This feed does not validate.
... 72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total><georss:featurename>Vancouver, W ...
^
... 87281 -122.66148609999999</georss:point><georss:box>45.5824541 -122.8167 ...
^
In addition, interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/200 ...
^
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/200 ...
^
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/200 ...
line 3, column 0: (25 occurrences) [help]
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsE ...
line 103, column 0: (4 occurrences) [help]
<iframe align="center" frameborder="0" height="4 ...
line 218, column 0: (2 occurrences) [help]
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleu ...
line 292, column 0: (15 occurrences) [help]
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: sep ...
... th="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></item></channel></rss>
^
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:openSearch="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/" xmlns:blogger="http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" version="2.0"><channel><atom:id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218</atom:id><lastBuildDate>Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:21:15 +0000</lastBuildDate><category>Melanie</category><category>Daughter</category><category>AHA moment</category><category>Authors</category><category>Celebrities</category><category>Edit</category><category>Lisa</category><category>Pam</category><category>Coffee</category><category>Critique groups</category><category>Family</category><category>Peggy</category><category>FaceBook</category><category>Korean husband</category><category>Boot Camp</category><category>Entertainment</category><category>Writing technique</category><category>YouTube</category><category>Carolyn Rose</category><category>Cooking</category><category>Dating Asians</category><category>Portland State University</category><category>Twitter</category><category>Idiots</category><category>Korean</category><category>Marriage</category><category>Elizabeth Lyon</category><category>Film</category><category>Gifts</category><category>Ginger</category><category>Jae-Chun Lee</category><category>Presbyterian</category><category>Book Review</category><category>Change world</category><category>Emergency</category><category>Event</category><category>Kerri Ann</category><category>New York Times</category><category>Oregon</category><category>Sallee</category><category>Willamette Writers</category><category>Carolyn J. Rose</category><category>Hawaii</category><category>Kelly</category><category>Politician</category><category>California</category><category>China</category><category>Flirt</category><category>Jade</category><category>Korean family</category><category>Korean food</category><category>PNWA</category><category>Prejudice</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Quote</category><category>Seattle</category><category>Vancouver</category><category>Writers Mixer</category><category>black pants</category><category>6-word memoir</category><category>Adopt</category><category>College</category><category>Cover to Cover Books</category><category>Death</category><category>Kweisi Mfume</category><category>LinkedIN</category><category>Newspaper</category><category>Pearl</category><category>Plancast</category><category>Portland</category><category>Real Estate</category><category>SWBlood</category><category>Sharon</category><category>Social Media</category><category>Wallpaper</category><category>Yul Kwon</category><category>Alcoholic</category><category>Angst Gallery</category><category>Asian doll</category><category>Asians in art</category><category>Ask A Korean</category><category>Blue Lily</category><category>Brian Solis</category><category>Contest Winner</category><category>Eye shopping</category><category>First Friday</category><category>Flickr</category><category>Foursquare</category><category>FutureWorks</category><category>Hanboks</category><category>Kitsch</category><category>Library</category><category>Linda Reinhardt</category><category>Mulitcultural couple</category><category>Native American</category><category>Niche Wine</category><category>Ridgefield WA</category><category>Sexy Asian Guys</category><category>Twitpic</category><category>Univeristy of Washington</category><category>WSU</category><category>Yacolt</category><category>typo</category><title>Pearl of Carol: pursuit of adventure!</title><description>Emerging writer embarks into the editing process and attempts to decide if life was better before the pursuit of publishing.</description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/</link><managingEditor>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</managingEditor><generator>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>132</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-3000984021370067054</guid><pubDate>Sun, 02 Feb 2014 07:10:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2014-02-01T23:10:09.326-08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">typo</category><title>That's why you didn'tt (sic)</title><description><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq7Hovt77b8puqnET2ryfBJYfIZW34MFpj9ec8WexBZcJxSoHWNMTbZ5hRnBNGGlrOV6Ap5FpRQa6xr0PlF3Rs9x0p3Eenx5q9vSmiALLig42V3UvYLC9KaNrrLM3MGzxxCNSjchkOfg/s1600/didntt-like.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq7Hovt77b8puqnET2ryfBJYfIZW34MFpj9ec8WexBZcJxSoHWNMTbZ5hRnBNGGlrOV6Ap5FpRQa6xr0PlF3Rs9x0p3Eenx5q9vSmiALLig42V3UvYLC9KaNrrLM3MGzxxCNSjchkOfg/s1600/didntt-like.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br clear="LEFT" />
Check out row five of page twelve of this famous little mystery book.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"That's why you didn'tt like being..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I didn'tt (sic) like the spelling of didn't.<br />
<br />
If you can guess the book -- I'll send you something from my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/shops/pearlofcarol" target="_blank">Pearl of Carol</a> Amazon shop. Good luck!<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
</div>
</div>
</description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2014/02/thats-why-you-didntt-sic.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq7Hovt77b8puqnET2ryfBJYfIZW34MFpj9ec8WexBZcJxSoHWNMTbZ5hRnBNGGlrOV6Ap5FpRQa6xr0PlF3Rs9x0p3Eenx5q9vSmiALLig42V3UvYLC9KaNrrLM3MGzxxCNSjchkOfg/s72-c/didntt-like.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-4620449858271188238</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Jan 2013 06:35:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2013-01-05T22:35:44.617-08:00</atom:updated><title>What intrigues you?</title><description><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgFC2UqsrE5tDFQJbNbCmk8r9g8HE3wdJ8j-7rZEFSFnzxMQ5eDEMiIKQ0scXDdOMdNEZ79OI3xmdsYH_xGk1-1QrS-R_galOUuDlDjKrrXOwPb47pIjeJ9FEaC2NazRVbW8gzSf2Iys/s1600/MP900404950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgFC2UqsrE5tDFQJbNbCmk8r9g8HE3wdJ8j-7rZEFSFnzxMQ5eDEMiIKQ0scXDdOMdNEZ79OI3xmdsYH_xGk1-1QrS-R_galOUuDlDjKrrXOwPb47pIjeJ9FEaC2NazRVbW8gzSf2Iys/s320/MP900404950.JPG" width="214" /></a>We understand least what we overlook, disregard, ignore.<br />
<br />
We understand least what we know in abundance.<br />
<br />
It is that one piece of life that is different that attracts our attention and intrigues us.<br />
<br />
It is that one piece that doesn't fit that causes us to spend time, take time to examine, behold, take in, breath in, touch, magnify, relish, marvel.<br />
<br />
What intrigues you?
