Welcome to the Weekend With.... The Ghost of Grace Street

CC has asked me to use my special gifts to conduct the interview with this week’s guest. Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Elspeth Innocenzi. Some of you may know my niece, Ember. Lovely girl, quite bright, but really needs to get out more. I know some say I am reclusive as well. Pish posh, I’m just a little eccentric, that’s all. What few people know is that our family is gifted, each in their own way. My gift is the ability to converse with those in the spirit realm. I know what you’re thinking (she chuckles)…. but, no. Don’t confuse me with the overly dramatic television versions of mediums. We are not really ghost whisperers. In fact, between you and me, ghost can be quite boisterous, not at all the whispering type in most cases. But back to my purpose today; you see it’s almost All Hallows Eve and the veil between worlds grows thin. The spirits are restless.

There is an old abandoned house in the heart of a historic seaside town, many believe is haunted. I have come to this place today, to speak with the Ghost of Grace Street, Mr Oliver Lawrence, who died here in the late 1930’s. It seems before his untimely death, his former wife placed a curse on him that trapped his spirit here for all eternity. Let’s see if he will tell us what led up to this curse and how he is dealing with his eternity in this lonely old house.

Elspeth- Oliver? Oliver, are you with us?

Oliver (a tall man in simple slacks and an old-fashioned button down, sad, deep-set gray eyes and longish black hair with touches of gray at the temples)- I am present. Who seeks me?

Elspeth- Oliver. May I call you Oliver? Forgive my intrusion. You must know you and this house have become a local legend. People are curious about you and why you have chosen to remain here.

Oliver- My dear, you are a welcome distraction in my home. My existence has become dull of late. People do not come around as they used to. As to why I remain here, it is beyond my control. I was cursed to remain alone through all eternity.

Elspeth- Can you share with us who cursed you and why?

Oliver- That is a long and complicated story.

Elspeth- I have all of the time in the world.

Oliver- (chuckling) Very well. (his eyes take on a far-away look as he remembers) The events that led to this imprisonment started when I saw this beautiful young lady at a ball. She was captivating, with an infectious laugh and a voice that could stop a man’s heart. Her eyes seemed to see into your soul. I was smitten. I had to have her for my own. So I went to see her father and asked for her hand. You see back in those days, at least among the aristocracy, marriages were arranged. We both came from excellent families and the arrangement was made.

Elspeth- But what about love?

Oliver- Marriage wasn’t about love, although I was sure I was in love with my golden dove. She was in love also. Only she was in love with a boy who worked on the docks. Her family would have never allowed her to be with him. He was unsuitable. And I had convinced myself she would grow to love me as I loved her. After we were married and she became pregnant, I had the unfortunate luck of being sent off to fight in the first world war. (pausing, then quietly) It was thoughts of her and our soon to be born child that kept me going. (again pausing) But she was not pining for me the way I was for her. (growing agitated) You see while I was away, she was with the boy. And when I returned, she thought that I would just let her go. Let her take my son and run away with a dock worker. . .

Elspeth- I can understand you not wanting to lose your son. But did you really want a woman who loved another man?

Oliver- SHE WAS MINE NOT HIS! No, I was not about to give her up no matter how she had cuckold me. So I kept her locked in this house and saw to it that her little dock worker disappeared. I did not count on how much she loved him or how much these actions would make her despise me. The more she mourned her lover the more bitter I became and for spite I kept our son from her. But then little William came down with a fever and never recovered. ……. She went a bit mad after that. Although I no longer acted as her jailer, she refused to leave her room, refused to eat until she had wasted away. And she never forgave me… with her dying breath she cursed me to be alone and bound to this house forever.

Elspeth- Can you blame her for her anger, her madness?

Oliver- Of course not. Lord knows I was not a good husband. I was stubborn and spiteful. And when I first heard those words escape her lips, I was remorseful. How had I turned this bright and lively bird into the drab skeleton of a person. But then, I found I couldn’t leave the house. Her chilling words would ring in my ears each time I approached the front door. I began to understand how she felt in the tomb I had turned the house into.

When my body finally gave out, I watched as my family mourned me. Heard them talk of how I had become an unrecognizable and bitter man. I saw them carry out my casket, and yet I could not follow. I was trapped…. In this house. It wasn’t remorse that had kept me here…..IT WAS HER CURSE. She had truly done it. I was trapped. I was utterly alone! I could never leave!

Elspeth- But surely in all these years, others have lived in this house. That must have given you some comfort.

Oliver- (laughing) Oh yes…. When the first family moved in, I was elated. Finally, I wouldn’t be alone. But, I had forgotten one thing…. I was merely a spirit now. I couldn’t be part of their family. All I managed to do was scare them away. Over the years, people moved in and moved on. To pass the time, (grinning) I would even scare some of them on purpose. A sort of validation that I could interact in some small way. But eventually, they just stopped coming all together. Now, my only visitors are the homeless and the…what is it you call them these day?... addicts, druggies, I believe. They have their own demons to fight, they don’t need my interference. I’m not sure they would know the difference.

Elspeth- I am truly sorry. It seems you have all suffered needlessly. If you could go back in time and change it, would you?

Oliver- (again laughing, but this time the laughter has a hollow note) I would like to think knowing what I now know that I would be a different man….. I would like to think I would have let her go, chosen her happiness over what I thought was mine. I would like to think I have learned what that anger and obsession can cause….. but then, would I remember, and would I be strong enough to do things differently? I honestly can not say. And if I changed those parts, would my life end up being less or more tragic?

Elspeth- It sounds to me like you have gained some wisdom during your years of solitude. I would like to think you would do things differently and call me an optimist, but I should think your life would have played out to a happier ending.

If you could have one wish, what would it be?

Oliver- To see Abigail and little William. So I could apologize for what I did to all of us and I could know that they are together and happy, at peace.

Elspeth- Have you ever tried to contact them?

Oliver- I would not begin to know how. I sometimes talk out loud to them, but I do not think they can hear. (with a grin) At least as a dead man, I can not be accused of being crazy for trying to talk to ghost.

Elspeth- (grinning back) It is good to see even a trapped soul can still have a sense of humor. Oliver, thank you for sharing your story with us. I would like to come back and visit with you. Possibly bring some of my other special friends and try to contact Abigail and William. Would you let us try?

Oliver- My dear lady, you are most welcome in my home anytime. I would welcome you and your friends. I dare not hope that you succeed, (tearing, and becoming moe transparent) but I am grateful you would be willing to try to help me right the wrongs of my past.

Elspeth- Thank you. I will return soon with reinforcements. (gives him a conspiratorial wink)

Oliver- I look forward to it. Until your return…… (with a hint of a bow, he fades from site)

To learn about Ember and her family click here.

