Friday, April 27, 2012

Bits and Pieces

Well, it's the end of my first week back in the Blogosphere and it's been great to touch base with so many on-line friends.

Today's post  is a mixed bag.  A little of this and a little of that.

First - a question:  As a test, I made a deliberate error in my Wednesday blog.  In the title, I said I was introducing Sophy.  In the text, I spelled her name Sophie.  No one made a comment on the discrepancy.  Now I really want to know - were you just being polite or did you not notice?  Come on, be honest.

Second - a request:  You may have noticed I added the NetworkedBlogs widget to my left sidebar.  I tested it using my Facebook account, but it looks so pitiful sitting there with no little faces but my own (well, okay, mine and my beloved spouse).  Would someone, please, follow this blog using NetworkedBlogs, just so I have another face in that blank white space.  I'd really appreciate it.

Third - an award.  I mentioned on Monday that I received the




from fellow blogger Margo Kelly.  (Thanks, again, Margo.)  As with many blog awards, this comes with a couple of do's when the award is accepted.  I have to:

1. Share ten things about myself, and
2. Pass the award onto six other bloggers

So here goes -

1. I have four grandchildren, age 10, 11, 12, and 13.  No, they're not all siblings so you don't need to have sympathy pains for their mother.

2. I'm a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan.  This has prepared me for the heartbreak and disappointment that comes with being a writer.  This also means I believe in miracles.

3.  I love writing fiction - mystery, suspense, sci fi, and a little romance.  I also love writing humor but that's usually non-fiction.  Some stuff you just can't make up.

4. We (my hubby, two sons, and I) moved to Ohio in the middle of the Blizzard of 78.  From Los Angeles. We didn't own a pair of boots, a winter coat, or a pair of gloves.

5. My biggest food weakness is ice cream.

6. I've spent my entire adult life on a diet, just coming off a diet, or getting ready to start a diet (see item 5).  I've lost enough weight over the years to build at least three clones.

7. I've been a disaster relief volunteer with the American Red Cross for a couple decades.  I've responded to tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms, and floods.  I also worked the respite station at Ground Zero-World Trade Center after 9/11.

8. I have a terrible weakness for online jigsaw puzzles.  They're my favorite procrastination device when the writing isn't flowing.

9. I drive a 2001 Saab Convertable.  I love it.  The first car I ever owned (actually, shared with my brother) was a ragtop.  Now...warm day, top down, wind tossing my hair, and the oldies channel playing my favorite music...for just a moment, I feel 16 again. 

10. Last one - I really hope you'll leave me a comment.  It makes my day when I get comments.


Now - I'd like to pass this blog along to:

Jessica R. Patch
Stacy McKitrick's Ranting and Whatnot
Sarah Ahiers Writes
Angela Brown in a Pursuit of Publishness
Maryann Miller - It's Not All Gravy
Mary Curry - My Place by the Sea


Please join me on Monday when I'll be sharing some of the tips I learned at the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop on blogging, branding, and social media.

Have a great weekend.


Groaner of the Day: (long post, short groaner)

Did you hear about the cross-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils?

26 comments:

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I'll see if I can follow you through Facebook, but I sometimes have trouble as I used Google/Blogger through Firefox and Facebook through IE. And they don't play well together.

Cate Masters said...

You drive the car of my dreams. I always wanted a Saab.
Will follow through Networked blogs, but I don't understand how that works, since I never see the blogs I follow appear anywhere when there's a new post. Hmmm.

LD Masterson said...

Diane - I appreciate the try, and the comment.

LD Masterson said...

Cate - Thanks. I think it's supposed to make a blog-Facebook connection but I'm never sure how these things are going to work.

Jessica R. Patch said...

You know, I didn't notice the on-purpose mess-up. But when I do see errors on blogs, I ignore them. I'm sure I've had my fair share!

I'm following from fb now! And thanks so much for the award!

LD Masterson said...

Jessica - Thanks. And I'm going to ask one more favor. Would you let me know if the FB link actually works. I seem to have a talent for setting these things up wrong.

Thanks again.

Maria Zannini said...

Ref: typos
I generally don't correct people's typos when they appear on blogs. I assume it was either deliberate or the blogger typed too fast. :)

Ref: networked blogs
I clicked on the link, but it didn't do anything, so I checked Networked Blogs and it looks like I am indeed following you.