<br />
<hr />
</description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-intrigues-you.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgFC2UqsrE5tDFQJbNbCmk8r9g8HE3wdJ8j-7rZEFSFnzxMQ5eDEMiIKQ0scXDdOMdNEZ79OI3xmdsYH_xGk1-1QrS-R_galOUuDlDjKrrXOwPb47pIjeJ9FEaC2NazRVbW8gzSf2Iys/s72-c/MP900404950.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-325011883126941364</guid><pubDate>Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:19:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2012-03-03T09:19:15.598-08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">black pants</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Family</category><title>Dad responds to date error in black pants saga</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6UqhYIeKRJ-A-OWLH_CAQGTTxdZXQjXSIeH2Jt0yRjOb78WBxyB8SEDMLaPvj0sPEZSe0zV-IMfmiAkGJlvxj6OUElLvCFSzTL-cpH6tK6nCwrPaVn7mWO0mGQnBYiPoAu8vvKbEO_E/s1600/MP900309272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6UqhYIeKRJ-A-OWLH_CAQGTTxdZXQjXSIeH2Jt0yRjOb78WBxyB8SEDMLaPvj0sPEZSe0zV-IMfmiAkGJlvxj6OUElLvCFSzTL-cpH6tK6nCwrPaVn7mWO0mGQnBYiPoAu8vvKbEO_E/s320/MP900309272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Carol,<br />
<br />
Well, thanks for your efforts in being my helper. It will work out ok. I seems that I do not only know what day it is I cannot remember what month it is. Does that mean the the year will be next?<br />
<br />
Thanks again<br />
<br />
dad</description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2012/03/dad-responds-to-date-error-in-black.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6UqhYIeKRJ-A-OWLH_CAQGTTxdZXQjXSIeH2Jt0yRjOb78WBxyB8SEDMLaPvj0sPEZSe0zV-IMfmiAkGJlvxj6OUElLvCFSzTL-cpH6tK6nCwrPaVn7mWO0mGQnBYiPoAu8vvKbEO_E/s72-c/MP900309272.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-7745383715914069461</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:10:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2012-03-03T09:22:05.673-08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">AHA moment</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">black pants</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Family</category><title>Continuing saga of the black pants</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61X7k3Mcp-DIE8krESm2iKzEFgmQlsRKeQ11HUW3QyhkpFGlapX-yA-GrD7MHxDlYqFemHG1Mq66zomPSG6kfGB0w2yFA-gBepvWLOpxpQmkx36SqptatTj8s-NZQBtFneK8lXPp1gIo/s1600/MP900401706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="128" width="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61X7k3Mcp-DIE8krESm2iKzEFgmQlsRKeQ11HUW3QyhkpFGlapX-yA-GrD7MHxDlYqFemHG1Mq66zomPSG6kfGB0w2yFA-gBepvWLOpxpQmkx36SqptatTj8s-NZQBtFneK8lXPp1gIo/s320/MP900401706.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Dad, <br />
<br />
As you recall, you asked me to pick up your black (not navy) pants and take them to your friends flower shop. They were heading south to your vacation spot and were happy to deliver the correct color of slacks to you, if I could deliver the correct color of slacks to them. You specified a specific date for me to drop them off before your friends left town.<br />
<br />
I had no problem getting your pants to your friends shop by the day you noted.<br />
<br />
However, I do not believe it was the date you meant.<br />
<br />
I went by on Thursday to deliver your black (not navy) pants, early. Surprisingly, the girls in the shop said that Ann and her husband had left that morning.<br />
<br />
I must have looked very crestfallen as I shuffled out of the store trying to figure out how I had made a mistake and delivered on the wrong date.<br />
<br />
I plopped into my car and started to turn the key. <br />
<br />
Suddenly, one of the florists sprang from the shop waving a bouquet of carnations. She tapped on my window. I eased it down and she stuffed the flowers in my hand. <br />
<br />
I accepted them with a droopy smile.<br />
<br />
I now have a bouquet of pink flowers and a pair of black slacks.<br />
<br />
As a reminder, this is February. Next month is March.</description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2012/02/continuing-saga-of-black-pants.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61X7k3Mcp-DIE8krESm2iKzEFgmQlsRKeQ11HUW3QyhkpFGlapX-yA-GrD7MHxDlYqFemHG1Mq66zomPSG6kfGB0w2yFA-gBepvWLOpxpQmkx36SqptatTj8s-NZQBtFneK8lXPp1gIo/s72-c/MP900401706.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-6359359387006123458</guid><pubDate>Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:12:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2012-03-03T09:22:35.170-08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">AHA moment</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">black pants</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Family</category><title>Navy is the new black: the story of the missing pants</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjez2Jiug8ZaAmS5qY7E3xnOyE6iyxX0nsDptZo0kEpjxCCDWwnpw5mHQJpTE-4l20nd20EwaI88SPvoQWzriqIfUjlUIhqBaHZw5-PpG4N26wrNMrqpuIKFz0JfG7Zw9X55q764vt-udg/s1600/MP900385506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjez2Jiug8ZaAmS5qY7E3xnOyE6iyxX0nsDptZo0kEpjxCCDWwnpw5mHQJpTE-4l20nd20EwaI88SPvoQWzriqIfUjlUIhqBaHZw5-PpG4N26wrNMrqpuIKFz0JfG7Zw9X55q764vt-udg/s320/MP900385506.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My dad is a regular guy. With regular issues. He forgets things.<br />
<br />
He is on vacation and discovered he was missing something. He sent me an email and asked that I stop by his house, dig through his closet, grab his black pants -- that he needs for a special occasion -- and forward them to his sunny digs in Arizona.<br />
<br />
I did.<br />
<br />
Then I got this message.<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>"I do not remember if I thanked you for going by the house to pick up my black pants so here is a thank you.<br />
<br />
However, the pants you chose were Navy Blue."</b></blockquote></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2012/02/navy-is-new-black-he-story-of-missing.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjez2Jiug8ZaAmS5qY7E3xnOyE6iyxX0nsDptZo0kEpjxCCDWwnpw5mHQJpTE-4l20nd20EwaI88SPvoQWzriqIfUjlUIhqBaHZw5-PpG4N26wrNMrqpuIKFz0JfG7Zw9X55q764vt-udg/s72-c/MP900385506.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-8923380880813993371</guid><pubDate>Mon, 29 Aug 2011 01:08:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-08-28T18:08:38.956-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">AHA moment</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Daughter</category><title>Elephant makes stool, do you sit on it or step in it?</title><description>I recently followed a headline reading, “<i>Elephant Makes Stool</i>,” followed by “<i>First Known Aha Moment for Species</i>.”<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="An elephant uses a cube as a stool." height="320" src="http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/393/cache/elephant-uses-cube-as-tool-2_39338_600x450.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AsianElephants/meetelephants.cfm">Kandula </a>uses stool to reach for fruit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
There's a child in my house.<br />
<br />
Once, that child made a stool, too.<br />
<br />
It came with an AHA moment, as well.<br />
<br />
I believe that child may have thought something like “Eureka!”<br />
<br />
The link I followed took me to a page showing the video of the defining moment for the baby elephant.<br />
<br />
I thought I might see something humorous.<br />
<br />
“Eureka!” I read, “Burst of insight may redefine elephant intelligence.”<br />
<br />
In an apparent flash of insight, I realized the stool was, a stool.<br />
<br />
Watch the video <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/08/110819-elephant-eureka-aha-moment-zoo-intelligence-science-plos/">here</a>.<br />
</description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/08/elephant-makes-stool-do-you-sit-on-it.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-6069838697312824550</guid><pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:33:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-08-01T20:35:31.394-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">China</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Daughter</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Marriage</category><title>Wonder what I'm thinking?</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDZZqzokZUIxv8DsM5QSuaDpNTEvd-TQQFlqVNC4T032hQXi67RPhyphenhyphen5_uK9UzXgYdHbQxvrP1XRqDXgPZ7suHhRL2c3_tLLz8zW89p3SzTKJvnfp0Q-cHupJkTWN9HCZ6kYCGCOCr3Z8/s1600/Dress+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDZZqzokZUIxv8DsM5QSuaDpNTEvd-TQQFlqVNC4T032hQXi67RPhyphenhyphen5_uK9UzXgYdHbQxvrP1XRqDXgPZ7suHhRL2c3_tLLz8zW89p3SzTKJvnfp0Q-cHupJkTWN9HCZ6kYCGCOCr3Z8/s400/Dress+1.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>This is a picture of me that my daughter captured on a recent trip to China. I find it all very intriguing. Help me write the photo caption by leaving your thoughts in the comments section.<br />
<br />
That could be intriguing, too.</description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/08/wonder-what-im-thinking.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDZZqzokZUIxv8DsM5QSuaDpNTEvd-TQQFlqVNC4T032hQXi67RPhyphenhyphen5_uK9UzXgYdHbQxvrP1XRqDXgPZ7suHhRL2c3_tLLz8zW89p3SzTKJvnfp0Q-cHupJkTWN9HCZ6kYCGCOCr3Z8/s72-c/Dress+1.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-705583776389570686</guid><pubDate>Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:37:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-07-19T07:39:40.586-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Library</category><title>What I'm spending my tax dollars on</title><description>Dream.<br />
<br />
Discover. Contemplate. Question.<br />
<br />
All the things that happen when we read a good book. <br />
<br />
Our community opened a new library. Now, that's a good story.<br />
(And tax dollars well spent).<br />
<iframe align="center" frameborder="0" height="478" scrolling="no" src="http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?group_id=&amp;user_id=&amp;set_id=72157627100106351/show&amp;text=" width="478"></iframe><br />
<small>Photos by <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/kailynndoane">Kailynn</a> via <a href="http://flickrslidr.com/" title="flickrSLiDR">flickrSLiDR</a>.</small><br />
<hr /><br />
