability to separate yourself must be easier, emotionally. I think there is
a level of emotional abstraction one can take when writing about shape-shifters,
failed Mars missions, or lusting after an Earl (and you are a lowly kitchen
maid) than one can take when writing about an issue in current era to someone
who could live next door. (Which leaves me thinking there might be an
interesting story developing right under my nose.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It might be
interesting to note, at this point, that I am writing this the day after completing
a book. One might think I would be doing all kinds of things – communing with
nature, cleaning my house (which is much needed), or making contact with
actual, real people. But no. I am writing. The impulse to put words to paper
doesn’t end simply because you type,</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-52cEDF4pM30/VtRuiMH3XeI/AAAAAAAAM5M/kWV2JQdNCr0/s1600/TheEndAgain.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-52cEDF4pM30/VtRuiMH3XeI/AAAAAAAAM5M/kWV2JQdNCr0/s320/TheEndAgain.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Actually, I
<b><i>never</i></b> type that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay. I
typed that yesterday, but only so that I could take a screen shot and post it
on Facebook. Then I deleted it. Just bein’ honest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My Dream
Team is always requesting that I blog more often, and I have to confess, I find
it really hard to blog when I am writing. I know. It sounds funny. How hard can
it be? Well, if you have read my blog, you will have undoubtedly witnessed my
schizophrenic nature. One blog might be about lingerie, while another could be
about my revelations while sitting in my therapist’s office. I find that my
blogs also have to stay in character.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I am about
to write a moody book. Consider yourself forewarned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Speaking of
revelations, in the book I just finished, there is a chapter entitled, Bras and
Other Revelations. I have to admit, I am proud of that. Revealing one’s bra can be
as terrifying as revealing inner turmoil. My mind doesn’t really allow for
coincidence. I am a big believer in introspection and if you think (or type)
long enough, you’ll find the connection between things. For example, if you are
a believer in introspection, and you are writing a blog in your downtime about
how you feel about writing and blogging, it is a no brainer to remember you’ve
written a chapter called <i>Bras and Other Revelations</i>. – It is important for me to
note that this paragraph seems a bit superfluous, but I like it, so I am
leaving it in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb5FsTH6IvE/VtRwC6H9H8I/AAAAAAAAM5g/B1fSsn05GlI/s1600/neathage.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb5FsTH6IvE/VtRwC6H9H8I/AAAAAAAAM5g/B1fSsn05GlI/s320/neathage.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Onto my
final revelation for this blog. I tweet, post, and blog regularly about how
music influences me. You may have noticed that authors are now publishing their
playlists with their books. If you looked at my playlist for my recent
accomplishment, you would see everything from Shostakovich to Christina Perry.
(Keeping my schizophrenic state in motion.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I live in awe of musicians of all
types. I was talking to a friend who is infinitely more schooled in the world
of music than I am (this means, I sing along tunelessly and he is accomplished
enough to play variations of a piece of classical music on an actual
instrument) and I expressed my belief that writing music that moves someone emotionally
is far more complicated than many other art forms. A typical pop song last about
three minutes, has about 1,000 words, and has to tell a riveting story that
makes people want to hear it again and again. Other genres of music engage us
for longer periods of time, such as the concerto I am currently listening to (Paganini,
"Violin Concerto No 3," Alexandre Dubach) which is thirty-seven
minutes long. (In case you are wondering, he didn’t write any lyrics, that I
know of.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here I am,
in the final paragraph (or so) of this blog and I am finally arriving at what
is on my mind. Kelly Clarkson and her performance on American Idol of her new
song, Piece by Piece. This song shredded me, cut me to the quick, tore at my
soul. She wrote the song, essentially an autobiography, after the birth of her
daughter, about her father abandoning her. She writes about her husband, who
has helped her put herself back together and the faith she has in him to be a
committed parent and partner. She does all this beautifully in three minutes
and forty-three seconds. Granted, there is only descriptive narrative, but it
more than makes up for the lack of dialog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9FHYBQxURQo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9FHYBQxURQo?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To bare your
soul to the world that way, to place your pain and insecurities in the hands of
strangers, to put your faith in someone else so completely – well, it’s
heartbreaking and breathtaking. To watch the author of the lyrics, get caught
up in her emotional experience, to see her lost in painful memories, while
singing beautifully… that is brave. I have transcribed brutal moments from my
life into my writing, and have cried painfully while doing so, but I have
always done this alone. These singer/songwriter/musical folks – they have a
degree of bravery most of us cannot imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And so, off
the Kentucky I go, in search of Moonbows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks for
reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-41544490223080353572016-01-18T12:08:00.001-08:002016-02-29T10:05:13.804-08:00What to wear to work?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My relationship with clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I know. You thought I was going to write a blog on my
relationship with my pants. I have bigger issues. My relationship with my
clothes extends from head to toe, top to bottom. Sitting around all day writing
takes a lot of effort, when it comes to fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Admit it, you think authors look like this while they write!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lcZwQWcIiSc/Vp05cOaJ8NI/AAAAAAAAMoA/u0Oq3xR6UNw/s1600/womandeskwriting.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lcZwQWcIiSc/Vp05cOaJ8NI/AAAAAAAAMoA/u0Oq3xR6UNw/s320/womandeskwriting.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m not sure where these relic memories come from.
Generational? Or do we sit around and think that to be successful, we have to
look a certain way, or that if you write a best-selling novel (or twenty) and you can
afford a fancy office and wardrobe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The secret, well, at least my secret, to a successful day of
writing is to wear this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVb0tduotBo/Vp1GFL0U9rI/AAAAAAAAMpU/4zlWRRZkeCc/s1600/monkeyonesie.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVb0tduotBo/Vp1GFL0U9rI/AAAAAAAAMpU/4zlWRRZkeCc/s320/monkeyonesie.PNG" width="276" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And James Patterson agrees with me – well, at least the
pictures I trolled on the internet for, concur.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3QPuDqgLr2U/Vp095riCRYI/AAAAAAAAMoU/DR6E_sZIwUc/s1600/jamespattersonpajamas.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3QPuDqgLr2U/Vp095riCRYI/AAAAAAAAMoU/DR6E_sZIwUc/s320/jamespattersonpajamas.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay! Not pajamas, but not a suit, and not behind a desk, and
he certainly looks comfy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
And </span>why is this? There are reasons beyond being comfortable.</div>
</span><br />
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</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If my clothes are too tight bad things happen to
characters. They get into arguments with friends, lose their jobs, worry over gaining weight, wonder if they overdid it the night before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If my clothes don’t keep me warm, the sunny day the
characters are meant to frolic on the beach in Saint Tropez turns into a rainy
day in Plattsburgh, New York, getting a flat tire. Not to say that Plattsburgh
isn’t a lovely place, but it ain’t Saint Tropez.</span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kr5kfRLYzeo/Vp0-qN0vkFI/AAAAAAAAMog/EwUkzUYlono/s1600/sainttropezbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kr5kfRLYzeo/Vp0-qN0vkFI/AAAAAAAAMog/EwUkzUYlono/s400/sainttropezbeach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If my clothes keep me too warm, the sunny day in
Saint Tropez, turns from characters frolicking on the beach into people
bickering under a beach umbrella. (I once wrote a scene where ten people
managed to fit under one beach umbrella and whine about sand in their crevices,
before I realized I needed to turn down the heat in my house.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iC34uj4G3Pk/Vp1A4xro8BI/AAAAAAAAMos/bWeNfLzv_VI/s1600/babybum.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iC34uj4G3Pk/Vp1A4xro8BI/AAAAAAAAMos/bWeNfLzv_VI/s320/babybum.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If my clothes don’t let me easily move from ‘posture-perfect-sitting-upright’
to sitting ‘crisscross-applesauce’ then emotional moments, where the character
is supposed to slither down into a heap, turn into sequences where the
character stoically buttons her jacket and stiffly walks out of the room. I
particularly like the word slither.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If my feet get cold (yes, when I get dressed, I
make sure I have layers on my feet) then it’s game over. Nothing goes right in
anyone’s world if my feet are cold. High heels break, blisters from hot sandy
beaches erupt, budgets are blown on trendy shoes, a rogue wave knocks someone
on their keester. And so it goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rW_R-isk5Po/Vp1BP-XBlvI/AAAAAAAAMo0/uLXFjMeJW5k/s1600/heelstuckingrate.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rW_R-isk5Po/Vp1BP-XBlvI/AAAAAAAAMo0/uLXFjMeJW5k/s320/heelstuckingrate.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">If my hands get cold… This is the trickiest of
them all. My hands. Cause’ if my hands are cold, then I can’t type, but I can’t
type if I wear gloves. By now, you’re wondering if I live at the North Pole.
Nope. I don’t. But you try typing all day and see if your hands don’t get cold.
ACTUALLY, they rarely do. I type so fast and furiously, with all the perfectly
crafted prose demanding to be transferred from brain to paper, that I can
barely keep up. Writing turns out to be the best hand exercise – ever!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It turns out that a career in writing lends itself best to
hand exercise and the acquisition of pajamas. Yup. I write wearing pajamas. My
standard outfit: fleece pajamas (top and bottom), with a tank underneath, wool
socks, slippers, a hat is nearby (that is mostly to put on when I Skype with
someone and so that I can disguise my bedhead), and on rare days, when it is
really cold, a cup of hot water I can wrap my hands to warm them up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Pretty sexy, no? My family doesn’t even flinch anymore when I show
up places dressed as if I am getting ready for bed. Well, not entirely true.
Now that I have teenagers, they balk. A little.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8suunEvwUk/Vp1C4ghyUlI/AAAAAAAAMpA/8xtfGap5DMs/s1600/womanshoppingpjs.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8suunEvwUk/Vp1C4ghyUlI/AAAAAAAAMpA/8xtfGap5DMs/s1600/womanshoppingpjs.PNG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">While people who have office jobs dream of wearing pajamas all
day, I find myself in clothing stores, that have NO pajamas, fondling clothing
that have structure – pleats, ruching, top-stitching, embroidery, overlays.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6KRbStxNZa8/Vp1DbFsnguI/AAAAAAAAMpI/tmoL2btTIm4/s1600/womanembroidereddress.PNG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6KRbStxNZa8/Vp1DbFsnguI/AAAAAAAAMpI/tmoL2btTIm4/s320/womanembroidereddress.PNG" width="165" /></a></div>
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</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When I was a little girl, in the 70’s, I remember clearly
thinking that old people wear pants with elastic waistbands. By this
definition, I have been old since I was in my thirties. Speaking of that, I am
about to have a business meeting with my editor, so I have to go put on my
dress-up writing clothes, yoga pants and a sweatshirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks for reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-24861571677469384192016-01-11T11:06:00.003-08:002016-01-11T14:53:04.373-08:00Hat's Off to You!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Whether this blog finds you on a sunny beach or a snowy slope,
the question I have for you is, how do you feel about wearing a hat?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jMcLgBlJ-k/VpPzPyDaFPI/AAAAAAAAMmI/gbN5SEDdmMY/s1600/beachhat.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jMcLgBlJ-k/VpPzPyDaFPI/AAAAAAAAMmI/gbN5SEDdmMY/s400/beachhat.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">How I usually deal with a hat - carry it around</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This may seem like a strange question, but the reason I ask
is, I feel ridiculous wearing them. How does one develop a fear, almost a
phobia, of wearing a hat? I couldn’t tell you and honestly, I’ve spent time
wondering about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OjDCkf4TyE/VpP0uXwRnEI/AAAAAAAAMmU/9B-_VOZsAbc/s1600/hatalienmeme.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OjDCkf4TyE/VpP0uXwRnEI/AAAAAAAAMmU/9B-_VOZsAbc/s400/hatalienmeme.PNG" width="400" /></a><br />
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
may very well be my problem. I’m an alien.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve tried all manner of hats. The one I end up feeling least
ridiculous wearing is a jester hat, and that’s only because you’re supposed to
look silly when you wear it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S4YysbzLDLQ/VpP2RR9ZomI/AAAAAAAAMmg/Lm9bNThFqL8/s1600/jesterhat.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S4YysbzLDLQ/VpP2RR9ZomI/AAAAAAAAMmg/Lm9bNThFqL8/s320/jesterhat.PNG" width="318" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Years ago, and yes, I’ve been thinking about this for years, I
contemplated the fact that women used to wear hats on a daily basis. Many of
them (the hats) were quite unattractive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ig7PG49PMoc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ig7PG49PMoc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Then, some of them are exquisitely beautiful.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TUSjhNAjB5U/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TUSjhNAjB5U?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This may be the singular reason I still like to look at photos
of royal families. Their hats.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxl_Ee8FDng/VpP4V8jxHBI/AAAAAAAAMm8/1BRT6eMpuQM/s1600/princesshat.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxl_Ee8FDng/VpP4V8jxHBI/AAAAAAAAMm8/1BRT6eMpuQM/s320/princesshat.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I went looking for reasons. My face shape, the size of my head,
the way my hair dangles or pokes out. I’ve stuck on many a hat and stared in
the mirror and assessed this and I’ve come to a conclusion. It’s an utterly
ludicrous fear. My head size is normal. My face shape is normal. My hair,
whether long or short, does what other peoples does, so that can’t be it. It’s
all in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">So, in an effort to confront this fear, I have been wearing
hats. In public, even. I crocheted a few over the holidays, and have bravely
walked out of the house wearing them and guess what? No one keeled over from
the sight. Now, I cannot claim that my fears are gone. I am so cognizant of the
hat that I find myself narcissistic, swerving down the road as I check the
mirror to make sure nothing bad has happened to my head while I’m driving.</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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHUj9tIljJs/VpP9FPPimTI/AAAAAAAAMno/FG0o9dXZgKI/s1600/carboat.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHUj9tIljJs/VpP9FPPimTI/AAAAAAAAMno/FG0o9dXZgKI/s400/carboat.PNG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I don’t recommend this.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">One absolutely positive benefit is short hair bedhead. While
