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2013-05-21 21:38:41 (12 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Spent the day on a second grade field trip to the zoo. Fun, exhausting and glad I wore my sunscreen. This is the last pic I took. It's my son and a polar bear.

Seeing the world through a kid's eyes may be the most magical part of parenthood.

Hope your Tuesday has a little bit of magic and awe in it!

2013-05-20 18:25:09 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Two whines and a WOOT!:

 Whine One: Although my learning curve was short and I've adjusted, the black- bring me back to the top bar disappears when you scroll down the page (outer scroll) and I miss it even though I know the "new" button does the same thing sorta if you have new posts- can't we pick one? I pick the black bar.

Whine Two: The "shared privately" is still deceiving me because I don't think shared with 4000 other people is all that private. 

WOOT!: My husband was reorganized out of a job 3 months ago and started his new one today. And it's better than the last 2 which go back 12 years. Even if I have to iron his work clothes again.

Non sequitur bonus: Here is a picture of my daughter that I texted to my husband from a grad party over the weekend. I wrote,"Guess what we won in a raffle!" (because he isant... more »

2013-05-16 01:48:44 (21 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Whaaadaaa....? This is...new. Sigh. I don't always do so good with new.

2013-05-15 12:41:50 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

This is what's been going on over here. It happens every single year, but it's always a very crazy month. I'm sure at some point in life it will calm down a bit, but take this Saturday for instance: 6... SIX! grad parties to go to, and we had to decline a birthday party invite because we couldn't make it work in the schedule. 

2013-05-12 00:11:08 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Because if you get the funny shaped french fry, you can play with your food.

2013-05-03 14:43:39 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

Freak late spring cold snap, ice and snow storm is making this poor tulip cry.

#floralfriday  

2013-04-16 16:11:09 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

We've posted a new episode. This subject is easily the most requested, so when we put her on our seasonal Guaranteed Content Poll we were pretty sure she would take it.

She did.

By a lot.

Give a listen to a chat about author, Jane Austen. Available on iTunes, Stitcher or directly from our website.

2013-03-29 00:32:36 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

I live in the middle of the US...Missouri. Typically we are in the upper 60's by now, things are blooming- but today was low 60's and the first time this year I could drive with my window down. It's supposed to get cold again next week, but today? The sun was warm bliss.

2013-03-10 23:02:28 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Oh geez, can we please?

2013-02-16 01:20:19 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Hi all, new here! This is my favorite genre to read and I love to write it, too (not published). Most recently I was an Emily Giffin bender and just switched over to Claire Cook.I do read a lot of non-fiction and some historical fiction- but give me a kooky main character, an intriguing love interest, some compelling friendships and some wacky antics...it's all I need. 

Looking forward to chatting with you all!

2013-02-15 16:32:59 (14 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

I love this place. First thing this morning the stream was a bit slow-surely everyone was watching asteroid videos.

Then the asteroid webcam videos started rolling past because, COOL! BOOM! SHARE!

And now- the jokes.

Yup, love this place. My people.

2013-02-08 22:14:10 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Last Friday was bitterly cold, but I had an invitation to a really special luncheon so I put on my favorite red heels, fluffed up my hair and went out. On the way home I stopped at the grocery store and picked up a couple of bags of chips for a Trivia Night event that my son and I were attending a few hours later. On impulse I also carefully choose two yellow roses.

When I got back in the car, I felt the urge to capture a self-indulgent picture of myself. The dry, cold weather made my hair struggle to hold a curl and caused my eyes to water which smudged my mascara and liner. My lipstick was worn off and I didn't reapply it after the luncheon. I was in a minivan in a grocery store parking lot, but pulled out my phone and aimed it at myself so that I would forever have a picture of the moment that I felt good about how I looked regardless of how it sounds written out: frizzy hair, smeared... more »

2013-01-16 16:38:52 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

If you know anything about me, you should know this: I don't post links to my work via G+ unless I think the point is important. 
 
