No need for speed this week, my lovelies. I’m going to try to stretch myself for you (and it really will be a stretch – I’ve suddenly come over absolutely bone tired, and in spite of having eaten a large dinner, I want something to ‘sweeten the mouth’, and may need to resort to sugar and a cuppa to keep myself going) because there have been some wonderful, shining moments this week, and I want to do them justice.
With no further ado, it’s TIME TO GET OUR THANKFUL ON!
A – The BEACH! I know I write this one a LOT, but it’s the place where my soul breathes easiest, and visiting is always an utter delight. Last weekend it was a triple joy, because I had my two favourite children in the world with me, and we spent some stunningly good times collecting seashells, hunting for crabs, playing on the playpark, sheltering from the rain in the car whilst eating our picnic, making fairy stones, and having clifftop ice-creams.
My absolute favourite moment was towards the end, when Niece had caught a faceful of damp sand and needed it gently wiped away from her teary eyes. Having decided she didn’t want to go back near the waves with her reckless brother, she sat next to me, then snuggled in, shivering where the damp had gotten onto her t-shirt. I hoiked her onto my lap, and then realising how cold she was, I snuggled her into my (old, enormous) jumper with me, so that both our heads stuck out of the neck, and I wrapped my arms around her and we sat, sharing warmth and schnoogliness, as we talked about how silly Neff was being, and just why boys?!
To be fair, at the time, Neff was busy genuflecting at the sea so that it would run into his boots and he could argue the toss on not having *actually* knelt in the sea. But you’re only a kid once, and his clothes needed changing anyway, so I let him have fifteen minutes of filling his wellie-boots with the ocean before pretend-yelling at him, then getting him changed as we giggled about the HUGE amount of water I’d poured onto the car-park, and the schlurping sound his feet made as they came out of the warm, salty boot-puddles.
D – We became a three-spider household this week. I KNOW! But listen – when I came home from college three years ago with the first spider (on ‘loan’, because it needed rescuing after my friend got busted for having illicit pets in his room on campus, and I figured the spider would be the least effort), Husby was SO EXCITED! His eyes lit up and he got all smiley, because he’d always wanted a tarantula, but his mam had never let him. Since then, she’s been pretty background, has ol SpideyGirl, but Husby decided he liked her but that he’d prefer a more lively kind of spidey. So he got a beauuuutiful Brazillian White-Kneed tarantula to keep himself happy. She’s called Artemis and she’s only half grown at the moment, but she likes walking around, she’s very pretty, and yes – she’s more interesting than the chile rose. She also came with a free baby curly-haired tarantula, who currently has NO NAME (because apparently ‘Princess Bubblegum’ is just not fitting). So there’s been a hunt on for a moniker for the wee spidey. Suggestions on a postcard, please…
B – One of the things I *love* about writing is its ability to transport you from wherever you are into a magical world created by the author. Whether it’s description or pure fantasy, you get to see the scenes through the writer’s mind, and enjoy them in the manner they intended. When Homer does this, it gives me chills, because I can imagine two millennia of readers having precisely the same reactions to it as I just had. That’s irrelevant – what’s pertinent is that I gave it a bit of a go earlier this week, and created a sanctuary for whoever wishes to travel there. I loved writing it, and took more care over crafting it than I do with most posts. I think it paid, off, but mostly I’m thankful for the feedback, which indicated that I’d succeeded in my objective.
F – It’s a bank holiday weekend. It’s also meant to pee with rain on Monday, but no work, so there’s that…if it rains it will just have to be a day spent snuggled up away from it, which is no bad thing.
K – I got tagged for the #IceBucketChallenge and immediately decided that it was NOT going to happen. Aside from anything else, the weather has turned distinctly (and very disappointingly) autumnal this week, with chilly mornings fit to take your breath away, and several instances of freezing-cold fingers. But at a prompt from a very dear friend, I did write about it, because there are other charities I’d prefer to support, and the one I featured – Reece’s Rainbow – is very close to my heart; as are two of the girls they featured, both of whom I wanted to adopt before research into UK adoption law informed me that this would be impossible.
Regardless, the charity is fabulous and I will continue to support their efforts to find forever-families for abandoned children. It was probably the hardest post I’ve written all week, and it left me devastated, in a ball of childlessness and heartbreak on the sofa, crying my eyes out. At 3am. It took me an hour to calm down, and I was so very thankful for the gentle love and support I received from both my friend with the prompt, and others, as I dipped into a small, unexpected crevasse of grief.
Which brings me to:
MP – Compassion, empathy, care, acceptance, support…things we all need, and things I’ve been in very grateful receipt of this week, from one of the two most wonderful communities I’ve ever known in the Blogosphere (the other’s the TToT…promise!) – the SisterWives. We fell together by accident (or, completely, unbeknownst to us, Absolutely On Purpose) and have formed deep friendships, discovering layers upon layers of parallels and resonances between our life experiences. As well as sharing some of the more desolate parts of the emotional landscape, we also all believe in the power of Silver Linings, the comfort of togetherness, and that healing can often come from being able to share openly, and have people raise their hand and say “me too”: together we are stronger.
So we made a place for all this to happen – the SisterWives Blog – a community effort where people can share their struggles, joys and nitty-gritty of the human condition, and find themselves surrounded with care and support. We’ve had some fabulous submissions so far, but we’re always seeking more. This place is Big News, and those who’ve participated so far have found the experience a liberating and rewarding one.
