tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1195533951088496942024-03-12T17:12:34.779-06:00Write OnRambling and RandomSharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-64849622179007736292015-02-06T20:56:00.003-07:002015-02-06T21:04:41.878-07:00Thunder Prime, Fog Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-snPEpV0ObQM/VNWD6M3NHXI/AAAAAAAABa8/ZISY8DVQ31s/s1600/fogisland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-snPEpV0ObQM/VNWD6M3NHXI/AAAAAAAABa8/ZISY8DVQ31s/s1600/fogisland.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Getting ready to publish Book 2</span><br />
<br />
The following is a poem, a ballad about an absent character in <i>Thunder Prime, Fog Island</i>. This e-book version is an update to the first edition, <i>The Ballad of Bawdy McClure</i>, a sci fi about a future time when cloning has been used to populate the universe. One man and one woman search for the answers to what happened to Bawdy, a man in search of justice who lived a secret life. The e-book version, with typos corrected and a few minor changes to the original, is available at <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291359">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291359</a> for $2.99.<br />
<br />
The next e-book in this duo is slated for publication in mid-March. If you haven't read <i>Fog Island</i> don't worry. The second book stands on its own, but some references to characters from Book 1 pop up from time to time. Subscribe to "Write On" by entering your e-mail address in the box at the top of the right hand column and receive blog updates and news about the publication of <i>Thunder Prime, Pella's Revenge</i>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ballad of Bawdy McClure</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brian Michael McClure, a man of an age gone by,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remained true to the Spirit and didn’t deserve to die.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are those who go a wanderin’, their stories to unfold</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the tale of such a man, a sad story I am told.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He stood for forgotten values and held loyal to each friend,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All who knew him mourned when he came to a tragic end.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brian Michael McClure, a man of an age gone by,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remained true to the Spirit and didn’t deserve to die.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Bawdy” people called him, a man with a ready grin,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fellows trusted him fiercely, and many fair maidens he did win.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">His questing ways and steady charm brought people to his side,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He had an inner fire that proved his constant guide.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brian Michael McClure, a man of an age gone by,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remained true to the Spirit and didn’t deserve to die.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He believed in ultimate good and that Spirit held the lead,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If only each and all mankind would trust the Holy Seed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Right would always out, he said, but knew the human mind</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That leads some to evil ways their destiny to find.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brian Michael McClure, a man of an age gone by,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remained true to the Spirit and didn’t deserve to die.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He seemed so very open, a man easy to read,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But even such a heart can be made to bleed, and bleed and bleed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The man beneath the surface was a mystery in many ways,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One none could unravel ‘til he reached the end of his days.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brian Michael McClure, a man of an age gone by,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remained true to the Spirit and didn’t deserve to die.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">His twin in all but outward looks could not begin to understand,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And laid hope on a most intractable and stubborn man.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The two were on parallel paths, with vengeance in aevery pore,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But neither trusted the other, that’s the stuff of legend and
lore.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brian Michael McClure, a man of an age gone by,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Remained true to the Spirit, and for friendship he did die.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This story of a steady man with courage at the core</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Takes him from this uncertain life to God’s eternal shore.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is an inner fire that burns, an ever-flickering flame,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We enter life’s
moments one way, but don’t come out the same.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; 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;">________________</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; 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;">Your likes and shares will be greatly appreciated. As an Indie author I am grateful for your support. </span></i>
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<br />Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-37897362028236880462015-02-01T19:04:00.000-07:002015-02-01T19:16:18.361-07:00Writers write, right?<style>
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</style><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;">Retired... mostly, kind of</span><br />
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So… as of December 31, 2014 I have what many folks would
refer to as “retired,” meaning I no longer receive compensation for, nor am I
accepting jobs as, a copywriter as such. I am focusing on my writing – fiction
and nonfiction. Some will be essays, book or movie reviews, opinion pieces,
articles about this and that, travel articles... you get the gist. A little of
this and a little of that. These will be posted on my Write On blog and will
appear as the mood strikes me, which could be 10 times a month, or one time in
10 months. Who knows? Not me. I’m also continuing to write in my Joy in the
Morning blog, with about the same dedication… or lack thereof. The point is I’m
focusing on writing.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSYmKXAUujQ/VM7XHuJOo4I/AAAAAAAABaM/FSP8EZSM7ow/s1600/ink-paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSYmKXAUujQ/VM7XHuJOo4I/AAAAAAAABaM/FSP8EZSM7ow/s1600/ink-paper.jpg" height="109" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Emphasis will be on finishing one novel that’s been hanging
fire for about two years, give or take a year, collecting <a href="http://joyinthemorningsv.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Joy in the Morning</a>
posts into a book of inspiration, and getting around to writing a book about
what there is to do NOW in Las Vegas and San Miguel County. There have been a
number of history books written about the area, and since I’m no historian, it makes
more sense to skim the cream off the top of this lovely area and put it into a
handy guide. Not a visitors’ guide; there will be no advertising, just a
collection of interesting activities, events and sites. Is there enough to put
into a book? Good question. I’ll keep you posted.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It has become clear to me that the older I get the more I
want to write and the less I want to put it off until later. I’ve been
listening to webinars and reading books about writing and publishing.. Every
single one of them point out the following:</div>
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<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Serious writers write</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Traditionally published authors work as hard at
getting an agent as they do at writing books</li>
<li>Serious writers write</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Indie and traditionally published authors learn
how to promote their own books with confidence</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Serious writers write</li>
<li>Author platforms are crucial</li>
<li>
Serious writers write<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span>Authors read nearly as much as the write<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Serious writers write</li>
</ul>
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I’m sure you get the overarching theme here. Write and write
some more.</div>
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I will very much appreciate you following my journey, as
bumpy as it may be, by subscribing to this blog. That way when I post something
new, you will be notified by e-mail. Just type your e-mail address in the
Follow by E-mail box at the top in the right hand column.</div>
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I will continue my volunteer work as a Deacon in my church,
as a member of the Alta Vista Regional Hospital Advisory Board, and as chair of
the Las Vegas-San Miguel Economic Development Corp.</div>
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And then of course there is that business of being part of a
family. My ever-patient husband has been my biggest supporter and kindest critic (as
in being no critic at all).
He is not my editor. According to him everything I write is “fine.” Yikes. The worst
word on the planet for a writer. “Fine.” A writer wants to be “thought
provoking,” “hilarious,” “a thorn in someone’s side,” “extraordinary,” any and
all of the superlatives you can imagine. “Fine,” I didn’t think, quite cut it. And
then I looked at synonyms for<span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fine</i>:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="color: #741b47;">excellent<span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>first-class</span><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>great</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47;">outstanding</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>quality</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>superior</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span>prime</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>supreme</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>wonderful</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gh8b1vF_lgs/VM7Xaf8kKiI/AAAAAAAABaU/MPQ3QBTSt30/s1600/bookcoversm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gh8b1vF_lgs/VM7Xaf8kKiI/AAAAAAAABaU/MPQ3QBTSt30/s1600/bookcoversm.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">So I guess I’ll take “fine” from my husband, who really, when I think
about it, is a discerning and highly intelligent man.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Thanks for reading this, and don’t forget to sign up to follow <a href="http://sharonvandermeer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Write On</a>.
And if you haven’t read “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Family-Sharon-Vander-Meer-ebook/dp/B00LWUD0E0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417327603&sr=8-1&keywords=sharon+vander+meer" target="_blank">Finding Family,</a>” you can get it in e-book and
paperback from online retailers and locally in Las Vegas at Tome on the Range
or WarDancer Designs and Gallery.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If you find Write On interesting, please like, comment, tweet and share. I will very much appreciate it.</span></div>
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Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-91351486513573031602014-11-29T22:50:00.000-07:002014-11-29T22:50:02.384-07:00Writing lessons and life lessons
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldItalicMT; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">I’m back in the writing groove
after nearly a year of telling myself, “Tomorrow, I’ll write tomorrow.” Not
that I don’t write every day, I do, but it’s not the creative writing I enjoy.
My recently published book, “</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ASharon%20Vander%20Meer"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Finding
Family</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">,”
came out in August and I’ve done some marketing and a couple of book signings,
but even that has taken a back seat to other demands on my time. I can think of
any number of reasons I haven’t been more devoted to the craft of writing, but
it boils down to life getting in the way as only life can. Considering how happy
writing makes me, I don’t know why it’s such a chore to sit down and focus.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n1G3XGlYGI/T1FL-5ykswI/AAAAAAAAAPM/U1zGQR4MLog/s1600/penandpad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n1G3XGlYGI/T1FL-5ykswI/AAAAAAAAAPM/U1zGQR4MLog/s1600/penandpad.jpeg" height="209" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> Over the past several years
I’ve had the opportunity to talk to writers of varying levels of success. These
wonderful interactions have taught me a lot about what it means to be a writer
and how each applies to having a happy life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;">Write tight.</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Whether you are writing an advertisement or penning the
Great American Novel, less is more. Good writing is often a matter of making
the most of a few well-chosen words<i>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i> </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Journal
Note:</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">
The same is true in every day encounters. More time spent listening and less
time talking can bring unexpected rewards, and will likely result in stronger
relationships.</span><b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;">Do your homework.</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">(Research). Writers have an obligation to their readers to
be credible. Works of fiction with shaky plots and weak characters turn readers
off. Non-fiction books with incorrect information turn readers off. Period, end
of story.</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Journal
Note:</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">
In presenting your thoughts and ideas verbally, whether one-on-one, in small
groups or before an audience of thousands, be trust-worthy. Nothing taints character
and integrity like misinformation or an out-an-out lie.</span><b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;">Write.</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> To be
successful, writers must write. It sounds simple, but making time to write is
difficult if you are not intentional about putting words on paper (or
computer), which is why most authors have a schedule and stick with it come
what may<i>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><i> </i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Journal
Note:</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">
To be successful at anything, perseverance is required. “</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Therefore, since we are surrounded by
such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the</span> sin that so easily entangles. And
let us <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">run</span> with perseverance <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the</span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">race</span> marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV) Stick with it,
whatever “it” is for you, and you are more likely to achieve your goals.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"></span><b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;">Be interesting.</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> Create a
compelling story with strong characters, drama, conflict, action and a
satisfying conclusion.</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Journal
Note:</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">
In life the interesting people are more engaged, motivated, happier and less
stressed.</span><b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;">Be creative.</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> There are
many ways to write about the same subject. Love. Hate. Death. Life. Fear.
Happiness. Truth. Lies. You name it and it has been written about, and that
will continue. How does your creativity and innovation bring new life to these
concepts? That’s the story you want to tell.</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Journal
Note:</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">
How will your personal story take shape as you live each day? Find ways to be
creative, even if it’s as simple as drinking your orange juice out of a wine
glass. No matter what you do, you can bring elements of creativity to the way
you live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Happiness is… Think about it.