 I think this one is.

 I've noticed a trend lately. There seems to be a fine line between being funny and being mean. There also seems to be some confusion between being right, and being heard. So many discussions are turning to arguments in an attempt to be right, often in situations where there is no right.

I am trying (accent on "trying" because, as this column shows, I'm a work in progress) to be kinder. 

2012-12-10 15:31:31 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Hi! 

Was that chill enough?
Am I too old to say, 'chill'?
Should I say more?
How much more?
Will I be judged if I share too much, too little?
Should I link?
When is the last time I posted a blog?
Shit. THAT long?
Intros are hard.
Italics don't work anymore?

Nice to find this community. I write. Sometimes I get paid for it, most of the time I don't but that's okay. It seems like I have found a community of like-minded and activitied souls. Excellent.

2012-12-08 20:49:33 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Thanks for the invite! I podcast and write for The History Chicks, and have a weekly, slice-of-life column in the Kansas City Star. Not a published novelist in any manner...yet, but glad to be a part of this community. That is something I have been working towards so I suspect I will be more of a tip receiver than giver at this point- but very appreciative that you all let me in the door.

2012-12-04 15:09:02 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I know that a lot of you read the column that I wrote about my friend Chris and what his death taught me. This is another sad chapter in that story.

 In the eight months since he was killed in a wrong-way collision- the man who was responsible has yet to be charged. A man is killed and the person who did it is still not held accountable? I wish my friend Nicole and her five kids were that free.

2012-11-22 00:51:22 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

My house is in a a state of controlled chaos. I'm doing math, trying to  time the different components of the big dinner tomorrow. I have issues with math. I know a lot of you are mathy, and I admire that. I am not.

My older son has begun his pre-Thanksgiving dinner food consumption plan. My younger son is wondering why he can't dive face first into the pies for tomorrow- and I'm having a hard time coming up with reasons he can't. 

From my house to yours, if you are in the US- a most happily chaotically wonderful Thanksgiving. 

Also- if you have been watching anyone post for 30 days of Thankful- so have I. This is what I thought about that (if you are looking for a snarky slam- don't click. The people who participated took it seriously. It was important to them. I admire that, too)

2012-10-10 12:43:10 (15 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

Six months ago, the husband of one of my best friends was killed in a head-on, wrong-way collision. It was as sad and horrific and heartbreaking as you would imagine. She is doing well, the kids are doing well...as well as expected for both. You don't just start a new life as soon as the funeral is over. The grieving lasts a very, very long time- maybe forever in some regards. It's a process for her and their kids.

But a life like his, a death like his affects everyone that touches the family in some way. I knew him like I know most of you- through social media. What I knew was accurate, but there was so much more. The personal, painful lessons that have followed included this one for me.

2012-10-03 14:02:49 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Here is the thing: I'm one of those parents who like to dress in costume for Halloween. In my neighborhood it's not common, but I'm not usually alone, either.

And I like to make the costumes. I might lack some technical skills, but armed with some felt, a glue gun, a tube of e6000 and a pair of good scissors I can usually whip up something that makes it through the night.

This is as far as I have gotten on this year's costume, I got sidetracked when my teenage daughter (who will be a punk Tinkerbell) got involved in the plans.

2012-10-02 15:38:41 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Spending entirely too much time blocking people these days. I'm not mean and I am far from anti-social but if you try to engage me in a hang-out at 4 AM (my time) you will be blocked. Isn't my little camera red? 

2012-10-02 15:31:43 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Oh My goodness look at these prizes and stuff.  Share the crap out of this, please.  For reals!

#halloween   #evadia  

2012-09-17 14:20:21 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Holy crap, she's real!

#funny  

2012-09-04 13:50:48 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Do you bloom where you are planted, or do you long and only flourish for a certain type of soil? Guest blogging, I was...