DVD- Krull

Before Liam Nesson was a household name; before Robbie Coltraine was Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, they played escaped criminals turned warriors in this mid-80's heroic fantasy movie, Krull.    ************************    When the alien Beast and his army of slayers land on the world of Krull in there mountain-like ship known as the Black Fortress, two rival kingdoms will form and alliance to save their planet. An ancient prophecy, fortells a girl of ancient name shall become queen, that she shall choose a king, and that together they shall rule their world and that their son will rule the galaxy. the Beast is determined to insure he benifits from this prophecy and he kidnaps Princess Lyssa on the day she is to wed Prince Culwyn and kills their families. Culwyn is the only survivor of the attack, and he must rescue Lyssa from the Beast's clutches. First he must find an ancient and magical weapon called the Glaive, then find a way to locate the Black Fortress where Lyssa is being held. Making the task more difficult, the Black Fortress relocates every dawn. On his journey he will be joined by many interesting characters, including a bumbling magician, as they form an unlikely army to save the princess and the world.

I won't tell you if they succeed but I will say this is one of my favorite films. It has some cheesy moments as many fantasy movies did back then. The film crew built twenty-three amazing sets for this movie and visually it is breath taking. When you watch this film you have to remind yourself that true artist made this film long before movie makers became overly dependent on CGI technology. The storyline is based on Dungeons & Dragons. The movie is filled with action and thrills.

Although not a scary movie, the sci-fi elements make it a great Halloween choice.

DVD - Poltergeist

Poltergeist

With Halloween only days away, what better way to celebrate than with a classic horror movie. Ghost stories and movies are nothing new these days, but back in the early 80's movie goers were shocked by this little movie about a family living in a nice suburban neighborhood. A happy couple living the ideal life with their three children until one day things begin to move by themselves. (no, that isn't the shocking part) At first they are amused by the unusual occurances that begin happening but on the night of a terrible storm the pranks turn ugly and the youngest daughter is sucked into another dimension. Mommy and daddy can only communicate with Carol Ann through the static in their television set.  I was just a new teen when the movie came out and I'm sure I'm not the only one who was creeped out by the static when the TV went off air. Teens today wouldn't know what that was like since most everyone has cable or satelite these days and channels don't go off air. But in those days, Poltergeist did for static screens what Jaws did for the ocean.

Poltergeist, although no longer scary to me is still a classic horror film and doesn't lose any of it's appeal decades later. It has great special effects, lots of skeletons, ghosts and an evil entity. The cast is superb, the plot moves quickly and the real villain of the story, the real estate developer, is appropriately sleazy. Who builds a nice family neighborhood on top of graves? Who does that? Who moves the tomb stones and leaves the bodies? Well, probably most real estate developers if they thought they could get a way with it. Remember this movie was made back in the 80's and there were not a million activist groups to regulate such things. 

Zelda Rubinstein will probably always be remembered best for her roll as Tangina, the miniscule medium, who is instrumental in helping the Freeling family get Carol Ann back and clearing the house of spirits. They made two more Poltergeist movies after this one, but most critics agree, this one was the best. Not many horror movies can boast they got nominated for 3 Oscars. Definitely a movie to revisit for Halloween.

And was it just me, or was the clown in that movie the most evil doll you've ever seen?

I live in a coastal college town, down the road from a Marine base, so I usually choose to stay in and avoid the scary drunk people wandering around our fair city and the ones in costumes are even more frightening.  We always have a horror movie marathon on Halloween at my house. What is your Halloween tradition?

The Good The Bad & The Ugly Wednesday

Mwah-ha-ha-ha. It's only three days until Halloween, so of course this weeks, The Good The Bad & the Ugly is all about the spooky. For those of you who are new followers, The Good The Bad & The Ugly Wednesday is a look at three sites or blog with a similar theme. Despite the sound of the title it's all good on Wednesday. The Good site is an interesting site, take a peak if you have some free time. The Bad site is an even better site and worth checking out. The Ugly site is the best of the three and you should definitely go visit..... if you dare. Mwah-ha-ha-ha......

This week's "Good" is a scary site that is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish. Rotten.com is definitely a site where you will see things you've never seen before and hope you never see again, especially in real life. Many of the photos are really gross and horrific. Some are just odd. Some are just pictures and some have stories with them. Warning- if the caption sounds disgusting and repulsive, it probably is, so be careful what you click. These are real life photos and some are very graphic.

This week's "Bad" is a much less stomach turning. Scary Place is a fun site with pictures of ghosts and haunted places, stories, dark poetry, toys, happenings (tours, etc.), reviews of movies, books and sites, videos, links and more. Definitely a fun site to play on and discover some great stuff to entertain you for Halloween.

This week's "Ugly" has something for every paranormal fan. Ghosts of Earth has everything Scary Place does except the reviews. It also covers mnay other paranormal beings such as angels, vampires, werewolves, demons, ancient mysteries, and the unexplained. This site even has a game you can play. Go check it out and let it put you in the Halloween spirit!

Honorable Mention - for some scary true ghost stories you can also check out http://paranormal.lovetoknow.com/.

Happy Halloween!!! Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha..........

Tuesday's Photo

I picked this meme up from Spunk on a Stick Tips, but I don't have the author or publishing experience she does so I've decided instead of posting writing tips with my photos, I'd post some of the poems and stories I've written in the past. Being the week before Halloween, Today's post is a ghost story I wrote back around this time in 1986. The pictures are from some of the old houses around Wilmington, NC.

My Haunting

As I hide in the portrait of my grandmother, I watch a group of teenagers inspecting my rickety old house. Little do they know that I have chosen to stay here eternally. In the parlor, where Confederate soldiers had once courted me, I light the fire to the amazement of my intruders. Then, I blow in a draft to send shivers up their spines. The looks on their faces causes me to giggle and I'm afriad they may have heard me, for they've begun to look around to find the source of the sound. I follow them into the old kitchen, pull out a chair and sit down. They all jump back and one of the boys shrieks. Being invisible is quite fun, but I think I'll really spook them by making an appearance if they go upstairs. I love to see the awe in their eyes as they try to find me.

They say some of the strangest things as they walk around my dim, musty kitchen. While I know they are speaking my language the words seem different. I get up and pass through one of my visitors, who then experiences a hot flash. The intruders stare at me dumbfounded, not realizing their mouths are hanging open. How I miss having visitors.

Well, I think it's time to take these curoius teens upstairs. I knock over a vase, making it crash to the dusty wooden florr. They are coming up the squeaky spiral staircase to investigate. As they look around, hoping to catch another glimpse of me, I open a door and invite them into my room. The air is a little stuffy so I open a few windows and fill the air with the sweet smell of violets. as they enter the room, I make myself visible enough for them to see my liguidy haze. They try to touch me, but their hands pass right through making me giggle. They gaze at me mystified, trying to figure out who I am.

