tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118566922024-03-18T01:12:09.687-05:00Joan Reeves<b><big> aka SlingWords</big></b>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.comBlogger4181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-68575787069408253452024-03-16T00:30:00.005-05:002024-03-16T00:30:00.120-05:00Saturday Share - Recipe - Oven-Fried Potatoes<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv7Qy7H2eQoW7wiu1PvulWVHJtPK1JBcL4-ti8eCGTCSXbs2eMOMH0KAEjdSiPg1XSGSQpKWST2BvIuBWlG2D4NKrJvvjqHir39NYrTgr_8TjHq5VGA_JyDU2NALX9uuV0ri7uv_lGUB9DO2J0EPqS-7P7o2GaE0ofJ9wyK7OQFlck5cTp-BZ-9A" style="clear: left; color: #4e4e4e; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv7Qy7H2eQoW7wiu1PvulWVHJtPK1JBcL4-ti8eCGTCSXbs2eMOMH0KAEjdSiPg1XSGSQpKWST2BvIuBWlG2D4NKrJvvjqHir39NYrTgr_8TjHq5VGA_JyDU2NALX9uuV0ri7uv_lGUB9DO2J0EPqS-7P7o2GaE0ofJ9wyK7OQFlck5cTp-BZ-9A" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="284" /></a>Happy Saturday!</p><p>Here's a recipe for a dish just about everyone loves.</p><p>It tastes great, it's easy to fix, and it's economical too.</p><p>The great thing about potatoes is that they go with every kind of main dish—well, except pasta I suppose.</p><p>The ingredients may sound like a lot of fat, but you drain off the excess fat. You can save it in the fridge for use the next time you make this.</p><p><b>OVEN-FRIED POTATOES</b></p><p><b><u>Ingredients</u></b></p><p>1 potato for each person dining</p><p>4 tablespoons melted butter</p><p>4 tablespoons olive oil</p><p>salt and pepper</p><p>rosemary, an option for a different taste</p><p><b><u>Directions</u></b></p><p>1. Wash the potatoes well, but do not peel them. Slice each potato into quarter-inch rounds.</p><p>2. Soak the slided potatoes in cold water for a half hour.</p><p>3. Melt the butter and olive oil together on a cookie sheet.</p><p>4. Drain the potatoes and pat each round dry. Then place them on the cookie sheet in a single layer.</p><p>5. Sprinkle salt and pepper over them then turn over so the other buttered side can be seasoned.</p><p>6. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, until lightly brown and tender when pierced with a fork. Serve hot.</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>Sprinkle with crushed rosemary in addition to the salt and pepper. This makes them even more scrumptious.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b>Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s1280/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s320/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;">Get Joan's FREE Newsletter, </span><b style="text-align: start;">I LOVE READING</b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;">Not a subscriber?</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click here to SIGN UP</a></b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"></span>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-83112392624532026372024-03-15T00:30:00.011-05:002024-03-15T00:30:00.134-05:00Keyboard Shortcuts to Pick Colors<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDerK-obOhc_U2zDif9Gy19MUNtyQt-DytDyI0Jx2SOHmyUF-VeANloqUhr8kjgHR4hu_Ecf8keZoToUTAS1VhvyXuwoRVnQm8SXn4a7cZF5-HHiq7LbAqOscwQX0w4iysYOKL-fBQ9nCDaA5leJwtZaS2z0kV67OdO0z3eEQnLfFQmX-bJSIQYg/s1280/rainbow-colors-154569_1280_openclipart-vectors.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDerK-obOhc_U2zDif9Gy19MUNtyQt-DytDyI0Jx2SOHmyUF-VeANloqUhr8kjgHR4hu_Ecf8keZoToUTAS1VhvyXuwoRVnQm8SXn4a7cZF5-HHiq7LbAqOscwQX0w4iysYOKL-fBQ9nCDaA5leJwtZaS2z0kV67OdO0z3eEQnLfFQmX-bJSIQYg/w269-h269/rainbow-colors-154569_1280_openclipart-vectors.png" width="269" /></a></div>Last week I blogged about <b><a href="https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2024/03/keyboard-shortcuts-for-punctuation-marks.html" target="_blank">Keyboard Shortcuts for Punctuation Marks and Symbols</a></b>.<p></p><p>This week I'm giving you <b>Keyboard Shortcuts for Colors</b>.</p><p>You can use select a text color by typing in the color code on newsletter providers like MailerLite, on your own websites, blogs, and on graphics websites like BookBrush, etc.</p><p>These HTML color names can be used with inline HTML styles or in a separate CSS stylesheet </p><p>For example, you can change the color of a headline and/or the body text with a simple HTML code instruction like this:</p><p><!-- In your HTML document --><body> <h1 style="color:IndianRed">Indian Red Title Text</h1> <p style="color:SlateGray">Slate gray paragraph text</p> </body></p><p>I use color codes a lot because it's faster to type 6 characters than click on a color chart and find the one yu want to use.</p><p>You may know already that #000000 is the HTML color code for black, and that #FFFFFF is the HTML color code for white.</p><p>There are HTML Color Codes for every color of the rainbow. Here are a few commonly used color codes in a list you can copy and print.</p><p><b>HTML COLOR CODES</b></p><p>Black — #000000</p><p>White — #FFFFFF</p><p>Bright Red — #FF0000</p><p>Bright Pink — #FF1493</p><p>Medium Violet Red — #C71585</p><p>Magenta — #FF00FF</p><p>Orange — #FFA500</p><p>Gold — #FFD700</p><p>Bright Yellow — #FFFF00</p><p>Lime Green — #00FF00</p><p>Green — #008000</p><p>Teal — #008080</p><p>Blue — #0000FF</p><p>Navy — #000080</p><p>Beige — #F5F5DC </p><p>Chocolate — #D2691E</p><p>Brown — #A52A2A</p><p>Maroon — #800000</p><p>Gray — #808080</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>Visit and bookmark ColorCodes, one of my favorite resources.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/s900/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="900" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/w209-h150/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="209" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><p><b style="background-color: transparent;">Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></p><p><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING</a></b></p></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-32582727716978645692024-03-14T00:30:00.004-05:002024-03-14T00:30:00.238-05:00Auto Crash Into Power Pole?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL5fT8_aZK54f6cOXNcYXHW-k_aRCGRNz_2eu63P_P13SKYli5DAMlLGi8AhISmj7TkcCfG_L-z6YLj8mWgBf4zzUnoQzkjAXLFaH9xZqUHTx73g_JIUISYPtXeWEePWa0xE7TvCojF94o-3G-nvsL6YE6yLjE5YHYAJGZWx4JF2mzvmySAhUiQ/s3191/Share-piece-of-paper-with-blue-85011029_BSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2245" data-original-width="3191" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL5fT8_aZK54f6cOXNcYXHW-k_aRCGRNz_2eu63P_P13SKYli5DAMlLGi8AhISmj7TkcCfG_L-z6YLj8mWgBf4zzUnoQzkjAXLFaH9xZqUHTx73g_JIUISYPtXeWEePWa0xE7TvCojF94o-3G-nvsL6YE6yLjE5YHYAJGZWx4JF2mzvmySAhUiQ/s320/Share-piece-of-paper-with-blue-85011029_BSP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A few months ago, I read an article in a local magazine that asked this question: "Do you know what to do if you crash into an electric utility pole?"<p></p><p>Well, I didn't know. I told my husband and other family members because you just never know when you might be involved in a freak accident.</p><p>I thought I'd share the information online too in the form of a list.</p><p>1. Always, always think of a power line or other electrical equipment as LIVE—meaning it can kill you.</p><p>2. If you crash into a power pole and the power line falls on your car, there may or may not be fire. If there is NO fire, the safest thing to do is stay inside your car and call 911. You never know if a live wire may be laying on the ground. Don't exit your car until help arrives.</p><p>3. If passersby run to your car, tell them to stay away until help arrives. They may inadvertently receive serious electrical shock in trying to get to you.</p><p>4. Don't touch anything metal inside your car because electricity might be flowing through the frame of your car and along the ground.</p><p>4. If the accident caused a fire, then you need to leave the car, but do it this way. Open the car door, rotate your body so you're facing out. <b>Place both feet at the same time</b> on the running board if you have one, or on the bottom edge of the door frame. Jump out, making sure both feet leave the running board or door frame <b>at the same time</b>. Make sure you <b>land with both feet on the ground at the same time</b>.</p><p>5. When you jump out, be sure no part of your body or clothes touches the ground AND the car at the same time.</p><p>6. In getting away from the car, you have 2 options. Option #1—Shuffle step which means keep both feet in contact with the ground, sliding your feet along to maintain contact with the ground. Option #2—Jump away, making sure both feet leave the ground and land on the ground at the same time. Shuffling or jumping decreases the risk of electrical shock.</p><p>7. If you see an accident where someone has hit a utility pole, do NOT approach their vehicle. Call 911 and shout instructions to the driver.</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>I never thought about any of this before. It's a scary scenario which is why I wanted to spread the word about it. Be sure and pass this information on to your family and friends.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/s900/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="900" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/s320/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><p><b style="background-color: transparent;">Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></p><p><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING</a></b></p><p><br /></p></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-60979610886714845652024-03-13T00:30:00.093-05:002024-03-13T00:30:00.127-05:00Think About This Part 3 - Beauty<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispL6Y9TAgN5xMdgt1_8xkj8ZNaS77uCzC6DMTWFkrC48-GeE9wLMcbDfPypwF4cnCON9vK4GRB7hycZRnGppLvUuVdXjha_x8ozgnizQRwUXxMEdHzxaqcsFU6WlX4-DRwuy59VdcrBuRj7zlfEuhYDtTy1NNhz5YYhguZUEBv8JGv6S6ASc_gw/s1200/Think%20About%20This_2024_01-02.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #4e4e4e; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispL6Y9TAgN5xMdgt1_8xkj8ZNaS77uCzC6DMTWFkrC48-GeE9wLMcbDfPypwF4cnCON9vK4GRB7hycZRnGppLvUuVdXjha_x8ozgnizQRwUXxMEdHzxaqcsFU6WlX4-DRwuy59VdcrBuRj7zlfEuhYDtTy1NNhz5YYhguZUEBv8JGv6S6ASc_gw/w377-h206/Think%20About%20This_2024_01-02.png" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="377" /></a>Every woman wants to be beautiful...to feel beautiful. I think the desire to be perceived as beautiful exists in every culture.</p><p>The late great <b>Tina Turner</b> said something so wise about the quest for beauty.</p><p>I wanted to share it with you because I think there's a lot of truth in it. </p>"My greatest beauty secret is being happy with myself. I don't use special creams or treatments—I'll use a little bit of everything. It's a mistake to think you are what you put on yourself. I believe that a lot of how you look is to do with how you feel about yourself and your life. Happiness is the greatest beauty secret."<div><br /></div><div>Self-identity—the way you perceive yourself—can make you feel special and beautiful or plain and unimportant. Call it self-esteem, self-confidence, self-identity, or any of the other buzz words, but know that how you think about yourself is of greater importance than you may imagine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't look in the mirror and say mean things about your appearance. Would you tell another woman that she looks fat or wrinkled or old? Probably not, but I've heard women say things like that when they look at their own reflection. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I've often urged readers to dwell on optimism rather than negative thoughts. Today I urge you to think of yourself as beautiful. Tell your reflection that. See yourself as beautiful.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/s900/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="900" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/s320/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><p><b style="background-color: transparent;">Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></p><p><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING</a></b></p></div></div> </div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-56107393862097012162024-03-12T00:30:00.048-05:002024-03-12T00:30:00.132-05:00The Color of Spring<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-443_gIlm1Bn9rnKQSYc3gYs0-x9W0wUt6QjDqrVaB1MfwKg2FtNxAVJ63Q_Tkv9DJSi3GS-TiowCmKr5RBMCOZI9M8H6PITI_EHa-CoB32C8btuNYi9FtGLqQMe6bgOZu-FJIXDjnG0iyKlYmYp0TmZnu2sU8m5bB0ZVrBhZ7H5U9IqHwZMGvA/s1920/happy-2220481_1920_terriC_pixabay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-443_gIlm1Bn9rnKQSYc3gYs0-x9W0wUt6QjDqrVaB1MfwKg2FtNxAVJ63Q_Tkv9DJSi3GS-TiowCmKr5RBMCOZI9M8H6PITI_EHa-CoB32C8btuNYi9FtGLqQMe6bgOZu-FJIXDjnG0iyKlYmYp0TmZnu2sU8m5bB0ZVrBhZ7H5U9IqHwZMGvA/s320/happy-2220481_1920_terriC_pixabay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>"Happiness? The color of it must be spring green." —Frances Mayes<br /><br />I'd be willing to believe that if happiness had a color, it would be the green of emerging leaves.<div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, I spent a lovely half hour walking through a garden center. The most beautiful fragrance floated through the air, and the sun was warm on my face.<div><br /></div><div><b>SPRING ARRIVED—LET'S TAKE A BREAK</b></div><div><br /></div><div>While no one was looking, spring sneaked in, but I—and the hundreds of other customers at the garden centers—recognized the lovely visitor.