If you have a story to tell or encouragement to offer, and you’d like to share your Silver Linings at SisterWives, pop on over and see what we’re about, and consider submitting your piece to be featured on the site.
YC – I had a sudden, stunning realisation this week – that I’m pretty content where I am, work-wise. A friend’s blog was exploring the idea of being given a never-ending pot of money, and what he’d do with it. I realised that I wouldn’t give up my job, but that I’d send the money to do good elsewhere. My job isn’t high-powered or particularly well paid, but it’s not difficult, it *is* fun, and I have a great team of colleagues. All of which is pretty awesome, considering I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.
J – CROWDSOURCING! I NEED YOUR HELP! My writer-brain tried to unblock (having been stuck and mired and all kinds of bad things which made writing very difficult for a coupla weeks) and had a bit of a…shall we say a ‘splurge’? that sounds fitting – and there was a PRIZE on offer. Because it’s late and I can’t think of anything good, I want YOUR feedback on what you think I should send my winnerS (there turned out to be two – they’re finding our RIGHT NOW! – congratumanylations to Michelle and Crystal). Let me know in the comments which prize you reckon I should send them:
i – Hand-written, For Realz card or letter
ii – A piece of Original Considerer art (that’s the little stick girlie who sometimes pops up here)
iii – A silly something in a glitterbomb
iv – Something online (a poem or limerick or piece of Considering they can do as they wish with)
v – Something completely different (what would you want me to send YOU?)
XO – Kinda glad this is almost over – it’s two hours past the time the linkie was *meant* to go live, and because I went out for a nice cycle ride and then did some actual cooking, I didn’t get to writing this for ages, and then it took a LONG TIME! So I’m late. And there might even be a co-host or so sending emails to find out what the hell happened to their link-up codes…(there might not be, too – I’m not going to my inbox until I HAVE the codes ready to send out (sub-note of which, I’m rather glad I’m in charge, and that by witholding the codes, I should still be able to get into the linkie at the beginning (which makes me possibly a bit of a cheater, but I call leader’s perks on this…)
Q – Niece and Neff will be here for a sleepover Saturday night (forgive me if I don’t get to posts until my lazy Monday) and *crosses fingers* if the weather’s nice, we’re going to take them to the fairground which has been gradually building itself this week, ready for the bank holiday. There will be small, warm hands to clutch in amongst the crowds and noisy pop music. There will be eyes gleaming multicoloured reflections and shouted excitement above the noise of the rides. There will be money wasted on fairground crap and games which are over too soon, and bouncy houses and spinny, whizzy things, and everything will be nestled in dusk and the heavy, delectable scent of candyfloss and toffee apples.
I expect that later, there will be sleepy, grumpy-around-the-edges children who are overtired and sleep badly, stuffed with sugar and wonderful memories. And in the morning, we’ll all get up still mussed and fuzzy from the excitement the night before, and will share our favourite bits over breakfast.
I can’t wait π
Have yourself a gorgeous weekend π

<div align="center"><a href="https://summat2thinkon.wordpress.com/category/ten-things-of-thankful/" title="Ten Things of THankful"><img src="https://summat2thinkon.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/1ed57-tenthingsbanner.jpg?w=700" alt="Ten Things of THankful" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
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I about had heart failure with those spiders – yikes! I have an unholy fear of anything with more legs than a dog so that was not fun…had to scroll past superfast.
Anybody figure out your letter system yet?
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Ah, just saw the comment down below – Scrabble.
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You’re not alone – when I posted those pics on Facebook, there were SO many negative responses …my goodness! I even had people telling me that they were going to mute notifications from me so they wouldn’t see them π
Yeah, Scrabble, though in the end I pretty much had to offer clues π There was one person who I knew would get it…because we play Scrabble together online – it was only when I tagged her as probably knowing that it was cracked π
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Wonderful list – snuggles are the best – feeling love from the children in our lives is the best,it warms my heart – my nieces were the first in our family – we called them our chickens, as babies, toddlers, and as they grew they always loved hanging with me and we always talked – they are going away to college now – it goes by so fast. Have wonderful week
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College! Wow…I can’t even begin to think of it! Niece is starting school in September – it’s all very exciting π
I hope that Niece and Neff both still love hanging out with me and Husby as they get older. I really, really want strong, positive relationships with the pair of them.
And yes – snuggles are BRILLIANT.
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Oh I love your joyous description of the fair! I want to go to there!! With you! And your lucky Niece & Neff π
I love that gorgeous spider, what a beauty! Do you hold her? I’m not sure how tricky it is to hand-train these kinds of spiders. I know some tarantulas have very brittle bones, but no idea what kind those are, or much of anything else. I used to be pretty afraid of spiders, but I think it was just one of those times in my life when I was afraid of everything, because I was overwhelmed by life. When I was a single mom I didn’t want my son to be afraid, or disrespectful of spiders, so I got over it and if one was in our house I either left it alone, or got a cup or a magazine and transferred them outside. Funny how quickly things change.
I love your beach items, too. When I’m at the sea, I breathe much easier. It would seem like it might be humid, when it’s humid here in the Midwest I can barely breathe (like right now) but for some reason, the fresh air coming over the water helps me breathe easier. I get that whole “sea air” thing now that I’ve visited some actual oceans, as opposed to Lake Michigan in the middle of a huge city.