I begin to fade into a portrait. My little displays have tired me and my introduers are beginning to leave.

My home has once again become quiet and dark......

for now......

Book Review - Glenn Beck's Common Sense

With my favorite holiday, Halloween, less than a week away. I'm devoting this week to all things scary and horrifying. Originally, I was going to review Glenn Beck's Common Sense with Hail To the Chief, however neither book turned out to be what I expected them to be. Hail To the Chief wasn't an Obama lovefest and Common Sense isn't an Obama hatefest.  I had a preconceived notion that Common Sense was going to spend most of it's time bashing the Obama Administration, as Glenn Beck is very vocal in his dislike of Obama. I was actually very surprised when I read this book, to find out, it's not really about Obama. It's about what our government has become in general. What makes this book qualify as a scary post, is not that it's a bad book. It's because Beck hits the nail on the head in this book. What is truly horrific is the state of our government. Scarier is the fact that we do not do anything about it. And the most frightening thing of all, is that "common sense" is no longer common in our society!

This book is an excellent eye-opener. Beck uses the example Thomas Paine set in 1776 with  his penning of Common Sense. Like Thomas Paine, Beck is encouraging us, the citizens of America, to take back control of our future and freedoms. He makes excellent points and gives examples throughout the book of how corrupt and power hungry our government is. He doesn't choose sides. He's not in favor of the Republicans or the Democrats. He unabashedly show the flaws and misuses of power by both. He also shows how we are just sitting back and letting these politicians steal more power for themselves and break laws without having to have consequences for breaking them. Our Congress and House of Representatives have placed themselves above and outside the law. But can we really blame them? Or are we just as responsible by not standing up for our rights and the priniciples our founding fathers established. America used to be a super power, we were a land of hope, freedom. And now we are quickly becoming the laughing stock country that other countries look down their noses at. Is this the politicians fault? Well partly, yes. But the real blame lies with us, every individual American, for not stepping up to the plate and demanding to be heard. Do our votes really count? Right now, no, they don't! Why is that? It's because we don't do our homework, we take the easy way out. We vote for who they tell us to vote for, who we think our friends and family are going to vote for. We vote for a party instead of the values and ideas the individual is representing. We vote for the person who has been in office for many years, because they have the experience, right? Wrong!!! They know how to use their power to stay in power. We believe their lies, because we want the easy answers, the easy life. An easy life we aren't getting, they are! Beck is right, we need new blood in our politics and we need to limit how long they can hold their position. Until we are willing to do that, to take that risk, to shake things up, we will continue to see our wonderful country spiral into Orwell's 1984 society.  I personally think Beck is loud, obnoxious and I don't always agree with the things he says. But this book, is Common Sense, whether we want to face it or not., whether we like Beck or not, whether we agree with is views or not. I give this book 5 out of 5 votes. Not because I will read it again, not because I think it's an easy or great read, but because I think it has an important message. We can all complain about government, and this politician or that one, but unless we start doing something about it, we aren't using our common sense and we have no right to complain if we have buried our heads in the sand instead of fighting for our Democracy.

I want to share a passage from the book, that for me sums up the message behind it. This is from page 21...

" There was a time when our political leaders inspired America to greatness and motivated us to face daunting challenges with courage and resolve. Our political leaders led us to successfully revolt against the British. they convinced us to defeat Nazism, fasism ans imperialism by fighting it in the homelands that gave birth to those ideologies. they encouraged us in our fifty-year-long struggle against the spread of communism-- and they captivated the world as we watched it collapse under its own weight.

There was a time when our political leaders cited their leadership, temperament, experience, judgement, character, and merit in order to gain the trust and support of a skeptical electorate. Today they purchase votes and campaign cash by boasting about the pork they've secured for their pet projects or the billions they've passed along to their powerful political allies.

With a few notable exceptions, our political leaders have become nothing more than parasites who feed off our sweat and blood. They fail to appreciate America's potential or recognize hersuperiority and instead they view her as just another country to be sucked dry for their own benefit, without regard for the health of the host."

Welcome to the Weekend with....... Crystal from Crystal Clear Proofing

There are so many fascinating people that I want to get to know better and I love reading interviews on other sites, so I decided to start an interview feature on Friday's to share some of these intriguing people with you. I know there are many blogs who already interview other bloggers and authors, so I'm going to take a look at some people who don't often get interviewed. I'll still have interviews with bloggers and authors also, but having worked in the film industry and being a budding author myself, I plan on interviewing a wider array of talents.

For the first interview of this feature, I chose a true "Gem". I have dubbed her the Grammar Goddess, because she has a true gift with the written word. She is a Proofreader and Copyeditor as well as a blogger. We actually met in the blog world and instantly hit it off. I think many of you share my admiration for this wonderful lady and follow her blog. Crystal has graciously agreed to share a little bit about her world with us.

First of all, tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in the Midwest, but actually "grew up" in California. I moved there when I was 20 and lived in the Golden State for 12 years before returning to be closer to my family. I love the mountains - and oh! That ocean out there? It's mine (smile). I think part of me will always be a California Girl!

I'm quite eclectic, and as most people know, I'm very into motivational and inspiring thoughts. I have an open mind and I believe in, well, I guess karma. I believe that how and what you say and do, the type of person you are, comes back to you. Some people live their lives "blaming." They blame the way they are on something that happened to them - their childhood, an incident from years ago. I try to stay in the NOW. Sure, "things" happen, they always will. But learn from it, grow from it, get passed it and get on with life. Don't get stuck!


When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

LOL! I grew up in the sixties, playing with Barbie dolls and seeing Doris Day in movies where she was a successful career woman - a new thing in the sixties! I wanted to be a wife and mother, and Doris comes in with the career thing. So, I ended up on the proverbial corporate ladder and worked my way up.


When did you first realize you loved words and grammar?

According to my parents, I was able to read at a very early age, and I have an aunt who is two years my senior and we used to play "school" a lot. But first realizing I loved words and grammar, I'd have to say would have been in middle school. I had Creative Writing and English Composition classes that I just loved. I also took Speech and Journalism classes. I was always a straight A student, but really found that those classes just came so easy for me - and I loved them!

Then when I stepped into the "corporate world," my bosses soon discovered my talent with wording and basically making their letters and correspondence sound better. I began putting together annual and financial reports, proofreading corporate material, etc. I took some night classes to further my education, and before long my jobs were focused more on the editing aspect of administrative work.


My first job as a proofreader at a media publication clinched it. I absolutely loved that job. It wasn't what I tend to refer to as "just a job." It never seemed that way. I loved what I did, loved going to work. Again, what I did just seemed natural to me...it was never an effort or a challenge, just something I did, and loved doing.


