Entries Pouring In!

Goodness! I had NO idea I would get so many "name my business" entries! They're great entries, too. Thanks, Val, mflammia and DeAussie! I won't publish the proposed business names until I've picked one, so please don't be offended that I have "rejected" your comment as unpublishable: I'm just saving the names for security reasons until I decide! These are great ideas. Two of them, in particular, are kinda blowing me away, but I'm going to wait until March 5th -- the deadline -- to pick one. And I may even ask y'all to help me pick it! I love this interaction! Sometimes it's hard to motivate myself to write an entry because I wonder how many people are really "checking in" when I do. But no more! Now I KNOW y'all are out there, checking in. To get this kind of response within 24 hours is pretty kewl!

This morning and afternoon I'll be driving to Orting (about eight miles away, if that) for a Deployment Party for one of our Writer's Edge writers. He's an amazing, mighty man of God who has already served in Iraq at least once. He's going back sometime in March and we wanted to celebrate him and his family. It turns out that his mom is here from the east coast, too, so she's coming along. It will be WONDERFUL to meet and hug her, too!

Karim and his lovely wife have two (or is it three? I'll find out today!) children. One is still an infant. You know how much I hate war, but I absolutely love, honor and support our warriors. People who signed up following 9/11 to go after the perpetrators got diverted to Iraq instead in all too many cases, but they signed up for the right reasons and are doing a bang-up job wherever they are sent. Every day I pray for their safety. There must be a mile-high "hedge of protection" around every soldier I know personally, and I always include those I don't know in the prayer as well.

Tacoma is a huge military town -- we have Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines based here at Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base, and in Bremerton and other areas around Puget Sound. I nearly always shake the hands of the servicemen and -women I see whenever I get out-and-about. These folks put their own lives and the lives of their families "on hold" VOLUNTARILY to take on dangerous foes who wish us harm. For the past several years, they've endured multiple tours of duty at precious risk and cost to their health (physical and mental) and at enormous cost to their families back home, who have to wonder every day how their precious warrior is doing, and how he or she will come home -- whole, maimed, in a coffin, with his or her mind intact or reeling from all he or she has witnessed and been a part of.

War is an insane way to settle scores, but until everyone decides on another way forward during times of disagreement and enmity, it will always be with us. It stinks. It's horrible. I hate it.

But I thank God every day for the brave men and women willing to do it to keep us safe.

Please keep Karim and all of our military personnel in your prayers. We want them all back, safe and sound, so they can continue to be a blessing to us stateside -- to our communities, to their families, and to our Creator God.

Name My Business, Get a Prize!

Now that I'm making some real money as a wordsmith, I decided it's time to register as a business and get a Tax ID. (Didn't make enough last year to do this, but in 2009 things are looking up!) I have had a business name in mind for over two years -- WordSmith Ink -- clever, huh, because my name is Smith and I'm a wordsmith and ink goes with the trade. But I just looked up Wordsmith Ink on the Internet, and another writer named Amie Smith thought of it before me. So now I'm trying to think of another name that will be equally compelling, descriptive and NOT ALREADY USED! So, thought I, why not open this to my readership and see if ya'll can come up with a great business name for what I do.

Top prize? Gads... How about publication of your name on my blog? (yawn)? A FREE copy of my upcoming book (it may be an e-book) about DeForest Kelley? A bouquet of flowers?

OK, tell you what. I'll get the winner (if there is one) anything they want up to $30 (including the cash itself), PLUS a free copy of my next De book, due out this summer, PLUS publication of your name on my blog. Would that be incentive enough?

Remember, the name has to be available, so whatever you come up with, be sure to look it up on an Internet search before submitting it to me...

The title can refer to speediness (Ink in a Wink! LOL!) , excellence, reliability, craftsmanship... writing... ad copy... stuff like that. It doesn't have to include my name (Kris or Smith) but if it did, that might be nice.

I kinda like Ink in a Wink...

Meet it or beat it! Ink in a Wink isn't registered yet by anyone online that I can find! So I have first dibs on it.

Can y'all can think of something better!

Deadline: My birthday, March 5th (next week) at 5 p.m.

