Nov 7, 2012 |
There’s a whole lotta discussion going on by the time you read this, I’m sure. I’m writing this on Election Night and the results are not yet in. I’m excited to see what the morning will bring.
Regardless of whether or not you voted, and regardless of whether or not your chosen candidate won, I’m sure there’s both elation and disappointment.
I’m looking forward to a sense of continuance; of moving on from where we are. I believe that whoever wins this election, America will begin to regroup and, I hope, to come back together instead of being so derisive.
The Election Process disappoints me in two ways.
First, I’m in California. But before our polls even close, the race is called. It discourages people from voting after work hours.
Second, I don’t like the all-or-nothing Electoral Vote. I believe that if Candidate A receives 52% of the Popular Vote, he should receive 52% of the Electoral Vote. I cannot understand how, if any candidate receives the majority of the Popular Vote by a very small margin, the opposing candidate can win the election by a near-landslide. To me, that’s equivalent to giving someone a College Degree when they barely completed high school.
The Election Campaign disappoints me in one way.
There was much more mudslinging this year than ever before. Instead of focusing on real issues, each side seemed bent on pointing fingers at the other. It was disappointing, to say the least.
In any event, I’m hopeful we can get back to some sort of normalcy. It will be strange to not see political ads interrupting my television viewing. Oh, well. I’ll manage.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
“What’s the Word?” Wednesdays is a link-up that allows other bloggers and readers to share whatever they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!
A few things to remember:
- Each week’s link-up is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow! In fact, you can link up as many posts as you want.
- If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
- Each week has a new link-up. Please make sure you grab the correct Badge Code.
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- You can now show your “likes” by voting for your favorite links.
So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?
Oct 24, 2012 |
In one week, it will be Hallowe’en. In one week and one day, it will be November! Yikes! I’ve been pulling double-duty on the Blog this last week. While I’m posting every day, I’m also reviewing product and formulating my giveaways to start November 1. I’m super excited to be partnering again with Scharffen-Berger chocolates and Aroma Housewares. New sponsors include Klutz Books, CLR Cleaning Product, and Winnie’s Inky Fingers.
Our weather has cooled drastically and the winds have ushered the leaves off the trees. Not completely, but enough to carpet the ground. I cleaned out the fireplace and changed the furnace filter. That pretty much takes care of our winterizing out here. Oh, that plus wearing socks. Cuz the Flip-Flops just aren’t warm enough any more.
The World Series starts tonight, and I’m so very happy! Although I’m saddened that my beloved Yankees missed it again, I’m glad the Tigers are getting their chance.
My friend Danny took his wife to Mackinac Island, Michigan over the weekend and sent me some photos. What a rotten souvenir! I’d rather have a plane ticket! (Just kidding, Danny. I’ll still take the photos.) I’ll write about their trip tomorrow. For today, you get this teaser:
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island
Even though it’s spelled MACKINAC (with a “c”), it’s pronounced “MACK-IN-AWW”. Some people wrongly spell it Mackinaw. There’s Mackinaw City which is at the very north tip of the Lower Penninsula of Michigan. Then you take the Mackinac Bridge to Mackinac Island. It’s a shorter version of the Indian term, Michilimackinac, which references the entire straights that surround the area.
I’ll have more history and photos for you tomorrow. Well, the O’Rourkes will. I’m just the conduit, living vicariously through text messages photo posts.
I’ll be volunteering at the local Trunk or Treat next week, but I haven’t yet figured out in what capacity. I can host my own trunk, help with the set up, greeting, or even hang around the Bounce House.
Whatever I do, I’m pretty sure a Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice will be a part of it.
Autumn Bliss
[I know… you’ve seen this photo before. But it was my first Instagram, and so delicious to boot. It’s worth the repeat, dontcha think?]
Do you celebrate Hallowe’en? What do you do to usher in the holidays?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
“What’s the Word?” Wednesdays is a link-up that allows other bloggers and readers to share whatever they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!
A few things to remember:
- Each week’s link-up is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow! In fact, you can link up as many posts as you want.
- If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
- Each week has a new link-up. Please make sure you grab the correct Badge Code.
- Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
- You can now show your “likes” by voting for your favorite links.
So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?