I forgot everything else, and I cannot figure out your numbering system to save my life. At first I thought it was an outline, what w/Roman numerals and all, and then I thought we were supposed to put them in order and now I just don’t know. Days of congestion, cold medicine and not sleeping well has my mind even MORE fuzzy than normal. I am really struggling finishing up my court/trial writing. It’s painful for me π Maybe this week will be better. Here’s hoping, right???
I’m a little jealous of your autumn weather, I have to say. Today it will be 93 degrees Faranheit, with a “feels like” temperature of 108. And REALLY humid. With asthmatic lungs, it will be almost impossible for me to breathe outside, even if I didn’t have a cold. Autumn is the perfect weather for me, and even winter is better for my breathing. Though I cannot think about winter yet. It will be here soon enough, but I will enjoy every delicious, crisp moment of Autumn. The best season of all!
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I would swap – I would love for you to have cooler, rainier and altogether more miserable temperatures which suit your preference, and for me to have your warmth and delightfulness, which suit mine!
I really hope we all have a better week. And I hope that your cold clears up. The court writing is going well, but don’t FORCE it – it will come, and the people who have been hooked by the story so far will come back. No-one will complain that you have been too long about it – we all want to know the ending!
It was Scrabble letter scores, making up the values 1 – 10, as Susan twigged to in the FB group π SO SIMPLE! π
I am lucky to have the beach close by, and to be able to enjoy the sea air whenever I can be bothered to drive there. I’m especially lucky to have such a wonderful place to take Niece and Neff. The fairground was only okay this time. It was a smaller affair, and though fun was had, it wasn’t as good as last time we went, which was kinda sucky. Ah well – you try and do your best, right?
We don’t hold the spider yet – we’re giving her some time to settle in, but we will π
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I don’t like spiders and snakes, and I would never willingly have either in my house. Your stories with Niece and Neff are heartwarming. I am with you on the ice bucket challenge; I have my favorite charities and I give generously to them, and I am just too much of a curmudgeon to participate in this tomfoolery. π I have written out the lettering / numbering system you used so I can look at it and try to figure it out. All in all, you did a fantastic job rounding up your week. I hope this coming week brings you more good things.
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I hope so too. It’s begun with DOWNPOUR, but one in which I am snuggled up on the sofa at home listening to music and writing. So that’s fine.
I *really* want someone to figure out this system – I’m NOT THAT INCREDIBLE – it makes utter, utter sense.
As to giving to charity – yes. I don’t mind making a token donation to ALS, but really I want MY favourites to be the ones I support, and because I want to, not because I’ve been bullied into it. That said, the amount of money and awareness raised by this has been incredible, and you can’t knock that.
I’m glad you like my stories with Niece and Neff. I wish I had more, but at this stage…nada. And I quite understand – spiders and snakes aren’t for everyone π
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Wow I’m not usually one to be called Type A but your lettering system about did me in, Lizzi! All in all though, lovely lovely things π I need a beach to visit…
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Did you figure it out yet? Because you’re the only person with an advantage – I rated you a ‘J’ before now…I wondered whether you’d come over and see this and make any kind of connection… *searches for a lightbulb moment*
Yes, NinYa – you need a beach. Everyone needs a beach! I hope you have one you can find soon π
(and now I gotta learn about what ‘Type A’ is…)
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Im so glad you backed out of that mamby pamby princhessa of a name for the curley girl…It did her no justice Im sure… I am so jealous of your beach exploits… It is by far where I am happiest and I have not gotten there in years… I have had to cancel my last two attempts to spend beach time… poor me π¦ … I need it soooooo bad!
Consider this my post card…. how about names of fierce women activists? I figure if she was princess bubblegum you should stay with a female name… dont wanna totally confuse her! How about…Emmaline after E. Parkhurst or Corazon after Corazon Aquino? Aquino is a cool name too I suppose… both were curly haired (at least thats how the photos look)
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Now those are cool ideas…I’ll run them past Husby and see what he thinks.
I wish I could take you to my beach. Did you read ‘Sanctuary’? That was my best effort for Mandi – you might like it too…
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I havent read it but will… I am sooo longing for the beach… and am pitifully feeling sorry for myself…
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*hugs* I know π¦ I wish I could make it better.
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Im partial to Emmaline as I think she was a Brit, right?
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Didn’t she chain herself to railings or somesuch? I asked Husby. He likes ‘Pi’ (Christine’s suggestion) so I guess we’re going with that. I might transmute it to Princess Pi at some point, just to be ornery π
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I saw that after I wrote the second comment… I would vote for pi as well… but sans princhessa… then she becomes PP
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Point made and taken. Scrub Princess. Countess? Duchess? Lady?
OH WOW! *snorks HARD at the idea of ‘LadyPi’*
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do it! do it! do it!…at least its not lady finger…snork!
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Bwahahahha π
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I love the beach too, and glad got to spend special moments with your niece.
And now I’m trying to think just exactly which beach it is you go toβ¦
We haven’t been to the beach for a while, and now I want to go, and it’s dark outside – maybe I’ll go tomorrow.
Sisterwives seems to be doing very well so congrats to you all on that. I’ve read a few posts, and it’s a worthwhile project, as are the kids you sponsor.
Wishing you a good week.
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Sisterwives is excellent – I can’t begin to say how much that community of people means to me. They are truly wonderful, inspirational, incredible women. I’m so lucky to be part of it. Or blessed. Or something. Fortunate.
GO TO THE BEEEEEEAAAAACH! You won’t regret it. Unless it’s peeing with rain, in which case go another day. It’s not looking good for tomorrow down here…
And where we go is Lepe – little place past Fawley power station, but not as far around as Calshot. You know it?