Incidentally, March 5th is also the deadline to make submissions to my upcoming book "The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend," so if you've been lollygaggling, take note, grab a mouse (not the squeaky kind!) and start typing. Send your submission to me at kristine m smith at msn dot com. (All one word, and of course you know the "at" should be an @).

Thanks!

Dagnab It, I Admire Our New President!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/presidentaddress

President Obama's speech tonight was just the shot in the arm we needed. On the other hand, Governor Jindal's speech was ... just nowhere near "there" yet. (But he's just a puppy, in his mid-30's... he'll probably get better as time goes along.)

I know the GOP needs new blood to redeem itself, but neither Palin nor Jindal have done a thing for me, and I consider myself pretty malleable when it comes to politics, although I'll probably always "default" to Democrat as long as nothing better comes along.

Can't say I'm SAD Jindal's speech was a ho-hum sort of response, because I want Obama to be President until his second term runs out, and I feel pretty secure that'll be the case with what the major opposition party has shown us so far. It would take a miracle for Obama to lose to Republicans in 2012, I think.

He's going for the gold in all the major areas of concern -- new energy sources, the economy, education -- and with a large percentage of the American people (and the world) behind him, he can get something done because if the GOP continues to try to stall, I think they'll see their ratings tanking even faster than they are right now. The American people are really sick of seeing "politics as usual" and want to see some progress. If they don't, they'll go after the people who are blocking it and mis-communicating (aka fibbing) as to why they're blocking it.

They just can't appear to be "for" anything Obama suggests without (they believe) losing in their districts next time and ensuring Obama's re-election in 2012. They think they're representing their constituents. I hope their constituents who disagree with them will let them know so they can feel more secure about stepping out and helping the President get something done!

Anyway, not to get onto politics again, but I was just very happy to hear everything President Obama said tonight. His tone was just right. He's a great leader. But a leader needs followers. Without them, his rhetoric and plans can produce nada.

We have our marching orders. I like them. I'm going to write my representatives and let them know I want them to do whatever is necessary to "Make It So" so we can enter a new era of stability, decency, fair play and equal access to our plans and goals.

The people Obama spotlighted tonight (the CEO who got a 390 million retirement and shared it equally among all his present and former employees, a school girl from SC whose school building roof leaks, and others) reveal the America that I love. We can be that again. Most of us have never stopped being that way. It's time to throw out the rascals who don't believe in sharing their bounty with the people who work for and with them and make their fortunes grow. Instead of cutting health care plans and pensions, freezing wages and curtailing bonuses, businesses should be rewarding employees for remaining faithful to business goals and agendas. If they did, maybe employees wouldn't change jobs as often. Right now it's pretty much "Take care of yourself because your boss sure won't!"

I'm just tired of selfishness. I want to see people treating each other better. We may not be able to legislate morality and ethics, but we can certainly mandate that regulations be placed so that people who abuse the system for their own selfish gains are spotted, caught and brought to justice. That alone would put a nice crimp in their tails and make trying to rip others off less appealing than it has been for decades.

Finally! Jerry Lewis Gets His Due at the Oscars!

Okay, I admit it. I finally broke down and watched the Oscar telecast for the first time in ten years after swearing I would never watch it again. (Why? Because they didn't have DeForest Kelley listed in their MEMORIUM section the year he died. They wrote back to say it was because their "sister organization" the Emmys had acknowledged his passing, but that never satisfied me because he was the only STAR TREK star to get his star for his MOTION PICTURE body of work, not for TV.) Anyway, that's all water under the bridge, and I really wanted to see how Heath Ledger, Frost/Nixon and Slumdog Millionaire would do, so I watched the show.

The best line of the whole evening (in my opinion): "I had a choice between hate and love, I chose love -- and I'm here!" AR Rahman

What a great line for a time such as this!

I was deliriously happy to see Jerry Lewis get the Gene Hersholt Award last night. It was a surprise to me that he was getting an award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences because they almost never honor comedians and comedies; they're usually into meatier fare.

