My thoughts about writing blog entries

I have been writing exposes for a few years, mostly regarding my life as a single woman/mom/grandmom. If one considers blogging as published work, then I am published (warm smile, Palin wink)! I think I found my voice as my "blog followers", along with friends and family, encourage me to carry on with the project. This "writing" feels good. I do not wish to do research and write, as I did this as a reading specislist most of my career life...and those days are over. I enjoy the craft of writing. I like playing with words and sculpting them into something worthy of view. I am always learning and because of my joy of writing, I developed a passion for reading. The novels I read are varied and I do this for a reason. I listen to the author's voice as it is written on the page and I grow as a writer from that experience. The different voices, or different writing styles, are learning experiences for me. The same goes for the reading of my blog friends' entries. I learn from everyone. DB of Vagabond Journeys is a writer, among other things. His words sparks my imagination and I find I think about things a little longer. Beth of Nutwood Junction writes her opinions in a manner that gets me thinking, too. We think alike, Beth and I. Then there is Bucko (a.k.a Ken) at Bucko's World who writes about what goes on at work or in the world. His entries gives me the "man's point of view" and I like that. Paula of Paulines Country Tales keeps me laughing heartily with her cow and country stories. Then there is Jimmy at Jimmy's Journal. I don't know where he finds the time, but his posts always covers something in the line of personal, political, humorous, and wise sayings. He keeps me entertained. I just mentioned a few writers. Those of you who are reading this post and find your name missing, fear not. I enjoy reading about the lives of my cyber-neighbors. I feel as if when I log on and read Tracy's Just being who I am, or Lucy's What is left of a whole new life, or Missy's Upsidedown World, or Mort's Caring-and-Sharing, and Alice's As always Alice", I am not alone and I do not feel lonely. Their entries about the goings on in their lives makes me feel connected with them even if it is cyber, it is real...and that is a good thing! Carry on, dear friends. I look forward to spending the rest of this week reading your blogs and saying "Hello" in the comment section. Afterall that is writing, too.

Have a great week

My sister and niece are coming up from Virginia. They will spend the week with me while visiting mom. So....have a great week! I don't think I will be at my computer any time soon. Take care! Karen

25 Things about me...11 to 25

The next 15 items, totaling 25 with this entry, are short; so I put them all up...don't want you to lose interest...keep it short and sweet, I say. Here goes: 11. I used to beat up the boys in my neighborhood. Let’s not go there in any form of deep psychological analysis; let’s just say I was a tomboy and outran, outplayed, and just about outdid the boys back then. 12. Mom put me in Glamour School and made me take Elocution classes to smooth out the tomboy in me. It worked. I can walk a straight line with a book on top of my head without tripping or dropping the book. I can even answer the phone with the etiquette of a lady. Imagine that! 13. If it weren’t for the math and sciences I would be a veterinarian today. 14. I hiked across a 3 mile crater of an active volcano in Hawaii, sniffed the sulfur, and fantasized in the rainforest that took me down to the crater. 15. I rode on another boyfriend’s motorcycle from Denver, CO to Colorado Springs, Co. Like a little girl, the smile on my face told it all. 16. Although friends say it isn’t so, I consider myself solitary and somewhat of a loner. I am resourceful in entertaining myself and challenging myself. One may say I am independent. 17. I study and interpret dreams. Tell me yours. I will be gentle and compassionate in my interpretation, but I will tell the truth in what I see. 18. I enjoy silver and turquoise. I have tried to move my jewelry interests over to diamonds and gold, but alas it is the silver that beckons me. 19. I don’t care much for whatever is in style at the moment. I am a conservative dresser tending towards the classic. The turquoise goes great with the look. 20. I am single…duh! But did you know I’ve been single longer than I’ve been married? 21. I am actively searching for the man who will put up with my antics. 22. I love peanut butter and I put it on broccoli…and, I eat it raw! 23. The “zone” in the cosmetic weight charts gives one 25 pounds to play with. I have gone from the top of my zone to the bottom of my zone in four months. Now I have to go shopping. 24. I hate shopping! 25. The greatest joy in my life is being a Mom and now being a Grandmother. OK, Folks! Your turn!!!! Karen

Twenty-five things you did not know about me (6-10)

