Sun. morning, June 22, 2008 - Waldenbooks event

Hi, Everyone,
Sure hope this morning is a good morning for each of you and your day is filled with blessings.
Yesterday at the Waldenbooks bookstore was quite an event. Lots of people to talk to and meet, and I had an incredible and uplifting day.

Wendy Brewer, the Waldenbooks store manager is one awesome lady! She and her very wonderful staff put together such an array of information about domestic violence and abuse, and information provided from a local shelter. The "featured author" display was great! I was so honored and humbled at the terrific job she and her staff put together for me. I was so blessed! (Pictures of the event will be posted on this website and the Authornation web site ASAP.)

Kenn (yep, that's how he spells it)-Martin-Shultz, from the Border's Outlet in another nearby location, and his son, Russell,(the photographer who took many pictures-very nice young man), was there all day too.

Around 1 p.m., Captain Kevin Whelan, of the N. Olmsted Police Department,and one of his officers, Officer Jim Carbone came in. Captain Whelan and I chatted for a little while and he had to leave, but Officer Jim stayed until 3 p.m. We had quite a discussion throughout the afternoon about domestic violence and abuse. Plus, this very caring young man, interacts with young people all the time. He does speaking engagements to children at schools (middle school to high school)in and around the area of N. Olmsted. What a caring, compassionate, young man. It was such a pleasure to meet him and talk with him. I wish him well in his endeavors to reach young people.

A photographer by the name of Larry Bennett came in and took my picture. He said it would be on his website, Fotops.com soon. Nice fellow, very talented, very knowledgeable, but also extremely busy. I was very blessed again to have this opportunity for a "Photo-op."

The Great Northern Mall is really huge. The morning traffic in the store was kind of slow, but later on in the afternoon, traffic in and out of the store improved. I was able to hand out many of my bookmarks, literature that I brought along, information that the store provided, sell some books, sign some books, and interact with different individuals regarding my books and what they were about.

In the afternoon, Jeff Gallantin, from the "WestLife News," (a local newspaper of N. Olmsted), came in and we sat down for an interview. How exciting! He asked a lot of questions. I gave a lot of answers, and I'm sure the article will be one that can help someone dealing with domestic violence and abuse know there is a life beyond all of it. I am a living testimony to that. I'm sure he will do an awesome job with the information he gleaned from me. A very kind and professional man. I was privileged to meet with him and was so thankful he came to the book signing.

I left around 4:15 p.m. and headed home. I tried to call hubby on my cell phone and did not get an answer. I figured he was outside with the dogs.(I'm not to swift in the cell-phone-category as I recently acquired it from my wonderful sister), and driving at 65-70 mph, handling a phone, is just not my expertise. So, I hung up, shut the phone off, and continued on my way. Well, hubby tried to call me back three times, and I had the phone shut off. Then he turned on the television and saw that a tornado was moving across Cleveland! Well, when I pulled in the driveway around 6:15 p.m., he came out of the house and looked rather pale. I asked him, "What's up?" He proceeded to to tell me he was worried sick as he couldn't reach me on the cell, and then saw the news about the tornado. He is such a sweetie for worrying about me. I told him I couldn't use the phone while driving along and just gave up. I'm pretty coordinated, but when it comes to cell phones-no go. I need to learn more, but not while driving. (The problem is, at home, I can't get a signal, so I will have to drive somewhere??, and work with it.)

A very successful day at Waldenbooks! Thanks everyone for all your graciousness and kindness. What a great store and staff.

I have been invited back again October 18, 2008 to do another day of signing and talking with people. Wendy and her staff are going to try and put together an all-day event outside the store in the mall as this will be the official "National Domestic Violence" month. I'm sure looking forward to that day!

Blessing to you all. Have a great week.
Until next time, be safe, and enjoy.
Thanks everyone!
Becky :)

Off to Waldenbooks today! Sat. June 21, 2008

Hi, Everyone,
Well, I woke up at 3:45 a.m. and that was it. Made the coffee, fed the cats, and here I am on the computer.

I guess I am really excited and anxious for my first Waldenbooks appearance. It will be an all-day event and hopefully I will be able to converse with many people. I'm taking along a lot of hand-out literature about domestic violence and abuse. Just about all the copies came from my workbook from ODVN and are totally reproducible. Very informative tools. Plus, I have a couple poems I wrote and hopefully will get to share them too.

I'm sure looking forward to meeting Wendy, the manager, and her staff. I have talked with her on several occasions and from speaking with her, her kind-hearted and wonderful spirit comes through. She cares for people.
There is also going to be a local police officer there. I'm looking forward to meeting him.

I mentioned to Wendy that October is "Domestic Violence Month" and she invited me back again on Saturday, October 18th, 2008. Absolutely awesome! Thanks Wendy!