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Ah, the idea of a rainy day off snuggled up on the couch sounds heavenly, but I can understand the frustration if you had other stuff to do! Hope it has been a wonderful weekend with your niece and nephew!
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Only exercise. I’ve now booked a game of Scrabble with my Mum, so that should be lovely π
Hope you’ve had a good weekend π
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This was such a happy read, just full of pleasantries, good stuff, and good attitude! Your niece and nephew are so blessed to have you playing an important role in their lives, they will never forget these times shared! The beach… ahh yes, for many of us that seems to be the most relaxing, peaceful place in the world. I’m headed for one in just a few weeks, and I can’t wait.. especially living where I do in the dry outback of Texas where there is lots of beach but not a puddle full of water! You are indeed blessed to have a job that you enjoy that suits you well, this is less common than one might think. It’s not about fancy titles or making big money, it’s about liking what you do… sounds like you found the perfect spot! Also, I think the spiders are adorable. I like spiders, even the giant ones we occasionally encounter outside here. I am not at all a fan of slithery things like snakes, but I must admit the family of tiny lizards residing near our back deck are pretty cute as they scoot across the walk way in front of my feet! Have a wonderful week ahead, Lizzi, you are doing awesome these days! π
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I’m better at sounding like it than I am at doing it. As it happens, but I genuinely meant these thankfuls, so I’m not being duplicitous.
Tiny lizards sound AWESOME, and if I’m honest, I like snakes and lizards better than spiders, but I like the spiders just fine π
Beach with no sea doesn’t sound fair. I’m SO happy for you that you get to go to the real seaside soon. I’ve been enjoying watching your anticipation build over these last few weeks, and oh…it’s going to be SO GOOD when you get there.
Yes – remembering my role for Niece and Neff is important. I need to keep thinking about how much that matters π
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Give me your address in fabulous England and I shall send you a glitterbomb!!! x
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FOR REAL?!?! Wow! You’d do that? *grins huge* Can I send one back? π π π
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cuddling with the niece sounded really wonderful.
YOU HAVE SPIDERS! (shrieks and jumps on a chair)
As for blogging community – ain’t it grand – yay! blogging.
π π π
Three smiles for you for a wonderfully written post.
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Thank you for my three smiles. I hope you had more than three smiles this weekend, Serins. OH and I meant to tell you – your name is *so* very close to a word my WonderAunty told me about recently – serein, which is a fine rain falling after sunset from a sky in which no clouds are visible. Isn’t that beautiful? π
The blogging community is AWESOME. There is no simpler way to say it. Well…more to the point, some of the very specific people I know within the awesome blogging community as a whole, are absolutely OUTSTANDINGLY marvellous π
YES! We have spiders. And the baby one might now be called ‘Pi’, which makes me smile.
The cuddle with Niece was awesome.
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My vote would be Considerer art; I love that stick figure!
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YAY! I’m glad you like her π
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You must be having a ball right now with your niece and nephew! I love your stories with them. They seem to bring you such joy. I had no idea you were thinking of adopting. I think it’s such an admirable thing to do. I hope you’re enjoying your weekend with your family. π
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We’ve thought of it and thought of it and been forced to discard the idea. It’s sad.
But yes – a hugely admirable thing to do.
It’s been largely a good weekend, thanks. I hope yours was π
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Trarancellas? Just when I thought you couldn’t get any cooler. That might have to be next own our list. I do love this time of year when the orb weavers are big and they weave such amazing webs everywhere. Feasting and getting ready to lay eggs before the frost. And hugs. I love the beach too.
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ACCKKK . I was supposed to spell check tarantula. too funny.
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I worked it out π I actually thought you were being smart and using Spanish or something…adunno π
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I’m less familiar with the orb family, but I’ve heard about the webs. I’ve seen videos of spiders spinning their webs, and when the process is sped up, it’s utterly, utterly fascinating π
The beach is ALWAYS awesome π
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I hope you’re having a great time during the sleep-over with your niece and nephew! How exciting you have pet spiders. Richard showed the tarantula at the pet store to the girls and hey about freaked π Hope you enjoy your day off Monday!
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We are thanks – they’re asleep now, and I hope they STAY asleep now, but we’ll see. Bless your girls for freaking at the spider! I hope they were at least a little interested, were they?
And thanks – I still dunno about the weather. I want to go to the zoooooooooo *whines*
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If I were to win the prize, I would want a shell from the beach. I’m so far from the ocean, I’d love to have a little bit of it show up in my mailbox.
You’re getting to have so much time with the Niece and Neff this week! Wonderful for all three of you.
The naming of the spiders…I still don’t know why anyone would want a pet like that. Ick. But you asked for name suggestions…Batman and Robiin, Nacho and Cheese, Pi and Cake…My brain is working to hard on this. I have other posts to read! π
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I do rather like the idea of a spider called Pi…cos maths. π
Thank you. I shall suggest that.
YAY for Niece and Neff, and how I wish you could have met them. That would have been so super *sigh*
I shall bear in mind your suggestion π
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Good heavens. Why am I having so much trouble with to and too lately????
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Oh, and yes. I really wish I could have met them. I really, really wanted to, too. π
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BOOM! Nailed it π
Next time? *hopes for a ‘next time’*
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No idea. But it has consistently taken me about four tries to spell words like ‘expectedly’ of late. Or another word. I forget which.