Read more:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://360convos.blogspot.com/2011/07/key-to-internet-being-able-to-read.html">The community I live in holds a high value on literacy | 360 Convos</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/17/thousands-tour-new-vancouver-library/">New library wows crowd | The Columbian</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/15/library-is-open-invitation-to-discovery/">Library is open invitation to discovery | The Columbian</a></li>
</ul></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-im-spending-my-tax-dollars-on.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-9038930935203953043</guid><pubDate>Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:12:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-07-17T09:12:36.800-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Change world</category><title>New post coming soon</title><description><h2>I mean it.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBgLxFWD_jT0dYJWv_96dKB4i_dRi7JNe2Jli6fB4PpV1Z3SOEuYb_RdR6jcagQMab8-wCEsroAtZ46VSUX0p2xCmlNJzbpSpZuCZFkNHGoQvPk32A7iV3kZYceDOpauZD-j0Yeh620I/s1600/Bio+Shoot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBgLxFWD_jT0dYJWv_96dKB4i_dRi7JNe2Jli6fB4PpV1Z3SOEuYb_RdR6jcagQMab8-wCEsroAtZ46VSUX0p2xCmlNJzbpSpZuCZFkNHGoQvPk32A7iV3kZYceDOpauZD-j0Yeh620I/s400/Bio+Shoot.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Maybe I'll explain why it looks like I'm on tv.<br />
<hr></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-post-coming-soon.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBgLxFWD_jT0dYJWv_96dKB4i_dRi7JNe2Jli6fB4PpV1Z3SOEuYb_RdR6jcagQMab8-wCEsroAtZ46VSUX0p2xCmlNJzbpSpZuCZFkNHGoQvPk32A7iV3kZYceDOpauZD-j0Yeh620I/s72-c/Bio+Shoot.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-7198649100559563303</guid><pubDate>Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:08:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-07-07T21:08:45.484-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Entertainment</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">YouTube</category><title>Chinese cup takes off</title><description><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PNcCl48_1PE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
There are moments when a camera is handy. Occasionally, those moments are enhanced when the camera at hand incorporates video. Watch this cup of tea travel across the table all by itself. <br />
<br />
Then tell me what it means.<br />
<hr></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/07/chinese-cup-takes-off.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/PNcCl48_1PE/default.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-6616990350198479581</guid><pubDate>Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:03:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-07-03T07:03:01.058-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Family</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Wallpaper</category><title>Why you should always keep a clean room</title><description><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQorNelSRNJZhq7QUMDu8iG1DuA5pPnw5zYFRC_ZqzCxt9vViRT1Y6_Zrc9RUjgAE8V7WYSXU0JmqqjafhcpaOIzDHuxtEfsMfEyJ7TxktBqYTGQS8zU1rEZ8hXR5LcASfSxVaHLbmj4I/s1600/j0430896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQorNelSRNJZhq7QUMDu8iG1DuA5pPnw5zYFRC_ZqzCxt9vViRT1Y6_Zrc9RUjgAE8V7WYSXU0JmqqjafhcpaOIzDHuxtEfsMfEyJ7TxktBqYTGQS8zU1rEZ8hXR5LcASfSxVaHLbmj4I/s320/j0430896.jpg" width="320" /></a>Yesterday, one of our web visitors spent some precious Saturday leisure time to reflect on our <a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-i-dont-always-have-to-be-right-do.html">wallpaper</a> post. Their reflection resulted in a comment that was simply too good not to feature. And like all good thoughtful, reflective posts, there is a moral to the story (See Editor's Note below).<br />
<br />
Here's the contribution from an 'anonymous' visitor:<br />
<br />
Once upon a time Little_Carol was overheard commenting on The "Magic Mother." For those of you who do not know who The "Magic Mother" was I'll try and explain. She was the mystical, magical mother that was never wrong and always knew what you were doing and thinking. In this part of the universe nothing was kept from The "Magic Mother" because she was the closest thing to an omniscient being they knew. The universe was in balance and all things were right. This is how things are and things rarely change.<br />
<br />
One day <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ugotmo">Little_Brother</a> came along. Now Little_Sister thought that Little_Brother was the most annoying creature in the world, this unbeknown to her is called the little brother effect. The little brother annoyance factor is higher and louder when is traveling towards him or him towards you. Simply stated the little brother effect is directly proportional to the proximity of you to the little brother.<br />
<br />
Now where was I? Oh&nbsp;yes, the day that Little_Brother came along. The universe shifted that day as the balance had been upset. Little_Brother came to believe in the things his Big_Sisters told him of the omniscient being they knew and called The "Magic Mother." She was always right and had never been proved otherwise. Things in the universe began to settle back in and once again the universe was in balance and all things were right. This is how things are and things rarely change.<br />
<br />
One day as Little_Brother was walking through a room he overheard The "Magic Mother" talking and he was stunned. He actually thought he heard The "Magic Mother" say she was wrong. This.....could it be... but how could he prove it. You see like the boy that called wolf Little_Brother had been known to pull a prank or 2 or 3 or eleven-teen. He knew Big_Sisters would never believe him and think it was just another prank. His mind went rushing how to prove it. Since he was a well read boy for his age, he loved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hardy_Boys">Hardy Boys</a> and Sherlock Holmes, a thought came into his mind. Why not put it on paper and see if The "Magic Mother" would sign it. Proof positive that no one could deny. Yes and it was a good example of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor">Occam's razor</a>, well at least he thought it was.<br />
<br />
Decision made, he quickly searched for something to write on and write with. He quickly penned the important things (On this date, at this time, The "Magic Mother" admitted to being wrong). He left a line for her signature. He approached The "Magic Mother" and presented her with&nbsp;his writing. She quickly read it. This always puzzled him he thought she would have known what he was up to and would have no need to read it. That was just a passing thought and was as easily forgotten as the answer "yes" to the question of can I go out and play.<br />
<br />
She signed it, after a little laugh. Oh, on that day the universe once again shifted and once again it was not balanced. He had to find Big_Sisters and show them his proof. Big_Sisters could hardly believe their eyes, and the universe shifted again as things became more and more out of balance. They ran to The "Magic Mother" and asked if it was true. They could not believe that Little_Brother could be right and The "Magic Mother" was not. Oh, how their universes were turned upside down that day.<br />
<br />
As the years went by, that piece of paper was swallowed up in the portable hole that existed in his room, although he could never find it. This did not matter as it was always remember there was a piece of paper and even to this day The "Magic Mother" is still The "Magic Mother."<br />
<br />
<blockquote><strong>Editors Note</strong>: Let this be a lesson to all of us, <em>clean your room and know where your important papers are!</em><br />
<br />
The only other thing I can say, is this: I REMEMBER THAT PIECE OF PAPER.<br />
<br />
Like it was yesterday :-)</blockquote></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-you-should-always-keep-clean-room.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQorNelSRNJZhq7QUMDu8iG1DuA5pPnw5zYFRC_ZqzCxt9vViRT1Y6_Zrc9RUjgAE8V7WYSXU0JmqqjafhcpaOIzDHuxtEfsMfEyJ7TxktBqYTGQS8zU1rEZ8hXR5LcASfSxVaHLbmj4I/s72-c/j0430896.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total><georss:featurename>Vancouver, WA, USA</georss:featurename><georss:point>45.6387281 -122.66148609999999</georss:point><georss:box>45.5824541 -122.81676509999998 45.6950021 -122.5062071</georss:box></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-7509159266469212621</guid><pubDate>Sat, 02 Jul 2011 19:49:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-07-02T13:32:07.513-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">AHA moment</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Daughter</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Wallpaper</category><title>Why I don't always have to be right, do you?</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KL7Xmwsg0F-L3035UK8iGFoJulVX2Lkwniy9jsHjkZFUxrrmVZl9Fck00Wcgl9fJV4E02lDsZ7Sl52z-ITRx56k6gbLnPKsHJc3CScN2ZVPK_m-YhgBicUgNLBrm9uI3a3qju4Ciyls/s1600/4th+of+July+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KL7Xmwsg0F-L3035UK8iGFoJulVX2Lkwniy9jsHjkZFUxrrmVZl9Fck00Wcgl9fJV4E02lDsZ7Sl52z-ITRx56k6gbLnPKsHJc3CScN2ZVPK_m-YhgBicUgNLBrm9uI3a3qju4Ciyls/s320/4th+of+July+058.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>About seven years ago, I traded bedrooms with my daughter. The exchange gave me the quiet room on the back of the house, the one that overlooks the (mostly) well-kept expanse of backyard.<br />
<br />
The room I vacated had a super abundance of what I call 'old-lady' wallpaper. I remember questioning my then grade school-aged daughter whether she would like the wallpaper changed. At the time it didn't bother her.<br />
<br />
I was fine with that. <br />
<br />
I did not relish the thought of tearing it down.<br />
<br />
Now, several years later, the room your friends hang out in seems to carry a greater value. Personally, I would have complained far sooner, and campaigned quite diligently for a disruption of the flowery bonanza. My daughter seemed content.<br />
<br />
Until now.<br />
<br />
It's a holiday. We have an extra day off. It's time to attack the wall paper.<br />
<br />
I agreed.<br />
<br />
After all, I would have done it sooner, but it was a lovely pattern once to someone, and I could tell the paper had come from the expensive end of the wallpaper book. I wasn't looking for extra work way back then. Today, that postponed chore caught up with me.<br />
<br />
When I start a project, I plan, gather supplies, get an early start, and quit when am I one arm's length past exhaustion. Which is to say, I don't loll around in bed and crawl out all sleepy-eyed, meandering across the hall, chat and spend some time deciding what to eat for breakfast.<br />
