Celi (Cecilia Mary Gunther) has been an old blogging friend from the very early days. I must admit the most exciting parts of my existence has been …
When an old friend asks for help to talk to The Powers That Be – well, that becomes today’s Post
Darned if best intentions, scheduled schedules, and even well thought out plans, don’t just go awry on a whim.
It’s Tuesday and here I am thinking about effective time use and scheduling my week. I did mention it is Tuesday didn’t I? And most of the world is already almost half way through their week, you know Wednesday being hump day and all.
Judith, way down under New Zealand way and I spend a fair bit of time, either during our weekly Skype visit, or by email, or Messenger talking about scheduling our days to allow for all we want to do: writing, blogging, reading, socializing, chores and cleaning (rubber gloving as she calls it). She even has a neat Excel Sheet to schedule our activities and one to track our writing success on a daily basis.
Now Joss, our accomplished Canadian writer, living in Cuenca Ecuador also joins this little group and we chat and discuss and at times solve all the world’s problems, unbeknownst to the world of course.
Aside from Beta reading for Joss, talking about writing and schedules we also talk about writers and their routines and schedules, as we did last week. I read a lot about successful people, not so much as to try their style, as much as hoping that just the act of reading about it will make it stick to me somehow. Alas, I have come to the conclusion that if one want’s to be successful, one must work for it. There is no sticking by association.
Part of last week’s discussion was about writers who go outside their homes to write. (Joss writes this way).
Jeffery Archer:
Describe the room where you usually write
I have a home in Majorca that has been built into a cliff. The study is separate from the house, and I love its calmness. It has 20 foot-long windows and overlooks the sea. There is just a desk with pens, pencils, a rubber, an hourglass, paper, pictures of my family, and me. (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/one-minute-with-jeffrey-archer-novelist-7545587.html)
Oh also Stephen King’s Top 20 rules for Writers (article here) from a Barnes and Noble Blog is just to good to pass up.
Oh yeah, writing outside your home. Mr. King has written anywhere and everywhere, but once when his children were young he rented an apartment across town for six months.
There are many writers who write outside their home but now I have come across this article about Detroit Nonprofit program for providing homes for writers called
from Electricliterature.com, and my mind if off in a few more directions.
Oh yeah, and about writing about writing – it occurs to me that that may be my expertise. You know, rather than actually writing something. Time will tell.
My heroes all have wonderful characteristics that I hope in some way to emulate. This last Friday of September 2012 (yes I know I am a tad early but I have been late with everything else this week so…) is all about Lenore Diane who is of course talented, and multifaceted. When I look at her picture and the child grinning in her Babbler About page I think ‘Cheeky’. Now cheeky is defined by the free dictionary as someone who is saucy and it just takes one look to find myself grinning from ear to ear.
This particular blog was started January 2010 so she has been inspiring us for sometime. Now of course one blog is not enough for this lady so she can also be found at Kimberly and Lenore where she and her friend give ‘Our View from Opposites Coasts’. It sounds pretty cool.
Lenore’s comedic wit has a number of outlets and her adoptee ‘Andy‘ whom she acquired through a White Elephant gift exchange is currently travelling the world. Now it seems very strange to me that an armadillo of any kind came from a White Elephant exchange but he did and then k8edid had the idea to let the poor wee fellow have his desired travels hosted by bloggers.
Clearly the smile on his face is the result of his being entertained in Southwest Florida by K8edid, then Texas by Georgette Sullins (y’all remember this gracious southern belle?), then Judith in New Zealand another of my heroes I am sure you remember, then Virginia Beach, Iowa (sorta) and last in British Columbia.
If you have not yet met this Babbler who Babbles Like a Brook and at the same time spews wisdom for the ages I encourage you to drop in, say hi, and if you think you might like to entertain Andy please do let her know.
Each Friday I devote a post to someone in my hero group from the Blogosphere.
Heroes are important to our lives, unlike the ‘experts’ I wrote about this week, they are individuals who inspire us and make our lives better and more fulfilling by their very existence and actions. Real people who make us better by their example.
Judith Baxter lives in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Originally from England, she and her Dashing Young Scotsman settled in New Zealand. Her trusty companion is Lotte an adorable Tibetan Spaniel.
Since the passing of her mother and then the premature death of her husband Judith made a decision to ‘choose how I will spend the rest of my life’.
Judith lives with intention and is a certified life coach, mentor, author and facilitator. What I most admire is that she has defined her values which are Gracious, Generous, Loving, and Radiant.
Family is very important to her, especially her four fine grandsons. Judith shares her insights with every post and it would be impossible to choose one.
Judith’s very first post on March 1, 2011 was titled, ‘I choose how I will spend the rest of my life and in I she talked about her mother’s last years and her mission “about keeping the mind active….”. She says, “I know our thoughts determine the results we achieve…”
When I think of Judith I think of silk, satin, heart of gold, and soul of goodness.
Today’s post is a recommendation to read Dr. Wayne Dyer‘s book, ‘Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life and the wisdom of Lao-tzu.
So please do stop by and say hi and take a dip in her pool of wisdom. Bathing suits not required.
FITFS – following in the footsteps…
Yesterday I mentioned the quality of the bloggers I follow and that while I, after more than a year was still looking for my theme, my schtick, my brand, my…well you know – I could at least celebrate my faves, and perhaps through them find myself. So one of the very first blogs I read this morning was a dear WP friend Judith who resides in New Zealand, where it is mid winter and earthquake season.
