I'm Lovin' It!

     I'll bet you've been anxious to know about my new CSN toy, haven't you?  Well, I'm gonna' tell you all about it, right now.  Its about THIS tall and T-H-I-I-I-I-S wide and there are lotsa' colors.  Oh, yeah; and wheels.  I've been getting it ready to show you, so if you wanna' know more about it, be sure to come back when I'm ready.

     ::Tinkering... fine-tuning... perfecting... ::

     For the record, I'm havin' lotsa' fun with the preparations.  As a writer, I'm finding that this is the perfect tool.  Oh, yeah; I know I said it was a new toy.  Well, toys can be tools, too, ya' know... just summa' the more FUN tools.  Suffice it to say that when you get yours, you're gonna' know 'xactly what I'm talkin' about.  This new toy is one of the handiest little jewels I've ever had.

     Lemme' give you an example.  Okay, I write for a couple of different newspapers and some magazines and I'm an editor with an online site.  Naturally, I have my own fun writing projects in various stages of completion.  The only trouble is, every single thing I'm working on seems to wanna' be properly filed, lest I lose track of what I'm doin'.

     One of the most annoying things I can think of is having to file papers.  "File Papers" is just another word for "Am I Organized?"  That is a trick question on accounta' there are a couple of ways I could answer.  I could say flat-out, yes, but I don't write that kinda' fiction very well.

     Also, I decided long ago that organization is waaaaaay over-rated.  Have you ever stopped to think how much work it takes to get organized?  Why, a person could be havin' an awfully lot of fun with other things, if organization wouldn't get in the way alla' time.  'Course, there is that whole thing of being in control when you're organized.

     That's what makes my new toy such a great addition in my life.  Its all set up, just begging to contribute to the cause.  I'm gonna' label it and when I'm working on any of my writing, I'll just roll that little jewel to a handy spot nearby and whoot!  whoot!  Control is just a matter of 1-2-3... Ta-Da!

     So, come on back here soon and see what fun I've been havin'.  I think you're gonna' want one of these little tool/toys for your very own... 'specially, if filing and paperwork have been a thorn in your side, the way they have in mine.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

C'mere! Lemme' Show You

     Hmmmm.  Was it something I said?  Maybe, I said it wrong?  Okay, I'm gonna' try this again, only this time, I'm gonna' stand on my head while typing.  This is gonna' be tricky, but bear... with... me; I think I can accomplish it... if... only... I... can... balance... wait a minute... There!  I'm standing on my head and now, I'm gonna' start typing.  Please ignore any typos.  There may also be strange thoughts that come creeping into the conversation; ignore those, too, k?  I can already feel the blood... rushing... to my brain and I think my brain has shaken loose and is floating up to my feet.  So... dizzy...

     THUNK!!!  Yeesh!  Do not try this at home.  I had to pick myself up off the floor and check for bruises.  Hopefully, my brain (such as it is) has floated back up to my head; I actually think it works much better in its Home in the Head.

     So, where was I?  Oh, yeah; I was wonderin' if I had messed up in the way I told you about my awesomely wonderful good news.  Since I only got two responses (thank you very much, Kristi and Sharon), I begin to think that I said it wrong.  I'm gonna' try this again, k?

     I'M AN EDITOR!!!  I am an Editor!  I'm a real, live EDITOR.  Can you believe it?  Yeah; me ,neither.  Come on; I'll show you the site.  It's soooooo coool and I can't believe they're letting ME be a part of their project, but I sure am glad they are.

     Oops!  I forgot to put Go-Power in the Little Red Wagon.  There; I fixed it.  Okay, make yourself comfortable.  We're gonna' fly on over there and look all around the site.  Ready for take-off?  Don't forget to buckle up.  Oh, yeah.  And I've loaded up your favorite snacks and drinks, so relax, enjoy and let's Flyyyyyyy!

     Looky!  Looky!  We're almost there.  Aaaaaaannd... did you feel that?  The Little Red Wagon is magical.  Did you notice when we all shrank down so we could fly inside the website?  Yeah.  We're all really tiny, now.  That's so's no one on the website will notice whilst we fly around wherever we wanna' go.

     Oh, look over there!  That's the Game Room.  There are some fun games to play in there.  And we're coming to the Coloring Pages.  Don't they have some awesome coloring pages?  I just love 'em.

     Be sure to keep your hands and feet inside the wagon; just like when you ride in a train.  I think we're gonna' pause here and listen to some of the music in the Music Room.  I really like the juke box; don't you?  And the music is sooooo sooooothing.

     Next, I'd like to show you where you can download some fun activities.  I'm gonna' tell you a secret, here.  There are some really fun things to do in the Activity Room.  I know on accounta' some of the activities are puzzles that I've created.

     Also, just in case you haven't noticed, one of MY recipes is in there.  Yeah!  You're surprised, aren't you?  You didn't know I was a Great Chef, did you?  Well you just go in there and look for the recipe called Bubble Juice and you're gonna' be surprised at how totally talented I am.  {I sure hope no one finds out that one of my grandies was the inventor of the Bubble Juice recipe}

     Oh, yeah, and I almost forgot to tell you I even have summa' my poetry published on this site.  Did I remember to tell you the name of the website?  Its called Scriptures 4 Kids.  And the site is sooooo Cool Beans.

