TSS: OCTOBER MOMENTS – OCT. 9

Grab Your Coffee Cup....

Good morning, and welcome to our second October Sunday Salon.  Last week, I reflected mostly on September achievements.  Today I’m looking ahead.

First of all, I love October.  Even though my Central Valley (California) home doesn’t see much evidence of fall in the colors of the leaves, etc., that, too, will come.  Unfortunately, shortly thereafter we will see the misty tule fog that characterizes this area.

But enough of that.  Today I plan to celebrate those autumn events, beginning with some of the Halloween decorations that came out of the hall closet.

The ghost holding the pumpkin is a quirky addition selected by Noah, my eight-year-old grandson.

And now, let’s look back at this first week of October.

Some Blogging Events This Week:

Row 80 – Round Four Goals

Attitude Adjustment – An Excerpt

Thursday Potpourri

October Thoughts from the Interior

Books Read and Reviewed-Click Titles for Reviews:

1.  Buried Memories, by Irene Pence

2.  Girls in White Dresses, by Jennifer Close

3.  Watch Me Die, by Erica Spindler

4.  The Handmaid’s Tale (e-book), by Margaret Atwood

***

Wow, the last book was a reread that I started in August…and finally finished!  I’d been reading this one on and off throughout the other reads.  It was even more chilling than I recalled from my first read…probably because some of it seems entirely possible!

What book or books really grabbed you this week…or recently?

As for some of my other reads, I had also started To the Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf…but I’ve set that one aside.  Maybe I’ll pick it up later, but for now, VW and I are parting ways.

Has anyone read this one?  What were your thoughts?

As for what I’m doing today…more reading.  Maybe this one:

I also have Margaret Atwood’s The Year of the Flood resting comfortably on Sparky, my Kindle.

Hmm, both of these seem dark…but that’s a trend I’ve been on….

THE SUNDAY SALON — DISTRACTIONS — AUGUST 14

Good morning to those that have joined us in today’s Sunday Salon.  Welcome to another week in which we share our thoughts about reading, life, and whatever….

I almost didn’t write this post today, because this past week has been a little…well, less-than.  In terms of reading, that is.

But we also can celebrate our creative moments…right?  And I did have a great writing week!  Read my update HERE at CREATIVE MOMENTS.

The WIP I worked on this week (Defining Moments) could be a cautionary tale for writers and bloggers.  I’ll be posting a blurb on this one soon!

Yesterday was my daughter’s birthday, and I celebrated some moments with her at her weekend job as a bartender.  Here’s a photo she shared recently.

Heather's Body Art

I also enjoyed seeing the movie The Help with some friends, after which we had a great lunch nearby.

I don’t often say this, or find it to be true…but I actually enjoyed the movie MORE than the book!  And I LOVED the book!!

So, if you haven’t already, you really should see this one!!

For some of us older folk (LOL), the best part was recognizing many of the defining moments that surrounded that time.  The little a-ha epiphanies that might slip past some of you younger people.  But you don’t have to have that “click” to enjoy this film….

***

Since I’ve been avoiding the book talk—yes, that’s what some of this other stuff was about!—you might have guessed that my reading week was not stellar.

Here’s what I accomplished-Click Title for Review:

1.  Distant Shores, by Kristin Hannah

2.  Names My Sisters Call Me, by Megan Crane

And today I’ll be reading this one:

Burnt Mountain, by Anne Rivers Siddons…if something else doesn’t distract me!

***

What did your week look like?  Feel like sharing?  Pull up a chair and tell us….

THE SUNDAY SALON — JAN. 23

Good morning, and welcome to The Sunday Salon, where we, at the top of the new week, reflect on the week we’ve left behind.

My week has been full of great stuff, from family moments to blogging and reading.  On Thursday, my grandson Noah came for a sleepover, since his mom and some friends were off to Vegas for the weekend.  They’re staying in my timeshare, which I have enjoyed on occasion.

Great fun will be had by all….

Then there is my blogging life.

For some bloggers out there, Bloggiesta has consumed us for the past few days.

I finished my update post at An Interior Journey yesterday, and for those of you who are familiar with my sites, this one might have you scratching your head.  But my formerly “Explorations, Reflections, & Meditations” has morphed into An Interior Journey.  But the previous moniker has now earned “tagline” status.

That was one of my tasks:  to reevaluate my blog, its mission, its look…and reinvent it, if necessary.  I changed the header, background, and theme, and added some features.

