Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Decisions, Decisions













So here there I was last week in the middle of NaNoWriMo, having written almost 15000 words toward a new contemporary when two writer friends said, "Why aren't you entering the GH?" (for the second or third time).

The GH for the oblivious and possibly unconcerned is the Golden Heart contest. The ONE everyone says if you can only enter one, be it the GH. The Golden Heart is for unpublished writers; the contest submission is based on a completed manuscript.

One reason I was passing was that I've been making some changes to my novel and didn't feel I'd be able to generate a polished version of the entire MS by November 15th, the deadline for entries. But I discovered the actual contest entry isn't due in Houston until Dec 2 and the submission is actually the first 55 pages including a synopsis along with one copy of the completed manuscript on disk or hard copy. I said, this I could do. I can get a polished version of my partial and a synopsis together for the GH and get it to Houston by December 2nd. They won't judge the complete manuscript just check to see if it's truly complete.

My primary reason for finally entering was to put a burr under my butt to get my partials done for the requests I had at M&M. (I'd had a setback after returning from Atlanta and found myself dwelling on the issues that need to be addressed.) Even though I forgot I'm traveling to California for my cousin's wedding on Saturday and will most likely lose four days of work, I'm still very glad I entered. The stimulus has been great to get that partial revised and polished.

I'll let you know how I come out on November 29th, the date everything must be in the mail.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Honoring our Vets

 
   Daddy on elephant in Africa.

Last year I posted these pictures of relatives who've served in the armed forces of our country. This morning I sang the Star Spangled Banner at a lovely celebration of our vets in a small town in Louisiana. Brigadier General Curtis made some excellent comments on the sacrifices our service men and their families make for the rest of us.

I was surprised with a flag that had flown over the Capitol in daddy's honor. What a wonderful gift.


On the last day of World War I, November 11, 1918, Armistice Day was created to honor our living veterans of war. It later became Veterans Day to be celebrated on the eleventh day of November.






Chad on graduation day, eighteen years ago.


There's a fantastic privately run organizatition that makes a day trip to D.C. available to all veterans to see the memorials at no cost to the vet. What a wonderful honor! This is the link for Louisiana Honor Air but it's available in other states as well. Just google them under Honor Air.

I hope you'll share any of your personal stories or memories about your family members, whether they paid the 'ultimate sacrifice', retired from service or are currently serving.

Thank you Veterans!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Joie de Vive5

Shamelessly stealing this from Michael J Malone at May Contain Nuts who shared the original yessterday. I'm just a cheap sap who found herself with hair raising shivers of enjoyment as I watched the T-Mobile ad taken at Heathrow - several times.



and below, the video of the making of the ad is priceless, with singing actors coming up to unsuspecting travelers. Don't you wish you'd been there?