What makes the Grammar Goddess tick?

LOL. That IS such a catchy term, and I have to laugh whenever you use it. I guess a lot of what makes me "tick" can be garnered from the first question. I live my life with a certain belief system and truly do believe that we should continually strive to be the best person we can be. I work on ME - who I am. I work on little flaws, or ways of thinking that I don't like and attempt to change them. I'm also very proactive in continuing my education. I love learning.


I appreciate the little things in life. You'd be surprised at how some of the smallest, insignificant (to others) things can bring me so much joy!


When you sit down to edit or proofread something, do you have a particular routine you follow?

I can't have music or television on when I edit. I have my library of reference books handy in my office, as when I edit I don't simply make the necessary changes, I'll usually provide the reason, or grammatical rule explaining WHY in the document. The way editing is done today is so much better than hard copy proofreading. Rather than proofreader marks, which many writers aren't familiar with anyway, and sticky notes, you can, what I call, "redline" and insert balloon comments into the document. It's so much easier and convenient for both the editor and the author. I talk out loud a lot when doing editorial proofreading or substantive editing, usually trying to determine how a sentence or phrase sounds better. There are several ways to word and say the same thing, but certain combinations of words just flow better. Again, something that comes rather natural to me, so a lot of the speaking aloud is just a form of reinforcement that what I've come up with works...flows.


I usually do an initial edit and follow up with one, sometimes two final edits. I'm extremely thorough. Actually I drive myself crazy sometimes!


What is the typical process of an author and an editor working together to get a book ready for publication?

This can vary slightly, but initially a client will contact me for information about my services; the type and level of editing required, pricing, turnaround time, payment terms etc. Once all of that has been determined, I get to work on the project. Occasionally the client and I will need to communicate for clarification purposes, questions, etc., but most generally it's a pretty smooth process. My part is basically over once the editing is done, unless they request any additional services, such as a query letter. Also on occasion a writer will also commission me to critique a work in progress.


What is a query letter and what makes one stand out more than the rest?

I have never encountered a writer who doesn't find the query letter daunting and, to them, a nightmare! They find it very easy to write a book, but writing a letter ABOUT the book and "selling" it - they just dread it.


A query letter is very important as this is either going to get a publisher to look at your book or toss the pages you've sent and your letter in the trash. You can't be intimidated at the prospect of expressing just how great your book is and why. And an absolute MUST is to adhere by and follow the publisher's submission requirements! I can't stress that enough. That is one of THE most frustrating things to a publisher! Another thing that many people overlook is the importance of research. Look the publisher up online. See the kind of books they publish and don't be afraid to mention something they've published that might be similar in genre to your submission. This shows the publisher from the very beginning that you've done a little legwork and you're not just sending out generic letters.

What inspired you to start your blog, Crystal Clear Proofing?

When I decided to start my own business, I began asking a lot of questions. I talked with people I knew at the time who were already online, people I met online...I did a lot of research, finding out what was involved, steps I should take, etc. I did a lot of reading both online and off. As I completed various tasks, for example getting my domain name and building my website, it was actually our mutual friend and fellow blogger, L. Diane Wolfe, (I actually met Diane on My Cat Space), who encouraged me to venture into the blogosphere. I actually remember her saying, "Now you need to start blogging." And the rest, as they say, is history.


Having met you through the blog world, I know that you follow book bloggers. What other types of blogs do you enjoy?

Book reviewer blogs are interesting in that they provide an insight as to what other people look for and "see" in a book. I enjoy author and writer blogs a lot - as they give me a perspective of, as I call it, the "World of Words" from their angle. Having a glimpse of what happens before a book makes its way to me is very enlightening. And, I love (again with this...) motivational and uplifting blogs. I follow a couple of really wonderful ones. In my opinion, you can't read or hear enough positive things, thoughts, outlooks, perspectives...so many people dwell on and actually LIVE in negativity. What a downer! Life is challenging enough! Lighten up a little and look at the brighter side! Sure makes this journey a lot more enjoyable!


What makes a great book in your eyes?

When I'm "hooked" within the first few paragraphs, to the point of wanting to know, "What now? What happens next?" THAT is my first indication that this is probably going to be a good book. It isn't foolproof though. Some writers tend to be too descriptive or verbose, or they drag a story on...and on. But then, that is usually evident in those first paragraphs. Drawing the reader IN so that the characters become familiar and for the duration of the book, they're your friends, your relating with them, you're on the edge of your seat - depending on the genre; keeping things interesting and fast-paced, is a talent. If you have those initial elements at the beginning and you're identifying with the characters during the first chapter, chances are you're about to enjoy a really good book.


If we were to take a peek at your bookshelves, what types of books would we find?

A lot of self-improvement and self-empowerment books, LOL - and of course inspirational and motivational books! I also have quite a collection of books on angels, different faiths, beliefs, cultures, meditation, crystals...quite diverse there. I'll go through periods where I'm really fascinated about a certain topic and I'll read everything I can get my hands on about it. I have been through my Romanov stage where The Last of the Czars fascinated me, and that led to reading War and Peace; I've read a lot about the Anasazi and other lost civilizations. Mozart's biography was fascinating. I also have several books about the Silver Screen Era of Hollywood. I'm fascinated with history. And those are just examples of my NON-fiction collection. I have SO many fiction books! Series by favorite authors, exceptionally captivating books; some I keep, others I don't ... I'm running out of room! Oh! And of course the tools of my trade - my reference, grammar and style books!


Who is your role model in life?

My dad. He has a heart of gold, it's so pure and good. I've always said that I must have done something really wonderful in a previous life to deserve such a wonderful father this time around! He's ALWAYS been there for me, is supportive, and a wonderful father. He is such a kind, loving and giving person. I just adore him (can you tell)?


I know we share a love of and a connection to cats. Have cats always been your pet of choice? And if so what is it about them?

We always had cats when I was growing up, and I've always had a cat or cats while living on my own. First of all they're the purrrfect pet. They're self-sufficient, (for the most part), and independent. They're so loving, playful and adorable! They are incredibly intuitive little furries. They know and sense and react to your moods. They're really quite amazing.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life, what would you ask for?

I'm basically a healthy person and take care of my self and my body. But I do suffer from a couple of medical conditions, and having been in a serious car accident in 1985 has, over the years, left me with also having osteoarthritis and chronic pain. So I would definitely ask for good health!


I know Believe is your favorite word. Tell us why it's your favorite word and what it means to you.