Did you catch that Husby’s gone with Pi for the baby spider? π
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Oh to the beach. I want to go back. It’s crappy and rainy here today which is a huge fun dampener but well, s’okay, I suppose. It could be snow. I love the image I have in my head of you and Niece having your heads stick out of a single neck!
I’m still completely and utterly heartbroken that stupid stupid laws are what’s standing in the way of you having those two adorable amazing kids as your own π¦
Sigh. The world needs to change. Seriously.
I really enjoyed this post! And as to the spiders. Disgusting. Aren’t you worried they’ll bite you? Escape, and lay eggs in your ear while you sleep? Here are some name suggestions, because I’m nothing if not helpful:
Fugly
Disgustnoid (get it?? hehe)
Kruger
Vommy
Bundy
Princess
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Princess I like, but at the moment I think we’re leaning towards curlybum π As for your OTHERS! Pfffft! And no – interestingly I worry HUGELY about flies going in my ears while I sleep, but never spiders. And they won’t bite us. They’re happy friendly spiders as long as we don’t do anything silly like try to kiss them…
YES the world needs to change. Stupid damn laws. They have NO good purpose.
I LOVED me and Niece in the jumper. It was a beautiful moment π Tonight we all went to the fairground and we had mad excited moments and lots of sticky candyfloss hand-holding, which was lovely.
Sorry about your rain. Snow would be worse, but rain is second worst to snow π¦
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The beach – again, yes, me too. Have fun with the Niece and Neff. I wouldn’t want one of your darling pets to surprise me any time soon, however, Charlotte’s Web was one of my favorite movies. I champion spiders because they eat mosquitoes. I hate mosquitoes.
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YES! AND WASPS TOO! They eat WASPS, and wasps are assholes. And I HATE THEM more than I hate mozzies, which I ALSO hate. YAY SPIDERS! π π π
And yay beach. I do *always* love it there.
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I almost sent you the email about the code and at the last minute thought better of it. Now that I know you cheat, next time I’m totally sending it….with snark ;).
I’m still sick in my heart about Gretchen and Violetta. It only makes it worse that it has you so heartbroken. I’m sorry. For all of you. Because there could be no better place for them.
I am looking forward to making fairy stones. I am recruiting Nikki…this kind of thing is right up her alley and she will get so much joy out of it.
As for the prize, I vote letter and art since there should be two. But there must be glitter. Oh, yes! There must be glitter….
I will refrain from commenting on you arachnid friends. You already know how I feel about them.
Questa Γ¨ una lista bella. But what’s with the letters????
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You haven’t figured the letters either? Goodness, y’all are gonna kick yourselves when I say – it’s TRULY quite obvious. To me at least, yaknow?
Sppppppppiders π They’re nice, friendly things. I like ’em π
That’s I think two votes for letters and two for art π YAY! But definitely glitter, and i thought of YOU today, my Darling American, because I was tidying off the bed for Niece to sleep in, and had to move that box with all the wrappings from my gorgeous card, and I got hearts and stars EVERYWHERE again, and then had to somehow scoop all those pompoms into the mailbox, and then put all the glitters into the first envelope and shove it all in so it didn’t get all unpacked by the kids and glitterbombed everywhere again. Made me smile so much to see it all again, and to see all that love and care in those parcel layers… *happysighs* π β€
And yeah. Totally heartbroken about Gretchen and Violetta. Still. And just….BLECH. I'm grouchy about it. I'd love to have them π₯
BUT yes – send email. I cheat. Definitely I cheat π
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I simply follow your blog since, well recently. I found myself smiling s I read this post and since I tend to analyze my reactions I tried to figure out what made me mile. The way you see things reminds me of the simplicity of children, how they see things for what they are and enjoy the moments without the complications of adult thinking. Very nice post π
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Thanks Hector. I think that’s part of the plan – to look at the world simply, for the joy it brings π
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One look at your numbering system and I would have thought I was reading a post by Clark.
I had to skip the paragraph about the spiders, because, well, spiders.
Your weekends at the beach with Niece and Neff sound so delightful! How long does it take you to get there? I’m envious of anyone who can get to a beach in less than 12 hours!
I would so enjoy a cool, rainy weekend right about now! It’s supposed to be 100F today and everything is dry as a bone.
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I LOVE the sound of your hot, dry weekend. That said, it was dry here, but breezy and mostly cooler than I was happy with. There were a few moments of glorious sun-bathing outside the gelato place though.
It takes us about 40 minutes to get to my beach. We’re VERY lucky indeed. It’s gorgeous.
Pffft spiders! They’re FINE!
And you might think that, but even Clark hasn’t figured out my numbering system. It’s SO simple. And it IS numbers…
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Spiders! Ack! No thanks! Those things freak me out!
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Really? Big, tough trooper not keen on Spideys? Fair enough π I won’t bring them over with me – I already promised.
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Phew…
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Oh I also LOVE the beach, but I hate big, hairy spiders. I was challenged just yesterday to do the ice bucket challenge by one of our beautiful TToT sisters, who happens to live in a much warmer climate than I do… I’m not sure yet if I will rise to that or not. If it were ME that won the prize, I think I’d like a piece of original art.
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I ducked out of the ice-bucket thing because it’s COLD here. That said, we were sat at dinner tonight when all of a sudden, Niece squeaked “IT’S RAINING!” and lo and behold, the balcony above ours was POURING water down. Then it happened again, and thinking they might be having problems with their plumbing, I went up to see that they were okay, and yeah – they were doing the ice bucket challenge π
Original art – one vote π I think that or the letter would be what I’d want from someone π
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This is the happiest list! Love it. Beach and friends and I don’t like spiders but even they are happy on this list because they make you happy!
