The Wizardess of the Willows

Image by floodllama via Flickr

A friend of mine who will go unnamed, *cough* Holly Jahangiri, otherwise known as the Wizardess of the Willows, Thwartress of Wallows, opened a massive, steaming can of slap-upside-the-head on my Facebook page last weekend. She was responding to my response to another person who will go unnamed, *cough* Unfinished Person, who had asked how the writing was going. In so many words, I admitted that I was struggling a bit because it goes against every parenting impulse I have to tune out of hyper-vigilance into the altered state of twilight, (neither wakeful nor asleep), where I do my best writing.

Her Wizardessness suggested that while my children are small I might want to think about creating stories for them instead of concentrating on adult novels. I countered with, "But... but... I don't know how" (in so many words) and she volleyed a, "Kill the inner critic and just do it! You can write. You read to your children. Write what your children would like to read." (In so many words). Then she kicked me square in the behind. 8O

And so I'm thinking about this thought as one thinks about thoughts in a thinking sort of way, and all I can come up with is, "But...  if only I could draw, I'd make the fear go away..." .

And putting my butt against the wall. 8O

So now I'm thinking of stories. How does one tell a story on the fly? Does one sit on the fly and tell a story? I'm less prone to act, more apt to worry.

Writing prompts! I need to find a website with writing prompts for children's stories. Oops, there isn't one. Oops, yes there is. But I can only find prompts for Christmas and Easter. It's neither Christmas, nor Easter, so those prompts are certainly of no use to me.

Ouch! 8O

I suppose I could give one a try. Or create my own prompt. But I don't know how to do that.

8O

Okay! I know how. I'll do it right now. :D

Fiction or Bust

Image by nicolasnova via Flickr

I've been avoiding my blog, plain and simple. Afraid of it, really. It can, you see, be a time-sucker, magic-buster and dasher of dreams.

I now have a goal of writing a novel and am determined to stay focused. But when I discuss my goals they have a way of rolling down a snowy hilltop towards lower elevations until they end up in a puddle next to some stupid Joshua tree, breathing life into a scorpion or some other heartless desert dweller.

Over the next few months, I'll be posting less and reading more. My friend Holly Jahangiri was kindly cruel enough, in the most gently pragmatic manner possible, to nudge me towards full realization of the importance of having an actual product (book, script, article) under one's arm while in the pursuit of a career in writing. Ain't no agent in the world going to look at my blog and proclaim me an artistic genius in the rough and sign me, then beg me to write the next great novel, and offer to put me and my family up at her nanny-filled resort in Antarctica for the time being to assure peace, quiet and uninterrupted writing time.

My short-term goal is to finish reading a few fiction-writing books I've left simmering on the back burner while I oh, I don't know, thrust myself further away from my goal on a daily basis by spending my time doing things that don't support it.

Then, once I've finished the books, I'm going to fire up yWriter and lay down my first complete novel. I realize I may need to spend a year or so editing and re-writing it, but I'm okay with that. Writing is, after all, re-writing.

And once that bad sucker is as good as I can get it, I'm going to wrap it in a pretty little bow and send it off to unsuspecting agents and publishers, being careful to adhere to their submission guidelines, while I take the next  six months to recover from the complete brain and soul-wrenching I just served up for myself get started on my next novel.

I'm well aware that I may be doing this for eight to ten years before I get good enough to produce a publishable work, and I'm fine with that. Okay, I'm not fine with that. That's was a fib. But I've accepted it.

What I'm struggling with at present, while reading storytelling books, is the compulsion to plot. How does one hold back long enough to learn before plodding forward like the "Hey Kool-Aid!" guy and splattering one's sugarless mental grape juice on all manner of expensive, resentful journals?

I'm always teetering between YA Fiction and Romantic Comedy. Which to focus on? TELL ME! Sigh. I realize now that nobody else can tell me that. Only the story can make it plain. And so I read and jot down ideas and just know that it will happen, because I'm finally ready to get out of my own way and allow it to happen.

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By the way, I created a second twitter account for following other budding writers like myself, and those in the field - @HeatherKephart. (I only follow writers, editors, etc., on that account, my blogging/general twitter account is @Happymaker.) I have found in the past that I am unable to reach goals unless I surround myself with like-minded people. Otherwise, I get too distracted. Here's to our dreams!

