I'm Moving. And I'm Nervous.

I'm getting ready to attempt a scary thing. It involves an arena that intimidates me and, frankly, confuses me. It's a change I have to make, but I'm dragging my feet.

I have to move to a new blog server and get a domain name email address.

See? I hardly even understand what I just wrote. I'm about as technically savvy as a worm. And when it comes to technology, I move about as slow.

I've loved being on blogger, it's a great site for beginner bloggers, which I was in 2010.  Six years later, I have things I want to do I can't do here. This means several not-so-fun transitions will occur:

1.  Formatting a new site. UGH. It took me six years to get this site to work as beautifully as it does. It's like my first little house. I know all the glitches, the cozy spots, and when to clean out the dugout. At the new place, I'll have to place and rearrange the furniture all over again. For a non-tech worm like me, it's kind of exhausting.

Source

2.  Moving readers. If you follow Adventures in the Ballpark now, you'll have to re-subscribe at the new site. It's not hard to do that, you just have to remember to do it. If you read a lot of blogs (as I do), it might slip your mind (as it has mine on occasion) and pretty soon, Adventures is off your radar. I hope you'll follow me to the new site, because I don't want to be over there all alone. 

3.  Losing readers. You might come here looking for the old Adventures, and due to some temporary cyberpsace glitch (they do occur now and then), the link to the new one won't work, and you'll just say, Oh, forget it. I pray you don't fall into a black hole during this transition. I'll tell ya - I'm gonna worry about this.  I don't want anyone flailing around in cyberspace, longing for the Ballpark Brownie recipe and not having access to it, or wondering how my parents (93 and 96) are doing.

4. It will probably be a few weeks before all the kinks are worked out. I could be wrong on this, but I have NEVER known any Internet transition to be without hiccups. Sometimes big ones. Being the pessimist I am, I'm expecting the worst. I'm going to be positive about this and pray God directs the entire thing. Then any mess-up will be His problem.

So....because you guys are my buds, I'm sharing my heart about this move, which feels like I'm ripping out bleeding roots off on a new adventure! This is my summer project. I'd rather be getting a root canal. I'll keep you posted here, or on facebook/twitter as to how the move is going.

If you get my newsletter, I'll keep you updated that way too. (If you don't get it, you can sign-up HERE.)

What are your projects this summer? Probably fun stuff like hanging out at the pool, making Popsicles, and catching up on summer reading.

I'm so jealous.

You're Umbrella? Its Over Their. ACK!!

You're, it's, and there...these are three of the most troublesome words in the English language.  It's because they have siblings who sound just like them, even though their meanings are very different.   

Here's my breakdown on these tricksters:

1.  YOUR vs. YOU'RE

Your (possessive - it's yours) umbrella is going to be helpful if you're (you are) out in the rain.  Your must be followed by a noun - your what?  You're must be replaceable with 'you are.'  


2.  IT'S vs. ITS

It's (it is) going to rain today.   The sky is going to open up its clouds (possessive - the clouds belong to the sky.)  If you can replace it's with 'it is', use it's.  If you can't, use its.


3.  THEY'RE, THEIR, and THERE

They're (they are) going to take their (possessive - always followed by a noun) umbrellas over there (a place opposite of here.)  They're must be replaceable with 'they are.'   Their always means belonging to them.  If it's not either one of these, it's there.

Got it?  You can bookmark this page and use it as a cheat sheet.  I'll never tell.  

Regardless, It's the Letter R

R is for REGARDLESS, meaning despite the circumstances, or without regard for.

The shocker?  IRREGARDLESS is the improper usage of REGARDLESS.  I know.  It surprised me too, because so many people say it.  In the past, I've said it myself.

The word is REGARDLESS.  IRREGARDLESS is a double negative, and the "non-standard" use of REGARDLESS.  It's improper all around and makes English teachers and editors cringe. 

Example of the two words used properly:  Irregardless is an incorrect word, regardless of your desire to use it.

Tuck that in the grammar slot of your brain, so you don't upset the grammar goblin.  Never use irregardless again. You'll look so smart.

Tell everyone you heard it here first.  Regardless of whether you did or not. 

Then, I'll look real smart.

  

Editing

This blog site is no longer operational. Currently, this post (Editing - does it ever end?) is only available at my NEW SITE HERE.  Re-pin this post with its new URL, so you don't lose it! 