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm always happy to take a break from the routine. No, I'm not going anywhere. I'm just going to garden a little every day because Spring is my favorite season. That's my way of dealing with spring fever.</div><div><br /></div><div>Funny how the phrase Spring Fever has become the name for many things including college festivals, triathlons, mixed drinks, perfume, several movies, poems, and books. For thousands of years, spring equinox has been celebrated in pagan rituals. (I guess one could characterize college spring break as a bit pagan too.)<br /><br />Humans haven't changed much since cavemen hunted T-Rex. Even today, we look forward to similar pursuits that involve shedding winter wools and slipping on tee shirts, shorts, and sandals.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQSF9SEqvuDAh5ZdDh45tCNJiArFQjb2BiUWjHaxmIFphwxJwdkIybapqGw8iDMKLllKOjT2nj_qdI7r0erxE-wbp1REif-v_IrzxfPuCz4f-6xFyypByMjbWZZW9FpeGqAi6BACGv59i8qS5sY1TjKItwZcPoCHRYaose7stfceCHjidZGkzLg/s800/The%20love%20of%20gardening_838x80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQSF9SEqvuDAh5ZdDh45tCNJiArFQjb2BiUWjHaxmIFphwxJwdkIybapqGw8iDMKLllKOjT2nj_qdI7r0erxE-wbp1REif-v_IrzxfPuCz4f-6xFyypByMjbWZZW9FpeGqAi6BACGv59i8qS5sY1TjKItwZcPoCHRYaose7stfceCHjidZGkzLg/w249-h249/The%20love%20of%20gardening_838x80.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><b>SEASON OF YEARNING</b><div><br /></div><div>My grandfather always said spring fever is when "a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love." I looked up spring fever in the dictionary. It defined spring fever as "a feeling of languor or yearning brought on by the coming of spring."<br /><br />Since I'm a romance author, I write about yearning all the time. In my novels, a man and a woman yearn for each other—often against their better judgment. That's what creates the push-pull in a relationship that can be quite funny.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end, all that really matters is that winter is over and spring is here. Hurray. Go forth and celebrate! <br /><br /><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, if you don't garden, try it. It's like Luther Burbank said, "Flowers always make people better, happier, more hopeful."</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORTrDWyxY68gIAiSsEixkTK-ludiGPdRdbznBKvkgldIQsNZn4QqikICBnZrlXEd1XF9E9i6ctBVHvjz77WA4NWuw6Q8_BB2kku82FZp39oPTzXcgaQC29f1pV7pzHcN5ZchyhkIzuIVbnfRxxOTZfUKte1zj143MZ65VLTeJmJ41gm2z-XVSbQ/s895/Lipstick-And-Kiss-38324770_BSP_web_cropped_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="895" height="37" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORTrDWyxY68gIAiSsEixkTK-ludiGPdRdbznBKvkgldIQsNZn4QqikICBnZrlXEd1XF9E9i6ctBVHvjz77WA4NWuw6Q8_BB2kku82FZp39oPTzXcgaQC29f1pV7pzHcN5ZchyhkIzuIVbnfRxxOTZfUKte1zj143MZ65VLTeJmJ41gm2z-XVSbQ/w121-h37/Lipstick-And-Kiss-38324770_BSP_web_cropped_v2.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="121" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OT6FOT114ob_Ecm5fSTFfytk4qR-P6CRX-chj73NlQJ3ZKXBdL91xCNRf7XJ98vI6xdO4PHQznP2oaRkWTKmDq58kdDeT4qh3uit7lXj8HqxeZd8rpAM1EzSSgjYEfoV_aTmm8tiPcmZfMp_nZwldbrNLzI3lrIYZA8M9PZGXO0cCv957tTu8w/s1200/NL_Signup_01_2023_09-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #4e4e4e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OT6FOT114ob_Ecm5fSTFfytk4qR-P6CRX-chj73NlQJ3ZKXBdL91xCNRf7XJ98vI6xdO4PHQznP2oaRkWTKmDq58kdDeT4qh3uit7lXj8HqxeZd8rpAM1EzSSgjYEfoV_aTmm8tiPcmZfMp_nZwldbrNLzI3lrIYZA8M9PZGXO0cCv957tTu8w/w361-h189/NL_Signup_01_2023_09-21.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING, my free NL</a>.</b></div></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-91329538791685387002024-03-11T00:30:00.009-05:002024-03-11T00:30:00.128-05:00Second Chance Reads - Health, Beauty, Success, Etc.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AWsXnXzc3LmWvx69eCdWvtKHVCDmpmnWZfn86yOXzh5coFfQ9aKt_82dL9C0wo20EXJcvTupDzG1AYJRcMQMmOXxlVKmBi9_IRUYEswE_TpUqsJ6GtXdSqCsWmQMyby9KW7BoTsKocwj6OZPAsZDAkTkSzfSOim7DHRmNSVFVyZaIYTfiZulUg/s1000/Second%20Chance%20Reads_2023_09-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1000" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AWsXnXzc3LmWvx69eCdWvtKHVCDmpmnWZfn86yOXzh5coFfQ9aKt_82dL9C0wo20EXJcvTupDzG1AYJRcMQMmOXxlVKmBi9_IRUYEswE_TpUqsJ6GtXdSqCsWmQMyby9KW7BoTsKocwj6OZPAsZDAkTkSzfSOim7DHRmNSVFVyZaIYTfiZulUg/w366-h245/Second%20Chance%20Reads_2023_09-05.jpg" width="366" /></a></div>It's been a while since I caught up on my blog reading. There always seems to be so many things to do each day that I miss a lot of great content.<p></p><p>Here are a few I've gone back too that I think you'd like too.</p><p>I've roughly categorized them. There were a lot more that I could list, but I'm super short on time.</p><p>Hope you find some that interest you and will click on them. Here we go.</p><p><b>HEALTH & BEAUTY</b></p><p>Make your own <b><a href="https://wellnessmama.com/beauty/rose-body-scrub/" target="_blank">Rose Scrub from Wellness Mama Blog</a></b>.</p><p><b><a href="https://www.nykaa.com/beauty-blog/best-overnight-masks-and-moisturisers/?intcmp=bb-hp,skin,4,88962,wake-up" target="_blank">Wake Up to Glowing Skin from Nyka</a></b></p><p>In case you're interested...<b><a href="https://www.cosmetify.com/blog/how-to-apply-fake-eyelashes/" target="_blank">How to Apply False Eyelashes for Beginners from Cosmetify</a> </b>(I found a new mascare that makes you look as if you have falsies on your eyelids. I'll blog about it another day.)</p><p><b><a href="https://www.readers.com/blog/9-desk-stretches-for-office/" target="_blank">9 Desk Stretches for People Who Sit All Day</a></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyahJ2q4sxnshIlxwRiiUQyaebyDkIydFlIC3TpV7r-4_DwNGHePV3amw4SiqxDCpFVozrP-zMDo01yCr9qtw20rC8o_2iSiq3pywCowvkOnbkjXJibFF-pV5XM-nvhxHDRp5szEfQSN-LmW2rTfoZTEoKFXBpqsO__aszKE7HN-GJrsU3zj6OYw/s2800/SUCCESS_Golden-key-to-success-isolated-62753815_BSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2800" data-original-width="2800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyahJ2q4sxnshIlxwRiiUQyaebyDkIydFlIC3TpV7r-4_DwNGHePV3amw4SiqxDCpFVozrP-zMDo01yCr9qtw20rC8o_2iSiq3pywCowvkOnbkjXJibFF-pV5XM-nvhxHDRp5szEfQSN-LmW2rTfoZTEoKFXBpqsO__aszKE7HN-GJrsU3zj6OYw/s320/SUCCESS_Golden-key-to-success-isolated-62753815_BSP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>***<br /><p><b>SUCCESS</b></p><p><b><a href="https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2024/01/how-not-to-succeed-in-2024.html" target="_blank">How Not to Succeed (in case you missed this on New Year's Day)</a></b></p><p>If you think you're too old for social media, read <b><a href="https://medium.com/@paulcardell/its-never-too-late-to-become-an-influencer-a-guide-for-those-over-40-37fcc3299076" target="_blank">It's Never Too Late to Become an Influencer</a></b></p><p><b><a href="https://influencermarketinghub.com/how-to-use-tiktok-beginners/" target="_blank">Beginners Guide to TikTok</a></b></p><p><b>***</b></p><p><b>JUST FOR FUN</b></p><p><b><a href="https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2024/01/12-book-and-reading-facts-you-may-not-know.html" target="_blank">12 Book & Reading Facts You May Not Know</a></b></p><p><b><a href="https://smartgirlsreadromance.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-changing-ways-of-romance-by-bea.html" target="_blank">The Changing Ways of Romance by Bea Tilton</a></b></p><p><b><a href="https://windowoverthesink.blogspot.com/2024/03/an-open-letter-by-liz-flaherty.html" target="_blank">An Open Letter by Liz Flaherty</a></b> (the kind of letter most of us could and should write)</p><p><b>***</b></p><p><b>FOR WRITERS</b></p><p><b><a href="https://karenjonesgowen.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-few-questions-for-writers.html" target="_blank">A Few Questions for Writers from Karen Jones Gowen</a></b></p><p><b><a href="https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2024/01/writers-and-imposter-syndrome.html" target="_blank">Writers & Imposter Syndrome</a></b></p><p><b><a href="https://www.blurb.com/blog/book-publishing-trends/" target="_blank">Book Trends in 2024 from BlurbBlog</a></b></p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>There you have a recap of some recent blogs I read. Hope they're helpful to you too.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s1280/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s320/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;">Get Joan's FREE Newsletter, </span><b style="text-align: start;">I LOVE READING</b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Not a subscriber?</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click here to SIGN UP</a></b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-83325173043549550892024-03-10T11:32:00.000-05:002024-03-10T11:32:10.184-05:00Cowboy Poets Offer Powerful Words About Honor<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a7blW6XOtKdFO2o2lRHz0T-M3mPBcyhFpU6EZaU4vMpAo-0Rx7qHP5HkBYZTEPgA71trVe9rS6IE4ltbwdJ97YHga6QmArxEDB0r3Dax3rTpwB_43VHoNThNKXkCUfFJFsm0gn5fIiC-UEkrq-ekUpilsO3-inmAwdkZBzC-NAAHGIkl-oIGcw/s1280/COWBOY_rodeo-515612_1280_martinme2da_Pixabay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a7blW6XOtKdFO2o2lRHz0T-M3mPBcyhFpU6EZaU4vMpAo-0Rx7qHP5HkBYZTEPgA71trVe9rS6IE4ltbwdJ97YHga6QmArxEDB0r3Dax3rTpwB_43VHoNThNKXkCUfFJFsm0gn5fIiC-UEkrq-ekUpilsO3-inmAwdkZBzC-NAAHGIkl-oIGcw/s320/COWBOY_rodeo-515612_1280_martinme2da_Pixabay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, an annual festival celebrating western life and creativity, was held last month in Elko, Nevada.</p><p>Cowboy Poetry has been around a long time and is more popular than ever. About 6,000 people attended this year's gathering. You may wonder who comes to this?</p><p>Anyone interested in western arts, music, and the lifestyle. After all the cowboy is an icon of the Old West—perhaps the myth of the Old West.</p><p><b>WHY COWBOY POETRY</b></p>The 1870s trail drives gave birth to Cowboy poetry. Cowboys herded cattle to northern railheads on the Chisholm and Goodnight-Loving trails. The work was exhausting and there was nothing to do when night fell and chores were completed. <p></p><p>To entertain themselves and others and to pass the time, Cowboys wrote poetry about their work, the loneliness of long nights, and sang old folk songs they'd rewritten to fit their world.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZmMFSW4g4S7k-P5qcpWXOWQYi0sf3vOaGKmhgE0-9RLTeQOImT6-C7CzgbpIu68onMkMFR69lJx882dCGsfAlFTbiF3ftThoGmRdb7PdTl1DbHPDYVhWYYbUacAcFfwG2jwh9lrS5FL0GP5vKPw0OZPLMqs3kcrc78PowiElBbJuoM2VXprwAA/s1200/COWBOY%20POET_Baxter%20Black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="757" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZmMFSW4g4S7k-P5qcpWXOWQYi0sf3vOaGKmhgE0-9RLTeQOImT6-C7CzgbpIu68onMkMFR69lJx882dCGsfAlFTbiF3ftThoGmRdb7PdTl1DbHPDYVhWYYbUacAcFfwG2jwh9lrS5FL0GP5vKPw0OZPLMqs3kcrc78PowiElBbJuoM2VXprwAA/s320/COWBOY%20POET_Baxter%20Black.jpg" width="202" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/4a3PzD5" target="_blank">Cowboy Poetry Book</a></td></tr></tbody></table>In Texas, a Cowboy Poetry Festival takes place every year in Alpine. In fact, there are about 200 gatherings in the U. S. each year, and they're well attended.</p><b>WHAT MAKES COWBOY POETRY</b><p>In this lyrical poetry, you'll find traditional elements like rhyme, meter and narrative—not often used in contemporary poetry. </p><p>Most of the long-time practitioners of the genre have actually worked as cowboys. There may be a few cowboy poets who've never had to throw a saddle over Trigger, but they probably had ancestors who knew how to cinch a saddle and ride the line, or they married into a family with that ancestry.</p><p></p><b>Baxter Black</b> is considered the most famous cowboy poet in the world. He's published more than a dozen books, recorded more than a dozen albums, and appeared on TV and radio.<div><br /></div><div>His poems are humorous, often satirical, as he tells about the struggle and joy of ranch life.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifec6xgdm6-ncFW0_phxEkPHYCo4a0rDvP-fzLvINRXonu1XXIjfofq3HZnwqy7iJbrzGoKrAVulnZAMGsjz9-YmyT47p3DYTUXEvtqiAbxCtPTOOeq0eXo8jHPG6DW6lGbL9SidsDsh7XznQM5XhyphenhyphenyfY1jrac9YK2wFIQN61h2N05Z2E469K20A/s1500/COWBOY_Waddie%20Mitchelll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="990" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifec6xgdm6-ncFW0_phxEkPHYCo4a0rDvP-fzLvINRXonu1XXIjfofq3HZnwqy7iJbrzGoKrAVulnZAMGsjz9-YmyT47p3DYTUXEvtqiAbxCtPTOOeq0eXo8jHPG6DW6lGbL9SidsDsh7XznQM5XhyphenhyphenyfY1jrac9YK2wFIQN61h2N05Z2E469K20A/w160-h243/COWBOY_Waddie%20Mitchelll.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>Another famous cowboy poet is <b>Bruce Douglas "Waddie" Mitchell</b>, sometimes called the <b>Cowboy Poet Lariat</b>.</div><div><br /></div>Mitchell often performs his poems with a guitarist providing background music. You'll find CD's and books with his work on Amazon, like <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3v3d28C" target="_blank">One Hundred Poems</a></b>.<div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></div><div><p>Most of us are disconnected from nature. We live stress-filled lives of constant frustration. Try Cowboy Poetry, the simple yet powerful words about living with honor and integrity, may offer a respite from the discord of the world.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto;">Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.