You get to fill in that blank any way you want to. It’s your story. It’s your
life. Be happy.</span></div>
Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-33006032327785616972012-08-04T21:09:00.003-06:002012-08-04T21:17:33.793-06:00Business Tips: Hire a Professional<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>F<span style="font-size: large;">ollow Learning Curve by e-mail </span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: black;"> </span></i></span> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;">Five Reasons to Hire a Writing Professional</span></u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-armenian-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-currency-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-cyrillic-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-default-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-greek-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hebrew-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latin-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-latinext-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="color: black;">Fabulous content on your website or blog is critical. Strong copy in advertising, e-mails and other communication is the difference between getting your message across and blending in with the crowd. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;">Focus your energy</span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgCh81zYMnY/UB3fqEwqJaI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/l2C_EI_ZBXY/s1600/mancomputer+(426x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HgCh81zYMnY/UB3fqEwqJaI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/l2C_EI_ZBXY/s200/mancomputer+(426x640).jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">You have a particular passion and talent. Whatever that is, that is what you want to do. That’s how you make your money. That’s how you want to spend your time, not writing copy for e-mails, blogs, ads, flyers, newsletters and other business communications. By hiring a writing professional (<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.vandermeerbooks.com/Copy-Writing.html">copywriter</a>)</span></span></span> you can concentrate on the things you do fabulously<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;">Develop ideas</span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">Your time is valuable. Your business relies on you. When you hire a professional you stop worrying about getting your message across to your customers in a creative and consistent way because the added value of a professional writer is the ideas they bring to the table. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;">The job done right</span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">When you have a problem with your car you take it to a reliable, professional mechanic. Car repair isn’t your thing, nor do you want it to be. You trust the mechanic to do the work that needs to be done. Turning your written communication needs over to a professional assures the work will be done correctly, creatively and on time. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;">Target and tailor your message</span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">You know who your customers are. How do you reach them? That’s where a professional writer can help you by identifying strategies for reaching the people with money to spend for the products or services you offer. <span style="font-size: small;">Target<span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.sba.gov/content/developing-marketing-plan">marketing</a> isn't a catch phrase, it's a must for the savvy <span style="font-size: small;">entrepreneur.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-weight: bold;">Best foot forward</span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">Written communication is a reflection of your professionalism. The best selling point for your business is how you are perceived based on several factors, among them how you appear in print. Whether you are sending out a press release or posting a sign on your door correct spelling and grammar say a lot about your respect for your customers and attention to detail.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">_______________________</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-US">Please comment and share. Thanks </span></span></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-19762876409664203392012-07-29T16:13:00.002-06:002012-07-29T16:13:19.524-06:00Inspired Writing<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Swervé: Prompted to Write; Inspired to Create </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></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/-9bC0rg4oItE/UBWtiOYug-I/AAAAAAAAAlo/BtJCPEmcQmc/s1600/stairs+copy+%2528640x369%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bC0rg4oItE/UBWtiOYug-I/AAAAAAAAAlo/BtJCPEmcQmc/s320/stairs+copy+%2528640x369%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A loverly bunch of writer-nuts.</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I recently attended a writers’ workshop, the first I’d ever been to. I know, it’s hard to believe, but in all my years of working as a writer I’ve never attended a workshop. I’ve been to newspaper conferences and one writers’ conference (years ago in Albuquerque hosted by Southwest Writers), but never to a workshop. The Green River Writer’s Workshop was intimate, energizing and inspiring, and the only people who will understand the title of this post are the people who were there… at least I hope they will get it.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Interestingly the energy and inspiration didn’t come from writing, which one would expect from a writers’ workshop. It came from participants, all of whom were writing in different genres, some for publication, some for the pure pleasure of writing, and from event facilitators, <a href="http://www.greenriverwritersworkshops.com/press.html">Alice Winston Carney</a>, <a href="http://geraldhausman.com/">Gerald Hausman and Lorry Hausman</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Initially I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to write more, but I found the discussions interesting and thought provoking, and I loved hearing people read their work. I would have liked a little more of that, but with 13 attendees and three days to work with, time was at a premium.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The comments following each reading were intended to be targeted on the writing—what works, what doesn’t, what you like, what could have been written more clearly—but we did go off on tangents that also gave us food for thought.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The variety of writing and the background of those attending added flavor to a stew of enlightening experiences. We even had a fellow from Japan, Kenji Okuhira, who is on the brink of having his photo book published, <i>Floating Stone : 21 Thoughts of Kenji Miyazawa</i>. The book is translated by Gerald Hausman and Kenji. These sayings are beautiful, a word that seems lacking when you see the book with its stunning photos and the Japanese characters that mirror the English translation. It is more than a book; it’s a work of art.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Others were working on memoirs, works of fiction and poetry. Another author, Fran Jenner, will have her book published by fall.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Her tale is of 12 year-old Savannah and her family, who are uprooted because of failed farm land in Missouri, and hopes for a better life 2000 miles away in California. It’s 1850 and the journey will take months in a covered wagon pulled by oxen. <i>Prairie Journey</i> tells of Savannah’s resistance to change and the story of her long journey, during which she discovers the trail’s hardships and perils hold a gift for her she never imagined. When <i>Prairie Journey</i> is published I hope to have Fran on the air to talk about the book, which she has devoted ten years of her life to writing.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tRe9sJjxy4/UBWzlztw-HI/AAAAAAAAAmA/csNVGKa4v1o/s1600/greenriver+(91x140).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7tRe9sJjxy4/UBWzlztw-HI/AAAAAAAAAmA/csNVGKa4v1o/s1600/greenriver+(91x140).jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">A highlight of the workshop was a book signing at <a href="http://www.tomeontherange.com/">Tome on the Range</a> featuring the <a href="http://www.tomeontherange.com/book/9781617203756">Green River Anthology</a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>of stories. Among the featured writers are four Las Vegans: Petey Salman, Joseph Baca, Carole Gonynor and Maggie Romigh. The other authors are Lyn Searfoss, Ursula Nizalowski, Megan Carney, Mary Kate McTeigue, Elizabeth Sieren, Jo-Ellen Bosson, Jane Janson, Ana June, Frances Bonney Jenner, Laura Ice, Gayanne Leachman, Virginia Kidd and Jean Whitehead.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It was a delight to hear the authors read their work and receive high praise from the audience. The stories are as varied as the authors, each “turning memory into story,” in unique and entertaining ways.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">My thanks to Alice, Gerry and Lorry for their skillful facilitation, and to my fellow workshop attendees: Patty Buckley, Lin Chibante, Carole Gonynor, Fran Jenner, Alice Kolb, George Kolb, Ron Maltais, Kenji Okuhira, Chris Reidel, Petey Salman, Lynn Searfoss, and Sevigne. I learned something from all of you, and the best part is creating new relationships with other people as crazy as I am, writing and loving it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Thanks as well to Mina Yamashita, who discussed her memoir about growing up Japanese American following World War II. She is a writer, graphic designer and creative spirit. Her insight into tools for e-publishing puts into perspective what it takes to get one’s work into digital print. Among her recommendations was <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/">smashwords.com</a>, a user-friendly model for uploading and managing text for e-book publication.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I hope to attend future workshops, this one and others. The benefit comes more from listening than from talking, which I have found in life is usually the case. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />____________________________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><i>Your comments will be appreciated. Please share this article by clicking on one or more of the buttons below. To receive automatic notification of updates to Learning Curve please subscribe (top, right). </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-22368781777926790292012-06-24T20:28:00.001-06:002012-06-24T20:33:37.787-06:00Business Tips<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">7 Business Affirmations: Release the Bellyaching Beast</span></h2>
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If I was 12 inches taller I'd be skinny</h3>
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How many times have you looked in the mirror and found a flaw? If
you say never, good grief, what planet do you live on? Most of us are
self-critical, sometimes to the point of being oblivious to what makes us
unique. We seem to have a beast inside bent on bellyaching
about our multiple deficiencies. Do you obsess about being too tall or not tall enough? Too thin
or too heavy? Not pretty/handsome enough? Too pushy? Not pushy enough?</div>
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You have your list and so do I. Do you apply that
self-critical flaw-finding attitude to your business? </div>
<ul style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<li>I can't succeed. </li>
<li>The economy is against me! </li>
<li>I can't afford to carry enough inventory. </li>
<li>Everybody shops out of town! </li>
<li>I'm afraid of the competition. </li>
<li>Advertising costs too much and it's a waste of my limited
resources. </li>
<li>Marketing eludes me. I can't figure it out.</li>
</ul>
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When you add your own night terrors to this list do you start to
sweat? Are you on the brink of throwing in the towel, going to bed and
covering up your head? STOP! Before you lie down with a cold compress... or knock back a
numbing libation, get a grip! Perhaps you're thinking is getting in the way of
your business success.</div>
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But I'm only 60 inches tall, that's not going to change</h3>
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Challenges are real and can't be ignored. There is something to be
said for critical evaluation. SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)
analysis exists for a reason. The list above clearly represents the outcome of
looking at weaknesses. </div>
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So how do you bring your future, the future
of your business and the future of your community's economy into perspective? Let the bellyaching beast off his
leash and listen up. Evaluation does not mean you must find every flaw. Yes,
you need to know what your weaknesses are, but also be certain you
know and embrace your strengths. I may only be five foot tall and
nowhere near thin, but anyone who knows me will tell you it has rarely held me back,
even when standing still might have been wiser.</div>
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I'm writing this because I've spent a good bit of time in recent
months dithering about whether to get back into freelance work as a writer,
e-zine/newsletter developer and graphic designer. My poor-me bellyaching beast has held
me at bay, snapping at my heels, preventing me from seeing the value my skills
have for others.<br />
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You are a star, and don’t you forget it</h3>
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After several weeks of hearing the bellyaching beast whining
and begging for the scraps of uncertainty and fear left behind in the wake of
my mental self-abuse, I gave him his freedom, opened the door to release
negativity and let him go. When I saw his tail wagging as he crested the
horizon, I took pen and paper in hand and started writing down why my skills
would have benefit for others. It was doggone freeing. It reminded me of my
successes and put my failures into perspective. </div>
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As an entrepreneur I recommend you take stock. Go somewhere quiet, where you will
be able to think uninterrupted. Take pad and pen. There is something to be said
for the tactile feel of the implements in your hand and to see your
entrepreneurial spirit coming to life through the words flowing onto the page. </div>
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Affirm your commitment to success: </h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>I started this business/service (aside from money) because____________.</b></span></div>
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<i>There is never any one reason entrepreneurs go into business.
While earning a profit is likely at the top of the list there are other
compelling reasons that fired and inspired you to put out your shingle. Name
those reasons. Embrace them.</i></div>
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<b>My business/service is unique in these ways_____________.</b></div>
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<i>If you don't have a response to this perhaps it’s time to think
carefully about what you offer that no one else does, or think of an add-in
that will make you stand out from the crowd.</i></div>
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<b>Investing in my business through promotion has value
because_________.</b></div>
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<i>There is a rule of thumb that you should commit a percentage of
your annual income to advertising and promotion. I would add use that money
wisely and well. No matter how much you want to support every publication and
cause that "represents youth," consider what you do in context of
your business success. There are other ways to donate that don't involve
spending your much-needed promotional dollars. </i></div>
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<b>My business has loyal customers. I'm going to reward them
by______________.</b></div>
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<i>When was the last time you e-mailed, called or in some way
communicated with your customers? It's less expensive to retain a satisfied
customer and get them to buy again than it is to draw new customers to your
door. And remember this – activity begets activity. If you have your old
customers coming in the door, new customers will follow.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>I will make sure my employees like their jobs and convey that to
our customers.</b></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<i>If your employees aren't on your side and don't enjoy their jobs
it will show in your bottom line. Take care of your employees (even if the only
employee you have is you). If employees are not confident in their ability to
take care of customers, if they feel inadequate, if they feel you don't care
about them, they will not do their best. They'll do the minimum and not very
well.</i></div>
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<b>I will participate actively in associations that advocate for
independent entrepreneurs.</b></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
<i>Belonging to a business association is an opportunity for
networking, yes, absolutely. Aside from that, you have something to offer. What
can you contribute that will improve/promote all businesses? Rising water lifts
all boats. Be part of the rising tide.<br /> </i></div>
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<b>I will post a list of my business successes where I can see it
every day, beginning with the day I opened, my first success.</b>
</div>
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<i>Remember your successes. That first big sale. Meeting your first
payroll (including paying yourself!). The "thank you" from a customer
who benefited from your service. Keep track of the positive influence and impact your business has had and continues to have. </i></div>
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When life gets a little testy and business is stagnant or
beginning to slide, you must remember this is a bump in the road, not a wall.
Small business continues to be the backbone of the economy. Your
success determines the health of the local economy and the national economy.