We may or may not be embracing our personal energy

Image by Marcus76 via Flickr

Re-post: This was posted nearly a year ago to the day, December 30, 2008, at my former blog, How to be a Woman. (I updated the section of the post referring to said blog with the correct tense.) Happy New Year to all you fabulous people! This year is going to be so puddingliciously awesome that I can quite literally taste it. :D

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I'm new to social networking and social media. New to blogging. All of it. From an outsider's perspective, it's one giant fascinating ball of wax. Like sitting at the foot of a table watching a cross-section of society play Monopoly and fight over who gets the thimble while others scramble for a seat. Here's what I've observed over the last couple of days, and my pointless ruminations and blather about it all, contained in the form of a series of run-on sentences and inappropriately placed commas, sure to set Holly Jahangiri's frontal vein a'bulging.

Sometimes people create lists that contain mentions of other people. Those mentioned on the lists are happy, but those not mentioned are hurt and often feel betrayed.

Why then do people devise such lists? And why do people continue to care about them? Why are people who create such lists often catapulted to the top of the social networking strata if they aren't already there?

For the same reason Rob and Amber were so successful on Survivor. They were leaders, and others thought them untouchable. Also, because in the world of social networking people rely on other people to spread the word about them, and to make introductions. To get a nod of approval from a big cheese in the world of social networking can send flocks of followers one's way. Why is this a good thing? Exposure. To promote your brand. And for some, to quote THE Neil...

"...I got an emptiness deep inside
And I've tried
But it won't let me go
And I'm not a man who likes to swear
But I never cared
For the sound of being alone'"

There is a lot of resistance out there to positivity. There are a lot of life coaches on Twitter and Facebook, a lot of people telling other people how to use Twitter and Facebook, how to present themselves, how to express themselves. How to "be".

There are people making a living this way. I don't mind them myself. For the most part, they are a harmless bunch. And is it really such a bad thing to be around people who encourage us to stop wallowing in our own muck and self-pity, embrace our energy and our personal power and just GO FOR IT?

I suppose it is if you're not the go for it type. Some would do well to drop their wall of jokes and listen to what they have to say. Being happy is okay. Happiness and positivity are not tantamount to idiocracy. But all people weren't meant to be energetic and perky. Just because one is low key and expresses him or herself with a quiet and sardonic wit or a dark seriousness does not mean they are not embracing their energy. Some dance to the beat of a different drummer. Any attempt to alter them is, in my opinion, a crime against nature.

There are posers among us. Or poseurs. Or possers. Depends on the observer calling out the poser. What is a poser you ask? I have no idea. If you know, please tell me. I am so out of the loop. But posers or poseurs or poosers are apparently supposed to be blackballed on one's Twitter, or Friend Feed, and we're not supposed to Digg posers. Don't even think about Friending them on Facebook. Why? Apparently posing is anti-social. Unless it's in a cute hat and on your avatar.

We may or we may not be dillweeds. If we tell other people what to do, it's likely that we are dillweeds. I'm starting to suspect that being a dillweed is not a good thing. I'm even starting to suspect that I might be a dillweed.  :o

Some people didn't get the tongue-in-cheekocity of the title of my old blog "How to be a Woman", and thought that I was positioning myself as an authority. A natural mistake to the casual observer. But to anyone who actually read my blog, this was laughable and couldn't have been farther from the truth. The whole point of this blog was that I haven't a clue how to be a real woman. I am an apprentice. I'm on the path, not the path. I admitted that I am a big jerk who is flailing around, trying to learn how to be happy, how to be strong and steady and do right by the family I love. I'm going to get there someday.

However,  I am perfectly alright with being a dillweed. Takes the pressure off. And I like pickles better than cukes anyway.

Twitter is addictive. There are so many fascinating people out there. I really, truly mean that. They're out there, and they are actually willing to communicate with you. There are talented artists, writers, singers, comedians, business moguls, you name it, there on your Twitter screen. Right there at your fingertips.

Where else are you going to be presented with the opportunity to communicate with such incredible people first-hand? At this point, I would argue nowhere. Not like this. Not this instantly gratifying. And if you're nice to them, they have to be nice to you. Heh. Because if the rest of their followers should witness them being a jerk to you without provocation, then they're likely to hear about it. You've got them over a barrel. Ain't it cool?

Note to self: Do not become obsessed with losing followers. Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter. (Thanks, Annette.) Just be yourself, have a blast, and let the chips fall where they may. Note to self: Spend less time on Twitter and more time with your kids and your projects. Note to self: A little Tweeting is perfectly okay.