</i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQ4NcJxxn-x6jAsqxPfkwVSTYlM-6bBqLvXcKmJCeSSjZpmawuhYLRnLpfDV2Gy0B71yPmA4AuSQnjQ6z_aDHItQWSbXG1jowHgr8Pp5ry8VqfytT5oOyjDaxI993v7MZAUjfMNzuJztZXqRgnyQzwrRQZgiXT_CfVJF2j5_U2vYrYti7V5Vc8A/s7670/Newsletter-Web-Concept-29330729_BSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6363" data-original-width="7670" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQ4NcJxxn-x6jAsqxPfkwVSTYlM-6bBqLvXcKmJCeSSjZpmawuhYLRnLpfDV2Gy0B71yPmA4AuSQnjQ6z_aDHItQWSbXG1jowHgr8Pp5ry8VqfytT5oOyjDaxI993v7MZAUjfMNzuJztZXqRgnyQzwrRQZgiXT_CfVJF2j5_U2vYrYti7V5Vc8A/w155-h128/Newsletter-Web-Concept-29330729_BSP.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="155" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;">Get Joan's FREE Newsletter, </span><b style="text-align: start;">I LOVE READING</b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;">Not a subscriber?</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click here to SIGN UP</a></b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-29390119954761877502024-03-09T10:20:00.002-06:002024-03-09T10:20:39.815-06:00Saturday Share - Recipe - Japanese Eggs<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv7Qy7H2eQoW7wiu1PvulWVHJtPK1JBcL4-ti8eCGTCSXbs2eMOMH0KAEjdSiPg1XSGSQpKWST2BvIuBWlG2D4NKrJvvjqHir39NYrTgr_8TjHq5VGA_JyDU2NALX9uuV0ri7uv_lGUB9DO2J0EPqS-7P7o2GaE0ofJ9wyK7OQFlck5cTp-BZ-9A" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjv7Qy7H2eQoW7wiu1PvulWVHJtPK1JBcL4-ti8eCGTCSXbs2eMOMH0KAEjdSiPg1XSGSQpKWST2BvIuBWlG2D4NKrJvvjqHir39NYrTgr_8TjHq5VGA_JyDU2NALX9uuV0ri7uv_lGUB9DO2J0EPqS-7P7o2GaE0ofJ9wyK7OQFlck5cTp-BZ-9A" width="284" /></a></div>I lived in Okinawa, Japan for many years. In my apartment building, I was one of only 2 Americans. I have fond memories of my Okinawan neighbors.<p></p><p>One neighbor in particular was a close friend. She taught me how to prepare a typical breakfast. I'd seen the dried fish which looked kind of like chunks of wood.</p><p>For breakfast with her, she grated the dried fish and made a delicious broth with it. She added paper thin slices of scallion, some chopped mung bean sprouts, small bit of tofu, and a tiny bit of shoyu, called soy sauce by most of us.</p><p>That was it—such a simple breakfast, but it was aromatic and full of flavor. Preparing breakfast with her that day changed the way I thought of breakfast and inspired me to add vegetables to a morning meal—stir-fried greens, peppers, and onion or bean sprouts as in today's recipe which I call...</p><p><b>JAPANESE OMELET</b></p><p><b><u>Ingredients</u></b></p><p>3 eggs</p><p>1 cup bean sprouts, chopped</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTOg0GH3w9BvXGSdw9qS2Oyw3mqt3hWpkh_0f_5TuByLzKLb_C-clh_-kztAsIkD5AI5HCc6y_yk4xceYmLaBqr5FhOauaavF_V1kxDFauYoPZSLx2nR266KLuoFZiJbBz82XQZsPoCe3Dhcktg55tgZSetrfLDqPgkiUgBbc7t-ABwnRyepWCg/s1500/Sprouting%20Lids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1500" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTOg0GH3w9BvXGSdw9qS2Oyw3mqt3hWpkh_0f_5TuByLzKLb_C-clh_-kztAsIkD5AI5HCc6y_yk4xceYmLaBqr5FhOauaavF_V1kxDFauYoPZSLx2nR266KLuoFZiJbBz82XQZsPoCe3Dhcktg55tgZSetrfLDqPgkiUgBbc7t-ABwnRyepWCg/w219-h206/Sprouting%20Lids.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/4c0Acgm" target="_blank">Sprouting Lids from Amazon</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table>1/2 cup sliced mushrooms<p>4 tablespoons finely minced onion</p><p>2 tablespoons chopped bell pepper</p><p>1 tablespoon finely minced ginger root</p><p>1 small clove garlic, finely minced (or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder)</p><p>1 teaspoon soy sauce</p><p>black pepper as needed</p><p><b><u>Directions</u></b></p><p>1. Beat eggs until frothy.</p><p>2. Stir in all of the other ingredients</p><p>3. Lightly coat a large skillet with a vegetable oil. The skillet should be hot but not so hot that it will immediately overcook the egg mixture.</p><p>4. Treat the mixture like a pancake. You'll use a large cook spoon to pour a spoonful of the mixture onto the hot skillet. </p><p>5. Cook until the eggs are set then turn the "pancake" over to cook the other side.</p><p>6. When done, the "pancake" should be lightly browned and the eggs firm. Remove to an oven-proof platter to keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.</p><p><b>NOTE:</b> I sprout seeds rather than buy them at the supermarket. It's easy to do. I use wide mouth glass jars and special sprouting lids as shown above. Click here to read<b> <a href="https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2021/02/sprouting-seeds-shortcut-vegetable-garden.html" target="_blank">about sprouting seeds</a>. </b>I switched from the metal jar rings in that blog post to the plastic ones shown above.</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>This is a simple meal that's nutritious and tasty whether you're making it for breakfast, brunch, or dinner. I hope you'll try this</p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.</i></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b>Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssLMPq-P3pRxDJQH9_YqozgUArzt9J8pJdzhOWfVosei8XQdD54Xi6ySyER8wHqLQzzbP6fe83rzQQf4uqJV7UeZxGil2kSB6FvAwcoffuVWSmPHMzXVTQi9BpX183S2Skkb1fD5_VglZsCFFlZIvZq61djkmf7nMaOH_4sofzLRNcMOuAk5seQ/s737/NL%20Signup_Loves%20Reading%20and%20Cooking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; font-size: 14.85px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="708" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssLMPq-P3pRxDJQH9_YqozgUArzt9J8pJdzhOWfVosei8XQdD54Xi6ySyER8wHqLQzzbP6fe83rzQQf4uqJV7UeZxGil2kSB6FvAwcoffuVWSmPHMzXVTQi9BpX183S2Skkb1fD5_VglZsCFFlZIvZq61djkmf7nMaOH_4sofzLRNcMOuAk5seQ/w155-h162/NL%20Signup_Loves%20Reading%20and%20Cooking.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="155" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING, Joan's free NL</a>.</b></p>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-50759473403276479942024-03-08T00:30:00.039-06:002024-03-08T11:40:58.713-06:00Keyboard Shortcuts for Punctuation Marks<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJPzqXvXbfaR2oilYR0coWbT23YursJDbQG15piCK85mMttOjZv4viun1rfL0tLQwV58e6Ibmcd-P1DHEpH1e13LecN3FQ6XuPtxzJEP2gWSNKx4aRVF4Csi-iqJfzH8VLSbghVTWOdbaoCjMAkA4wHr9UPrMF_6_73wr0a8bBMzKCuNH0_PGHA/s900/QuickTips%20by%20JoanReeves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="900" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJPzqXvXbfaR2oilYR0coWbT23YursJDbQG15piCK85mMttOjZv4viun1rfL0tLQwV58e6Ibmcd-P1DHEpH1e13LecN3FQ6XuPtxzJEP2gWSNKx4aRVF4Csi-iqJfzH8VLSbghVTWOdbaoCjMAkA4wHr9UPrMF_6_73wr0a8bBMzKCuNH0_PGHA/w306-h225/QuickTips%20by%20JoanReeves.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>There are some things I do all the time that make the "mechanics" of writing much easier. I wondered if other people do these too.<p></p><p>Maybe it's just shortcuts I learned that others don't know?</p><p>With that thought in mind, I thought I'd share some keystroke shortcuts to common punctuation marks. These shortcuts can be used in any word processing software or online typing in forms or social media.</p><p>If this is something you already know, just drop a comment and tell me you don't want any more posts about this subject.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>¢</b></span></p><p><b>CENT SYMBOL</b></p><p>This is easily made. Press the ALT key, hold it down, and type 0162 and you get <b>¢</b> like magic.</p><p>***</p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">—</span></b></p><p><b>EM DASH</b></p><p>An em dash is a grammatical element used for several reasons, i.e., insert parenthetical thought between elements in a sentence. Properly constructed there is no space between a word, the em dash, and the next word. Here's an example:</p><p>I want to tell you<b>—</b>no, I must tell you<b>—</b>the proper way to use an em dash.</p><p>It's made simply by pressing the ALT key, holding it down, and typing 0151 to get <b>—</b> quick and easy.</p><p>***</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZEReXV0NYX_yexWo6lLSP4O49tEdobyWyAyux2JIGvSViVZebpYlgEBWH87A5sGMTolAjgAkKdwpxHz15W7hs-kij3biAHsZuxS9nYT8eAH_HCv6UyQfFGuwNtiZMCb49LiyWN6F2tXHPgSJJve2uWubCQwaBgYenvKC47zCv0ohJOW9DMx2Gg/s400/FYI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZEReXV0NYX_yexWo6lLSP4O49tEdobyWyAyux2JIGvSViVZebpYlgEBWH87A5sGMTolAjgAkKdwpxHz15W7hs-kij3biAHsZuxS9nYT8eAH_HCv6UyQfFGuwNtiZMCb49LiyWN6F2tXHPgSJJve2uWubCQwaBgYenvKC47zCv0ohJOW9DMx2Gg/s320/FYI.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">“ ”</span></b><p><b>OPEN AND CLOSED QUOTATION MARKS</b></p><p>When a character in a book is speaking and is interrupted by another character, an em dash ends what the character was saying, followed by a closed quotation mark. Here's an example:</p><p><b>"</b>I was rewriting chapter seven when<b>—”</b></p><p>Jack sighed. "Are you still working on that?"</p><p>In Word or Word Perfect, if you put a closed quote mark without having end punctuation like a period or question mark in place, the quote mark will be typed as OPEN rather than CLOSED. This makes several people a bit crazy as they try to get a closed quote mark in place.</p><p>The keystroke shortcut is fast and easy. Press and hold the ALT key and type 0147 to make an OPEN quote mark, <b>“</b> and it's there.</p><p>To make a CLOSED quote mark, press and hold the ALT key and type 0148 and you get <b>” </b>closed.</p><p>***</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtBq_YNbtjYw3HFrj41oFK2wC4pGvx2q3TTWp800fZsjqpmCC9jpX4j41vkOClZuwklFXULcBl6AXX9u-wnjeqvQxnDWoAaDmq9z1-m7vILitae4YRKfglV_c4SKaTeq173agdmfKU6-7I7pC-XwTI8gbK0IYZGuGDnYnNDOFRXVYGacZ8F6rFw/s290/SHARE_Love%20Comment%20Share_Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="290" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtBq_YNbtjYw3HFrj41oFK2wC4pGvx2q3TTWp800fZsjqpmCC9jpX4j41vkOClZuwklFXULcBl6AXX9u-wnjeqvQxnDWoAaDmq9z1-m7vILitae4YRKfglV_c4SKaTeq173agdmfKU6-7I7pC-XwTI8gbK0IYZGuGDnYnNDOFRXVYGacZ8F6rFw/s1600/SHARE_Love%20Comment%20Share_Web.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">©</span></b><p><b>COPYRIGHT SYMBOL</b></p><p>This is another one writers use quite often.</p><p>Rather than click to insert a symbol in Word, simply press and hold the ALT key and type 0169 and like magic the <b>© </b>symbol appears.</p><p>***</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>I hope these help you. If they do, please leave a comment.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s1280/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s320/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;">Get Joan's FREE Newsletter, </span><b style="text-align: start;">I LOVE READING</b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Not a subscriber?</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click here to SIGN UP</a></b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-39219284766447314842024-03-07T00:30:00.001-06:002024-03-07T00:30:00.137-06:00March Update on 24 in 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZqmUNk-HUe1fyztTvuvb5SBwBDnW8ejODG2DMBC-c5YOly66vNf_c3KpIq1VBibBq9V8wGlMHi0uksfIfu9HwV_H8V8w2qzUW2_ftwpj4sBYEiKU0hTAkehd0qfqu7d4pzkUiioWpiFa-FM9PSsW0KGwV3p_tIh0FtM5FNuJJG91_V-mkA1sBXA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="650" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZqmUNk-HUe1fyztTvuvb5SBwBDnW8ejODG2DMBC-c5YOly66vNf_c3KpIq1VBibBq9V8wGlMHi0uksfIfu9HwV_H8V8w2qzUW2_ftwpj4sBYEiKU0hTAkehd0qfqu7d4pzkUiioWpiFa-FM9PSsW0KGwV3p_tIh0FtM5FNuJJG91_V-mkA1sBXA=w382-h254" width="382" /></a></div>In January, I posted <b><a href="https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-january-post-about-24-for-2024.html" target="_blank">24 for 2024</a></b>, a list of 24 things I wanted to tackle this year. I didn't call these goals or resolutions. They're just a list of things I wanted to focus on this year.<p></p><p>In that first post, I didn't list all 24. I wrote about 3 things I planned to work on in January. I didn't post in February. </p><p>I think it's time I confessed how well or poorly I've done so far.</p><p>The January 3 and my progress report follow.</p><p><b>(1) Regain my energy and muscle mass I'd lost </b>when sick the previous year by walking and engaging in the weight lifting program I've always used. I've done pretty well with this one and walked more days than I've missed.</p><p><b>(2) Workout in the morning within thirty minutes of waking up. </b>Ack! I managed to do this 3 times in 2 months. I'm just not a morning person. However, I have lifted weights a couple of days each week and I'm still working toward doing at least 6 times a week.</p><p><b>(3) Return to my previous Monday through Friday office schedule</b>, starting at 8:00AM and ending at 5:00PM. Again, I just haven't got into this groove. Every day it seems as if something has to be done in the mornings then it's lunch time, and before I know it, I'm walking into myoffice at 2:00 in the afternoon and working until 8 at night and going to bed before 11:00. My whacked-out schedule needs to change.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8XckVzhmajsllo8JwuT_62BYw62ZzX0_KCIc7jcqMHw4nG1uLQ1DSuUse_m0QX7e5mQEXmFOSA8UiGbtaXN7rxF1tKej_VpoxrvFJzNE9-LAWBz2SudiCSAGJjJpWIQNEhyphenhyphen6ZNSj-8AshlmdWteWIeLvaKoVzUJssmPs7DBOZENOkj6THvuorw/s250/PERSIST_Progress-Not-Perfect_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="141" data-original-width="250" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8XckVzhmajsllo8JwuT_62BYw62ZzX0_KCIc7jcqMHw4nG1uLQ1DSuUse_m0QX7e5mQEXmFOSA8UiGbtaXN7rxF1tKej_VpoxrvFJzNE9-LAWBz2SudiCSAGJjJpWIQNEhyphenhyphen6ZNSj-8AshlmdWteWIeLvaKoVzUJssmPs7DBOZENOkj6THvuorw/w308-h174/PERSIST_Progress-Not-Perfect_web.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><b>ANOTHER 3 FROM 24 IN 2024</b><p><b>(4) Make a decision about Kindle Vella.