Quality, right?

How is it that Mattel can throw out a million (or at least three) Barbie movies a year, and I can barely get to the end of an outline in 24 months?

Quality, right?  That's what I keep telling myself: a difference in quality.

Happy Holidays to all of you...

From my family to yours...

Peace 2011 Christmas Card

Find unique and modern Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Wow.

Wow.  I am overwhelmed!  I certainly didn't make it to 12 blogs yesterday, but you all took the time to come by and welcome me back.  That means so much!

I am really enjoying this renewed spirit of blogging.  In myself, the energy is amazing and my mindset post-blog romp yesterday was much more positive than usual.  And the things I found!  Dez's Hollywood Spy up for awards!  Click away and I find Alex J Cavanaugh up for just as many there (vote for them both)...Patricia Stoltey blogging for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers...and many more wonderful adventures!

And my outlines stare up at me...beckoning and taunting.  If only I could tackle those with as much gumption as I tackle blogging!

I'm here.

I'm here.  I'm checking in.  I'm on the Internet...I did it!  I sat down at my computer and I typed words in a box and I am publishing them...wow.  Who would have thought something so small could be so fulfilling?  Who would have thought it would take me three months to get back here?  And even longer to begin a regular posting schedule?  Who would have thought...

I'm off to view your blogs!  Happy blogging day!

Hello Again

Hi.
I am sooooooooo sorry I disappeared!  I just lost my edge...lost my time...lost my oomph...lost my mind?  Thankfully, not totally on the latter, but I pretty much gave up writing for a long time.  Not that I'm 100% back on the wagon, but I have at least put words on paper and complete ideas in an organized form.

So I just wanted to write a quick "Hello!" to all my wonderful bloggy-world friends.  I have truly missed the discussion and the exchange of ideas.  I hope to hop around your blogs tomorrow (Tuesday), as I'll actually have some time to myself.

And feel free to yell at me if I don't post at least once a week (hey, we have to re-start somewhere, right?)!

Happy Holidays!

Love (and long-time missing),
Michele

eBooks

"Amazon sells more e-books than hardcovers and paperbacks combined." ~Vanity Fair, October 2011

Facts like these who the future of the publishing industry.  And that's not a bad thing (though at one time I thought it was).  For Father's Day this year, I bought my husband a Nook.  We chose this e-reader for several reasons: size, touch-screen, weight, and ability to interface with .pdf files and library content.  (There was a little support-your-bookseller anti-Amazon in there, too.)

But my husband has had so much studying to do for his next level of work (CFP status) and sooooo many Economist magazines to read...that I've sort of stolen the Nook. :)  Which is funny, because you might remember I was very against the idea of the e-reader (especially in March 2010).

I love buying books with the touch of a button!  (Watch out for hidden fees and know this can get expensive if you add up your purchases.)  I love taking a handful of books with me on trips, but being able to hold them all in one hand!  I love swiping my finger across a screen to turn the page!  And, with the recent founding of e-lending sites like Lendle and Bookfriend, the future is here.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Hello, old friends.  I pop back in today to wish a very BIG Happy Birthday to my son, Jake.  He turns 6 today and is well into his first year of school--kindergarten.

Six years ago I looked down at this round, perfect face and fell in love.  Today, I look down at this child's perfect face and fall in love all over again.

This little boy is one reason I haven't been around since June, and not very much then.  My children have kept me extremely busy...in a good way!  But I am hoping to be back this fall with new and wonderful posts!  Thank you to all who stuck with me and who are newly joining Southern City Mysteries.