I've re-done the contest page at crawfordwritingservices.blogspot.com at the urging of several people who said it might look like a rip off, or a scam.
Ok. Point taken.
Check it out and send to everyone you know who writes, who might want to write, or might want a chance to win some cash.
This is it, kids. No more changes. It is what it is.
As for who is judging the contest, I will be judging along with a few other of my "reading panel", people I know who will give me their honest opinion.
If you are interested in being a judge, please let me know at crawfordwriting@yahoo.com and I can possibly use one more person. However, if you are a judge, this eliminates you from competition. Keep that in mind.
I'm looking for good stories, with minimal spelling and punctuation errors, basically something I can publish immediately on the website or in an ebook. Yes, there will be an ebook with the winners and honorable mentions. Possibly a print book in the future.
But I can't have any of those unless I have stories to read! Yes, that means you!
You can't win if you don't enter! So, the ball is in your court!
I've also posted a separate post with buttons for the Thank You Card Drive for Operation Minnesota Nice.
Now, I have work to do, so have a great day and enter today or donate $5 for a good cause.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Contest Changes Effective Immediately
If you go to my business blog, you will see I've made some drastic changes to my writing contest.
Go to crawfordwritingservices.blogspot.com for all the details.
If you don't want to click on the link, I will just give you the short version here.
I've decided to open up the age group to include anyone sixteen (16) years of age and older, meaning if you are all the way to 99 years old (or older), you can enter the contest if you submit a great manuscript with the
$10 non-refundable entry fee for each manuscript submitted.
Deadline is July 1, 2009, with winners announced on August 1, 2009.
This was requested by several writers who let me know that they would love to enter the contest, but couldn't because of my age limitation.
Ok. I'm flexible, so I opened it up and extended the deadline and I hope you all flood my Inbox and my P.O. Box with entries that will knock me out of my chair.
BRING IT ON!!
And since today is Armed Forces Day, in honor of our Troops, I am offering a Thank You Card, handwritten, for $5 each with every penny going to Operation Minnesota Nice, my favorite charity.
On July 1, 2009, I will present each card, signed with your name, along with all the money raised to this wonderful organization in time for the Independence Day celebrations.
Operation Minnesota Nice adopts soldiers of all branches of the service and sends them mail, packages and gifts that their families are not able to provide due to financial or other reasons. It's a small way to say thanks for them serving our country and with the postage hike that took effect on May 11, 2009, they need all the help they can get.
If you want to just donate, you can do any amount you like. Even if it's just $1.00, it will add up and make a difference.
Please pray for our troops and their families, and thank a service member no matter what branch they serve for keeping us free.
Go to crawfordwritingservices.blogspot.com for all the details.
If you don't want to click on the link, I will just give you the short version here.
I've decided to open up the age group to include anyone sixteen (16) years of age and older, meaning if you are all the way to 99 years old (or older), you can enter the contest if you submit a great manuscript with the
$10 non-refundable entry fee for each manuscript submitted.
Deadline is July 1, 2009, with winners announced on August 1, 2009.
This was requested by several writers who let me know that they would love to enter the contest, but couldn't because of my age limitation.
Ok. I'm flexible, so I opened it up and extended the deadline and I hope you all flood my Inbox and my P.O. Box with entries that will knock me out of my chair.
BRING IT ON!!
And since today is Armed Forces Day, in honor of our Troops, I am offering a Thank You Card, handwritten, for $5 each with every penny going to Operation Minnesota Nice, my favorite charity.
On July 1, 2009, I will present each card, signed with your name, along with all the money raised to this wonderful organization in time for the Independence Day celebrations.
Operation Minnesota Nice adopts soldiers of all branches of the service and sends them mail, packages and gifts that their families are not able to provide due to financial or other reasons. It's a small way to say thanks for them serving our country and with the postage hike that took effect on May 11, 2009, they need all the help they can get.
If you want to just donate, you can do any amount you like. Even if it's just $1.00, it will add up and make a difference.
Please pray for our troops and their families, and thank a service member no matter what branch they serve for keeping us free.