</b> I've already done this. I wrote 3 long books that were published a chapter at a time with Vella. After analyzing the data, it just doesn't pay off in the long-term even with bonuses. I'll be publishing those in print and digital this year.</p><p><b>(5) Be more active on social media.</b> I'm working on it, but it still takes a lot of time because it's too easy to get sucked in.</p><p><b>(6) Publish all my books "wide" </b>which means make them available on all book-selling platforms. I've already started on this. As my books age out of KU, I'm removing them and publishing them "wide" through Draft2Digital which distributes just about everywhere worldwide. </p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>That's my report. What about you? Did you make a 24 in 2024 list? If so, how are you progressing? Leave a comment and tell me. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQ4NcJxxn-x6jAsqxPfkwVSTYlM-6bBqLvXcKmJCeSSjZpmawuhYLRnLpfDV2Gy0B71yPmA4AuSQnjQ6z_aDHItQWSbXG1jowHgr8Pp5ry8VqfytT5oOyjDaxI993v7MZAUjfMNzuJztZXqRgnyQzwrRQZgiXT_CfVJF2j5_U2vYrYti7V5Vc8A/s7670/Newsletter-Web-Concept-29330729_BSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6363" data-original-width="7670" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQ4NcJxxn-x6jAsqxPfkwVSTYlM-6bBqLvXcKmJCeSSjZpmawuhYLRnLpfDV2Gy0B71yPmA4AuSQnjQ6z_aDHItQWSbXG1jowHgr8Pp5ry8VqfytT5oOyjDaxI993v7MZAUjfMNzuJztZXqRgnyQzwrRQZgiXT_CfVJF2j5_U2vYrYti7V5Vc8A/w155-h128/Newsletter-Web-Concept-29330729_BSP.jpg" width="155" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;">Get Joan's FREE Newsletter, </span><b style="text-align: start;">I LOVE READING</b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="text-align: start;">Not a subscriber?</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click here to SIGN UP</a></b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-81890692017201368642024-03-06T11:19:00.003-06:002024-03-06T11:19:48.025-06:00Girl Scout Cookie Memories<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW33pwlFpv6jkb3tpalC_5mJ3c_onF3f-R83E4lXCeDXHTZxVFxGx7LAkbTe7BzwXhH__cLu3M312g4YynbOREGq5rPp211dRmt_RWFMMdjbkzCAtDL3Z5QGeT5FF7imFdyNNJhXk3nzvvJHzZMYK4EUAWTjzT1-bEi0wEB_N99eZBhYyarspVQ/s901/Girl%20Scout%20cookies.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="900" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW33pwlFpv6jkb3tpalC_5mJ3c_onF3f-R83E4lXCeDXHTZxVFxGx7LAkbTe7BzwXhH__cLu3M312g4YynbOREGq5rPp211dRmt_RWFMMdjbkzCAtDL3Z5QGeT5FF7imFdyNNJhXk3nzvvJHzZMYK4EUAWTjzT1-bEi0wEB_N99eZBhYyarspVQ/w259-h259/Girl%20Scout%20cookies.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>Late yesterday Darling Hubby was standing in the billiard room and looking out the window.<div><br /></div><div>I was in the kitchen throwing together fried rice for dinner when he said, "There's a little Girl Scout with a wagon full of cookies going door to door while her father stands in the street and keeps watch over her."</div><div><br /></div><div>I had this sudden emotional reaction which must have been the same as his since he sighed and said, "It makes me remember when Adina was a Girl Scout and I would go with her to sell cookies every year."</div><div><br /></div><div>I felt tears sting my eyes as I thought how long ago that way yet, in a way, it seems as if it was only yesterday.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>EMOTIONAL TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE</b> <br /><br />We stood at the window, watching and waiting until she rang our doorbell. We opened the door and greeted her with big smiles. I said, "I'm so glad you rang our doorbell. We remember when our daughter used to sell Girl Scout cookies every year."</div><div><br /></div><div>She beamed a smile at us as we walked down the sidewalk to where her father waited with a red wagon full of cookie boxes. "How much did cookies cost when your daugter was a Girl Scout?" she asked.</div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhnV0MI6nsq2NtcN7asLPNeHcHJVYKrPptCdZ0pFYh2ghYQS7sLLVwZdmGKNDmZ5KcHs2SPovW9fiitXAt5r_ffpetth3O-gz66FavpbFXmc2NLvwIbVltIJrqIloSTEbhHGP4cjgAqF7sv7XrepEspCvPcI0PRbyN8_baGaxYuOSSKZMD2Q61g/s1280/girl-scout-1158271_1280_dbenson928_pixabay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="914" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhnV0MI6nsq2NtcN7asLPNeHcHJVYKrPptCdZ0pFYh2ghYQS7sLLVwZdmGKNDmZ5KcHs2SPovW9fiitXAt5r_ffpetth3O-gz66FavpbFXmc2NLvwIbVltIJrqIloSTEbhHGP4cjgAqF7sv7XrepEspCvPcI0PRbyN8_baGaxYuOSSKZMD2Q61g/s320/girl-scout-1158271_1280_dbenson928_pixabay.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/girl-scout-girl-cookies-grass-1158271/" target="_blank">By DBenson928 onPixabay</a></td></tr></tbody></table>When I told her "$2.00, she laughed. "They cost $6.00 now."<div><br /></div><div>When we reached her dad, the charming little girl pointed at the cookies, told us the name of each variety, and asked what was our favorite. I told her Peanut Butter Patties, and I asked what her favorite was. That little girl has a bright future in sales.</div><div><br /></div><div>She giggled. "Trefoils, but I love the chocolate ones too."</div><div><br /></div><div>We bought 2 boxes, and she urged us to try a different variety, but we declined with a laugh. By then Larry was talking with her dad about being a Girl Scout's father during cookie season.</div><div><br /></div><div>The little girl and I talked about cookies—eating them and selling them. She was adorable and brought back so many memories of those years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our daughter is still friends with some of the girls who were in her Girl Scout troup—best friends with one—and I'm still friends with the women who were the troop leaders.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd been a Brownie leader, but I passed on being a Girl Scout leader because I'd become ensnared in the quest to be a published author. I succeeded in my quest.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I think, in part, I owe those troop leaders a debt of gratitude for enabling the girls to go into Girl Scouts because it was rewarding in so many ways. Thank you—dear friends—you wonderful Girl Scout troop leaders.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s1280/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s320/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;">Get Joan's FREE Newsletter, </span><b style="text-align: start;">I LOVE READING</b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="text-align: start;">Not a subscriber?</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click here to SIGN UP</a></b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div><p></p></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-23659902243239537732024-03-05T00:30:00.003-06:002024-03-05T00:30:00.260-06:00Top 10 Google Searches Last Year<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxL2EBt1VUevbQavhELC1aOn0f_2JxNpfbyjYX6N5NZxrHWjbFgERvLXNo4dnQ4T1Srww58bSn-SeToYGZGH90-4FoPfZ_-cM3aLPohvgGWPIkZEOSjiDvwHsYnsUXhiXY7IkezB4GYS5tidg2LEjvkTtjqK3WDmF59T9QTRON8I4dB1Ip81M1w/s900/Inform_Did-You-Know-asking--31720874_BSP_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="900" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxL2EBt1VUevbQavhELC1aOn0f_2JxNpfbyjYX6N5NZxrHWjbFgERvLXNo4dnQ4T1Srww58bSn-SeToYGZGH90-4FoPfZ_-cM3aLPohvgGWPIkZEOSjiDvwHsYnsUXhiXY7IkezB4GYS5tidg2LEjvkTtjqK3WDmF59T9QTRON8I4dB1Ip81M1w/s320/Inform_Did-You-Know-asking--31720874_BSP_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Did you ever wonder what question is asked on Google most frequently? Well, I have an answer.<p></p><p>Below, you'll find the Top10 Google searches made in the last year.</p><p>Frankly, I was shocked by some of these questions—not the first one.</p><p>Everyone is always looking for something new, something popular, or something trending to watch on a Smart TV so it's not unusual to see what the first question is.</p><p>But asking that question on Google means the questioner was on a device that connected to the internet. Surely the device showed the time.</p><p>1. What to watch?</p><p>2. What time is it?</p><p>3. What is my IP?</p><p>4. How many weeks in a year?</p><p>5. How many ounces in a cup?</p><p>6. How many days until Christmas?</p><p>7. When is the Super Bowl?</p><p>8. When is Easter?</p><p>9. How to screenshot on Mac?</p><p>10. Who called me from this phone number?</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>This list was interesting, but it was also troubling that there are people who don't know how many weeks are in a year and how many ounces are in a cup. Is that a statement on the educational system?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/s900/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="900" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/s320/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><p><b style="background-color: transparent;">Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></p><p><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING</a></b></p><p><br /></p></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-68251852551440065882024-03-04T00:30:00.086-06:002024-03-04T00:30:00.130-06:00Free App Useful for Bloggers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlDt-uUjzezJnOFNLdsW3-Appza9jW8TbDaScTj-GkyUeImtIbCJ2z2BS4Yg6x0g61hs002tj-5t-dvc6ioOWva4m2bUlRXc7_qLV5WJW6jrd0RFVjYjaF4B-ZsyI4M7eSZ7cE6jLtdLKC5qElKj7G6_Ol93S2Z4u9W2W6hx7hp_dufAhHHJKzw/s900/Monday%20Magic_Free%20Apps_2024_03-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="900" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlDt-uUjzezJnOFNLdsW3-Appza9jW8TbDaScTj-GkyUeImtIbCJ2z2BS4Yg6x0g61hs002tj-5t-dvc6ioOWva4m2bUlRXc7_qLV5WJW6jrd0RFVjYjaF4B-ZsyI4M7eSZ7cE6jLtdLKC5qElKj7G6_Ol93S2Z4u9W2W6hx7hp_dufAhHHJKzw/w361-h228/Monday%20Magic_Free%20Apps_2024_03-02.jpg" width="361" /></a></div>This free app is useful for bloggers and for anyone who posts online with a headline or title.<p></p><p>This free app is <b><a href="https://www.aminstitute.com/headline/" target="_blank">Headline Analyzer</a></b> by Advanced Marketing Institute.</p><p>The app is free to use and so easy. Simply paste in your proposed headline and click Submit for Analysis.</p><p>I entered this post's title and received a rather interesting and lengthy analysis.</p><p><b>THE HEADLINE ANALYSIS RECEIVED</b> </p><p>"This score indicates that your headline has a total of 40.00% Emotional Marketing Value (EMV) Words. Your headline's score is based on a scale of 0-100%. To put this score in perspective, the English language contains approximately 20% EMV words. For comparison, most professional copywriters' headlines will typically have 30%-40% EMV Words in their headlines.</p><p>"<span style="background-color: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Noto Sans TC", sans-serif; font-size: 19.2px;">While the overall EMV score for your headline is 40.00%, your headline also has a predominant emotion classification: </span><b>Intellectual & Spiritual</b><br /><br />"Our analysis determined that your headline appeals equally to people's intellectual and spiritual spheres.<br /><br />"Intellectual impact words are best used to attune copy and sales messages aimed at people and businesses involved in the fields of education, law, medicine, research, politics, and similar fields. While not restricted to these groups, by giving presentations which are weighted with Intellectual impact words, your clients and customers will be more positively influenced and you are more likely to attain a more favorable response.<br /><br />"Words with Spiritual impact are best used with ..."</p><p>Wow, there's much more, but I think you get the picture.</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p> Whether you need such an in-depth analysis or just want to know if your headline will attract interest, <b>Headline Analysis</b> is a great tool.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b>Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEBcn6HBGN78SyajGgIfgtMOY6mqs5kSMq2bt1MgkwF32B8r26ZVhdpW0Bxf5E-2HQVWmLDAfyrSrGV4LZ-4ty5Xm12THuf9gi-gKb_MRsH4bOdzBKUFy9114NShqowbqPzWOrOZTvWcknXtoP3rjnJxsiDZFlOmB6gRNjS74VBFC1rm9bQN_tA/s695/NL_signup_2024-01-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="695" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEBcn6HBGN78SyajGgIfgtMOY6mqs5kSMq2bt1MgkwF32B8r26ZVhdpW0Bxf5E-2HQVWmLDAfyrSrGV4LZ-4ty5Xm12THuf9gi-gKb_MRsH4bOdzBKUFy9114NShqowbqPzWOrOZTvWcknXtoP3rjnJxsiDZFlOmB6gRNjS74VBFC1rm9bQN_tA/s320/NL_signup_2024-01-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING</a></b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-27980515601051039292024-03-03T00:30:00.022-06:002024-03-03T00:30:00.137-06:00Regenerative Agriculture? Watch Kiss the Ground!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi7MU13RrWMmvsHyEyfEWaJ8IuVSd92dvfkIBugKmJeaymxZKFg5P3sivSbDrVRuoezyf5FW16f7meW5-IucVtQelaHC3_-3Bzr1OOtOe6M-18OMJIE6dyXJpgbvTivKOtZrnlXZc9eFKgIiRa8CmZTnENdIwVARDrpdweb80KxO2skyksGghfg/s266/Kiss%20the%20Ground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="190" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi7MU13RrWMmvsHyEyfEWaJ8IuVSd92dvfkIBugKmJeaymxZKFg5P3sivSbDrVRuoezyf5FW16f7meW5-IucVtQelaHC3_-3Bzr1OOtOe6M-18OMJIE6dyXJpgbvTivKOtZrnlXZc9eFKgIiRa8CmZTnENdIwVARDrpdweb80KxO2skyksGghfg/w244-h342/Kiss%20the%20Ground.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>If you're concerned about the environment, climate change, and other planetary calamities, you really need to watch <b>Kiss the Ground</b>, narrated by Woody Harrelson and now streaming on Netflix.