Take time to celebrate your entrepreneurial strengths. It will be good for you,
and it will be good for your business.</div>
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________________</div>
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<a href="http://www.vandermeerbooks.com/media.html">Sharon Vander Meer</a> is an entrepreneur, author, host of <a href="http://svmwritersbloc.blogspot.com/">Writer's Block</a> and blogger. To
tap into her skills to your benefit e-mail <u><a href="mailto:fsvandermeer@gmail.com">fsvandermeer@gmail.com</a>. </u></div>
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Y<i>our comments will be appreciated. Please share this article by
clicking on one or more of the buttons below. To receive automatic notification of updates to Learning
Curve please subscribe (top, right).</i></div>
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<br /></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-85912449011100942512012-06-13T22:57:00.001-06:002012-06-13T23:22:00.587-06:00Travel: Pismo Beach, CA<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSU4gFYGaP0/T9EyWn5SWuI/AAAAAAAAAfI/yrD2y2o8YRE/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSU4gFYGaP0/T9EyWn5SWuI/AAAAAAAAAfI/yrD2y2o8YRE/s200/photo.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ocean breezes, clear
skies, and a little wind, perfect in every way</b></span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.pismobeach.org/">Pismo Beach, Calif</a>.,
is one of our favorite places to visit. Perhaps because we live so far
inland we appreciate the ocean sounds and clean sands littered only with what
the tides leave behind: sand dollars, broken shells and seaweed. </div>
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We’ve traveled up and down the coast and like all the
little towns along the way, but Pismo is special. We’ve been going there off
and on since our boys were small, back when there were half as many houses and
sixty percent less traffic. Our favorite place to stay is the first place we
went to all those years ago, <a href="http://kontikiinn.com/">Kon Tiki Inn</a>.
You cannot get a bad room in this place. The structure is crescent shaped and
every room faces the ocean. It has a lot of amenities, complimentary
continental breakfast and a wonderful restaurant, <a href="http://kontikiinn.com/pismo-beach-restaurant.php">Steamers</a>, right
next door. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7JTpg5HDkdg/T9Ey0lrCjxI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/sW9fbxHPTsA/s1600/gullgood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7JTpg5HDkdg/T9Ey0lrCjxI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/sW9fbxHPTsA/s200/gullgood.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Getting to the beach was a snap when we were younger, but now it takes a
little longer and a few rest stops along the way, but there is direct access
from the Kon Tiki property to the beach down a stairway with, I think 128
steps. Going down is a breeze; going up is a wheeze. </div>
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Our favorite activity is walking on the beach and strolling
out on the pier. This is not a commercialized pier like Monterey Bay or San
Francisco, largely because this isn’t a place where boats dock and commercial
fishermen are everywhere selling tickets for fishing excursions.<br />
<br />
Pismo is very much a charming Oceanside town. It has shops
and wonderful restaurants, and if you want to fish off the pier you can do so
for free, no license necessary. </div>
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From the pier you get a panoramic view of magnificent and
mystifying water. How does that massive cauldron of teeming life stay in place?
The curvature of the horizon sometimes makes me dizzy and I look away because
I feel like it might cut loose and wash over me if I don’t. The surge of the waves against the support pilings is thrilling, but only because I
know the structure has stood the test of time. Below us surfers try to catch a wave. On the days we were
there the waves weren’t all that challenging so we got to see some of the surfers
actually ride out minor curls that took them onto the beach. It looked like
great fun, and a lot of work.<br />
<br />
Our time was mostly spent walking along the ocean. Every night
we left the sliding glass door open so we could hear the sounds of the ocean
and smell that unique tangy aroma found only where briny sea meets land.<br />
<br />
Our one outing was to Oceanside for the <a href="http://www.americanmelodrama.com/">Great American Melodrama</a>. We never
miss it when were there and while I was a little disappointed that it was a
vaudeville show (I wanted to see a play), we enjoyed it immensely. If you plan
to go with the idea of eating the fare, expect a limited menu of hot dogs,
popcorn, beer and soda. </div>
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There are a lot of things to do if being <a href="http://www.pismobeach.org/">busy</a> is what you want. For us rest and
relaxation was in order and we treasured every minute of it. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qlneKHUNTMw/T9Ezqzc82WI/AAAAAAAAAfY/I2XWG-qgeic/s1600/bobatcheles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qlneKHUNTMw/T9Ezqzc82WI/AAAAAAAAAfY/I2XWG-qgeic/s200/bobatcheles.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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We always make it a point to eat at our favorite
restaurants. <a href="http://www.giuseppesrestaurant.com/">Giuseppe’s</a>, <a href="http://www.pismobeach.com/cheles/">Chele’s Food and Spirits</a>, <a href="http://www.splashcafe.com/">Splash Café</a> and <a href="http://kontikiinn.com/pismo-beach-restaurant.php">Steamers</a> have great
atmosphere, wonderful food and exceptional service. There are many more, but
with only five days to work with, we couldn’t get to them all! Besides, I
didn’t really want to come back looking like blimp. Of course we found a
Starbucks, which we managed to get to every day while we were there. </div>
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We got to Pismo by <a href="http://sharonvandermeer.blogspot.com/2012_05_01_archive.html">train</a>, by
way of Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, and although there were a few “bumps”
along the way, it was a great option for us. The pace was slower than I
expected but the attendants and other Amtrak staff members were courteous and
helpful. We were assisted in making our connections by cheerful station
attendants who made sure we made it from one train to the next. The best part
was that Bob didn’t have to drive all that way, I didn’t have to get on an
airplane and we really did see the countryside. The food on the train was quite
good and the breakfasts substantial.</div>
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It will probably be a while before we get
out to Pismo again, but I’m already looking forward to it, and we will likely ride
the rails to get there.</div>
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______________________</div>
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<i>Please share this post with others by clicking on the
buttons below. Thank you for reading and feel free to share your thoughts in
the comments section.</i></div>
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<br /></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-28687044190429140542012-05-26T16:40:00.001-06:002012-06-13T10:14:05.707-06:00Travel<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Riding the Rails, the Challenges and Joys<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h4>
Our First Vacation in Six Years: The Trip</h4>
<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/-NfDWsHnbapg/T8FR1ZPbcyI/AAAAAAAAAbI/iExkJLwjvd0/s1600/leavinglv+(640x479).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NfDWsHnbapg/T8FR1ZPbcyI/AAAAAAAAAbI/iExkJLwjvd0/s320/leavinglv+(640x479).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amtrak arrives at the Las Vegas, NM <a href="http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/LSV">historic train depot</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://amtrak.com/">Amtrak</a> is a great option for anyone who wants to get from
here to there, hates airports and doesn’t want to drive. You can indeed see the
country as it lurches by and if you are in a roomette or deluxe room, you get an
unending number of meals. Well, not unending, but it seems one meal service is
barely over before the steward starts taking reservations for the next one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In our little corner of the world—Las Vegas, NM—we still
have an Amtrak station. When we decided to take a trip to <a href="http://pismo%20beach%20california/">Pismo Beach, Calif</a>.,
one of our favorite destinations, we decided
the rail was the way to go. Realizing there would be challenges, like getting a
rental car, we decided to go to AAA Travel in Santa Fe, NM, (thank you
Teodora!) for help in planning the trip.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PoMTHXjOTGg/T8FbQHiYqSI/AAAAAAAAAbg/WfhN89IchRs/s1600/waitngbobandsharon+(480x640).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/-PoMTHXjOTGg/T8FbQHiYqSI/AAAAAAAAAbg/WfhN89IchRs/s200/waitngbobandsharon+(480x640).jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All Aboard!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll say right up front AAA was most helpful. I highly
recommend their services.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It had been at least 15 years since we took a train trip,
also to Pismo Beach. For that trip we got off the train in Pasadena, boarded
an Amtrak bus, and arrived in Bakersfield, where one of our sons was living.
Knowing he would pick us up at the bus terminal took care of concerns
about getting to the car rental agency located at the Bakersfield airport.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This time we didn’t have that advantage. We had to rely on
AAA to make arrangements for us to get from the San Luis Obispo depot, where we
got off the train, to the SLO airport car rental agency. On the return trip we
had to get the car back and find transportation to the SLO train station before
the Pacific Surfliner left at 6:45 a.m. for our connection at Union Station in Los Angeles. Thanks to AAA we got the car rented in
advance (of course) and an agreement from Hertz to pick us up at the train
station. To make life easier on our return date, AAA located the phone
number of a 24-hour cab company that would pick us up at the airport and get us
to the train station. Am I making this too complicated? Perhaps, but we are at a point in our
lives when things like tight schedules and the possibility of missing our
connections makes us nervous, VERY nervous.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The on-board portion of the trip went like clockwork (or as
much as train travel can) and I’m pleased to say the trip was flawless. Well,
maybe not the part where we had to wait for three hours for the coroner to
release the track ahead because someone had been hit by a train coming the other way,
but that’s another story.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Travel on the whole—moving down the track—was fine. Sleeping
on the train? Yikes. We took a roomette (which we did the last time we went by
train) believing this would be more comfortable than going by coach. We were on
the train overnight going and coming and it made sense to have the privacy of a
roomette and a bed to sleep on. Having a bathroom down the hall was a bit
inconvenient (I’m being kind here) but we managed, sort of.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuRUmPAW9so/T8FYKeirHwI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ImWDaUanE9U/s1600/bedsonborad.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuRUmPAW9so/T8FYKeirHwI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ImWDaUanE9U/s1600/bedsonborad.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can tell you my bones still ache. My husband is still recovering
from a crack on the head and a fall from the top bunk. It happened when he
tried to get up in the middle of the night, forgot there was no head room, and then
missed the step on his way to floor level. Between knocking himself silly and a
bruised and swollen leg he refused to get back on that precarious perch, and wouldn’t let me get
up there either. We spent the rest of the night wedged like two sardines on the
bottom bunk. That, my friends, is true love. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even though there was a shower down the passageway, the idea of
using it was pretty off putting when I thought about the jerky movement of the
train and a slight discomfort (outright terror?) that the lock wouldn’t hold
and someone would walk in on me. Grimy doesn’t begin to describe how both of us
felt after getting off the train going and coming.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had traveled this way before and didn’t remember it being
so uncomfortable. It finally dawned on me that the real difference is that we’re
both 15 years older and 15 to 20 pounds heavier. Those roomettes are not designed
for anyone with any meat on them at all!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using the toilet was a whole other adventure, and forget
brushing your teeth, trying to freshen your makeup (this is where guys definitely
have an advantage) and organizing your hair when you’ve been sleeping (more or
less) on it all night.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are options to the <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Accommodation_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241210576173">roomette</a> of course. The coach cars
do have quite comfortable seats that recline. We have friends who have traveled
this way and found it perfectly acceptable. Others have said it’s fine as long
as everyone in the car agrees to settle down and sleep, but that doesn’t always
happen. One friend told us of a trip to Chicago. “At about midnight one family
hauled out their sandwiches and wine and made a party of it.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other option is a “deluxe” room, which has a bathroom
and a foldout bed at floor level that will accommodate two people so no one has
to ride the rails suspended on something the size of a half-panel of a folding
door.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Would we do it again? Yes. Does that surprise you? It’s an adventure.
