Below are the 6 most recent journal entries recorded in smokeymtns' LiveJournal:

Tuesday, September 5th, 2006
4:25 pm	Just chilling Labor Day wkend! I'm going to petition Congress for another one sometime in January. That was so peaceful-laid on couch, watched HBO movies, napped, didn't do laundry, didn't clean house, didn't write..but I did take my pineapple pictures. But it's back to work and, at least, I'm rested. Now what do I have to look forward to???? Oh yes, my conference in Nashville is coming up wkend after next. I'd better be deciding if I'm taking something with me to read to a pick-up crit group or not. I've already scheduled (and paid $35.00!) for a 15 min. crit with either an editor or a published author/professional critique-- so I'm nervous about that. Wasn't that awful about Steve Irwin getting killed by a stingray? Well, it's awful getting killed by anything, but A STINGRAY?? Apparently that's such a freak accident-makes it all the more awful. I will admit, I half-expected to pick up the paper one day and read: Steve Irwin 1,000 - Crocodile 1 (that's all it takes for a croc.) He really was 'out there' with the animals, and all, but I really believe he was a true conservationist...just a little wacko when it came to getting close and up-front about it. But, he left 2 precious children and a wife and Dad and I know he'll be missed. One thing for sure: when it's your time to go, freak accident or not, you'll go. Bye, Steve...I enjoyed watching your shows, most of the time....not the one about the BLACK MAMBA, though--that one kept me up a few nights. I watched the specials last night and everyone talked about your love for your family and especially the animals...I sure hope you were ready to meet your Maker, too. That wasn't mentioned. Current Mood: mellow (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, August 31st, 2006
2:18 pm	just wanted to post my birthday cake--someone had it made in image of my little "guy" Bo (he's the 'real one in the background) The cake was a huge hit...for as long as it lasted. I just can't be around chocolate cake w/white icing very long without devouring it. Besides, I have the 'real thing' to cuddle with. He's 6 yrs old and my baby. So when a friend loses her 'baby, I can sympathize right along with you. But in the big picture of things...ever wonder why we have dogs (pets, really) in the first place? OK, sure I wonder where people come from...but dogs? If I wanted to get technical and go back to the beginning of time when they roamed free and bought into that theory of 'survival of the fittest' and evolution, I could really grow cynical. I think God in his infinite wisdom realized that someday your kids would grow up and leave home and make babies of their own and you would be stuck with all that TLC you nurtured them with...so 'poof' here's your pet. And don't even get me started on men. Men could NEVER be as sensitive and loving and forgiving as a dog. The other day, Bo almost missed one meal...he could have starved to death...(you see, that's NEVER happened before!) but when I realized I forgot to buy dog food and had to rush to the store at lunch, he was just as happy to see me as before. He doesn't hog the covers, he doesn't fart-well, ok sometimes, he does--he doesn't get mad when I spend too much on the big sale, he doesn't have to control the remote-but he does prefer cartoons to FOX News, and he doesn't get mad when I curl up with a good book..he curls up with me. Yep, this is definitely the way to go. So what if he has to have his teeth cleaned at the Vet's once a year? I do, too....(the dentist-not the Vet). Current Mood: giddy (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 30th, 2006
10:32 am	cluttered mind I am overwhelmed with mundane. Is that possible? I worry about my thought-process: I need to get some stories submitted this week, but my home office is so cluttered, I can't work in there. And before I start cleaning my office, I need to re-arrange my LR furniture and get the new drapes hung so I can work my way back to my office. But before I do that, the builder is coming after labor day to give me an estimate on remodeling my kitchen, so I really need to pack up all that mess, but before I do that, I really need to take some pictures I need to submit my latest N-F article. And on it goes...so I just sit and do nothing. Any '24' fans out there? I didn't watch on TV, but wound up buying the complete seasons and am eagerly a-waiting season 5 to come out. Good news was my hero JACK BAUER (Keefer Southerland) won the Emmy the other night and the show won for best dramatic category. It was his first for the show, so I've GOT TO WATCH SEASON 5, now. Ok, off to take some pictures of pineapples...(it's how my mind works). Current Mood: confused (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 22nd, 2006
3:44 pm	The opposite of rejection...is ACCEPTANCE!! I've often wondered what it would feel like to sign a contract for something I wrote. Yesterday I found out. IT FEELS WONDERFUL! Nevermind it wasn't on the same level as J.K. Rowland's Henry Potter series...it felt great, just the same. I went back and checked my notes, and I submitted six times in 2001, four times in 2002 and didn't really get serious until last year. But, to me, it feels like I have a world full of rejections. I know I may never sell again, but it sure felt good yesterday (and today), so I'm going to 'ride' it (a magazine article) as long as I can. And I get paid a whole whopping $50.00 this time-the only other thing I've sold was a poem for $20. So I'm rolling in the dough right now! ha ha I heard via email and called the lady to give her some info over the phone. She then faxed me a contract--which I read every word three times-- and faxed it back to her. I know she deals with this all the time, but she didn't make me feel like that much of a novice when I kept thanking her over the phone. They bought 1st rights and electronic rights-which means I can submit again 60 days after publication. And it's cool how I feel encouraged to write now...which only makes sense because when I get a rejection, I want to hang it up. Is it worth it? Let's see...YEPPERS! Feeling like an author in TN! (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, August 19th, 2006
8:47 am	Rainy Saturday There's a hint of change in the air today. Sure we'll have more hot days, but temps are cooling and it's a gray Saturday. That's ok-I can't gripe about our weather lately, but I heard in '20 yrs or so, we won't have any snow in this area'. That's fine by me. Rainy Saturdays are made to chill and read. I'm into Nora Robert's NORTHERN LIGHTS and it's a great read-if you're looking to lose yourself. I should be writing, but I'm just going to 'refuel' today. Had to leave work early yesterday due to a migraine. YUK! Haven't had one of those in months --used to have them frequently, but down to 2-3/yr. It hit me all of a sudden with no warning signals. I usually see 'spots' and have tunnel vision, but, yesterday, fine one minute, pain the next. At least, I made it home before the nausea set in. That's always a joy. But today, it's good to have a day to just kick back and recoup. One theory is that barometric pressure can trigger a migrain...(see my opening)--don't know if that's true or not, but I'm counting my blessings right now-anything is better than a migrain! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, August 17th, 2006
1:38 pm	Hellllooooo! It's ME (finally!) I hope this isn't a sign of things to come, but I've tried to post for 2 days now and kept getting kicked out. I guess 'interested parties' can read my profile to find out about me, but to add a little flavor: I love to write. I spend most of my time on children's books and N-F articles for children, but I write other 'stuff, too. I also play piano-used to teach, actually; but that was years ago. I am enjoying teaching my granddaughter to play, though. She's 7 and not in a big hurry to 'learn'. I have 6 g'kids, actually, and love being a 'grandma'--it's true what they say about spoiling and giving back. I also love to read-current favorites are Nora Roberts books and anything about coastal settings. Did I mention I love the ocean? I'm my happiest there. I especially love the North Carolina coast-Outer Banks, N. Myrtle, Pawley's Island..on down to Charleston, SC, Beaufort and Hilton Head area. But then, I am a Cancer and my sign is the crab, so there you go. So if you've read Nicolas Sparks, you know he writes about this area. I read ANYTHING Nicolas Sparks. Ok, that's it for my into. Later. S (2 Comments |Comment on this)