Friday, May 15, 2009
It's Great News, and Boy, Did I Need It!!
The last couple of weeks have been challenging to say the least. At every turn an appliance was dying or dead and it seemed like it was not going to end.
It's also been an expensive week.
First, the vacuum cleaner would not turn on at all. Nothing. Tried almost every outlet in the house thinking I had a blown breaker or something, but nothing. Ok.
Next, I'm baking my famous cherry chocolate bars when QH asked me, "Why is the light in the oven flickering like that?"
"Um, the light isn't on." I opened the oven door to witness sparks like the 4th of July spewing out of my oven element. We literally watched it spark and fizzle itself out.
The bars were finished on the grill and had that slightly smoky taste, but they disappeared just the same. Ok.
Then, the washing machine was in mid-cycle, when it started making a noise equivalent to someone dropping ball bearings on my tin roof. The repairman came out and diagnosed that my 9-year old washer blew the transmission and snapped off the motor coupling at the same time.
Cost for service call: $80.
Cost to fix the washing machine: $380.
Cost for a refurbished washing machine: $135.
Because QH went all the way to St. Paul to buy it, pack it in the truck and bring it home: priceless *
*(oh, wait, the equivalent to a 2009 Harley Davidson Ultra Glide)
Then our bathtub drain plugged up.
No, it wasn't because I shaved my legs, either!
We think a little plastic cap from the faucet washed down the drain and was plugging it up. The plumbers showed up and fixed it in less than 2 minutes. The bill went to my landlord. I don't even want to know.
So, I guess I shouldn't complain, because everything was fixable. The vacuum was dead because of a blown fuse, which my friend Jessi fixed for me (thanks so much).
The oven was replaced by one my landlord had in his garage (it was an electric oven and he replaced his with natural gas). I spent Saturday in the garage inhaling oven cleaner fumes, but after one and a half cans of oven cleaner, some hot water, and some hard scrubbing, it looks brand new. Mike revealed that he'd used the oven for 2 years, never cleaned it and then just put it in the garage. My shoulders are still sore!
Now we need a microwave, a small one, because the old oven had the microwave attached to it. (It was Kenmore that was about 30 years old). Hopefully, we have a friend who has a small one we can use. In the meantime the stove top is reheating everything.
Oh, and in my rush to get the oven clean, I threw the knobs in the bucket to let them soak. I then proceeded to take the bucket, dump the contents into the toilet and flushed said knobs down the toilet.
We made a trip to Menards and spent around $70 on knobs, drip pans for the burners and a new burner (one was broken).
I'm close to putting a donation button on this blog to help defray some of the costs of the last two weeks! Seriously!
I was starting to get down about all this. When it's one thing after another after another, it gets to you. I wanted to just make it stop. Enough already.
But I got a jolt of perspective yesterday when I read my email.
My dear friend and fellow writer, Sandy Lender, emailed to let us know that her scans came out all clear and she is now cancer free. I immediately burst into tears, and thanked God and all the saints and every good thing in the Universe that she is now 100 % healthy. I felt the same way the first time my mother was given the all clear following her masectomy and she has been cancer free for over 9 years.
Sandy has been through every circle of hell there is and still has that same sweet smile, still takes care of all God's creatures great and small, and thinks more of others than she does of herself. Through all of this mess, her heart has grown more and she is an inspiration to me and all who know her.
She's also a talented writer and her books are proof of that, just go to amazon.com and buy them and read them for yourself. I just have to warn you, make sure you have nothing else planned because once you start, you can't put it down!
You can read more about her at her website Today the Dragon Wins and her books.
Now, I'm going to stop whining, get the house cleaned and make dinner for my QH, and be grateful for all the good things I have in my life. Including my friend Sandy Lender and the fact I know have Fridays off.
If you really want to help, I do have a writing contest for young adult writers going on until June 1, 2009. Just go to my business blog at crawfordwritingservices.blogspot.com and check out the details. You can even enter via email and pay the $10 entry fee through PayPal.
It's also been an expensive week.
