Quote for the Week

What escapes many people who see writing as a romantic occupation is that to be successful at it, you must actually spend time doing it.

A New Year Begins

Another year, another birthday.

Every year seems to go faster than the last.

Last week I erased another number and replaced it with a new one.  I can't say I'm thrilled about getting older, but it's comforting to know that all my friends are getting older, too.  I hope we're getting wiser as well.  Does age automatically confer wisdom?  I'm not so sure about that but I keep hoping.

I find myself humming Frank Sinatra's signature song:  My Way.  Am I ready to "face the final curtain?"
Well, preferably not.  There's so much more I want to do and experience--places to visit, words to write, my family and friends to spend time with...  I hope I have some good years left.  If I do, I hope I use them  well.

More News

This week's news:
My guest post at Arlee Bird's www.wrotebyrote.blogspot.com is still up.

Interview on www.TheAuthorsShow.com will be rebroacast on May 31.  Hope you'll tune in.

Look for Stumbling Through the Dark on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.  (And if you read it, please post a review).

Blue Lyra Review, which recently published an essay of mine titled An Apple for Life is expanding.  Check them out online at wwwbluelyrareview.com 

Thanks, Thelma

PR News: Stumbling Through the Dark and On Our Own: Widowhood for Smarties

Here are some ways I've been publicizing my memoir and the anthology I co-edited.  If you'd like to check out the sites with a view to get the word out about your own publications, please do.  And of course, I hope you'll take this opportunity to learn more about mine:

Thursday, May 16 starting at midnight and available for 24 hours:  Interview on www.TheAuthorsShow.com in the non-fiction area.  All about Stumbling Through the Dark, how it came to be, what I hope readers will get from it, etc. 

Saturday, May 18:  Guest post on Arlee Bird's blog:  www.wrotebyrote.blogspot.com What I've learned about memoir.

Currently:  Interview and essay on Sheila Bender's www.writingitreal.com
in the current newsletter.  About On Our Own:  Widowhood for Smarties with an essay called Parking Garage 2.

Currently:  Review of On Our Own:  Widowhood for Smarties at www.storycircle.org  or on Amazon.

I'd love some comments.  Thanks

What I Learned in Holland

Just returned from a Tulip Time cruise to Holland and Belgium.  Here are some of the things I learned:

There are over 7500 varieties of tulips.

In the early 1600's, Holland experienced "tulipmania," when people invested everything in tulips and later lost everything when the tulip market crashed.  (Sounds like 2008, doesn't it?)

In Amsterdam's red light district, women sit in the windows displaying their "wares" but they don't want you to take their pictures.

Near the end of his life, Vincent Van Gogh was painting a picture every day.  He only sold one picture during his lifetime.

In Belgium, every other store is a chocolate shop (a no-no if, like me, you get migraines from chocolate.)  Everything you can think of made of chocolate is for sale, even chocolate boobs.

Windmills served as living quarters (very crowded ones) for the miller and his family.  Most windmills today are powered by turbines.

The Belgian Atomium in Brussels, built for the 1958 World Expo, is an enormous structure with huge globes.  Schools sometimes reserve a globe and the children can spend the night there.

Bicycles have the right-of-way in Holland and if you don't pay attention, they'll run you down.

Z is for my 26 favorite blogs from the Challenge, then Zzzzz...

Each year at the end of the A to Z Challenge list 26 blogs that have intrigued me, made me laugh, or taught me something.  So here they are for 2013:
     Spunk on a Stick   www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
     Corinne O'Flynn, Writer www.odetoblogging.blogspot.com
     Rhonda--Laugh Quotes www.laugh-quotes.com
     Scattergun Scribblings www.nickwilford.blogspot.com
     Katka Travels www.katkatravels.com
     Daily Dish Reciptes www.dailydishrecipes.com
     A Faraway View A Blog about Dreams 
              www.afarawayview.blogspot.com
     Living, Loving and Learning www.wifeandteacher.blogspot.com
     Nickers and Ink  www.nickersandinkblog.blogspot.com
     Delightfully Amiss www.delightfullyamiss.blogspot.com
     Practially At Home www.practicallyathome.blogspot.com
     Dark Thoughts. www.scarymarythehamsterlady.blogspot.com
     Patty. Published  www.kenandpatty.blogspot.com
     The Desert Rocks www.thedesertrocks.blogspot.com
     Tales of the Reborn Crafter www.talesofthereborncrafter.blogspot.com
     Shaiha  www.shaihasramblings.blogspot.com
     Haiku Corner www.haiku-corner.blogspot.com
     Scribblegirl's Adventures in Writerland www.helenjameson.wordpress.com
     Tui Snider's Texas www.mentalmosaic.com/blog
     Faye North Destination:  Fiction www.destinationfiction.blogspot.com
     Spark My Creativity www.sparkmycreativity.blogspot.com
     Praise, Prayers and Observations www.jessyferguson.blogspot.com
     Elizabeth Seckman, Author www.eseckman.blogspot.com
     Mother of Brothers www.mothersofbrothersblog.blogspot.com
     New Day Rising www.fantasywriterguy.blogspot.com
     MM's Fundamental of English  www.queenofenglish.wordpress.com

And now, fellow A to Zers, I'm off for a well-deserved nap.

Y is for my favorite Yiddish proverb

Not long into my widowhood I discovered a Yiddish proverb that translates to "When one must, one can."  I resolved to make that my motto as I trudged through life alone.  Know what?  It's a wise and somehow comforting saying and I've done my best to live by it because...what choice does one have?

If you have a favorite proverb, list it in the Comments section.