Book Blurb Friday #2

It's clear as you read my book blurbs that I'm not very good at this and so why I continue to torture and embarrass myself, I'm really not sure. This is the first "meme" (had to find out what that really meant) that I've participated in and so I guess I plan to try and do it each week... for the challenge.

What is Book Blurb Friday for anyone who is seeing this on my blog and has no idea? It's my blogger friend, Lisa (Writing in the Buff) who has challenged us to write a book cover based on the photo she posts (this photo is by her daughter, Christina). The book blurb has to be 150 words or less. I almost doubled my word count from the first Book Blurb. Word count this time: 85

For more details about Book Blurb Friday visit Lisa's blog.

Here we go:



Title: Going Places

Every time Obermoeller feels blue, she goes there… to those woods. Napping under the tree as the sun comforts her. She remembers it like yesterday the first time she stood in those woods at age three. What happened to Obermoeller in those woods fifty years ago? And how does she get to that place now as a paraplegic? Find out in Obermoeller’s true story to learn the gift of traveling out of your body so you can go to places that you’ve never dreamed possible.

Follow Your Dream

Dear Mom,

I’ve often wondered if you ever had a dream of wanting to do something other than being a housewife. I’ve asked your sister once if she knew and she was pretty sure that you wanted to be a housewife and that was it. And that’s not bad mind you, as I love being a housewife myself, but I also have other dreams—being a published writer... of a book. Books. Right now I’m settling for plain writer.

What about when you were little? For instance, I had dreams of being a famous ballerina, a drummer in a band like Ringo of the Beatles, and also a pianist. Although I always loved writing letters even back then, being a writer never entered my head. I’m only guessing I felt it took more intelligence that I didn’t think I had. Not that those other dreams didn’t require intelligence, I was just clueless.

But along the way, I found my dreams being crushed and I finally gave in to listening to Dad to become a secretary. As you know he came from the era where women didn’t need a career because they’d marry and have babies. But if one did have to work, then secretary seemed the likely solution, so secretary it was.

Those skills proved beneficial now as a writer—organization, typing, multi-tasking, patience with men. Oh wait, that’s not required for writing or is it?

I have an idea why I didn’t pursue my dreams—couldn’t see beyond to think out of the box. It was easier for me to blame someone else. But I finally woke up and knew it was my responsibility. I decided I wasn’t going to let the same thing happen with my children.

I'd tell them: You have a dream? I'm behind you but you have to work at it, follow it, feed it, allow it to grow. I can't do it for you. No one can make it happen but you. If you want it bad enough, you’ll figure out a way despite anyone or anything. And, do what you love!

I feel like they all are doing just that.

Mom, if your dream was to be a housewife, then I’m happy it was fulfilled. God knows you excelled at it. But if it wasn’t and deep down somewhere you longed to do something else, then a piece of me is sad for you. And that inspires me all the more to fulfill my own dreams.

Something New - Book Blurb Friday #1

My blogger friend, Lisa Ricard Claro - Writing in the Buff - is holding a weekly writing challenge. In 150 words or less, create a title for a book along with a blurb - Lisa provides the photo.

So here is my lame attempt (and in 44 words):

Title: Be Your Own Private ‘Eye’

Why pay someone big bucks to spy for you? Learn what the professional private investigators know. Obermoeller shares her 25 years of experience that will save you money but gives you the same results. And see if someone might be spying on you!

Homemade Gifts

Dear Mom,

This past Christmas everyone in the family made each other gifts. I created notebooks for everyone. Robyn made her dad a collage of photos she had taken that spelled his name. All the photos were pictures of something in our house. She and Logan painted a candle for me with the word HU on it.

My son Casey made—not sure what you call them—plaques that have our initials inked and painted. He created the lettering, along with the design. All the symbols have a certain meaning, which I'm still waiting to have in writing, as I can't remember.

Rita made Casey a braided rug out of scraps of material. She made me a multitude of scarves—one knitted, one out of handkerchiefs, one sewn with lace, one of scrunchy material. Rita made her sister Jessica a miniature hat. Before Jessica opened it, she gave Rita her gift—miniature hats! It was pretty funny. They both had seen these hats at a craft fair and each decided to make one for the other. Here they are sporting their hats.

There’s nothing like a homemade gift, don’t you think?