Other blogging activities included my ROW 80 participation, which I updated on Wednesday at Creative Moments. There will be another update this morning.

Saturday Snapshot was a fun meme and revealed the wonders of photographic memories.

And at Potpourri, I reviewed the movie The Social Network.

With such a busy week, with blogging, writing, reading…ah, yes, the reading…Well, that worked out pretty well, too.

Books Read This Week – Click Titles for Reviews:

1.  1022 Evergreen Place, by Debbie Macomber (Amazon Vine)

2.  Straight Into Darkness, by Faye Kellerman (From My TBRs)

3.  My Formerly Hot Life, by Stephanie Dolgoff (Amazon Vine)

So that’s my week…but later today, I’m hoping to watch some movies, read some more books…and just relax.  What about you?  What’s on your plate?

FIRST SUNDAY SALON OF 2011 — JAN. 2

Wow!  Here we are with the first Sunday Salon of the New Year!

It’s time to reflect on the past year and plan for 2011.  I’ve posted on several sites about that particular activity.  Here are a few of those reflections:

Risk-Taking Yields Great Rewards

Favorite Books of 2010

Year-End Wrap-Up

Weekend Potpourri:  Resolutions

 

All I can say is that 2010 was quite a ride! I read more than usual, I documented more of what I did, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly—mainly because of the connections formed through the blogging community.

I’ve made a few plans for 2011 which I hope will only improve things.  My challenges will have their own pages on Curl up and Read.  There are pages on that site for books read, books purchased, and review books received.

I’ve learned how to organize my blogs better from watching all of you out there in the community.  Which reminds me:  Bloggiesta is coming again this month!  Another great place to learn new bloggy tricks.

But before I digress too much, let’s talk about this past week in reading.

My Kindle was a new addition to my reading world, so one of the books I read and reviewed was on my new toy!

 

Books Read and Reviewed – (Click Titles for Reviews):

1)  Letting Go, by Nancy Kaiser

2)  Rescue (e-book), by Anita Shreve

3)  The Pursuit of Alice Thrift, by Elinor Lipman (First Completed Book in 2011!)

 

Happy New Year, and may all the days of this new adventure bring peace, joy, and great books!  I hope you’ll stop by and share some of your own 2010 events and 2011 plans.

THE SUNDAY SALON — DEC. 12

Good morning, and welcome to The Sunday Salon, our great, expansive virtual reading room where we meet to commiserate about our week’s adventures.

As we approach the holidays, I notice something brisk in the air.  Yes, it’s the cold weather, but it’s also that contagious thrill of upcoming celebrations.

I used to feel less than great about the holidays.  I was kind of a Scrooge.  Then that all changed.  Some of my holiday memories (and creative moments) have appeared in my blogs this week.

At Home for the Holidays

Christmas Memories – Guest Post at Book Journey

A Bit of Me (Me) – Christmas Tree Lane

Fluffing up my WIP

Family Moments:

My wonderful granddaughter Fiona spent part of the weekend here, and we enjoyed some movie-watching, eating out, and a morning at the gym.

FIONA

My Reading Week:

Not very successful, in terms of number of books read, but I loved both of the books!

1)  South of Broad, by Pat Conroy (Click Title for Review)

2)  Elizabeth, by J. Randy Taraborrelli (Click Title for Review)

Today I plan to read some more, watch some Christmas movies I recorded, and finish watching The Last Picture Show, an old movie (from the 70s) that came in the mail for me this week

I first saw it in the theater back in the day, but each time, I notice something new in it.  I’ll have a review up later.

So that’s it for me.  What have the rest of you been up to?  Hope you’ll stop by and share.

COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS — A SHIELD AGAINST ANXIETIES — AN EXCERPT

COMPULSIVELY NESTING

Molly tries to distract herself from her fears and anxieties by a shopping spree, in this excerpt from An Accidental Life.

Molly walked quickly through Sierra Vista Mall, a purposeful and almost intensely focused expression on her face.  She was meeting Chase later at the theatre, but first she had serious shopping to do.  She felt a little guilty, shopping alone like this.  Weren’t women supposed to shop in packs?  Not the way she shopped, Molly knew.  She was as hell-bent on her mission as any compulsive gambler, food addict, or even drug addict.  The only difference:  her fix could be wrapped up in pretty packages at the end of her spree!