Single-focused

Hello Blogwarts friends!  I miss checking in with all of you.  I'm working on my book, and every spare minute, well, I'm working on THE BOOK.

It's quite a life of seclusion.  I emerge from the loft to pee and grab a few crackers, or a Russell Stover's raspberry/dark chocolate pumpkin, and then...back to the loft.

I started writing in earnest around Sept. 1.  I want this book done by Jan. 1.  I'm beginning to think that's a bit optimistic, solely because the holidays are coming, and I'll have to actually get dressed.  I'll have to do some laundry and hang a wreath or two.  Maybe roast a turkey.  If people didn't have to eat, or have clean underwear, I'd be a much faster writer.

To have more writing time, I'm watching less TV, which I'm sure is a good thing, but I do wonder who got knocked off Dancing with the Stars last week.  And I didn't know the government was up and running (amok) again until I got home from my beach week.  I do still catch Elementary and Blue Bloods, because Jonny Lee Miller and Tom Selleck are counting on me to stay tuned in.   At least, that's what I tell myself.

I'm taking a marketing class and one question that was posed by the instructor was, what are you willing to sacrifice so you can write?   How important is your writing?  How tenacious are you about finishing/publishing your book?  That's really three questions, but she's the boss, so she can ask what she wants.  Here's what I've discovered I'm giving up:

Eating healthy.
Exercising every day.
Cleaning.
Cooking well.  I'm cooking, but I'm just slapping stuff together.
Reading other blogs.
Trimming my toe nails.
Staying on top of emails.
Reading anything other than THE BOOK.
Returning phone calls.
Getting 7 hours of sleep at night.

I wonder if John Grisham or Ree Drummond started out this way. 

I keep at it because I feel called to attempt to publish THE BOOK.  I don't know where that comes from, except God, so I'm stumbling along.  He's never let me down before.

I won't be doing the NaNonFiWriMo exercise in November and probably not the A-Z Blogging Challenge in April, because I'm going to be writing/publishing/marketing.  All these positive, determined statements are part of what I'm learning to declare in the marketing class.  Only God knows what the future holds, but by setting these goals, I'm giving Him notice of my agenda.  He can take it, or leave it.  And I'm sure He will.

OK.  Time to pee.

What obsession is running your life right now?

Snippets from the Dugout. And Donuts.

I've been in the dugout for a few weeks.  Writing, reading, and more writing.  I'm taking a marketing/publishing class, which is excellent, but time consuming.  I'm realizing how little I know.

 

In the meantime, my dad has been in the hospital for a bad UTI, then rehab.  He's doing very well at the moment and will be home Thursday.  I thought we might have a glitch in that plan when he fell in the restroom of a large medical facility a few days ago.  I suspected there was a problem when he was in the restroom for fifteen minutes.

I finally asked a man going in the restroom to check on Dad.  I heard Dad's voice the minute the man opened the door.  Together, the stranger and I spotted Dad's shoes poking out from under a stall door.  He was OK, just sitting on the floor after slipping in his transfer from toilet to wheel chair.  "I can't reach the door to unlock it," he said, and I had to smile.  He was just waiting for someone to come in and find him.

I went to the information desk for help and within minutes, nurses came.  Somebody slid under the stall door, freed Dad and settled him back in his wheel chair.  He wheeled out looking a little sheepish.  I was reluctant to let him go behind all those closed doors by himself (he's supposed to have assistance with EVERY transfer), but he insisted he could handle it.

We both learned something.  I decided, when he's with me, he's not going in the bathroom alone again; he decided when he's alone in the bathroom in the future, he won't lock the door.   It's clear we're not on the same page. 

Parents.  They have a mind of their own.

The government partially shut down today, and so far, my life feels the same.  I know there are organizations that are not open today and that affects people who work in those places.  I hope the Hatfields and McCoys start working together soon, because it's not fair to all of us who pay their salaries.  Maybe it's just me, but I don't like paying for things that don't work like they're supposed to.

Has anybody seen the new show Hostages?  Oh my word, I can't write or fold clothes or even munch on chocolate chips while I'm watching it.   It's full of suspense and twists and cute Dylan McDermot.  Although, he's a bad guy.  I think.  As we learn about his past, it's getting murkier.  Check it out, Monday nights on CBS.  Be there or be square.