<div><br /></div><div>This 2013 documentary addesses all of these concerns. <div>More importantly, it offers a much simpler solution than some of the outlandish suggestions offered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even better this way to heal the planet would work faster than anything else I've read. Personally, as the daughter and the sister of farmers, this documentary makes total sense.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've seen firsthand what happens to the land with cutting down the trees, growing single crops, using expensive chemical fertilizers because the soil becomes so depleted, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Farmers can't make a living in today's world, and the so-called "traditional" methods of the last 60-70 years have killed the soil.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once the top soil is gone, death ensues—death of micro organisms at first, but eventually all the way up to humans and to the planet.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>PEOPLE SMARTER THAN I KNOW THIS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Don't take my word for what happens when the top soil is gone. A group of activists, scientists, farmers, and politicians believe this to be true.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLNWIKlxUBvMkjtSiWeRajUR4ckvoruV_kMl0l1-EFqGb2u-ZDSWnkVEO5SYYe28xbC43LjwyQOm_RL-3xNDBL64fhB2mtri74z3chJibdiV0Cwovf_iynkK18GyWPLerMJXnB_-wQj1-PB7_0brioZm9IidZSflN8Cv_v4g_XWxP_cB0vt-ApQ/s300/Kiss%20the%20Ground_Woody%20Harrelson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLNWIKlxUBvMkjtSiWeRajUR4ckvoruV_kMl0l1-EFqGb2u-ZDSWnkVEO5SYYe28xbC43LjwyQOm_RL-3xNDBL64fhB2mtri74z3chJibdiV0Cwovf_iynkK18GyWPLerMJXnB_-wQj1-PB7_0brioZm9IidZSflN8Cv_v4g_XWxP_cB0vt-ApQ/w363-h204/Kiss%20the%20Ground_Woody%20Harrelson.jpg" width="363" /></a></div>They've joined together in a global movement, Regenerative Agriculture, which has these goals: balance the climate, replenish the vast water supplies, and feed the world.<div><br /></div><div>If you're thinking this is something impossible to do simply by restoring our top soil, then you're mistaken. It's something anyone who has farmers in the family knows.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to save the world, it may be easier than you think, but education about the problem is key. Please watch the film which is available on most streaming services—just Google Kiss the Ground. Even more important, tell others about the film.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/s900/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="900" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKd2gQIR7WSxbpIOJX2Awno6HNP3wNg08qJoO3qxzjCwD0tk55fL-TJiLvM-AEyQYm-9IiZjlSVj-FWFcd-wj7oy_h8R-1_R67tw6rmubuQxVCWtPONxAgEXEg7iR7JqG1qcq2xfQeDOPeTog44LmLVtf3OWpYXOxpRSEnl5_YG9n-P-gqyO0HA/s320/NL_2024_02-22_I%20LOVE%20READING_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><b style="background-color: transparent;">Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING</a></b></p></div></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-48979287113081839952024-03-02T00:30:00.007-06:002024-03-02T00:30:00.246-06:00Saturday Share - Recipe - Cheesy Meat and Potato Bake<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwhwN9MN4SSz61ig_eVPZeVpTQAVOU3RtqwdEGpskN9Nh8RBGjgujXeiXpE6Gp8jZdBMYknhC2RRn3pT3DNGJptmOiPMNY9Ci5FdI9vyJaqGcZPDjmJgGj47jZeLkR9Y0e_o4cwLZXKaLkXghw0j7hLhYquHuOklzHYqAhqtnLDFE_60aCqiZUQ/s2048/Saturday_Share_Recipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #4e4e4e; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1731" data-original-width="2048" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwhwN9MN4SSz61ig_eVPZeVpTQAVOU3RtqwdEGpskN9Nh8RBGjgujXeiXpE6Gp8jZdBMYknhC2RRn3pT3DNGJptmOiPMNY9Ci5FdI9vyJaqGcZPDjmJgGj47jZeLkR9Y0e_o4cwLZXKaLkXghw0j7hLhYquHuOklzHYqAhqtnLDFE_60aCqiZUQ/s320/Saturday_Share_Recipe.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a> If you have a man in the family, chances are he'll claim to be a Meat and Potatoes guy. I think most of the male population can make that claim.</p><p>Today I'm sharing what I call a Deadline Dinner—something easy I can throw together if I'm on a deadline and have little time to prepare a meal.</p><p>This main dish is inexpensive and calls for only 7 ingredients and it takes only 5-10 minutes to throw it together and pop it into the oven where it will bake 50-60 minutes.</p><p>Best of all, it tastes delicious and any leftovers keep well. I'll give you <b>2 versions of this recipe</b>.</p><p>One is Tex-Mex (because I've lived in Texas most of my adult life), and 1 is Creole (because I grew up in Louisiana). </p><p><b>CHEESY MEAT AND POTATO BAKE</b></p><p><b><u>Ingredients</u></b></p><p>1 pound ground beef </p><p>2 large potatoes, sliced about a quarter-inch thick like for potato au gratin</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsCnSyZ2wB20DSyXPlEZeK9odAB_ELaQC_9yODi-wHRKaPmuLtfPOu7z74ROdWJ6SCETyI8jdccxRtrt9TdiX0FVtj978OgH3cpEo5Ro0DladjhWG-V1BUBv6OHl-9EkBq8KaVKyUfCQmRN_Uzz3TI1FsHqlyAALagDayETBb2NK31I80zIET7Q/s1500/Tony's%20Seasoning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsCnSyZ2wB20DSyXPlEZeK9odAB_ELaQC_9yODi-wHRKaPmuLtfPOu7z74ROdWJ6SCETyI8jdccxRtrt9TdiX0FVtj978OgH3cpEo5Ro0DladjhWG-V1BUBv6OHl-9EkBq8KaVKyUfCQmRN_Uzz3TI1FsHqlyAALagDayETBb2NK31I80zIET7Q/w200-h200/Tony's%20Seasoning.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/4c0XAu4" target="_blank">Order from Amazo</a>n</td></tr></tbody></table>1 medium onion, diced<p>1 teaspoon garlic powder</p><p>1 to 1 and 1/2 cup grated cheese (Jack and/or Colby)</p><p><b>Creole Version</b>: Use <b><a href="https://amzn.to/4c0XAu4" target="_blank">Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning</a></b> which I use instead of salt and pepper. If your local grocery doesn't stock it, you can order it from Amazon.</p><p><b>Creole Version Herb</b>: 1 teaspoon dried thyme</p><p><b>Tex-Mex Version</b>: Use <b><a href="https://amzn.to/4bSbfE1" target="_blank">Fiesta Fajita Seasoning</a></b> which comes in a salt-free version so if you get there, you'll need to use about a teaspoon of salt to season the meat and potatoes. I've included a link to Amazon if your grocer doesn't stock this item.</p><p><b>Tex-Mex Version Herb</b>: 1/2 teaspoon Chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Increase these amounts if you like it extra spicy.</p><p><b><u>Instructions</u></b></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFlc0JnNzRTg06_Jhj7ebmsukWtQ0s-E3C2NXkTiVgkNL-AhWTzSuj2WCMVG1lzCX0lFSwPFofvZUpcXw_IpniNAGfMXvkKKKR3FXLzLgc5NwPD7ro9w5VTZZIlRakfDudVRpI14aVfUEteG_GestkN3e66c8uCwspiLA4ddwkNQ_7r963j1wYQ/s981/Fiesta%20Fajita%20Seasoning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="398" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFlc0JnNzRTg06_Jhj7ebmsukWtQ0s-E3C2NXkTiVgkNL-AhWTzSuj2WCMVG1lzCX0lFSwPFofvZUpcXw_IpniNAGfMXvkKKKR3FXLzLgc5NwPD7ro9w5VTZZIlRakfDudVRpI14aVfUEteG_GestkN3e66c8uCwspiLA4ddwkNQ_7r963j1wYQ/w101-h248/Fiesta%20Fajita%20Seasoning.jpg" width="101" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/4bSbfE1" target="_blank">from Amazon</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table>1. Prepare the vegetables in advance and grate the cheese.</p><p>2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.</p>3. In a large skillet or ovenproof dish, brown the ground beef. When it's half-way browned, throw in the diced onion and saute for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the garlic powder, the seasoning, and the herb. Stir to combine.<p>4. Turn the burner off or removed from the heat if it's an electric stove. Layer the potato slices on top, sprinkle the seasoning (salt if you're using the salt-free seasoning) over the potatoes, sprinkle with cheese. Add another potato, seasonings, and cheese layer which should finish with cheese on top.</p><p>5. Cover with an oven-proof lid or foil and bake about 50 minutes. Remove lid and bake another 10 minutes to brown the top. Serve immediately.</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>I think your family will love this main dish. Let me know if you try it.</p><p><br /></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"></span>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-63601257533207728002024-03-01T19:55:00.010-06:002024-03-01T21:25:34.791-06:00Winner of February 2024 Rafflecopter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3OkdLvm3s08iAFDxZeXYFOSm5XK1n45Rwsm60FlTDQNGnAU8TbZBlVfUzT-zJ7M77L3dB0PzLeeZTEUwkkb1RyCh2yhg4E7PHIZjgVxLIaOznLsfge3zH31ZsNQlQ5k2xVoWB7Hymuw2ZCpltzXkHJpDjUqeFcNxPQ6xQ9E9UZiwaoVt7VPXWw/s868/Giveaway%20Winner_2024_02-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="868" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3OkdLvm3s08iAFDxZeXYFOSm5XK1n45Rwsm60FlTDQNGnAU8TbZBlVfUzT-zJ7M77L3dB0PzLeeZTEUwkkb1RyCh2yhg4E7PHIZjgVxLIaOznLsfge3zH31ZsNQlQ5k2xVoWB7Hymuw2ZCpltzXkHJpDjUqeFcNxPQ6xQ9E9UZiwaoVt7VPXWw/s320/Giveaway%20Winner_2024_02-29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Congratulations to <b>Amy M.</b> who won the <b>JANE AUSTEN JOURNAL</b>.<p></p><p>Amy's winning entry—signing up for my free newsletter—was selected by Rafflecopter Random Draw last night (February 29).</p><p><b>MANIC MARCH</b></p><p>I'll be spending March eding a new book that will be published in a couple of months as well as completing the format for print of at least 3 of my novels.</p><p>Drop by SlingWords every day to find out what's going on in my reading, writing, video-watching, pop culture world.</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>I have another Deadline Dinner main dish recipe to share so stop by for my Saturday Share Recipe: Cheesy Meat and Potato Bake.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b>Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></div><div style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKNHJ4lOEV_vhSFxtoiJIkMq_l1SZrod_cryVGa48PjkwYzX_lCfwowL8zt-leFnHRBNyTcBCA9hKlSVB9qQCUpZdHsIZGSOdVa1H9zFarxcPL-yR2C_wNzcTIEWmaVAbFWy8thd7Iqt-xkJDCg6nybTYiHtao2pyFczofTDGR1jA6aPLdOpWRA/s736/NL_Free%20Gold%20Medallion.jpg" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="732" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKNHJ4lOEV_vhSFxtoiJIkMq_l1SZrod_cryVGa48PjkwYzX_lCfwowL8zt-leFnHRBNyTcBCA9hKlSVB9qQCUpZdHsIZGSOdVa1H9zFarxcPL-yR2C_wNzcTIEWmaVAbFWy8thd7Iqt-xkJDCg6nybTYiHtao2pyFczofTDGR1jA6aPLdOpWRA/w187-h188/NL_Free%20Gold%20Medallion.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="187" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING</a></b></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-22308211551721152672024-02-28T00:30:00.004-06:002024-02-28T16:26:01.440-06:00Review: Person of Interest on Freevee<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_Yd9Tzb3oattDJEd_sAYpmwFAtOkibVhAz8GiL4jqY9sPJaimFhJu0Q0cRSLG6dsbTMAMtwi8FLN2NR1QAzrp3ivHsHHCjVrSwezAMp1eFtmeK_rKxUkxdTa0KGxO-1FKpDbquwBfve-3SD41j8njVI9EtnBkNetrLZA9dyieGpveyNvRckclw/s4320/Person%20of%20Interest.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="4320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_Yd9Tzb3oattDJEd_sAYpmwFAtOkibVhAz8GiL4jqY9sPJaimFhJu0Q0cRSLG6dsbTMAMtwi8FLN2NR1QAzrp3ivHsHHCjVrSwezAMp1eFtmeK_rKxUkxdTa0KGxO-1FKpDbquwBfve-3SD41j8njVI9EtnBkNetrLZA9dyieGpveyNvRckclw/w400-h300/Person%20of%20Interest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>With all of the talk about artificial intelligence, this older TV series, <b>Person of Interest</b>, now streaming on <b>Freevee</b>, seems oddly prophetic.<p></p><p>The series debuted on CBS in September 2011 and ran for 5 seasons until canceled in May 2016.</p><p><b>ABOUT PERSON OF INTEREST</b></p>Starring Jim Caviezel as former CIA operative John Reese—a man presumed dead by the government agency who sent him to "take care of" traitors and others out to harm the USA—the action thriller is about a crime-fighting team that's somehow able to target violent offenders before they actually commit a crime.<div><br /></div><div>With reclusive billionaire software genius Harold Finch, beautifully portrayed by Michael Emerson, Reese eventually recruits a couple of cops, a sociopathic computer hacker, and another CIA agent who was rescued before she was eliminated, the crime-fighting team rights wrongs, saves those targeted for elimination, and confronts crooked cops, gangs, evil politicians, terrorists, and other greedy evil-doers who care little about human life or an individuals rights.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5i3CxwgkedwDXBBCk4fPZBeoRAiuvp_nHuL4v5sZrGbHZHMUY8B18i0qvkN2yKB_zPy_ftetbVR2PWlRUr70lcU5LvLt2hFvMpfiOkVLsEt4gn1Wvo_aBWDzl2IQyaEozvMM_awZudNIMwjlt94PcBStqDgzUmNuLc1U0VjZ1pyKx3_drlztXA/s4800/Belgian%20Malanois_pexels-zacharias-korsalka-6641155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="3600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5i3CxwgkedwDXBBCk4fPZBeoRAiuvp_nHuL4v5sZrGbHZHMUY8B18i0qvkN2yKB_zPy_ftetbVR2PWlRUr70lcU5LvLt2hFvMpfiOkVLsEt4gn1Wvo_aBWDzl2IQyaEozvMM_awZudNIMwjlt94PcBStqDgzUmNuLc1U0VjZ1pyKx3_drlztXA/w216-h288/Belgian%20Malanois_pexels-zacharias-korsalka-6641155.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>They do all this because of the amazing computer software Finch created, aided by the billionaire's money, the cops' belief in law enforcement ideals, and the covert-ops training possessed by Reese and the other agent who ends up on the team.</div><div><br /></div>Then there's the <b>Belgian Malinois</b> Reese rescues. This beautiful dog called Bear in the series is played by <b>Graubaer's Bogar</b>, and he is delightful.<br /><div><br /></div><div><b>BINGEABLE SERIES WITH PLENTY OF ACTION</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>In today's world when we've heard far too much about AI, you'll realize immediately that The Machine has to be an artificial intelligence, but don't let that deter you from watching this great action series.