99% of the worlds female population has long hair, I do not. It’s pretty short,
so there are days (most, in fact) that I wake up to hair standing straight up
or poking out funny, possibly even jutting out the opposite direction from
normal. If I plunk a hat on, not only is this issue disguised, but the hat
actually sorts the problem out. When I take it off, all the misplaced, oddly
bent strands are still whacky, but now they are flattened to my head, making
them slightly less obvious.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKN6n2UCYFo/VpP5ugW5cJI/AAAAAAAAMnI/LL3Zw1fa8Yk/s1600/bedhead.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKN6n2UCYFo/VpP5ugW5cJI/AAAAAAAAMnI/LL3Zw1fa8Yk/s320/bedhead.PNG" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">You may not see this as beneficial, but then I’m guessing you
have long hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">My goal for the winter of 2016? To conquer this fingernail
biting, nausea inducing, head itching fear, so that my ears can for once in
their lives, experience the joy of warmth, in winter. It’s either that, or grow
my hair long again so that said ears and neck are protected. Though… I have
acquired quite a collection of scarves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfb7tmGXIRg/VpP67o06EeI/AAAAAAAAMnU/Ih9ta23K-DQ/s1600/scarves.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfb7tmGXIRg/VpP67o06EeI/AAAAAAAAMnU/Ih9ta23K-DQ/s320/scarves.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks for reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-84323865068330081822015-12-21T11:34:00.000-08:002015-12-21T11:57:33.755-08:00I'm Dreaming...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">By FAR my favorite Christmas TV Show when I was growing up was,
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. I think this could have been the origin for my
predilection for Happily Ever After! So many incredible messages about the
human condition and the resilience of mankind encapsulated in this forty
minute cartoon.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </div>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XeWqq66i8GU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XeWqq66i8GU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I was digging around some old boxes of childhood memorabilia the
other day and I found my diary from when I was 18. I have to admit that my
Christmas Wish List hasn’t altered all that much:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My Wish List at 18</span></u><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span><u>My
Wish List at 50</u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdRRm0wbpD4/Vng7C8dVfmI/AAAAAAAAMkA/_3ubq_91Qtw/s1600/teslaroadster.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdRRm0wbpD4/Vng7C8dVfmI/AAAAAAAAMkA/_3ubq_91Qtw/s320/teslaroadster.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes, I am still dazzled by sparkly, pretty things and secretly
hope that any of them might somehow find their way under the tree! What might
surprise you is that my understanding and desire for Peace on Earth and Good
Will towards humankind hasn’t evolved all that much. My parents indulging a
whimsy once or twice a year didn’t warp my belief that the ultimate gift would
be to live in a world where <em>everyone </em>was safe and had what they needed. Needed,
not wanted.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">All year I am reminded of the goodness that thrives in the hearts
of people. One simply has to be as willing to look for it, as they are willing
to look for the bad.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I have long since defined myself as a Humanist. Not a
Christian. Not an Atheist. But a believer in humankind.<o:p></o:p></span>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-65636693226872412702015-11-30T10:18:00.005-08:002015-11-30T15:39:37.830-08:00Turnabout is Fair Play.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What is the phrase? Turnabout is fair play? Handily spun by Mr. William Shakespeare – I say handily because he is/was a man (we presume) and it is a catchy phrase. A few weeks ago, I touched upon the subject of women’s foundation garments. And yes, today I will talk about, but not touch upon (for the sake of this blog) men’s underclothes. I would like to quickly point out an obvious and well known fact: there are double standards. I think they need to end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">While most women shoot for some facsimile of this: </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0_hMK7c38g/VlyLW6eoG1I/AAAAAAAAMSo/j_5O8BPCdSs/s1600/size12.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0_hMK7c38g/VlyLW6eoG1I/AAAAAAAAMSo/j_5O8BPCdSs/s320/size12.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Many men seem to be able to get away with this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P62BAhNvOuI/VlyLiujFo5I/AAAAAAAAMSw/H8lVZBJmr5g/s1600/beerbelly.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P62BAhNvOuI/VlyLiujFo5I/AAAAAAAAMSw/H8lVZBJmr5g/s200/beerbelly.PNG" width="196" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I've been happily married for twenty years, so no, this isn't the rant of an unhappy woman. This is merely my perception of the truth, that cultural expectations allow for this:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CgVQPIDKhxE/VlyL6axWLqI/AAAAAAAAMS4/yegevGMc-34/s1600/beachcouple.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CgVQPIDKhxE/VlyL6axWLqI/AAAAAAAAMS4/yegevGMc-34/s320/beachcouple.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">There is a great deal of discussion these days on metrosexuals. If you are unfamiliar with the phrase, here’s a handy-dandy definition from Dictionary.com<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">: a heterosexual, usually urban male who pays much attention to his personal appearance and cultivates an upscale lifestyle.<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So we are seeing more of this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj9WMNfsTmo/VlyMh6uC-4I/AAAAAAAAMTA/toudcLPe-04/s1600/euromale.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj9WMNfsTmo/VlyMh6uC-4I/AAAAAAAAMTA/toudcLPe-04/s320/euromale.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But there is plenty of this, underneath that!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-11BJCYjtGc0/VlyN3pXKprI/AAAAAAAAMTI/XSIH-m4Hxd4/s1600/walterwhite.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-11BJCYjtGc0/VlyN3pXKprI/AAAAAAAAMTI/XSIH-m4Hxd4/s320/walterwhite.PNG" width="249" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What am I getting at, you might be wondering? My goal is to persuade each and every one of you to dare to purchase any of these, and say no to the dreaded Tighty Whities.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXgZVWNbUAA/VlyQVBZGXlI/AAAAAAAAMTg/lpAfrSiI9Jg/s1600/boxerbrief.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXgZVWNbUAA/VlyQVBZGXlI/AAAAAAAAMTg/lpAfrSiI9Jg/s1600/boxerbrief.PNG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Why? Because. Because the only time you see Victoria Beckham smile is when she is thinking of this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KJq0XvovpzU/VlySBQcqCCI/AAAAAAAAMTs/NNKmfB0KdNY/s1600/davidbeckham.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KJq0XvovpzU/VlySBQcqCCI/AAAAAAAAMTs/NNKmfB0KdNY/s320/davidbeckham.PNG" width="281" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And I have a strong suspicion (and have done more than a little bit of research) that given a loving nudge from the love of his life, your man is willing to go there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>But... I could be wrong.</strong></span></div>
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<strong>Thanks for reading!</strong></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-66562920521656610892015-11-22T20:23:00.001-08:002015-11-22T20:35:10.697-08:00Excerpt from work-in-progress, What We Know, We See<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Early
this summer, housebound and in between the edits for Prosecco & Paparazzi
and beginning Cognac & Couture, I began a book, called What We Know, We
See. It is about the connection of two souls who never really understood each
other. Too many words have remained unsaid and the couple know each other by
actions and deeds. And while that sometimes is for the best, in this case,
years have passed, and the silence is still disquieting.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
hope you enjoy this snippet. The book is in the very rough stages – really rough,
actually – but it speaks to me, and what I think love might be, when one can
only take cues, because the words that are spoken are so in contrast with
actions that they render the speaker virtually silent.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Overlooking
Puget Sound, August 21, 2015 </span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I have a thousand thoughts to share, and as I sit
here, amongst the mess that is my office, I wonder if I ever will. That’s what
happens when one falls in love with a complete stranger. One wonders a great
many things. A stranger connotes many things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A person who does not know us is inherent in the
problem. A person we do not know. A person who is a complete puzzle. Rather
than recount what I do not know about you or you about me, it is easier to say
what is known. But that is not what I wish… not what my heart wishes, to focus
on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From the first moment – the first synchronization of
heartbeats, the first hello – to the last email, I have been lost in a dream of
possibilities. Yes, I wake up from time to time. I clatter to earth when razor
sharp words are bandied about. You are with her, doing something normal,
everyday’ish. I crash to earth when you do something, like travel to
places I may have been. I find my heart and my brain straining to place you on
the map, locate you on a corner, imagine you inside a restaurant, wonder if you
are picking a Malbec or a Bordeaux. That I know these things. Regrettable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I asked you, “Is this real?” Your answer was
instant. “Yes.” My heart leapt. We are real. We are not just a fantasy that I
have concocted. We <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i>. For a few
fleeting minutes, or was it hours, that was enough. But then uncertainty sets
in. Right now, this very minute, we are living very real lives, that are worlds
apart, so infinitely different they cannot be compared. So, how real can we be?
My real. Your real. That we breathe, that we sleep, that we eat, that we drink.
That is what we have in common.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Silly girl that I am, I have found myself lost in
fantasies many times where you boldly take my hand, walk down the street beside
me, kiss me, are seen with me. Then you get in your car and drive away to do
crazy things, like shop with for snow tires, purchase patio furniture, go on
vacation, plan tomorrow with her. Jealousy. It isn’t something that I am proud
of, but I am. I am jealous. Yet this morning when I woke-up to the fondling
hands of my lover, I didn’t turn him away. How could I? He has been my world,
he is my world, he is my link to all that says, ‘I am.’ Silly girl that I am, I
think of you as his hands slide across my body, as his mouth tastes me, and I
know that if I try just a little harder, I will smell your scent in the air.
But a line must be drawn somewhere and here I draw it. Of all things, why your
scent? A mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I bend and sway in the wind, as if I have no worries
in the world, but I have once again transformed myself to be someone’s whim. I
move and bow at your command and I slowly grow too unfamiliar with myself. This
is what I fear the most. That I am unrecognizable to myself. I have lost myself
so many times before. “Are we real?” I do not know. Perhaps all we are is the
manifestation of what we are looking for when what we have is not enough. A
card trick, a sleight of hand. Magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Why did you pick me? Did you think I was strong
enough to withstand this jealousy, this torture? Or did you see me as someone
who was malleable and pathetic? I once felt powerful in your arms. You wanted
me so much that I had power, I had appeal. I am now… not. But to reveal all
this to you – can I? No.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My path is certain, my compass points true, and the
words I spoke one autumn day are truer than ever, “I am loyal to a fault.” You
will never know how much I wish I could change this. These rules of society, of
religion, of love. They shroud us, eventually. Once they were comforting and
promising. But now, in a world where people live far too long, these words,
these vows, they are only the words of people who couldn’t fathom life that lasted
forever. All our words and actions are recorded, to be replayed over and over
for many generations to come. The things that we do, good or unseemly, are never
to be forgotten.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Is this real? Yes. Can this be real forever? I do not know. Neither do you.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The dandelion bows to the wind and the seeds take
flight, and though the promise of another flower is sown in damp soil, our
love, I fear, it withers on the stalk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CR7ZykW8bh8/VlKTEShgbcI/AAAAAAAAMRM/Ocxj26l_2uE/s1600/daisies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CR7ZykW8bh8/VlKTEShgbcI/AAAAAAAAMRM/Ocxj26l_2uE/s400/daisies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><em>Copyright, Celia Kennedy, 2015<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">>>Thanks for reading!<<</span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-58786574006378955992015-11-16T15:43:00.002-08:002015-11-16T15:44:06.089-08:00Wine, Women, and Song<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JPFSXlIjVNc/Vkpoov2DuLI/AAAAAAAAMQA/NwKhuhZwKbg/s1600/bluehands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JPFSXlIjVNc/Vkpoov2DuLI/AAAAAAAAMQA/NwKhuhZwKbg/s1600/bluehands.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Today most bloggers take to their keyboards about Friday
night’s attack on Paris. I think it would be virtually impossible not to – this
is akin to September 11, 2001. A country devastated, its people feeling unsafe
and unsettled, mourning the loss of so many innocents, not knowing what’s
coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What can I bring to this subject that is new, different, or
otherwise? Honestly, I don’t know. I just think back on the memories I made in
this beautiful country, and its capital city over the course of my life and all
I can think of is its beauty, its mystery, its joie de vivre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I was about nine years old the first time I went to Paris.
My siblings and I dutifully shuffled along behind our parents and oohed and aahed
at all the right things – the Eiffel Tower, The Arc de Triumph, the Louvre… I’m
guessing the Seine and a handful of other things. To be honest, these are
pretty vague.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What stuck in my head was this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">People sitting at cafes drinking coffee and
smoking and laughing. Mostly laughing. Engaging with each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Women dressed beautifully, gliding down the
street, going <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">somewhere</i> and that
somewhere felt like it ought to be fabulous and where I needed to go, as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri";">One single glance into a boulangerie forever
cemented my love affair with all things bread and pastry. Since this past
spring, when I gave up gluten, I have many a time wondered how people in France
could possibly go gluten-free. I can only assume that gluten intolerance doesn’t
exist. Which makes me wonder if many or any French people are lactose
intolerant. I can’t imagine anything stranger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My father introduced me to Edith Piaf that summer. My love
for her will last a lifetime. A woman whose pain and determination allowed her to sing
the words to this song like no other.</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I think back to the summer of 1995, an epic, “quality”
summer and returning to this amazing corner of the world. We were a large group
of Architecture and Landscape Architecture students loose on the world,
traveling with backpacks, stumbling about because we were continually looking
upwards or in the distance, always pointing with fascination and delight. We
were poor, so we didn’t see many glamorous spots, but we saw the people, the
buildings, the roads, the avenues, drank wine, ate at farmer markets, peered
through shop windows, and sat at cafés drinking coffee. We slept on the beaches
of Saint Tropez, ate exquisite calamari in Sète while watching gondola jousting.
