Don't Jump!

I am not the kind of person who loves to do new things that challenge me.

I guess I'm lazy. Or comfortable.

It doesn't scare me, because every once in a while, like some sort of whiz kid, I say, when asked, "Sure! That sounds like fun."

(Dear Lord, please don't let anyone ask me to bungee jump, jump out of an airplane or even just jump. Thank you.)

So, some weeks ago a friend asked me to be part of a show. To read some of her bee-yoo-tee-full poetry and to sing a song she wrote. "Sure! That sounds like fun." says I.

And it was. The first few practices of the music weren't all that fun, as learning new songs is a little difficult for me now that I'm hearing impaired.

But the show itself was fun. Some wonderful paintings by artists both great and new, poetry,  music, tears and laughter.

Doesn't that sound like fun to you?

So today's lesson is this: Open yourself to new things and enjoy yourself. 

Unless it involves jumping.

October: Time to do a Count!

Every October, I do a tally and a heartfelt thank you.

As of today, there have been 52,716 hits or reads on my blog.

94 Countries have read my blog. The newest one is Kyrgyzstan.

How about that?

My mind continues to be boggled. I will never understand what holds any interest about this blog in Seychelles. Or Paupa New Guinea. I just don't get it. But I am ever grateful. 

Here's hoping to another year filled with surprises!

Thanks again.

They're Here....

The eagle has landed.

They're here.

My new book, "Poetry, Prose and Music: Life of an Appalachian Woman" is here.

Well, not here. At my publisher's office .
  The next step is to have a stick-the-cds-in-the-back-of-the-book party, because the CD was recorded in a studio not affiliated with the printers.

That will happen next week. Then book signings are to be scheduled, prayers be said that somebody besides Husband and Daughter show up at said book signings, and making lists of what all I need to take to the book signings.

You'd be amazed at what all I have to take.

Price list, 'cause I can't remember what my own books cost. 
Change, in case anyone, like, actually buys a book.
At least two pens; because if I don't, the only one I have will immediately stop writing.
Sign in book. It would be nice if I had a record of those who attend the book signing. It would be nicer if I could actually remember to get folks to sign the book.
Calculator. No explanation needed.
Note book, where, hopefully on some other planet, I can remember to write down how many of what book sells.
Promotional bookmarks.
Business cards.
What few Christmas cards we have left.
Extra CDs in case someone wants an extra, or wants the CD only.

Oh, and books.

Mustn't forget the books.

Habits

We all have habits, good and bad. Sometimes we don't know  how  those habits started.

I became aware of something I have been doing for a long time the other morning, and decided to stop:

We have an angel blowing a trumpet that hangs over our coffee cups in the pantry. I straighten the mugs every  morning, then tap the angel.

I thought, "How silly. Stop that. Why in the world did I ever start?"

Two days later, the angel fell off the nail, landing on the cups.

Oh.

I remembered that it was a shallow little hole where the nail fit, and if you didn't press on it, it would work its way off and fall. I resumed my habit.

Husband's mother stepped on a certain rock on her way to the garden every day of her life. We asked her why, since she had to side step to get to it, and she couldn't remember. Husband's father had placed it there years ago, as it was flat and smooth and made a good stepping stone, though it wasn't really needed there. Perhaps she stepped on it to remind her of the sweet things he did. I don't  know.

That rock now resides in our rose garden.

I have a certain routine that I follow when I first get up, but I'm not sure that's habit. I think that's called trying to function when you are still half asleep.

I like to write at my desk top computer. I just can't seem to do it as well (shut up) on the lap top inside the house. 

Husband's habits, of course, are just annoying. Not like mine, which are cute and precious.

Looks like he'd learn from me, being married for over 30 years. But I guess some people are slow learners.

So your homework for today (that's one of his annoying habits - when he wants you to do something for learning, he says, "Your homework for today") is to reflect on your habits and figure out which ones you need to toss.

You're welcome.