I tried yesterday to make copies of more pictures for my website pertaining to the sequel, A BETTER DAY DAWNING, but for some reason, after running them through, they have lines across them. Not sure what is going on there, but will have to do some cleaning on the printer I guess. Very frustrating. I've been wanting to add more pictures for some time, but finding the time has been another matter!

I've really had a busy week with the CCAPL happenings. We signed a purchase agreement to buy 24 acres and have been working on getting a business loan to purchase the land. We have 45 days to get this accomplished and I hope and pray we get a business loan. We have a "backer" who is willing to sign the loan for us as a guarantor. One bank seems to have the best deal right now, but another bank is going to get back to me on Monday with their proposal as far as rates and guidlines for getting the business loan. What a major step to undertake. Whew! Exiting but scary!

Gotta go for now, folks. Thanks for stopping by. Be safe, have a wonderful day and maybe I'll see you at the signing today at Waldenbooks in N. Olmsted!

Take care, stay safe, and count your blessings.
Becky :)

Sunday morning, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day to all those terrific fathers out there!

Each Father's Day, I pause and reflect on my own earthly Father. It has been many years since his passing, but I feel his spirit at times near me. June 10th was his birthday. He would have been 102 years old. Sometimes it seems as though it was yesterday, we were riding in the old truck. Traveling to visit his parents, or going to the store to pick up milk and bread at Lawson's on Whipple Road. He would always buy me a treat of some kind. Black licorice was my favorite.

One time I was sitting behind the steering wheel in the car waiting impatiently for Daddy to come out. (I was about seven years old.) I pulled on the gear shift behind the steering wheel and it slipped out of gear and headed backwards towards the street on a steep incline to the store. I started screaming for my Daddy and he came rushing out of the store, reached in and threw the gear shift back in place right before the car went into the busy road. I was crying so hard and was so scared. Both emotions filled me, and panic set in as I knew I was in deep trouble for what I did. But Daddy opened the door and I reached for him. He pulled me into his arms and held me tightly, comforting me and reassuring me I was safe.

I was blessed beyond measure as a child but I did not know it at the time. He bought me a horse. "Chico" was his name. I was around 11 years old. My Father sacrificed so much for me to have it. I don't know how he managed to buy the things he did for me and my horse on his wages as a die-setter at a factory and still pay the bills that came in.

He made a tie-stall behind the big tractor in the 3-car garage he and my Mother built. He bought hay, oats, straw for bedding, a curry comb,halter, lead rope, bridle, saddle and blanket, and so much more. He put up a two-strand barbed wire fence for a pasture for Chico to graze around in down below the house. He did so much for me. I was his "favorite" for some reason. Not sure why. We were very close. I went everywhere with him and did so much with him. He taught me a lot. I still miss him.

Yesterday morning I went out to the pond to feed the fish. One was floating on its side. I ran back to the porch and grabbed the fish net. I scooped it out and ran to the bucket of water near the garage we use for watering the dogs. I raced back to the porch and retrieved the aerator in the cabinet right inside the sliding glass door. I got a small rock to hold the hose down, and started the aeration for the floating fish. It was a pretty one. White with gold, yellow and black coloring on it and a large fan tail. I swished her (?) around gently and waited and watched. She was really stressed. Throughout the next hour or so, I kept checking on her. She was slowly coming around. After about two hours, she was upright and swimming a little. I put her in a bigger bucket with more water and let her alone but kept checking on her. After about another hour, she seemed okay. I put her back in the pond. She came to eat last night when I fed the fish and seemed okay. I turned the fountain back on.

If I don't turn the fountain on every evening, the oxygen level decreases dramatically in the pond during the nighttime during the warmer months. I knew this, but because of the bad storm that went through earlier in the evening, I forgot to turn it on! We do have another aerator down in the pond, but it is not efficient enough to handle the whole pond, so hence the fountain, which also has a filter attached to it. I lift the filter pan out every week and clean the filter pads with the hose and a bucket. I throw the yucky pond water in the garden or use it for some of my flower beds. It is a chore, but one that has to be done.

The many storms ravaging the county are just devestating. I am so thankful we have been spared this devestation. I count my blessings and thank my Heavenly Father for his protection.

Stay safe, be blessed, count your blessings, thanks and praise be to God for his many blessings He bestowes upon us daily.

Have a safe and wonderful week folks.
Until next time,
My best regards,
Becky :)

Friday morning, June 6, 2008

Hi Everyone,

I could put "GONE FISHING" on this blog and that could be the end of it, but I just wanted to give you a little update for the past week.

I have received emails from some contacts while I was at the Oberlin Bookstore. This is so cool. I just know in my heart when this happens, it is the Lord's awesome handy work!