Well here it is folks, five more items about the life and times of Karen. I hope you enjoy the read; I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. 6. I would talk about wine, but everyone and their sister knows I love my Chardonnay. 7. I color my hair. Yes, I do! I have been doing this since childhood when my mother didn’t like that my platinum blonde head was turning dark. She spiked the shampoo with hydrogen peroxide until I was old enough to read labels and figured out what she was doing. I went to a professional stylist in college, then to the commercial box-on-a-shelf, and am now back to professional color. I have been a blonde, red head, brunette, and am contemplating strawberry blonde for this coming spring. Heaven help us! 8. I went to an overnight camp for a few years, and participated in a raid. This is when you sneak out at night when the counselors are smoking and joking in the canteen. We visited the boys’ side of camp. Of course we were discovered and were grounded from the weekend dance, but who cared? It was fun! 9. I attended two colleges as an undergrad. My freshman and sophomore years were spent at the University of Pittsburgh. I entered the school of education in August…I did it this way because the school’s quota for liberal arts was full. I was lucky to get in as my high school grades were less than stellar and my SAT scores were deplorable. 10. I graduated with a B.S. in Education from Temple University. One full semester of credits from Pitt did not transfer, so I had to spend two summers making up the credits. It was OK, however, as the summer program was much easier and the campus more laid back. Stay tuned...numbers 11 to 15 are close behind. Until then... Karen

Twenty-five things you did not know about me (1 -5)

My niece challenged me to a creative writing experience. It took a while to decide if I really wanted to take her up on the challenge, and after a long trip through the dead zone of creativity, I decided, what the heck! So here it is, folks: the first 5 of 25 things you don't know about me...heaven help us! 1. I promoted a rock band back in the early 90s called Equal Rights. I am very good at cold calling and inside sales, so this was a cynch. I got into two recording studios to present the demo tape, audio cassette in those days. The response was favorable, but the band disbanded. I went back to teaching. 2. When I skied Killington, VT, in my 20's, I had no fear and KNEW I could do anything I set out to do; so I took the chairlift to the highest summit figuring I could ski down those godforsaken slopes just like everyone else. It took two minutes on the top of that mountain to learn I was not an advanced skier and I was not a courageous soul. I walked down the mountain, waving to all who skied by or stopped to make sure I was ok. 3. I dated a motorcycle racer who enjoyed giving me 115mph rides down the newly constructed highway that is now overloaded with cars and trucks. I loved every heart-stopping moment of it. Don't tell my mother! 4. I love to write, but you know that. What you don't know is that I got 15 emotionally disturbed middle school students to write a five paragraph essay about themselves. Then I published their works, at Staples, for a presentation to the class as a gift. Teachers are promoters...and you gotta be good at sales to teach! 5. I have two sisters: one older and one younger. Yes, I am a middle child and I live up to all that analytical, psychological hoo-hah that is said about the middle child. And I'm darn proud of it!! OK, I'm going to do this in segments as I don't want my readers to get overwhelmed with all this new found knowledge about their somewhat quiet friend (oops, there's that tongue-in-cheek again). Until then, that's how I see it, Karen

Which One Shall I Go With?

Valentine's Day is this weekend and the love is in the air, as well as in my heart! It is time to start looking again.

In the free tabloid, In Your Prime, a February 2009 publication for Pennsylvania/New Jersey 55+ community, two articles regarding finding love after fifty have given me the strength to look beyond my past and towards my future. "A Love Letter to Yourself", by Edie Weinstien-Moser, reminds me that I am to treat myself with the same kind of affection and compassion I would towards another human being. With that, I went through a makeover. I lost a lot of weight, fixed up my hair and makeup, and renewed my spirit.

The other article, "Never Say Never", by Scott Edwards, tells of a woman who has lived a life similar to mine. Her latest breakup was particularly painful because she thought that he was The One. He wasn't, and it caused her to second guess her instincts and question her identity. Well, knock me over with a feather! Those words could have been mine. The heart warming tale takes us through her journey that ends in meeting her "soul mate" at the young age of 64.

Now if that isn't encourgement enough, I have my daughter cheering me on!

And I like who I see in the mirror these days.

So help me out, Friends. I am entering the internet world of senior dating and need a picture that will attract the right man. Which one shall it be? #1 which was taken a week ago, or #2 which was taken a year ago. Of course, you can also choose #3 which is the one yet to be taken.

I'm counting on you...

Picture #1

Picture #2

Picture #3 Yet to be taken

Your vote is important to me.

Karen

Hello Friends

Tonight I am reading your blogs, so you will not see an entry here. All is well, however, and that is a good thing. Carry on...