Jerry Lewis was the second love of my life, following Roy Rogers. I devoured everything he was in -- movies, mags, TV shows, comic books -- from the time I was eight or nine until I was fifteen or sixteen (when STAR TREK and DeForest Kelley and Leonard Nimoy took over). Because of Jerry, I even became Junior Chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association in my home town of Cle Elum. I wrote articles about MD in the local paper and placed MDA canisters in all the stores, then collected them just before MDA Telethon time and sent them in.

While I lived in Hollywood I met a number of people who knew and worked with Jerry Lewis. I learned he was generous to a fault when someone needed help, and an absolute perfectionist as a producer/director. (But then, when your name and image are all over a product, I expect that gives you a "complex" that it better be damned good!) I've worked with other perfectionists and usually got along with them very well, because I understood them and honored what they were trying to do. (I'm a bit of a perfectionist myself.)

I was just so happy to see him finally receive an honor that he has deserved for so long. Every time I see Jim Carrey mugging, I can't help but think he's ALMOST as good as Jerry was. It takes an eternal kid to pull of what those two do -- an eternal kid with a big heart and a lovely mind.

I even saw Jerry live in Vegas one night. Asked him for a hug from my seat (not far from the stage) and he recoiled in feigned horror, grabbing near his crotch and saying, "You want a hug?! That's how I got this rash!"

I was horrified then... and embarrassed... 'cause I was just 30 or so and shy to begin with. Looking back on it now, WHAT A HOOT!

When I was ten or eleven, my family went to Hollywood and Disneyland and I begged Dad to drive us past Jerry's 33-room Bel Air home on St Cloud Road (was it 227 St Cloud Road? I think that was the address.) When we got to it, Dad pretended he was going to drive right in, and I shrieked, "NO! NO! NO!!!!" embarrassed as all get out, just certain that Jerry would come out and I'd be "busted" in his driveway!

Jerry, if you happen to see this by some stretch of the imagination, know that I am among the happiest people alive tonight because you were honored by the Academy. It has been far too long in coming.

P.S. to other Jerry Lewis fans, young and old: I don't know if you can still find it, but Richard Gehman wrote a book, THAT KID: THE STORY OF JERRY LEWIS. I read it as a kid and loved it. If you can still find a copy, it's well worth the read, although I understand Jerry himself is coming out with a marathon book on his life at some point if he can manage to live long enough to finish it! It's quite the tome, from what I hear. It might take two people to lift it!

God bless you, Jerry, for all the entertainment you have given us and for the billions of dollars you have raised to fight Muscular Dystrophy over the decades.

New Credit Card Scam -- Beware!!!

Snopes.com says this is true. http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want, the 3 digit security PIN number on the back of the card. Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA ', and I was called on Thursday from 'Master Card'. The scam works like this: Caller: 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona ?' When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?' You say 'yes '. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. ' You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6-digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet or telephone purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?'After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. However, after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card. Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number.

What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card!

If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a ' Jason Richardson of Master Card' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.

President Obama on Abraham Lincoln

Very cool... Thanks to Margot Worthington for sending me this link.

http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/barack-obama-on-abraham-lincol/

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And on another front, although I'm not allowed to disclose the actual article (since I ghost wrote it from talking points for a regular Elance client of mine), a cable news channel published an article that I formatted and finessed yesterday on a well-known host/moderator's blog , will be publishing another one today, and should be using additional ones into the forseeable future!

So things are moving along -- and moving UP! -- in the Elance world! WOO HOO! I'm very excited about the cable news "gig," and wish I could shout it to the moon, but alas... I can't! Not that I've signed a nondisclosure agreement or anything (or I wouldn't even have published this little ditty), but I just feel obliged to keep the lid on it.

Your Tax Dollars at Work...

Logon to the following URL and watch every dollar that's spent by the new Administration as they work us out of the recession we're in:

http://www.recovery.gov/

This is from President Obama:

"The recovery plan will create or save 3.5 million jobs, provide tax cuts for working and middle-class families, and invest in health care and clean energy.It's a bold plan to address a huge problem, and it will require my vigilance and yours to make sure it's done right.I've assigned a team of managers to oversee the implementation of the recovery act. We are committed to making sure no dollar is wasted. But accountability begins with you."

This is government at it's transparent BEST!