The other day I was contacted by Josh at Oberlin College bookstore, and he has invited me back again in October. So I am certainly looking forward to being at the Oberlin (B&N) College Bookstore once again. I suggested two other authors to be there also. Debbie Alferio, and Ann B. Keller. We have totally different genres.

It was sweltering yesterday evening, along with high humidity. We turned on the AC last night as it was so humid, I was sitting in the chair while droplets of sweat ran down my face! It is supposed to be in the 90's for the next five days.

I have volunteered to do a fund-raiser for the CCAPL at the Carrollton Rib's Burn-off. Hubby and I will load the truck tonight, and set up everything in the morning around 8:30 a.m. at the fairgrounds. I'm staying until noon. Another member will be with me. I was able to borrow an umbrella/canopy tent from the local Tractor Supply for some shade.

The CCAPL informed members at the meeting Tuesday night of the "Restricted Endowment Gift" of $50,000.00 we are about to receive from the C.C. Humane Society for construction of an animal shelter. All present were absolutely elated at this news. Of course the major restriction is we have to completely build the animal shelter within fives years or the money goes back to them, plus interest.

We are presently researching land, and the two of the land committee people are going to "walk the property" tonight which seems to be the best choice so far. Yet, it is still possible we could get some land donated. Just don't know at this point.

Gotta get ready and get moving to GO FISHING!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Stay safe, be blessed, and have a great weekend. I'll probably be back here tomorrow or Sunday.

Becky :)

Sun. morning, June 1, 2008

Good morning, everyone!
Wow-what a book-"Briggen" by Ann B. Keller-author/screenwriter. The first book in her trilogy.

For someone who does not read science fiction, I was really reeled into this book. I recommend it highly and give it a "five-star!" I'm looking forward to reading the next one. All the characters were so awesome and I especially loved the dragon, Ephereon.

I purchased this book at the Oberlin College bookstore, as Ms. Keller and her son, George, were there as well as three other authors. I purchased it for my Great Nephews as they are into the sci-fi reading world. When I started reading it, it just reeled me in, and each evening, I settled down to escape into the unknown sci-fi world. I was not only enthralled, but could not stop wanting to read what would happen next in each chapter. When I finished it, I was bummed out, because I wanted to read more! Great book.

This week was one of doing things outside around the house that became necessary. Some of the shrubbery, bushes, and the walkway out front, has gone beyond their capacity and needed trimmed and thinned out. That was my agenda for this past week and I did manage to get a lot done. I pulled and dug out at least 20 fire bushes from along the walkway. (Hubby and I planted 10 of them yesterday along the edge of the yard.)

The huge fire bush at the end of the house in the back still needs some work. Hopefully today, (the wind has died down),hubby will put up the ladder for me and I will tackle the fire bush from the roof to trim it down some as it is over the spouting. Then, I need to get into the pond and do some thinning of the pond plants. (At last the water temperature is a little warmer now.) Those plants are so prolific and just spread and spread and get so thick.

Three storms went through the evening before. I was awake most of the night with all the thunder,lightening and pouring rain. When hubby and I got up around 5:15 a.m., he started the coffee but it did not get finished...the power went off shortly thereafter. So, I lit numerous candles. Then as the coffee became colder, I heated water with my tea kettle out on the back porch with the small side of the gas grill. Worked perfectly. Ran the heated water through the coffee maker and, voila, more fresh brewed coffee! Hey, you have to improvise at times. Later on that morning, I got a kick out of hubby cooking his eggs in his cast iron skillet on the small side grill too. Whatever works!

The rain did make it easier to rotor-till my two rows of the garden. Before that, it was like cement. Some of the plants are looking somewhat better from surviving the very cool and rainy weather after I planted them. The pale-looking pepper plants are starting to look a little greener since the soaking rain as are the sweet potato plants. Only two green bean plants came up, so besides replanting them, I also replanted cucumber, zucchini, spinach, and radish seeds.

This week coming will be very busy too. The CCAPL meeting is Tuesday night and it will be a very important meeting with a "special announcement" for all attending. For those who cannot, the "special announcement" will be sent in the monthly newsletter.

My nephew has returned from China! Yeah! I spoke to him briefly the other day. He was very tired from his return trip. He was on a double-decker bus for twelve hours through the mountains over there before getting to the airport in China to leave for the U.S. Then the long plane ride to California, and then to Atlanta. My sister, brother-in-law, and nephew will be coming up soon for a visit. It will be grand to see him (it has been five years), and of course the rest of them too.

Hubby has two more days at school, then maybe we can get some fishing in before the weather turns really hot.

That's all for today folks. I got up before 3 a.m. One of those early mornings.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks, Ann, for your uplifting and encouraging comments! I have been blessed beyond measure by meeting you and George.

Stay safe, be blessed, and have a great week everyone!

Best regards,
Becky :)