We walked every step Cezanne took, we lingered at Giverny, and we wished for
money to partake in wine tours! Each and every one of us fell madly in love
with France, in one aspect or another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">For myself, I wanted three things to happen. I made a wish
list for myself. I wanted to buy lingerie and perfume in Paris. I wanted to visit
the ancient Roman Pont du Gard aqueduct which crosses the Gardon River in
Remoulins, in southern France, and picnic. (Weird maybe, but in college I wrote
a paper about Pliny the Elder and this seemed like something he would do.) Thirdly…
I wanted to fall in love with a Frenchman and stay there forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I didn’t marry a Frenchman from France, but I did have a
fling. Does that count? On the streets of Paris I met a lovely boy who took me
to a bar next to the launderette where my clothes whirled about, and proceeded
to dazzle the pants off me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Well past the years that I would wander into a dark corner
in pursuit of l’amour, I still find myself passionately in love with the city,
the country, its people. There are endless people clacking away on their
keyboards saying the same thing, and my only hope is that the citizens of
France and those across the world who lost loved ones in the attack on Friday
night, feel our love, because I know they are too busy, too sad, to read our
blogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Je me souviens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Thanks for reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-58205004559112599852015-11-09T13:07:00.000-08:002015-11-09T13:31:41.904-08:00Knickers in a Twist!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Alrighty
then! Today we are taking on shape wear, underwear, foundation garments, personal support
systems, brassieres, pantalettes, or whatever else you call the layer between
your skin and your outerwear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Not to get
too personal, but do you look like this?</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ouK3QyLIIg0/VkD9N_2zGTI/AAAAAAAAL8I/mDvuxgC3AI4/s1600/neathage.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ouK3QyLIIg0/VkD9N_2zGTI/AAAAAAAAL8I/mDvuxgC3AI4/s320/neathage.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">OR this?</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OARI38dWncw/VkD9psjMerI/AAAAAAAAL8Q/5JezQXZ04Sk/s1600/overage.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OARI38dWncw/VkD9psjMerI/AAAAAAAAL8Q/5JezQXZ04Sk/s1600/overage.PNG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Under this?</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GrPm1GVgkAE/VkD96va-FSI/AAAAAAAAL8Y/eBLdN0ieEOY/s1600/badshapewear.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GrPm1GVgkAE/VkD96va-FSI/AAAAAAAAL8Y/eBLdN0ieEOY/s320/badshapewear.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Many years
ago I read some romance novel and the heroine hoisted herself into her bra and
slipped into her matching panties and the earth sort of spun out of orbit for a
second and then settled a little wonky on it’s axis. I dashed to my dresser,
peeked inside my undies drawer and realized I had nothing! Nothing! Functional,
plain, somewhat distressed (okay, mostly manky) underwear lay limp in the drawer.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">True, no one
(cause I was a young teen) knew what my under garments looked like, but I suddenly
became a tad bit obsessed. Not because I had been indoctrinated by unrealistic heroines that I couldn't possibly emulate, but because there was something, to me, inherently womanly and feminine in slipping into a delicate and functional layer, that was private.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Because you
can look like this</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/W253f0AdtKg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W253f0AdtKg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">OR this</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1WlWGYu7A6E/VkEB1o2HvlI/AAAAAAAAL8k/8v8pV86TCB8/s1600/grannypanties.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1WlWGYu7A6E/VkEB1o2HvlI/AAAAAAAAL8k/8v8pV86TCB8/s320/grannypanties.PNG" width="264" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">While granny panties are making a strong comeback and there a few catchy phrases surrounding them (if it is possible to surround them) - I think with most of todays fashions you'll find yourself camouflaging a lot of excess material. I mean, they make low-rise underwear!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Really, the
only person it should matter to is you, I sincerely mean this.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then came the
day I got a roommate from Paris. That was a wake-up call on many fronts. The book,<em> French Women Don’t Get Fat</em>… well, my roommate was the
quintessential Frenchwoman. She could eat buttered baguette with Brie every day
of her life and not have an extra ounce on her. Of course in addition to being petite she was well
groomed, a fashion plate, funny, smart, and… well, what else is there for her
to be? </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">One day,
about two months after she moved in, she received a parcel from her mother. She
opened it, and pulled out matching bras and panties. That’s it. No homemade
treats, no photos of the family, no mementos. Undies. Just as I was
about to ask her why, she passed me a stack. I slid the material between my
fingers, I tugged at the waistband, I feel the velvety soft straps of the bras
and I was convinced. The French know what they are doing. I passed the stack
back, and she said, in her lilting and elegant voice, “Mais non! These are for
you. Ma mere sent you a gift for making me feel so welcome.” (Make sure you
roll your “r’s” and speak through your nose as you read this, maybe mutter a
little ‘unh, huhn-hunh.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">While writing Cognac & Couture, which takes place during Fall Fashion Week in Paris, I had the opportunity to explore the world of French lingerie. You should take a peek at this link, <a href="http://www.thelingerieaddict.com/2013/02/parisian-lingerie-adventures-fifi-chachnil-cadolle.html" target="_blank">French Lingerie!</a> To be fair, there is gorgeous lingerie to be found worldwide.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gtUoOM8OXPM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gtUoOM8OXPM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So! What is
the moral of this story? Treat yourself. Get measured. Wear what fits and what feels comfortable. Wear what speaks to
you, what you need… and then when there are days where the world tries to make
you feel like this</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-48O0ny7mmuA/VkEIyc0WjkI/AAAAAAAAL80/Q2L8dJovSzI/s1600/overwhelmedmom.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-48O0ny7mmuA/VkEIyc0WjkI/AAAAAAAAL80/Q2L8dJovSzI/s1600/overwhelmedmom.PNG" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">You can say,
“Mais non! Beecuz, I have dis.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa6nrF5WwsU/VkEJKx9Bc_I/AAAAAAAAL88/o3urdswxxcY/s1600/LaPerla.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oa6nrF5WwsU/VkEJKx9Bc_I/AAAAAAAAL88/o3urdswxxcY/s320/LaPerla.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>Thanks for reading!</o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-65751389883412568242015-11-02T09:58:00.000-08:002015-11-02T17:58:23.472-08:00Women and High-Heels, What's to wonder about?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><u><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Shoes and Possibly Travel!<o:p></o:p></span></strong></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s a toss up. To be honest I was trying to decide between
writing a blog about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shoes</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">comedy writing</i>. Why? I dunno. When
confronted with these conundrums I always turn to doing a little research. I’m a very
visual person, so when I see something, things gel and I can get some focus. I went
in search of inspiration on the interweb. S<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hoes</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">travel related topics</i> kept
popping up on the screen, not comedy writing. I decided to listen to my inner
voice – persistently warbling on while my brain somersaulted
into action – telling me what to write
about. (In truth, I think the coffee kicking in helped a bit.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s start with shoes. I love them. Have you met a girl who doesn’t?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">
</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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oikP0QvanPM/VjeZx6LDDwI/AAAAAAAAL0o/s6VhKv-KnVk/s1600/redflowershoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oikP0QvanPM/VjeZx6LDDwI/AAAAAAAAL0o/s6VhKv-KnVk/s1600/redflowershoes.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am currently obsessing over these!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">My first legit job was selling shoes at <em>Payless Shoe Source</em>. I
was so nervous. I mean honestly, what did I know about shoes? Other than the
fact that I loved them, what made me an authority on shoes? My first day was a
Saturday in November, somewhere around the fourteenth of the month. It was
<u>soooo</u> long ago it is a bit difficult to remember, but it was so momentous that
I remember that much. I can’t remember my first kiss. Kinda sad when you think
about it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Anyway, the manager put me on the sales floor and I trolled
the vacant back corner, which was where the men’s department was located, and proceeded
to straighten shoe boxes and keep myself busy doing pretty much nothing. A few
men staggered in and out, prodding at shoes, and looked at price tags, before stuffing
their hands in their pockets and leaning back, looking quite contemplative. I quickly
came to understand that meant that the ratty shoes they were wearing sufficed
and my sixteen-year-old insights weren’t going to budge them.</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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YDcY2sjmGo0/VjebxaR_9TI/AAAAAAAAL00/K54qGKuzAl0/s1600/keanuandjames.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YDcY2sjmGo0/VjebxaR_9TI/AAAAAAAAL00/K54qGKuzAl0/s320/keanuandjames.PNG" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously? I don't get this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">When I eventually mustered up the courage to wander into the
women’s department (99% of the store), I strategically picked the
quintessential little old lady; blue hair, frail, short, big smile, who rested her
bony hand on my forearm and called me “dear”. I figured I could be honest with
her and she’d be patient and understanding. Within thirty seconds of chatting
with her, I told her I would ask my manager to assist her. It turns out she had
some major foot issue and in my teenage mind, that little old lady and her
foot deformities were way out of my league. I am not proud, but I will admit,
that I was not looking forward to seeing what was ensconced inside her shoe. I kept
a wide berth the rest of the time she was there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It was not lost upon me, even at that tender age, that if you
had a foot deformity, shopping for shoes at a budget chain was not a good
idea. As I write this blog the thought gels that many a foot deformity has
evolved from wearing certain shoes, discount or spendy. But for the most part,
women will withstand pain, comparable to childbirth, in order to wear a rocking
pair of heels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From previous blogs you’ll know that I subscribe to evolution
and trying to understand why our ancestors selected mates with certain
tendencies. Why do men pick women who like, no, love, high-heels? Really, it’s
their fault when you think about it.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j95uDFgEpt0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j95uDFgEpt0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Taken straight from the Urban Dictionary: Fuck Me Shoes: High
spikey and cutaway women's shoes. Often abbreviated to FM shoes. <u>Please note
that flat shoes were NOT mentioned. </u>If you think I am making this up,
please refer to this really well written article:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2014/12/12/" target="_blank">Science of high-heels and their affect on men.</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">How does traveling fit in to this? No matter where I am, what
my budget is, once I’ve managed to make my way through the by-ways, museums,
tourist traps, and authentically amazing sites, I always hit shoe stores. There
is something absolutely decadent and exquisite in caressing a pair
of </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Giuseppe Zanotti heels in Rome or Christian
Louboutin’s in Paris.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In case you’re wondering, the first
thing I bought with the money I earned from working at Payless Shoes was a pair
of Ferragamo’s! I even took up ballroom dancing so I could justify buying more heels!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39fJaPfviFU/Vjej7nHqMOI/AAAAAAAAL1M/3VfpSWQ2i8M/s1600/tango.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39fJaPfviFU/Vjej7nHqMOI/AAAAAAAAL1M/3VfpSWQ2i8M/s320/tango.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">And because I love all things fashion, I implore you to look at these gorgeous shoes. <a href="http://www.popsugar.com/fashion/Best-Runway-Shoes-Fashion-Week-Fall-2015-36958964#photo-37060499" target="_blank">Shmexy shoes from 2015 runway shows.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-47548645468130098692015-10-25T18:55:00.003-07:002015-10-26T08:54:10.699-07:00The Scariest Trick or Treat Blog Hop EVER!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ruIQFIeOWlE/Vi19ciVbQ6I/AAAAAAAALvw/TjJnwgFAvOI/s1600/Halloween%2BBlog%2BHop%2BLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ruIQFIeOWlE/Vi19ciVbQ6I/AAAAAAAALvw/TjJnwgFAvOI/s1600/Halloween%2BBlog%2BHop%2BLogo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">*´¨</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">✫</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">¸.•´¸.•*´¨)</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">✯</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">¸</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">•</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">*</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">¨</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">✮</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
(¸.•´</span><span style="font-family: Consolas;">✶</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hello scary hoppers! I’m so thrilled you’ve
stopped on my page today. As your TREAT I’m giving away an ebook copy of <em><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">The Cat, The Crow and The Cauldron</span></em>
to every single one of you. It is currently #4 on Amazon for Anthologies and #10 on Amazon for Holiday Fiction. Anyone can get their copy. All you have to do to
collect my prize is LIKE my FB page and Follow me on Amazon.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">My Facebook link is: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CMKAuthor" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Click here to follow
Celia Kennedy on Facebook.</span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">My Amazon link is: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celia-Kennedy/e/B00AW5KEZO" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Click here to follow Celia Kennedy on Amazon!</span></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">My prize is available
during each day of the hop!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<u1:p></u1:p>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Amazon US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Crow-Cauldron-Halloween-Anthology-ebook/dp/B016KW8N2I/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1445821947&sr=8-5&keywords=celia+kennedy" target="_blank">CLICK HERE!</a></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Amazon UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cat-Crow-Cauldron-Halloween-Anthology-ebook/dp/B016KW8N2I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1445822716&sr=8-2&keywords=celia+kennedy" target="_blank">CLICK HERE!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">So now that you’ve gotten
your treat, comment below with your favorite Halloween candy. I really love
Flake Chocolate Bars. Can’t get enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span> </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oowtP5pEsgA/Vi2B0tO0GZI/AAAAAAAALv8/9zlYGVEPpy4/s1600/flakebars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oowtP5pEsgA/Vi2B0tO0GZI/AAAAAAAALv8/9zlYGVEPpy4/s1600/flakebars.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Remember what you
have to do, or I will find you. I will take your candy.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_YQpbzQ6gzs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_YQpbzQ6gzs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thanks again for visiting me, and if you’re new
to the Halloween Book Hop you can start over on the event page and hop to all
of the 130 authors giving out treats and tricks. Happy Halloween!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/474319562772748/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/events/474319562772748/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Remember </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">this...</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">Or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u1:p></u1:p>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt;">… This.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-46074089816097540192015-10-19T11:42:00.001-07:002015-10-19T11:44:14.696-07:00How Do You Solve A Problem Like Celia?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe that most of us are very curious about what makes
others tick. What moves, motivates, and impedes us? What makes us smile? Makes
us cry? Over the last few years I have hosted a number of author interviews on
my website, but instead of asking them questions about their books, I like to
ask questions about the person and find out who they are, because their essence goes into their work as an author. Today, I
thought I would ask myself some of these same questions. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But first, let's start with a song! Cause' there's nothing quite a well crafted to song to make me smile... Brad Paisley, Ticks. He's everything in a songwriter and singer that I want to be as an author.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How would your best friend describe you?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We call it ADOCDD. It’s
true. Attention Deficit Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Disorder. But in a fun,
you-never-know-what-you’re-gonna-get kind of way. Loyal. Hardworking.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your most embarrassing moment in four words.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Middle-school, pee,
basketball practice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Actually the real question calls for three words, but since
I am the author and host, I can change this to four.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j3eu2Yz003I/ViUdvA9vMEI/AAAAAAAALug/Rygc94GhMyk/s1600/pee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j3eu2Yz003I/ViUdvA9vMEI/AAAAAAAALug/Rygc94GhMyk/s320/pee.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most unexpected question a reader has asked you?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it hard to write
sex scenes? Well, I wouldn’t say it is the easiest thing to talk about, but no,
they aren’t hard to write.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>What is the biggest lie you've ever told?</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I convinced a rather
sweet boy, when I was in the eighth grade, that I had been raised in a convent.