2012-08-23 16:22:48 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Understanding the Changes to Google Plus Notifications

My comprehensive guide to all of the changes now rolling out to how notification work in Google+. Confusion is rampant on this, so this is my attempt to bring together everything we know from a long night of head scratching and testing by many users.

I rarely ask this, but please share this post, as there is not much good or accurate information out there on the full implications of these changes. Thanks!

#gplusupdates   #googleplusupdate   #notifications  

2012-08-23 12:30:30 (26 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Can someone explain to me the trend in notifying for public posts? Seems that each day I get more and more notifications that a post was shared with me only to see it's a public post. How are they doing this? I don't want that to happen to mine- I want to make sure I'm not. It's ANNOYING...and I end up blocking the person who, always, only has me circled, never the other way around.

Good Morning. :)

2012-08-22 15:19:36 (22 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Sooo..I've been on a summer semi-hiatus, but now that I'm back to my regularly scheduled G+ time I see that there are quite a few new circlees. To them I say: Hi! very nice to meet you.

And since I have your attention thus far, I will add: I don't re-circle without interaction, and I block when that interaction is rude. Just how I am. Not here to mate, to date or to (something that ends in ATE and implies naughty behavior. Yeah, that.)  My profile says it all, and I hope to hear a, "Hi, Susan" back.

And now I have to get back to work. sigh.

2012-08-21 20:27:09 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

We all face challenges and it takes the right set of circumstances to overcome them. (And trust me when I say, sharing this photo is a personal challenge.)

2012-08-15 15:06:25 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

What a summer we had! One of us traveled to the South for her vacay, the other went East...with our kids home and travel schedules all over the place we slowed down podcast production. We posted two podcasts since June: A chapter by chapter look at the two Alice in Wonderland books, and a chat about Julia Child.

But the kids are heading back to school this week, we are able to amp up our research time and should be back to our normal twice a month schedule very soon. Until then...

Today would have been Julia Child's 100th birthday. We have three posts related to her life on our website- the podcast, shownotes and a special feature about cooking Julia's way in 2012. Also google has a really cute illustration honoring her, when you check it out search, "JC100" for LOTS of articles about the life and loves of this woman by food bloggers and other writers. 

2012-07-21 13:54:30 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Once a month I post about this. My 16yo daughter and I are selling postcards, delivered from Finland with a smile and a hand-written greeting, starting from just $5. Part of the money raised will go towards funding a kiva.org loan.

The designs are also available as blanks, direct in packs of 8, for $7.99. 

>> 50cards.blogspot.com <<

"Star Witch" below is one of my daughter's designs ( +Art By Karu ). Thanks for checking out the site and thank you again to the wonderful people who've helped support us :)

2012-07-11 23:00:36 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

I'm really not one of those people who can wear white. I attract too many other colors- and I like it that way.

2012-07-05 21:44:38 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I live in Kansas City. This year the All-Star game and related merriment takes place here. I'm not much of a fan of the game of baseball, but my men-folk seem to get a lot of pleasure out of it. Watching it, playing it, talking about watching or playing it. My two boys just finished up their own seasons and the season ending tournament had me asking,"what are they learning? What are we learning?"

2012-07-04 20:48:40 (13 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

After making a big holiday meal, I hid for a bit, but I hear my people looking for me. If you are celebrating today, Happy 4th! If you aren't...well, I am!

 In a few hours we will drag our porch furniture to the middle of the driveway, a large cooler within reach. Neighbors will be wandering from house to house catching up, amazed that it's been a year since they did this before. The kids will be begging to light off a smoke snake, or a tiny paper car that zips down the sidewalk until it stops in a small colorful explosion.

 After dark the real fireworks, which are legal here- even the aerial ones, will begin. If I described it, you would think I was full of hyperbole. But the truth is, it's a wild, loud, bright, explosion and squeal of delight filled event. Like a town's fireworks display going off on each street in a subdivision. We will go in long before it iso... more »

2012-06-15 20:17:11 (18 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

I have just realized this about myself. It's deep. Are you ready?