Rita started a blog and craft business: Egabrag – we turn your garbage around. Mom, if you were alive, I have no doubt that you'd be crafting with your grandkids!

Oh and here I am in my Hoody Footy...

What is Age Anyway?

Dear Mom,

On February 26th it will be your birthday. You would have been 94, passing on 15 days after your 53rd birthday. On my last birthday I turned 53. Fifteen days after that would make it January 28th—reaching the point of being older than you when you died.

Seems kind of morbid talking about it like that, but I would think that anyone who has lost their mother at a young age feels that way. Will I live as long as my mom? My older sister and brother have been in the clear for a while now. Little sister Ruthie still has some time to go—not much. I guess the next age we shoot for is passing Dad’s age of death. He was 89—four months shy of his 90th. What does it all mean? Who knows. Just random thinking.

If you were alive, I’d give you a foot massage and a pedicure. Chances are I’d be doing that for you anyway. I did it for Dad. He had some thick toenails. One time I struggled so much trying to cut them that the big clippers slipped and I cut too close and made him bleed. I felt so bad. He didn’t trust me after that. “Lynn, not too close!” and I can’t blame him.

If I recall, your toenails were thicker. I’d probably need a hacksaw to trim them. I think my children have already made it clear that they are not going to be giving me a pedicure. Perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut when I finished doing Dad’s toes. Then I might have a chance of getting a pedicure in my old age.

I remember when I was little, I didn’t really think of you as old, but I did think that my best friend’s mom was especially young—and she was! Now that I’m the age that you died, I think how young! But I really suppose it’s all in our attitude and how we feel.

But life is what it is… and whatever you are doing these days, Happy Birthday!

Love, Love, Love - Part 2

Dear Mom,

Valentine’s Day was yesterday—it’s my favorite holiday because it’s about love. What’s not to love about love? I love ‘love’ quotes. I love unconditional love.

My daughter Rita’s half birthday is on Valentine’s Day. She celebrates at every turn. She’s pretty much a bundle of love. As are all my children, each in a different way. I love them all unconditionally. Truly. Don’t get me wrong, they can annoy me. They can bring out the worst in me. They have their flaws (as we all do), but I love them regardless. If they are the future, there is hope. They have heart.

Mom, they’d do you proud but then I’m a bit biased. Yet I’ve had countless people come up to me when they find out I’m their mother and have said, “You have the best daughter(s)/son.” They rattle on about how much they love—and they say LOVE—my daughter/son. I can tell they are sincere. These strangers (to me) do not have to say anything. I’ll sometimes chime in while they’re going on and say, “Yeah, they’re good.” Almost feeling like I don’t know them the way these strangers do because they look at me like, “That’s it? That’s all you have to say about your own children?”

Well Mom, I swore I was never going to be like one mother I knew who never shut up about her sweet little darlings. To the point where you wanted to run. And you prayed you’d never see her again. I decided I was never going to do that. Perhaps I’m doing it now, but this is to you—their grandma—if I can’t brag to my own mother about her grandchildren, then who do I brag to? Okay, so that’s enough… about my lovely darlings.

An upcoming event this weekend that I’m involved in is the Missouri Eckankar Regional Seminar (Feb 18-20 at the Marriott Hotel by the airport). I was in charge of getting together the creative arts portion of the seminar. Whew. We have an awesome group performing and I'm so excited. What I love about this spiritual path is the love. Learning divine love.

What’s not to love about love?

PS You know your husband loves you when he sends you a Pajama Gram and it’s a “Hoody-Footy”. If you come to my house unannounced, you'll probably see me sporting the all in one pink fuzzy bundle of warmth. I look like a giant bunny rabbit. But I'll definitely feel the love.

Love, Love, Love

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you - thank you for reading my blog, for supporting my writing and for all the love.

I wanted to share this short little video that I had received some time ago and I was going to try and find it, but then guess what - I received it again today! Coincidence? I doubt it.

Hope you all will be inspired by the love...

http://www.100-0principle.com/?cm_mmc=CheetahMail-_-Cons-_-02.14.11-_-HUZOMovie&utm_source=CheetahMail&utm_campaign=HUZOmovie

(I hope I plugged this in correctly - if it doesn't pop up, maybe copy and paste the site.)