Signing off,
Dillweed in California

A Puppy, Not a Guppy Virtual Book Tour & Contest!

When my friend Holly Jahangiri asked me if I would like to participate in her virtual book tour for A Puppy, Not a Guppy, I pounced on the opportunity. I knew that any product of Holly's pen would be sassy and well-written, with a dash of the unexpected. I was one of the first to get in line and pre-order a copy for my children. Holly was kind enough to provide me with a review copy so that I may prepare for her book tour. She's organized and practical like that.

About A Puppy, Not a Guppy:

Author: Holly Jahangiri
Illustrator: Ryan Shaw
Book Trailer: A Puppy, Not a Guppy trailer by Mandy Hedrick

Synapsis from the publisher:

Irma wanted a puppy, a pet she could take on walks, not a few stupid guppies. Fish didn't do anything, except roll over on their backs if they die.

Sometimes, though, a girl has to make the most of what she has. Now, what can Irma do with three guppies besides stare at them as they stare at her?

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My Review

Warning: This "ain't no" princess book! A Puppy, Not a Guppy is a delightful yarn that will appeal to both girls and boys alike. I'm not a child psychologist (shocking, I know) but it seems to me that after reading this book children will remember the protagonist Irma's positive example of:

• Coping skills


• Determination


• Imagination


• Kindness towards the underdog


• Mastering a challenge


• Scientific curiosity & experimentation

Irma is a lot like I was as a child. Admittedly, I liked my Barbie dolls. And Ken. And Skipper. And my dollhouse and Barbie Corvette and... you get the picture. But I also liked to hang out by the ditch near our local park and collect tadpoles, knowing that soon they would magically sprout little legs and begin to hop around our garage. The ones that managed to escape the wheels of my dad's Vega hopped their green selves right out the garage door towards a life of adventure, perhaps eventually making their way back home to the ditch. I like to think that they did. But I digress...

It's all about balance. There's nothing wrong with allowing your daughter to devour Cinderella, and there's everything right with buying her books like A Puppy, Not a Guppy that are certain to stoke her natural interest in science and nature.

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Where to Buy

(Recommended for ages 8-12)

Directly from 4RV Publishing (At post publication $8.99 + S&H)

From Amazon.com (At post publication $10.99 + elegibile for free super saver shipping on orders over $25)

From Barnes and Noble.com (At post publication $7.91 Member Price + S&H)

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The Contest

I am happy to announce that Holly's A Puppy, Not a Guppy contest! Good luck! Here are the details, as provided by the author:

Prizes (two will be awarded): A signed copy of A Puppy, Not a Guppy


To enter, leave a comment at http://jahangiri.us/books containing verifiable evidence that you have completed one or more of the following activities:

• A link back to http://heatherkephart.com


• A short review of http://jahangiri.us/books on Alexa.com (http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/http://jahangiri.us/books)


• A question for one of the characters in Trockle or A Puppy, Not a Guppy


• A question for the author, Holly Jahangiri


• Answer to the question: What kind of pet do you like best, and why?


• Either of the following:
  
  
  
  • Blog about A Puppy, Not a Guppy (be sure to include, in your own blog post, a link back to http://jahangiri.us/books and a link to this blog; or
  
  
  • If you already own a copy of Trockle or A Puppy, Not a Guppy, you may complete this activity by posting a new review of either book on BarnesandNoble.com or Amazon.com. (NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Previously posted book reviews are not eligible as contest entries in this contest.)
  
  
  
  

Each activity equals one ( 1 ) entry, and you may do each activity once for a possible maximum of six ( 6 ) entries per valid email address. Your comment must be entered using a valid email address so that you can be contacted for mailing info if you win! Entries that do not have a valid email address will be considered null and void.

Duration: Contest begins at 12:01 AM on December 9, 2009 and ends at 11:59 on December 15, 2009. Winners will be drawn on December 16, 2009.

Eligibility: Contest is open to anyone age 13 or older. Tour hosts are eligible to enter.

Winners: Two winners will be randomly chosen (numbered in the order in which they are received, with the winning number chosen at http://www.random.org/ ) from all qualifying entries, and will be required to provide a physical mailing address in order to collect a prize (one free book). Only one entrant per household is eligible to win. If a second entrant from a single household is chosen, another name will be drawn until all prizes are awarded.

Contest void where prohibited by law.