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Aw thanks Tricia π It was an *incredibly* happy list full of beautiful things, this one π
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* so, here’s what you do: decide a parameter (people or places, functions or time) and take a simple photo at what you are looking atβ¦. end of day put ’em together and mail it out! (or better, if it were a Grand Prize print said photos. β¦.and mail ’em out.
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A fascinating idea…scrapbooky, almost.
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ok⦠(what I would want to be sent, were I the Winner) that was also v cool? your day in photos*
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Now that’s a cool idea π Though a little like instagram π
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Pingback: Ten Things of Thankful #62 | The Ten Things of ...
Wow, THREE spiders!!! Goodness, you have guts, my friend!!! Glad you have had a wonderful time at the beach too!
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Spiders don’t bother me π And Husby’s VERY happy with them, so I am happy π
The beach was MARVELLOUS π
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UM… explain the letters at the beginning of each one, please. I’m confooosed.
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No. I wanna see who figures it out π
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Pingback: How to Turn Your Woes Into Your Thankfuls (TToT #3) | Calculated Chaos
Have a great weekend!
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Thanks Romi – you too π
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O ;love your list so so much!! LOVE it!! I can picture you all snuggled up with niece and oh my heart what a precious scene!! The beach… yes. I so wish I lived near one!! And those hairy spiders- sigh. But if husby lights up about them, then I *guess* they can stay…
I love that you love your work. That is just wonderful!!! And I love that you have found such a beautiful source of love and support and friendship with those amazing sister wives. π You all are a powerful brood.
I have my father in town (YAY! Only HIM! On Purpose.) I am up late because I had one of those ‘aha’ moments after I showered earlier today before he got here. And of course I just HAD to write the post and add the pics which I have been working on for almost 4 hours. Sooo….
I’m IN!!!
I will have to catch up on reading after he leaves on Monday… will try to squeeze some in if I get a minute!
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Awwwwh I’m so HAPPY you’re in with us this week, and what a wonderful reason, my lovely. And YAY ONLY YOUR DAD! WHOOT *cartwheels for happiness and sprinkles glitter everywhere* I’m SO HAPPY π π
I hope you have an absolutely GORGEOUS weekend with him, and that everything is beautiful and filled with light and love and BEING.
I still promise not to bring the spiders on my US tour…’kay?
The Sisterwives are properly, properly a special group. They have my heart. The blog is already doing such good for people…
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Oh my gosh,Gretchen and Violetta are absolutely priceless, cute! I’m so sorry about the UK adoption law and what snags it caused you, Lizzi. Despite your elite super powers as Spider Woman I had to scroll…quickly…past anything 8-legged related π *shudder* Yet, what gave me feel-goods was picturing you, Niece and Neff taking Phoenix to that beach to play for an afternoon π
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I tellya what, Neff would LOVE that, and Niece would cling to me in terror and then v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y get to know him and see how gentle and fun he was, and then gradually let herself play with him π But that sounds like amazing fun π
I know spiders aren’t for everyone. I like them and don’t have too many critter fears (though I’m never keen on when spiders actually creep up on you, and I was a bit miffed to find that Husby had lost one of their food cockroaches in the house yesterday).
Gretchen and Violetta are GORGEOUS GORGEOUS and I’m still so incredibly sad about them. So I’m doing the only thing I can do. *sigh*
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By the way . . . Letters are way cool :o)
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Did you get what I did with them?
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I was going to comment on your bullet point/numbering/lettering system, whatever it’s called, I did that on an essay in high school about organizational skills. I got extra credit. Teachers pet thing I think :o)
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Did you? I’m sure it’s something of a meta-game to do this, but we’re running out of ways to denote a list of Ten without actually just resorting to numerals. Gradually all the options are being exhausted, but this one is new.
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I just did/do odd things. Mine was just random and obnoxious . . . kinda like me :o)
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Ahhhhh mine holds meaning. I’m waiting to see who figures it out… (because I’m being a bit obnoxious, I guess π )
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We have a snake. But I think you know that. Those spiders give me the fantods. I admit I didn’t read carefully, but what’s with the letters?
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They give you the what-nows? I have NEVER heard this word before…
Figure it out with the letters, wordsmith :p
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I love how close you and your niece are and was smiling about that here while sitting with my two girls who are watching Lego Friends while I checked in here. I am taking another weekend off though, as we have two weekends left before school starts and want to try to enjoy the last of this sort of summer like (still hasn’t been as warm of a summer here as usual for some reason) before it is over and freezing. But I do promise to be back in action and catch up soon π
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Keep enjoying that warm weather and all the lovely time with your girls π I’m glad they like Lego too – I showed Niece and Neff The Lego Movie while we were on holiday, and then we had to watch it about 8 times π
Happy weekend, my friend xo
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Um. . .First of all, spiders? Um, no. Couldn’t do it! No way!
I will be checking out this Sisterwives you’re speaking of. . . Sounds like an interesting community.
And, sleepovers are AWESOME! I have my nine-year-old son & my eight- & ten-year-old nephews for the weekend. Should be interesting. . . My sister picks up the nephews Sunday evening & I take my son to the airport Monday morning. . . So it should be an interesting weekend, FOR SURE. LOL.