<b><br /></b><br />The strength of this series and what makes it imminently binge-worthy is that everything is tied together from the opening scene to the ending which is the way it had to end based on the character's past. When I say it's all tied together, it's astrounding how a thread here and there in each episode gets added to the tapestry until the complete picture has been created.</div><div><br /></div><div>With that kind of storytelling and the actors who are so believable, this is one of those series where you cannot keep from clicking "Next episode" until you realize that it's bedtime.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E4JCem8MCcYkRN_fz0qzV2TTAUDipYU0c8jQKA8zU5a0Ue6mEBIsOWI5qvWWquDbV6EmU6vYotETmLMN4GLRRg2CTm-fM6pB9fvr3t-dz4ZstlwQGnCvI5Jpi5O4nUpXXA1y6srR62qCKUAbWidvt-egWTIKJDL1zXmZWoy77MJj8_zsu8tCKQ/s868/Man_balaclava_pexels-photo-10068864.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E4JCem8MCcYkRN_fz0qzV2TTAUDipYU0c8jQKA8zU5a0Ue6mEBIsOWI5qvWWquDbV6EmU6vYotETmLMN4GLRRg2CTm-fM6pB9fvr3t-dz4ZstlwQGnCvI5Jpi5O4nUpXXA1y6srR62qCKUAbWidvt-egWTIKJDL1zXmZWoy77MJj8_zsu8tCKQ/s320/Man_balaclava_pexels-photo-10068864.jpeg" width="236" /></a></div>As previously mentioned, Michael Emerson is Harold Finch and Jim Caviezel is John Reese.<div><br /></div><div>The other series regulars are: Kevin Chapman as Lionel Fusco, a crooked cop who wants to be a good cop; and Taraji P. Henson as NYPD homicide detective Joss Carter.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later Amy Acker as sociopathic hacker Root who doesn't hesitate to kill to get what she wants and Sarah Shahi as Sameen Shaw, an Intelligence agent marked for death are added to the cast.</div><div><br /></div><div>Brett Cullen as Finch's partner in the creation of The Machine makes an appearance every few episodes.</div><div><br /></div><div>The one thing I really liked about the series is how they handled backstory. That was unique and made it possible to tell events from the past without bogging the story down.</div><div><div><br /><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></div><div><br /></div><div>It's rare you find an action series that is so believable. Great storytelling, great acting, and ripped from the headlines themes make this 13-year-old series seem far too realistic given what's happening in today's world.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you're watching <b>Person of Interest</b>, what do you think?</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORTrDWyxY68gIAiSsEixkTK-ludiGPdRdbznBKvkgldIQsNZn4QqikICBnZrlXEd1XF9E9i6ctBVHvjz77WA4NWuw6Q8_BB2kku82FZp39oPTzXcgaQC29f1pV7pzHcN5ZchyhkIzuIVbnfRxxOTZfUKte1zj143MZ65VLTeJmJ41gm2z-XVSbQ/s895/Lipstick-And-Kiss-38324770_BSP_web_cropped_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="895" height="37" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORTrDWyxY68gIAiSsEixkTK-ludiGPdRdbznBKvkgldIQsNZn4QqikICBnZrlXEd1XF9E9i6ctBVHvjz77WA4NWuw6Q8_BB2kku82FZp39oPTzXcgaQC29f1pV7pzHcN5ZchyhkIzuIVbnfRxxOTZfUKte1zj143MZ65VLTeJmJ41gm2z-XVSbQ/w121-h37/Lipstick-And-Kiss-38324770_BSP_web_cropped_v2.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="121" /></a></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;" /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s1280/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s320/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;">Get Joan's FREE Newsletter, </span><b style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;">I LOVE READING</b><span style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="text-align: start;">Not a subscriber?</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click here to SIGN UP</a></b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-11809430885290018012024-02-27T13:00:00.002-06:002024-02-27T17:24:06.512-06:00February Rafflecopter Is Closed<p>Yes, today was the last day to enter for a chance to win a Jane Austen Journal.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; color: black; float: left; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYUiUzmY9OsyM4kgT0LQTy_w3dPmKbhx5rmChOF7cjiJrmi8V1aBJPZW3mmYCmoVioiWkf3SltGNxvqcDpapR2TUWCL5Ue9rmUj93yF2FRhm_1Kl73tRRWBPgqd4mgvNP4vxubfV71CG-IK7_HDUyWr3kxC8m9OSsbBEMOvRwwRTORSH4aW43kA/s1333/Jane%20Austen%20Journal_02.jpg" style="clear: right; color: blue; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYUiUzmY9OsyM4kgT0LQTy_w3dPmKbhx5rmChOF7cjiJrmi8V1aBJPZW3mmYCmoVioiWkf3SltGNxvqcDpapR2TUWCL5Ue9rmUj93yF2FRhm_1Kl73tRRWBPgqd4mgvNP4vxubfV71CG-IK7_HDUyWr3kxC8m9OSsbBEMOvRwwRTORSH4aW43kA/w207-h276/Jane%20Austen%20Journal_02.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="207" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.88px; text-align: center;"><b>Only the Journal is the prize</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><p>I'll be out of the office for the first half of tomorrow. When I return, I'll begin verifying the entries so I can announce the winner as soon as possible.</p><p>Remember, I'll email the winner first and then post it to social media. By Thursday morning, I'll post it here on the blog.</p><p>Thank you to all who entered my February. I hope you'll stick around and read SlingWords and stay as subscribers to my newsletter and visit me on social media.</p><p>I have 3 ongoing projects I'm working on: formatting my ebooks for print, having audio editions of those books created, and d<span style="font-size: 14.85px;">iving into a new project—filing my income tax.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">I won't be offering another Rafflecopter until at least one of those three projects is finalized.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">In the meantime, stay up to date with news via my newsletter and this blog. I will be offering free books and possibly a giveaway on both venues.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 14.85px;">Hope to see you all here Thursday if not before. Again, thanks for entering the February Rafflecopter Giveaway. </span></p><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING, my free NL</a>.</b></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OT6FOT114ob_Ecm5fSTFfytk4qR-P6CRX-chj73NlQJ3ZKXBdL91xCNRf7XJ98vI6xdO4PHQznP2oaRkWTKmDq58kdDeT4qh3uit7lXj8HqxeZd8rpAM1EzSSgjYEfoV_aTmm8tiPcmZfMp_nZwldbrNLzI3lrIYZA8M9PZGXO0cCv957tTu8w/s1200/NL_Signup_01_2023_09-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #4e4e4e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OT6FOT114ob_Ecm5fSTFfytk4qR-P6CRX-chj73NlQJ3ZKXBdL91xCNRf7XJ98vI6xdO4PHQznP2oaRkWTKmDq58kdDeT4qh3uit7lXj8HqxeZd8rpAM1EzSSgjYEfoV_aTmm8tiPcmZfMp_nZwldbrNLzI3lrIYZA8M9PZGXO0cCv957tTu8w/w361-h189/NL_Signup_01_2023_09-21.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-45619022387075928432024-02-21T00:30:00.004-06:002024-02-21T00:30:00.127-06:00Stephen Hawking's Fear Is Coming True<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMpceLEe-4KYLWrF6r5drLr9YQFwRpCxX5cN5iVvqB8am6qs3hmi_mSueuqBJcQAsT2kwjUHmy9V2cm7KwC1SEIYjUS30qr3eYV0fBjaK0LN9vvV1LclMbNe5bku3DgViwK7vS5wLLpoICVKxtKr3l8POf_q_SQDYgnCjjX1ciLKebm2iCoF8HQ/s2048/Stephen_hawking_2008_nasa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1959" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMpceLEe-4KYLWrF6r5drLr9YQFwRpCxX5cN5iVvqB8am6qs3hmi_mSueuqBJcQAsT2kwjUHmy9V2cm7KwC1SEIYjUS30qr3eYV0fBjaK0LN9vvV1LclMbNe5bku3DgViwK7vS5wLLpoICVKxtKr3l8POf_q_SQDYgnCjjX1ciLKebm2iCoF8HQ/s320/Stephen_hawking_2008_nasa.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>Do you remember when <b>Stephen Hawking</b>, who passed away in 2018, was asked what he thought was the biggest threat facing mankind? His answer, “<b>Artificial Intelligence</b>.” <br /><br />In the last two weeks, I’ve been in on several email discussions about the effect of Artificial Intelligence on the Creative Arts like writing, graphic design, photography, and audio book narration just to name a few of the areas impacted by AI. <br /><br />What do you think about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the world? Is it a boon to mankind or the first step toward Skynet destroying the world? <br /><br />As an author, I know that AI has already become a problem. When AI came online and people started uploading dozens of books each day—obviously created by AI because it’s impossible for a human to write that many books and be ready to upload them—it took Amazon months before they set a limit on how many books could be uploaded in a day. <p></p><p>Then it took more months before they enacted a “filter” on the Kindle Digital Publishing upload page. Now you have to check a box if any part of the upload was created using AI. However, there’s no way to verify the answer is truthful.</p><p>That may be in the process of being changed because I’ve heard that some publishers are running uploaded content through software that will assess whether it was human-created or machine-created. That has created fear among authors that their human-created content may be labeled AI-produced, and they will end up banned by the publisher.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2VvWVIK8H92yxf1zc_DCp0cgRtDhzj3B49Vw4siEqlVrFno7rB_P0xoLaqa84izcpeFOxcnUao3fyCU9AfnvGmTX6OESaoSgbrwTDdYB05qbuKiBSOWV7kq3bI8ElZ2tXPRk8f9nDfmIhN8h9GDK0MM8d95nnCumLM5QzDGjnKPXBWmZ_1T4QA/s900/Woman-Tired_122329760_BSP_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="900" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2VvWVIK8H92yxf1zc_DCp0cgRtDhzj3B49Vw4siEqlVrFno7rB_P0xoLaqa84izcpeFOxcnUao3fyCU9AfnvGmTX6OESaoSgbrwTDdYB05qbuKiBSOWV7kq3bI8ElZ2tXPRk8f9nDfmIhN8h9GDK0MM8d95nnCumLM5QzDGjnKPXBWmZ_1T4QA/s320/Woman-Tired_122329760_BSP_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>NOTHING EASY FOR CREATIVE ARTISTS</b><p>Nothing is ever easy in the writing and publishing world. It seems there are always new problems facing us. Graphic artists, photographers, and actors are having the same AI issues.</p><p>Companies like Apple are urging authors to create audio books for Findaway Voices with the author paying for narration by an actor. When you upload the completed audio book, they'll distribute the audio books through Spotify.</p><p>Sounds good until you read their Terms of Service. They plan to take the file you upload and use it for machine learning, i.e., Artificial Intelligence. Eventually, they won't need humans to read audio books. That unemployment line of creative artists will continue to grow.</p><p><b>EVERY COMPANY JUMPING ON AI</b><br /><br />Amazon is now testing the waters of AI narration of audio books. I guess there’s no end to the threats facing creative artists. We may become as extinct as the Passenger Pigeon. </p><p>What’s the answer? I don’t know. I’m just a working writer. Maybe we should all engage in a massive letter/email writing campaign telling Apple, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all the other publishers that we don’t want machines writing our movies, books, and music. </p><p>We don’t want “fake” people cast in movies. Yes, that’s out there too. I’ve seen videos of people interacting with other people, and it looks real. But it was all AI created. Actor Keanu Reeves has taken a stand with his contracts and has a clause that says basically AI-generated “actors” won’t be allowed. <br /><br />With AI generated people in videos so realistic, how can you trust what you may see on YouTube? You could see a video of someone famous assaulting another person, or a politician taking a bribe, and it might be an AI fake. It's scary.</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH </b><br /><br />What are we going to do when we can’t trust what you see?</p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING, my free NL</a>.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OT6FOT114ob_Ecm5fSTFfytk4qR-P6CRX-chj73NlQJ3ZKXBdL91xCNRf7XJ98vI6xdO4PHQznP2oaRkWTKmDq58kdDeT4qh3uit7lXj8HqxeZd8rpAM1EzSSgjYEfoV_aTmm8tiPcmZfMp_nZwldbrNLzI3lrIYZA8M9PZGXO0cCv957tTu8w/s1200/NL_Signup_01_2023_09-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #4e4e4e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OT6FOT114ob_Ecm5fSTFfytk4qR-P6CRX-chj73NlQJ3ZKXBdL91xCNRf7XJ98vI6xdO4PHQznP2oaRkWTKmDq58kdDeT4qh3uit7lXj8HqxeZd8rpAM1EzSSgjYEfoV_aTmm8tiPcmZfMp_nZwldbrNLzI3lrIYZA8M9PZGXO0cCv957tTu8w/w361-h189/NL_Signup_01_2023_09-21.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-75523458964395891392024-02-20T08:40:00.010-06:002024-02-20T09:54:37.592-06:00Review - True Detective - Night Country on Max<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPMRLm_WUD77TSzSOe918qadevdDccN3L4JvHeX4OEXmMz0DNc3eVGU4isF7ls1xF1SBVjZxfDeKgpCWsXE0CW34e9KAm1Do1BOOQa0-EHst2Kw2eVOiElNOq8he0joapxU9QlmQw6UpO-aV0YiDdML4VIDwBo6iR38TV5hj1pnei_o5WCzgjqw/s3000/True%20Detective_S4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2025" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPMRLm_WUD77TSzSOe918qadevdDccN3L4JvHeX4OEXmMz0DNc3eVGU4isF7ls1xF1SBVjZxfDeKgpCWsXE0CW34e9KAm1Do1BOOQa0-EHst2Kw2eVOiElNOq8he0joapxU9QlmQw6UpO-aV0YiDdML4VIDwBo6iR38TV5hj1pnei_o5WCzgjqw/w271-h401/True%20Detective_S4.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><b>True Detective: Night Country</b> is season 4 of the critcally-acclaimed <b>Max</b> series and stars <b>Jodie Foster</b> and <b>Kali Reis</b>.<p></p><p>Other cast members and guest stars are: Finn Bennett, Fiona Shaw, Christopher Eccleston, Isabella Star LaBlanc, John Hawkes, Anna Lambe, Aka Niviâna, June Thiele, Diane Benson, and Joel D. Montgrand.</p><p>If moving, dramatic, and an oppressive atmosphere make up the kind of viewing experience you favor, you'll love this dark, gloomy mystery thriller.