<br />
When I finally saw the whites of my daughter's eyes, I'd already been to the store, purchased a wallpaper perforating tool, chemical remover, a high pressure sprayer, set up the purchased equipment and tested it.<br />
<br />
I organized my gear in the kitchen and gave her instructions to protect the carpet and furniture, then took my trappings to her room. I realized she had lined everything up to begin work on the wall with the most wallpaper. I sucked air through my teeth and rolled my lips in and considered. "Here's my recommendation," I said. I pointed to the wall with the least amount of flower-ganza. "I'd start with that wall. You can probably finish it in one day. You'll learn a lot, and by the end of the day one wall will be completed."<br />
<br />
She sighed, as if I always have to change things, as if I need to be right.<br />
<br />
"If you start on this big wall and tucker out, it won't be finished, it will look like a mess. If you can get the other wall done, you'll feel like you accomplished something," I encouraged.<br />
<br />
She agreed to my recommendation. I'm not one to usually back down. She's generally willing to learn.<br />
<br />
I helped her get started and turned the tools over to her. About an hour later, I checked in. "Are you tired?"<br />
<br />
Vigorous head nod.<br />
<br />
"Aren't you glad I suggested the smaller wall?"<br />
<br />
She smiled and said, "Mommy's always right."<br />
<br />
I didn't like that assessment. It felt self-righteous. Argumentative. Not genuine. I arched a brow and said, "I don't have to be right. It would be better to say, 'Mommy has great ideas.'"<br />
<br />
Those words sounded way more satisfactory slipping past my daughter's smile. <br />
<br />
<i>How about you? When's the last time you were right, and how did it feel when someone else realized it?</i></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-i-dont-always-have-to-be-right-do.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KL7Xmwsg0F-L3035UK8iGFoJulVX2Lkwniy9jsHjkZFUxrrmVZl9Fck00Wcgl9fJV4E02lDsZ7Sl52z-ITRx56k6gbLnPKsHJc3CScN2ZVPK_m-YhgBicUgNLBrm9uI3a3qju4Ciyls/s72-c/4th+of+July+058.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-5600336616580059329</guid><pubDate>Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:11:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-06-11T15:33:44.037-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Book Review</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Linda Reinhardt</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">LinkedIN</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Writers Mixer</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Yacolt</category><title>Book flies off nightstand: Like a Bird Wanders</title><description><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://nwchristianwriters.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/lindareinhardt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://nwchristianwriters.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/lindareinhardt.png" /></a></div>Some time back at a Vancouver Writer's Mixer, I met two local authors, <a href="http://www.oaktara.com/sharonbernashsmith" target="_blank">Sharon Bernash Smith</a> and <a href="http://www.oaktara.com/LindaReinhardt" target="_blank">Linda Reinhardt</a>. They were part of an author trio who had written <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Like-Wanders-Sharon-Bernash-Smith/dp/1602900825/ref=as_li_wdgt_js_ex?&amp;camp=212361&amp;linkCode=wey&amp;tag=peaofcar-20&amp;creative=380733" target="_blank"><i>Like a Bird Wanders</i></a>. We had a lively conversation, decided to keep in touch,&nbsp;gmailed each other, and&nbsp;connected on&nbsp;LinkedIn. They were planning a virtual book tour and their publisher, <a href="http://www.oaktara.com/" target="_blank">OakTara</a>, sent me a copy of <i>Like a Bird Wanders</i>, so I could join in.<br />
<br />
I picked up the book several times, read a few pages and set it down.<br />
<br />
It sat by my bedside. Months turned into a year. More months went by and other books and projects piled on top.<br />
<br />
A recent development at work offered the opportunity to create an audio podcast. I flounced into the office with a concept I was eager to flesh out. Before I barely turned on my computer, a co-worker leaned into my cube and proffered the same idea. I knew there was traction in the creative sphere and we should do it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Like-Wanders-Sharon-Bernash-Smith/dp/1602900825?&amp;camp=212361&amp;linkCode=wey&amp;tag=peaofcar-20&amp;creative=380733" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41wLLcn1efL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The course of the project at work allowed me to reconnect with Linda Reinhardt. Our subsequent conversation reengaged my interest in completing <i>Like a Bird Wanders.</i> I plucked the paperback out of the pile, relaxed on the bed and plummeted into the turn of the century: a family in crisis, punished by their own choices, propelled by events like the <a href="http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&amp;file_id=5196" target="_blank">Yacolt fire</a>—the largest fire recorded in Washington state history. <br />
<br />
The story is told through the voices of the three McLeod sisters. Each of the authors spoke as one of the sisters. Because I had met two of the authors, I found myself wondering which author represented which character. I waver between asking Linda to disclose who was who and leaving the question unspoken. Some mysteries are meant to be savored.<br />
<br />
The book speaks to the importance of family, of solid values that give us good footing no matter what life throws at us or what choices we make. It's about relationships. Some relationships support our dreams and support us through life's crises, others are centered around the other person's needs, and become selfish and self-serving—for them, not for us. It's also about not postponing joy in the midst of sadness.<br />
<br />
Thirty pages in, I inserted my first marker. Eva Jo speaks about how unremarkable our days can be, yet how blessed we are, "by the things that make them that way." How much of what is plain and regular in our lives, isn't so plain, but builds the foundation of what we need to survive the unexpected? Later, Eva Jo writes to her absent sister Grace, "I'm living behind the loom, not able to see much but strange patterns." How much of our lives make no sense until we are farther down the road?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/photos/scarlet_tanager_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/photos/scarlet_tanager_8.jpg" width="200" /></a>In her journal, Grace writes of the mesmerizing beauty of a Tanager, 'a flame with wings.' She follows the flash of red onto private property, recieves permission to scout it, but the bird escapes into the air, and melancholy walks Grace out of the garden. "It was only then I realized he'd left something behind. His song." What are we leaving behind? A beautiful pattern wrought by our own 'life's loom?' The gift of song? All these thoughts engaged me as I fell deeper into the book.<br />
<br />
In another letter, Eva Jo encourages Nettie, "Place your hand over your own heart, Gracie. Feel it beating? That's how often I think of you..." This is good storytelling, the words tell us how often Eva Jo thinks about her sister without using cliches such as, <i>not a day goes by that I don't think of you</i>. The wonder of the sister-to-sister connection is a continuous thread throughout the book.<br />
<br />
There are places in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Like-Wanders-Sharon-Bernash-Smith/dp/1602900825/ref=as_li_wdgt_js_ex?&amp;camp=212361&amp;linkCode=wey&amp;tag=peaofcar-20&amp;creative=380733" target="_blank"><i>Like A Bird Wanders</i></a>, especially near the end, when the reader receives an abundance of information as the story ties up the loose ends, and at the beginning it was a bit of a transition to get into the feel of the letter exchange, but overall, the book spoke to me in emotional ways that I won't soon forget.<br />
<br />
<hr /><hr /><b>On Thursday June 24</b>, our work project debuts, Book Convos: conversations about books and people who love them, on <a href="http://couv.com/" target="_blank">couv.com</a>. More on that, later!</description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/06/book-flies-off-nightstand-like-bird.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><thr:total>2</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-3712870666578417805</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:36:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-06-11T08:04:25.347-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Contest Winner</category><title>Winner of the novel Hemlock Lake</title><description>I think everyone should win. It doesn't always happen that way. It requires skill, strategy, and when all else fails, luck.<br />
<br />
Here's our lucky winner from the last drawing on <a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/">Pearl of Carol</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxuQ9wHdFJ_pyu71mNkwJtFNtmBRv4QPsq3oHRGcN_-9PJQ3eDfZNvSL1ZEoqJnZ7BFnx-9FviJSVPtLd7WKNrU1IXSgJHQSo-p7VkT4MoWXm2SO5W9MigcC1ma6Y3ax93Ec0A7Z2hWE/s1600/DebCushman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxuQ9wHdFJ_pyu71mNkwJtFNtmBRv4QPsq3oHRGcN_-9PJQ3eDfZNvSL1ZEoqJnZ7BFnx-9FviJSVPtLd7WKNrU1IXSgJHQSo-p7VkT4MoWXm2SO5W9MigcC1ma6Y3ax93Ec0A7Z2hWE/s320/DebCushman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deb Cushman</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Congratulations. </div><div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a> </div><div align="center">Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-think-everyone-should-win.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxuQ9wHdFJ_pyu71mNkwJtFNtmBRv4QPsq3oHRGcN_-9PJQ3eDfZNvSL1ZEoqJnZ7BFnx-9FviJSVPtLd7WKNrU1IXSgJHQSo-p7VkT4MoWXm2SO5W9MigcC1ma6Y3ax93Ec0A7Z2hWE/s72-c/DebCushman.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-2827428072981329135</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:57:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2011-06-03T13:57:19.420-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Book Review</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Carolyn J. Rose</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Writers Mixer</category><title>Why a winner is always a writer</title><description>Thank you <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12879541207987895748">Jan</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07131210392343168635">Abhishek</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/06089148662063230556">Wendy</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/02055952750657814682">Kailynn</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/03219404894227324999">Tina</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01476040745150120915">Suedenym</a> (sp), <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/05471628933770531600">Deb</a>, <a href="http://www.elizabethlyon.com/">Elizabeth</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01385073936714563295">Melanie</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11471497162809115640">MusicalDogs</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/06168353322906342745">Mike</a>, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009">Jacqueline</a>, DukTape, and <span class="author">Anonymous</span> for your comments on the guest post from author Carolyn J. Rose. You were entered in the drawing for the novel, <i>HEMLOCK LAKE, A Catskill Mountains Mystery, </i>published by Five Star<i>.</i><br />