First, the vacuum cleaner would not turn on at all. Nothing. Tried almost every outlet in the house thinking I had a blown breaker or something, but nothing. Ok.
Next, I'm baking my famous cherry chocolate bars when QH asked me, "Why is the light in the oven flickering like that?"
"Um, the light isn't on." I opened the oven door to witness sparks like the 4th of July spewing out of my oven element. We literally watched it spark and fizzle itself out.
The bars were finished on the grill and had that slightly smoky taste, but they disappeared just the same. Ok.
Then, the washing machine was in mid-cycle, when it started making a noise equivalent to someone dropping ball bearings on my tin roof. The repairman came out and diagnosed that my 9-year old washer blew the transmission and snapped off the motor coupling at the same time.
Cost for service call: $80.
Cost to fix the washing machine: $380.
Cost for a refurbished washing machine: $135.
Because QH went all the way to St. Paul to buy it, pack it in the truck and bring it home: priceless *
*(oh, wait, the equivalent to a 2009 Harley Davidson Ultra Glide)
Then our bathtub drain plugged up.
No, it wasn't because I shaved my legs, either!
We think a little plastic cap from the faucet washed down the drain and was plugging it up. The plumbers showed up and fixed it in less than 2 minutes. The bill went to my landlord. I don't even want to know.
So, I guess I shouldn't complain, because everything was fixable. The vacuum was dead because of a blown fuse, which my friend Jessi fixed for me (thanks so much).
The oven was replaced by one my landlord had in his garage (it was an electric oven and he replaced his with natural gas). I spent Saturday in the garage inhaling oven cleaner fumes, but after one and a half cans of oven cleaner, some hot water, and some hard scrubbing, it looks brand new. Mike revealed that he'd used the oven for 2 years, never cleaned it and then just put it in the garage. My shoulders are still sore!
Now we need a microwave, a small one, because the old oven had the microwave attached to it. (It was Kenmore that was about 30 years old). Hopefully, we have a friend who has a small one we can use. In the meantime the stove top is reheating everything.
Oh, and in my rush to get the oven clean, I threw the knobs in the bucket to let them soak. I then proceeded to take the bucket, dump the contents into the toilet and flushed said knobs down the toilet.
We made a trip to Menards and spent around $70 on knobs, drip pans for the burners and a new burner (one was broken).
I'm close to putting a donation button on this blog to help defray some of the costs of the last two weeks! Seriously!
I was starting to get down about all this. When it's one thing after another after another, it gets to you. I wanted to just make it stop. Enough already.
But I got a jolt of perspective yesterday when I read my email.
My dear friend and fellow writer, Sandy Lender, emailed to let us know that her scans came out all clear and she is now cancer free. I immediately burst into tears, and thanked God and all the saints and every good thing in the Universe that she is now 100 % healthy. I felt the same way the first time my mother was given the all clear following her masectomy and she has been cancer free for over 9 years.
Sandy has been through every circle of hell there is and still has that same sweet smile, still takes care of all God's creatures great and small, and thinks more of others than she does of herself. Through all of this mess, her heart has grown more and she is an inspiration to me and all who know her.
She's also a talented writer and her books are proof of that, just go to amazon.com and buy them and read them for yourself. I just have to warn you, make sure you have nothing else planned because once you start, you can't put it down!
You can read more about her at her website Today the Dragon Wins and her books.
Now, I'm going to stop whining, get the house cleaned and make dinner for my QH, and be grateful for all the good things I have in my life. Including my friend Sandy Lender and the fact I know have Fridays off.
If you really want to help, I do have a writing contest for young adult writers going on until June 1, 2009. Just go to my business blog at crawfordwritingservices.blogspot.com and check out the details. You can even enter via email and pay the $10 entry fee through PayPal.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Happy Birthday, Alex! (And Happy Cinco de Mayo, too!)
Twenty years ago today, I held a small little baby boy in my arms for the first time. It was 3:20 am at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and I was 19 years old and scared out of my wits.
The one thing that kept me from losing my mind was the faith that everything would work out, that somehow, someway, I would be able to raise a healthy child and raise him to be a successful and productive adult.