Oct 17, 2012 |
I’m healthiest when I’m writing: it’s cathartic, imaginative, organizational, therapeutic. I just love writing. And lately, I love photography. With two brothers who are professional photographers and a daughter who’s a natural, you’d think it would be easy for me. But it’s not. So I spent the better part of a thirty minute phone call with one of my brothers having him explain the simplest terms like aperture and shutter-speed. Now that I have a basic understanding of this and more (automatic white balance, anyone?), I’m very excited to see great improvements here at Frankly, My Dear…
For instance…
THIS
Became THIS
And THIS
Became THIS
Pretty cool, eh?
I certainly think so!
My brother checked out my camera online. I was crazythrilled when he said, “(Almost an expletive!) Mol! You’ve got a great camera!” Coming from a professional, that’s sayin’ something. Now all I need is this:
[Amazon Affiliate Link]
For this week, I’ll start with reading more of the owner’s manual. Anything I can’t interpret? I’ve got an app for that: I call it the iBrother.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
“What’s the Word?” Wednesdays is a link-up that allows other bloggers and readers to share whatever they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!
A few things to remember:
- Each week’s link-up is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow! In fact, you can link up as many posts as you want.
- If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
- Each week has a new link-up. Please make sure you grab the correct Badge Code.
- Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
- You can now show your “likes” by voting for your favorite links.
So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?
Oct 10, 2012 |
What’s been your favorite part of this last week? I’ve had so many! It’s October. The Yankees and Tigers are in the playoffs. The weather finally cooled down enough to wear long pants and hard shoes, which means the cats are more snuggly.
Snuggly Cats
Dot and I are really in sync with our new routines now. I love that she can drive herself to college, but when I need to run errands I just drop her off and pick her up. It beats driving back and forth and back and forth… especially with gas prices soaring to over $4.79/gallon three days ago. Today I went grocery shopping at Target when a friend sent me on a “Visual Scavenger Hunt”. He texted me what I needed to find, I’d text him back a photo, and then he’d offer up the next item. There was no rhyme or reason to it, but it was certainly fun… and in my heels, of course, wandering back and forth many times, I also certainly got my exercise for the day!
TARGET Visual Scavenger Hunt and Other Great Finds
I’m sticking with my Clean Out the Fridge meal plan… for the most part. It’s led to one or two interesting combinations that won’t be repeated. And several delicious ones that will!
Rice, Cream of Chicken Soup and Diced Green Chilies. Interesting.
My Non-Dot turned 18. I can’t believe these Little People I’ve known for so long are grown-ups. Not just in age, but in attitude… for the most part. I mean, they were just seventeen quite recently.
Best Friends
It looks like I’ll have five giveaways for the first part of November. And I’m working on a few new Holiday recipes, too!
I’m building a Blogger Wish List.Oh, Santa…! The Blogs I love most and aspire to be like are so professional looking. But it takes money to make money. So right now, This Elf is working on getting a Light Box, photo-editing software, and a new camera bag. Sounds like I’m a photographer instead of a Blogger, right? Well then… a new backpack for all my writing supplies, a gift card to any bookstore in town, and journals. Lots of journals. And pens. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Well, those are this week’s highlights. We still indulge in the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino once a week.
Autumn Bliss
Here’s something noteworthy: The Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice comes both as a hot latte and a cold Frappuccino. Their Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino is the mocha-free drink. I didn’t know that until after I unwittingly ordered Dot the one with mocha. Since she’s not a coffee drinker, guess who got an extra one? I’m a tad energetic right now… Don’t worry. She got the Pumpkin Creme Frapp. I promise.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
“What’s the Word?” Wednesdays is a link-up that allows other bloggers and readers to share whatever they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!
A few things to remember:
- Each week’s link-up is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow! In fact, you can link up as many posts as you want.
- If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
- Each week has a new link-up. Please make sure you grab the correct Badge Code.
- Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
- You can now show your “likes” by voting for your favorite links.
So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?
Oct 3, 2012 |
Welcome back for another “What’s the Word?” Wednesday!
“What’s the Word?” Wednesdays is a link-up that allows other bloggers and readers to share whatever they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!
A few things to remember:
- Each week’s link-up is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow! In fact, you can link up as many posts as you want.
- If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
- Each week has a new link-up. Please make sure you grab the correct Badge Code.
- Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
- You can now show your “likes” by voting for your favorite links.
So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?