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BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, December 8:

Vivian Gilbert Zabel, author and founder of 4RV Publishing,
kicks off the tour with a special surprise guest at Brain Cells & Bubble Wrap
http://vivianzabel.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, December 9:

Lynne, Brendan, and Katherine at Life is But a Dream
http://suenogrande.blogspot.com

Roy de la Cruz at The Struggling Blogger dot Com
http://thestrugglingblogger.com/

Thursday, December 10:

Lynne, Brendan, and Katherine at Life is But a Dream
http://suenogrande.blogspot.com

Friday, December 11:

Lynne, Brendan, and Katherine at Life is But a Dream
http://suenogrande.blogspot.com

Saturday, December 12:

Heather Kephart at HappyMaking
http://heatherkephart.com/

Rey Rombawa Jr at reyjr.com – Born on a Syzygy
http://reyjr.com

Sunday, December 13:

Dr. Dean Pomerleau @ Fish School Blog
http://blog.fish-school.com/

Beverly  Stowe McClure at The Story of a Writer
http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com

Monday, December 14:

Lisa Munley at Books on the Brain
http://lisamm.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, December 15:

Jena Isle at Jena Isle's Random Thoughts
http://www.jenaisleonline.com

Susan and Noah Thompson at SusanSmithThompson.com
http://SusanSmithThompson.com

Wednesday, December 16:

Tour Wrap-up at Imaginary Friends and It’s All a Matter of Perspective
http://jahangiri.us/books/

0

Moving to Dallas, Texas!

Dallas, there goes your neighborhood. Raise your fences and hide your sheep, cause here come the Kepharts!

Dennis and I found out on Friday that he was offered a position at the Dallas, Texas branch of his current employer. We're very excited and looking forward to the adventure, but this news leaves us with mixed emotions.

I've lived in California my entire life, and all of my family lives here. It will make me sad to move this far away from them, and from the west coast, as it is the backdrop for all of my memories. Gratefully, my Mother will be making the move with us, and living with us until she finds an apartment of her own. Dennis' father and stepmother live in the Dallas/Ft Worth area, so we will have some other family there. Plus, I have some friends in the Austin, Texas area, among them Holly Jahangiri and Jannie Funster.

Although we knew there was a possibility of this happening, I hadn't considered it a viable probability and kept it on the outer rim of my consciousness. I'm excited to move to Dallas, but the timing has me thrown. This news, plus news of a situation with the health of one of my lifelong best friends had me shaken and in tears most of the weekend. I missed three full days of writing and now I'm more than 6,000 words behind in Nanowrimo. We have a full month and a half to make this move, but with the holidays coming up I wonder about the practicality of concentrating on my personal writing goal when my time might be better spend weeding through and selling or giving away some of our personal items in preparation for this move, and preparing for Joe's birthday, and Christmas, etc.

To be honest, had I known we would be making this move, I never would have chosen to participate in Nano this year. But I didn't know, and I did choose to participate. I made the commitment. What would you do at this point? A little bird tells me that if I quit Nano I will feel like a failure and that I should stick it out and devote the next two weeks to it, even more time than I had been, trying to get caught up. If I suck it up and focus my energies and complete Nano I will feel a tremendous amount of accomplishment. If I quit, I will probably beat myself up for the next year. Plus, I will let down the people who are rooting for me and sitting beside me on the Nano journey.

But the other side of me wants to spend the time preparing for the move. I've never lived outside of California, and we will be needing to dump a lot of stuff to cut moving costs to the bare minimum. There are so many details to be attended to, and logistics aren't my forte', so I'll have to work extra hard to make sure this move goes off without a hitch.

I am looking for some advice here. Please don't say what you think I want to hear, but let me know what you would do in my situation. Thanking you in advance should any of you choose to accept this mission!

Kreativ Blogger Award

Thanks to Holly Jahangiri of It's All a Matter of Perspective for my Kreativ Blogger award. Hug. (I agree, what is UP with that spelling? Agh!) Here's her reasoning:

"'Home is where the fart is.' Well, gee. Who isn’t made happier by a good fart? Heather approaches the art of happymaking with a quirky, enthusiastic, slightly twisted zeal I admire, even as it leaves me exhausted just thinking about it. The way she looks at life – sometimes upside down, sometimes sideways, sometimes just a stolen glance from her peripheral vision, and sometimes through the bottom of a beer bottle – never ceases to leave me smiling, scratching my head, twisting up one corner of my mouth, and pondering things from a different perspective. She’s got a lovely family, too. Her husband, apparently, has the patience of a saint. He must like “kreativ” women."

