Sun. morning, May 25, 2008-B&N signing Oberlin College, etc.

Good morning, everyone,
Thanks for stopping by and for your comments and emails!

It has been a very busy time, getting a lot done outside and inside, and also traveling, and doing more promoting for the CCAPL and also my books.

I sure hope you are in an area the sun is shining brightly for a change. It is here this morning and it is so beautiful. The birds are singing and it is warming up already. The other two mornings it was 38 degrees.Brrr! I have worn my winter coat all week and part of last week. Yesterday, as I left for Oberlin College, it was a little cool, but it sure turned out to be comfortably warm and a gorgeous day. While I was gone, hubby finally got his corn and potatoes in. I have to do my sweet potatoes later today and most likely replant the green beans, zucchini, and cucumbers.

I had the privilege, while at the Oberlin College (B&N) Bookstore, to meet the other authors scheduled for the afternoon. There was five of us total. A very interesting group with a variety of books to talk about and to promote. I did purchase two of them. One is a Sci-fi book and looks totally incredible to read for this non-sci-fi person. I bought it for our great-nephews who are really into it. The book is called, "Briggen" (the first in a trilogy) by Ann B. Keller. (She is also a screen writer-how cool is that? I am in awe! Wow!)

The other book I purchased I bought for my brother-in-law (the Gr. nephew's Dad). It is called,"Grounded In Love" by Nancy Roth (Rev.) with a foreword by David W. Orr. it is about Ecology, Faith, and Action.

In-between talking with people, (I was up and walking about handing out free bookmarks and telling/directing people to the "Author's tables"- while the customers were standing in line making purchases, and even caught a few coming in the store and on the way out.

Towards the end of the scheduled time for us to be there, one lady in particular caught my attention. She looked very sad, and was carrying a bag on her shoulder with a cute little Yorkie dog sitting in the bag! She came over and I introduced myself, told her what my books were about, and she picked the first one up. She said she would purchase it because she "new about abuse". I signed it, and then had our picture taken by "George" the on-the-spot-photographer. (He is the son of author, Ann Keller. A very nice young man and very helpful to me by taking pictures as people purchased books and also with the other authors.)

All-in-all it was a very productive day! A big thanks to "Josh" and his staff at the Oberlin College Bookstore (B&N), for having me there. Josh said I could come back in the fall at some time and he will be in touch with me to schedule another signing. Thanks, Josh!

Hubby and I are heading out to Wal-Mart this morning to purchase some groceries, household items, and stuff. Gotta save money somehow. The gas prices keep soaring and it is really going to be hard on many, many families and individuals.

I woke up at 3 a.m., refused to get up even at 4, or 5, or 6, and finally the cat, Tooter-Hooter came in and jumped on the bed. Okay, I slept in until almost 7 a.m. Of course I didn't unwind and get to sleep until almost midnight, thinking about the awesome day I had and even an email from the lady that bought my first book. She is a survivor and presently dealing with an abusive situation. Thank you God for sending her in the store!

Gotta go-stay safe,be blessed, and enjoy this beautiful sunny weather.
Happy Memorial Day everyone- pray for our troops and for those who gave their lives in many wars so we can have the freedom we have.

Best regards,
Becky :)

Thurs. morning, May 15th, 2008 - Columbus trip

Hi, Everyone,
Wow! What a evening I had. The Border's Books & Music Store in Columbus on Sawmill Road, is an awesome and wonderfuls store. The manager, Richard Brulotte, is one great guy and his staff was very helpful and friendly. I had a great time. Sold some books, signed a lot of books, gave away D.V. and abuse literature, talked with some people, and hopefully they will keep in touch too. Great event. Thanks Border's, Richard and staff!

The trip down took a little longer (rainging a lot), and I did get lost (missed an exit) and had to double back, turn around a few times, and then I finally got there. My room was not ready when I arrived, so I went and had an early dinner at Joe's Crabshack. Great food, great service. Very busy area-Columbus. Lots and lots of traffic and very fast paced-driving!

The way back was much smoother. Non-stop until I hit New Philadelphia and gassed up some more. Gas-what a joke that is. What is going to happen? Do people buy food instead of gas? Do people try to pay their bills and eat the bare minimum to feed their families-pay their rent, mortgages, utility bills, doctor bills, on and on. How is it going to stop from getting $10.00 a gallon that some are predicting by Christmas! Mind-boggling to say the least. I guess I know what I will be spending my money on I receive from the Government! Gas!

Thank goodness my husband doesn't have to travel far for his work, and neither do I, but still, time will tell where this will all go.

Gotta run for now. Going into work later today.

Stay safe and be blessed!
Becky :)

Wed. May 14, 2008 - Heading out to Columbus,Oh.

Hi, Everyone,
I'm getting things organized for my presentation tonight at Border's Bookstore on Sawmill Road for this evening at 7 p.m. I am so exited and looking forward to it with great enthusiasm and anticipation. Sure hope I do a good job and sell and sign some books! I have an assortment of literature and hand-outs on domestic violence and abuse, stalking, rape, etc. and hope some take the literature to educate themselves and learn all they can to help themselves and also someone else.