I'm thinking about Christmas already, because I'm writing a book about Christmas.  And giving.  And partridges and hens and pipers and drummers.  It's very noisy in my head.  Is Christmas on your radar yet?

If not, here's a picture to get you in the mood. 

What Christmas carol item is this?   Hmmmm....

There's No Crying in Publishing

I started a writing/marketing course last week called "Author Training 101."  It's not about how to write, but how to finish a writing project; how to write a book proposal; how to write a business plan; how to promote your work; and how to be a bulldog about getting published.

I need to know all these things because I've been dragging my feet on my WIP (work in progress) for three years.  I have no idea how to write a book proposal or a business plan.  I hate self-promotion.  And I've never been a bulldog about anything.

It's the most challenging course I've ever taken (excluding all college math courses.)   It's difficult because it's forcing me out of my comfort zone - which, of course, is always uncomfortable and scary.  Comfort zones are aptly named, aren't they?

I'm only in week two of this course, and I'm struggling with the homework.  I have to answer questions like:

Is my current project unique? 
If I were a publisher, would I invest money in my project?
Am I tenacious enough to do whatever it takes to get published?

I don't know.  I don't know.  And I don't know.  I never concretely thought about these things.  I ended up saying, yes, I think so, and what does whatever-it-takes mean?   Go into debt?  Change all the things I love about my project?  I still don't know.

This course is taught by Nina Amir, whom you can check out HERE.    She's direct and talented and I'm impressed with her knowledge.  I'm going to learn so much from this eight-week course.  I'm afraid I might learn I don't have what it takes to get published.

There, I said it.

That's my fear.  That I don't have the tenacity, the will, the never-give-up attitude that is necessary to get published.  Some things in life aren't worth killing yourself over.

Nina also asks her students these things:

How do you handle rejection?  (bums me out)
Are you generally optimistic?  (depends)
Are you objective about your work? (probably not)

I have a long way to go.

Nina then said something that really hit me.  "Getting your book published is not about you.  It's about your reader."  Hmmm.  The heart-and-soul work that is going into my book is probably not going to be recognized by the reader.  The reader is looking for connection to her heart and soul. 

This is a shift in thinking for me.  For readers to spend their hard-earned money on my book, they must be engaged and inspired within a minute of skimming its pages in Barnes and Noble (a girl can dream.)  My love for it doesn't necessarily transfer into sales.

This was hard to hear, although, upon further thought, I know it's true.  I don't buy a book if it doesn't speak to me on some level.  This course is helping me understand the realities of publishing and selling and convincing the world my work is a worthy investment.    

I told you this is a challenging course.

But, I'm sticking with it, and I'm going to ruminate on all the questions and dig deep and see what I'm made of, find the bulldog inside.  Because getting my book published is what I want to do.   With God's grace and direction, I will succeed.

It might be difficult, but things of value always are.  In the movie A League of Their Own Gina Davis tells Tom Hanks she's quitting baseball because it's too hard.

"Of course it's hard," he replies emphatically.  "If it was easy, everybody would do it."  

Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz - part 2

For the A-Z challenge last year, I interviewed Ms. Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz (from Seussville) for the letter Z.  (I call her 3Z.   She calls me 'honey.')

She's like Santa Claus and Mrs. Doubtfire rolled into one.  I wonder if they all know each other.

I caught up with her again this year.  She had just returned from a trip to Venice.

mb: Did you travel alone?
3Z:  Oh no.  My friend Carly came with me.  We take a girls' trip once a year.  Last year we went to Idaho.

mb:  Idaho?  What exciting things did you do there?
3Z:  We enjoyed shopping in Boise.  They have beautiful sand dunes in Idaho. 

mb: How was Venice?
3Z:  Parts were beautiful.  Parts were stinky.

mb:  Did you ride a gondola?
3Z:  Of course.  Yertle was a bit nervous, but I assured her that if the boat tipped over, we'd be OK.  I float, you know.

mb:  I didn't know.  You have many gifts, I see.  Did you enjoy the food in Italy?
3Z:  It was scrumptious.  I love pasta.  Ziti is my favorite.  It starts with z, you know.

mb:  I do.  That's a yummy z word.
3Z:  Zinnia is my favorite z word.  I love flowers.

mb:  How have you been since I spoke to you last year?
3Z:  I had a knee replacement.  And I broke a toe.  But I'm fine now.  Physical therapy is so helpful.