I would have left it at that, but he persisted with questions. If my memory
serves me, this is the entirety of what I told him, “I had wanted to be a
Catholic nun from an early age, convinced my parents to let me enter the
convent, and had lived amongst an order that had taken a vow of silence. I had
only recently realized that wasn’t for me, and was now attending public school
for the first time, and my clothes felt strange to me, as I had been wearing a
habit for several years.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What makes this truly
funny is that at the time I lived in a very small town and had gone to the
school the previous year. I think I was irritated he hadn’t noticed me, so I
created this wild story to see when it would become too absurd or when he’d
remember I’d been at the school for quite some time. Neither of those things occurred.
I recall letting this go on for a week or so, and then finally fessed up to the
truth. He wasn’t angry with me, he was disappointed that it wasn’t true.
Apparently my fictional self was a whole lot more interesting to him. It was
quite the blow to my self-esteem.</span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECIW6S3OCOw/ViU4w2lFRDI/AAAAAAAALvA/zoeaUQjCVGw/s1600/nun.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ECIW6S3OCOw/ViU4w2lFRDI/AAAAAAAALvA/zoeaUQjCVGw/s1600/nun.png" /></a></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></i> </div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Full Disclosure: I
apologize to the girl in the sixth grade that I convinced I was blind. I know,
I know… overactive and very strange sense of humor.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever been in trouble with the police?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes. Was it my fault?
No, of course not. More than once? Yes. But to be fair, loads of strange and
amazing things have happened to me in my life, so these incidents were just par
for the course.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, have I scared you
off or am I more interesting? I’d like to think that when combining the
aforementioned overactive imagination with my disclosure, that you are
intrigued, that you want to send me an email and ask me to elaborate.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever gotten into a bar fight?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, hasn’t everyone?
The scene was included in a book I wrote. One goddess, three men, a bar in
Amsterdam, and all hell broke loose. I was the friend who pulled the goddess to
the floor and crawled along the floor, under the table, to get us the heck out
of there. One of the men’s friends, a lovely man named Thijs, helped get us
home. I swore to never travel with her again. I haven’t.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is your biggest fear?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every parents fear.
Something will happen to my children. I cannot bear the thought.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What do you want your tombstone to say?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hate to ask, but
will you water my plants while I’m gone?</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUGImPoSthg/ViUiBhqJM_I/AAAAAAAALuw/2fgtbArXQmk/s1600/versaille.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUGImPoSthg/ViUiBhqJM_I/AAAAAAAALuw/2fgtbArXQmk/s400/versaille.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></i> </div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you were an animal in a zoo, what would you be?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A hippopotamus. I love them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="watch-title"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Hiphopopotamus
vs. Rhymenoceros</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you have any scars? What are they from?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have many. The best
one, the one that will make you squirm a bit, is the one just along my hairline,
near my temple, where part of a badminton racket got stuck. Yup, it’s true. Not
my overactive imagination. 1970, worn out rackets, two brothers playing
badminton, one little sister in the way, one long trip through the German
countryside looking for a doctor, one scar about an inch long.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What’s your favorite line from any movie?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Smile and wave boys,
smile and wave! Why? Cause sometimes, that's all you can do.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Interested in the author interviews? They are available on:
www.celiakennedy.weebly.com/interviews<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
Thanks for reading.</div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-69548448689784401102015-10-12T09:41:00.000-07:002015-10-12T09:44:13.007-07:00Make You Feel My Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Who
is inspiring me this week?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Sam Bailey! First, you just gotta watch this video, and then subscribe
to Sam’s channel and watch all her videos…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">IF you don’t have time for that, the short version
is this, thirty-five year old prison guard who can keep up with Celine, Beyoncé,
Whitney Huston and Donna Summers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It absolutely boggles my mind that there are people,
all over the world, going about their daily lives, loaded with extraordinary
talent. I can assure you that if I had even the slightest inkling that I could
sing like this woman, I would be belting it out, everywhere!! Everywhere. Okay,
maybe not, but I can’t sing like that, so we’ll never know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">What inspires me? Some people really do have the courage to
lock the front door, drive their car, park it, get out, and walk through a door
that could change their lives forever. Their passion, the core of who they are,
cannot be suppressed and it feeds me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">If you have a passion and a talent for something,
let it loose, let it go, the worst thing that happens is you’ve tried, had
faith in yourself. The best thing that happens is that you go to work happily,
every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s
been two weeks, and I’ve gotten past it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Today marks the two week anniversary since the
harrowing event of turning fifty years old. I just wanted to assure all of you
who haven’t arrived at this auspicious mark on the timeline that you will
survive. Perhaps even thrive – have a magical experience where you feel
empowered by reaching half a decade, set goals for yourself so that the next
fifty years are vastly superior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Ha-ha!! Okay, I got a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">little</i> overzealous. Superior? Yes. Vastly? Maybe not so much. While
I can easily believe that the content of my character will continue to improve,
I sit here with a bottle of muscle relaxants for persistent muscle cramps in my
lower back and buttocks. IF sitting still breaks parts of me, what happens if I
decide to take up skateboarding or rock-climbing?</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z33lMNXPNA4/VhvhWorTntI/AAAAAAAALt4/cAn79MrQBGk/s1600/rockclimber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z33lMNXPNA4/VhvhWorTntI/AAAAAAAALt4/cAn79MrQBGk/s400/rockclimber.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s
been four months, and I’ve blown it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I gave up wheat, sugar, all artificial foods and
additives in June, and I’ve never felt better. BUT, it was raining hellaciously
on Saturday, here in Seattle, and blah, blah, blah – my son and I had a great
bonding experience over burgers, fries, milk shakes and… yes, doughnuts. In one
afternoon, I threw caution to the wind and consumed all forms of additives,
fat, sugar, and wheat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m not gonna lie, it tasted really good. However, I
think what made it absolutely worth it was hanging with my son. I’m all about
seizing the moment, and if eating 15,000 calories of my sons favorite food
gives me the chance to sit down and have a heart to heart, I’m gonna do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Some of you may be thinking, “Why didn’t you just
have a salad, skip the shake and doughnut?” The answer is, “When in Rome…”
Salad would have created an environment of mom and son, where what you really
want is friend to friend. Sometimes, you just have to throw yourself on the
grenade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s
in one week and I’m so nervous.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Prosecco and Paparazzi releases October 21<sup>st</sup>!
Yikes!! I think I could release a thousand books and feel nervous every time.
You put your heart out there when you upload a book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">He
reached out gently to the rhythmically beating red orb, the means through which
her life and love was created. She waited, sweat beading on her brow as
butterflies flittered about her belly. She waited for his reaction. Would he lovingly
caress the red orb, and give her a, “There, there.” Or, would he caress it and
say, “Wow!! Amazing.” Or, the third option? Grab it, squeeze it tightly, wring
it out, and leave her gasping.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Yup, I’m just a little bit nervous. But, if you'd like a little taste, check out chapter one on Wattpad.com - <a href="http://w.tt/1gp7Fnu">http://w.tt/1gp7Fnu</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vfZWW8kUows/Vhvhwg1CS5I/AAAAAAAALuA/SpE3_vS_93w/s1600/CK_3Dcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vfZWW8kUows/Vhvhwg1CS5I/AAAAAAAALuA/SpE3_vS_93w/s320/CK_3Dcover.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Just before I say goodbye, another video for you to
watch. Another Sam…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I love this dichotomy. Two vastly different people, two dreams, two paths intersecting.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-24639119151480125622015-09-28T14:09:00.000-07:002015-09-29T07:40:36.035-07:00Happy Birthday to Me!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;">Since
it is my birthday today</span></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;">, I thought I would share some
memorable moments in my life, some big, some small.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Favorite birthday? It wasn’t mine, but since it was
my sons, and I gave birth to him, I think it counts. For his second birthday I
bought him, <em>The Birthday Bird</em> by Dr. Seuss.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d7SBdC4_Vdc/Vgmdv5PaOvI/AAAAAAAALqI/ywZ_jvUsFYM/s1600/birthdaybird.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d7SBdC4_Vdc/Vgmdv5PaOvI/AAAAAAAALqI/ywZ_jvUsFYM/s400/birthdaybird.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">My daughter, who’s seventeen months
older than him, was much more invested in the book than he was. My husband was
reading the book to the kids, just after dinner, and when he got to the
following line:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Then,
the moment the Horn’s happy honk honk is heard,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;">Comes
a fluttering flap flap. And then comes THE BIRD!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">we howled! In sync, both of us
had the image of being the recipients of a rude gesture. Our children looked at us
in confusion as we struggled to get ourselves under control. Phew! When we
finally did, a few pages later Dr. Seuss mentions how on your special day the
bird arrives and off you go to Katroo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, our daughter was beside herself in glee! Had
we been to Katroo? What did we do? Did we do all things promised in this book,
did we fly, did we soar, did we cook?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Still in quite a silly mood from “THE BIRD”
incident, my husband wove an elaborate tale about his trip to Katroo. Her eyes
were riveted on him. In all the discussion of the celebrations and amazingness
of Katroo, it occurred to our three and a half year old that her brother hadn’t
been Katroo that day. A few minutes later, after more weaving of tales, we convinced her that because there are so many children, you only get to go once. Her dad
had been, but I had not. She asked me when I thought my turn would come. I
shrugged, wanting to convey a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ about the experience. I
needed to buy us some time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I knew this beautiful girl was going to ask me every
birthday for the next five or so years when her turn would be… I must report
that she figured it out, shared the news with her brother, and as I expected, they
were more than a little bummed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wouldn’t it be great if it were true? That a
technicolor bird showed up, flew you to some fantastical land where all your
favorite foods waited for you, after being welcomed by trumpets!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">So… what song heralded me in that day? Barry McGuire’s,
Eve of Destruction was at to the top of the charts. I kid you not. I just
watched the video on YouTube and it is just too sad and awful to post. Suffice
it to say that the Vietnam War was taking place, on the news, and on the minds
of everyone in the world. Since I don’t want to think of that, I will choose
one of my own. Tell me if you think I made a good replacement! When I think of how people were responding to the world then, the evolution amazes me. Are things perfect? No. But, better in some respects. I love what this song conveys.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzDl4IM401E/VgmgT_VyCaI/AAAAAAAALqU/b6gD6VPinsQ/s1600/hermanmelville.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzDl4IM401E/VgmgT_VyCaI/AAAAAAAALqU/b6gD6VPinsQ/s200/hermanmelville.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm-Wr8mGW_U/VgmgVtBnN9I/AAAAAAAALqc/qhm9rEqdA2A/s1600/edsullivan.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm-Wr8mGW_U/VgmgVtBnN9I/AAAAAAAALqc/qhm9rEqdA2A/s1600/edsullivan.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm-Wr8mGW_U/VgmgVtBnN9I/AAAAAAAALqc/qhm9rEqdA2A/s200/edsullivan.png" width="163" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who do I share my birthday with? Confucius, <span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Herman Melville, Georges Clemenceau, Mira Sorvino, Gwenyth Paltrow, Ed Sullivan, Marcello Matstroianni, Bridget Bardot and Janeane Garofolo, to name a few. I think that is an excellent assortment of fine individuals – now I can imagine all of us, scattered across the world (and throughout time) blowing birthday candles out!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">What was my favorite childhood TV show? Hands down,
Family Ties.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANGPbvmR_fI/Vgmhc6bA5YI/AAAAAAAALqo/OwQZ7-YdGKs/s1600/familyties.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ANGPbvmR_fI/Vgmhc6bA5YI/AAAAAAAALqo/OwQZ7-YdGKs/s400/familyties.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, before they had a fourth child. I got completely confused at that point.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who/What did I think I would be when I grew up? I was never one of those people who understood certainty, I perceive(d) life as a series of experiences. Somehow I understood that I would be many things. As Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast…” so I hold on tightly
to the tilt-a-whirl of life and take things in and add them
to the kaleidoscope of experiences. Including my daughters vision of birthdays. Life is often as colorful as the world of Katroo, and when it's not, I feel like I am in a different
Dr. Seuss book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">What piece of advice can I offer? Read <em>The Birthday
Bird</em>, because it reminds us of how we should herald in our birthdays, then read
<em>The Places You’ll Go</em>, because no matter hold old you get, you are on your way
to somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday to me, and </span></span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>thanks for reading!</strong></span></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-91376568614931842042015-09-21T09:13:00.002-07:002015-09-21T09:16:12.751-07:00Resolutions and Prince Harry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;">I
have made some resolutions in the last week</span></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"> and I thought I would share them with you. I’ve
heard that if you write down your resolutions you are more likely to keep them –
we’ll find out! And yes, I will be honest if I succeed or fail.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><strong>To get us in the mood!</strong></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V-kb7SYxpGk/VgAjw_soZBI/AAAAAAAALmo/KLUVyyGx8Q0/s1600/harrymeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V-kb7SYxpGk/VgAjw_soZBI/AAAAAAAALmo/KLUVyyGx8Q0/s320/harrymeme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">Instagram seems the latest and
greatest</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">
social media format to add to my repertoire. Yes, I should have done it long
ago, and to be fair, I kinda did last summer, but my goal is to do it! I think
it is interesting to get a (literal) snapshot of someone’s life, so that’s what
I’m gonna do. No promotions. Just me, being me, doing my life. Let’s hope it’s
interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In that
effort I contacted my social media support person, my sixteen year old
daughter, and got a lesson. She was patient (mostly) and walked me through all
the do’s and don’ts. Since she follows me I am sure I will find out in no time
at all if I’m doing all right. You can too, I am <strong>@KennedyCelia</strong>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EXw7HSvePjM/VgAlTmkFzxI/AAAAAAAALm0/G0LTm5AlHxw/s1600/artsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EXw7HSvePjM/VgAlTmkFzxI/AAAAAAAALm0/G0LTm5AlHxw/s400/artsy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p>If you don't have a social media expert, I have been assured that doing artsy things with your photo is, "So Out!"</o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In
closing on this subject, I will simply say, she did go on to ask me if when she
is my age if she’ll be better at this kind of thing, cause’ she is first
generation all things social media. I assured her the spirit would be willing,
but the brain cells, maybe not so much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">I will love fall and winter.</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"> I just will. I have spent the
past 49 years, 11 months and 51 weeks a spring and summer girl, but I’m willing
to turn over a new leaf. Like the pun?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who’s
with me? Are you a fall and winter girl? I live in the Seattle, Washington
area, and honestly, to not embrace the fall and winter is a bit ridiculous,
considering that’s what we have for nine months of the year. More specifically,
we have the following seasons (beginning September 1<sup>st</sup>) summer,
fall, winter, fall, winter, spring, fall, summer, repeat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1fszjg9yFY/VgAlrcCnotI/AAAAAAAALnA/y-dguN4jWzQ/s1600/autumnhouse.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N1fszjg9yFY/VgAlrcCnotI/AAAAAAAALnA/y-dguN4jWzQ/s400/autumnhouse.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was
mentioning this resolution to the same sixteen year old daughter because she
loves fall and winter. When she asked me why I didn’t love them so much I said,
“lack of color.” Her arguments about the greenness of the evergreen trees and
shrubs, the bright colors of the changing leaves, bundling up, hot chocolate,
well, they are all good. But when I pointed out that green becomes monotonous,
and we have to clean up the soggy, grey mats of decaying leaves, and that her
hair gets poofy with the increased humidity, I might have affected her opinion.