There is nothing negative about the word BELIEVE. It basically sums up all that is positive and inspiring. You can believe in yourself, believe that everything happens for a reason, believe in God or who or whatever your Higher Power is, believe in the power of positive thinking... the list is endless. I just love the word. To me it means hope, faith, everything really. Because, well, say you're depressed. If you believe that, "this too shall pass," and you WILL be happy and feel good again, you've got all you need to help yourself - if you just believe.


In the short time we've known each other, I've come to know that you are a warm and loving person who always has a kind word for others and who inspires so many of us. Who do you look to when you want to feel inspired?

What kind words to say about me!! Thank you!


My dad is a steadfast, always-there supporter and lifter-upper. I also have a few very special people in my life who I am so proud to call friends. They have never let me down, are always there for me. I'm very grateful for them. I do not take that word, or any of the implications that go with it, lightly. A true, real friend is something very rare and very, very special.

A very important source is my Higher Power. Whatever your beliefs, there is an energy source that is part of each of us, part of our souls - our essence. And that higher power is always there and always standing ready with a good dose of inspiration! And tapping into that "source" is simply a matter of going inside yourself. That wonderful energy and power resides within all of us!


If you won a million dollars and you had to spend it in three months or lose it, what would you do with the money?

Travel, especially to the oldest places with the most history. Maybe take that trip into space that I've heard about that cost a fortune and then some! I'd give to people in need, and I'd definitely donate to the medical research of certain ailments and diseases, along with a few other worthy causes. Hospice organizations, those with regard to animals...


If you could return for one year to one age in your life, knowing what you now know, to relive the year as you wish, which year would you return to and why?

You know, I could say that I'd return to a particular age when I made a bad decision or took an unfavorable path...but I (sorry - AGAIN...) believe that everything happens for a reason, and those things have all made me who I am today.


So, I would choose the year 2002. A few years prior to that, my mother and I had become not just friends, but mother and daughter. We had a rough, up-and-down relationship for the better part of my life. Also during that year, my parents worked with me on a little remodeling of my home - painting, that kind of thing. The following spring, in May of 2003 my mom was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and died 4 1/2 months later. (Also, only a couple of months before mom's diagnosis, her mother - my grandmother died; a couple of months after losing mom, my furry Max died, and a short period later my grandfather died.) I remember after her diagnosis, consciously soaking in and enjoying every moment with her. But it was marred by the undercurrent of what we knew was imminent.


I'd love to relive that year of naïveté.


If they were to make a movie of your life, what would it be called and who would you want to play you?

The first person that came to my mind as to who I would want to play me was Kate Hudson. She can be both serious and funny, and like her mother, she has this certain way of being - silly! Those qualities would be essential in portraying me.


I guess we'd just have to call the movie, "Believe." It would take the audience through a full spectrum of emotions and experiences. The main character would have a positive outlook as she reflects on the events of her life, good and bad. The entire experience of learning and growing all revolving around believing. Believing that the hard times back there actually played an integral part of who she eventually became. Believing that the wrong decision or path she took over there, she looks back on and realizes that she has used that experience in her quest to shape who she is. Belief that all the experiences in this journey we call life have some meaning.

Never having given up, she's taken chances. She's been persistent and determined, caring and empathetic, she's treated others the way she's wanted to be treated. Believing that when all is said and done and we move on, she'll be rewarded. Wrap that all up into one story and its overall message would be to - Believe.


One last, silly, question. What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

What? I thought that's why I was answering all these questions!

 
 
Thank you, Crystal,  for sharing with us, a glimpse into your life and what an editor does. You are a lovely and fascinating person. I know who I'm using to edit my book.
 
Make sure you check out her website, and follow her blog for great tips on and fun with grammar. You take the pain out of grammar and make it easier to understand.

And make sure you read her installment of Ember in Wrilogonzia. It's action packed and fabulous!  You definitely, deserve that Klondike bar.

Book Review - The First Thirty Seconds by Stephen M. Armstrong

When I saw the cover of this book, I was instantly drawn to it. I love trees and although it's not my favorite color, I love orange too. I will admit I let physical beauty influence me over content. When the book first arrived and I flipped through it, I was a little disappointed. It's very sparse. Not a lot of words in this one. You see I'm a meat and potatoes kind of reader. I like a lot of substance in my books. Give me a book with 500-600 pages in tiny print and I'm in heaven. So at first glance, this nook made me feel like I was being rationed, being put on a diet. Once again, I was letting the physical appearance sway my judgment. I was torn. Torn between that esoteric disappointment and being very busy, part of me was relieved - this book was so sparse I'd be able to read and review this in no time. Then I made an interesting discovery.......

That Stephen M Armstrong is a sly one. The First Thirty Seconds is a wonderful resource for personal reflection. Don't be fooled by its sparse interior. This book could almost be called a workbook. He combines pages of 'thought' with pages of 'reflection' that compliment the thoughts, often times giving you a question to ask yourself. People often comment on how positive I am and ask how I do it. Considering at one point in my life I was the queen of negativity, I always respond with making a conscious effort and lots of hard work. It's a shame this book wasn't published all those years ago when I began that journey. Not everyone wants to reflect, it's often not easy to look inside oneself. Although I don't have the background in Psychology and Therapy that Armstrong does, it is something I see in those around me every day. This book offers a great first step in that journey. I give it four out of five reflections.

There are so many great thoughts and reflections in this book it is hard to choose only a few to give you a taste of what a full course meal this book really is.

Thought (from page 9):

Wherever you may be

in the natural course of your day,

you can always pause to consider your attitude.

~

If it needs readjustment

to more positive or more loving or more sensitive,

the changes in your attitude can be made

within the next thirty seconds.

~

It is never too late or too futile.

The companion reflection (page 10):

What can I use as a trigger today

that will remind me to check my attitude?

Thought (from page 63):

Happiness is elusive:

the more it is directly sought

the harder it is to find.

~

Rather, it is most frequently

a by-product of positive thinking

and positive behavior.

The companion reflection (page 64):

Will I stubbornly refuse

to take responsibility

for my own happiness?

Thought (from page 179):

We all know

that hindsight is 20/20.

We also know

that a rearview mirror

is sometimes necessary.

The normal adult experience

includes occasional backward glances,

sometimes accompanied by regrets.

~

Regrets should not be viewed

as evidence of one's failure as a person.

Rather, they should be viewed

as lessons learned

and motivation to do better.

The companion reflection (page 180):

What have I framed as a "regret"

that could be framed as a "lesson learned"?

* This book was provide by the author.

And The Winner Is.....

What is a blog without its followers? To show my appreciation for my followers, I decided to offer a prize when I reach certain numbers. Today I reached 100 followers and it's time to announce who won the dragonfly necklace and earring set pictured below. I used The Hat to randomly pick a winner.

Congratulations, Paula Ray!!  Thank you all for following. Stay tuned to find out what the next prize will be. Since I have many male followers also, feel free to leave suggestions on what kind of prizes you like to see.