</p>Written and directed by showrunner <b>Issa López</b>, (spoiler alert) <b>Night Country</b> makes one believe something supernatural is at play. Or, at least it implies that ethnic people are more in touch with unseen energies or forces.<div><br /></div><div>I suppose in the end, it's up to the viewer to decide if that is what happens in this story, or perhaps what happens is the result of human villainy.</div><div><br /></div><div>With Foster as the police chief and Reis as an Alaskan state trooper attempting to solve the mystery of what happened to 8 research scientists at a remote Arctic station, the story is enhanced by the film noir effect of the "days of night" that are listed during each episode.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm pretty sure <b>Night Country</b> wouldn't be recommended by the Alaska Tourism bureau. In fact, after watching it, I definitely wouldn't want to visit a place that dark, cold, gloomy, and depressing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most lead characters in a story have secrets and emotional baggage to overcome and "grow" as people. These 6 episodes boast every single character as deeply flawed, haunted by the past, unable to communicate civilly, and in tense, strained relationships with everyone in their lives. It's hard to find a character to "like" or root for when they all appear to need serious mental and emotional help.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DzJLAqXlZvuxAXG9BRC12btwDcqFfv7PCApW3x97D_DzfYJSF3-BwPGG9ikmGWRBUOUtIhA2nUjaDF4aWfU0cbiPiQ1Ke4jZ4mAUSiXJ-QULe9kBrIDEairG6cIQ9AKL2cxwoOqGzY86oJ8SKRR3-nbU0A91LvDilxdN2oV2Kvc6o12VvG9khA/s2048/Video_Clapper-board-film-reel-and-f-45132883_BSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1884" data-original-width="2048" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DzJLAqXlZvuxAXG9BRC12btwDcqFfv7PCApW3x97D_DzfYJSF3-BwPGG9ikmGWRBUOUtIhA2nUjaDF4aWfU0cbiPiQ1Ke4jZ4mAUSiXJ-QULe9kBrIDEairG6cIQ9AKL2cxwoOqGzY86oJ8SKRR3-nbU0A91LvDilxdN2oV2Kvc6o12VvG9khA/s320/Video_Clapper-board-film-reel-and-f-45132883_BSP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>WHY DID I KEEP WATCHING?</b><div><br /></div><div>To find out what had actually happened to the scientists and another mystery that was even more compelling. Not for the characters who were their own worst enemies. </div><div><br /></div><div>The inconsistencies exhibited by the characters were irritating. Supposedly they were both smart law enforcement officers, but they did a lot of stupid things. </div><div><br /></div><div>The kind of things that makes the viewer do an eyeroll and ask aloud, "Why did they go into an ice cave without a rope or a way of rescue if they fell?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Just one example. The answer of course was that the plot called for them to find a hidden means of escape. Like Darling Hubby said, "I'm just glad that's over!"</div><div><br /></div><div>The last few minutes of the story seemed out of place considering the content of the 6 episodes. It was as if the director, producer, or the showrunner/writer—whoever had the power to make decisions—decided that there had to be something upbeat that showed Foster's character had changed.</div><div><br /></div><div>So there were 2 scenes of her being affable—smiling and answering questions without blowing up and a scene of her smiling and laughing with her stepdaughter. I suppose that symbolized character growth. Oh, and the sun was also shining so the "days of night" had obviously ended.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Make no mistake, Foster and Reis gave stellar performances, but I would not watch this again. I know my review disagrees with the critics so maybe this is something you'd like? Like the old song goes, "Different strokes for different folks."</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9dc161571/" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click to enter Joan's February Rafflecopter Giveaway</a></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULMrttml4lzApwVyWPhb5UciitU0L_45h9CyAR-0eZl-P-41alj2WYblerECnxHzxSZRfP3CJa3zwHUmlL_7P7rP2Ow-4TK5mHYpbkbo1DfpcIw5UkxqhqcxRDmAxO6TS97OMT6Y88rF9ptZ7HGAhEQveDeaFFiK2F28iaFfBTU0EUl8GkJcoSg/s1200/Chance%20to%20Win_02-Feb-Giveaway_13_2024_02-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s1280/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/s320/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;">Get Joan's FREE Newsletter, </span><b style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;">I LOVE READING</b><span style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="text-align: start;">Not a subscriber?</span><span style="text-align: start;"> </span><b style="text-align: start;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click here to SIGN UP</a></b><span style="text-align: start;">.</span></div></div><div><br /></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-21538225501855416712024-02-19T00:30:00.003-06:002024-02-19T00:30:00.148-06:00Monday Magic - Make Music With Soundation<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6HJszZpqDTucE-nPPidjM5MJS56oY78DqO02Bl7mrgGh9kcJSHvFHPiY3Eyj9i3O6ar1eSEy553LHtucQcUl-svWoDlzN5Ejg6sDn2YZHR91INiBdyn5Cc3szgfwT82zH7f2Cipq82q9ekHhOa1YEewpt-M8nDfHW7zadeSSW0NCwu3dgqDung/s1323/Music%20Has%20Charms.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="1323" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6HJszZpqDTucE-nPPidjM5MJS56oY78DqO02Bl7mrgGh9kcJSHvFHPiY3Eyj9i3O6ar1eSEy553LHtucQcUl-svWoDlzN5Ejg6sDn2YZHR91INiBdyn5Cc3szgfwT82zH7f2Cipq82q9ekHhOa1YEewpt-M8nDfHW7zadeSSW0NCwu3dgqDung/w437-h206/Music%20Has%20Charms.png" width="437" /></a></div>If you're struggling to find free music for videos, consider making your own.<p></p><p>Yes, in today's world there are many websites that offer the ability for you to put together your own sound: beats, instrumentals, loops, sounds, and special effects.</p><p><b><a href="https://soundation.com" target="_blank">Soundation</a></b> is one of those websites. They offer tutorials, samples, and even have a free plan so you can try it. If you like what you create, you can export it to your computer.</p><p>Besides the free plan, there are <b><a href="https://soundation.com/accounts" target="_blank">3 tiers of subscriptions</a></b> with the least expensive $4.99/month billed annually.</p><p>Take a look at <b><a href="https://soundation.com/make-music" target="_blank">Make Music</a></b> on the menu bar. It's awesome what you can do.</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>If music is your thing, try making your own. You may be in for a delightful surprise. Like always, please read the <b><a href="https://soundation.com/terms-of-service" target="_blank">Terms of Service</a></b> so you'll know exactly what you can and cannot do and what it will cost you.</p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING, my free NL</a>.</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OT6FOT114ob_Ecm5fSTFfytk4qR-P6CRX-chj73NlQJ3ZKXBdL91xCNRf7XJ98vI6xdO4PHQznP2oaRkWTKmDq58kdDeT4qh3uit7lXj8HqxeZd8rpAM1EzSSgjYEfoV_aTmm8tiPcmZfMp_nZwldbrNLzI3lrIYZA8M9PZGXO0cCv957tTu8w/s1200/NL_Signup_01_2023_09-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #4e4e4e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2OT6FOT114ob_Ecm5fSTFfytk4qR-P6CRX-chj73NlQJ3ZKXBdL91xCNRf7XJ98vI6xdO4PHQznP2oaRkWTKmDq58kdDeT4qh3uit7lXj8HqxeZd8rpAM1EzSSgjYEfoV_aTmm8tiPcmZfMp_nZwldbrNLzI3lrIYZA8M9PZGXO0cCv957tTu8w/w361-h189/NL_Signup_01_2023_09-21.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="361" /></a></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="103" /></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9dc161571/" style="color: blue; font-size: 14.85px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>Click to enter Joan's February Rafflecopter Giveaway</b></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRi51NvKYbLY9WNA1iOqvxZO7TyDjtVe6stpNguCBUxJfOI92nkmfkcNoD8Hpan2O9GVGVEvtotk-DfZhFc86n6ZjdfHO-yhB3v4WBq-5LPlx8pwiRkcDxDltwt_llTAnOqGvqGLDDn4zl-1vQ1nq7lly2pW1NVopFzE-w5zUzZ6o_TgZSkn5OAQ/s1200/Chance%20to%20Win_02-Feb-Giveaway_03_2024_02-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRi51NvKYbLY9WNA1iOqvxZO7TyDjtVe6stpNguCBUxJfOI92nkmfkcNoD8Hpan2O9GVGVEvtotk-DfZhFc86n6ZjdfHO-yhB3v4WBq-5LPlx8pwiRkcDxDltwt_llTAnOqGvqGLDDn4zl-1vQ1nq7lly2pW1NVopFzE-w5zUzZ6o_TgZSkn5OAQ/w418-h218/Chance%20to%20Win_02-Feb-Giveaway_03_2024_02-07.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="418" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Several options to enter. Winner selected by Random draw. Giveaway ends Feb. 27, 2024.</div></div><p><br /></p>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-77356891647239073942024-02-18T00:30:00.003-06:002024-02-18T00:30:00.126-06:00Be the Best You<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeHDR6vQrLvMG41bRnaTbU4CGCuWr7Wd_rrJ3p8yZ7Bm1xZSWG0OWJyUUlpWENVFk0g8cXB_OeKspJW-ytNdpvT-EWurF8yVKDuX0eNqXSEBx9V-zY_MzjRrZuuDEvog5pgzCOYH30KVrMPYqpuaMZRrqNxesEfrsBGcR50mje2iQk2tKzsqK9w/s1000/Humor_All-You-Need-Is-Love-And-A-Cup-80452118_BSP_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeHDR6vQrLvMG41bRnaTbU4CGCuWr7Wd_rrJ3p8yZ7Bm1xZSWG0OWJyUUlpWENVFk0g8cXB_OeKspJW-ytNdpvT-EWurF8yVKDuX0eNqXSEBx9V-zY_MzjRrZuuDEvog5pgzCOYH30KVrMPYqpuaMZRrqNxesEfrsBGcR50mje2iQk2tKzsqK9w/s320/Humor_All-You-Need-Is-Love-And-A-Cup-80452118_BSP_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I have my morning cup of coffee in my hand, and I'm ready to give y'all some Love.<p></p><p>What do you do when you watch a video, read a blog, or hear someone say, "Go out there and be the best (<u>whatever</u>) possible"?</p><p>I roll my eyes because it's a meaningless platitude.</p><p>Wouldn't it be better advice to say, "If you can't be THE best, be YOUR best." I think that's true because being YOUR best is within the realm of possibilitiy.</p><p>Striving to be YOUR best allows for the reality that only one can be THE best, but anyone can learn, work, and try to improve to be YOUR best. Think about that. Don't waste time in attain the unattainable.</p><p>Wouldn’t your energy and time be better spent in trying to be the best you? You with your voice, your style, your personality, your skills, your experiences? You are the one and only original YOU. That's a great thing.</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>Forget about being the best. Work on being YOUR best. Be the best you.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w96-h21/XOXO_03.png" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="96" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ArM3WUHOSD2-0gWlx2UkyYYmR76CGLx0zquPw1leXcvGKCjYVeB4Hq936l2jDiV6kTKAcWhArvEdVMsuvedpTR4H_9omxUnjYTVgoGqDM0MAchfXGLJT8HYDc4tCplnOa5aAjAeKp-XeOf688r-fRj76X3c2hKmhtbUeqqh3xAgo-6q3TOg/w319-h166/NL_Signup_Still%20Writing.jpg" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="319" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING, Joan's free NL</a>.</b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGeYxgdLoxzlqjkaFnmdDeTXtcD00UsLIb3HQAUkzXylJoCLsYvlss2hLLKLLlqwBEcQQ3SSmh7HKyc1QzYZ8cOMANXS1-7CB9UVbjIGqBzMsWJLDPIR9dA6Nj3W0slLyAmy3SG7aoooePur6WoZFSA4M-yXKAoTkaNGObd4xq-1poCFTeJ-oPw/s895/Lipstick-And-Kiss-38324770_BSP_web_cropped_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="895" height="30" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGeYxgdLoxzlqjkaFnmdDeTXtcD00UsLIb3HQAUkzXylJoCLsYvlss2hLLKLLlqwBEcQQ3SSmh7HKyc1QzYZ8cOMANXS1-7CB9UVbjIGqBzMsWJLDPIR9dA6Nj3W0slLyAmy3SG7aoooePur6WoZFSA4M-yXKAoTkaNGObd4xq-1poCFTeJ-oPw/w98-h30/Lipstick-And-Kiss-38324770_BSP_web_cropped_v2.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="98" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9dc161570/?" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">CLICK TO ENTER JOAN'S GIVEAWAY</a></b></p>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-2449292544847631942024-02-17T06:30:00.011-06:002024-02-17T15:56:53.433-06:00Cooking Conversion Chart-Imperial to Metric Formula<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheSpCmgpkBBE4QaDpvPfeiMWh1g7t7qntlYIFmXrS3kF6QgEyRSmtQZtiNgcKaOPB4fDYDSnj-FM5jkcWmA6cK8x1m7JfYsVEHCER9fyBYq5D6HM2DZmpvQi4PTSJRdn_8USHwF2r8FjqZ-QsD6evc0Y20BrPYoUeHBNQuEnINV6LsxbMADSjP1w" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="874" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheSpCmgpkBBE4QaDpvPfeiMWh1g7t7qntlYIFmXrS3kF6QgEyRSmtQZtiNgcKaOPB4fDYDSnj-FM5jkcWmA6cK8x1m7JfYsVEHCER9fyBYq5D6HM2DZmpvQi4PTSJRdn_8USHwF2r8FjqZ-QsD6evc0Y20BrPYoUeHBNQuEnINV6LsxbMADSjP1w=w351-h235" width="351" /></a></div>This is my last post about converting Imperial, or English, measurements to Metric.</div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator">Here are the 3 other Cooking Conversion Charts in case you missed those posts.</div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator"><b><a href="https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2024/01/cooking-conversion-chart-fahrenheit-to-celsius.html" target="_blank">Conversion Chart: Fahrentheit to Celsius</a></b></div><p><b><a href="https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2024/01/cooking-conversion-liquid-spoon-measure-to-milliliters.html" target="_blank">Conversion Chart: Liquid Spoon Measure to Milliliters</a></b></p><p><b><a href="https://slingwords.blogspot.com/2024/02/cooking-conversion-chart-liquid%20cups%20to%20liters.html" target="_blank">Conversion Chart: Liquid Cup Measures to Liters</a></b>.</p><p>Today's chart gives the math formulas that should work if you didn't print the other posts and place in your cookbook.