These past two weeks have been a real zoo. Busy doing outside things, mowing, cleaning out the pond, mowing, cleaning out the pond, pulling weeds out of flower beds- until the rain hit, I was moving a long pretty good, then the deluge came. After cleaning out all the muck in the pond, the rain actually helped the pond by replacing the stinky-smelling water I caused by stirring it all up removing the debris and the yucky stuff. I think the fish are doing better now. I counted 13 frogs so far! Yeah!

Hubby can't get his corn and potatoes in, but that is probably a good thing for now as the temperature dipped down and they probably would have rotted in the ground like last year anyway. So far my veggie plants are surviving, and I even have some radishes poking through the water-mud! Amazing. I'll probably have to replant the green beans like I did last year and the zucchini.

I had a speech/presentation to the sixth and seventh graders at our local Middle School yesterday morning at 7:30 a.m. representing the CCAPL. Another lady came with me and brought her dog, "Buddy." He sure loved showing off! She read a very moving letter and the kids seemed to be receptive to it. After it was over, I came home and took the elderly neighbor to the stores. Got back and started mowing. I could not do it all as some places were full of water. More rain coming today through Saturday. Goodness.

I have to make this short as I have a lot to do yet before I leave today. When I come back on Thursday, I am hoping to have a W.I.S.H. session Thursday night from 5-7 p.m. I called some of the women and some said they would come. I sure hope so.

Have a great week, and if you are in the Columbus area, stop and say hello at the Border's store on Sawmill Road!

Best regards, stay safe, and be blessed.
Becky <><

Sun. morning, May 4th, 2008-busy week ahead

Hi, Everyone,
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have had the opportunity to read some of the horrific stories I posted recently, and there are so many more out there.

This past week and the week coming up have and will be extremely busy for me. I am trying to get book sales and signings at different locations in and around Ohio. I have had success so far in procuring some, and am working diligently on arranging others. The interest and cooperation of those I have contact has been so inspiring and uplifting. Praise God.

This past week I worked so hard scooping out the muck in the pond and have more to do today. At the bog end it is very deep and very yucky, plus very smelly! Yesterday I did a little in between the rain showers. It is suppose to be cool today, but hopefully the rain is ended for a little while and I can get more accomplished with the pond.

The CCAPL (www.ccapl.webs.com) is moving right along. We have more fund-raising activities coming up. Check out our website for events and sign our guest book too please if you stop to visit.

Next week is our regular May meeting on Tuesday night. A fund-raiser is coming up on the 10Th of May at Lake Mohawk in Malvern, Ohio from 8 am. to noon. Hope we do well.

We really need to raise the money to buy some land, although there is a committee working on presenting a financial plan to the C.C. commissioners to see if they might let us purchase some land at a very low price to build an animal shelter. Sure wish someone would donate us some land or give us a lot of money to buy some! We sure need an animal shelter to help save lives and have organized adoption.

This whole month will be quite busy for me. I am really looking forward to talking to the students (grades 6,7, & 8), at the local Middle School on May 13Th regarding the CCAPL and animal care. Another gal is going with me and taking one of her dogs and she will talk about him, agility classes, and pet care.

Hubby's birthday is Wednesday! He is such a "Young Pup!" He is trying to find a class to go to for his Masters and is having difficulty finding one. I can't imagine what the gas will cost to drive there. It is getting worse every week. When will it stop?

I plan on spending my money from the Government to use for gas to go to book signings and speaking engagements. That should take care of the whole check!

I will not be doing any W.I.S.H. sessions for the summer as the grant funding has almost ran out, unless there is a little left I might be able to do one a month for the summer months. That will be up to the director to decide. It is hard for the women with children to come during the summer as the kids are out of school and hiring a babysitter or the gas prices being what they are, they might have more difficulty attending. Maybe a Thursday night once a month might work? I have to wait and see.

I attended my great nephew's Confirmation last Sunday. I had not seen him in over two years. He is getting tall and wears a size 12 shoe already. He is so handsome and so polite. I am so proud of him.

I sure wish DSL would come to my area soon! Dial-up is the pits and takes forever! You would think Verizon or AT&T or some big Internet company would be scrambling to get all the business they could for people to get DSL in any area and make it reasonably priced. Do they think because we are in a rural area we are illiterate and don't need it? I did check several places as we received flyers in the mail but they don't service our area. Then the ones where you have to order the dish attachment, the cost is so high!

Gotta get going. Lots to do today. I got up at 3a.m. this morning, tried three times to post the Columbus book signing/speaking event on the Reader's Circle calendar, and finally got it done a little while ago. Very frustrating.

Enjoy the singing of the lovely song birds, and have a good week. (The Baltimore Orioles are back and chowing down the oranges and grape jelly like crazy! The Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks are back too, and the wonderful Hummingbirds came back on Friday! Yeah!)

Take care and stay safe.
Blessings,
Becky <><