Ref: your move
LA to Ohio and no coat? What were you thinking?!

Sarah Ahiers said...

I totally didn't notice the different spelling.
And i also started using networked blogs, just so it would reliably post my blogs on FB. I think i have 3 followes. (i'll follow you as soon as i'm on a PC that doesn't block it)

And where do you find these online jigsaw puzzles...?

LD Masterson said...

Maria - I was just wondering if anyone paid attention to titles.

Thanks for following on NetworkedBlogs. For some reason, yours and Jessica's pictures took quite a while to appear. Now I just need to know if the blog notifications actually appear. These things fight me.

Ref: the move - we figured we would buy what we needed when we got here. Very limited seletion of winter gear in LA. Who knew there would be a blizzard and the stores would all be closed for days? (Our moving van only made it as far as OK. Arrived eleven days after we did.)

LD Masterson said...

Sarah - Thanks on the NetworkedBlog thing.

I get the puzzles at jigzone.com I do one then challenge myself to see how long it will take me to be able to do it easily in under two minutes. Very addictive.

Maryannwrites said...

I love online jigsaw puzzles, too, when I'm not working a real one. LOL

I'm also a Red Cross Volunteer for a local shelter. So far, I have not been called, but we have been put on alert on a couple of occasions. Kudos to you for all you do for the Red Cross.

And lastly, thanks so much for the award. It was so nice of you to include me with those other terrific bloggers.

LD Masterson said...

Maryann - Kudos back at you for being an RC volunteer. It's having people ready and willing when the need strikes that makes all the difference.

And thanks for following me on NetworkedBlogs. There's nothing sadder looking than an empty Follower box.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Nice to know all that stuff about you. I've missed your groaners.

Angela Brown said...

I should be on the Networked blogs thing now, unless I pushed some button twice that I shouldn't have pushed at all.

As for Sophie/Sophy...I missed Wednesday, but I see what you mean. If it were me that saw it, I wouldn't have said anything out of trying to be nice lol!!! But Sophie is a doll!

And thank you for the award. It is mucho appreciated.

LD Masterson said...

Thanks, Susan. It's nice to be back on board.

LD Masterson said...

Angela - My little NetworkedBlogs box thinks you're there. Thanks. It doesn't look so terribly naked now.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sorry, didn't notice the typo and I'm not on Facebook. Ninja fail...

LD Masterson said...

No problem, Alex. You came, you read, you left me a comment. You made me happy.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Late on the comment - sorry. And thanks for the award. It'll give me something to blog about now :)

As for arriving to Ohio during the blizzard, I did something similar. My husband and I were stationed at Ft Huachuca, AZ (Sierra Vista) and were transferring to Ft Wainwright, AK (Fairbanks). In February. We checked the weather in the paper daily and it had been in the 30's. Not too bad. When we arrived it was like 20 below with ice fog (not a fun thing to drive through) and we were NOT dressed for that!

And I should have known better, having been stationed at Ft. Greely, AK (Delta Junction) previously.

Ah, but good memories, right?

Karin said...

Hi Linda! I did not notice the typo--I plead spelling dysfunctional disorder. I am always reaching for a dictionary and I always assume someone else knows how to spell better than I do. Spell-check has been a great help to me (see--I even had to correct spellcheck)

Loved your top ten facts--I did know most of them.

Have a great week-end. We are going sailing. And someday I will become adept at Facebook. I am improving, though!

Gina Gao said...

I also did not notice the typo. You have an interesting blog. I really enjoy reading your writing.

www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

LD Masterson said...

Sracy - Life has a way of catching us unprepared, doesn't it?

LD Masterson said...

Karin - I wasn't thinking of the thing with Sophie's name as a typo; more of a "she spells this name two different ways" error. But it seems to have been generally overlooked anyway.

Now you have me wondering - which of the 10 things did you not know? I'm guessing number 8.

LD Masterson said...

Gina - Thanks so much for coming by.

E. M. Prokop said...

Hey LD! Great post! What an awesome thing you do by volunteering your time during those disasters..that is truly admirable..I agree with you about ice cream! It's the best, especially a really creamy, homemade French Vanilla!
I agree with you on #10 too...comments are great! Hope things in your world are excellent these days!

Karin said...

BINGO--#8 it was!!

Karin