mb:  How did you break your toe?
3Z:  I dropped a can of baked beans on it.   

mb:  Are you a good cook?
3Z:  Not really.   I'd rather bake.  Strawberry/rhubarb pie is my specialty.

mb.  That sounds like an odd combination.
3Z:  That's what people say about green eggs and ham.  But they're very good too. Oh, excuse me.  (Her cell phone rang.  She chatted to the caller a moment and then hung up.)  I'm going to have to say good-bye now.  I have to pick up my nephew from the airport.

mb:  You drive?
3Z:  I love to drive.  Good luck with your little blogging thing.  Maybe I'll talk to you next year.  It's so kind of you to think of me when you consider the letter z. 

mb:  Thanks for talking with me.  You're an odd, though charming, creature.
3Z.  So are you, honey.  Toodle-oo.

There you go.  A zuzzy finish to the A-Z blogging challenge 2013 from my furry, checkerboard friend.  You create all kinds of friendships when you blog from A-Z.

I'd like to thank everyone who popped into my ballpark this month.  I didn't get as far down the linky list as I had hoped because my dad was in and out of the hospital twice.  (More on that later.)  But, I'm saving the list and will pop in to every site.   For those who pulled up a regular bleacher, in terms of "following" the chaos around here...I appreciate that you want to visit again now and then.  I hope you always find it worth your time.

Thanks for the memories.

(For my first interview with 3Z, click here: 3Z INTERVIEW: PART 1)

Zigning off....

QUIPS

Three memorable remarks from my husband.

1.  On this blog, for the "category" of posts about our offspring, he suggested "Ball bearings."
 

2.  When our daughter was about 10, she wanted to know why urine is always yellow.  My husband replied that urine is waste, so the good things our body needs from the food we eat isn't yellow, but other colors.  Like purple.  "So vitamins are purple?" our daughter wondered.  "Yep," he said.

3.  Years ago, when using our first movie camera, my husband mistakenly captured some scenes of the floor, including a row of legs.  Reviewing the film later, our older son pointed out, "Dad, this is nothing but feet."  My husband replied, "That's why they call it footage."  

And that, folks, is one reason I married him.  He can make up stuff faster than anyone I've ever met. 
 

      

P is for (I don't really like) POETRY

As a rule, I'm not a fan of poetry.  I can hear the writing world shriek(!) at that sentence.  I know there are readers right now who are clicking away, thinking "Good grief, how can she possibly call herself a writer, if she doesn't like poetry?!?"  Apparently, this is a huge deficit.

I just don't get poetry.  I even had an English teacher for a mom, and I still don't get it.   I've read different kinds of poetry, studied it in college English courses, and I always think, why don't they just say what they want to say?  Why all the cryptic symbolism, the mostly non-rhyming words, the blocked off stanzas?  I've tried...and I just don't get it.  I don't have the poetry wire in my brain.

Or, so I thought.  Then I discovered Shel Silverstein, author of many childrens' books.  I present to you now...my favorite poem.  

                             There's too many kids in this tub. 
                         There's too many elbows to scrub.
                         I just washed a behind that I'm sure wasn't mine.
                        There's too many kids in this tub. 

Now, that's a poem.
 

 

Neurosurgery at Ninety?

Today, I had planned to write about my father turning NINETY in three weeks.

However, on Friday, it was discovered he had two small brain bleeds (subdural hematomas) that would need a bit of brain surgery to correct.

Holey moley.

Brain surgery?  At ninety?

We had twenty-four hours to think about it.  In the meantime, they would send Dad to ICU, stop his coumadin, give him plasma and Vitamin K, monitor his vitals, and have wonderful, attractive nurses check on him every few minutes.  Aside from all the medical stuff, he was pretty happy.  

The next morning, we met the neurosurgeon.  He explained the procedure of drilling burr holes into Dad's skull and flushing out blood clots and excess protein and sheaths and fluid and whatever else didn't belong there.  He talked about this operation casually, as if he was explaining how to carve a pumpkin.

I  kept envisioning my husband's Black & Decker coming off a dusty garage shelf and whirring away.  Drills and human skulls just don't go together. 

Surgery was Sunday at 10 a.m.  We arrived at the hospital early to send Dad off with hugs and prayers.  Once they wheeled him away, we felt anxious and aimless and restless, and decided to head to the cafeteria to kill time by eating - what most Americans do when we don't know what else to do.