Everything did work out, and he is a wonderful person, pursuing his life on his terms.
Of course, I can't take all the credit. I did all I could to surround him with people who loved him, cared about him, and wanted the best for him. My parents, my brother and sister and their spouses and children, and of course, QH, who has been a wonderful father when his biological father made the decision not to participate in his life.
I may not agree with Hillary Clinton's politics or policies, but I do agree with her on one point: It takes a village to raise a child, especially now.
This birthday is a little strange and a little heartwrenching. This is the first birthday my son has had to celebrate without me. I know it may not be a huge deal to some people, but it is to me.
I can't send him a cake, or hug him or throw him a party. He's on an aircraft carrier in Virginia, serving his country in the United States Navy. Mail takes about 2 weeks to get to him, no matter what, and with the security measures in place what is sent is put through a ton of inspections. I don't think a cake would survive unless it was a pound cake! If anyone has any tips, I would like to know how to send stuff to those in the service that would hold up and survive security inspections! Please leave a comment here or email me at alsmom27@yahoo.com.
And then Mother's Day is this weekend too, so I'm trying to keep busy through the next few days, and shedding a few tears here and there, but I'll be fine. I have to be, I'm Alex's Mom, after all. And this situation is just temporary.
And to all of you, may you have a Happy Cinco de Mayo also! When Alex was born, I had no idea he was born on a holiday, and I think it's kind of cool.
And who knows, we may be able to spend his birthday together next year, maybe in Florida, on vacation as a family again.
I have faith everything will work out.
The one thing that kept me from losing my mind was the faith that everything would work out, that somehow, someway, I would be able to raise a healthy child and raise him to be a successful and productive adult.
Everything did work out, and he is a wonderful person, pursuing his life on his terms.
Of course, I can't take all the credit. I did all I could to surround him with people who loved him, cared about him, and wanted the best for him. My parents, my brother and sister and their spouses and children, and of course, QH, who has been a wonderful father when his biological father made the decision not to participate in his life.
I may not agree with Hillary Clinton's politics or policies, but I do agree with her on one point: It takes a village to raise a child, especially now.
This birthday is a little strange and a little heartwrenching. This is the first birthday my son has had to celebrate without me. I know it may not be a huge deal to some people, but it is to me.
I can't send him a cake, or hug him or throw him a party. He's on an aircraft carrier in Virginia, serving his country in the United States Navy. Mail takes about 2 weeks to get to him, no matter what, and with the security measures in place what is sent is put through a ton of inspections. I don't think a cake would survive unless it was a pound cake! If anyone has any tips, I would like to know how to send stuff to those in the service that would hold up and survive security inspections! Please leave a comment here or email me at alsmom27@yahoo.com.
And then Mother's Day is this weekend too, so I'm trying to keep busy through the next few days, and shedding a few tears here and there, but I'll be fine. I have to be, I'm Alex's Mom, after all. And this situation is just temporary.
And to all of you, may you have a Happy Cinco de Mayo also! When Alex was born, I had no idea he was born on a holiday, and I think it's kind of cool.
And who knows, we may be able to spend his birthday together next year, maybe in Florida, on vacation as a family again.
I have faith everything will work out.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
From Florida to Freezing
Yes, we are home.
We made it home on Monday.
When we stepped on to the plane in Ft. Myers, Florida, it was in the mid-80's for a temperature with mostly sunny skies. Three hours later, we stepped off the plane in Minneapolis and it was cloudy, windy and 46 degrees.
I'm still trying to warm up.
QH, in true Eskimo fashion, walked off the plane in his shorts and said, "I'm home!"
I've been trying to get my bearings since we got home, and trying to keep my spirits up because I'm feeling the drop in Vitamin D I was getting daily in the Sunshine State. In a way I am glad to be home, but it's hard to get back in the groove when you think of how long it took you to get on vacation and how fast it went by.