There is something wonderful about riding on a train, but only if you’re not in
a hurry. Maybe that’s it. You are forced to relax and reset you internal mad
rush to nice and easy, slow but sure.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>What I liked:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Train travel is affordable.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You do get to see the country.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The slower pace (if you’re ready for it).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The attendants, conductors, red caps, and other staff
members affiliated with the train are wonderful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The food is okay and there is no lack of it. (Coach pays for
meals; roomette and deluxe travelers meals are complimentary, except for
alcohol).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seating in the dining car is family style so you get to meet interesting people.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the whole other passengers are courteous and respectful.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The train depots are wonderful, harking back to another era.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is no hassle related to terrorist and security issues
(ala airport TSA craziness)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I didn’t like (or wasn’t prepared for)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><ul>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The “crossover” from one car to the next</div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Beds <o:p></o:p></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Bathrooms</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Overall the experience was
enjoyable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><em>More about the journey next time.<o:p></o:p></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-32736124685871367932012-05-04T15:25:00.000-06:002012-05-04T15:25:41.265-06:00Aging Gratefully<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;">
<b>Five ways to Find Inner Peace</b></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aaxcSSJ_NxU/T6RHxJ2-7qI/AAAAAAAAAZY/LPl0Yl-UaZ8/s1600/wildmorning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aaxcSSJ_NxU/T6RHxJ2-7qI/AAAAAAAAAZY/LPl0Yl-UaZ8/s200/wildmorning.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beauty is everywhere. When you come upon it unexpectedly it
makes your heart sing and brings you a moment of peace. The photo in this blog
was taken on my morning walk with friends. I’ve been seeing these lovely
flowers for several days, heartened by their purity and surprised by where they
were growing. Okay, they’re weeds (wild and invasive morning glories I think)
but amid the gravel and dry soil these sturdy plants are flourishing and
blooming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finding beauty in life is one way to find inner peace. How
do you relax at the end of a harried and hurried day? Here are five suggestions for ways to calm your spirit and put the bloom back in your life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Walking:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A morning or evening walk is a good place to start. Walking
releases tension and helps you relax. Unless we are by nature athletic, we tend
to spend entirely too much time indoors. Reports show that people who walk
regularly maintain their weight, are healthier and have a more positive
outlook.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Prayer:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whatever form your prayer or spiritual life takes, the
oneness with the Creator brings calm in ways nothing else can. Studies indicate
that those who attend worship services and meditate regularly are happier and
more able to cope with day to day problems.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Friends:</b></div>
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Connections to friends are almost as important as time with
family. Those who have a network of people they can call on, even if it’s just
to say, “Hi,” are more well-adjusted and less apt to let stress rule their
lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Family:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time with family keeps us centered. We have a sounding board
for our ideas and dreams. Try to have at least an hour a day when you and your family
sit down and share a meal or have a conversation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Leisure Time:</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We tend to think we have to be busy, busy, busy. That only
works until you run out of time and energy, and then what? Make time to do what
you like to do, whether it is reading, watching television, listening to music…
whatever allows you to relax your body and get outside your head now and then. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you bring peace into your chaotic life, you – like those
wild morning glories – will blossom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
_______________________________</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-71887122746332197102012-04-20T15:21:00.001-06:002017-12-21T16:19:43.892-07:00Rambling Prose: Writers Write<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">To Blog or Not to Blog</span></b>
<br />
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n1G3XGlYGI/T1FL-5ykswI/AAAAAAAAAPM/U1zGQR4MLog/s1600/penandpad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n1G3XGlYGI/T1FL-5ykswI/AAAAAAAAAPM/U1zGQR4MLog/s200/penandpad.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I've been
dithering. Not uncommon for me, just ask my husband. I have a gazillions things
I want to do and not enough time in the day to get them done, not because I
can't but because I dither. That isn't to say I <i>don't </i>get things done, it's
just that I must wade through the litter of dither to get there.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I haven't always been that way. I am by nature a take-charge woman, and not
always a sensitive one, so Katie-bar-the-door or I'll run over you. I don't
mean to, but focus at some point becomes obsession. An agenda is meant to be
followed. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">I've
written about this before, so I won't go into detail here, but a to do list at
this point in my life is essential. (<a href="http://svmwritersbloc.blogspot.com/2012/04/snow-day-in-april.html">Check here for prior post)</a>. There are days
when even a to do list doesn't help. Sometimes I stare at it, my eyes glaze
over and I turn to my iPad and play Word W.E.L.D.E.R. Work? You're kidding,
right? Who am I trying to impress? What do I think will happen to the thousands
of words I've written and published over the years? </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
So begins procrastination
and self-doubt. I have to give myself a swift kick in the posterior to get off
the pity pot and move on. </div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"></span></div>
<h2 class="Body1">
</h2>
<h2 class="Body1">
So What? </h2>
<div class="Body1">
The
dither deal today is that I'm seriously thinking about going back to publishing
an e-zine. I did on off a year or so ago, but I didn't have the
patience to give it time to build a readership, and I couldn't figure out how
to make money at it. This is nothing unusual. I've done a fair number of the
things in my life that either lost money or never made a dime. I guess getting
and being and maintaining a rich lifestyle isn't a driving factor behind my
choices. </div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">So the
dilemma is this. I've been working diligently at building a web presence with
the idea of selling my <a href="https://oneroofpublish.com/books/" target="_blank">books</a>: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tiger
Lilly, Not Just Another Day, The Ballad of Bawdy McClure</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Future Imperfect</i>. Why I believed
creating three blogs and maintaining a website would accomplish this I'll never
know. To my knowledge not one single book has been sold as a consequence of all
this effort. It doesn't help that two of them are sci-fi, one is daily
devotional and another is contemporary fiction about family relationships. Does
anyone see the problem here? Try creating SEO protocol for that mess.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h2 class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Back to
the Topic </span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPxoVq2Sgxo/TXAq3jrPrRI/AAAAAAAAADM/gaodsnBFZJY/s1600/mar11cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPxoVq2Sgxo/TXAq3jrPrRI/AAAAAAAAADM/gaodsnBFZJY/s200/mar11cover.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
<div class="Body1">
I stopped publishing the <a href="http://issuu.com/vandermeerbooks/docs/mar._happenstance">e-zine</a> about eight months ago. For the effort I was putting
into it, I saw no measurable indicators that any but a handful of family and
friends were actually reading it. I'm doing the blogs because... Well there you
go, I'm not sure why I'm doing the blogs. I THINK it's building my web presence
and my author platform, however I'm seeing no measurable indicators to prove
that it is.</div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Bear with
me folks, I'm on a ramble here, not to mention a dither.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">One of
the blogs is tied to my radio show, <a href="http://svmwritersbloc.blogspot.com/">Writer's Block</a>, which airs each Tuesday
morning at 9 a.m MST. It is a program about writing and writers. I invite
authors (published and want to be published)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>to be interviewed in-studio or as call-in guests. Following the program
I summarize the discussion and do a review of the program in my Writer's Block
blog. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><a href="http://joyinthemorningsv.blogspot.com/">Joy inthe Morning</a> is a blog of brief inspirational readings or poems. It is tied to
my spirituality and will likely lead to a second book of daily devotionals.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The blog
you're reading is the third blog. Rambling Prose is about what ever strikes my
fancy, kind of like my now dormant e-zine, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Happenstance,
life happens</i>. Even so, it doesn't have the flexibility of an e-zine, or if
it does I haven't figured out how to make it work.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h2 class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Still
with me?</span></h2>
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">And then
there is the <a href="https://oneroofpublish.com/" target="_blank">Sharon Vander Meer</a> website, which remains fairly static with
general information, only updated once a week with links to Writer's Block
program summaries.</span>
<br />
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Coming
from print media I still think in terms of graphic design, popping pix and
writing to section demands. Is it food and lifestyle? Does it fit in features?
Sports? Trends? Books? Travel? Commentary?</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">For what
I want to do, an e-zine makes more sense because my interests vary and as much
as I want to be a writing machine punching out books by the dozens, the truth
is my curiosity and dithering eclectic tastes do not contribute to finishing
yet another manuscript, and I'm not much good at marketing the books I've already written! Still, I forge ahead.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">A</span>nd <span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">–</span><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"></span><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> this is a biggie folks </span><span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">–</span><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> I love talking to writers. I
enjoy promoting their work. It tickles me silly to publish words crafted by
talented people. I enjoy reading and doing book reviews.</span> </div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
That
doesn't<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>leave a lot of time for
additional writing, but I forge ahead.</div>
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"></span><br />
<h2 class="Body1">
Now What? </h2>
<div class="Body1">
So, the
questions for me are, "Do I continue to maintain three blogs and a website
<span style="font-family: "arial unicode ms" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">–</span><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> none of which are doing what
I want them to do (sell books), or do I go back to e-zine publishing creating something on the order of a literary journal? And if I
do, is it possible to have an income stream?"</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">The
question for you as a follower or reader is, what do you think? Check out the
published e-zines <a href="http://issuu.com/vandermeerbooks/docs/may_happenstance_">at this link</a> and the one above, and give me your feedback in the comments
section below.</span> I'm sort of looking for a better understanding of what will work in the web environment we are now living in. To blog or not to blog, that is the question.</div>
<br />
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<i><span style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Share
this blog with those whom you think will be interested using one of the share
buttons below. </span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-70005503091332531072012-04-11T11:26:00.000-06:002012-04-11T11:29:21.043-06:00A Healthy Life<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Stepping Out With Your Friends </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<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/-C58OG0fxN4U/T4W8fsGAvEI/AAAAAAAAASo/Oa7H0O3PRkw/s1600/walking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C58OG0fxN4U/T4W8fsGAvEI/AAAAAAAAASo/Oa7H0O3PRkw/s200/walking.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Carol Linder, also a walker that day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If you ask experts to identify the single best exercise
you will get a ton of answers, but most agree that if you aren’t into exercise
as a discipline, walking is a good alternative. Some even say it’s the best alternative.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In an article in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17exercise-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all">New
York Times</a> by Gretchen Reynolds, she quotes Michael Joyner, M.D. from the Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “I personally
think that brisk walking is far and away the single best exercise.” He based
his comment on work done by <a href="http://www.wellnessjunction.com/athome/exercise/walking.htm">Hiroshi Nose,
M.D., Ph.D</a>., a professor of sports medical sciences at Shinshu University
Graduate School of Medicine in Japan. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The article went on to state that, “Walking has also been
shown by other researchers to aid materially in weight control. A 15-year study
found that middle-aged women who walked for at least an hour a day maintained
their weight over the decades. Those who didn’t gained weight.” </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As a gentle, low-impact exercise walking is accessible
and can become a companionable social activity. It can also inspire you to
become more conscientious out fitness and health. That has proven to be the
case for our church healthy lifestyle initiative. We started <a href="http://lvpresbyterian.org/ministries/communitylife.html">Getting Fit
Together</a> in March opening it up to the public with the idea of establishing
small group activities that would provide motivation and support. The idea was
to have a weight loss group, nutrition and cooking group and fitness groups
across the spectrum, and develop other groups based on need and participation. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The walking groups have proven to be the biggest draw. It’s
something everyone can do and it works. Here are a few reasons why (from the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/HQ01612">Mayo Clinic</a>
website):</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Benefits of walking</span></b></div>
<ul>
<li>Lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the
"bad" cholesterol)</li>
<li>Raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the
"good" cholesterol)</li>
<li>Lower your blood pressure</li>
<li>Reduce your risk of or manage type 2 diabetes</li>
<li>Manage your weight</li>
<li>Improve your mood</li>
<li>Stay strong and fit</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“All it takes to reap these benefits is a routine of
brisk walking. It doesn't get much simpler than that. And you can forget the ‘no
pain, no gain’ talk. Research shows that regular, brisk walking can reduce the
risk of heart attack by the same amount as more vigorous exercise, such as
jogging.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Motivation</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If the obvious benefits don't ring the bell for you, think about walking with a group. It's beneficial in many ways. </div>
<ul>
<li>When you know someone
may be waiting for you, you are more apt to get up and get with it. </li>
<li>Walking with a group challenges you to increase your
intensity or the distance you walk. </li>
<li>Group participation may motivate you to walk in marathons or
become a runner. </li>
<li>You may be inspired to start a cardio program. </li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ultimately it’s
about overall fitness and health. That first step is your journey toward a healthier you. These links are great sources of motivation and getting
started walking for your health.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/walking-for-exercise">http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/walking-for-exercise</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://www.thewalkingsite.com/">http://www.thewalkingsite.com/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="http://www.walking.org/">http://www.walking.org/</a></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-84495081849426386712012-04-02T11:22:00.001-06:002012-04-02T11:22:08.683-06:00Hometown USA, Las Vegas, NM<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Lights,
Camera, Action!</span></b></u></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<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/-qqJKY_4gzqo/T3nef9fEIEI/AAAAAAAAARY/uGoQWctmnvE/s1600/bridgestreetfilm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qqJKY_4gzqo/T3nef9fEIEI/AAAAAAAAARY/uGoQWctmnvE/s200/bridgestreetfilm.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Filming on Bridge Street, Las Vegas, NM</span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once
again <a href="http://www.lasvegasnewmexico.com/">our little town</a> is undergoing a transformation. One area is being
recreated into a '50s version of the other Las Vegas, the one with glitz and
glamour, at least on the surface. In the '50s there was a dark force in control
of gaming, and prostitution was a way of life for women whose dreams of stardom
ended in disillusionment and sorrow. The old-style mob influence is long gone. Corporate
flamboyance drives the economy now, but it can still be a tawdry business with
gambling addiction stealing people's futures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
transformation on <a href="http://www.lvfiba.org/">Bridge Street</a> in Las Vegas, N.M., is for a television pilot about the '50s in the
town that never sleeps. I have no idea what the plot line is, but I don't
imagine it is about the sunny side of life.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
bright side – and the down side – for the only Las Vegas that counts for people
in business for themselves, is what it does to the bottom line. Some benefit
greatly; others wonder if they can survive the unfortunate interruptions in
business access. As a small business it is difficult to take a hit of any kind.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Still,
there is spin-off from the movie industry that cannot be denied. It opens the
doors of Las Vegas, N.M. to people who have never been here before. It brings
exposure and opportunity in unexpected ways. </span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
you are reading this and live in Las Vegas or in the area, make a special trip
to Bridge Street/Plaza and see what's going on. It is a fascinating
process to watch. While you’re there, pop into one of the stores and drop a few
dollars. Restaurants, clothing and shoes stores, book stores, galleries and
more, they're all open ready to serve you.</span></div>
<div class="Body1">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body1">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If
you are reading this and you don't live in the area, come on down! It's the
sweetest little town around, loaded with history and great things to see and do.