     Oh, oh.  Look at the time.  I'm afraid we're gonna' hafta' get on back to Yaya's Home.  I hope you've enjoyed this tour and your flight in the Little Red Wagon.  I've sure enjoyed showing you around.

     Be careful as you exit and until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

And Now, The Reveal! Yaaaaaaay!!!

     Whoa!  Look out, below!  The winds are rising and the storm is upon us, so I'd best get my post written quickly, before the opportunity leaves.  I wish you could see it; lightning flashing, things are blowing around like they think they're paper, inside and out, trees relieving themselves of parts... Unbelievable!

     Lest I get carried away in my description of Mother Nature's beauty, lemme' tell you about the wunnerful news that has changed my life.  I have been made an editor on one of the greatest sites you have ever seen!  Don't believe me?  Look at this:  Scriptures 4 Kids.  Did you ever see such an awesome site in your entire life?!?

     And I get to be an editor!  I still can't believe it.  I am so honored and blessed to be a part of such a remarkable project.  I do hope you will go on over there and check it out.  Soon, the Old Testament will be launched and then, the New Testament and, and, and... Oh. My. Goodness!  And there are games and coloring pages and, and, and... oh, wait!  I already said that, didn't I?  There are so many wunnerful things to see and do and listen to, you are just gonna' get lost in the thrill of it all.

     And now, I'm gonna' hurry on outta' here on accounta' that storm is getting closer and its getting really insistent and who am I to argue with a storm, right?  Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Betcha' Don't Know What I Am...

     You know, a person can get so caught up in the Everything's that interfere with our thinking that its just too easy to forget about the Big Little Things that really mean something in our lives.  At least, that's kinda' what happened to me.

     I dunno' if I mentioned it, but not too long ago, I had a birthday.  Actually, it was a very special birthday... I am now three.  But more about that another time.  And to be fair in my explanation of things, all of my birthdays are special on accounta' they are all mine.  Of course, they're special.

     Unfortunately, just before this particular special birthday, I had the whole Tooth Demon situation, which triggered all kinds of other problems.  If you really wanna' know more about the Tooth Demons, though, you can track 'em down here.  So, the long and short of it is Evil Tooth Demons gathered in force to basically disrupt my life.

     But there's good news, too.  You see, that all started about ten days before my very special birthday.  If you have ever been four years old, about to turn three, you will surely understand how excited I was for the big day to arrive.  I mean, I was about to turn three years old, fer cryin' out loud.  Naturally, I was excited.

     Then, right on schedule, POOF!  It happened; it was my birthday and all the thrill was worth every minute of my waiting.  Well, unbeknownst to me, I was about to get the biggest surprise of my life.  And the best part is, even though it came just a couple days before Three-Day B-Day, it was not done as a birthday gift.  In fact, it had nothing to do with my birthday at all.

     Okay, okay.  I'll stop taunting you and give you the whole scoop... tomorrow.  Oh, yes.  This is news that needs a post all by itself.  So if you'll come back tomorrow, I have two good newses for you.  Well, that is to say, one of 'em is about me and my amazing surprise, but the other one is to celebrate my good news.  Yaaaaaaay!  I do hope I'll see you tomorrow on accounta' if I don't, I am just gonna' BURST with this really big news that I am holding inside and not telling you, yet.  Please, please, P-L-E-A-S-E come back tomorrow and let me share my news.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Dreams Really DO Come True...

     D'ja' ever wish and wish for something you just knew you would never get to own?  Then, something wonderful happened so's your dream suddenly found a way to actually come true?  Well, I was sitting on the sofa the other day, thinking about my friend.  She is SUCH a crafter and she has summa' the cutest toys.  One of those toys is a cool set of drawers; all different colors, on wheels, just right for someone with a yen for being organized with crafts.  *sigh*

     It was just about then that those good people at CSN asked if I would be interested in doing a review for... ::wait for it... wait for it::  Yes! one of those cute, cute drawer sets... JUST like my friend has!  Of course, I said yes.  I'd be crazy not to.  I do hope you will be here when I get my new toy.  I am so excited; I can hardly wait!  I'll show you pictures and tell you all about it.  Don't you just loooooove new toys?  I sure do.

     I haven't been posting as much as I'd like.  I'm afraid I would've been tempted to continue the Saga of the Tooth.  Yes, I'm still battling the war against pain.  But I really don't wanna' turn this into another post filled with whine... I'm afraid I'm all outta' cheese and it just wouldn't do to have fine whine without cheese.  ::grinning mischievously::

     So, be sure to come back and help me enjoy my new toy, k?  K, then.  And 'til the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

You Ain't Seen Nuthin', Yet!

     I just came across an awesome post and I wanted to share it with you.  Even after you see the pictures, you aren't gonna' believe what you see.  After you visit and read the short, but very interesting article, come back and lemme' know what you think about it.  I'd love to know if your reaction is anything like mine.