Kris

More About Selena Rogers -- 1986-2009 from Her Mother April

BEAUTIFUL SELENA ROGERS

1986-2009

Dear Kris,

You are the second to ask me to tell about Selena- she must have been popular.

Selena was the miracle child of the family. She was born 3 months premature in November, 1986. She barely lived throughout the first year of her life, but somehow, by the grace of God, she pulled through.

We noticed something was not right, as she was very stiff and rigid, with some other startling symptoms. She was diagnosed several weeks after her birth with Cerebral Palsy.

She was always a fighter. She had to fight for her place in school, in life and in friendships. She dealt with discrimination from everyone because she was different. I hate to admit it, but the funniest thing I can remember from her childhood was when she was 12 years old.

She wanted to call from a school office to be picked up from school, but someone stood in her way and told her that she was stupid and could not do anything but sit there. She ended up running over this person's foot with her wheelchair. I remember her telling me about it just after she did it. She just laughed and told me, "It will teach _____ a lesson - to never bother me again."

The person whose foot she ran over repented folllowing the incident and became one of her best friends.

We came to know about her having leukemia because for a couple of months she was throwing up off and on for no apparent reason. She lost a lot of weight, and just was very listless. But she refused to go to the doctor, saying it was "nothing". We listened to her, which we shouldn't have, because she finally ended up in the emergency room after fainting. They ran some tests and told us something was seriously wrong. They kept her for observation for several days and finally called an oncologist in to look at her results. He told us that she had an advanced stage of leukemia.

They told us she had less than a month to live, but she didn't listen. I remember she told me she would fight this and get over it. She said, "Too many people die from this, and I am not going to be a statistic."

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Selena, although you didn't win the battle, you will never be a statistic to all those who loved you...

We hope you're swinging on a star, eating a candy bar, and singing "You Are My Sunshine" to your Mom, who loves and misses you so.

God bless you for being the light in the world that you were - and still are!

Sad News to Report...

April Rogers emailed me this morning to let me know that her beloved daughter, Selena, passed away last week in her sleep. As those of you know who have been following this blog for at least the past several months, Selena was a "follower" of the blog (and will remain listed as such) and had been battling leukemia. She lived in Australia, as does her mom, but I believe her mom is a transplanted American, as her parents live here.

April and I want to thank all of you who held Selena in your thoughts and prayers since finding out about her battle a few months ago. She told her mom she wanted to fly back to America sometime to see her grandparents again and to meet me. April said it was one of her fondest wishes even though she knew it would never happen (she was already very ill when she spoke the words).

Selena is freed from her chrysalis now and her spirit can go wherever it wants, so if she still finds such a trip alluring, it's FAST and FREE now and I'm more than happy to welcome her sweet spirit any time as, I'm sure, are her grandparents. I will look for her with open arms!

That's two, too-young friends I have lost to leukemia (and one toddler cousin, back in the early 50's). If you want to help banish this scourge from the face of the earth, please consider sending a donation to the Leukemia Society in memory of Selena or in honor of her mother (or both!).

I'm feeling very sad today. I pray that April will find her way through the grief she feels to a place where her memories of Selena bring her nothing but grins and comfort. It won't happen overnight, or probably for a very long time, but I know it's what Selena would want for her: wonderful memories instead of the latter day sad ones.

Please keep April Rogers in your prayers during this sad, sad time in her life. Losing a child is the worst trauma a human being can suffer.

Father God:

Please wrap your arms and spirit around April at this terrible time and let her know that You're with her, without any doubt. Let your voice speak through others as they express their condolences, their concern and their care for her. Help her to feel free to talk about Selena endlessly and to mourn as she needs to, and grant her willing ears and hearts to listen and to cry with her and, finally, to laugh with her as she makes her way from abject sorrow to a renewed spirit, replete with good memories of the years they shared and the trials they endured. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Fun and Games, and Memories Galore

Last night Jackie and I went to the home of friends we have known, literally, since we were toddlers. Their names, as kids, were Penny and Judi Cooper. (Their names are still Penny and Judi. Surprised?) Both are married with different last names now, and we're all 50 years older than we were waaaayyyy back then.