Las Vegas, New Mexico may not have glitz and glamour, but it does have down-home hospitality, northern New Mexico chic, and many unique shopping experiences, including those which feature local artists.</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: #0400; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-10295915934221915512012-03-06T11:34:00.000-07:002012-03-06T16:48:19.296-07:00Aging Gracefully<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Old Chick Oh So Chic </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old Chick Oh So Chic</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I don’t think I’m old. In fact I’m pretty sure I’m not,
until I see a candid picture of myself and then I’m horrified. A friend’s
grandson took a photo of me at Christmas all bundled up in my warmest coat. I
was behind the wheel of my car on my way to a residential care center to deliver
gifts to the residents. The <a href="http://lvpresbyterian.org/ministries/deacons.html">Deacons</a> of our church do this every year and I was
among several taking this precarious journey on the coldest, snowiest day of
the year. Hence the coat and look of grim determination on my face.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
We arrived safe and sound, the recipients of the gifts had a
high old time and I was happy to have participated. And then I saw THE photo
posted on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/fsvandermeer">Facebook</a> page a couple of days later, a thoughtful gift from my
good friend <a href="http://www.facebook.com/artbt">Art Trujillo</a>, copy editor at the <a href="http://www.lasvegasoptic.com/">local paper</a> and a regular
columnist. To say the least I was surprised; mostly I was shocked at the deep
wrinkles around my lips in contrast to the rich dark color of my hair. Who was
I kidding? That hair? Those wrinkles? Get a grip.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Thank you, Arthur (the photographer), for this reminder that
no matter how much I would like to look young, at 67 I’m NOT young and the road
map of my face shows that. Oddly enough that visual reminder of the march of
time didn’t depress me. For an old chick I’m healthy, thank the good Lord, and
have the energy of women half my age, or perhaps stubborn determination would
be a better description. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Active Life Keeps You Lively</span></b> </div>
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<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://www.blogger.com/goog_1170707225"><b></b></a><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=119553395108849694" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VXqOta2cA_M/T1Z-SW5dlwI/AAAAAAAAAPs/44WAZsa31t8/s1600/edithaandsharon.jpg" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://svmwritersbloc.blogspot.com/"><b>True Colors</b></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have a radio program, <a href="http://svmwritersbloc.blogspot.com/">Writers' Block</a>, on <a href="http://www.kfunonline.com/">KFUN/KLVF</a>, I’m
involved in my <a href="http://www.lvpresbyterian.com/">church</a>, I’m part of the planning team for a big gala at <a href="http://purpletieaffair.com/">New Mexico Highlands University</a> celebrating the tenure of the current president,
Jim Fries, with a major scholarship fund raising component tied in, I maintain
three blogs and a <a href="http://wwwvandermeerbooks.com/">website</a>, and I’m working on a couple of books. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
My husband is convinced I’m working too hard. I’ve been on
the other side of that following my retirement from my last full time job,
doing little more than playing computer games or reading endlessly and that’s
no fun. I’d rather be busy.<br />
<br />
My mission is to remind people that wrinkles and age do not
mean you no longer have value. Getting old isn’t the end of life; it’s the
beginning of a different kind of freedom. You can make choices you couldn’t
have made when you were younger. You can work
or volunteer as much or as little as you want to. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
Getting older is a blessing, especially when you consider
the alternative. But I’m not terribly worried about that either. I know that
when this life is over whatever is next is mine to claim.<br />
<br />
So despite wrinkles and days when I’m a little out of breath
from running too fast, I’m pleased to say that every day is a great day, even
when it isn’t. I’m not that much of a Pollyanna! Life’s little surprises just
make getting up in the morning a little more interesting.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-7043555339358520982012-03-02T15:46:00.002-07:002012-03-06T14:22:10.270-07:00Writing<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n1G3XGlYGI/T1FL-5ykswI/AAAAAAAAAPM/U1zGQR4MLog/s1600/penandpad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n1G3XGlYGI/T1FL-5ykswI/AAAAAAAAAPM/U1zGQR4MLog/s320/penandpad.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Help! Writers Come to the Rescue </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I read this wonderful post today by blogger <a href="http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/">Robert Lee Brewer</a> entitled <a href="http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/2012/01/25-ways-to-increase-blog-traffic.html">25
Ways to Increase Blog Traffic</a>. It was written back in January but it was
linked to his latest post, <a href="http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/2012/03/tech-empowered-writers-how-to-use-blogs.html">Tech-Empowered
Writers: How to Use Blogs and Social Media to Find Success</a>. Justifiably for two years in a row his blog, <a href="http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/">My Name Is Not Bob</a>, was listed as
one of the 101 best blogs for writers by <a href="http://www.writersdigest.com/">Writer's Digest</a>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">My blogging bump-in-the-road is being consistent, especially
since my interests shoot all over the place. I spent two days this week giving
my <a href="http://www.vandermeerbooks.com/">website</a> a makeover, and
working at giving my blogs a similar look. Branding for a writer, or for any entrepreneur,
is a way of setting yourself apart from the crowd. Being able to identify for
yourself what <i>does</i> set you apart is the biggest, and perhaps the most
difficult, step.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The competition for people’s eyes is staggering. In 2009
(the latest numbers I could find) more than 280,000 books were published in the
US. That doesn’t take into account e-books, blogs and information websites
looking for readers. Creating your unique <a href="http://writetodone.com/2008/11/06/branding-101-how-to-promote-your-blog-like-the-big-guys-do/">brand</a>
is all the more important. Some refer to this as building a platform based on
experience, publication credits and contacts. I confess to not being quite
there yet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Confidence is crucial. Writers must have monumental belief that
what they’ve written is the best thing ever put to page, and then be willing to
get out there and sell it. Whether you have a relationship with a traditional
publisher or go out on your own and self-publish the first person you must convince
that the work is exceptional is yourself. I’m not there yet. I look at my
self-published <a href="http://vandermeerbooks.intuitwebsites.com/Books.html">books</a>
and think of all the ways they could have been better. I want to fix them,
which takes up a lot of time and energy. I fret and stew when I should be
creating new work or optimizing my blogging experience.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I read again <a href="http://www.stephenking.com/">Stephen
King’s</a> essay on the writing life, which appeared in the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092801398.html">Washington
Post</a> in 2006. Now here is a fellow whose brand is easily identified. I
wonder in the early years of his career if it was so evident? What struggles
did he undergo to reach a level of acceptance so he didn’t have to constantly prove
his worth? If you are a fan of the genre, you know that Stephen King is, well…
king of horror and suspense. There are contenders but he continues to be a
phenomenon. Now that’s branding. Of course it helps that he's one heck of a good writer.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYWhYOBt-l8/T1FMJSlGthI/AAAAAAAAAPU/xYdla7psPiM/s1600/8261070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYWhYOBt-l8/T1FMJSlGthI/AAAAAAAAAPU/xYdla7psPiM/s320/8261070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There is so much more to writing than coming up with a great idea and creating a great story. I love to write
and I have no problem working at it. To get that work published I have to work
at that too. I’ve been rejected by the best of them and usually on a form
letter so bland it cracked my heart. I turned to self-publishing because as a person
who is easily crushed by rejection, I wanted absolute control of my work, and
nobody could tell me my work didn’t “fit in with their book list at this time.”
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What I didn’t take into account was that the self-publisher
has one goal in mind and that is to up-sell you to the point that if you’re not
careful you will never make back the money you’ve invested. I’m not saying
there are no successful self-published authors out there. What I can tell you is that their success came from believing in themselves, working at their craft with diligence and persevering against the odds to get their work published.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Heart breaking as it may be, as a writer you may never find an audience.</span><span style="font-size: small;">Your book may be the best tome ever written. </span><span style="font-size: small;">You can have the best website on the
planet and fantastic blogs. If no one ever reads them, you are up the river
of desperation in a paper boat. My suggestions for getting off that boat before it sinks
include finding writing helps at every level, from project development and fine tuning of your book, to building your platform or brand and getting your work into the markeplace. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The list below represents some of the best writers' blogs out there. These folks share their experiences and knowledge to help others with the dream of getting published and selling their work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://robertleebrewer.blogspot.com/">My Name is Not Bob</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/">Mystery Writing Is Murder</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://hiveword.com/blog">hiveword.com/blog</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.writersdigest.com/">www.writersdigest.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And here are the top ten sites selected by <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=119553395108849694">Write
to Done</a>, unmissable articles on writing, a website geared toward helping writers
find their way.</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://goinswriter.com/" target="_blank">Jeff Goins
Writer</a><br /><a href="http://thewritepractice.com/">The Write Practice</a></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://janefriedman.com/">Jane Friedman</a></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://www.thecreativepenn.com/">Creative Penn</a></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/">Bookshelf Muse</a></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://romanceuniversity.org/">Romance University </a></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://ollinmorales.wordpress.com/">Courage2 Create</a></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://terribleminds.com/ramble/blog/">Terrible minds </a></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://artistsroad.wordpress.com/">Artist’s Road</a></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/">Word Play</a></span>
</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">As Stephen King points out in his 2006 essay, there is no
easy way to become a successful writer. It’s work. Hard work. And perhaps the
hardest part of all is selling your masterpiece once it is written. There is
help out there, but ultimately, you – the writer – must put pen to pad and
write, and then you – the book marketer – must get out there and work some more
at selling it, either to an agent or to the public.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Is it worth? Absolutely!</span></div>
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<br /></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-79917580569873142762012-02-18T18:25:00.001-07:002012-02-18T18:25:21.211-07:00Is that love?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2rg5DNvQeNY/T0BKuIbxIjI/AAAAAAAAANo/k4y-Ju96xL0/s1600/woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2rg5DNvQeNY/T0BKuIbxIjI/AAAAAAAAANo/k4y-Ju96xL0/s200/woman.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I’m sorry Whitney Houston is dead. It’s sad that someone so
talented got swept up in whatever brought her down. Like Billie Holliday, a jazz
diva from the 1930s, Houston had it all, and yet could not resist the
temptations or handle the stress of success. It is beyond me or anyone else to
know what these women endured that led to their downfall; it is enough to know
that for them success was not a guarantee of happy ever after.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Christian writer <a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/">Joyce Meyer</a>,
who came from an abusive background, says that women are by nature dependent. We
have been brought up to believe that being loved by someone is more important
than anything and that once we are loved we will be forever after taken care
of. As Meyer points out, that's a dangerous road to go down. Women in abusive relationships stay in them for
a variety of reasons, not the least of which is they convince themselves the
man who is abusing them actually does love them. They make countless excuses
for his behavior. </div>
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<br /></div>
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“He’s stressed.” </div>
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“He’s out of work.” </div>
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“I’m too demanding.” </div>
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“The kids are too loud.”</div>
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“I was nagging.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve read that some women in abusive relationships
feel
protective of the very person who is slapping them around or verbally
degrading
them. Is that love? By their definition, it is. The passion of violence
is for
some an indication of passion in the bedroom, but on a much more basic
level,
they are more afraid of the unknown than of the situation in which they
are
living. For the abuser it is less about love and more about power.