The Good The Bad and The Ugly Wednesday

For those of you new to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Wednesday, I give you the run down on three sites with a similar theme. The Good is an interesting site, check it out if you have a chance. The Bad (bad as in cool) is a great site and you should definitely take a look-see. Now the Ugly, is an awesome site, you should drop everything and go check it out.


If you are like me, in this economy you need all the help you can get. So this week, I'm focusing on sites that can save you money.  I'm going to deviate a little and instead of pciking three to rank from good to great, I'm going to let each represent a category. The Good will be a site for saving money by getting discounts. The Bad will be for finding something for free. And the Ugly will be where we can learn to do something ourselves to save the time and money of hiring someone else for the job.
 
The Good - We all want to save a little money these days and while there are a million coupon and discount sites to choose from. many of them are already well known, so I wanted to share one a discovered recently that you may not have heard of. The Bargainist is a great site that is updated several times a day with listings of online bargains, freebies, coupons and sales. What's even better, you don't have to register, join  or download software to enjoy it. A word of caution, unless you're seriously strapped for time, be wary fo coupon sites that offer to send you coupons for a fee,called clipping services. You can find them for free on the same coupon sites, the clipping serices use.
 
The Bad - Ever been to a swap meet? Freecycle is an online swap meet. Free cycle is organized by location and there are groups all ove rthe US. You do have to join, but if your in the market for furniture, toys, appliances, and more you can often someone who is giving away what you are looking for. It also offers a great way to get rid of stuff you no longer use by giving it to someone who wants it and keeping it out of our ever growing landfills.  Since so many bloggers  and followers love books, I have to give an honorable mention to PaperBackSwap and Paperback Exchange. PaperBack Swap is a club you join and send in your used paperbacks in exchange for credit to receive a book. You just pay the postage. Paperback Exchange has new & used books at a discount. They also offer additional discounts when you send them your used books. They also offer hard back book rentals.
 
The Ugly- Need easy to follow instructions on how to do just about anything you would normally have to pay someone to do? Everything from repairing appliances fixing car scratches & dents to cutting hair to recovering furniture to home improvement projects. I actually found two great sites. If you can't find instructions on one you are bound to find it on the other. Fix-It Club and Find How.  The beauty of these sites, in addition to saving you money on hiring someone or paying for a service call, you learn a new skill.

Photo Tuesday

Following Spunk on a Stick's Tuesday tradition, here is this weeks Photo Tuesday or in this case picture & photo.

BREAKING THE SEAL

United we stand, divided we fall.

The lay of the land a message to all.

Remember the past the way it arrived.

Rejoice at the thought the way you've survived.

There's heaven accrued in values you hold.

Addressing the drift of stories untold.

Advanced as you will, you're seen to advance.

There's nary a thing pertaining to chance.

The specter is real invading the night,

For breaking the seal and twisting the light.

PERFECTION

The perfect person in an unperfect world.

Lost in her quest to live up,

To the expectations of others,

Too proud to give up the fight,

Too alone to ask for help,

Too scared to admit defeat.

She goes thru life lost,

At war with herself,

A disappointment to those around,

A disappointment to herself.

WORLD

What is the world like today?

I'll tell you this, it's not child's play.

It consist of a hard life,

It consist of a lot of strife.

It holds many occupations,

Even more devastations.

So why do we live in this place,

A big round globe, to us a case?

We shout and shout;

We just can't get out.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and poems. They were some I wrote many years ago.

Credits:

The top photo I took the other morning,

the second is an intaglio I did,

and the third was from Bing Images.

Book Review - Hail To The Chief "A Tribute to President Obama" by Robert A. Stovall, Ph.D

I received this book from the author about the same time I was given a book by Glenn Beck as a gift. Originally I was going to do a dual review.  A book that showed Obama in a good light and a book that showed him in a bad light. I quickly discovered, you really can't judge a book by it's cover unless you want to be mislead. Therefore I will be doing two seperate reviews.

After I sat down and read Hail To The Chief, I was disappointed to find that it really wasn't a tribute to Obama. Hail To The Chief is an imaginary interview between, "The Voice" and "Obama". That, actually could have been a novel concept so I opened the cover with an open mind. What I discovered was not a book that was focused on praising Obama or even focused on his idealogies. I discovered a book that was all about Racism. Oh, that's not what the book comes right out and says. It actually repeatedly focuses on imaginary questions that ask how does it feel to be the first black man in the Oval Office. How does it feel to be the face of all Blacks. It saddened me and at the time I was reading it angered me. Obama, as the President is a face for all Americans regardless of skin color. Here was a well-educated, affluent man, who did not even recognize that he had just published a racist book. Unfortunately, there will always be racism. Why? Because people waste too much time focusing on the color of their skin and the color of the skin of those around them, that they don't see the man or the woman. They are blinded by their own racist tendencies, yet are so focused on appearing non-racist that they don't see that very act is making them more racist. When will we stop focusing on white vs black, black vs white. What about all the other colors?  What really makes a person one race or another. Is a person with dark skin automatically an "African American", someone with very pale skin "White" or "Caucasian"? Sadly, that way of thinking is only a display of ignorance. People look at me and see a very pale blue eyed blonde. I must be "White" and yes, I mark caucasian when asked to check a certain box because that is predomently who I am. I am mainly Scotch-Irish. However if you look past my skin tone and take a deeper look at my hertitage, you will find I also have Native American, Cuban and African running through my veins. In all honesty, if you live in the United States and really researched your heritage you would find something very similar. So, again I have to ask, will we ever be able to look past these labels of ignorance?

Unfortunately this is not a book I enjoyed or would recommend. It is not what it was represented to be. I think it is great that Stovall has pride in his heritage, but he should portray this book as a focus on how blacks have risen out of oppression but should never stop focusing on the difference in ones skin color. Because that is what this book is really about. The only positive I can say about it, is that it made me feel the need to write this post and ask these questions. I give this one out of five flags.
*This book was provided by the author.

What is this thing.... Ember in Wrilogonzia - A Blog Opera

What is a blog opera?

First, let me start by explaining what a "Blog Opera" is. A blog opera is an ongoing story with many writers that travels from blog to blog as the story unfolds around a few set characters with other characters coming and going as the story progresses. I am going to start the story of "Ember in Wrilogonzia" on my blog and then hopefully other bloggers will pick up the story where I stop and continue it. I will follow the story as it unfolds and continually update here with the new links and the next installment of Ember's adventure.