So, I resolved, she re-resolved.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">I am going to chill when it comes
to kids and puberty.</span></u></i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">
MUCH easier said than done. And since it isn’t my right to divulge the details,
let’s just say, having two teens going through puberty and entering high school
is akin to have a root canal sans anesthetic. (If I had to have this done, I
would choose to be put out completely.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">I am going to watch more TV! </span></u></i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">Most weeks, at most, I watch an
hour of TV per week. Last week I had a slightly atypical week and watched about
three hours’ worth. There’s some really interesting stuff out there. I fell in
love with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mind of a Chef</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mad Men</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fringe</i>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>In the
non TV watching, resolution making world</strong> that inhabit, we (the folks at
Booktrope and I) are thrilled to unveil</span></span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> the new cover and series title for what was, The Accidental Series.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ8_pziHzEI/VgAo660cY9I/AAAAAAAALnI/Yabm7DvUHRQ/s1600/CK_PROSECCO_cover2_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ8_pziHzEI/VgAo660cY9I/AAAAAAAALnI/Yabm7DvUHRQ/s400/CK_PROSECCO_cover2_thumb.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Prosecco
and Paparazzi</em>, <strong>The Passport Series</strong>, Book One will release 10/21/15, while
<em>Cognac and Couture</em> (book two) will release in December.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chapter One available on Wattpad.com,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://w.tt/1gp7Fnu" target="_blank">Link to Prosecco and Paparazzi</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><strong><em>Thanks for reading!</em></strong> In
closing, I'd love to share my latest favorite song! Forever, a James Arthur fan.</span>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u><o:p></o:p></u></strong></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-31840177171859860062015-09-14T09:51:00.001-07:002015-09-14T10:08:56.985-07:00All In One Week!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">There are many great things about
being a woman</span></b><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"> –
you get to have Aunt Flo visit, you get to wear a harness every day, you get to
have nine months of heartburn (the only negative for me when it came to pregnancy)
and then! You get to go through perimenopause for FOREVER! This weeks theme is
a retrospective on what it means to be me! Oh, and what part of the future is
all about.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></o:p></span></span><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">What
is the most exciting thing that happened to me this week?</span></u> </span><br />
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You may or may not know that in
one of my lives I was a software tester at Microsoft. To be more specific, I
was one of the first two or three that they hired, and I tested products in
foreign languages. Even then my passion for travel and escape was in my blood.
This was back in the mid-1980’s. Many great things came from this, but the best
was, this is where I met my husband.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i>
<br />
<table align="center" 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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qarS16rtmrg/VfblcNffN2I/AAAAAAAALbE/Oiv-OD7y0w8/s1600/balmerpaul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qarS16rtmrg/VfblcNffN2I/AAAAAAAALbE/Oiv-OD7y0w8/s400/balmerpaul.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spotlight is on Steve Balmer. The arrow is pointed on my hubby, Paul!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday night, I am proud to
say that a couple friends persuaded Microsoft to hold a Windows 95 Reunion. Man
it was fun. I think about a thousand people were there and it was <u>the place
to be</u>! My husband worked on this project. It was amazing to see old friends
greet each other, not in the platonic way thirty year old would, but with big
hearty hugs and genuine affection written all over their faces. And these were
men! I jest… but you know what I mean.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"></span></i></span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For me, and to my surprise, I was
able to visit with a dozen or so people I hadn’t seen since 1990 and they were
some of my favorites! The era I worked there was epic, and to see these
freakishly capable, multi-talented people made me so happy. Definitely a grand
evening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who’s
my favorite new singer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Music is one of my top five
passions. I have three that run neck to neck, and if I had to make a choice, I
couldn’t. Music (all genre), art (in all formats), intentional and thoughtful
design, are those. Writing in second. My family is first… just in case you are
curious!<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, music. What amazes me
about music is that it moves the body and soul. Every part of you gets hooked
in. And a great song… well, that is pure genius. Capturing someone’s attention
and emotionally moving them (in any direction) in three minutes or so, well,
that amazes me. And makes me envious. There I’ve said it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I troll YouTube and other
internet websites looking for newbie singers. This week I am all over Brit,
Calum Scott. Watch these two videos to find out why…</span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"></span></i> </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u2Mxe-AsBRI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u2Mxe-AsBRI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">… the friendship between brother
and sister alone moves me, and when you hear him sing, and watch him lost in
his emotions, I think you see the embodiment of music. It is the marriage of
all that allows music to stir our souls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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</span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who is your favorite new singer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Writing
and reviewing books.</span></span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></u> </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FE1AeKwZjVQ/Vfbm7fW74QI/AAAAAAAALbQ/3ws5RU7dqKk/s1600/bookreview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FE1AeKwZjVQ/Vfbm7fW74QI/AAAAAAAALbQ/3ws5RU7dqKk/s1600/bookreview.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">I read a lot of books. Sometimes
about four a week. It used to be more, but writing has seeped further and
further into my soul and occupies more of my reading time. Anyway, I am going
to start posting links here to my </span></i><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">NEW
BLOG! <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">called </i>Celia Reads and Reviews.
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have about 200 reviews on Amazon that I
am going to move over, but for now, I will start putting the books I review
there and you can click on the link and check them out.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://celiareadsandreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Celia Reads and Reviews</strong></a><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a writer, I think it is
important to read your co-workers efforts. It isn’t competitive, it is a show
of support, an understanding of where the genre is heading, and the opportunity
to let an author know that their book, their time, their emotional energy, was
well spent. So click on the link and find some great books. (BTW: all my
reviews are on Amazon and Goodreads as well.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can
you really get to a point where you remove sugar from your diet, if you are <strong>me</strong>?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Again, you may or may not know
that I quit eating sugar and a number of other foods in June. I was a vegan for
many years, which included eating no fats as well. So, no olive oil, no canola
oil… you get the idea. THEN I started eating everything. I’ll share this story
someday.</span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rd7CMfWHZR8/Vfbti4BhZ6I/AAAAAAAALco/FFGM__wmZnI/s1600/sugar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rd7CMfWHZR8/Vfbti4BhZ6I/AAAAAAAALco/FFGM__wmZnI/s1600/sugar.jpg" /></a></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Back to sugar. I quit eating it,
for the most part, and it is single handedly the most difficult thing I have
ever done, and if you’ve read any of my past blogs, you know I’ve done some
challenging things. Most specifically, I find giving up ice cream hardest. I
never even ate the stuff until I was pregnant with my son, and I craved it all
day, every day. I broke the habit for years. It snuck back in a couple years
ago, and while it wasn’t a daily habit, I wanted it to be.</span></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TI48XZfNiw8/Vfbtp2DehTI/AAAAAAAALcw/Xd6fE006p0Y/s1600/icecream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TI48XZfNiw8/Vfbtp2DehTI/AAAAAAAALcw/Xd6fE006p0Y/s1600/icecream.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, to replace this, I eat:
non-fat, plain yogurt, with honey (natural sugar is okay), fruit, and a
mixtures of buckwheat, hemp, chia, coconut chips and unsweetened cranberries.
Now, it isn’t a Dairy Queen Blizzard, but it gets me through.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Anyone have tips?</strong></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><u>Whose turning 50 with me?<o:p></o:p></u></span></span></span></div>
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</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">My 40’s are drawing to a close
and I have to admit, it freaks me out. I should also admit that for the last
year or so I’ve gone through a relatively huge mid-life crisis. Small enough that
I’ve kept it to myself, big enough that I’ve shed many tears and wondered, “What
now?” It’s weird turning 50. When I turned 40, I still looked young and could
possibly live another 40 years. I had toddlers. Now, with college years insight
for my teens, my skin a little (or a lot) more… flexible, shall we say… I am
looking older. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t like it. Am I going to accept it?
Yes. But it’s gonna take some more work.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><em>I always feel a little better when I've done some research and check my facts and figures. Guess who else is 50? I am in great company!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><em></em></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xoOCKqbgces/VfbxTYTnhHI/AAAAAAAALdA/tyWo4iOUwQQ/s1600/SarahJP.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xoOCKqbgces/VfbxTYTnhHI/AAAAAAAALdA/tyWo4iOUwQQ/s320/SarahJP.PNG" width="216" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HIuczBwRsZ0/VfbxuF73V4I/AAAAAAAALdY/1synsOIQB-Y/s1600/ms.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HIuczBwRsZ0/VfbxuF73V4I/AAAAAAAALdY/1synsOIQB-Y/s320/ms.PNG" width="156" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J2fgrHP_PDc/VfbxYUvs8PI/AAAAAAAALdQ/qIwSPj5clQI/s1600/RDJ.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J2fgrHP_PDc/VfbxYUvs8PI/AAAAAAAALdQ/qIwSPj5clQI/s320/RDJ.PNG" width="211" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-5hDyJzdKw/VfbxVpL_7rI/AAAAAAAALdI/sfAXrL9XyHo/s1600/JKR.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-5hDyJzdKw/VfbxVpL_7rI/AAAAAAAALdI/sfAXrL9XyHo/s200/JKR.PNG" width="130" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"></span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">But, and this is a </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; line-height: 107%;"><u>BIG</u></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> but, who I am and
what I am doing, for myself, feels really good, feels right. I am more complete
and content now than I have ever been. My fear comes not from what is happening
now, it comes from the fact that I want time, a lot of it, to achieve and
luxuriate in so many achievable goals: live in Europe, write twenty novels,
travel to a new country every year, see more of the vast country I live in,
spend time with friends near and far, play tennis with zeal, sing on a stage,
finish some paintings, have a water feature in
my garden, compete in professional ballroom dancing, walk a red carpet (okay,
not as achievable as other goals), have my kids want me in their lives, babysit
the</span> </span><span style="font-size: large;">grandkids… and do all this with my husband. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;">Not to much to ask for, is it? I don't think so!</span></i></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-50459265918299262812015-09-08T09:41:00.000-07:002015-09-08T09:53:39.530-07:00Taking a page from The Internship!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>I’ve
been rethinking</strong> the format of Woman Reinvents Self. So, I’m going to try a few
new things, and if you like them, feel free to leave comments! <strong>Feel free to
leave questions</strong> for me to answers – they can be about anything! Think of this
as an Instagram Blog!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
I’ve been watching:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t watch a lot of TV, but
when I do, I watch a series from beginning to end. Right now I am addicted to,
Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown. It is a CNN series, merging all of Mr.
Bourdain's passions – food, alcohol, politics and people.</span></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bidbbr5fmeY/Ve8HXmfJcLI/AAAAAAAALSA/6cAY_sVAAVc/s1600/anthony.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bidbbr5fmeY/Ve8HXmfJcLI/AAAAAAAALSA/6cAY_sVAAVc/s200/anthony.png" width="176" /></span></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a fan of all these topics, I
found the episode on Libya particularly fascinating. Four years past liberation
from Gaddafi and the country is finding itself. Watch it, and tell me what you
think!</span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Guess who these handsome fellas are!</span></span></i><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KFYfGuqFORk/Ve8JU4oNpnI/AAAAAAAALSM/RkzPP0h0E-0/s1600/shaneandpaul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KFYfGuqFORk/Ve8JU4oNpnI/AAAAAAAALSM/RkzPP0h0E-0/s200/shaneandpaul.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">People often say my hubby looks like Anthony... the resemblance can be crazy sometimes. I once convinced a group of friends I'd met Anthony on a beach in Mexico.</span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"></span></i> </div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
movie made me laugh?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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</span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just before school started, my
family of four sat down and had a movie fest. My daughter picked The Internship
with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. If you haven’t seen, you just gotta! Vince
Vaughn wrote the screenplay and his sense of humor and tenderness is in just
about every scene.</span></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTLzMSu19TY/Ve8KalLb1uI/AAAAAAAALSU/bhjilflFhqM/s1600/internship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTLzMSu19TY/Ve8KalLb1uI/AAAAAAAALSU/bhjilflFhqM/s1600/internship.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two dinosaurs enter the world of
high tech Google and find out what it means to reinvent oneself in a world that
moves fast. There is a whole scene where Vince repeats, “On the line,” over and
over and just about made me pee my pants.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
event has stuck with me the most lately?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just like The Internship, life
moves fast. My kids are both now in high school, and I felt the same pangs last week that I
did when my youngest went to school all day. My life as a mother is quite busy,
but I can see the end of this phase in our lives and I cannot help but ponder
how quickly the time has gone. College is right around the corner and those days
of picking up Lego’s and pulling on Polly Pocket clothes are long behind me,
yet it feels like just yesterday.</span></span></i><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rkS4ex8PnWQ/Ve8PY2W_W_I/AAAAAAAALS8/JbxwX318WQs/s1600/kidsintree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rkS4ex8PnWQ/Ve8PY2W_W_I/AAAAAAAALS8/JbxwX318WQs/s320/kidsintree.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I miss those kids, I miss the simplicity of
their concerns, I miss being able to fix everything with a kiss and a snuggle.