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Your sleepover is going to be a lot more work than mine, by the sound of it! You have 50% extra kid. But then they’re a bit older, so hopefully easier to manage. Have FUN! π I love sleepovers.
The Sisterwives…ah, such an awesome gang and a BRILLIANT project. I love being part of it π
And the big spiders are VERY cute, and also not scary π
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It could be more work, or not. .. They ARE older, so they are a lot more self-sufficient. They are in the backyard in the pool right now, while I browse through a few blogs & gather my thoughts for this week’s TToT post. LOL.
I have started looking through the Sisterwives site. .. I could get lost here. It’ll take me a while to get acquainted, I think. π
I will take your word for it with the spiders. LOL. I do not intend to find out for myself. π
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Fair enough. I know they’re not for everyone π
YES! Immerse yourself. There is SUCH GOODNESS there. And also such difficult, challenging stories…ack! The things people go through…
Enjoy the time while the kids are being self-sufficient. Niece and Neff aren’t really at that stage yet! Hope it happens soonish though!
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Btw, if I get a say…I would ADORE a real, honest to god letter.
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Oh there…you did vote π Duly noted ;D
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OMG…You guys! Come up with really cool prizes. Two of them. But make sure mine is the best..
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Hehehe you get to have a vote too…
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I was all ready to talk about spiders, they terrify me, so it only stands to reason I have a rose-haired named Molly, and then . . . you hit me with a sweet, sweet surprise :o) Gotta tell ya, it kinda made my day. It did. Love those little blessings that sneak up on ya like that.
I am so happy I found your blog, your voice is real and genuine, your words flow in a way that just make me want to read more . . . Now that I am stalking . . . following you, your blog (I’m totally not insane, no worries), I am looking forward to getting to know you through the fantastic words you pen.
The shout-out is prize enough for me new friend :o)
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I kind of love that you have a spider, too! Wow! That’s awesome. Molly’s a nice name for a spider. How long have you had her?
Your comment kind of made my day earlier this week – you structured it so beautifully and so…kind of almost how I would have done in a particularly verbose moment π
I’m so happy you found my blog, and that I found yours back. Stalking is fine, because I’m totally stalking you (and THANK YOU for that hunky treat chez toi earlier! Phwoarrrr! π I pinned him 9on Pintrest….)
Looking forward to getting to know you, too π And if the shout out is all…then alright, and you’re very welcome π
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Yeah…I’m still gonna want a letter.
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I’ll count that as two votes π Wow…I’m kind of blown away you want a letter that much π It shall be yours π
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I’m not all that adept in the real-world friendship thing, never have been, but every once in a rare while I come across someone here in cyber-land and I think, I could totally be friends with this person :o) That’s how I felt when I read your post, it actually reminded me of . . . me a little bit.
Oh, you’re quite welcome for the beautiful fireman. Made me wanna play with matches, but of course, I only shared his loveliness because he was spreading a bit of autism awareness.
We’ve had Molly for about 12 years I think, when my husband was in the Navy one of the guys left her behind when he shipped off for his next duty station so we kind of adopted her. We have a habit of doing that.
My son rescued a snake, adorable littleCalifornia King, from getting a shovel in a neighbors yard. The kids named him Archimedes. Not so little anymore. Three pooches, Lancelot, Guinnivere, and Arabella. We nursed an itty bitty baby skunk back to life, but the law here says no keeping of baby skunks no matter how precious and cute and sweet they are :o)
I’ve practically raised 5 other kids I didn’t give birth to and my son even brought two homeless people home with him once. They were an amazingly precious elderly couple who didn’t leave for three months. Still come around every now and then.
I’m rambling, it happens.
I thank you again for the perfectly awesome compliment of including me in your thankful things :o)
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I love that you rambled. And if you’re ready…this is gonna come across as totally narcissistic…when I read your comment, I immediately thought it sounded like something I’d write, which was part of what made me smile so much. And then when I followed you home to your blog and read SO MUCH which sounds kind of almost like the way I’d put things…and then I saw the bit about the Oxford comma… (did you mouseover your link up there, btw?)…wow π I almost included ‘discovering’ you as a whole Thing in itself!
We’re not allowed any more pets than the spiders and a tank full of fish (now reduced to one, because I am a bad pet-owner!) but the spiders are fun without being too demanding. I would adore a snake, but I don’t think we’re allowed. My sister used to have a gorgeous orange corn snake called Tango, who was very friendly and used to sneak inside your clothes and snuggle around your waist like a belt…
I’ve never met a skunk before. I heard there are some places you can have them as pets if you remove their scent glands, but I’m not quite sure I like that idea.
Good grief I’m going overboard on ellipses…
Archimedes is SUCH a cool name. One of my favourites, for anything.
And I hope we get to be bloggy friends π That would be awesome. I feel warmly towards you already. OH and if you haven’t seen it already, can I point you in the direction of Weird Al’s song ‘Word Crimes’ – I think you might find it entertaining.
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Word Crimes -I blogged it! Ellipses . . . My most favorite and overused bit of punctuation. Maybe we share some DNA :o) If ya tell me you love ampersands it will have to be made official.
If we’d been allowed to keep the little stinker we would have retained his funky fume glands, they only use them when they have to. He never sprayed us, sprayed the crap out of the lady at the re-homing shelter though.