Some of us had eggs and grits.   Some of us had other things.

You just can't think straight when a loved one is having brain surgery.  You need comfort food.

Three hours later, the surgeon appeared to report that Dad was fine.  The doc was able to remove the goop that was causing trouble.  The doc remarked that Dad's skull was thick, and he had to drill the full length of the drill bit (for lack of a better word) in order to get to the problem.  We all chuckled, because Dad has always been thick-headed about what he was going to do and not going to do.  We now had proof.

Yesterday, Dad was moved to a regular hospital room where the nurses don't check on you every few minutes, and you get a roommate who snores.  This means you're getting better.

Hopefully, in a few days, Dad will move to rehab.  Amazing.   

My original post was about some things Dad had experienced in his ninety years.  I just added another one...

1.  Fourteen Presidential elections

2.  A manned moon landing

3.  Discovery of the polio vaccine

4.  Invention of the Jet Airliner, MRI, the microwave, video games, and cell phones.  

5..  DNA fingerprinting

6.  The creation, and loss, of two space shuttles and their crews.

7.  BRAIN SURGERY

LIMERICK

Halfway through the April A-Z challenge.  Time for a limerick. 

The A-to-Z is a work out

Letters are what it's about

I think and opine,

and then drink some wine

The finish is sometimes in doubt

"I'll finish!" I cry every day

It's midnight when I hit the hay

The writing, the reading

A frenzy it's feeding

I so look forward to May.

IPAD

I have to tell ya', we're slow to acquire the latest technology.  We were the last ones on the block to get a home computer, a VCR, a DVD, cell phones, a laptop, and now an iPad.  My brain is too full with the last thing to incorporate a new thing.

Recently, a dear nephew gifted his grandfather (my dad) with an iPad.  Dad, who's coming up on 90 soon, loves the new gadgets, but needs help using them.  Having facetime with the grand kids and great-grand kids is his latest treat.

The craziest and most hilarious iPad feature, however, is Photo Booth, a program that is reminiscent of a fun house mirror.  You can distort and twist an image into goofy dimensions, and then laugh your head off.

Some examples...

DAD

MOM

DAUGHTER

Can't you just see the family resemblance?

FLUCTISONOUS (Huh?)

F...F...F...what begins with F?

For the A-Z challenge, the letter F had me flummoxed.  So, I cheated.

I pulled out the dictionary.

I found a word I'd never seen before: fluctisonous.  It means "sounding like waves."  As in, "The rhythm of that circular fan is fluctisonous."   

Who talks like that?  Have you ever heard the word fluctisonous?  Neither has the spell checker.

I did find some words I recognized and decided to offer my opinion of them. 

Firstborns - the best.
Fudge - right up there with firstborns.
Fruitcake - not even close to firstborns  (does anybody really like fruitcake?)
Fiddler on the Roof - dear Tevye.  All those daughters.
Fred Flintstone - how he ever got Wilma, I'll never know.
Fish stew - uh...what?  Ewww.
Feather pillows - too pokey for me.
Foreshadowing - love it, if it's subtle.
Fundraising - hate it.  I didn't even like selling Girl Scout cookies.
Football - meh

Fencing - too pokey for me.
Foie gras (a pate made from goose liver, Cognac and truffles.)  This ought to be illegal.
Flip-flops - I live in Florida, where flip-flops are the state shoe.  Fabulous.

ECCLESIASTES

Ecclesiastes is a book of the bible I read years ago when I was trying to sort out some things in my life.  The author (yet unknown) was trying to do the same.  It is the tale of man's search for the meaning of life.

The writer observes that man's endeavors, no matter how successful, do not exempt him from suffering.  Or death.  Nothing born of a man's hand is eternal.  Life is fleeting and does not guarantee happiness.   All is in vain.

On the face of it, Ecclesiastes is a tale of discouragement.  What's the point of living?  The author supposes often throughout the chapter we might as well just eat, drink, and be merry.

Oddly, I like this tale. For in my view, life is not the point, but the journey.  We are pilgrims working our way through a process of becoming who God created us to be.  That takes time and effort and pruning and failing and starting over, and it's difficult and painful.

But it's not the end result.  It's just life on the planet.  It's just the here and now. 