     The post is called simply Coconut Crab?  I think you'll enjoy reading this unusual post.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

To Post or Not To Post?

     The wind is blowing and we're expecting rain; a storm, really.  Nevertheless, I am rejuvenated by the sound of the wind.  When I think of pioneers who had to face this every day, it bothers me to realize that many of those pioneers were driven to complete distraction by the lonely, haunting sounds of air as it whistled and whined through the trees and past buildings and equipment.  Perhaps I would feel the same, if I had not been given a choice of living in the thick of breezy activity.

     Thankfully, I have been given a choice and prob'ly because of that, I can enjoy the sights, sounds and smells that capture my awareness because of because of the wind.  Still, if I had to deal with it, day in and day out,, I'm not so sure that my sanity would still be questioned.  No, I think the sanity issue would long ago have been settled.

     That's the way life has been with tooth problems.  I can handle things, just as long as I get it in small spurts or passing bites.  But this ongoing pain and stress from toothache, headaches and all-over discomfort is enough to make me question my own sanity.

     Once upon a time, not so many days ago, I could go to the store and appreciate all the wonderful foods.  Unfortunately, things have changed and the lingering effects of tooth problems, combined with other medical issues has been a bit more than I can take, right now.  With that in mind, I hope you will forgive me if my postings are scarce.  I may not be adding new posts to my blog, more than once or twice a week until I can recover from all that has been happening of late.

     I do hope you understand.  I know that this will pass, but I'm afraid that the problems caused by so much dental work in such a short span is just more than I've been able to adjust to.  I will be posting as often as I can and I do hope you will visit and comment.  As I get better, I look forward to visiting each of you and doing the same.  Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

    

You Could Be There, Too

     Do you recall my excitement awhile back when I had the opportunity to visit with Agent Mark McVeigh? As a writer, there are some situations that invite minor self-indulgence and I believe I fulfilled my part in this particular moment. I only hope my dignity didn't suffer, too much, in the wake of so much excitement.

     Before establishing The McVeigh Agency, Mark was an editorial director at Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing Division for eleven years. Previous to that, he spent several years learning first-hand what young people like; as a sixth grade teacher.

     Several of Mark's followers were given the opportunity to visit with him through a Skype call. Imagine my surprise and obvious pleasure at being among those lucky few. Considering the many varied and creative assignments he has filled, giving him first-hand knowledge into the writer's world, this was a substantial gesture. Naturally, I was prepared with many questions, knowing that I may never get to learn from such an experienced master, again.

     As an added bonus, Mark hosted a Webinar, which I was also invited to attend. We learned even more pearls of wisdom, during that excellent webinar. In fact, contrary to popular belief, I now know it is not wise to have friends and family critique my work. That is, unless they happen to be as practiced as Mark McVeigh. I don't know about you, but most people I know do not have the skill it takes to critique work for publication.

     If you'd like to know how you can also attend one of Mark's superior webinars, please contact me and I'll be more than happy to give you the information you need. You can be sure that if publication is your goal, Mark McVeigh can show you the way to achieve it.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya

Look What I Found... And It Ain't Even Christmas!

     I can't believe its been a week since I last posted.  I'd like to apologize for being AWOL.  The last three weeks have been difficult to deal with.  I'm sure you don't want me to regale you with all the fun details, but extreme pain is the culprit for keeping me away.  Again, I am awfully sorry for not posting, lately.  I'm sure that things will settle down to normal soon, but my patience is not as effective as it was in the beginning.

     Don't you just love new toys?  I've been fortunate, of late, in acquiring some very interesting new toys.  No, let me re-word that.  I collected these fun little treasures a long time ago.  However, when we moved, many of the things we enjoy were packed away.  After realizing we would have to move again, that unpacking came to a sudden halt.  All toys remained hidden in the vast nether-reaches and Black Hole of storage.

     A couple of days ago, while searching for some vital item (who knows?  who recalls?), I came across one of the many treasures that I like to play with; a scrapbooking toy.  Well!  I cannot tell you the excitement that I felt at being reunited with something fun, especially in the midst of fighting with the Tooth Gremlins.  Oh!  The joy!  My happiness was beyond description.  I didn't even have to wait and anticipate; it was Christmas morning, all over again.

     Oh.  I didn't tell you which toy I re-found?  Sorry; I forgot, didn't I?  heheh.  I found my Cuttlebug machine.  ::Yaya hugs herself, remembering that delightful moment::

     Do you have a Cuttlebug machine?  Don't you just loooooove it?!?  SUCH cute designs to emboss!  SO EASY!  SUCH FUUUUUUUN!

    Oh.  You don't have one, yet?  I'm sorry.  Well, I surely hope you're on the way out the door to get one, even AS WE SPEAK.  You are missing out on loads of fun and adventure!  Hurry!  Get on out there and pick yours up.  HURRY!

     No; in case you're wondering... this is not an advertisement.  Nor is it in any way a promotion.  I simply loooooooove my Cuttlebug!  Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya