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Staying in the Moment
On Wednesday, I posted this to the Word Wranglers blog–take a minute and read it. I’ll wait here. Oh, good, you’re back! Then today I read this article on a phenomenon called “phubbing,” which is the habit of snubbing someone in favor of a mobile phone. We’ve all done it. Some of us do it. I tend to do it most at breakfast because I’m tracking my food on my WW app or checking points for food or… okay checking to see what’s coming in the mail and yes, okay, checking Twitter and Instagram. I don’t have Facebook on my phone because I was spending too much time there. Starting…
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Hanging with the Grandboy
I’ve been so very blessed these past few days because I’ve gotten to spend extra time with my darling Grandboy, who is the heart of my heart and the joy of my life. His parents are away on a much-needed vacation, so Nanny volunteered to stay with the kiddo. It’s been a blast. He’s so unbearably funny and clever, so sweet-natured and easygoing, and so very curious about everything. He’s especially interested in anything under the sea–his class is currently making an under-the-sea mural and Grandboy can’t stop talking about it. When we read, he always chooses books about octopi and lionfish and whales and dolphins. He and his Poppy…
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Gratitude When It’s Hard to Be Grateful
I gave up being dissatisfied for Lent and man, oh, man, is life ever testing me on that one. It’s been a tough week–Son is trying very hard to finish up his PhD thesis in preparation for defense next month, their house is in serious disarray as the contractor gets the kitchen remodel finished up, and we had a terrible tragedy in our family. My niece’s daughter died of an overdose last week. At 24 years old, her life was sad and spiraling downward due to addiction and bad choices, but no one deserves to die so young. We are all heartbroken for her mother–I can’t imagine the pain of…
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We’re Not Hopeless Old Farts…Truly
So right off, I love my phone carrier–we have great service, great coverage, and our bill doesn’t make us hyperventilate each month. I wanted to get that straight right off because now, I’m going to complain a little. Not a rant…I promise. I’ve been after Husband to upgrade his flip phone–he’s had it a long time and he was borrowing mine to text Son or check the weather or the incoming mail or to get directions or to Google something while we were out and about. It was getting kind of silly for him not to have his own smartphone. Then this past weekend, Son gave him a nifty little…
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Late for Lent
Well, Ash Wednesday was a couple of weeks ago–on Valentine’s Day this year, which was kinda interesting. Anyway, usually, I post during Lent about what I’ve given up and how that’s affecting my life. I’m late to posting about it this year because I committed February to featuring authors of Seasoned Romance on the blog, and it didn’t seem fair to shove in with my own stuff. But the blog is mine again. I did give up something for Lent this year, but it wasn’t wine or social media or chocolate. This year, I gave up being dissatisfied. That may not sound all that courageous, but trust me, I’ve been…
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Celebrating Seasoned Romance: Linda Tillis
Is there a better way to close out our celebration of Seasoned Romance than with a giveaway? I don’t think so! So, today, I’m turning the blog over to author Linda Tillis, who’s got an audio book to give away to one lucky commenter. READ ON FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE AUDIO BOOK! Thanks, Nan! Folks often ask, “where do you get your stories from?” Well, first off, I was born in Appalachia, where storytelling is bred into you. In years gone by, we would sit at the feet of our grandparents in the evening, and learn about our ancestors. These were remarkable stories that led me to…
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Celebrating Seasoned Romance: Liz Flaherty
I’m always delighted to welcome my bestie, Liz Flaherty, to the blog. Liz thinks one of the things that keeps you young when you quite obviously aren’t anymore is the constant chances you have to reinvent yourself. Her latest (and happiest!) professional incarnation is as a Harlequin Heartwarming author! One of the reasons she loves writing and reading about seasoned protagonists is the most obvious one–it’s a dream she’s living. She remembers early conversations with her husband when they tried to imagine having sex at 40 and beyond. She was utterly thrilled to find out it was not only possible but even better than it had been in their 20s!…
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Celebrating Seasoned Romance: Lina Rehal
Today we’re featuring Lina Rehal, a self-published author who writes contemporary romance, nostalgia, memoirs, and slice-of-life stories. Her first book, Carousel Kisses, is a collection of nostalgic stories, personal essays and poems about growing up in the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s. She combines her passion for fiction and love of storytelling in her contemporary romance novels. Her two romance books, October In New York and Loving Daniel, Book One of her Tucker’s Landing Series, are available on Amazon.com in both print and Kindle formats. NAN: Welcome Lina. Tell us what you are currently working on or promoting. LINA: Hi, Nan. Thank you for having me on your blog. I’m…
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Celebrating Seasoned Romance: Karen Ginther Graham
Today featured author is Karen Ginther Graham, who hails from San Diego county but has lived in Oklahoma so long she consideres herself an Okie. These two locales are often reflected in her writing. She is married and has one wonderful son, now grown. Finding Rose Rocks is her debut novel and she is working on another one about a girl’s coming of age amid strife and beauty. NAN: Tell us what you are currently working on or promoting. KAREN: I’m promoting my debut novel, Finding Rose Rocks, published May of 2016. It began as a contemporary women’s fiction about a divorced woman of 45 who embarks on a journey,…
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Celebrating Seasoned Romance: Peter Perrin
What a treat to welcome Peter Perrin today–honestly, it’s so cool to have a guy writing romance, particularly seasoned romance! Peter writes sweet, seasoned romances involving larger-than-life mature characters who will make you rethink your views on older people in a positive way. His characters are mature in age but not necessarily in their behavior. They may not be in the first flush of youth but that doesn’t stop some of them from acting like hormonal teenagers. Peter was born in Romford, in the county of Essex, near London, England. For nearly twenty years he has lived with his wife of almost forty years in a quiet suburb of Swindon,…