<br />
Due to the high credibility of this blog and desire to sustain that enviable status, the drawing was held at a neutral place (my place of employment), in a neutral spot (the lunchroom), was conducted by a neutral party (first person I could enlist), was witnessed by people who didn't care, and has been authenticated as COMPLETELY LEGIT. Signed affidavits will be provided upon request.<br />
<br />
Cue drum roll:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMouaBVmjf9ypwwwkB0eqyoo8dus6RSoRDBI6hCjnrL1ECUq6BdqiQEM5DgyyXTK7O_17N0Hgg6DA6IFbL6KDEUA7DAucnaBD_SBryg3gu5QRcDm9l8rHxThhH57T07_AWf67bCRkF7Q/s1600-h/BookDrawing1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354334721279016306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMouaBVmjf9ypwwwkB0eqyoo8dus6RSoRDBI6hCjnrL1ECUq6BdqiQEM5DgyyXTK7O_17N0Hgg6DA6IFbL6KDEUA7DAucnaBD_SBryg3gu5QRcDm9l8rHxThhH57T07_AWf67bCRkF7Q/s320/BookDrawing1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9xoTJjeyMelquo2wIMxZT1Qifoq8EBhS0WVw_dnCUqnSyjRC-sM-cnHnvw6M2lfvOtuZ6DyDJcHC0pLbdskp4DNWdOlaKyc2Od6XIHHYVtzkP65AjK-92Boc-TUINETXudoX170frRI/s1600-h/BookDrawing2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354334723896519394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9xoTJjeyMelquo2wIMxZT1Qifoq8EBhS0WVw_dnCUqnSyjRC-sM-cnHnvw6M2lfvOtuZ6DyDJcHC0pLbdskp4DNWdOlaKyc2Od6XIHHYVtzkP65AjK-92Boc-TUINETXudoX170frRI/s320/BookDrawing2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354334732090471538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFisCNxgelHUhCA0OJVVa2ohWxLgkWukw5MP46_8f8ckydWoBQSamrSBK7nfa5MDCJVrIJD9vkwwwKf4OgCQCTQsPD9HVaJC3N4VVSBTxTagm-EUNuvoA4JhaA2hJNGOX6ZXk6JlNyIM/s320/BookDrawing3.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Congratulations:</div><br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://frecklesanddeb.blogspot.com/">DEB CUSHMAN</a></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center">YOU WON. </div><br />
<div align="center">(enthusiastic applause!!!)</div><br />
Deb is a children's writer living in Washington State. Her short stories have appeared in several children's magazines and she is currently working on a contemporary middle grade novel. She also blogs at the <a href="http://frecklesanddeb.blogspot.com/">Adventures of Freckles &amp; Deb, Bunny Bloggers</a>. Her prize has been delivered, read and savored. We'll wait for Deb to chime in with a review.<br />
<br />
To everyone: I am looking forward to sharing more of your wit and thoughtful commentary to balance my blather. Oh, and its <i>way</i> okay to invite your friends on over to the <a href="http://www.pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/">Pearl of Carol</a>.<br />
<br />
In conclusion, <i><b>a winner is always a writer because in the contest you had to leave a comment</b></i>.<br />
<br />
That requires writing.<br />
<br />
Any questions?<br />
<br />
Send them to: <span style="color: #000066;"><b>pearlofcarol</b></span> (at) <span style="color: #000066;"><b>gmail</b></span> (dot) <span style="color: #000066;"><b>com. </b></span><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a><br />
Click the Peal to Get Back to the Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-winner-is-always-writer.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMouaBVmjf9ypwwwkB0eqyoo8dus6RSoRDBI6hCjnrL1ECUq6BdqiQEM5DgyyXTK7O_17N0Hgg6DA6IFbL6KDEUA7DAucnaBD_SBryg3gu5QRcDm9l8rHxThhH57T07_AWf67bCRkF7Q/s72-c/BookDrawing1.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-1973782173020938551</guid><pubDate>Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:01:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-12-22T13:47:55.103-08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Boot Camp</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Carolyn J. Rose</category><title>Rain powered writer</title><description><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Guest Post by Carolyn J. Rose - with FREE Book Contest</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Enter a comment below and you're entered to win a copy of HEMLOCK LAKE).</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Writing through the dark days of winter –&nbsp;</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How to be a precipitation-powered writer</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
Rain. It’s a fact of life in the Northwest.</div><br />
If you live out here, odds are you’re going get wet—either because you forgot your waterproof jacket, figured you could outrun a shower, or failed to check the warranty expiration date on your roof.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo9jthUwpxjTUJxWqO2F30CyMvvHgy6RkL_Yt2DxOsBLYDnzJKL1KCtVIfkHuDVuNgEx5HVHuIBLGjSCZEbrBHZC3BTE_SOddcyWjWy2nOkVYZu0QXyWEj6luBjgmki-0YRIwOVTiVPA/s1600/Win+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo9jthUwpxjTUJxWqO2F30CyMvvHgy6RkL_Yt2DxOsBLYDnzJKL1KCtVIfkHuDVuNgEx5HVHuIBLGjSCZEbrBHZC3BTE_SOddcyWjWy2nOkVYZu0QXyWEj6luBjgmki-0YRIwOVTiVPA/s320/Win+Book.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In early October of 1989 my husband and I came to the Northwest on a job search/vacation. We experienced a full day of sunshine before the clouds rolled in. “It will be lifting soon,” Mike and I told each other every morning and again before we went to bed.<br />
<br />
On day six, drenched and depressed, I interrogated the waitress at a diner in Florence, Oregon. “When will it let up?”<br />
<br />
She took a quick peek out the window at what looked more like a stream than a street, tore the check off her pad and said in a tone that implied I’d asked the dumbest question of the decade, “April.”<br />
<br />
The joke was on her. I got a job at KVAL news in Eugene and moved to Oregon anyway.<br />
<br />
Right away I found that the perception of participation was far different than it was in Albuquerque or in the Catskill Mountains where I grew up. Back there we’d had rain, thunderstorms, and occasionally drizzle. But out here there are many more words: rain, mist, drizzle, showers, storms, thunderstorms, sprinkles, drenching rain, continuous rain, and intermittent all of the above. There was, I discovered during the years we lived in Eugene, also lot of fog, and beyond that, freezing fog. Sometimes there was snow, especially in the hills.<br />
<br />
But my first Northwest winter was filled with new experiences and so, as I got to know my way around, I scarcely noticed the weather. My second winter, however, was marked by deep depression. Fog moved in not on little cat feet but like a cougar driving a bulldozer, and it hung around for weeks. I made it through by eating too much chocolate and spending too many hours in bed, propped up on a pile of pillows, indulging in comfort reading.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkozU-Zr3AlYeBZytW4BWCBSu_lEKJEpi6U2_8MP45qJLMxuJBH3MQ65kEEXq4AWhCfRqJR1Q8t4P2KgSBR-DkUMovdiXWaCctdG1Qkq1FWntb6VqmQSHdZKZneG6oGG7eCDtrpWnmJn8/s1600/CarolynOrangeShirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkozU-Zr3AlYeBZytW4BWCBSu_lEKJEpi6U2_8MP45qJLMxuJBH3MQ65kEEXq4AWhCfRqJR1Q8t4P2KgSBR-DkUMovdiXWaCctdG1Qkq1FWntb6VqmQSHdZKZneG6oGG7eCDtrpWnmJn8/s200/CarolynOrangeShirt.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>The next year I decided I wouldn’t give in to depression, wouldn’t allow myself even a few hours of the blues. I vowed to write through the winter and focus on the weather in my fictional settings instead of outside my window. So, in late September, I sat down and made a list of what I would do to prepare for the onslaught of Pacific storms. It worked. By spring I was halfway through a novel and hardly noticing the hammering of thick drops on the roof.<br />
<br />
<b>If you want to power your own writing through the dark days of winter, here’s my list:</b><br />
<ul><li>Drench yourself in Ds. Step up your vitamin D intake during the dark months.</li>
<li>Turn on more lights. Full-spectrum bulbs are good. But any kind of extra light is a bonus.</li>
<li>Stay away from greasy foods and heavy meals.</li>
<li>Don’t overdo coffee and caffeine. Sure, it wakes you up on a dreary morning, but too much can mess with your sleep patterns.</li>
<li>Cut back on alcohol. The buzz might feel good, but remember that it’s a depressant and will bring you down later.</li>
<li>Escalate the exercise. It’s easier to get depressed when you’re sedentary, so keep moving.</li>
<li>Get out and confront precipitation. Walk in all weather.</li>
<li>Splurge on high-quality waterproof winter wear.</li>
<li>Two final words: cute boots. </li>
</ul><br />
If you have tips for powering your writing through the winter, please share them in the comment spaces. I’m always looking for ideas to add to the list.<br />
<br />
<hr />Carolyn J. Rose grew up in New York’s Catskill Mountains, graduated from the University of Arizona, logged two years in Arkansas with Volunteers in Service to America, and spent 25 years as a television news researcher, writer, producer, and assignment editor in Arkansas, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. She teaches novel-writing in Vancouver, Washington, and founded the Vancouver Writers’ Mixers. Her hobbies are reading, gardening, and not cooking.<br />
<br />
She is the author of Hemlock Lake, Consulted to Death, Driven to Death, and Dated to Death, and the co-author of Sometimes a Great Commotion, The Big Grabowski, The Hard Karma Shuffle, The Crushed Velvet Miasma, and The Hermit of Humbug Mountain which will be on sale as a Kindle during December.<br />
<br />
Visit her virtual home at <a href="http://www.deadlyduomysteries.com%20/">www.deadlyduomysteries.com </a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Editors Note: Leave a comment to be entered to win a FREE copy of Hemlock Lake by Carolyn J. Rose.</b></div><br />
Carolyn J. Rose was my teacher for Novel Writing Boot Camp I and II. Out of that experience sprang an incredible critique group that has produced two <a href="http://www.pnwa.org/">Pacific Northwest Writing Association </a>winners, <a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2009/08/winner-either-way-cause-your-parents.html">Melanie Sherman</a> and <a href="http://melaniesherman.blogspot.com/2010/07/pacific-northwest-writers-association.html">Pam Stanek</a>. PNWA has noted on my entries, "Really good writing here," which is reward in itself, and I continue to claim, "I can criticize anyone to success."<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/widgets/like.php?href=http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/12/rain-powered-writer.html" style="border: medium none; height: 80px; width: 450px;"></iframe><br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a> Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/12/rain-powered-writer.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgo9jthUwpxjTUJxWqO2F30CyMvvHgy6RkL_Yt2DxOsBLYDnzJKL1KCtVIfkHuDVuNgEx5HVHuIBLGjSCZEbrBHZC3BTE_SOddcyWjWy2nOkVYZu0QXyWEj6luBjgmki-0YRIwOVTiVPA/s72-c/Win+Book.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>26</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-6110194752327382728</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:41:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-12-12T21:47:15.406-08:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Angst Gallery</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Carolyn J. Rose</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">FaceBook</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Foursquare</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Niche Wine</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Plancast</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Social Media</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Twitter</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Writers Mixer</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">YouTube</category><title>Social Media for Writers</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERzdMwWQqzeEJMKS9gU4OlPA60pW9xqiGyrW4gd6YrmQPD8-qHTxFBd2oh2b8P-thyUkznN7KrZIu9buxN_TGGsrxUBoR1SwFKjWpxFt_LVPL6OLnf6AV5l9aMIhRvLfWFv0EIU21pTQ/s1600/DoaneC2C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERzdMwWQqzeEJMKS9gU4OlPA60pW9xqiGyrW4gd6YrmQPD8-qHTxFBd2oh2b8P-thyUkznN7KrZIu9buxN_TGGsrxUBoR1SwFKjWpxFt_LVPL6OLnf6AV5l9aMIhRvLfWFv0EIU21pTQ/s320/DoaneC2C.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">Vancouver Writer's Mixer</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">December 4, 2010, 5-6:30 pm</span></span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">Featuring Carol Doane:</span></span></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">Social Media for Writers</span></span></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">Saturday Carol's got the internet wired for fun, for feedback and success! She's the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">doyenne</span><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>of Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, and many another virtual publicity websites.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">Carol will be demonstrating the basics of navigating these treacherous technical waters.&nbsp; Find out why<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">you</span><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>should dabble, even just a little, on-line.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">By the time we're finished, you'll be amazed and eager to get out there and start networking!&nbsp; It's so easy, even<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://twitter.com/C2Cbooks" style="color: #ee6600; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="blocked::http://twitter.com/C2Cbooks">Smedley the bookstore cat tweets</a>. Carol will touch on hot social media topics such asTwitter, Facebook, Foursquare, YouTube, Plancast and blogging.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">Learn quick tips, easy to use shortcuts and what to do if you hate the idea of marketing yourself.&nbsp; </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">Carol Doane was a top finalist in the <a href="http://www.someawards.com/2010/05/02/2010-some-awards-finalists/">2010 Social Media Awards of the Pacific Northwest</a> (SoMe Award) for her volunteer campaign for the Southwest Washington Blood Program. Winning campaigns awarded to Air New Zealand, Travelocity, PAX East, Mio Gelato, Portland Fit, Hotel Max, Mio Gelato.</span><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">She is also a published writer (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">chapter in<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Laughing-Nine-Five-Quest-Workplace/dp/0965605531?=212361=wey=peaofcar-20=380733" style="color: #8a4b08; text-decoration: none;">Laughing Nine to Five: The Quest for Humor in the Workplace</a>)<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span></span>and she has two completed fiction manuscripts now in the hands of literary agents on both coasts.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: small;">Many, many thanks to<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.angstgallery.com/" style="color: #ee6600; text-decoration: none;" title="Angst Gallery">Angst Gallery</a><span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>owner Leah Jackson for allowing us to hold the mixer in her venue. If you want to chat with Carol after the event we'll be taking over the couch in Niche Wine&nbsp;&amp; Art next door.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; width: 100%;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="192" hspace="0" marginheight="5" marginwidth="5" scrolling="auto" src="http://www.eventbrite.com/tickets-external?eid=1087551897&amp;ref=etckt" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 10px; margin: 2px; padding: 5px 0pt; text-align: left; width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/features?ref=etckt" style="color: #dddddd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Online event registration</a><span style="color: #dddddd;"> for </span><a href="http://socialmediaforwriters.eventbrite.com/?ref=etckt" style="color: #dddddd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Social Media for Writers</a><span style="color: #dddddd;"> powered by </span><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/?ref=etckt" style="color: #dddddd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a></div></div><!--1ea0b82d88db4b6eb42836aedde4b69c--></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/11/social-networking-for-writers.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERzdMwWQqzeEJMKS9gU4OlPA60pW9xqiGyrW4gd6YrmQPD8-qHTxFBd2oh2b8P-thyUkznN7KrZIu9buxN_TGGsrxUBoR1SwFKjWpxFt_LVPL6OLnf6AV5l9aMIhRvLfWFv0EIU21pTQ/s72-c/DoaneC2C.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-3547811026810945018</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Oct 2010 19:04:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-10-24T12:05:28.882-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">AHA moment</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Brian Solis</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">FutureWorks</category><title>Tomorrow's leaders will be defined by . . .</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEERN8O66zbpLoFodqOBaMdny_bqVDToj8fmLEmCYtmP9dpO3nINtbMRgAFzJenjaRf7RcfTnsNcPkvx7qOGrRcgLKxilv0fSw_NIGKfZp-WfxwCazb9NDwMRki5PAJCO6FQkjkTJfehU/s1600/FutureWorksWorkofMouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEERN8O66zbpLoFodqOBaMdny_bqVDToj8fmLEmCYtmP9dpO3nINtbMRgAFzJenjaRf7RcfTnsNcPkvx7qOGrRcgLKxilv0fSw_NIGKfZp-WfxwCazb9NDwMRki5PAJCO6FQkjkTJfehU/s400/FutureWorksWorkofMouth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><h2>...how well they can spell.</h2><br />
I was checking out <a href="http://www.future-works.com/">FutureWorks</a>, the top agency in the US for social media, digital and public relations integration led by Brian Solis, and I watched the entire, actually entirely too long, entrance video. (Screen shot of website above).<br />
<br />
I spent more time on the first page than I normally do, and as I did my eyes wandered down to the copy blocks and I began to absorb what top public relations practitioners say about themselves:<br />
<blockquote><br />
“FutureWorks is an award-winning digital and social media agency founded and led by author, speaker and thought-leader Brian Solis. FutureWorks fuses “best of breed” social media, new media, digital influence and <i><b>work</b></i> of mouth marketing. (Boldface and italics mine, screenshot below).”<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SQYC0Ld4myTNeulV3Q2-itE3FTpAvFCtth8gW5CBwf3AZr26MX63lyK9tg8Iz4b481JvcxZiynNC9SrwxGIDBarvhmeI4F514HBmro-GI7XdMirdiePaRELRi4Gp58JIZd1p3FPl8t0/s1600/WorkofMouthCloseUP.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SQYC0Ld4myTNeulV3Q2-itE3FTpAvFCtth8gW5CBwf3AZr26MX63lyK9tg8Iz4b481JvcxZiynNC9SrwxGIDBarvhmeI4F514HBmro-GI7XdMirdiePaRELRi4Gp58JIZd1p3FPl8t0/s320/WorkofMouthCloseUP.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</blockquote>From this description, namely the reference to <i>‘work’</i> of mouth, it is clear they must also specialize in dentistry.<br />
<br />
I know advertising people. Some advertising people are my best friends. Some may say I might be one. And yes, there's some heavy drilling that goes on when marketing people attack the world to influence us with their version of information, and here is the EXCITING news FutureWorks is ahead of their time.<br />
<br />
FutureWorks may have found the shortcut to the hours spent on research to understand the target demographic, the shortcut to gathering intelligence from focus groups, the steep investment to hire top creative managers and renowned web designers. Certainly, they have discovered how to eliminate the hours upon online hours drowning in understanding and participating in social media. Potentially, they may have found the way to avoid all the small marketing testing and near misses, and to immediately deploy on large scale.<br />