Penny has two friends (both of whom are school teachers, as is Penny) and they were at Penny's place, too, last night. Oddly enough, one of these friends, named Maureen, happens to live literally two or three doors down the street from where Jackie and I now live, and she told us last night that she came real close to bringing us cookies when we moved in, but figured we'd consider her "too way out there" if she did that, so she didn't! Isn't that hysterical?!

Needless to say, we all got along just great.

We played Catch Phrase for an hour and talked for at least an hour in between munching snacks and a luscious dessert.

Just before going to Penny's house, Judi, Jackie and I stopped to see her mom, Mary Jane Cooper, who lives two doors down from Penny. Mary Jane was our coach when Jackie and I played baseball as kids. (I wrote a little about Mary Jane last Mother's Day in this blog and she's in one of my books, too. )

Anyway, last night I told Mary Jane I would stop by her house today and bring her copies of my four books, because she said she'd be interested in reading them, since she knew my family and me so well for ten years back in the 50's. So I stopped by there today and took her my books.

Mary Jane and I have a lot in common. We're both environmentalists and animal lovers. She's an Audobon Society member and still teaches birding -- at 85!

I just wanted to be sure to stop by while she's still here (as I suspect she will be for another 10 or 15 years, as great shape as she is still in!) and let her know that every time I have thought about her these oh so many years, my heart has always smiled.

I told her that I don't think kids under eight have many particularly vivid memories -- I certainly don't, unless they involve some kind of trauma, major or minor -- but that my heart has a memory of her that is 100% positive: ebullient, fun, joyful and compassionate. That brought a big smile to her face, and I know it made her heart smile, too, so I'm glad I said it, even though it brought me close to tears to actually bring the words and the emotion out of my heart and up into my mouth.

I remember being on her team. We were the Ponytails. I kept hitting the ball so hard that I broke several wooden bats, and I remember her saying, "We're going to run out of bats if you keep this up!" with a big grin on her face. That was her way of indicating that I was a very strong hitter. She wasn't mad; she was thrilled!

I don't have a lot of rock-solid memories of Mary Jane, but there's one other time I remember VERY well. She found me inner-tubing (ALONE at age seven or so!) in the middle of Spanaway Lake and told me to come back to shore, get my little fanny home, and that she would be calling my mother to tell her about my unsupervised swimming! (Oh, joy!) This incident is mentioned briefly in HARVEST OF MEMORIES in a letter to De within the first 20 pages of the book, which she will find when she reads it real soon. That ought to give her quite a grin!

I listened and learned a lot more about her than I ever knew before. (Kids don't ask questions of their coaches, like "Where you from? When did you move to Washington?"). She moved to Washington from a very small town in Iowa in 1950. She has stayed in touch with Iowa friends all these years but has only been back once, when her kids were teenagers. I think she'll be going back again soon because in the last year or so she hooked up over the phone with a boy she has known since they were six or seven. They were fishing buddies. He has been married for 64 years to the same wife and they call her every Saturday to chat -- have for over a year. His name is Stewart Smith.

As I drove to Mary Jane's this morning, I stopped and took photos of the brick house that Laurel, Jackie and I grew up in. Dad built most of it and he built the koi pond that's out front, too. The place looks so much smaller than it did when we were kids (Duh! We were shorter and smaller then!) but the shrubs that Mom and Dad planted when we were there tower over everything now. I tried to download the photos so I could put them on this blog, but my EasyShare is being recalcitrant at the moment, so I'll have to add them later. Jackie took a photo of Mary Jane and me, too. I'll include that when the hardware is working again.

OK, All You Romantics -- HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Follow this URL and fall in love all over again -- or find out new ways to reveal the love you already have within you! These stories are ahhhhhh-some!

http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlerb.aspx?cp-documentid=17405323&GT1=32023

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!

Click here and prepare to smile -- and *sigh*

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2359748/stethascope/

It's 2:30 A.M.