Even knowing the dangerously compulsive nature of these little ventures did nothing to dissuade her from the task.  She had no choice in the matter.  It was all about the feelings she would have in the pursuit of each new trinket and then, in the end, it was about the sensual pleasure she enjoyed as she stroked each new object, placing it almost lovingly in its chosen spot.  In the beginning she had mainly shopped for clothes.  But lately she had been just as zealous in her pursuit of objects of art for her home.

She knew that this sudden nesting urge had some connection to her own feelings of insecurity, of being unsafe, even in her home.  Even with the private detective on the case, she seldom rested.  She was still always looking over her shoulder, wondering when the stalker would make his next appearance.  There had been nothing further, nothing since the roses and the phone calls.  His silence almost frightened her as much as the actions he had taken.  Was he planning something really monstrous?  Something requiring a great deal of thought?

Peter Garrison, the detective, had found nothing conclusive in his quest.  Tim Mathews had no criminal record.  He was apparently a law-abiding citizen.  In fact, according to everything Peter had learned, he was employed as an accountant for a local firm.  There was no evidence of any connection between him and any of the events that had occurred.  “That’s not surprising,” Peter had insisted.  “We always knew that whoever is doing this has been able to successfully elude the law at every turn.  This doesn’t mean that the stalker is Tim Mathews, but we can’t rule him out, either.”

Exhausted from her emotional frenzy and worry and from the physical pace of her latest shopping adventure, Molly plodded slowly to her car, loading up the trunk.  Some of the items she had purchased today were too large and would have to be delivered in the next day or two.  She climbed into the front seat of the car, after first diligently checking the inside, and pushed the automatic door lock button immediately.  As she started the engine, heading toward the other end of the mall where the theatre was situated, she tried to make her mind go blank.  Like it was when she was shopping.  But she was unsuccessful.  Maybe the movie would help.  But underneath was that nagging fear that always followed her shopping sprees.  What was she going to do about her diminishing bank balance?  Could she count on her father’s little bank deposits indefinitely?  She knew it wasn’t realistic to do so and that she really needed to start living on her salary.   Tomorrow, she told herself.  I’ll think about it tomorrow.

THE SUNDAY SALON — HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Good morning, and welcome to The Sunday Salon, that virtual reading room where we gather and share tidbits about our week—reading, blogging, and life moments.

After the flurry of the Thanksgiving holiday, many of us are settling into the pre-Christmas rush.  I avoided Black Friday, though.  I’m not a fan of big crowds.

Movies:

Yesterday I saw a movie that just came out here, and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Love and Other Drugs stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, among others.  The fascinating exploration of an unlikely romance that developed between two people who usually only enjoy flings was truly heartfelt.  Anne’s character is a twenty-six year old woman suffering from early Parkinson’s Disease; Jake’s character is a pharmaceutical salesman at a time just before and after the release of the drug Viagra.  Zoloft is on its upswing, competing against Prozac.

The time period is the late 1990s.

Life:

My youngest grandson Noah had a sleepover and helped me decorate for Christmas.  Here is one of our creations.

Christmas Bears

Writing:

I finished NaNoWriMo!  Yay!  And here’s the Winners’ Certificate.

Blogging:

Author Interview with Lynda Fitzgerald

Rainbow’s Unexpected Journey (excerpt from Miles to Go)

Reading (Click Title for Review)

1)  By Nightfall, by Michael Cunningham

2)  The Dead Lie Down, by Sophie Hannah (Review will be up later)

Ongoing:

1)  Solomon’s Oak, by Jo-Ann Mapson

What has your week been like?  I hope you’ll stop by and share.

THE SUNDAY SALON — NOV. 21

Welcome to the fabulous Sunday Salon, where we gather to share our week’s events, including reading, blogging, and life.

Today is the last Sunday before our Thanksgiving holiday, and this past week, there have been opportunities to talk about gratitude.

A Bit of Me (Me) – Gratitude

Book Blogger Hop – What Are You Thankful For?

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m participating in NaNoWriMo, and we’re on the final stretch, with November 30 just around the corner.

Yesterday, I entered my word count at 45,785 (with a 50,000 word goal); today I plan to add some more.  I’m very excited about this challenge, and so far (knock wood!), I haven’t lost interest in my story, which is crucial for avoiding that writer’s bugaboo—writer’s block!