<br />
It's clear FutureWorks has decided to get in our heads through our mouth.<br />
<br />
I'm thinking a good tooth yanking would definitely make me buy ANYTHING. <br />
<br />
Or, perhaps FutureWorks should learn to spell. <br />
<br />
P.S. It's <i><b>‘word’ </b></i>of mouth marketing.<br />
<br />
Carry on.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">Top</div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a></div><br />
</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/10/tomorrows-leaders-will-be-defined-by.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEERN8O66zbpLoFodqOBaMdny_bqVDToj8fmLEmCYtmP9dpO3nINtbMRgAFzJenjaRf7RcfTnsNcPkvx7qOGrRcgLKxilv0fSw_NIGKfZp-WfxwCazb9NDwMRki5PAJCO6FQkjkTJfehU/s72-c/FutureWorksWorkofMouth.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>4</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-9026102209664270375</guid><pubDate>Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:15:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-10-10T12:13:48.678-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">AHA moment</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Idiots</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Twitter</category><title>Do not operate a submarine while reading this blog</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSehxV6-umXFi5fWi6laOOh4K_HSyiOih_2EzNyrwgmKF21FKycxKW7u-w4B02XnsUUfdvBFjRkcn_CgtBNgQYasZYQCC_YDa1sTG10s5JMhvk6R-lDdiVn2CkWYH_g7NUD5srgedqvU/s720/MP900422677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSehxV6-umXFi5fWi6laOOh4K_HSyiOih_2EzNyrwgmKF21FKycxKW7u-w4B02XnsUUfdvBFjRkcn_CgtBNgQYasZYQCC_YDa1sTG10s5JMhvk6R-lDdiVn2CkWYH_g7NUD5srgedqvU/s200/MP900422677.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I downloaded a new app to my smart phone and prior to engaging it the application required me to read the End-User License Agreement.<br />
<br />
Most of the time I click the box that means, yeah, I “read” it.<br />
<br />
Pay attention non-readers, not every <i>boring </i>End-User License Agreement is <b><i>boring</i></b>. In fact, these manufacturers believe that * <b>I</b> * am anything but boring, too!<br />
<br />
Mostly, they're right.<br />
<br />
But to make sure we were on the same page, the End-User License Agreement detailed what was intended by high risk activities I should avoid conducting while using their product, and I quote:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES: The software is not fault-tolerant and is not designed, manufactured or intended for use in hazardous environment requiring fail-safe performance, such as the operation of:<br />
<ul><li>Nuclear facilities</li>
<li>Aircraft navigation</li>
<li>Air traffic control</li>
<li>Implantable human medical devices</li>
<li>External human life-support machines</li>
<li>Explosives control devices</li>
<li>Submaries</li>
<li>Weapons systems</li>
<li>Or in controlling the operation of moving motor vehicles in which the failure of the Software could lead directly to death, personal injury, or severe physicial or environmental damage.</li>
</ul></blockquote><br />
Let's be clear. I agree. The above bullet points are high risk activities. I also think if you are intelligent enough to engage in the above activities, you are smart enough not to conduct the stated activity while using your cell phone.<br />
<br />
But maybe not.<br />
<br />
So, let's be clear about <i><b>you</b></i>. I believe you are smart. You read my <a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/TheFirstCarol">Twitter</a> and make comments on such, and due to your high use of good judgment it must also be stated that you are bright enough not to perform those activities while operating a phone (yours or mine), yelling at at kid (yours or mine) or entering into any life changing event such as getting married (while reading my blog).<br />
<br />
In case you're not that bright, this blog is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to anything I have said, might say or may never say and any of the preceding that may or may not appear in writing under my byline.<br />
<br />
If you have any questions about the above, please leave a comment below. I will review your comments with my attorney and will craft a reply that will not place you in further danger of End-User Agreements.<br />
<br />
If you do not place a comment, you proceed into life and future End-User Agreements at your own risk.<br />
<br />
Cheers! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a><br />
Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/10/do-not-operate-submarine-while-reading.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSehxV6-umXFi5fWi6laOOh4K_HSyiOih_2EzNyrwgmKF21FKycxKW7u-w4B02XnsUUfdvBFjRkcn_CgtBNgQYasZYQCC_YDa1sTG10s5JMhvk6R-lDdiVn2CkWYH_g7NUD5srgedqvU/s72-c/MP900422677.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>4</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-8258316682532080202</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:28:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-10-01T06:28:00.181-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Quote</category><title>Quote of the Fri(day)</title><description>“Trust that little voice in your head that says ‘Wouldn't it be interesting if...’; And then do it.” ~ Duane Michals, American photographer, (1932 - ).<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a> Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/10/quote-of-friday.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/s72-c" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-8769922590394173889</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-09-28T07:11:16.737-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Daughter</category><title>Taking life out of the box</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOmwcn_X0_u5COA5jCdCVi8s_L-rOjmNz1UrYZgw-D44-ykYYgaXyKlunyCWpjV2Edr8OBLHM9BaDx2hK4kFpXtr_WJxyPwRQLZG2jc6wK44upOlJpL2L8M6wQX9paNzNrppnGv6n99U/s1600/Poem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOmwcn_X0_u5COA5jCdCVi8s_L-rOjmNz1UrYZgw-D44-ykYYgaXyKlunyCWpjV2Edr8OBLHM9BaDx2hK4kFpXtr_WJxyPwRQLZG2jc6wK44upOlJpL2L8M6wQX9paNzNrppnGv6n99U/s320/Poem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I opened a box and peeled back the pages of my life. Nestled between official documents and immunization records was a little poem. It was scrawled in my handwriting and twice as long but edited to be succinct. It read . . .<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Have you always been standing next to me,<br />
Or was it just yesterday we became a family?<br />
Wherever we go, whatever we do,<br />
I'll always be mommy and I'll love you.</blockquote><br />
This time of year there is a birthday and a moment when we share what it means to be a family. It's the moment we pause under the rays of a warm sun, take a moment to hug and say, ‘I love you,’ and realize how very lucky we are.<br />
<br />
Happy birthday, baby. <br />
<br />
Love you lots,<br />
<br />
Mom <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a> Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/09/taking-life-out-of-box.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOmwcn_X0_u5COA5jCdCVi8s_L-rOjmNz1UrYZgw-D44-ykYYgaXyKlunyCWpjV2Edr8OBLHM9BaDx2hK4kFpXtr_WJxyPwRQLZG2jc6wK44upOlJpL2L8M6wQX9paNzNrppnGv6n99U/s72-c/Poem.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-6848703793184433629</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:11:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-09-24T06:11:00.501-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Quote</category><title>Quote of the (Fri)Day</title><description>"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction." ~ Albert Einstein, Nobel laureate and the father of modern physics, (1879 - 1955). <br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a> Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/09/quote-of-friday_24.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/s72-c" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-2334445236755261246</guid><pubDate>Fri, 17 Sep 2010 21:21:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-09-17T14:21:24.051-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Quote</category><title>Quote of the (Fri)Day</title><description>"Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't." <br />
~&nbsp;Pete Seeger, American folk singer, (1919 - ). <br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a> Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/09/quote-of-friday.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/s72-c" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-6948594614711229280</guid><pubDate>Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:32:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-09-15T12:32:33.661-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Authors</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Boot Camp</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Carolyn J. Rose</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Celebrities</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Cover to Cover Books</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Critique groups</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Daughter</category><title>GUEST: Author Carolyn J. Rose</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkozU-Zr3AlYeBZytW4BWCBSu_lEKJEpi6U2_8MP45qJLMxuJBH3MQ65kEEXq4AWhCfRqJR1Q8t4P2KgSBR-DkUMovdiXWaCctdG1Qkq1FWntb6VqmQSHdZKZneG6oGG7eCDtrpWnmJn8/s1600/CarolynOrangeShirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkozU-Zr3AlYeBZytW4BWCBSu_lEKJEpi6U2_8MP45qJLMxuJBH3MQ65kEEXq4AWhCfRqJR1Q8t4P2KgSBR-DkUMovdiXWaCctdG1Qkq1FWntb6VqmQSHdZKZneG6oGG7eCDtrpWnmJn8/s320/CarolynOrangeShirt.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><i>Today's post is by a unique guest, author and teacher Carolyn J. Rose.&nbsp;</i><br />
<br />
<i>Rose shares her thoughts on growing up in the Catskill Mountains and how those memories can create a strong setting. Rose earned an honored position on the list of Celebrities Who've met ME! when I took both her Novel Writing Boot Camp classes. From that experience blossomed a loyal critique group that has produced two Pacific Northwest Writers Association winners--attesting to her&nbsp; skill as a writing coach.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Carolyn' J. Rose </i><i>is the author of several books, most recently Hemlock Lake available in hardback or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hemlock-Catskill-Mountains-Mystery-ebook/dp/B003XIJ048?&amp;camp=212361&amp;linkCode=wey&amp;tag=peaofcar-20&amp;creative=380733">Kindle</a>.&nbsp; Here's Carolyn . . .</i><br />