I always comment THEN plus one. Is that backwards?

2012-06-11 00:34:50 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

One of the things I do is this podcast, and write up the profiles on our website. It's not everyone's cup of tea, and I totally respect and understand that. Two women talking about historical women from a variety of time periods. But It's not dry, and not lecturey and not all giggly, I suppose the easiest way to describe it is "historically based girl talk."

We just posted an episode about silent film star, Clara Bow. Her life was wild and sexy and chaotic and very, very unique. The characters she portrayed- free-spirited flappers and strong women, often both complimented her real life self, and contrasted with it. 

Anyway, since I seem to have quite a few people who have circled me of late, I thought I would share this part of my work with you.

 Podcast available on iTunes, Stitcher or directly on our website.

2012-06-09 18:59:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

CHECK THIS OUT!

http://www.shirtasaurus.com/zombie-laptop-shirt/

Thanks to you guys, my Zombie Laptop t-shirt design won and is now AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE at +Shirtasaurus's website!

Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me. I am so thrilled and am going to buy one RIGHT NOW!

::HUGE SMILES::

2012-05-24 20:34:20 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Holy craps! #GPlusHighFive is trending! You guys ROCK!

If you haven't posted your high-five photo, WHY DO YOU HATE FUN??

2012-05-24 18:10:18 (12 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

#GPlusHighFive Why is this game always played on days when I have no makeup on? And really, giganto hands, right?

2012-05-16 12:57:38 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

I listed it in my profile and readily admit- I'm not all that techie. And this extends to my phone. Make calls, send texts and snap a picture- it's all I need. (And this ashtray. And this paddlegame.) So when I had a conversation with my 13 yr-old about apps well, it was enlightening.

Games excluded, do you have a favorite app?

2012-05-13 16:52:34 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Happy Mother's Day. I got a haiku from my daughter:

My mom is awesome
She is there for me always
you make us smile

Happy day to all the mothers, all the mother-figures, all the mothers-in-law, grandmothers and any other version of mother that makes you smile.

2012-05-12 13:59:06 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

2012-05-09 13:05:30 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Sometimes I write mushy stuff.

2012-05-08 17:01:04 (19 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

This morning. On 50 Shades of Grey and the passing of Maurice Sendak and a lesson I had to relearn.

2012-05-07 20:59:13 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I love this her style! Whimsical, yet sophisticated. Ok, you got me, I'm not an interior designer, but I know what I like. And I like +Tom Spencer and this is his sister and I think she is doing some pretty creative stuff- so I share. You should check it out.

2012-04-28 14:08:40 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Ok, I'm just a linking fool this morning.

I thought some of you might like this one. The baby of the family doesn't always get babied, a lot of the time he gets educated by his teenage sibs.

2012-04-28 13:34:41 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

WooHoo! After a brief detour to Titanicland, we pick up our Tudors series with a podcast episode about the final four wives of Henry VIII. Listen via iTunes, Stitcher or on our website!

Do you have a favorite wife of Henry VIII? Maybe you relate to her, or if you just think her life drama was comment worthy. Got one?

2013-05-21 21:13:16 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

That is just about enough #cramsey ing for me! I need to get some work done! Power to the #cramsey ! See you all on the flip side!

(Now to add a totally random graphic)

2012-04-21 00:51:14 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Am I the last person to see this commercial? It's possible, I don't get the TV much.

2012-04-18 13:22:47 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

On the I Love Baseball Scale...I'm on the low end. The low, low end.

2012-04-01 20:20:02 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

New episode is available! Minicast on life of Anne Boleyn.

2012-03-24 14:35:15 (20 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Stunner of a day here! Still too early to plant, and the ground is really wet from a week of rain so no digging in the garden...but I'm going to begin spring yardwork. Get my first mow in. Clean out some winter debris. Trim some shrubs. I love to garden! Can't wait to slip into my gardening shoes and get dirty! :)

Happy Saturday, Plussers! Enjoy what you do today!