I’m thrilled they still seek me out, but their questions and dilemmas are soooo
much more complex. This of course coincides with me entering an unspeakable
decade of my life. Holy Smokes!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What’s
happening to me?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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</span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am have been hard at work with
my team from Booktrope for the last four months. Yes, I signed with them back in April and it's been an amazing journey. We are smoothing out the
edges of The Accidental Series. New everything, really, and it’s exciting. I
feel utter amazement at where I started as a writer and where I am now. There
are miles to go before I sleep and every minute is utterly exciting…</span></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Crsmb961ps0/Ve8KnOwQ52I/AAAAAAAALSc/1WVpYxxExZI/s1600/booktrope2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Crsmb961ps0/Ve8KnOwQ52I/AAAAAAAALSc/1WVpYxxExZI/s200/booktrope2.png" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Except for the fact that I am
entering the unspeakable decade of my life and I kinda don’t want to. But! What’s
a girl to do? How did you deal with turning an age that didn’t float your boat?</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">In part, I am coping by getting back in shape – and I mean to a level my body hasn’t seen since 1993. No sugar, no processed foods, no wheat, loads of exercise. I'm determined to look as great as Helen Mirren!</span></em></span><br />
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<em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uwWNAZa1c04/Ve8LkyD3GrI/AAAAAAAALSs/MPgDE4U_1a4/s1600/helen.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uwWNAZa1c04/Ve8LkyD3GrI/AAAAAAAALSs/MPgDE4U_1a4/s1600/helen.png" /></span></a></em></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where
do I see things going?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Up! If I have to turn the
unspeakable age, at least I can say with having lived those years comes loads
of experience at making life decisions, and though I expect to fall flat on my
face a time or two more, I know I will do it with more flair and I will pick
myself up more gracefully. Because, what is life but trying something
new and seeing how it goes? Doing the same old thing over and over is tiring.
It lacks imagination. And in my doddering years, I want to say I lived with verve!</span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">While looking for some snazzy saying to end my blog with, I stumbled upon this... I think I am going to take this sound piece of advice!</span></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gGZxxu9gz2o/Ve8MkDdN6yI/AAAAAAAALSw/CFYZ0t6ifUQ/s1600/age.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gGZxxu9gz2o/Ve8MkDdN6yI/AAAAAAAALSw/CFYZ0t6ifUQ/s400/age.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-49746777702031448612015-05-11T20:53:00.001-07:002015-05-12T07:22:19.079-07:00What's On Page 45?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><u>Chick Lit Chat – What’s On Page 45?<o:p></o:p></u></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It’s New Year’s Eve in Chamonix, France and Charlotte Young finds out
her celebrity crush is amongst the celebrities in town celebrating! </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-skeDadCBBm8/VVFenvq-3gI/AAAAAAAAJ4M/qxu1m-HLV54/s1600/nyecf.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-skeDadCBBm8/VVFenvq-3gI/AAAAAAAAJ4M/qxu1m-HLV54/s1600/nyecf.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chamonix, New Years Eve</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">After her plotting and scheming fails, she convinces her best friend, who resembles a young Sophia Loren, to use her curves and sexual charisma to wile their way into his orbit.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">One sultry stroll across a crowded casino gains the attention of every male in the room. Fortune is on Charlotte’s side, and she meets her celebrity crush, Des Bannerman. </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yXquisw-weY/VVFieN2-eoI/AAAAAAAAJ4o/x8PSBkf_7E4/s1600/ryantuxedo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yXquisw-weY/VVFieN2-eoI/AAAAAAAAJ4o/x8PSBkf_7E4/s200/ryantuxedo.png" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Des Bannerman</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_2_PqtjLZCY/VVFov7_Rd0I/AAAAAAAAJ5M/Yve4_FhIrbg/s1600/pazvega2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_2_PqtjLZCY/VVFov7_Rd0I/AAAAAAAAJ5M/Yve4_FhIrbg/s200/pazvega2.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlotte Young</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Her BFF, Tiziana, spend the evening charming Des’ friend, giving Charlotte a chance to drink champagne and roll the dice with </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">the King of Romantic Comedies!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Not realizing the enormity of her fifteen minutes of fame, their night on the town lands Charlotte on the cover of tabloids world-wide, and the paparazzi wanting more. On Page 45 we find Charlotte and her four closest friends are trying to escape the vying photographers. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">On the small knoll where the chalet stood, the only area not heavily landscaped by snow-covered evergreen trees, was a sea of photographers, all ready to take pictures and shouting, “Which one of you is the other woman?”</i></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytQ1LALTN-o/VVFhntg8_PI/AAAAAAAAJ4g/I746KkFJ5uw/s1600/mariagrazia.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytQ1LALTN-o/VVFhntg8_PI/AAAAAAAAJ4g/I746KkFJ5uw/s200/mariagrazia.png" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiziana Caputto</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Bravely Charlotte, Hillary, Marian, Kathleen and Tiziana fight their way through the throngs to their rental car, hoping to make it to a local spa for a day of pampering. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kathleen grabbed my elbow and propelled me towards the white four-wheel drive vehicle that Hillary had rented. It wasn’t often that Kathleen was commanding, but she said just loud enough, “Everyone, duck your heads, stay in a group, Charlotte’s in the middle, don’t say a word.”</i></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Charlotte, raised in a small town in Maine, works for a public relations firm in New York City. She’s used to dealing with celebrities and PR events. She’s not used to be at the center of the frenzy. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I lost it! I flopped down, laying across Kathleen and Tiziana’s laps in the backseat, and laughed my head off. “This is so fucking ridiculous!”</i></span></span></o:p></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KcFhKOVHd3o/VVFl3e6F63I/AAAAAAAAJ40/lR9tDu4pH6g/s1600/paparazzi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KcFhKOVHd3o/VVFl3e6F63I/AAAAAAAAJ40/lR9tDu4pH6g/s1600/paparazzi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KcFhKOVHd3o/VVFl3e6F63I/AAAAAAAAJ40/lR9tDu4pH6g/s1600/paparazzi.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Girls, what did you do last night?” asked Hillary.</i> After Tiziana and Charlotte had landed their men the previous night, Kathleen, Marian, and Hillary went their separate ways, unknowing of what exactly transpired between their friend and the handsome and entertaining actor. Hillary, a British Rose, is from a long line of Bluebloods in England. The maelstrom of media attention is far from all things respectable.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j49JODfWMts/VVFn9bXxEHI/AAAAAAAAJ5E/GIYWCVIJ74Q/s1600/rosamundyellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j49JODfWMts/VVFn9bXxEHI/AAAAAAAAJ5E/GIYWCVIJ74Q/s200/rosamundyellow.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kathleen Ehlers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Fortunately for the ladies, they have Irishwoman, Marian! She’s brave,
witty, sarcastic, and at times, brash. “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bloody
hell! How the feck am I supposed to drive through this lot?” </i>Marian and
Hillary often clash on how they think things should be handled, but two
certainties unite them, friendship and loyalty.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hillary Cavendish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1FaNFHHSTE/VVFsMHU4KQI/AAAAAAAAJ5g/iO-VtdY4tGE/s1600/sarahparishpink.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1FaNFHHSTE/VVFsMHU4KQI/AAAAAAAAJ5g/iO-VtdY4tGE/s200/sarahparishpink.png" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marian Connolly</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Marian drives them to safety, while Hillary </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">shields Charlotte, as Kathleen calls the spa </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">and demands access to the celebrity entrance. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Tiziana does what she does best, dazzles them </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">with her beguiling eyes and pouty smile!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><em>“I wonder what this is like when you’re an actual celebrity. I’m not sure how long I can stand this!” I complained.</em></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> What will Charlotte have to endure to survive her fifteen minutes of fame?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><u>One of the songs from the playlist!</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><strong>You’ll need to read beyond page 45 to find out! Charlotte’s Restrained, The Accidental Stalker.</strong> <a href="http://amzn.to/1BcpYUN">http://amzn.to/1BcpYUN</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><strong><u>GRAND PRIZE!</u></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">A one-pound package of caramels from <strong>Whitney's Goodies</strong>
<a href="http://whitneysgoodies.com/">http://whitneysgoodies.com</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winner can
choose their flavor from those listed below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">This giveaway is open to residents of the USA only.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><u>The Girl Next Door</u> (Crème Caramels): A scrumptious,
full-bodied caramel. Old fashioned, melt-in-your-mouth bliss!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><u> </u></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><u>The Charmer</u> (Chocolate Crème Caramels): This smooth,
chocolate cream caramel will add panache to your day. An exquisite and elegant
morsel, simply irresistible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Garamond;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><u>The Movie Star</u> (Orange Crème Caramels): A timeless treat
that will satisfy caramel fans of all ages. “The stuff that dreams are made
of!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Garamond;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><u>The Bombshell</u> (Lemon Crème Caramels): A bodacious bit of
heaven with a bold citrus pallet. They will leave you satisfied and refreshed.
Caramels are a girl’s best friend!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><u>Always a Lady</u> (Rose Caramels): A delicate bouquet of rose
essence infuses this lovely caramel: alluring, tantalizing and reminiscent of another
era. They are perfect for weddings and bridal showers. A definite for ladies
who lunch or breakfast at Tiffany’s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><strong><u>HOW TO ENTER!<o:p></o:p></u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;">To enter, answer the following question in the comments
section below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-54242712571932431992015-05-10T23:43:00.000-07:002015-05-11T08:04:04.410-07:00Miss Chick Lit 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">My name is Charlotte Young. I am a 33 year old Chief
Financial Officer for a PR firm… born and raised in the great state of Maine.