Seven Things About Me That People Might Find Interesting
(So hard to come up with these because I'm an open book and y'all already know all my secrets.)

• During the day, I spend 20% of my non-computer time playing with and cuddling my kids, 30% on picking things up and putting them away, and 30% on searching for missing dinosaur feet and Dodger hats.
  
• My favorite drink is a Cadillac Margarita made with fine tequila like Patron or Herradura, and real lime. Ahh...
  
• I almost never wear shoes and my feet reflect that.
  
• I have two dogs, a Dachshund named Greta and a Chow/Shepherd mix named Jack
  
• The Twilight series rekindled my love of reading, (after I had my kids it was either read or sleep), and spurned a new interest in fiction writing.
  
• Piano music takes me away to faraway places and fills me with sensations of deja vu.
  
• Our son Joe's middle name, Hunter, was inspired by Hunter S. Thompson.
  

Next Wave of Recipients

Nobody because all of my blogging friends except for Holly have made it clear to me that they do not respond to memes. If you'd like to be included, pop me a note & I'll happily revise this.

The “Rules”

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

Would a Tuesday by any other name smell as sweet?

I'm starting to really love my life. (Finally pulled my head out of a very dark place to appreciate the majesty of it!). I have given up the reins of control to the God of Constant Random Aggrivations and Pleasures. That is, if you can give something that never belonged to you in the first place. Oh mighty God of C.R.A.P., here are today's offerings:

1) Another day, another chance to let down Holly Jahangiri

My Holly Alarm

I don't even remember how it got started. I think it happened when Holly got some feature on her Facebook that alerts her cell phone to new posts on her page. She made a comment one day along the lines of "Thanks a lot! Your post woke me up in the middle of the night, HAG!", or something like that, sans commas and whiny undertones. And she didn't call me a hag, I've just always thought that word was funny. Anyway, so we figure out that she's two hours ahead of me, and that no alerts are sent to her after 11pm. So I tell her that she can expect to hear from me at 10:59. You know, lol & that kind of thing. But Holly isn't your average bear. She's going to hold me to my word. I didn't send her a message at 10:59 and the next day she let me have it. Every day since that day I've been trying to make good on my promise, to help restore her faith in humanity. And every day since that day I have failed miserably. Keep the faith, Holly!

2. I have yet to face The Cabinet of Shame

I know. I KNOW.

With the help of my Mother, who came over early yesterday to help me out with the kids and their flu shots, (that I didn't end up doing because Lily was acting a little funny and I didn't want to risk it), I managed to get my fridge, outdoor freezer, pots and pans, and spices organized and sorted through. I also finished three loads of laundry, and made a fresh batch of potato soup. And some other stuff. But did I wake up today feeling good about the accomplishments? No. I woke up feeling happy, but the first thought that popped into my head was The Cabinet of Shame. I need to go through there and toss out about 99% of the carb-laden fat-butt food in there. Most of it is still hanging out from the holidays. And I can feel it. When I walk around the house I feel a big red alarm hitting the side of back of my head as it were. Pulsating, nudging, guiltifying and irritating the C.R.A.P. out of me. I wonder if I will slay the beast today?

3. Some cuteness I walked in on last weekend

Aww

I poked my head into our playroom/office last weekend to find my stepson Denny, who was visiting for the weekend, hanging out with Joe Joe on the stowaway bed, sharing some music. I so rarely get to see them "play" together, and Joe so rarely gets to "play" with anybody other than us old folks, so it just warmed the cockles of my heart. I can't wait to show them this photo when Joe is Denny's age.

4. The first hat I ever knit (does that sound right to you? Knitted? Knut?)

My Sweet Baby Lily

Here it is. The first hat I ever knocked out. Like a couple of weeks ago. Soon to be found on Etsy. Yes, I knit that bad sucker myself and although it may look silly, that's just the tip of the iceberg of hat silliness that I've got planned. And what a LUCKY girl Lily Rose is that she's got a boatload of hat modeling ahead of her. So does my friend Michelle, with her perfect little head and her big eyes, but she doesn't know it yet. I'm going to ease her into the idea. Maybe I'll even do it in such a way that she thinks it IS her idea.

Anyhoo, that's a bit of what I've got going on here. Lots of stuff to get done today. But it's sunny and my kids are silly and hey - life is beautiful. Have a good day!