Good night! It's 2:30 a.m. and I'm wide awake. Got a bee in my bonnet about a press release I wrote for a client late in the evening yesterday and sent off to her. I knew it wasn't quite "there" yet -- just 99.9% there -- but because I was so wasted from writing several other articles yesterday, I sent it off anyway, thinking "fast turnaround" more than "kick-ass press release." (My Unique Selling Point is fast turnaround at Elance but it goes without saying, I hope, that I expect myself to provide EXCELLENT COPY and fast turnaround in combination.)

Well! My Conscience (the good Lord) got on my butt about THAT (with love, with love)! The press release isn't even due yet, so I knew I had plenty of time to make it top-notch before sending it off.

So I got out of bed, looked it over again, and sent something close to perfect for my client to find when she gets up in the morning. I know she hasn't seen the earlier version yet, as she's on the east coast and was fast asleep before I sent it, so I haven't caused her any problem in sending a revised version.

I also sent a note to another client who wants the articles I wrote for him to be more editorial style than ghostwriting style. I'm not sure what that means! Does he want me to identify myself? Does he want me to have a byline and a link to my Elance page or blog? Does he want me to insert my own inimitable style into the articles?

I'd be happy to do any or all of that, but the project description didn't have that detail in it, so I wrote the articles as "web copy" for his website, and remained anonymous. They're informational articles about cosmetic surgery options. So now I'm waiting to hear back from him on his vision for the articles before I adapt them. He says they're excellent articles. He doesn't have a problem with what I've written so far. They're accurate and engaging enough. He just wants them "more editorial style than ghost-written." (???) Awrighty, then! What in tarnation does that mean?! If he does want me to have a byline, I'll divulge the URL so y'all can take a look at the articles and let me know what you think about them...

I'm published with a byline on the Modern Woman's Divorce Guide website. If you'd like to look up my bi-weekly blog there the URl is http://themodernwomansdivorceguide.com/ I'm writing blogs for the site until I run out of information to share.

The website will be updated real soon and the owner says I'll probably get my own little "niche" there. We'll see about that. I kinda hate to do that if I only have about two months' worth of information. That might be setting someone up to be frustrated: kinda like a network premiering a series you really get into and then cancelling it after two months! I hate when that happens and don't really want to do that to readers if I can avoid it.

I'm going to see if I can find some divorce assistance for kids of divorce that I can carry on with after I've shared all I can find for divorced women, because I know their concerns after divorce often revolve around how the rift has affected their children and how best to navigate those troubled waters. So I'm looking for stuff about that.

DivorceCare.org has a lot of good information on that aspect of divorce, too. They have generously allowed me to glean from their materials and mention their resources for the divorce site blogs, so my byline acknowledges their agreement to let me spout some of their stuff as long as I don't violate their copyright (as long as I don't plagiarize), which of course I don't! If you read any of the blogs, you can tell they're pretty much 100% "me." Even though I have never been married (and hence never divorced), I know lots of folks who have, and I've seen what they go through emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially, and I resonate greatly with hurting people. (Yes, I'm a bleeding heart liberal - and proud of it. You knew that all along, didn't you?)

I knew about DivorceCare.org because I used to work at Church For All Nations (www.churchforallnations.org) and was aware that George and Cathy Young were (and still are) leading DivorceCare (trademark symbol goes here but I can't find out how to make it happen on this blogsite!) sessions for divorced and separated Christians in the community at CFAN. So I knocked on Cathy's door, mind and heart and was allowed access to their materials -- an older notebook she had filled out and other insightful materials. Then I contacted DivorceCare for their permission to glean insights from their materials and was granted it before anything was published online. I figure it's a win-win arrangement: my byline points to the DivorceCare website so women who read my blog can access their materials and perhaps even start their own DivorceCare session at their churches. Spreading the information in that way is always a blessing for so many more people. It's tough going through a divorce and feeling "all alone in the world." With these two wonderful websites and helpful materials, the road becomes a lot less lonely and mysterious. And there's constant reassurance that God still loves us without limit, no matter where our journeys take us in life...

Well, maybe THIS is another reason why God got me up tonight. I guess I was supposed to write this blog! I think I can go back to sleep now. My conscience is clear again, I'm smiling, and I think I've written something here that might bless someone.

If so, all glory to God! He's the One Who floats my boat 24/7!!!