You may think you know all about me – from when a certain celebrity and I
appeared in tabloids and on entertainment TV worldwide. I want to assure you I’m
not a stalker, I just took the opportunity to meet my celebrity crush – I mean
who doesn’t want to meet Des Bannerman? Anyway, I digress. I studied at Oxford
University <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(love the pubs)</i>, love to
travel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(which is how I got into this
mess)</i>, food is a passion, and I’m super tight with a four tremendously
capable, utterly witty, very vivacious women <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(whom I met in a pub, which is a story all by itself)</i>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Swim Suit Competition!</u></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yY8lQjjpROo/VVA6gOX6NFI/AAAAAAAAJ0o/pvRVAIx6Ge8/s1600/bikini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yY8lQjjpROo/VVA6gOX6NFI/AAAAAAAAJ0o/pvRVAIx6Ge8/s320/bikini.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><br />
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you can see, I am a petite, curvy girl! I recently bought this Melissa Odabash piece in a lovely boutique in Chelsea, London. For you petite ladies who are tired of shopping in the girls section at department stores, venture into specialty shops. The vertical lines, splash of color, and supportive bikini bra made me feel ten feet tall! While I wouldn’t
say I am super sporty, I do like a bathing suit that lets me run around and
look sexy at the same time.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently bought this suit when my girlfriend, Tiziana, invited all of us to join her in
Saint Tropez. Needless to say, I wanted to look my best.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Talent!</u></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love, love, love, disco music. One of my favorite childhood
memories is of me, my sisters, and my parents dancing after dinner – the music
would be blasting, we’d all sing on the top of our lungs, and just dance,
dance, dance, until we collapsed and it was time for bed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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by Belinda Carlisle, as a tribute to my wonderful childhood.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Interview Question!</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">How
have your friends influenced your life? Which friend has influenced you the
most?</span></span></i></b></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R5-FRXILmR8/VVBFdH0wAwI/AAAAAAAAJ1A/_AxVfdhj_54/s1600/juliebenz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R5-FRXILmR8/VVBFdH0wAwI/AAAAAAAAJ1A/_AxVfdhj_54/s320/juliebenz.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hillary Cavendish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRh44-evH68/VVBFfaX3cNI/AAAAAAAAJ1I/oHU15RUDeWM/s1600/sarahparrish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RRh44-evH68/VVBFfaX3cNI/AAAAAAAAJ1I/oHU15RUDeWM/s320/sarahparrish.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marian Connolly</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Wow, this is a tough question, because I have four fabulous
friends, who have seen me through so many ups and downs. Tiziana, Hillary, Marian,
and Kathleen know I love them to pieces – we meet while in graduate school at
Said School of Business, at Oxford University. Over the last ten years, whether
it was career decisions, or which color lipstick to wear, they’ve all been
there for me.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9hRaPM1ZYg/VVBFoJZRBDI/AAAAAAAAJ1Q/v9V77eWgIbw/s1600/mariagrazia.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c9hRaPM1ZYg/VVBFoJZRBDI/AAAAAAAAJ1Q/v9V77eWgIbw/s320/mariagrazia.png" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiziana Caputto<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We’ve spread all over the globe, but we talk all the time,
and Hillary organizes annual vacations – so I am super grateful to her for
that. Marian is wickedly funny; the snarky, sarcastic sort of funny. Fiercely
loyal too. Kathleen is the more than just a pretty face, she is really driven. On
more than one occasion she’s bailed us all out of some tight spot. Then there’s
Tiziana…think Sophia Loren with a really high IQ and you’ve got Tiziana. Sexy,
smart, generous, dramatic.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niFwpcO7EK0/VVBFunuhLoI/AAAAAAAAJ1Y/SU3a9bp3LGw/s1600/rosamundpike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-niFwpcO7EK0/VVBFunuhLoI/AAAAAAAAJ1Y/SU3a9bp3LGw/s320/rosamundpike.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kathleen Ehlers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Honestly, I couldn’t say one has influenced me more than another. I would be lost without them all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Want to read more about Charlotte
and what happens when she grabs her fifteen minutes of fame? Charlotte’s
Restrained, The Accidental Stalker, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>e-book
on sale for just 99 cents! <a href="http://amzn.to/1BcpYUN">http://amzn.to/1BcpYUN</a></span></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-hfoQJQlaQ/VVC7E0liHLI/AAAAAAAAJ18/Nn43Ql2L0NY/s320/2%2BCharlotte's%2BRestrained%2B3D%2BImage%2Bof%2BBook%2BCover%2BBlack.jpg" width="271" /></div>
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Enter Charlotte's World and enjoy this great book trailer!<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MISS
CHICK LIT GIVEAWAY</span></u></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can
be a beauty queen, too! Enter to win a $100 beauty store gift card. This is an
international giveaway. Prizes will be as follows depending on where the winner
lives:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">US/Canada
winner - $100 <a href="http://www.sephora.com/"><span style="color: #9519a8; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sephora</span></a> gift card<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">UK
winner - £65 gift card to <a href="http://lush.co.uk/"><span style="color: #9519a8; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lush Cosmetics</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Australia winner -
$125AUD to <a href="http://mecca.com.au/"><span style="color: #9519a8; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Mecca</span></a></span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-72387071948784410562015-04-01T14:37:00.002-07:002015-04-01T16:52:59.411-07:00What Our Fools Rush In Heroines Have to Say! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okgiXWeW1Ls/VRxdCcaGIcI/AAAAAAAAI14/FMs0_8liFXM/s1600/ollywoo%2B(3).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okgiXWeW1Ls/VRxdCcaGIcI/AAAAAAAAI14/FMs0_8liFXM/s1600/ollywoo%2B(3).png" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the
First Ladies of Hollywood, we’ve called a truce, ending our decade’s long
rivalry! The world’s a big, beautiful, ball of intrigue, debauchery, and
scintillating news. Always willing to ask the tough questions, we’ve set aside
our difference to bring you the scoop!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">We all love
celebrities, tittle-tattle about our co-workers, and all the juicy tidbits
about people from the past! We want to be in the know and so do you. So, for
you, dear readers, there is no one we are afraid to talk to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Louella here! I find myself walking
downtown Houston, where rumor has it that socialite Miriam Dean is planning her
wedding and I’ve come to see what all the fuss is about. Hedda is on the East
Coast hunting her prey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2FynyOKisA/VRxdYQkcY3I/AAAAAAAAI2g/i5rCyBmlL6Y/s1600/louella2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2FynyOKisA/VRxdYQkcY3I/AAAAAAAAI2g/i5rCyBmlL6Y/s1600/louella2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2FynyOKisA/VRxdYQkcY3I/AAAAAAAAI2g/i5rCyBmlL6Y/s1600/louella2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2FynyOKisA/VRxdYQkcY3I/AAAAAAAAI2g/i5rCyBmlL6Y/s1600/louella2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I must
admit, though it doesn’t have the tropical balminess of Los Angeles, I love the
bustle of this desert city. I can sit at a café and watch all kinds of mischief
take place. But… hold on now! I can’t believe who I see. <em>(Readers, I’ve just
spotted “the least likely” from high school, let’s get caught up!)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Louella:</u>
Alexandra Jewitt! My, what a beauty you’ve grown into. I can hardly believe the
transformation! Please don’t be offended, but I can hardly believe the
beautiful woman sitting with me was such a wallflower in high school! I just
have to ask, "Alex, may I see a picture of you from high school?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em>(Alex is
digging through a lovely floral bag, looking for pictures while I take in her
‘low-key’ attire.)</em></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v_qFmrawgTg/VRxdN_vYLzI/AAAAAAAAI2Q/Tilu2vYc8rc/s1600/Katie%2BPerry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v_qFmrawgTg/VRxdN_vYLzI/AAAAAAAAI2Q/Tilu2vYc8rc/s1600/Katie%2BPerry.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Alex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fsg48luMhyI/VRxdL-yb7fI/AAAAAAAAI2I/822vlWbrPzE/s1600/Emma%2BWatson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fsg48luMhyI/VRxdL-yb7fI/AAAAAAAAI2I/822vlWbrPzE/s1600/Emma%2BWatson.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Now - Wow!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Louella:</u> I
remember Beckett or Beck was part of the in-crowd in high school when the two
of you became friends our senior year. And you... weren't. Now that ten years
have passed, when you think back on high school, is there anything you would
change about yourself so that you could have been part of the in crowd?<em> (How
brazen of me!)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Alex:</u> If I
had that question ten years ago, I would have said EVERYTHING! Now I have to
say I might not have changed much because I was always myself and rarely tried
to fit in with anyone by changing who I was. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Louella:</u>
Rumor has it you're the proud owner of a flower shop, congratulations! How did
your interest in floristry develop? I have to admit, I've never met a florist
before.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Alex:</u> Most
girls love flowers, right? <em>(She’s right there! Pay attention gentleman
readers.)</em> There’s something so amazing about seeing different types of flowers
and mixing them into interesting combinations. There is really no end to your
imagination when you’re a florist because there are literally thousands of
varieties of flowers out there! I’ve always been interested in floristry, but
it really developed when I was in college and took a floristry course during
the summer. I never looked back.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Louella:</u>
Every high school has a guy or girl that seems to rule the school. Rumor has it
that a boy named Robbie ruled your school. Any ideas on what happened to him
after graduation? <em>(It would be so much fun to catch up with him, while I’m
here. He and I used to have so much fun.)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Alex:</u>
Robbie’s life didn’t go so well. He lost his scholarship after getting a
positive random drug test. Later rumors say Robbie’s football muscle turned to
fat and he was arrested after assaulting his son’s football coach during a
scrimmage. <em>(Quelle horror! Definitely not going to meet up with him.)</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em></em></span><br />
<br />
<table 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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqMyaFZElEI/VRxdagp-wuI/AAAAAAAAI2o/lOTPkpnZ6Jo/s1600/hedda%40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqMyaFZElEI/VRxdagp-wuI/AAAAAAAAI2o/lOTPkpnZ6Jo/s1600/hedda%40.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hedda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>How I love
to steal the column from Louella!</strong> On my way back to Los Angeles I decided to
stop in the Windy City, Chicago, where I grew up, to do a little shopping.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I must also
find out what people think about Oprah Winfrey… she’s moving Harpo Studios to
LA, can you believe it? I know she frequents RL Restaurant, so I’ve made myself
cozy at a little table near the corner booth reserved for her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hold on!
I’ve just spotted a high school classmate of my (much) older brother. Corrine,
I think her name is. <em>(Let’s see what she does when I wave to her!)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u>
Great to see you Cory! How are you? You look terrific, and my goodness your
gorgeous hair captured my attention. Where do you get your hair done? I think I
might need to go there before I head back to Los Angeles.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gfvxBtSaMHc/VRxdRYIj2zI/AAAAAAAAI2Y/UgreGjTdtT8/s1600/sarahmichellegeller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gfvxBtSaMHc/VRxdRYIj2zI/AAAAAAAAI2Y/UgreGjTdtT8/s1600/sarahmichellegeller.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corrine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Cory:</u> You
look great too! Thank you for the wonderful compliment on my hair. I have only
recently started to get it done professionally and I am treating myself by
going to Delle Amiche Salon, here in Chicago. Antonio is my hair dominatrix.
<em>(Dominatrix, how interesting…)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"><u> </u></span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u> I’ve
been dying to know since high school, where did the nickname Cory come from? A
previous boyfriend? High school best friend? I adore your full name, Corrine.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Corrine
(from now on):</u> The nickname Cory came from the kids in my neighborhood. They
said Corrine sounded like an old woman. After socking Billy Brandt in the nose
for saying that, I gave in and let them call me Cory. <em>(Billy Brandt was quite
the bully, well done her!)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u> So,
my brother, Paul, mentioned d-i-v-o-r-c-e! How is life after divorce, tell me
all about it! Found anyone special? Or a few someone’s? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Corrine:</u>
Life after divorce was liberating. My ex, Steve, was a control freak and I
never felt that I was in charge of my own life. I didn't date after Steve
because I wanted/needed to take care of me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u> Your
best friends with Ellen... I can't remember her last name... I saw her with her
husband Bob last time I was in town. They sure won the marriage lottery. Do you
ever envy her? <em>(I sure did, Bob was hot!)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Corrine:</u> I
have NEVER envied Ellie's marriage to Bob! It has been fraught with so much
upheaval, it boggles the mind that they’ve stayed together so long. <em>(Wow, scoop
here to be sniffed out!)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u> Okay,
tell me about everyone we know. Anyone we know up to bad deeds in dark corners?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Corrine:</u>
Ha! I work in my family's insurance company so all the employees do their
darndest to keep their secrets from me. Although I can tell you that my dad
told me that my mom was looking into a naked yoga retreat for their 45th
wedding anniversary trip. Yuck, TMI! And the worst part is that I can't get the
image out of my head. <em>(Me either!)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Hedda Still Here!</strong></span><br />
<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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqMyaFZElEI/VRxdagp-wuI/AAAAAAAAI2o/lOTPkpnZ6Jo/s1600/hedda%40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jqMyaFZElEI/VRxdagp-wuI/AAAAAAAAI2o/lOTPkpnZ6Jo/s1600/hedda%40.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hedda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I just love
the East Coast, not that I would leave Los Angeles to live here, but it is
quite magnificent. So old… so many bricks, and people walking about.<em> (I get
wanting fresh air, but that’s what convertibles are for, darlings!)</em> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have been
invited by my sorority sister (Alpha Kappa Alpha, of course), Jessica to visit.
I can’t wait to find out how she came to own the ACME Office Amusements. No
doubt left to her by a family member.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">After
introducing myself to the receptionist, I watch Jessica berate a lovely woman.
I have to get to the bottom of this story!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DWMK5JaWsaY/VRxdI8LSG3I/AAAAAAAAI2A/LCX-lttQm9k/s1600/Amy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DWMK5JaWsaY/VRxdI8LSG3I/AAAAAAAAI2A/LCX-lttQm9k/s1600/Amy.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u> Amy,
what exactly drew you to ACME Office Amusements? Have you always wanted to be a
toy designer? What's your favorite toy?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"><u> </u></span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Amy:</u> I love
toys and I love design. <em>(I do too! Though I’m sure Louella will give me grief.)</em>
I did go looking for a job in the field, but ACME, honestly, wasn’t my first
choice. We make some “different” things and the staff is... interesting. But,
you know, with the job market being what it is, I was just glad to find work.
<em>(Living hand to mouth, do you think? Perhaps that’s why everyone walks on the
East Coast!)</em> I have made one or two really good friends. My favorite toy isn’t
anything we make. It’s this sweet little teddy bear my friend Tom gave me last
Valentine’s Day. Just for fun, of course. We’re just friends.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u>
Don’t hold back, tell me what is it like working for Jessica Smites? What does
it take to make her happy? I've heard she can be a real tyrant! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Amy:</u> No.
Who told you that? Jessica is the best boss ever. She is a joy to work for. I
ADORE Jessica. Is she going to read this? <em>(Now, that is an interesting
question. Trouble in ACME paradise?)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u> I
met your work-mate Melanie. She seems very... sweet. Who is your favorite
co-worker?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Amy:</u> Aw,
Mel’s super-sweet. But, I guess I’d have to say Tom’s my favorite co-worker. I
love Tom! In a strictly platonic sort of a way, of course. <em>(Hmmm…)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u> <em>(I
can’t help but ask, and you know you want me to…)</em> What's the chatter around the
office cooler? Any juicy office gossip you want to share? Office romances?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Amy:</u> I
heard something about Chuck and a prostitute, but—you know, I should probably
not repeat that. Can you just forget I said anything?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Hedda:</u>
Certainly. Of course. <em>(I’ll store that little piece of juicy gossip for another
time!)</em> When you look into the future, do you see yourself at ACME, or moving on
to Mattel? Or Hasboro? <em>(Just throwing her off course, Readers.)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>Amy:</u> You
know, I’m not really sure, but lately I’ve been thinking I might freshen up my
resume, just in case. I’m not sure how much more ACME I can take, if you know
what I mean.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Wow! I can
hardly believe it. Quelle difference!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2FynyOKisA/VRxdYQkcY3I/AAAAAAAAI2g/i5rCyBmlL6Y/s1600/louella2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2FynyOKisA/VRxdYQkcY3I/AAAAAAAAI2g/i5rCyBmlL6Y/s1600/louella2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Finally
back to me, Louella!<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally,
I’ve wrangled the column back from Hedda. <em>(She can be quite trying, I’m working
so hard to get along with her.)<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-size: large;">She’s not the only one who knows people on the East Coast. I love
New York City, and it’s never better than in the Spring! I’ve come to see the
new collections during fashion week. I’ve managed to pull aside up and coming
designer Maddison Leary.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<table 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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XTqbduVqNdY/VRyEd45-hBI/AAAAAAAAI3c/C73uReBK8NU/s1600/maddison%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XTqbduVqNdY/VRyEd45-hBI/AAAAAAAAI3c/C73uReBK8NU/s1600/maddison%2B3.jpg" height="400" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maddison</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Louella:</u> I love your outfit, by the way (I notice she
is wearing a Vivienne Westwood ensemble - very colorful, very now!). I’m sure
you get asked this all the time, but I’m dying to know which designers
influence you the most? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Maddison:</u> Well, I'm not really a fashion designer yet,
but I work for one of the biggest fashion houses in New York. I am working hard
and hopefully I will climb the ladder to designer someday. <em>(She’s not a
designer yet? She’s so chic, so creative. Someone needs to snap her up!)<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">I don't know if I can choose just one designer, I have
such an eclectic style I would happily wear outfits from every collection.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">I do love Diane von Furstenberg for creating the wrap
dress. It's such a versatile garment that has stood the test of time. It's
slinky and sexy and can be dressed up or down and it's comfortable and looks
good on everyone. It's very forgiving and Diane was a princess for goodness
sake, that makes me love her all the more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Having said that I think my all time favorite is
Betsey Johnson. I have such a soft spot for her and she is the nicest lady. She
is edgy and wild and radical in fashion and in life. She is not only outside of
the box, she uses the box to make a dress. Love her. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Louella:</u> What's it like working for Angela Pritchard?