If we give this obstacle course our best effort, we grow and mature and begin to see the larger picture: God is calling us into relationship with Him.  He loves us desperately, no matter what.  It seems to take a lot of struggle before we get that.  I think it's because we're stubborn and prideful and think life is about us.  We're off track from Day One. 

But, God is patient.  And when our time on the planet is done, we'll have full understanding.  In the meantime, the author of Ecclesiastes suggests we enjoy the temporary blessings we have (like newborns and chocolate) while working toward the life after this one.  He concludes: "Honor God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man."  Everything else will come to an end.

I'm OK with that.  
 

A is for ADVENTURES

The A-Z blogging challenge is here again!  The brain child of Arlee Bird, the A-Z project offers bloggers a great way to connect and and form friendships.  Thank you Arlee, for being the smart, creative cookie that you are. 

The instructions for the challenge are simple: write a post a day throughout the month of April, working your way through the alphabet - Sundays off.

Have a theme, or no theme.  Post a picture, a phrase, or a paragraph.  Or five.  Get stuck on the letters Q and X.  Wrack your brain for brilliance every day, then settle for "oh, whatever."   End up with a numb, pancake butt, because you're at the computer all month writing and reading a thousand other blogs whose authors are doing the same thing.  They don't call it a challenge for nothing.

Last year, I wrote random stuff - all brilliant, but random.  (For those riveting posts, CLICK HERE.) This year, I planned a theme, but after I wrote four posts, I was out of material.  So I'm back to random.  I guess my brain is more haphazard than organized.  (My husband would probably agree.) 

Anyhoo....my A word is adventure because the A-Z challenge is always an adventure for me.  I'm up 'til all hours reading and writing, my family scrounges for food because I'm not thinking about restocking the larder, and anything out of the ordinary is snagged and expanded on for a post.  My family clams up for the month and scurries away if I look like I'm stuck for a topic, lest they become blog fodder.   

Welcome aboard!

A-Z Reflections

A...A...A...what begins with A?!

Oh, wait.  I'm done with that.  I gotta get off this train.  

Actually, there was one more assignment (optional) in the A-Z Challenge.  Bloggers could write a reflection piece about their experience with the A-Z Challenge.  I thought I'd do that, since I'm drawing blanks about what to write otherwise, because I don't have a letter prompt dancing in front of me.

Here's what I learned during the A-Z Challenge.

1.  For all the griping about Blogger (and I've contributed my fair share,) I'm sticking with it.  I found non-Blogger sites to be less accessible and more tricky to navigate.  I was trying to look at 1800 blogs, and if getting in or getting out took too many steps, I moved on.  I'm not saying non-blogger sites aren't beautiful and creative and equally well-done, but writing takes enough time, and my goal for this challenge was to connect with as many great writers as possible.

2.  As I moved from blog to blog, I found that clicking the "about me" tab was the most effective way to learn about the writer, even more than reading that day's post.  The ABC prompts were fun and great for daily discipline, but didn't necessarily give me a look into the writer's heart.  I  wanted to know what inspires the author, outside the alphabet.

3.  I discovered that I was most drawn to blogs that were uncluttered.  I understand that some blogs are designed to promote products or review books, and that's fine.  These blogs need logos and icons and stickers and what-not.  I simply prefer blogs with less "stuff" attached to the sides.  I actually enjoy seeing the various backgrounds and the creative cover pages.  Some are awesome. 

4.  I loved blogs with larger print and short paragraphs. When you love to read and write, it's just kinder on the eyes. 

5.  I loved discovering that there are many writers in my phase of life, with my worldview and idiosyncrasies.

6.  I loved finding that published authors and individuals in publishing have blogs.  I love that they take the time to encourage and educate other writers.  This was a surprise to me.

7.  I learned that for next year's A-Z, I'm writing some posts ahead of time.  I was a crazy person, writing daily for a specific letter.  I have to get new glasses now.

8.  I decided that Q and X should be removed from the alphabet.  We could call X-rays "inside pictures" and queens "the King's wife."  It could work.  

9.  I learned that I have to figure out the "scheduled" posting thing, because staying up until midnight to post a post is for the birds. 

10.  The A-Z Challenge confirmed to me that, after being away from writing for five years, I still love to write.  I have to write.  It's weird, and I don't get it, but it completes me (in a non-cheesy, non-Tom Cruise-kind-of-way.)  Sometimes it's a curse, because it emboldens me to express things I wouldn't (shouldn't?) say.  Sometimes it's a blessing, because it enables me to express things I don't know how to say.  Thanks to the A-Z Challenge, I fell in love with writing all over again.  