Reading Events – (Click Titles for Reviews):

1)  Once in a Blue Moon, by Eileen Goudge

2)  Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin

3)  Sweet Caroline:  Last Child of Camelot, by Christopher Andersen

Now I’m hoping to click around the blogosphere, finding out what the rest of you have been up to…hope you’ll stop by.

THE SUNDAY SALON — NOV.14

Good morning, and welcome to The Sunday Salon. Here we come together to shine a spotlight on the exciting events of the past week, including blogging, reading, and any other events we’ve enjoyed.

I’m still very excited at the end of Week Two of NaNoWriMo. It’s early morning, so I haven’t yet done my word count for today, but yesterday I added more than 3,000 words.  My cumulative total so far is 28,161 words. I hope to add another 3,000+ today.

On the blogging front, I’ve moved another site from Blogger to Word Press, and my former Out on a Limb is now Going Out on a Limb over at WP.  I’ve been having fun setting it up and recreating it.

Some posts I enjoyed:

A Bit of Me (Me): Skill Sharpening

Saturday Snapshot

Friday Memes:  56/Beginnings

Family Stuff:

I had a delightful day on Saturday with my granddaughter Fiona.  We did a little shopping, we went to lunch, and then went back to my place to watch a DVD.

Here’s a photo of her taken at the restaurant where we had lunch (Dai Bai Dang).

Lunch Date with Fiona

And now for the reading. Not as spectacular as some other events, but I thoroughly enjoyed the two books I finished.  And I’m midway through the third one, which I could finish today.

Books Read and Reviewed -  (Click Titles for Review):

1)  Outtakes from a Marriage, by Ann Leary

2)  My Best Friend’s Girl, by Dorothy Koomson (another one off the TBR piles!)

Ongoing:

1)  Once in a Blue Moon, by Eileen Goudge

What has your week been like?  Hope you’ll stop by and share….

CREATIVITY & WORRISOME MOMENTS

 

 

CREATIVE MOMENTS

Today is the fourth day of NaNoWriMo, and I’m still feeling jazzed about it.

So far, so good.  The writing seems to be falling into place, I’m still excited about the characters, the plot, and the point of view.

Why, then, did I just spend the last thirty minutes searching desperately for my camera?  I try to always put things back in their proper place, because I know that I can get distracted if I don’t do that.  So I remember last using the camera on Halloween, when my youngest grandson knocked on the door saying:  “Trick or Treat,” with that hopeful look in his eye.  Of course, the photo I took doesn’t show his eyes…LOL

But I wanted to upload the photo on the computer.  So off I go to my handbag, where I usually keep the camera (just in case I find something worth snapping when I’m out and about), and it wasn’t there!  Next I went to my entry way and looked all around the little rolltop desk that sits there…nothing.

Now what?  I searched the living room, around the coffee table, on the bookshelves…then I looked in my bedroom.  Still not there!

Just as I’m desperately considering the possibility that it is lost forever, I check the car.  Just in case I took it out of the bag when I went shopping.  Not there.

Back in the house, searching, searching.  One final peek in the car.  This time, I get in the driver’s seat, look down at the floor, and there it is!  When I was grabbing bags from the front seat (after the store), it must have fallen out.

I’m very relieved.  But this long tale is leading up to all those numerous things that can throw us off our game.  Lost items, things to do, and another thing I discovered this morning:  spammers!

Now Word Press does a nice job of grabbing them and putting them in the spam folder.  But sometimes I find non-spammers there, so I check regularly.  And delete those that are truly spam.

Well, one or two spammers have been rather hostile, coming back with more comments and saying:  Why have you deleted my post?  I had good information…blah, blah, blah.

But it irritated me, and then worried me.  Now what will they do next?  Is this paranoia I’m feeling now?

Spammer/lurker paranoia grips me like the other kind I’ve had recently:  What if the computer crashes and I lose all of my data?  What if one day, I try to turn it on and nothing happens?  What if….

Then I thought about a saying that is stenciled on the side of a tin, designed by Mary Engelbreit:

WORRYING DOES NOT EMPTY TOMORROW OF ITS TROUBLES,

IT EMPTIES TODAY OF ITS STRENGTH.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS

When I read this again, I sighed and decided to grab the moment and not worry so much about “what if.”

I’m pretty sure that I’ll allow things to creep in and try to knock me off course from time to time, but I don’t have to stay in those dark places.

Just to cheer me up, I decided to upload my Halloween photos and remember how children enjoy their moments.

IRON MAN STRENGTH!

THE DARK SIDE!