Archimedes is awesome, he loves to slither around in my hair, feels ultimately creepy and cool at the same time. My kiddos come up with great pet names, I wanted to name our Beagle Hemingway but Lancelot won out. I will forever be hopelessly and blissfully outnumbered. His official name is Lancelot Freedom Hemingway Cook. We don’t do things like most people :o)
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My sister once had a gerbil called Cuddles Fluffy Bubbles. I was unimpressed. I had dumb-named gerbils too, though, as a kid.
I love Archimedes for the owl in The Sword In The Stone…is that sad? I don’t much mind because I think it’s an awesome film. I was angling for Archimedes as a middle name for one of our kids (we were going to have four, before it all went pear-shaped and Life Happened). I hope your snake doesn’t poop in your hair! Tango pooped on me once and it was way messier than I expected. Not sure *what* I expected, but not…that!
I had a *moment* with a snake when I was little, and have loved them ever since.
I’m glad you were never sprayed. The woman at the re-homing place was probably a jerk to him.
Ellipses are wonderful, and I love them huge. Alas, I only *like* ampersands. My heart belongs to another – the semi-colon; it’s absolutely my favourite (next to stacked parentheses (which really are probably my favourite more than anything else (you can just have so much FUN with them, yaknow?)))
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My hugs usually come with stacked parenthesis (((hugs))), unless I’m feeling particulary happy, then you’ll get some curly brackets or french braces, whatever they are called, {{{hugs}}}. The poor semicolon, so misunderstood. I don’t much care to use ampersands often, I just rather adore the way they look.
The thought of that snake releasing his slimy, icky, poo in my hair is too much to contemplate. He’s only slimed my darlin husband so far. Smart snake.
My kids watched The Sword In The Stone so often when they were little, I could probably still recite it :o) Archimedes was my favorite, that is who I was thinking of when my son suggested it at the snake naming, he was actually thinking of the mathematician . . . He’s kind of a brainiac.
I’m wishing I had The Sword In The Stone on DVD now, I still have all the old Disney VHS tapes :o)
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Wanna repeal on the ‘just a shout-out’ thing? Sword in the Stone on DVD could totally be a prize. And a dang good one, because that animation is one of my top five, if not my absolute favourite Disney film everrrrr! Archimedes is *brilliant* and I love his snarky, grouchy demeanour and oh just everything about him, right down how kind he is to the Wart… *grinning*
You *sure* you’re not me?
I fell completely in love with nested parentheses after reading a chapter on them in Lewis Thomas’s The Medusa and The Snail (if you ever get the chance, seek it out – it’s INCREDIBLE), but I rather adored punctuation anyway. And the sensible chap lauded the semi-colon, too, which has always been my favourite (though from instance of use, you’d say it was ellipses – I may have once had a username or something in someplace called ‘Queen of Ellipses’)
Your wee snake is VERY smart to have only slimed the husband so far π That’s the mark of a well-trained pet.
I actionify in stars…not sure why, but for me it lifts it out of the text better and reads a little more like a section of live whatever, like this *pings into jazz hands*
I also neologise. A lot. If I don’t know a word, I’ll make one up. You?
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I do love the Sword In The Stone :o) I think I might feel kinda tingly at such a fun and sweet gesture and maybe a wee bit greedy if I said yes . . . I’m accustomed to being the giver.
I’m going to have to seek out The Medusa and The Snail, sounds like my kind of read. I’m currently working on an article all about the ever important, under-utilized, and let’s face it, wildly fun, punctuations at our disposal. Stacked parentheses will be making an appearance now.
Neologizing just happens with me, it’s just so . . . Shakespearean. On the other hand, I’ve been accused of word snobbery and am sometimes at odds with myself over it.
I totally pictured jazz hands, if it weren’t for the actionifying addition of the stars, the words would have been static. I may have to steal.
The glorious and functional ellipsis . . . my favorite next to my over usage of colon, lowercase o and left parenthesis :o)
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Honestly – *all* the best people get accused of being word snobs (oh – the stars work for emphasis too) π I don’t mind. I find it rather a badge of honour, in fact. The Medusa and the Snail is DELIGHTFUL, and if you want another of his books (equally delightful) – Lives of a Cell (beeeeaaaauuuutiful essay in there about music and whales…) – I have a .pdf of it I can send you.
Sword in the Stone it is π What region will you need? I assume you’re ‘Murican, so I’ll probably send it to you from Amazon.com, if that’s suitable, which means I’ll need an address to send it to. I’ll nab your email off the comments bit and stalk you that way π
I don’t bother with noses…dunno why. My favourite (aptly) is the winky-smilie – SEMICOLON FTW π π
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I would love to read Lives of a Cell . . . And yes, America. Land of the . . . Umm, anyway, America :o)
Qwiet_pleez@att.net is my email, saw ya on Pinterest last night, my second favorite internet haunt. Writing and pinning keep me sane. Relatively sane at least . . .
Time for coffee ~ that reminded me ~ I love tildes ~ so cute ~ I don’t use them as accent markers ~ they serve me best as decorative dashes I suppose :o)
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Is *that* what they’re called? I saw them used in the most beautiful way the other day, in a small piece of writing about astrology and all that ~real~ stuff. LOVED that π
Thanks for the email – will email you NOW because I just realised I fell asleep last night without doing it! Bad me!
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Mouseover . . . I gotta get off the iPad :o)
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Aw dang. Come back soon π
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So sweet, I just got on the regular computer so I could use the mouse . . . I needed encouragement this week, your kind words have been an answered prayer :o)
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Well good! I never expected to be that, but I’ll take it π YAY! You came back π
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