Now here is where the guidelines come in. To keep multiple arcs from going at the same time, if you decide to pick up the story, comment that you will have the next installment and provide the link to your page. Then post your part of the story within 48-72 hours. If you want to write an installment but see that there is already a comment claiming that honor, then follow the story to the next blog and claim the next portion from there. When you post your installment, please make sure to provide a link back to the previous blogger and to this post where our readers can follow the story from the beginning. There is no set length a person has to write; you can write a few sentences, a few paragraphs or a few pages. It’s entirely up to the writer. The goal behind our blog opera is to connect with other bloggers and to lead our readers on a journey through many fabulous blogs.

Now before we begin Ember's journey, let me give you a little background information. This story is like an Alice in Wonderland meets Tron. Our main character is Ember Innocenzi and she is about to become trapped in Wrilogonzia (the blog/internet realm). Her story progresses as she moves from one blog to another, the “wonderland” aspect is that she can change on different blogs: get older, younger, switch genders, race, species, become paranormal, etc. That’s where all the fun comes in. If someone chooses to take on a segment of her story they can put her on their blog or on any blog or site. The story doesn’t have to take place on their own blog just because they are writing the next chapter; if they have a blog or site they love they can throw her in that one. The post will still appear on their site, but Ember can be anywhere they want her to be.


Let’s find out who Ember is. Ember Innocenzi is a 28 year old customer service representative that works from her home and rarely goes out. She shares her home with her reclusive and eccentric aunt, Elspeth, and their two cats, Nuet and Nym. Her parents were killed when she was six and her aunt has raised her along with her three other siblings. They are all three years apart in age, the oldest being her sister Fossylia and the youngest, her sister, Misty. Ember also has an older brother, Wyndel. She remembers little of her parents, only what her aunt, Fossylia and her brother, Wyndel have told her. Most of the stories involve the characters' love of nature, hence the elemental names their parents chose for their children. Except for Ember, they all possess traits of the names they were given. Fossylia is a social worker/child advocate. She is the rock of the family and those around her. Wyndle is a publicist and is always jetting around the globe for his clients. He flies through life like the wind or at times like a tornado. Misty, following her connection with water, is a marine biologist. Ember has always been the one to defy her name. She is shy and timid. She likes to stay home where she feels safe and comfortable. While close to her siblings, around others she has always been quiet and a loner. She married her college boyfriend but they divorced a year later. Physically, Ember is very average. She is 5’ 7”, 160lbs, a curvy figure. She is in great shape due to her love of martial arts and archery. Her eyes are a warm light brown and her hair has strands of many natural colors but has a strong reddish cast, when sunlight hits it just right it resembles liquid fire. Other random facts: her favorite color is orange, her favorite season is fall, she finds thunderstorms soothing and her favorite comfort food is hotdogs. Until now, Ember has simply been 'smoldering' through life. We are about to ignite her inner spark as she enters into a world where anything is possible! 

Our other main character is a creature that inhabits Wrilogonzia. It is genderless and will have the ability to pop in and out of the stories to act as a guide and companion on occasion. This creature is a Komosny, a species only found in the blog/internet realm. In appearance it looks like the aye-aye pictured below. Our Komosny is named Perhluna.

 And now, let the journey begin….

 

Ember in Wrilogonzia

“I do not need to go out and meet people. I have plenty of friends, thank you very much.” Ember told her brother Wyndel, irritably..

“Those people you talk to online, aren’t real. Ember, you need to get out of the house have interaction with flesh and blood people,” Wyndel chided through the phone.

“Wyn, you just don’t understand. I go out ….. occasionally, I’m just not comfortable around a lot of people. I like my solitude. And I have interaction with real people. Aunt Elspeth has people over all the time and I hang out with you and Fossylia and the kids.. Oh and remember just last summer I went to the coast with Misty for a whole month. Besides, my online friends are real. They understand me in a way nobody else does. I can be myself with them.”

“Ok, Ember, make your excuses. But when I get to town next week, we are going out. And you will enjoy it! “ Ember hears a muffled voice through the phone. “hey, Em I have to run. I love you. Give Ellie a hug for me. See you next week!”

“Lo….ve…you too, “ Ember says into the now dead air. “Online people aren’t real. You need to get out more. You should go on a date, be more social….yadda, yadda, yadda…. Well, you think I’m social enough, don’t you Nym?” Ember picks up the fuzzy tortoiseshell cat curled up on her keyboard. Nuzzling the long soft hair as a loud rumbling begins to emit from Nym. “Yes, you love me just the way I am. And speaking of my ‘unreal’ online friends, hmph, I need to catch up on some blogs.” Turning the computer on, Ember lays Nym in her lap as she begins typing in her email password.

After a few hours of reading and commenting, Ember’s head begins to nod as she is reading another of her favorite bloggers. Soon she is sound asleep; her head resting on her arms.

“What the…” Ember exclaims as she finds herself in a heap under a small bridge.

“Hey are you okay?”

Ember looks around, trying to orientate herself and locate where the voice is coming from. “I have to be dreaming.” She pinches herself. “Ow. Ok that was stupid. Why do they always do that in movies. Of course I can feel it. It’s my dream, duh…”

“ Do you always talk to yourself like this, or did your tumble rattle a few marbles loose?”

There’s that delicious voice again. Ember looks to her right and sees a man in a wheelchair rolling to the end of the small bridge. All around them are trees and flowering shrubs lining a path with stone benches. I must be in some sort of park, she thinks to herself. As she stands up and steps closer to the man she recognizes him, “Oh my God, you’re Jude Law!”
 
“Excuse me? You must have me mistaken for someone else. I’m Jerome. Jerome Morrow.” Jerome says in that wonderful lilting voice as he extends his hand.” And you are?”

“But…you…look…..I’m sorry, I’m Ember.. Innocenzi.” Ember shakes his hand as she mutters, “and this is one weird dream,” under her breath. 
 
Jerome chuckles. “Well, I admit I haven’t been called a dream in quite some time, so thank you.” He slowly runs his eyes over her invitingly curvy frame, taking in her black tank top, star covered flannel pants and bright purple plaid socks. But it his disheveled mass of long hair that captivates him with it's deep red color and hints of copper, honey and gold.

“Oh, I didn’t mean you… well, not that you’re not a dream, but…. I’ll just be quiet now,” Ember stammers, chiding herself. She feels the color rising in her cheeks as she follows his glance and realizes she is still wearing what she must have fallen asleep in.

"It’s alright, I understand. Really. Before the accident, I suppose I was a dream. Now the chair is a bit off putting, isn’t it?”

“Noooo! It’s not that. It’s just this isn’t real. I mean it can’t be. I must be dreaming, it’s just…..” Embers voice trails off as she again focuses on her surroundings. The lamp post lining the past cast a warm light on the path, leaving the surrounding woods and grassy areas in shadows. On one tree she sees an odd looking creature watching her. It’s huge eyes seeming to burst from it’s head as it’s floppy ears make it appear to be winking at her when they fall across it’s gaze. It’s finger like hands grip the trunk as it climbs forward for a better look. Then it does the strangest thing. It smiles at her before it disappears. Ember shakes her head and looks again. No way, she thinks to herself.. She turns to Jude… Jerome, “did you see that?”