</p><p><b><u>Imperial or English Measurement to Metric Measurement</u></b></p><p><b><u>When a recipe calls for ( ) Multiply By To Find ( )</u></b></p><p>teaspoons (tsp.) 5.0 milliliters (ml)</p><p>tablespoons <span>(tbsp.) 15.0 milliliters (ml)</span></p><p>fluid ounces (fl. oz.) 30.0 milliliters (ml)</p><p>cups (c.) 0.24 liters (l)</p><p>pints (pt.) 0.47 liters (l)</p><p>quarts (qt.) 0.95 liters (l) </p><p>ounces (oz.) 28.0 grams (g) </p><p>pounds (lb.) 0.45 kilograms (kg)</p><p>Fahrenheit (F.) first, subtract 32 Celsius (C) then multiply by 5/9</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;">Next Saturday, I have a recipe to share. I hope these conversion charts help you with your cooking and baking. See you next weekend!</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="39" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w177-h39/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.85px; position: relative;" width="177" /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssLMPq-P3pRxDJQH9_YqozgUArzt9J8pJdzhOWfVosei8XQdD54Xi6ySyER8wHqLQzzbP6fe83rzQQf4uqJV7UeZxGil2kSB6FvAwcoffuVWSmPHMzXVTQi9BpX183S2Skkb1fD5_VglZsCFFlZIvZq61djkmf7nMaOH_4sofzLRNcMOuAk5seQ/s737/NL%20Signup_Loves%20Reading%20and%20Cooking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="708" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssLMPq-P3pRxDJQH9_YqozgUArzt9J8pJdzhOWfVosei8XQdD54Xi6ySyER8wHqLQzzbP6fe83rzQQf4uqJV7UeZxGil2kSB6FvAwcoffuVWSmPHMzXVTQi9BpX183S2Skkb1fD5_VglZsCFFlZIvZq61djkmf7nMaOH_4sofzLRNcMOuAk5seQ/w232-h242/NL%20Signup_Loves%20Reading%20and%20Cooking.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="232" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">If you love to read, click to sign up for I LOVE READING, Joan's free NL.</a></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuLT1DN0bXVzjuSGz_FN5hPFRm0sr8Q0h0fBcvXDXP-_OG0dQObJIAKtIIH8zTAc8-LCU4vZTKXakQudQQt4vD4S1AV9Htaz3yvKnf3W4OWCkWSE4iY9xz2QhgxxiZ4lkCgbENJQniPBQ8G3rYPV9be9eIpBexq_kRJirzKptSKY7VT2Yvvl-Mw/s1738/Pen%20Line.png" style="color: blue; font-size: 14.85px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="1738" height="40" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuLT1DN0bXVzjuSGz_FN5hPFRm0sr8Q0h0fBcvXDXP-_OG0dQObJIAKtIIH8zTAc8-LCU4vZTKXakQudQQt4vD4S1AV9Htaz3yvKnf3W4OWCkWSE4iY9xz2QhgxxiZ4lkCgbENJQniPBQ8G3rYPV9be9eIpBexq_kRJirzKptSKY7VT2Yvvl-Mw/s320/Pen%20Line.png" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9dc161571/" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Click to enter Joan's February Rafflecopter Giveaway</a></b><span style="font-size: 14.85px;"> </span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQMC8VgzZL1l9uURSnEP0v242RIQ46N35DC3jDRDL7Au8lQ-cjPM1B8V8KDg5WyA-I_6W9wXLfpV5OYQYXVpq7b_Fe-PFjX0HnXfEKdmF3y58ibEYTfHA0wdWCxGxRetdZuVcz91_fe9Rx2xKbx6HmV0s6pPvmAYKzijWeOalKmQDCfdgcBhzCw/s1200/Chance%20to%20Win_02-Feb-Giveaway_02_2024_02-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: blue; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQMC8VgzZL1l9uURSnEP0v242RIQ46N35DC3jDRDL7Au8lQ-cjPM1B8V8KDg5WyA-I_6W9wXLfpV5OYQYXVpq7b_Fe-PFjX0HnXfEKdmF3y58ibEYTfHA0wdWCxGxRetdZuVcz91_fe9Rx2xKbx6HmV0s6pPvmAYKzijWeOalKmQDCfdgcBhzCw/w397-h207/Chance%20to%20Win_02-Feb-Giveaway_02_2024_02-07.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="397" /></a></div><div>If the winner is in the USA, the prize is this lovely Jane Austen Journal with the blank pages decorated with drawings and quotations from Jane Austen.</div><div><br /></div><div>If the winner is outside the USA, the prize is a $10 Amazon Gift Card.</div><div><br /></div><div>Several options to enter. Winner selected by Random draw. Giveaway closes Feb. 27, 2024.</div><div><br /></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-27619274249481987352024-02-16T16:29:00.000-06:002024-02-16T16:29:09.179-06:00Review - Appaloosa on Max<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHSYoWqifr3E7ghkC8eA7MgINy1UFqMgfEHWlVDvmTm8mmH2o_hWUmLpgbkzCAYNThz91Z0dJawaUdAbI4hIeJtPFl90C1PaNNucZaMXINVuBetr2S0AL-cIQzcBNAcH_wy6kFG8oElvmQa1YfIyY-XW3RXY8eaiMuR5zkyFhgep1EEEvWnaHUg/s325/Appaloosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="220" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHSYoWqifr3E7ghkC8eA7MgINy1UFqMgfEHWlVDvmTm8mmH2o_hWUmLpgbkzCAYNThz91Z0dJawaUdAbI4hIeJtPFl90C1PaNNucZaMXINVuBetr2S0AL-cIQzcBNAcH_wy6kFG8oElvmQa1YfIyY-XW3RXY8eaiMuR5zkyFhgep1EEEvWnaHUg/w268-h395/Appaloosa.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>If you like traditional westerns, or at least western movies with a traditional feel to them, then you need to watch <b>Appaloosa</b>, a 2008 film based on the novel of the same name by Robert B. Parker.<div><br /></div><div>Starring Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen, the screenplay was co-written by Harris and Robert Knott and won 4 awards including the Western Heritage Award in 2009.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also starring Renee Zellweger as the woman who comes between them and Jeremy Irons as the villain, the story is set in the 1880s in the mining town of Appaloosa.</div><div><br /></div><div>Virgil Cole (Harris) and his partner and friend Everett Hitch (Mortensen) are in the business of bring justice to the lawless towns of the Southwest—for a price.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The town's citizens are tired of rancher Randall Bragg (Irons) and his men bringing chaos and terror when they come to town. When a young and pretty widow (Zellweger) arrives by stage, she creates a complication for the two friends.</div><div><br /></div><div> Yes, the story has been told before, but the acting, the atmosphere, and the cinematography elevate the common story. Harris and Mortensen are perfect in the role. Even though you think you know what the outcome will be, you may be surprised.</div><div><br /></div><div>This movie is showing on Mas and also Prime Video. It's even available on<b><a href="https://amzn.to/49inyHU" target="_blank"> Amazon</a></b> in BluRay at a low price.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></div><div><br /></div><div>We really enjoyed the movie. It was compelling with such honest and believable portrayals of the characters. If you like westerns of any type, you'll probably like it too.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoIXmXSFtuqG-beXAFC-9aXJWd_hr9zHVJK0Ms_StMg2F5GrLwaj5H-z12ymlLN1L_XhUGHN5AojHgjA251dxaVaBnvI-fWDadpJumIKVMbfswDGOAwLJEzQvzedgjEFdqJifvnZsFda3tms5nzkurkJVcWKelDN25lAELyPFZW75KqqHwsNHhA/s400/FYI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="400" height="30" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoIXmXSFtuqG-beXAFC-9aXJWd_hr9zHVJK0Ms_StMg2F5GrLwaj5H-z12ymlLN1L_XhUGHN5AojHgjA251dxaVaBnvI-fWDadpJumIKVMbfswDGOAwLJEzQvzedgjEFdqJifvnZsFda3tms5nzkurkJVcWKelDN25lAELyPFZW75KqqHwsNHhA/w110-h30/FYI.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="110" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px;"><i>Joan participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click links in her post, she may receive a small commision <b>at no extra cost to you</b>.</i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; float: right; font-size: 14.85px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYUiUzmY9OsyM4kgT0LQTy_w3dPmKbhx5rmChOF7cjiJrmi8V1aBJPZW3mmYCmoVioiWkf3SltGNxvqcDpapR2TUWCL5Ue9rmUj93yF2FRhm_1Kl73tRRWBPgqd4mgvNP4vxubfV71CG-IK7_HDUyWr3kxC8m9OSsbBEMOvRwwRTORSH4aW43kA/s1333/Jane%20Austen%20Journal_02.jpg" style="clear: right; color: #4e4e4e; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYUiUzmY9OsyM4kgT0LQTy_w3dPmKbhx5rmChOF7cjiJrmi8V1aBJPZW3mmYCmoVioiWkf3SltGNxvqcDpapR2TUWCL5Ue9rmUj93yF2FRhm_1Kl73tRRWBPgqd4mgvNP4vxubfV71CG-IK7_HDUyWr3kxC8m9OSsbBEMOvRwwRTORSH4aW43kA/w163-h217/Jane%20Austen%20Journal_02.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="163" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="103" /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9dc161571/" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>Click to enter Joan's February Rafflecopter Giveaway</b></a></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">For a chance to win a Jane Austen Journal (if you reside in the USA) or a $10 Amazon Gift Card (if you reside outside the USA).</div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Winner chosen by random draw from eligible entries.</div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Entries will be verified for eligibility.</div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Giveaway closes February 27, 2024. </div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w96-h21/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="96" /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: left;"><div style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 14.85px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCCevdNv7GccFLBZxwyNRviFn-CUfQ8IdlqMR9BYmY5baOd8ZsPdZW48f3kj8W8ai9tEGqBKSncccR6afBF2ziKhwNTR3D-KmbtWG3Pf5_2InyQg4YZ_DQZP1BKEc5gY6F8LoGc3rZS-BFqZmWIUQzenrT_cVbzVBT-rJKdQ_sgNBYW26Yqy_cw/w202-h135/%23%20JUNE_WRITE_computer-1185626_1280.jpg" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="202" /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b>Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING, Joan's free NL</a>.</b></div></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11856692.post-17987766664778632182024-02-15T15:00:00.002-06:002024-02-15T20:39:53.281-06:005 Random Nonessential Facts<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJWi3WT0ITBvsz45DwKgm7co_DE5v-hxsVDbzfBlwGyUx3J2xdqnJNqsZpCTLMXwDxNgNqchMatIAhRJy40i8EEsDeJ3FA7cnvpj_F7lmWfw8oK2BlNDLapJzWE5GvybP5-RoekuChi-B4_wmOmA7MdmFhDFFI8CRL-9h4z3BvnU4nknX0qVBdg/s640/smiley-4836191_640_Sergey_pixabay.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJWi3WT0ITBvsz45DwKgm7co_DE5v-hxsVDbzfBlwGyUx3J2xdqnJNqsZpCTLMXwDxNgNqchMatIAhRJy40i8EEsDeJ3FA7cnvpj_F7lmWfw8oK2BlNDLapJzWE5GvybP5-RoekuChi-B4_wmOmA7MdmFhDFFI8CRL-9h4z3BvnU4nknX0qVBdg/w237-h237/smiley-4836191_640_Sergey_pixabay.png" width="237" /></a></div>I just found these kind of weird and kind of funny so of course I wanted to share them with you.<p></p><p>1. If you write the word <b>stressed</b> backwards, it spells <b>desserts</b>. How about that? The cure for being stressed is in the word!</p><p>2. The highest point in Pennsylvania is lower than the lowest point in Colorado.</p><p>3. <b>Jane Barbie</b> was the woman who did the voice recordings for the Bell System. Maybe it really is a Barbie World?</p><p>4. 7.5 million toothpicks can be created from a cord of wood. Anyone actually know how much wood is a cord of wood? Leave a comment if you do.</p><p>5. Minus 40 degrees Celsius is exactly the same as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Is that really true? (Personal Note: It seems weird, but I'm too lazy to take the math formula to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius to find out.)</p><p><b>TAKEAWAY TRUTH</b></p><p>There you go. Some useless trivia to stump your friends with at the next party.</p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="23" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w103-h23/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="103" /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9dc161571/" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>Click to enter Joan's February Rafflecopter Giveaway</b></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iJEBOTKBap95woe9pFeRGGza6ESwpqvwmZmT8nA-A07XcadF58N0H58HnJ5hKD-namzwXPwO0JlybQ_8YEX8Kunvy7FnQP1_QUkc0skZPIYG0hsb1JPXw17qAKtYokgt-ty_upKO4Zj77CBuAsD0xhwof8g86bGgopepis-SOmmeiR9U-N56uA/s1200/Chance%20to%20Win_02-Feb-Giveaway_12_2024_02-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iJEBOTKBap95woe9pFeRGGza6ESwpqvwmZmT8nA-A07XcadF58N0H58HnJ5hKD-namzwXPwO0JlybQ_8YEX8Kunvy7FnQP1_QUkc0skZPIYG0hsb1JPXw17qAKtYokgt-ty_upKO4Zj77CBuAsD0xhwof8g86bGgopepis-SOmmeiR9U-N56uA/s320/Chance%20to%20Win_02-Feb-Giveaway_12_2024_02-07.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;">Several options to enter. Giveaway ends Feb. 27, 2024.<div style="font-size: 14.85px; text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="440" height="21" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52jspVVj120yDou-l7QAxxNjgerqV5kRRcVxZmmMjp8YphVlxTgjsBvunvX5i8N7JQXZnbwk3j0npeD70fNQ4KvkyfaffB0wAFkrmmHkFM_AHKsB4fezZulslNFgyanNqcWRXCJOw-GYB81dVzLKeehEhrix4EUv4bmNERDeLyyBC5EdgJ8K_3w/w96-h21/XOXO_03.png" style="border: none; color: #4e4e4e; position: relative;" width="96" /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px;"><b>Want exclusive content, giveaways, and bargain books?</b></div><div style="font-size: 14.85px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKNHJ4lOEV_vhSFxtoiJIkMq_l1SZrod_cryVGa48PjkwYzX_lCfwowL8zt-leFnHRBNyTcBCA9hKlSVB9qQCUpZdHsIZGSOdVa1H9zFarxcPL-yR2C_wNzcTIEWmaVAbFWy8thd7Iqt-xkJDCg6nybTYiHtao2pyFczofTDGR1jA6aPLdOpWRA/s736/NL_Free%20Gold%20Medallion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: blue; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="732" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKNHJ4lOEV_vhSFxtoiJIkMq_l1SZrod_cryVGa48PjkwYzX_lCfwowL8zt-leFnHRBNyTcBCA9hKlSVB9qQCUpZdHsIZGSOdVa1H9zFarxcPL-yR2C_wNzcTIEWmaVAbFWy8thd7Iqt-xkJDCg6nybTYiHtao2pyFczofTDGR1jA6aPLdOpWRA/w187-h188/NL_Free%20Gold%20Medallion.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="187" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://subscribepage.com/z8x3r9" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sign up for I LOVE READING</a></b></div></div></div>Joan Reeveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622809465767116747noreply@blogger.com0Texas, USA31.9685988 -99.90181313.6583649638211533 -135.0580631 60.278832636178848 -64.7455631