<br />
<i></i><br />
In Washington, where I live now, the term I hear is “forest.” But when I grew up in the Catskill Mountains, the leafy realm that began at a dozen yards from our house was always called “the woods.<br />
<br />
Trees dug in their toes at the edge of a scabby lawn sprouting through <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkwx7Q2NjlsP1OxIcAakj6mdkBRWSyc-mWP-tNQ98DnG0-FtWxIuRPKg0-Bh9Z0BC46eqaD_XUXn0pqWm7c-DpKtaPBmwP27Dex_QYlgA-rz2iEKjfqZ_rrZ6ZVb5YYJapu9RUkxCHO4/s1600/Catskills+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkwx7Q2NjlsP1OxIcAakj6mdkBRWSyc-mWP-tNQ98DnG0-FtWxIuRPKg0-Bh9Z0BC46eqaD_XUXn0pqWm7c-DpKtaPBmwP27Dex_QYlgA-rz2iEKjfqZ_rrZ6ZVb5YYJapu9RUkxCHO4/s200/Catskills+-+2.jpg" width="200" /></a>rocky soil scraped into a semblance of level by a tractor blade. This was no spongy, springy, emerald green lawn. This was a pale lawn of ruggedly individualistic blades of grass, roots corkscrewed in among pebbles and stones, clinging to scant, glacier-scoured soil.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Each spring we reclaimed the edges of it from an advancing army of sumac, oak, and birch, from hemlock, pine, and cedar. We hacked away at brush and vines, lugging what we dropped to piles that would be set alight in the dark of winter.<br />
<br />
The summer woods seemed impenetrable, the winter woods empty, bleak, and barren.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUVfBDXwOAknaLNAoiODc-iIhRM8Qn9dM5dfx8BrJDEwaSKPXmBm6QW1vzvL0q37Bm6EXQ7z8f6SwqmhbeyfHhpkbkHS7eJjTccYO3zpXcdwK5Qk6gMmZSaxyHjCdFXDMwV4KtHMXEq4/s1600/Catskills+-+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUVfBDXwOAknaLNAoiODc-iIhRM8Qn9dM5dfx8BrJDEwaSKPXmBm6QW1vzvL0q37Bm6EXQ7z8f6SwqmhbeyfHhpkbkHS7eJjTccYO3zpXcdwK5Qk6gMmZSaxyHjCdFXDMwV4KtHMXEq4/s200/Catskills+-+.jpg" width="200" /></a>As a child, one of the biggest treats was a Sunday afternoon walk with my father. It was a pursuit of adventure, of wildness—it was piquant sauce for the predictability of the Sunday dinner of ham or roast, that Sunday sense of waiting for things to begin again with Monday’s dawn.<br />
<br />
My father would identify tracks and droppings—deer, bear, raccoon, skunk. He’d name trees and point out nests aloft.<br />
<br />
I’d try to walk silently, but winter winds had scattered twigs and branches that snapped beneath my shoes and slabs of shale slid underfoot when we climbed the ridges.<br />
<br />
I became fearful when we left the landmarks I knew and could identify, worried we wouldn’t find our way back to the dinner simmering in that cast-iron kettle. But I was always confident that if I stayed by his side, we would return safely. After all, these were the woods he had roamed in childhood and if he’d found his way home as a child, he could surely do the same as an adult.<br />
<br />
And this was no dense green-black forest of Douglas fir—no wall of forest, shadows, and night. This was a woods where sun spangled through the leaves of the hardwoods. This was a woods of saplings and bright autumn tints, of long, stark shadows cast by a weak winter sun. This was a woods where stone walls intersected like lines of longitude and latitude. Even humped under winter’s snow they provided a means of navigation.<br />
<br />
Looking back, I realize how “tame” and “civilized” those woods were. And yet, they were mysterious, filled with unanswered questions: Who had left that sickle blade hanging in the crotch of a sapling and when had the tree grown around it? Who had left an ax leaning against a spur of stone wall and when had the handle rotted away? Whose initials were those scraped into lichen-scarred stone, carved into the puckered bark of a tree? Where had these people gone and when and why?<br />
<br />
As I wrote Hemlock Lake, I often imagined myself back in the Catskill Mountains, back in those woods and I created mysteries of my own—a man who roamed the ridges seeking his lost self, ghosts, a man bent on vengeance, a killer. Hemlock Lake deals with universal themes—betrayal, revenge, love, loss, and redemption—but my memories of those woods make the story unique.<br />
<br />
<hr /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2JptTECb-lm3FtWhptyHu0GA87m_5AzudUsvgWJZEnU_4z_Dht9-wE87-MmvPjumwJSNKEIZI3xJ4Gcuqh_q4HYIDL5DySMLS4wmRS26BMAIxZvcc723SxUs9fTZtJsPZhfqkEMyDVk/s1600/HemlockLakeKindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2JptTECb-lm3FtWhptyHu0GA87m_5AzudUsvgWJZEnU_4z_Dht9-wE87-MmvPjumwJSNKEIZI3xJ4Gcuqh_q4HYIDL5DySMLS4wmRS26BMAIxZvcc723SxUs9fTZtJsPZhfqkEMyDVk/s200/HemlockLakeKindle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Editor</b>: Thank you Carolyn for continuing to share yourself with your writing students and the reading community.<br />
<br />
Listen to an interview of Carolyn J. Rose as she speaks about writing <i>Hemlock Lake</i> on <a href="http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com/WnbAuthorsShow.html">The Author Show</a>.<br />
<br />
Purchase <i>Hemlock Lake</i> on Kindle <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hemlock-Catskill-Mountains-Mystery-ebook/dp/B003XIJ048?&amp;camp=212361&amp;linkCode=wey&amp;tag=peaofcar-20&amp;creative=380733">here</a>.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />
Read an interview of Carolyn J. Rose. It can be read in three parts:<br />
<ul><li><a class="gs-title" href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2009/11/creative-process-of-writing-novel.html" target="_blank">Carolyn J. Rose interview: Creative Process of Writing a Novel I</a></li>
<li><a class="gs-title" href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2009/11/carolyn-rose-interview-creative-process.html" target="_blank">Carolyn J. Rose interview: Creative Process of Writing a Novel II</a> </li>
<li><a class="gs-title" href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2009/12/creative-process-part-iii-by.html" target="_blank">Carolyn J. Rose interview: Creative Process of Writing a Novel III</a></li>
</ul><br />
Carolyn J. Rose also founded the <a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/02/writers-mix-it-up-and-just-like-kids-we.html">Vancouver Writers Mixer</a> with Mel Sanders of Cover to Cover Books.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a> Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/09/guest-author-carolyn-j-rose.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkozU-Zr3AlYeBZytW4BWCBSu_lEKJEpi6U2_8MP45qJLMxuJBH3MQ65kEEXq4AWhCfRqJR1Q8t4P2KgSBR-DkUMovdiXWaCctdG1Qkq1FWntb6VqmQSHdZKZneG6oGG7eCDtrpWnmJn8/s72-c/CarolynOrangeShirt.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>4</thr:total></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3172575148977018218.post-6151265507196237310</guid><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:08:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2010-07-23T12:11:01.965-07:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Daughter</category><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Family</category><title>Family vacation, borders and flying suitcases</title><description><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDnw0RK7_v5qjXanqwqYa1Od12Ss_B5T8q6MSGO-OmoEK8jufqKnvDe6DoMetgp-pZtSdddKHZ6mmatDAA1Oe0L1H7qRWAc1xgmFw4gWOYdETCoZuhwOCy8Pa_riguyq7Ocx_ttvi6HU/s1600/Moving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDnw0RK7_v5qjXanqwqYa1Od12Ss_B5T8q6MSGO-OmoEK8jufqKnvDe6DoMetgp-pZtSdddKHZ6mmatDAA1Oe0L1H7qRWAc1xgmFw4gWOYdETCoZuhwOCy8Pa_riguyq7Ocx_ttvi6HU/s320/Moving.jpg" /></a></div>Family trips evoke horror ridden memories or gut wrenching cackles. During the trip to the homestead in Idaho a suitcase got left on the top of the car. The wind blew it off. We stopped to pick it up. Inside was a clock which, packed by my overly cautious uncle, suffered nary a scratch. He’d bought it during the trip and was flying home and had packed it to withstand airport handling.<br />
<br />
The clock survived the flight off the car and the flight home.<br />
<br />
My daughter’s memories include seeing all the license plates, falling asleep listening to a book on tape and not minding missing any of it as the nap made the travel time pass quickly. My dad’s vacation memories center around history and being in the middle of something exciting, for example, where fur traders traversed from Taos, Mexico to Yellowstone, or having sensory overload at places like Cabella’s.<br />
<br />
My vacation memories usually center on leaving work with a clean desk—should someone need to find something in my absence the possibilities increase with each item I file or discard. Then there’s the thrill of finally being on the road and maybe driving fast with a radar detector.<br />
<br />
Other family members might complain our hunger clocks are not in the same time zone, of restrooms too low or too tiny, of missing the correct turn-off, and keeping expenses straight so everyone pays their part.<br />
<br />
I gaze out the car window and admire green velvet fields. I watch the breath of the wind blow across them and change their hue. I take in green and tan corn stalks stretching behind wood post fences, farmhouses, silos, irrigation wing spans, the rare red-roof barn, a gentle border of trees signaling a creek, a white steeple church, wind turbines, mile long trains that parallel us, blue sky sparsely peppered with dark clouds or glowing with white billows.<br />
<br />
We drive.<br />
<br />
We cross state boundaries and face personal ones. These borders of our soul help define who we are, what we are for or against, and what we want and do not want. And sometimes we find ourselves not strapped on, wheeling precariously across the roof of the car, the next bump and we disappear. We may pray someone notices, or we may pray they drive on without us.<br />
<br />
If family neglect left you on top of the car, did you fly off and survive, or crack with a hurt too big to repair?<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiV3uy3ifMrp1LdPtACDWVEWi_4eAsoqojDi4Eh_M_Qjmawu7CvT9gl6G0L6Q3zmJTp8o1OuBykR3SCq7EdIukNYrjDpNEDHuNxHymX6YdFdFy2j3x7P7DvkMKmbl394Wa3DceMzadUzQ/" /></a> Top</div></description><link>http://pearlofcarol.blogspot.com/2010/07/family-trips-evoke-horror-ridden.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Carol Doane #pearlofcarol)</author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDnw0RK7_v5qjXanqwqYa1Od12Ss_B5T8q6MSGO-OmoEK8jufqKnvDe6DoMetgp-pZtSdddKHZ6mmatDAA1Oe0L1H7qRWAc1xgmFw4gWOYdETCoZuhwOCy8Pa_riguyq7Ocx_ttvi6HU/s72-c/Moving.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></item></channel></rss>