“Sorry?” Oh, he is handsome when he turns his head that way and looks at me….focus!

“Over there on that tree, there was an animal and then it just went poof and was gone.”

“Are you sure you didn’t hit your head when you fell? There’s nothing there.” He says with a look of concern.

Before she can respond a beautiful blonde woman, who looks a lot like Uma Thurman runs up to them. “Jerome, what are you doing out here? If they catch you they’ll lock you away. Where’s Vincent?”

“Haven’t seen him tonight love. I’m sure he can handle himself. No need to worry about me. Know one is out here except this lovely young lady. Cassini, Ember. Ember,Cassini. And why are you running?”

“ We must hurry, Gattaca Security is not far behind me. We have to leave now.” Cassini anxiously says as she grabs the back of the wheel chair and begins pushing Jerome across the bridge as he protest. She pauses to say to Ember, “Sorry, we must go. You don’t look like you belong here. Do you have your papers?” At Ember’s puzzled look, Cassini continues, “then you better come with us. Hurry, if they catch you without papers they’ll make you disappear.”

Ember begins to follow, but as she reaches the other side of the bridge her vision blurs……

.


For the 2nd installment go to Crystal Clear Proofing.
For the 3rd installment go to A Writing Obsession
For the 4th installment go to Confessions of a Watery Tart
For the 5th installment go to Princess of Procrastination
For the 6th installment go to The Quiddity of Delusion

Check out the interview Ember's Aunt Elspeth did with the Ghost of Grace Street.

Book Review - Kill Me Twice by Jerry Bayne

Kill Me Twice by Jerry Bayne is a fast-paced tale of political intrigue. Bayne weaves a tale about Brad Cardiff, a top CIA field operative faced with a life altering event and and what he will do to make things right. What would you do if every thing you loved, lived for, were suddenly taken from you? How would you handle it, if the boss you took orders from and the government you served betrayed you? What if the revenge you sought was against highly public and powerful adversaries? These are the questions Cardiff must ask himself.

What do you do when the killer you are sworn to catch, turns out to be someone you don't think is the real bad guy? That is the question Boston Police Sergeant, Mike Sams, will find himself asking.

Bayne has written a cloak and dagger full of well developed characters, intense action, political intrigue and raw emotions. He's thrown the Chicago Mafia and Colombian drug lords into the mix. Often when an author throws in too many over the top characters and scenarios, he loses the reader. That is not the case with this thriller. Bayne has blended these different characters and their backgrounds seamlessly.  He keeps you moving and never lets up on the tension and yet never loses you  with too many twist and turns. This is one book I would love to tell you so much more about, but that would give away the story and the outcomes.  I give this 4 out of 5 mafia hit men.

Since it is on the back cover of his book, I will include this exert for you:

"He hovered over the Senator for just a second; then'with surgical precision, placed an ice pick at the base of Franklin's head, then pushed it through his cerebellum. The body twitched once; death was instantaneous. Showing no emotion, Cardiff sat in a winged back chair and looked at his handy work. He had three or so hours to relax before snaking his way back into his coiled acge. He closed his eyes, not to sleep, but to breathe in the smell of death oozing from Franklin's inebriated corpse. The sensation fired up the smoldering embers of his memories of why he was there."

*This book was provided by the author.

The Good The Bad & The Ugly Wednesday

For those of you new to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Wednesday, I give you the run down on three sites with a similar theme. The Good is an interesting site, check it out if you have a chance. The Bad (bad as in cool) is a great site and you should definitely take a look-see. Now the Ugly, is an awesome site, you should drop everything and go check it out.

This weeks The Good, The Bad and the Ugly are blogs who help the rest of us bloggers who happen to be a little techie challenged. Being new to this blogging thing, I am always seeing cool layouts, widgets, gadgets and thingies (yes, that's my favorite word for anything I don't know the official name of). Like a kid in a candy store, I , too, want all these cool thing-a-ma-bobs. Unfortunately I'm blonde and somewhat technologically challenged. Luckily, I'm not alone and the blog world is full of wonderful people willing to share their knowledge. Some of you have noticed that my blog recently went thru a transformation. I can thank the wonderful tutorials of our "Ugly" blogger for that. That and the trusted opinion of my dear friend, Crystal over at Crystal Clear Proofing, who was gracious enough to let me send her pictures and bounce ideas off of.

The Good is Blogger Tips and Tricks. A great little blog that gives you tips, tricks, links and answers questions. The post tend to be concise and brief. This site's main focus is the Blogger blogs and most of the post cover simple and basic questions for the seasoned blogger, but for those of us who are new, it's a great site to quickly check for answers.

The Bad  goes to The Real Blogger Status. This site has the nifty subtitle, "What Blogger Won't Tell You." Makes me feel all comspiratorial. ( I know probably not a real word, but it sounds omninous.) This site also gives short concise posts that cover some of the latest problems and and latest tricks and gadgets. It also provides great links to many other Blogger friendly sites to help you make the most of your Blogger Blog. Many of the tips and fixes will also work for other blog host sites. One of the great things about this site is it is user friendly no matter what country you are from or what language you speak.

The Ugly site this week has been a godsend to me and is a true find for any blogger, but especially those new bloggers who only know how to do the most basic things. Let me introduce you to LawnyDesigns, the  nearly one-stop shop for all your tips, tricks and tutorials. His posts are amazing and make blogging seem so easy a first grader could make one. He gives you step by step instructions complete with screen shots so you know what your HTML should look like. Plus, he is very diligent about helping his commentors and answering questions. So make sure you read through those as well when looking up a particular topic. You sometimes will find extra tips in them. After reviewing many of the comments that follow his posts, I noticed a recurring theme among his followers. They want him to do the tech work for them. Hey, wouldn't we all. What takes me hours would probably take him mere seconds. Okay, I'll be honest, what takes me days would probably take him mere seconds. Note *If you go to his site, and I strongly encourage everyone to head over and check it out, don't be one of those commentors who says, "can I email you my blog and you can fix it for me?", over and over when he very politely has explained that he is extremely busy but will be glad to work on your site if you wish to hire him but otherwise please just post your questions and he'll answer what he can.  The man graciously explains how to achieve great results in his post, and goes out of his way to help his commentor's, but reworking sites is something he does get paid to do, so if that is what you are looking for, by all means contact him and get a quote. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Otherwise, appreciate the gift he is putting out there for us.

Hope you find these sites as helpful as I have. Happy Blogging!!