I've heard she is very driven <em>(er' demanding)</em>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Maddison:</u> Well I can't say too much because I would
like to keep my job, ha-ha. No seriously, she is brilliant. Her designs are
fresh and original and bold. When it comes to fashion and business she
certainly is at the top of her game. She is very business motivated at all
costs. <em>(Politically correct answer. Does anyone else think all isn’t happy at
the House of Pritchard?)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Louella:</u> Then tell me, where do you see your career in
ten years? With Angela? Another design house? <em>(I’ve got to dig, don’t I?)<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Maddison:</u> I hope to be designing my own range of
clothes. I want to create collections that not only see you through the four
seasons but also through a range of emotions. I want the rock chick attire for
all the mums who get to go out once a month to see a concert, I want the floaty
romantic dresses with bold prints but pastel colors for the girl who is going
on her first date, the pant suit to challenge the men in the office, maybe it
will be pinstriped pink fabric. I don't know I have so many ideas I'm surprised
I ever get to sleep. I would also like to find love. <em>(My ears just perked up.
Love? Let’s see if we can find out more.)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Louella:</u> What's the chatter around the office cooler?
Any juicy office gossip you want to share? Office romances?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Maddison:</u> I think the only single and available man in
the office is Tom Pritchard. <em>(Interesting.)</em> I say available but I don't think
he is interested in relationships, he is very professional. He is also a great
designer but prefers to stand in Angela's shadow. She wants the fame more than
him so I suspect he lets her take it. If you want the good gossip you need to
talk to the interns, those guys are wild. <em>(Interesting insights into Tom and
Angela Pritchards sibling rivalry – or lack of!)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Louella:</u> <em>(Not giving up)</em> I've seen Angela's brother,
Tom, from a distance, and in the papers of course. What's the scoop on him? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<u>
</u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Maddison:</u> Well he is a very private person. None of us
have had a lot to do with him. Every time I have had a chance to work with him,
it's been a real pleasure. He is very kind and is always willing to help. He is
very approachable. Oh and cute, did I mention that? I would love to get to work
with him more. He always makes me smile. <em>(Now we’re getting somewhere!)<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>Remember readers, stay tuned to this website for more
news and gossip from around the country and around the globe!</strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Hedda and Louella<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Read more about these intriguing ladies in our FREE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">April Fools' Day Anthology - Fools Rush In<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Found on Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/1FWEVxd<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">(Reviews greatly appreciated.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393388966542440286.post-91996484937479363852015-03-30T16:09:00.000-07:002015-03-30T16:11:46.405-07:00Blog Hop - My Work In Progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RsGq8XcCpAc/VRm9TXVAsBI/AAAAAAAAIYU/HJO1eGnWchA/s1600/lavender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RsGq8XcCpAc/VRm9TXVAsBI/AAAAAAAAIYU/HJO1eGnWchA/s1600/lavender.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I would like to thank Marie Lavender, author and
blogger extraordinaire, for tagging me in her blog hop: What's Your Next Big Thing?</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I read her book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Upon Your Honor </i>and absolutely loved it.
(To read my review, follow this link: <a href="http://bit.ly/1Nvbx0d"><span style="color: blue;">http://bit.ly/1Nvbx0d</span></a>)</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong></strong><br />
She is currently working<em> Upon Your Love, </em> part of the Heiresses in Love Series, a Victorian romance series with some suspense. "Spurred from the first book, <em>Upon Your Return</em>, it all started with a woman who gets into a bit of trouble on the docks in La Rochelle, France. Hmm…my heroines in that series always seem to encounter trouble of one kind or another. The scene for the first book just came to me, and I didn’t question why Fara’s story had to be told. And I guess I’m still telling it, though each book is centered on a new set of characters. The ideas for the sequels came to me shortly after I received a contract for the first book. Suddenly, I knew the story wasn’t over, that other characters needed their say." - Marie Lavender <span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="http://marielavender.com/">http://marielavender.com</a> </span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marie's Questions for Me!</span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. What is your working title of your book (or story)?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The title of my work in progress is <i>Marian’s Misguided, The Accidental
Roadie. </i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">This is Book Three in The
Accidental Series.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. Where did the idea come from for these books?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Way back in 2008 I wrote <i>Charlotte’s
Restrained, The Accidental Stalker</i>. The book is based upon what happens
when Charlotte gets to meet her celeb crush. I’m a vagabond at heart and could
spend my life travelling. I am also blessed with many wonderful friends. So,
rather than write about <i>damsels in distress</i>, I write books where
the reader travels to real places, with a group of five vivacious, can-do women.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of them is Irishwoman, Marian Conolly. She’s sarcastic, witty, up for
anything – but she is also ready for the next chapter in her life to begin. She’s
a successful lawyer, but now… she wants to have more in her
personal life. I promise a great read filled with laughter.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. What genre do your books fall under?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tough one – technically I would called them Contemporary Romance, but I
endeavor to explore some of lifes harder moments also. So, there is laughter,
romance, travel… but expect a twist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie
rendition?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve created a Pinterest Board for Charlotte’s
Restrained, this is the link: </span><a href="http://bit.ly/1Ck4mVx"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://bit.ly/1Ck4mVx</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
I cast actress Sarah Parish as Marian. This series has a huge cast of
characters, a new male character, Declan has already be fleshed out. I would
cast British Actor, James Murray for him. It’s early days, so I haven’t figured
out all the who’s and why’s, but another handsome hunk will arrive on the
scene. Who knows who will be <em>the one</em>? (Coincidentally, Sarah Parish and James Murray are married in real life.)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyzxLKgC3xU/VRm9RiEvwsI/AAAAAAAAIYM/QpGwKuVmVFA/s1600/marian%2Band%2Bdecaln.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyzxLKgC3xU/VRm9RiEvwsI/AAAAAAAAIYM/QpGwKuVmVFA/s1600/marian%2Band%2Bdecaln.png" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She’s bold, brash, and brazen, and taking to the open road to find out
which path to take.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6. Will your book(s) be self-published or represented by an agency?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am a self-published author. I’m not sure that defines me as an Indie Author.
I’m still trying to understand the difference.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve only been working on it a month, but I expect to be done by December.
Nine months to a year seems to be my normal time frame.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The whole series has been compared to Sex in the
City or Nottinghill, by reviewers. I know they aren’t books, but the TV series
and movie get awfully close.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first book in the series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlotte’s Restrained, The Accidental Stalker</i>, was inspired by an
interview on Inside the Actors Studio, Clint Eastwood was the guest. My husband
and I were amazed by how diverse his skills and interests are and we got to
talking about how great it would be to have dinner with him… but how does one
go about making contact, becoming friends with, a celebrity?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kathleen’s Undressed, The Accidental Enigma</i>,
was inspired by the character, Kathleen, herself (when I wrote Charlotte
Restrained). When I re-read the first book I realized that Kathleen went fairly
undeveloped, which lead me to wonder why. From that I created this contained
enigma who is complex, but still fits into the quirky world of high styling,
living life large, group of women.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Marian’s role in both books is to lighten
the mood, but she’s also very clear that she is look for love… if not someone
to lust after. Her book is exactly that – the unifying of lust and love and her
bold move to find it.</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><em>Thank you</em> to Lois W. Stern who tagged Marie Lavender. If
I am lucky she will add me to her AUTHORS’ HALL OF FAME (the first ten
authors who complete the above instructions, post their interview
questions/answers on their blog, and add her information to their AUTHORS’
HALL OF FAME linking her name and image to <a href="http://tales2inspire.com/?p=1617" sl-processed="1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://tales2inspire.com/?p=1617</span></a>.
E-mail her @ <a href="mailto:Tales2Inspire@optimum.net"><span style="color: blue;">Tales2Inspire@optimum.net</span></a><span class="skimlinks-unlinked">)</span>.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My turn to nominate! Ladies, all you need to do is follow my lead. Answer the questions I did, add Lois and my links, then nominate five people you know!</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
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</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_dnKi5O4y0M/VRm5dMl44XI/AAAAAAAAIXM/82LxzFxEpVY/s1600/profilepic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_dnKi5O4y0M/VRm5dMl44XI/AAAAAAAAIXM/82LxzFxEpVY/s1600/profilepic.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<em><span style="background: white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><strong>S.E. Babin</strong> has a passion for writing books
with a paranormal twist. Whether it’s romance or mystery, she loves taking the
norm and turning it into the extraordinary. Her love of reading turned into a
curious exploration to see whether or not she could write her own novel.
Beginning with random, terrible poetry and a slightly popular reimagining of
Beowulf’s Grendel in her high school English class, Sheryl spent way too much
time in the library, killing any chance of her becoming a cheerleader or anything
even remotely cool.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDm-4ut4gkM/VRm517MdSbI/AAAAAAAAIX0/n4Jn8wjyR2w/s1600/LaurieBaxterHeadShot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDm-4ut4gkM/VRm517MdSbI/AAAAAAAAIX0/n4Jn8wjyR2w/s1600/LaurieBaxterHeadShot.jpeg" height="181" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<em><span style="background: white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><strong>Laurie Baxter</strong> has degrees in both puppetry
and screenwriting because let’s face it, majoring in English would have been no
more useful and way less fun. She loves chocolate, ice cream, chocolate ice
cream, dogs, New York City, old movies, modern architecture, all kinds of
theater, and music from before she was born. Her eighth grade English teacher
told her to become a writer, so she did.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpqgs53kmCM/VRm5hQV5tWI/AAAAAAAAIXU/11dPKTh1QIo/s1600/EngyHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gpqgs53kmCM/VRm5hQV5tWI/AAAAAAAAIXU/11dPKTh1QIo/s1600/EngyHead.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><strong>Engy Albasel Neville</strong>
is a working mom, a brand consultant professional with 15 years experience
managing brand initiatives for fortune 500 companies, a certified yoga teacher
and an aspiring amateur chef.</span></em></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">Her favorite hobbies
include traveling, gardening, cooking and writing with the latter more of a
calling than hobby. She’s also a self proclaimed bookworm.</span></em></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"></span></em> </div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"></span></em><em><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">Engy lives with her
husband, two active toddlers and super hyper dog on Long Island, New York.</span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-az4zTBpEjTY/VRm5wwlOY1I/AAAAAAAAIXk/HQdDVDgM2LU/s1600/AmyGettingerHeadShot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-az4zTBpEjTY/VRm5wwlOY1I/AAAAAAAAIXk/HQdDVDgM2LU/s1600/AmyGettingerHeadShot.jpg" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="background: white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><strong>Amy Gettinger</strong> lives in Orange County,
California with her husband and her two piteous poodles under the shade of a
very old eucalyptus windrow full of crows and wild parrots. When she’s not writing
novels, she’s creating Reader’s Theater plays and coaching a local senior group
to perform them, complete with feather boas and tiaras.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxI3zx3zHRg/VRm5pxJOJ7I/AAAAAAAAIXc/QuoEw9eSFWU/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxI3zx3zHRg/VRm5pxJOJ7I/AAAAAAAAIXc/QuoEw9eSFWU/s1600/photo.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">While attending the University of Illinois in Chicago, <strong>Whitney Dineen</strong>
was discovered by a local modeling agent and began an unexpected career as a
plus-size Ford model. She modeled in New York City before moving to Los Angeles
with her husband. During “The Hollywood Years,” Whitney was bitten by the
writing bug and started creating characters that are inspired by strong
women with a great sense of humor. She is the author of the best-selling
romantic comedy, She Sins at Midnight. Her second book, The Reinvention of Mimi
Finnegan, is due out in May, 2015.</span></span><span style="background: white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-no-proof: yes; padding: 0in;"> </span><span class="s1"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> In addition to writing romantic comedies, Whitney has also
created a series of adventure books for girls. The first of which, Wilhelmina
and the Willamette Wig Factory, will be released in the autumn of 2015. Whitney
and her husband live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where they raise their
children, chickens and organic vegetables.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VE82-c_tcY/VRm5zcZYHWI/AAAAAAAAIXs/Cu0QxBS_Ork/s1600/ConnieStephanyHeadShot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_VE82-c_tcY/VRm5zcZYHWI/AAAAAAAAIXs/Cu0QxBS_Ork/s1600/ConnieStephanyHeadShot.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><strong>Connie Stephany</strong> is a
self-published author, whose first book, Second Chances, was published in
December of 2014. </span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><em><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">She has been reading
romance novels her entire life, and decided to try her hand at writing
one! Although it took several years between writing her first book and
publishing, her second book will be (hopefully) much faster to market and
is plotting it out now.</span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><em><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">Connie lives in
Zimmerman, Minnesota with her husband of 15 years, 3 children who are 14, 13
and 8 and a dog named Millie.</span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><em><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">Connie’s dream is to
become a famous author one day, where she can write books people cannot wait to
read.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fE1hu6u2M28/VRm7_v4Lg1I/AAAAAAAAIYA/grARdIBy4Hw/s1600/Suzie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fE1hu6u2M28/VRm7_v4Lg1I/AAAAAAAAIYA/grARdIBy4Hw/s1600/Suzie.png" height="200" width="166" /></a></span></em></div>
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</span><em><span style="background: white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><strong>Suzie Jay</strong> is a mum of six who lives in
Australia with her delicious husband and band of little misfits. She is a
former school teacher who escaped to torture the world by sharing what’s inside
her head. This is her first published work and it will be followed closely by
her debut novel: Walk on the wild Side. The reinvention of Violet Monte which
will be out in May of 2015.</span></em></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for posting!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16513786871465432137noreply@blogger.com0