Abusers are often men who feel powerless in other areas of their lives
and exert it in the only place they can, at home.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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Whitney Houston and Billie Holliday both experienced manipulation
from men who wanted to have power over them. Did that lead them to find some way to “feel good” even if the end
result was self-degradation to the worst degree? What seems apparent is that
they became what other people turned them into, robbing them of their talent,
their sense of self, and their lives.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It happens every day to ordinary women and no one pays a bit
of attention, because these women are not celebrities. Their pain goes unnoticed,
or in most cases ignored. Many know it’s there, they recognize the symptoms,
yet do nothing. After all, who wants to get in the middle of someone else’s
family drama?</div>
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There is a television program on the air now called, “What
Would You Do?” We watched a segment the other night about what observers would
do if they saw a woman in a store being verbally bullied by her son. The participants
were actors, but the observers were not. Of the several who watched the
uncomfortable scene play out, only two of the observers tried to intervene. One
was a mother with a daughter who chided the male actor (who was a tall beefy
guy) for treating his mother that way. The other was an older woman who had
counseled abused women. She didn’t say much to the “son”; what she did is offer
the mother sanctuary.</div>
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Safety. It is perhaps the most important first step in
helping women break loose from domestic violence.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Healing. Many of these women are physically and emotionally
damaged. They get caught up in “feel good” methods of survival: drugs, alcohol
or addictive behaviors. They need treatment and counseling.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Hope. There is a tomorrow. Many abused women feel so trapped
they don’t know if tomorrow will come or whether they should care if it does.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Opportunity. To start over women who may be marginally
skilled or emotionally fragile need training and jobs.</div>
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If you or someone you know is caught up in an abusive
relationship, in Las Vegas, N.M. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">call 1- 505-425-1048, or contact the
Tri-County Family Justice Center. The national domestic violence hotline number
is 1-800-799-7233.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-68395177277535395972012-02-10T10:22:00.000-07:002012-02-10T11:18:55.493-07:00Pitiful Politics<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pXHEgEgH-Us/TzVQw97YK-I/AAAAAAAAANM/fS9zMDzSo_A/s1600/36786016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pXHEgEgH-Us/TzVQw97YK-I/AAAAAAAAANM/fS9zMDzSo_A/s200/36786016.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
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Are you sick of politics and 24/7 campaign BS (bellicose speechifying)?
I am. The time to look at political and campaign reform is long past. At best
politics in America has reached a pitiful state. From smug Mr. Obama, who likely
will be re-elected, to the bevy of emerging candidates who will go head to head
at the August GOP convention in Tampa.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A friend recently expressed her opinion that if everyone
would vote for the new kid on the block instead of the incumbent, in three
election cycles we would have a new bunch in charge. A bunch of what is the
question.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe seventy-five percent of those who run for office
for the first time are in the race for all the right reasons. They want to make
a difference. They believe their fantastic ideas will change the world for the
better. And then they show up on their first day on the job after being sworn
in and get hit with an ice-cold dose of political reality. Their initiatives
won’t even be listened to until they have established their credentials and
credibility, which for most national leaders doesn’t happen for years, decades
if they last that long.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Local and state office holders face the same challenges.
They spend so much time (and money) getting into office, they aren’t fully
prepared for reality, which includes listening to constituents, attempting to be
progressive in sometimes regressive administrations, wanting to start something new rather than ensuring the
good ideas of the people who came before them are completed successfully, being
so honed in on the districts or areas where their supporters live they are
unable to see the big picture, and trying to get something done with pennies
when dollars – and lots of them – are needed.</div>
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We do need to have a system of governance, no doubt about
that, but it would be nice if governance was the focus, not partisan politics
and getting reelected. No candidate should hold office for more than two consecutive
terms, no matter who they are, or what office they hold. </div>
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The cost of campaigns is staggering. If even a portion of
that money would be dedicated to encouraging the development of independent businesses,
the economy could make a nearly magical turn around. Everyone seems to forget
that small business is the backbone of the economy and entrepreneurship drives
innovation. </div>
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The shock value of campaigning makes most of us gag. Do you really
want to hear not just once but countless times that our potential leaders are
as flawed as we are? Campaigning should be limited to the six months prior to the
primary/caucus (and there should ONLY BE ONE, not one in every state), and
targeted on issues not personalities. Candidate spending should be a limited.
And get rid of super packs. Good grief, who thought of that? It’s one more way
to get around the expectation that reasonable people will behave in reasonable
ways.</div>
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Political campaigning in the modern age is a sad and
destructive joke on all of us. All the wannabes seeking to be the Republican candidate
in November should be ashamed of themselves. Little or nothing is being said
about the monumental issues facing America and the world, and a lot about what
one candidate thinks is wrong with the others. I don’t care what Newt thinks of
Mitt, or Rick thinks of Ron, I just want to know they are thinking, which at
the moment doesn’t seem to be the case. </div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-19688105696913159872011-12-05T19:30:00.002-07:002011-12-05T19:35:15.573-07:00Happy Holidays!<link href="file://localhost/Users/sharonvandermeer/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztGXZWFv9zI/Tt16kZ7I2SI/AAAAAAAAAKo/RsQHJJazBX0/s1600/treeblog.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/-ztGXZWFv9zI/Tt16kZ7I2SI/AAAAAAAAAKo/RsQHJJazBX0/s320/treeblog.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Normally it takes me one day to get through my Christmas decorating, or perhaps I should say “holiday” decorating. This year it took three days and I still have one box in the kitchen I’m not entirely sure what to do with. It’s fake greenery and one strand of greenery w/lights that I must have used somewhere at some time, but right now it’s simply sitting there calling to me: “Put me somewhere! Put me somewhere!” The question is, “Where?”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m not sure why it has taken me so long this year to get everything up. It looks terrific, by the way, very festive. I love everything about the holidays, and despite the uphill battle of getting the decorations up this year I enjoyed every minute of it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I thought about why doing a favorite and enjoyable task took so much longer this year. Age? Maybe. Probably. As a world-class multi-tasker I’ve never had a problem getting more than one thing done at a time, but as I get older it isn’t as easy as it used to be. As I write I’m creating and printing Christmas cards and starting supper, while planning my radio program for Tuesday morning. So what slowed me down with decorating?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It could be because when we got ready to decorate the church for the holidays we were reminded by our pastor that Christmas isn’t until Dec. 24. Right now Christian churches are in Advent, the waiting period before the blessed birth. It is also the beginning of the church year, a time of preparation and renewal. In the hustle and bustle of secular holiday planning the birth of Christ has become an endnote rather than the whole story. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I began to think my dithering and getting ready for Christmas might be misguided, that I was focusing on the wrong things. It also gave me an excuse to put off what turns out to be hard work. My 67-year-old bones and muscles are, well, 67 years old!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And then I realized I was misunderstanding the point. The point isn’t about decorating or not decorating, it’s about doing the right things for the right reasons. I know that's simplistic, but it puts everything up to Dec. 24 into perspective for me. I decorate, make candy, bake goodies and have friends over because I enjoy it and I hope it makes other people smile. I hope it makes Jesus smile a little too. Celebrating His birth and life the whole of December has become a tradition. As believers we have a choice whether that celebration will be about excess and overspending, or reaching out to other people and giving thanks for all the ways our lives are blessed.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m glad at our church we have been reminded to focus our attention on Advent. We need this time to reflect and understand the Light that overshadows the darkness. Our task in this life is not to point out what we <i>think</i> is wrong with everyone else, but to celebrate God’s love. On Dec. 24 we will celebrate the gift that outshines all others.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-67450144713001925832011-10-25T01:22:00.001-06:002011-10-25T01:34:10.997-06:00Keeping up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R718D9ojdhw/TqZgepOzulI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/ygbQHdev_JM/s1600/kidscomputers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R718D9ojdhw/TqZgepOzulI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/ygbQHdev_JM/s200/kidscomputers.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>Keeping up. Keeping UP. KEEPING UP.<br />
<br />
Technology is advancing so quickly you hardly purchase one new device before there's a new and improved version already on the market. Keeping up is nearly impossible. Worse yet it seems to be creating a divide few think about.<br />
<br />
The other day I heard a prominent educator in a large city commenting on the fact that all the children in his school system would now have computers. I mentally applauded that. Technology is wonderful. And then he said, "Before this (acquisition of all the computers) there were some children in the district who knew where Australia was and others who didn't."<br />
<br />
Excuse me? Don't schools have maps? Books? Teachers who teach?<br />
<br />
Okay, I'm old school, as well as being old...er, but there was something about this man's statement that made me stop and think. The younger generation is becoming more and more dependent on developing technology while many older folks are isolated from the worldwide web either by choice or circumstances.<br />
<br />
In my husband's case he flat out doesn't want to learn how to use a computer and is perfectly happy devouring three newspapers every day supplemented by news magazines like the Economist, Time, Scientific American... I won't go on, but he is an information vacuum. He is better informed than I, a graying geek who gets most of her information online. I read at the shallow level and he reads in depth.<br />
<br />
So my question is this: Does access to technology mean we are better informed or better educated?<br />
<br />
Clearly the answer is, no. What makes us better informed is the desire to learn. Technology is a tool — not more important than books, or maps, or teachers, but certainly necessary in this ever-changing world.<br />
<br />
It's hard to keep up without it.Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-26037955575056260092011-08-01T11:43:00.000-06:002011-08-01T11:43:14.439-06:00Bob and Sharon's Big Adventure: A Mystery Tour<div style="text-align: right;"></div><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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI8jCe4eyJI/TjbbG5jldYI/AAAAAAAAAE4/NE-P8iZeHhc/s1600/snowmountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI8jCe4eyJI/TjbbG5jldYI/AAAAAAAAAE4/NE-P8iZeHhc/s200/snowmountain.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glacial snow above Crested Butte</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Several months ago my husband and I were discussing taking a trip but with no idea of where we wanted to go. The criteria went kind of like this: we didn’t want to drive or fly and it had to be reasonably priced. That cut out anything but taking a walk so I got on the Internet and did a little exploring. I ended up at <a href="http://www.suntoursus.com/">www.suntoursus.com</a>. I downloaded several flyers for various tours, among them a Mystery Tour. Hmmm. Intriguing. I never thought my husband would go for it, but he was as intrigued as I. So I sent off my $50 deposit and we were set to go. <br />
<br />
When we told our friends and family what we were doing they thought we were crazy. First off we’d never been on a tour and had no clue what we were getting into, and second we didn’t have any idea where we were going! We are not the most adventurous of people so this leap of faith was new for us, and a surprise to those who know us well. For me it was not all that adventurous. We were only going to be gone for five days and we knew we would be staying at an elevation of around 9,000 feet. Considering the time we would be gone it seemed likely Colorado would be our destination. Where in Colorado was another matter entirely. <br />
<br />
I believed we would be told when we arrived at the tour company where we were headed, but the tour guide kept us in suspense until the road we were on could only lead to our destination. I can say without reservation the trip was more than we expected and pleasurable from day one. <br />
<br />
We arrived at <a href="http://suntoursus.com/">Sun Tours</a> to find several folks lining up to get on board, some of whom were wearing badges with pins attached. I later learned the pins represent the number of trips they had taken with Sun Tours. One lady has taken 43 trips with the company, some within the US, others internationally. "Okay," I thought. "That is a stellar recommendation for the company if ever there was one!"<br />
<br />
It was apparent that, Clay, our tour guide was a favorite, as was Ray, the bus driver. <br />
<br />
Our first day was a mixed bag of this and that with Clay providing running commentary, interesting facts and kicking off a contest to see who could guess our destination. He's worked for the company for a number of years and seemed well suited to the job, which consists of one part knowledge and three parts entertainment. <br />
<br />