I Like This -- Duct Tape or a Nail?

A man dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates and says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in."

"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, not even in my heart."

"That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "and worth two points!"

"Only two points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."

"Terrific!" says St. Peter. "That's certainly worth a point."

"One point!?!! Okay, how about this? I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."

"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," St. Peter says.


"Two points!?!! " Exasperated, the man cries "At this rate the only way I'll get into heaven is by the grace of God."

"Bingo! 100 points! Come on in!"

We often try to fix problems with WD-40 and duct tape.

God did it with a nail.

THIS IS A TERRIFIC STORY, READ IT CAREFULLY

Puppy Size

"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.

"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.

"Puppy size!" replied the mother.

"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."

"I know... we have seen most of them," the mom said in frustration...

Just then Danielle came walking into the office!

"Well, did you find one?" her mom asked.

"No, not this time," Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?"

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.

"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular.

"It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration. "We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size, either," Mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran straight for the section that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so people could see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look.

One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.

One by one she said, "Sorry, but you're not the one."

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" she screamed with joy.
''It's the puppy size! '

"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom protested.

'No, Mom! Not size... The sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both.

"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.

Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day. They are the sighs of life.

Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear.
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

I hope your life is filled with Sighs!!!

Roses, Roses, Roses

Remember Andy Williams?

Remember this song?

Roses, roses, roses
I thank all the roses that bloom in the spring
Love is a wonderful thing
For the rest of my life I will bring
Her roses, and roses, and roses of love!

For all of us who have no spouse, sweetheart or honey, why should we limp along on Valentine's Day -- or on other special days, for that matter -- without a bouquet of glorious roses?

I've just pruned my rose bushes back to nubs - it's the right time of year to do that, here in the Pacific North-Wet - but the activity made me want roses RIGHT NOW, since it'll be months before I see any of my own opening in the front yard. (And face it, the ones I grow aren't nurtured nearly as well as are the ones at 1800Flowers.com, anyway!)

I'm thinking a bouquet of roses would do my sister and me a lot of good right now:

It would reaffirm that there are roses blooming somewhere in the world at this very moment

It would remind us that spring is just around the corner, even though we're slated to get 2-8 inches of snow overnight and Punxatawny Phil was right to see his shadow on February 2nd

It would make me smile

Do yourself a favor, singletons: Order yourself a bouquet of roses and sign them "Heaven-Sent to the one I love, from your sweetheart, The Creator of the Universe."

Go ahead. Get mushy over yourself. God would!

And if you can think of any other singletons out there who might be feeling lonely on Valentine's Day, or on their birthdays, or on Veteran's Day, or on a completely surprising day when they should expect nothing at all, send them some roses, too... or, if you're nearby, hand-carry them, especially if the singleton is a shut-in or an elderly person you know.

Spread your heart around. That's what it's for!

How about a bouquet of roses for the front desk at the nearest assisted living community, nursing home, or hospital? That way dozens of people can enjoy them!

Now, there's a thought!

I'm just full of them today (a nice change from being "full of it," don't'cha think? LOL!)

Go bless somebody who doesn't expect it.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

November 2009 -- New federal regulations require that I disclose an payments for recommendations on my blog. Disclosure: I was paid $10 to write this endorsement but I have used this company time after time and truly can endorse it wholeheartedly.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Fans... Logon and Enjoy!

http://www.cowboypal.com/sagebrush_news_no_1.pdf

Want to Help Rescued Weird-Pet Animals?

Check out this website!

http://www.crittercamp.biz/

Better Late Than Never! Wonderful Email from a Reader!

I don't know what happened to my brain when I moved last year to this new abode, but I totally forgot about having an AOL email account as well as an MSN account. I still have the AOL account because some of the TREK/DE websites out there (and my book website) still have my AOL email address listed... but as I say, I totally spaced on having it last June after Jackie and I moved to the new place. I just remembered it last night, so had some catching up to do, and some apologizing to do as well! (Of the 247 emails that were there, only about six were from De's fans; the rest were ads and come-ons... so you can see why it was pretty easy to forget about my email account, as I assumed everyone who knows of me has my MSN account email!)