A Final Word

Z...Z...Z...what begins with Z?

"I do.  I'm a Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz.  As you can plainly see."

Yes, I'm a bit loony at this point.  Day Z is finally here.

I've stretched my brain and ruined my eyesight and stayed up past Jimmy Kimmel too many nights.  But, man, what a learning experience.  It's been a great ride.  I only hope I can return to writing without a letter prompt staring me in the face. 

For my final post in the A-Z challenge, I spoke with my favorite character from Seussville.  She's wacky, but friendly, and according to my son (who was five at the time) "she looks like a bedspread."

I contacted 3Z (as I like to call her) and asked if she'd answer some questions.  After all, millions of children have been introduced to her over the years, but we don't really know her.

She was happy to oblige.

mb:  So, is that your real hair color?

3z:  It's the color I was given.  Do you like it? 

mb:  It's lovely.  Do you have other clothes?
3z:  This is my fur.  Do you like it?

mb:  It's beautiful.  How do you spend your day?
3z:  I'm the village checkerboard.  Friends and neighbors visit every day for a good game.  Once a year, we have a marathon.

mb:  Do you get paid for the use of your fur?
3z:  Fritos.  I love Fritos.

mb:  Do you know the Grinch?
3z:  The one who stole Christmas? 
mb:  Is there another one?
3z:  There are several.  Some are grinchier than others.

mb:  How old are you? 
3z:  I'll be 50 next year.

mb:  Who's your best friend? 
3z:  Yertle the Turtle.

mb:  Do you any hobbies?
3z:  I love making sock puppets.

mb:  You're very famous, you know.  You should have a talk show.
3z:  Oprah approached me when she got her own network.  I'm just not up to it.  I have a little arthritis in my knees. 

mb:  Who are the little yellow guys in your ABC book picture?
3z:  Those sweet little fellows are my nephews.  They've since grown up and now work in real estate.  

mb:  Do you have any words for the young readers who enjoy seeing you at the end of the ABC book?
3z:  Learn your ABCs.  When you get to school, stay in school.  Keep reading. Don't be afraid to try green eggs and ham. They're really quite delicious.

mb:  Thank you for your time.  You are representing the letter Z today on my blog.
3z:  Well, thank you.  Zebras are usually the first choice for that.  They're very colorful, with their stripes and all.

mb:  I prefer checkerboards.
3z:  (winking)  Me too.

I left 3Z chatting with the Fox in Sox.

And now, a note from this writer: a big and heartfelt thank you to all the A-Z bloggers who spent time with me here in the Ballpark this month.  Of all the blogs in all the towns in all the world, you clicked into mine.  I am very grateful, and hope to stay in touch with you. 

Zigning off the Challenge...   

Y is for Yanni...and yacht...and Yuengling

Yanni the yak has a blog

with Yasmin, her friend (who's a frog)

They write on a yacht

Drink Yuenglings when hot
They yawn and nap when there's fog. 

  

This post was brought to you by the letter Y and the number 25.

The party's almost over....

X Marks the Broken Spot

For Day X of the A-Z challenge, I'm writing about a very expected word: X-ray.  When I was a kid, it was one of only two X words on the spelling list:  X-ray and xylophone.

Today, there are a few more options: Xerox, Xmas (this is actually in the dictionary), xylem (the woody stem of a plant), and The X-files. (I miss you, Mulder.)

I'm sticking with X-ray.  Only because I have such a doozy.

This is the shoulder of my 91 year-old mother.  It has a rod and pins in it that form the shape of a mutant praying mantis.  It's a huge apparatus that was installed to repair a terrible break in her right shoulder last year.

Right after her fall, her shoulder looked like this (warning: icky picture.)

A few weeks after surgery, it looked like this (still icky...)

During rehab, it looked like this...

Mom worked very hard, and after three months, her shoulder looked normal, but does not have the range of motion it once did.  She will never be able to pitch for the Orioles again.

X-rays are X-ceptional tools, and I'm X-tremely grateful for this technology.  Humpty-Dumpty might be around today if an X-ray machine had been available.

Have you ever had an X-ray that enabled doctors to put you back together again?