We were grateful to learn that the bus stops regularly. For reasons I won't go into, stopping regularly is not only a good thing it is a MUST. The stops are brief, no more than half an hour, but for some of us a welcome respite. There is a bathroom on the bus for convenience but most folks like to get out and stretch their legs, get a cup of coffee and chat. <br />
<br />
As we left Albuquerque and headed north we could see the smoke from the fires burning near Santa Fe. The rolling landscape was taking us from hot dry New Mexico to cooler climes. The mountains in the distance held promise of a few days of rest. My husband—the primary driver when we go anywhere—was relaxed and happy to not be responsible for anything! Despite the dry weather in New Mexico landscapes as we headed through Espanola and Ojo Caliente were spectacular and varied. <br />
<br />
Our lunch stop in Alamosa, a town I'd never been to, was delightful. We got there about noon and Ray stopped at different locations so we could pick where we wanted to eat. Clay had given us a run down of what we were likely to find and the kinds of food they served. Several of us went to the San Luis Brewing Company where my husband and I shared a huge club sandwich and fries. It was delicious and more than enough. The place was slammed with business and considering a third of a busload of people showed up right at noon, the service was efficient and friendly. <br />
<br />
Back on the bus we continued on stopping mid-afternoon at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. What a spectacular formation! In the background the Sangre de Cristos still showed signs of snow while below was this wonder of undulating dunes formed by the whims of nature. Stone, sand and stream, the brochure states... “Unexpectedly awe-inspiring, this wild landscape pairs majestic scenery with intimate glimpses into the complexity of life and offers rich connections to our human history.” <br />
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As we boarded the bus and headed on down the road we saw clouds gathering. For many of us it was the first sign of rain we'd seen in weeks. <br />
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Our overnight stop was Salida, a mining era town that has taken back its identity and emerged as a vibrant tourist destination. I was delighted when we were told the next morning that we would be in Salida for part of the day. This is one busy little community. It has an active preservation effort going on, the benefits of the Arkansas River running through the valley, and aggressive tourism promotion focusing on the outdoors, visual and performing arts, boutique shops and antiques. Our guide for the historic tour told us Salida has something scheduled most weekends throughout the year. We just missed the annual brewers' event. Can't say that bothered me much. I don't like beer. We did get to see the beginning of a kayaking event. Watching competitors paddling through—or trying to—the gates while battling rapids was a highlight of the day. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the power of nature and how very small we are by comparison. We also went to the Salida museum where Clay displayed another of his talents. He played Amazing Grace on a beautiful antique organ. Appropriate for a Sunday morning in a historic town. <br />
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We satisfied our coffee craving in a sweet little coffee shop run by a couple of lovely girls who assured us that their coffee was better than Starbucks. It was equally as good and the coffee shop atmosphere was enhanced by the charm of the setting. Our lunch was at a little pub not far from the river. There was hardly anyone there but based on the quality of food, the place should have been packed! We very much enjoyed our lunch. <br />
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Colorado has a lot of water and it seems to be everywhere. No wonder everything is so green! The scenery is beyond description. By the time we stopped at our destination, Crested Butte, a sweet community in the high mountains, I was happy to have a place to lay my weary body. We've already done a lot of walking and there was more in store for us.<br />
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Our stay in Crested Butte was wonderful. It’s the kind of place that when you see it in all its summer glory you think, "I'd love to live here! This is like paradise!" It is indeed beautiful, but all that heavy-duty snow plow equipment parked all over the place is there for a reason. All the magnificent greenery and wildflowers come from somewhere, like the mountain snows that feed the rivers and streams. As a place to visit it is wonderful, but in a town where winter didn't end until June 1, all I could think was, “When did it start?” <br />
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Our hotel, The Grand Lodge at Crested Butte Mountain, was quite nice. Obviously the hotel caters to skiers. The lift is just across the courtyard. We were scheduled to go up for a scenic overview but it started to rain and neither of us was prepared for that. <br />
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Crested Butte is advertised as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. We had an up close and personal opportunity to check that out on a couple of guided walks with terrific guides. One was a planned home gardens tour and the other was in the countryside. <br />
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On our last day we went up to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory at Gothic. Wow. Even though it was cold and damp I enjoyed the experience. The stories told by the guide were interesting and entertaining. We had a rustic lunch before returning to town where we were treated to a glowing history of the town by—who else—Glo (or was it Glow?). We also toured the museum. I admired the enthusiasm and knowledge of the docents. <br />
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The next day we took a different route back starting out at around 8 a.m. We saw more spectacular scenery and participated in a fun game about where we’d been, what we’d done and how far we had traveled. <br />
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Despite a few unpredicted road delays we were back in Albuquerque right on time.<br />
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As for our overall satisfaction with the trip the only thing I can say is, "We're looking forward to the next one!" <br />
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To see more photos go to <a href="http://vandermeerbooks.com/">vandermeerbooks.com</a>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-69154846739313328112011-07-20T12:21:00.011-06:002011-07-20T12:27:36.015-06:00Good Grief!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to <i><b>Gadabout</b></i>.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I expect to use this as another tool for selling my books, which can be purchased at </span><a href="http://vandermeerbooks.com/" style="font-family: inherit;">vandermeerbooks.com</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, but I also expect this will be of interest to readers all on its own. I would like to have followers and I would like to have input, so make comments, they will be more than welcome.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A gadabout is defined by dictionary.com as 1) a person who moves about restlessly or aimlessly, especially from one social activity to another, and 2) a person who travels often or to many different places, especially for pleasure. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">My definition is a person who cannot make up her mind. That would be me, which is why Gadabout will be about "a little of this and a little of that." </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is my response to a free online course about marketing available through </span><a href="http://www.arealchange.com/blog" style="font-family: inherit;">Sandi Krakowski</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, an online marketing guru. Yes, she is selling herself and she’s selling WordPress, another blogging and web development site, but that does not diminish the value of what she has to offer. Click on Sandi's name to access her FREE 30-day introduction to marketing on the web. I’ve found it to be informative and user-friendly </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">What am I marketing? Obviously myself as a writer, but along the way I’m expecting to provide you as a follower with worthwhile information. When deciding what to focus on in this blog I realized that gathering information and writing articles is what I do best. That's why the content type may change from day to day, but the themes will be consistent. For example:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• In <i>Explore</i> I’ll take you on journies local and far-flung. (Well, not too far-flung. I’m old and I live on a tight budget.) Nevertheless, the articles will be interesting and entertaining. </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">• Interested in living a healthier lifestyle? Follow my once-a-week column, <i>Age is Only a Number,</i> on getting in shape and eating healthier. It will be painfully personal but worth keeping up with because you will likely see yourself in my struggle. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• Keep up with ways to improve your life and your community with my weekly <i>Make a Difference </i>column.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">• Want to be inspired? <i>Connecting the Dots</i> will lift you up and make you smile. </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">• <i>Down Home in Northern New Mexico</i> will include home decor, food, entertaining, area personalities and more. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• <i>Book Blast </i>will introduce you to characters from my books and reviews of books by other authors.</span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">So there it is, a blogilicious smorgasbord of interesting reading, all of it right here. </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also check out my other blog </span><a href="http://svmwritersbloc.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: inherit;">Writers Bloc</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. That one is exclusively about writing. </span><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><br style="font-family: inherit;" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stay with me! Become a follower.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Books by FS (Sharon) Vander Meer</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0EQJF4lORY/Tc2j3BTvnGI/AAAAAAAAAEM/a5WTK7UI6Iw/s1600/lilycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0EQJF4lORY/Tc2j3BTvnGI/AAAAAAAAAEM/a5WTK7UI6Iw/s1600/lilycover.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIj7BmcLgcg/Tc2kOtmkjlI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/XFEF7UIyYYU/s1600/lilycoverebk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIj7BmcLgcg/Tc2kOtmkjlI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/XFEF7UIyYYU/s200/lilycoverebk.jpg" width="125" /></a></span></div>Tiger Lilly, contemporary fiction (ebook/pdf only) <a href="http://fastpencil.com/">fastpencil.com</a><br />
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Not Just Another Day, inspiration<br />
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The Ballad of Bawdy McClure, science fiction<br />
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Future Imperfect, science fiction<br />
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These books are available at <a href="http://www.vandermeerbooks.com/">www.vandermeerbooks.com</a>, and at online retailers. Print books also available at Tome on the Range in Las Vegas, NM.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span></i><br style="font-family: inherit;" /></span>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0Las Vegas, NM 87701, USA35.5939325 -105.223896935.5567975 -105.2560274 35.6310675 -105.1917664tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-63551560066124812642011-05-17T15:14:00.000-06:002011-05-17T15:14:43.334-06:00Getting Noticed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIj7BmcLgcg/Tc2kOtmkjlI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/XFEF7UIyYYU/s1600/lilycoverebk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIj7BmcLgcg/Tc2kOtmkjlI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/XFEF7UIyYYU/s200/lilycoverebk.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>I'm hardly a shrinking violet but when it comes to getting attention for my work I struggle. I'm great at writing but not so good at self-promotion. It may seem like I am because I'm beating the drum right now for my recently-published e-book, <i><a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/publications/1706-Tiger-Lilly">Tiger Lilly</a>.</i> The truth is that I'm preaching to the same choir. You have all heard about my struggle to get published in one form or another for some time. What I need is a much bigger audience for my work—and when I say bigger I mean HUGE.<br />
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When I go into a bookstore, be it <a href="http://www.tomeontherange.com/">Tome on the Range</a> here in Las Vegas, or to a major retailer, I'm overwhelmed by the numbers of books on the shelves. It's staggering. Throw into the muddle the phenomenon of the e-book and it quadruples the numbers of writers trying to get your attention. In this highly competitive marketplace you have to practically wear meat to get attention. Oh, right, Lady Ga Ga (gag gag) already did that.<br />
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My point is that the job of marketing one's work is more angst ridden and time consuming than writing the book. Right now I'd like to be working on any one of five other projects I have cooking in my pea brain, but that has to be put on hold while I put together a strategy for getting attention for <a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/publications/1706-Tiger-Lilly"><i>Tiger Lilly</i></a>. While I have marketing and advertising sales experience the focus has always been on something else or <i>for</i> someone else. This time the spotlight is on me, or at least on my books.<br />
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My other books, which are in print, are available locally from me and at <a href="http://www.tomeontherange.com/">Tome on the Range</a>. Hopefully my e-book will also be available on Tome's new <a href="http://www.tomeontherange.com/">website bookstore</a> with e-book downloads.<br />
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My publisher for <a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/publications/1706-Tiger-Lilly"><i>Tiger Lilly</i></a> is a fairly new kid on the block, <a href="http://fastpencil.com/">fastpencil.com</a>, but I like their model. Basically you sign up and proceed to work on your great American novel, or self-help book, or cookbook, or how-to book, or whatever unique idea you may have. The book formats as you write. If you want print books, those may be ordered as POD (print on demand) but there's an upcharge for that driving up the price to the point of ridiculous. I may opt to go that route, because I've already had folks turn up their noses at the e-book concept, but then again, maybe not. Las Vegas, NM has not entirely embraced the digital age but it's happening, slowly but surely. <br />