I am not sure if Judith Baxter has been Freshly Pressed (and if not should have been) but today her news was even better that FP. Judith did a review of a book she had read. Well not just a book, and the contents kept her reading for an entire day, but an excellent book. So good in fact that the author herself, Zoe Sharp commented on her post. The book Judith read was ‘ First Drop‘. Now how cool is that????
Now I know I will get the book and others by Sharp, and I suspect that since Judith has had close to 100,000 hits on her site (in just over a year) that many others will do the same thing. Congratulations to Judith and to Zoe!
Hmmm what is the greatest thing that has ever happened to you since you have been blogging? (aside from all the friends you have made which is of course the number 1 best thing)
That is going to require some serious thought!
It’s a 40 degree day here, G1 has just uttered for the first time since school was out, “I’m bored.” I expect that sentiment won’t last too long once he gets going with his day.
If the children are going out to play today it will have to early in the day. Our thoughts are with all who remain without power from the storms…which means also air conditioning and the every day things we take for granted.
Judith Baxter at growingyoungereachday.wordpress.com tagged me for Mrs. Sparkly’s Ten Commandments. Now the Commandments part is interesting as it is 10 questions to be answered by the tagee (or is it taggee?) This is probably the most fun award I have seen yet. Then I tag five other bloggers on behalf of Mrs. Sparkly.
I did a search on google for said Mrs. and came upon at least fifty posts from wordpress.com all with a similar title and more than one had the picture to the left. So I borrowed it hoping that this indeed is Mrs. S.
Now for the Q&A!
1. Describe yourself in seven words. Positive Loving Growing Seeking Creative Thoughtful Gentle
2. What keeps you up at night? Thoughts Memories Aspirations Fears Creativity. Sometimes I think it would be wonderful to be able to be awake 24/7 or one of those genius types who sleeps only 3 0r 4 hours but my I do enjoy a good night’s sleep.
3. Whom would you like to be? Sometimes I feel like I am so many people I am not sure there is room for another which there would have to be if I had to include someone else I would like to be. I can’t imagine wanting to be someone else besides what would the motivation be? More – beauty, wealth, success? To be rid of my problems? I guess there is none other I would choose to be like. Now how unimaginative is that?
4. What are you wearing now? Blue jeans, purple sweater, black socks. Nuts when I first read Judith’s post and I saw this question I told myself to be sure to wear something interesting and or delightful. Alas I seldom listen to myself and there is little use in creative false description when the fun part of all this is honesty.
5. What scares you? Way too much scares me. I would have thought at this age I would have overcome fear, that I would be so comfortable in my skin and mind and so wonderously philosophical that nothing would scare me. The biggest thing is fear of failure, fear of not being the best I can be, fear of not grasping the moment. It is this fear which tries to prevent me from trying new things, from completing some things. The good news is that it is a fear that grows less and less each day and some days I actually have it on the run!
6. What are the best and worst things about blogging? This is sort of two sides of the same coin. The best is reading all the wonderful blogs out there and so many leave me with a feeling of awe. The worst is realizing all the talent and fearing I may not measure up and at the same time inspiring me to reach those lofty heights of excellence.
7. What was the last website you looked at? Other than googling Mrs. Sparkly it would be the kitchensgarden.wordpress. com. I feel driven, and yes that is the only word possible to describe this need to read every word Celi has written. I started with her first post and am about half way through. I randomly read posts past and present of all my favs but this is different and I can’t quite explain it. Maybe I will be able to once I finish.
8. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? Well I am sure if you read all of the above you will know my answer to this one. Why I would be the bravest soul on earth! No Fear!
9. Slankets, yes or no? I’ll bet this is most searched word lately and the answer is a ‘No’
10. Tell us something about the person who tagged you. Now that is pure pleasure. Judith Baxter is an incredible person living in New Zealand who lives truly by her words, ‘I choose how I will spend the rest of my life.’ I don’t think Judith would even recognize the word retirement. She is active, volunteering with Hospice, consulting, treasuring her family and learning every day. I have told her previously I see her as the very classy Jessica J.B. Fletcher although she gives no indication of solving multiple murders on a weekly basis.
Now I must tag five others and have chosen people whose answers most interest me.
Celi at thekitchensgarden.wordpress.com Winsomebella.wordpress.com Joss at crowingcrone.wordpress.com Barbfroman.wordpress.com Colleen at bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com
Oh I just thought of 5 or 50 more!
*thanks to Photobucket for images!
I heard on the radio yesterday that a survey was done to determine the friendliest country in the world and New Zealand was the winner. This does not surprise me in the least – right Judith and Cecilia? – and I was pretty happy for my friends.
I do have an issue with surveys and wonder about the second third and fourth runner ups. (Canada was third, the USA fourth and I think South Africa was second).
I know how friendly Scotland and The Netherlands is, so I would like to know exactly how the survey was compiled. Was every country rated? I’ll bet lots of you know countries that could or should have been top rated.
CONGRATS NZ!!!
http://redriverpak.wordpress.com/
http://thejackieblog.com/about/
http://thelifeofjamie.wordpress.com/about/
http://susanthecoach.wordpress.com/
http://thegoodgreatsby.com/2011/12/08/is-a-photoshopped-picture-still-worth-a-thousands-words/
http://thekitchensgarden.wordpress.com/about/
A NZ girl married to an American fella, living on the prairies. Growing, cooking and eating using sustainable and organic methods. We tell a lot of stories at our table. Sometimes I even get to write a few for you. Welcome. I am here most days. celi
http://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/about/
http://misswhiplash.wordpress.com/about/
http://crowingcrone.wordpress.com/home/
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