Saturday Link Love

I just love my blogging buddies. They are truly special. I am amazed by their vitality, creativity, industriousness, and their ability to not let that get in the way of actually communicating—with me! Ahh, life is good. I'm having a moment.

Here are some notes to share.

1) Holly Jahangiri of Do I Have to Spell it Out and Trockle, one of my favorite blogging buddies, gave me The Prémio Dardos award!

The Prémio Dardos

"The Prémio Dardos is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web."

Well THANK YOU, Miz Holly. That was very nice of you.

The rules are:

a) Accept the award by posting it on your blog along with the name of the person that has granted the award and a link to his/her blog.

b) Pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgement, remembering to contact each of them to let them know they have been selected for this award.

Since I am a dillweed, I'm not going to follow rule b. And because I am a dillweed, I'm not going to explain why.

2) Jannie Funster, another one of my favorite blogging buddies, tagged me with a " 7 facts about me" meme oh, about forescore and seven years ago. Jannie Funster. Funning aro-ound. Making copies. Coping funny things. Making coffee for Jan-nie. By the toas-ster.

I'm sure the poor thing has been sitting at her computer since the initial tag, eyes locked on How to be a Woman (my old blog), hitting F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 in the manner of Nancy Spungen had she lived long enough to operate a computer, assuming that she would know that F5 is refresh. Just craving those facts about me like Rosie O'Donnell craves something to bitch about. And I, in that intermittently insensitive way that I have, just sat here all that time cackling and stroking my dachshund Greta and licking a freakishly big lollipop.

Anyway, 7 pointless facts about me are:

1. I used to braid my hair and apply perming solution back in the late 80's to give my hair that crimped look. I fried it. And I looked like a fool.
2. I prefer extra crispy.
3. I prefer boxers or boxer briefs.
4. My friend Michelle and I used to go out dancing at gay clubs so we could dance and hang out without getting hit on.
5. I love Fiestaware.
6. As a girl I became obsessed with the movie Grease. I'd put on my Mom's old poodle skirts, create dances, and make my 5th grade teacher allow me to perform them in front of the class.
7. I wish they'd start filming an updated version of Magnum, PI starring Tom Selleck. I miss Higgins, T.C., Rick, Ice Pick and, of course The Lads.

3) I've said it before, and I will say it again. Andy Bailey of CommentLuv Wordpress plugin fame is the coolest geek bloke in the universe! I was having problems getting his WP-Twitip-ID plugun to work here at Retro Heather, and he was kind enough to take pity on a sistah and help me get it working. Andy is one of those rare nice and trustworthy people in a sea of predator sharks. He's the only programmer I've encountered who doesn't:

a) Completely ignore me when I ask for help, as 99.99% of them do.

b) Make fun of my inquiry and imply that I'm a hopeless fool the way Billy Zabka would were he the very thing he despises most—a geek.

Check out the WP-Twitip-ID plugin if you get the chance. Here is Andy's description of it: "Adds another field to the comment form to allow the user to include their twitter id. Inspired by @problogger post http://tinyurl.com/6gns3f and kicked up the bum by @styletime."

Also, help him out and periodically check out Andy Bailey's eBay UK auctions page where he sells electronics. I don't think he's got anything listed at the moment, but I'm sure he will soon.

4) I had the pleasure of "meeting' and had a wonderful exchange the other day with Lea Curtes-Swenson. She's working on a new professional blog, Lea Writes. Here's a link to Lea Curtes-Swenson's TwitterMoms profile. Befriend her and ask her about copywriting and getting back on the career track after taking time out for Mommyhood. She's got a good article over at Working Mom Lifeline on the latter called The On-Ramp.

5) Also, I'd like to send a shout-out to my esteemed and beloved cousin Gina and her incredibly awesome family husband Butch and children Chad, J.T., Drew and Rachel. At this point in time she doesn't have a blog in the works, but I'm working on her. We sort of drifted apart after she married at 19 and moved from California to a different state, (started wearing cowboy boots too), but we recently re-connected and are getting to know one another again.

She's one of the most energetic, intelligent, beautiful and fascinating women you'll ever meet. When I was a girl she was my idol. I told her as much once and she told me I was silly (in so many words). Among other things, I got a kick out of the way she blew off Rob Lowe back in his heyday. She's a genius with a pen and knows a heckuva lot about raising a family. She's also the Godmother of both of my children. I'll keep working on her and someday you'll be able to read her blog and network with her and get to experience her Ginaness for yourself!

Happy Saturday y'all!