Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Anniversary

We're pretty proud of Connection magazine around here. It's grown in leaps and bounds since its first issue in December 2009. I had my first article published in the magazine in February 2010. I love the variety of people I've gotten to meet and places I've been able to visit.


I'm (im)patiently waiting for the December anniversary issue to arrive at the Cassville newspaper office! The "Get Away for the Holidays in Style" and "Worth the Drive" teasers are for my articles.

In the meantime, I am also pushing my deadline to the limit. Tomorrow should be interesting as I try to get my articles done under the wire. I had a great restaurant visit/interview today and can't wait to share the restaurant with my readers.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Thankful

Crazy. That's been my life this month! I've had some false starts, what felt like a wild-goose chase, and several changes of Thanksgiving plans. While there are a few things I wish would have fallen into place, I would not trade this life for anything. My girl Brenda has made it a Thanksgiving tradition to sit down and list the things she is thankful for -- and encourages others to do the same.

Just like we shouldn't start anew only on New Year's, love only on Valentine's Day, thank a veteran only on Veteran's Day (you get the idea), we should be thankful for every day we're given, not just on Thanksgiving.

I'm thankful for (in no particular order):
  • My great friends, some further away than others, and some I haven't seen in years.
  • Facebook! I know it's perhaps silly to some, but it keeps me connected to friends near and far. (Plus it has a killer Scrabble app!)
  • The work I get to do, often with a fresh cup of coffee and sometimes still in my pjs. While sometimes isolating, my freelance writing has developed into a rewarding career.
  • A warm house to take shelter in, and the ability to pay the propane bill that is coming my way later this week.
  • My family. Although it's scattered over three states these days, I somehow feel closer to them than ever before.
  • My freedom. I've learned a lot over the past few months that's made me appreciate it even more -- so many people have sacrificed their own freedom to fight for ours.
  • My new cochlear speech processor. Although all the sounds can be overwhelming at times, I'm truly enjoying its clarity, the help it is giving me with my lipreading & speech, and listening to music. (Stephanie, I hope you'll forgive me someday for buying that Kid Rock CD!)

All this and so much more. I'm grateful.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Country Living...

You know you live in the country when...is a recurring topic with me! I go through times when I am absolutely sick of living in the country, and other times I cherish it. It seems to be pretty middle-of-the-road lately, although the itch for a road trip is starting to arise. (No worries, I have one planned already!)

You know you've lived in the country too long when someone picks on you for using the term "y'all" on Facebook.


You know you live in the country when the voting precinct's parking lot is mostly grass.


You know you live in the country when you look out your bedroom window and see THIS:

Yeah. Nice. That thing was heavier than I thought it would be! Not quite sure how it got there (Baxter didn't seem to want to claim the body), and I'm not certain I really want to know, either.

Watching the election results roll in -- I'm really only interested in how the Proposition B vote went here in Missouri. I'm also obsessing over the contest results over on pioneerwoman.com -- she was having a drawing for people to come and spend a weekend at THE Lodge. Please, please, please, please pick me!!!

I'm planning on getting back in the saddle tomorrow for the first time since losing Johnny. Gonna be bittersweet.


Monday, November 1, 2010

The Witching Hour



Yeah, I know...my Halloween costume wasn't all that creative, but it was fun! It was fun to have several people walk right by me (some several times) and not recognize me under the wig and makeup!





Wonder if I should go super-dark with the hair. I'm kind of chicken, but also kind of thinking about it. It's just hair, after all.




We've been hit with the fall weather, finally. I'm spending the evening under the electric blanket and watching Hawaii Five-0. Love it! It keeps me warm. The show, that is; my electric blanket is busted. What can I say, the cop guy is a hottie. (Hint: it's not Dann-o.)