Today, I received a little insight into how to take things now that I'm home. It was a small gift from my fellow writing friend, the fabulous Sandy Lender, in her blog post today on her blog Today the Dragon Wins. Go to her site and check it out: www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com. She's had plenty in her life the last few years that has given her the wisdom and insight on how to take things when life piles on the issues and the problems and the obstacles.
Check the comments and leave one for her if you like. (Also, if you haven't read "Choices Meant for Gods" (go to her publisher's site for a great deal) or her chapbook, "The Choices We Made", and both are available at Amazon.com).
I come away with the knowledge that sometimes you just have to take things "one day at a time" as most of my family and friends who have gone through the 12 step programs recite to keep them from falling off track. I forget I'm not Wonder Woman with super powers and that in order to get more done, I need to finish one thing before I move on to the next. I have to check off the things accomplished on my never ending "To Do List" and try not to overwhelm myself. And try to keep the list manageable.
I had 13 days of wondering what we were going to do that day, with no plan or agenda, and it was wonderful.
True, we need to work and make a living, and be responsible and all that, but I'm not going to let my "To Do List" run my life to the point of hyperventilating if I don't get something done. And once it warms up here in the "land of ice and snow", I'm going to do more to have more fun and enjoy the weather and my friends and family.
In the meantime, I'm looking for my socks. My feet are cold.
We made it home on Monday.
When we stepped on to the plane in Ft. Myers, Florida, it was in the mid-80's for a temperature with mostly sunny skies. Three hours later, we stepped off the plane in Minneapolis and it was cloudy, windy and 46 degrees.
I'm still trying to warm up.
QH, in true Eskimo fashion, walked off the plane in his shorts and said, "I'm home!"
I've been trying to get my bearings since we got home, and trying to keep my spirits up because I'm feeling the drop in Vitamin D I was getting daily in the Sunshine State. In a way I am glad to be home, but it's hard to get back in the groove when you think of how long it took you to get on vacation and how fast it went by.
Today, I received a little insight into how to take things now that I'm home. It was a small gift from my fellow writing friend, the fabulous Sandy Lender, in her blog post today on her blog Today the Dragon Wins. Go to her site and check it out: www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com. She's had plenty in her life the last few years that has given her the wisdom and insight on how to take things when life piles on the issues and the problems and the obstacles.
Check the comments and leave one for her if you like. (Also, if you haven't read "Choices Meant for Gods" (go to her publisher's site for a great deal) or her chapbook, "The Choices We Made", and both are available at Amazon.com).
I come away with the knowledge that sometimes you just have to take things "one day at a time" as most of my family and friends who have gone through the 12 step programs recite to keep them from falling off track. I forget I'm not Wonder Woman with super powers and that in order to get more done, I need to finish one thing before I move on to the next. I have to check off the things accomplished on my never ending "To Do List" and try not to overwhelm myself. And try to keep the list manageable.
I had 13 days of wondering what we were going to do that day, with no plan or agenda, and it was wonderful.
True, we need to work and make a living, and be responsible and all that, but I'm not going to let my "To Do List" run my life to the point of hyperventilating if I don't get something done. And once it warms up here in the "land of ice and snow", I'm going to do more to have more fun and enjoy the weather and my friends and family.
In the meantime, I'm looking for my socks. My feet are cold.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
I Started A Writing Contest
Greetings from Florida!
I'm killing some time out here on the lanai, I'm not sure if I spelled that correctly, using a spare laptop that my friend Gayle has loaned me for the duration of our trip. We've been discussing all sorts of things, and marketing, and catching up on everything.
I got a wild notion to start a writing contest and posted the information on my blog crawfordwritingservices.blogspot.com. It's open to ages 16 to 19 and the entry fee is only $10. The Grand Prize is $500 cash! If you or anyone you know is interested, please click on over and check it out. I will also be posting the information here in another post.
In the meantime, I'm gettting the start of a good tan, the weather has been phenomenal, and we both are resting and relaxing and having a good time. I'll write more later, I'm meeting my good friend and fellow writer, Sandy Lender for lunch. I haven't seen her in a couple of years, so it will be good to give her a good Minnesota hug!
Hope you all have a good day!