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The downside of <a href="http://fastpencil.com/">fastpencil.com</a> at the moment is that while they do provide you with an ISBN and shoot your work out into the greater marketplace (Ingram's the premier book inventory publication, Amazon, and others), how do I know anyone will notice my baby among the thousands of others on the shelves? Well, I don't, that's why I have to be ready to hit the streets and get my message out there that I have a fantastic, funny and touching book full of engaging characters and enough drama to keep readers turning pages. Don't get me wrong, <a href="http://fastpencil.com/">fastpencil.com</a> offers publishing packages that help with marketing but again, everything they do increases costs. Like any other business person a writer has to judge how much to spend on marketing and how much is a waste of resources. It's a tough call.<br />
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Anyway. Buy <a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/publications/1706-Tiger-Lilly"><i>Tiger Lilly</i></a>, it's worth every cent of the $9.99 you spend to get to know this modern-day family with its quirks and chaos. It is available in PDF and as an e-book. Ipad owners will enjoy reading it from their ibook collection.<br />
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For more about my other books and about me the author go to <a href="http://www.vandermeerbooks.com/">vandermeerbooks.com</a>.Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-9605611431068969422011-05-13T15:56:00.000-06:002011-05-13T15:56:24.192-06:00Tiger Lilly is published and available!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0EQJF4lORY/Tc2j3BTvnGI/AAAAAAAAAEM/a5WTK7UI6Iw/s1600/lilycover.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIj7BmcLgcg/Tc2kOtmkjlI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/XFEF7UIyYYU/s1600/lilycoverebk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIj7BmcLgcg/Tc2kOtmkjlI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/XFEF7UIyYYU/s200/lilycoverebk.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, I'm a proud mama. This is a terrific book from page one right to the finish. It's a funny family drama (and no, it's not about your life or my life) but it hits on all the high points and low points a family can go through. Well, not all, but a bunch.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's straight forward and goes right to the heart. You will enjoy <a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/publications/1706-Tiger-Lilly"><i>Tiger Lilly</i></a>. The book, serialized in <i>Happenstance</i>, is now available in e-format from <a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/publications/1706-Tiger-Lilly">fastpencil.com</a>, an online bookpublisher for people like me who are great at writing but who haven't hit the magic formula for getting an agent or a traditional publisher.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately for those of you who have asked, it is not available in print format, only as a PDF or e-book. Don't let that prevent you from buying and reading <i><a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/publications/1706-Tiger-Lilly">Tiger Lilly</a>.</i> It is a great story with lots of laughs and a heart warming conclusion.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; padding: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/publications/1706-Tiger-Lilly"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tiger Lilly</span></a> is the story of widow Lilly Irish who takes in her niece, Annie, someone she hasn’t seen in more than 15 years. Along with Annie come three children, and a dog of questionable breeding. From the moment they blow into her life on a windy fall night and Krank the dog pees on her carpet, Lilly begins a life-changing journey.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; padding: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; padding: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.fastpencil.com/publications/1706-Tiger-Lilly"><i>Tiger Lilly</i></a> begins with a family in flux and reaches its climax with the kidnapping of Caleb, the oldest of Annie’s children. Caleb is a boy torn between protectiveness of his mother and siblings, and rage at a life with no stability. On his first day of school he tangles with gangbanger wannabes whose leader is a troubled boy quick to single out someone more conflicted about life than he is. Their school-ground clash leads to horrifying consequences. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; padding: 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; padding: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lilly and Annie join forces to find Caleb before it’s too late, and Lilly finds out what Annie has been running from since her mother’s death years before.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; padding: 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; padding: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Tiger Lilly</i> is available at fastpencil.com for $9.99, downloadable as a PDF or as an e-publication. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; padding: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-28438935746055647112011-05-05T11:36:00.003-06:002011-05-06T09:08:58.480-06:00Happenstance Feature Article<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gE5Xzn3ylFw/TcLRhzJGn-I/AAAAAAAAAEI/XniUvhXdZEw/s1600/Maycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gE5Xzn3ylFw/TcLRhzJGn-I/AAAAAAAAAEI/XniUvhXdZEw/s200/Maycover.jpg" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/">May 2011 Happenstance</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p>This month's feature article is about the May Family Farm at La Liendre, or more specifically about the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture program) the farm is offering. If you haven't read the article, click <a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/Our-Town-II.html">May Family Farm</a> and learn about this opportunity for you to have farm fresh produce through the season. The cutoff for signing up is May 15. </o:p></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p>Marc May also pointed out that you can get farm fresh produce through the summer by going to the Farmer's Market held each Wednesday and Saturday from 7 to noon. The farmers set up in the parking lot on 6th Street behind the IC Church events center. The CSA is a formalized method of getting your produce on a set schedule.</o:p></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p>New this month is an introduction to the <a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/Store.html">Happenstance store</a>. You can buy my books, Kathy Allen's digital cookbook and you can become a Happenstance sponsor. </o:p></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><o:p>Also in the May Happenstance:</o:p></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/Our-Town.html">What Now?</a> Patrick Alarid's look at landscaping with limited water </span></div><a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/Essays---Voices.html"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></a><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/Essays---Voices.html" target="_self">Breakfast in Bed</a></span><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, Cindy Charlton's Mother's Day memory </span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/fictionandpoetry.html"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;">My Mother, My Child</span></a><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;">, Claudia Charlton's beautiful poem </span></div><a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/entrepreneur.html"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Science and Art of Acupuncture</span></a><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, by Niki Sebastian</span><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">Mother Love? Niki looks at motherhood from a different perspective (article is a PDF download).</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/Featured-Artist.html" target="_self">Featured Artist</a>, Todd Christensen give a bird's eye view of his art</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/In-the-Kitchen.html">Recipes & Chat</a>, Pamela G. Daves provides insight and fun food ideas</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/yourstory.html" target="_self">The Code</a>, Maridell Monnheimer talks about her mother's lasting influence</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/Essays---Voices-II.html" target="_self">Yesterday</a>, by Robert Gallegos looks at Las Vegas in days gone by</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1610179472" target="_self">Detox Dramas, </a><a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/Art---Entrepreneuship.html">Sad but True</a>, by Connie Mack</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><b>June Submissions: </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;">It's not too early to send in your June submissions. The zine theme is Fab Fathers, but you can write about anything of interest to you. You may also submit story ideas. Readers know that Happenstance is a collection of interesting material, including poetry, essays, ficiton, and more. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;">Guidelines are available by request.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1610179384"><span class="size10 Verdana10" style="color: black;"><br />
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</o:p></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div>Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-15998258601479918012011-05-02T17:32:00.000-06:002011-05-02T17:32:06.381-06:00Pandora!<b>Pandora:</b><br />
I cannot believe I didn't know about this radio station before! It is fantastic. I'm getting it FREE on my ipad. You can pick and choose your music and its wonderful. Yes there are ads that pop up now and again, but other than that it's pretty much interruption free—no talking heads (or rather voices). I really get tired of the shouting match disagreements that rant on the various talk radio channels. So, anyway, if you haven't checked out <a href="http://www.pandora.com/">Pandora</a>, do it today. I'm listening to "Easy Listenting" but they have lots of other styles of music.<br />
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<b>Apologies:</b><br />
My apologies to Cindy Charlton. In the process of setting up the website I cut and pasted her article in a way that didn't make sense. It's fixed now. The zine and the pdf were right, it was the transition to the website the messed me up.<br />
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<b>An end:</b> <br />
This is a bit of a ramble. bin Laden is dead and the reactions in this country are as you might expect. I wish we could be confident this would be the end of terror, but the world is s scary place and we can't predict what will happen an hour from now much less what will happen tomorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of 9/11 victims as they filter this news into their lives.Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119553395108849694.post-40749403428705493492011-04-30T09:40:00.000-06:002011-04-30T09:40:12.689-06:00It's Up! Happenstance for May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-II7VTxMqbqQ/TbwrWEbrGUI/AAAAAAAAADg/B7-oheK3YqQ/s1600/Maycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-II7VTxMqbqQ/TbwrWEbrGUI/AAAAAAAAADg/B7-oheK3YqQ/s1600/Maycover.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3g3PmCZFaY/TbwjJGDM7qI/AAAAAAAAADc/KHS1b9c4LnM/s1600/Maycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3g3PmCZFaY/TbwjJGDM7qI/AAAAAAAAADc/KHS1b9c4LnM/s1600/Maycover.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-II7VTxMqbqQ/TbwrWEbrGUI/AAAAAAAAADg/B7-oheK3YqQ/s1600/Maycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-II7VTxMqbqQ/TbwrWEbrGUI/AAAAAAAAADg/B7-oheK3YqQ/s1600/Maycover.jpg" /></a></div>Despite thinking I was never going to get <a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/"><i>Happenstance</i> </a><a href="htt://www.happenstancelifehappens.com">Happenstance for May</a>done, it's ready early! The website is updated and ready to read, and you can download the PDF or check out the zine. At some point I may end up doing one or the other (PDF or web) because the way I'm doing it now means double work. However, I'm trying to reach as many readers as possible and publishing in different formats is one way to do that.<br />
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I'm dedicating this issue to Sherry Anne Clancy. It's a small thing, but she was such a creative and caring person I want to honor her in this small way. She would have loved the story about the May farm and Patrick's take on the water issues.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3g3PmCZFaY/TbwjJGDM7qI/AAAAAAAAADc/KHS1b9c4LnM/s1600/Maycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3g3PmCZFaY/TbwjJGDM7qI/AAAAAAAAADc/KHS1b9c4LnM/s1600/Maycover.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3g3PmCZFaY/TbwjJGDM7qI/AAAAAAAAADc/KHS1b9c4LnM/s1600/Maycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B3g3PmCZFaY/TbwjJGDM7qI/AAAAAAAAADc/KHS1b9c4LnM/s1600/Maycover.jpg" /></a></div><i><a href="http://happenstancelifehappens.intuitwebsites.com/%7Elocal/%7EPreview/Store.html">Something New</a> </i>is about my web store. Check it out. You don't have to buy anything, but if you would like to sponsor the continuation of <i>Happenstance</i> your support will be greatly appreciated.<br />
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Patrick Alarid continues his thoughts on water conservation, thoughtful planning and maintaining a pleasant, water-friendly environment. Check out <a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/Our-Town.html"><i>In the Garden: What Now?</i></a> <br />
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The Charlton sisters different responses to the Mother’s Day theme are poignant and beautiful. Who hasn't experienced <a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/Essays---Voices.html"><i>Breakfast in Bed</i></a>? Cindy's article honors her mom and mothers everywhere. Don't miss Claudia's beautiful poem, <a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/fictionandpoetry.html"><i>My Mother, My Child</i></a>. <br />
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Niki Sebastian's article <a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/entrepreneur.html"><i>The Science & Art of Acupuncture</i></a>, gives some pretty compelling reasons to try out this ages old healing technique. She also has an inspiring article about overcoming the challenges of growing up in her article, <i>Reflection: Mother Love?</i><br />
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I had a wonderful time writing the story about the <a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/Our-Town-II.html"><i>May Family Farm</i></a> and its innovative way to assure you have fresh produce through the season. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-II7VTxMqbqQ/TbwrWEbrGUI/AAAAAAAAADg/B7-oheK3YqQ/s1600/Maycover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-II7VTxMqbqQ/TbwrWEbrGUI/AAAAAAAAADg/B7-oheK3YqQ/s1600/Maycover.jpg" /></a></div>Additional stories:<br />
<a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/Featured-Artist.html"><i>El Zocalo Featured Artist</i></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/In-the-Kitchen.html">Recipes & Chat</a>, featuring Pamela G. Daves<br />
<a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/yourstory.html">The Code</a>, by Maridell Monnheimer<br />
<a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/Essays---Voices-II.html"><i>Yesterday</i></a>, by Robert Gallegos<br />
<a href="http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/Art---Entrepreneuship.html"><i>Detox Dramas</i></a>, Sad but True, by Connie Mack<br />
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Enjoy reading <i>Happenstance, life happens</i>, and think about submitting something about an inspiring fellow who comes under the description of Fab Father for the June issue.Sharon Vander Meerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12632578925801299631noreply@blogger.com0