I'm killing some time out here on the lanai, I'm not sure if I spelled that correctly, using a spare laptop that my friend Gayle has loaned me for the duration of our trip. We've been discussing all sorts of things, and marketing, and catching up on everything.
I got a wild notion to start a writing contest and posted the information on my blog crawfordwritingservices.blogspot.com. It's open to ages 16 to 19 and the entry fee is only $10. The Grand Prize is $500 cash! If you or anyone you know is interested, please click on over and check it out. I will also be posting the information here in another post.
In the meantime, I'm gettting the start of a good tan, the weather has been phenomenal, and we both are resting and relaxing and having a good time. I'll write more later, I'm meeting my good friend and fellow writer, Sandy Lender for lunch. I haven't seen her in a couple of years, so it will be good to give her a good Minnesota hug!
Hope you all have a good day!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Florida 2009: Tick, Tock
Yes, we are leaving in a few hours for sunny southwest Florida. I kept looking at the clock at work tonight which is a frustrating activity on the night before you go on a long vacation. I don't recommend it.
But it was more than the clock that was frustrating me. All day I was driving myself crazy trying to get everything done, as usual, and accomplishing zilch. Poor QH was home cleaning, doing laundry and packing and I felt like such a shit for leaving him home alone to do all that. I hate it when I do that. I want to rest and relax and be in a good mood when I go on vacation, not pissed off and frustrated. GRRRR.
I know, I should be more organized, and not try to leave everything to the last minute, but some things you have to. It's just that time moves way too fast when you are busy doing other stuff, and when you're not, you swear that damn thing is going backwards!
I have a few projects in the works, that will bring in some extra money and kick start my writing business (yes, I still have a writing business!). I need to take a breath, because since the first of the year, it's been one thing after another after another. Some good, some bad, and some fabulous. Ha! You thought I was going to say something else, didn't you?
It's been interesting, to say the least, but I need a little time watching the Gulf of Mexico, and the sun setting by the Naples Pier, and to hold QH's hand as we walk along the beach. We both need this so terribly bad, and I'm glad we decided that we would still go in spite of everything else going on. If you are under a lot of stress, working your ass off trying to make it paycheck to paycheck, or just having a hard time finding the fun in life anymore, then you need to take a break.
Everyone needs to run away from home once in a while. If you can't afford to go right now, then start a vacation fund. When you get enough, then plan on where you want to go. Get brochures, look on the Internet, and most of all DECIDE TO GO, NO MATTER WHAT!
Even if you just go to the lake with the kids, go play in the sand. It washes off, and you'll feel much better.
But it was more than the clock that was frustrating me. All day I was driving myself crazy trying to get everything done, as usual, and accomplishing zilch. Poor QH was home cleaning, doing laundry and packing and I felt like such a shit for leaving him home alone to do all that. I hate it when I do that. I want to rest and relax and be in a good mood when I go on vacation, not pissed off and frustrated. GRRRR.
I know, I should be more organized, and not try to leave everything to the last minute, but some things you have to. It's just that time moves way too fast when you are busy doing other stuff, and when you're not, you swear that damn thing is going backwards!
I have a few projects in the works, that will bring in some extra money and kick start my writing business (yes, I still have a writing business!). I need to take a breath, because since the first of the year, it's been one thing after another after another. Some good, some bad, and some fabulous. Ha! You thought I was going to say something else, didn't you?
It's been interesting, to say the least, but I need a little time watching the Gulf of Mexico, and the sun setting by the Naples Pier, and to hold QH's hand as we walk along the beach. We both need this so terribly bad, and I'm glad we decided that we would still go in spite of everything else going on. If you are under a lot of stress, working your ass off trying to make it paycheck to paycheck, or just having a hard time finding the fun in life anymore, then you need to take a break.
Everyone needs to run away from home once in a while. If you can't afford to go right now, then start a vacation fund. When you get enough, then plan on where you want to go. Get brochures, look on the Internet, and most of all DECIDE TO GO, NO MATTER WHAT!
Even if you just go to the lake with the kids, go play in the sand. It washes off, and you'll feel much better.
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