I received a number of wonderful emails via the AOL account about my DeForest Kelley book (A Harvest of Memories), but one in particular really "got" me, and I asked the writer, Stacey Cook, if I could publish it here. She said yes and also gave me an update. So here they are...


Hi Kris,

Wow, I feel like I know you personally. Tis not often that a book or a tv star gives you that feeling, but I have it; both about you and De. Congratulations.

Allow me to start out with a bit of biography, so you can know me too. My name is Stacey Cook. I'm married, have a step-son, I'm 31. I'm a Freelance Producer and I live in Orlando, FL. I do mostly commercials and brochures, but have also done the occasional tv show and movie. I'm also a devout trekkie. Unfortunately for both of us, this e-mail is not to offer you a job or anything (yet... but we shall see what the future holds, lol) but rather it is praise for your audiobook.

I got it last year at the Las Vegas Creation Convention. Unfortunately, I was out there working so I missed some parts of the convention, including your part, although I very much wanted to see it. You see, De is my absolute fave of all of Trek's incarnations stars...he is also the ONLY one that I never got to meet. (He died when I was in college). I have met all of the other ones, either in the line of business or various conventions over the years. Ironic that he's my favorite and the only one I never met. (In fact, I recently finished a video for the Department of Defense and LeVar was our emcee - part of the reason I was there last year.) Anyhoo, your book changed that for me. I'm 3/4 through and I feel like I know the man, and he sounds as wonderful as anyone could ever be. Carolyn too.

As for you, you have a wonderful personal way with words, I felt like I was there with you listening to your book. You and I have a lot in common, we both work in the "biz", we both love De, and we both found ourselves caring for a loved one in their declining years.

This brings me to my actual reason for writing: to say thanks. You see, my grandfather, who raised me and is the closest person in my life, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (blood marrow cancer) back in March. He is 81, and has good days and bad days. He lives in Naples, FL which is 4 hours frrom me. I make the trip back to Naples whenever I can get time off, which is usually about twice a month and spend 3 or 4 days there each time. I give the full-time aide days off when I'm there and take care of him, body and soul, personally the entire time I'm there.

As I said, sometimes he is good, hardly requiring anything, other times Chemo has been so tough that I have to help him bathe, dress, go to the bathroom, eat, put lotion on etc. etc. Anyway, you said it best when you said caring for a loved one like this is the most unsettling but at the same time rewarding thing we could experience.

I listen to your book on my long drives to and from Naples every month and it has made me laugh, cry, smile, pass the time, ponder life's unanswerable questions...but most of all, it has helped me in my current crisis. I sometimes leave his house and turn his care back over to the aide with a heavy heart and get back into my car for the ride back to Orlando and back to my life.

Then I listen to your book, your feelings in detail, how you took care of De and your mom...and I feel I have a friend who knows what it is like, and I take comfort and advice from it...and I love De more and more, he reminds me of my papa. ;)

Anyway, I'm usually not one for soapy scenes so I'll sign off now. Sorry I was so long-winded, just wanted to say thanks. I'm going to the con in Vegas next week again- wish you would be there this year!

Take care, hope you are doing well.
Sincerely,
Stacey L. Cook


Needless to say, if I ever feel "slighted" by a reader's review at Amazon, I have a number of emails from people like Stacey who have read (or in Stacey's case, listened to) the book and truly benefited from it, so the very few one and two star reviews don't rile or touch me much, really (they're just a little ouchy, 'cause I'm alive and sensitive!). I just wish everyone had come away with what Stacey has, and that the book did for all others what it did for her.

Anyway, I apologized for not getting back to Stacey sooner, and received a follow-up, which I will also share with you:


Kris,

Well better late than never! :) I was very pleased to hear from you, thank you for your kind words. To start off, let me say, yes, of course you may publish the e-mail. :)

Now, let's catch up. A lot has happened in the 6 months since I wrote that e-mail to you, so I'll update. My beloved papa died. However, everyone in the family seems to be doing very well.

When I wrote you that e-mail in August, papa was having a good month. In fact, it was the best month he had since he was diagnosed last March.

I had a feeling that August was his last hurrah. I was right. He got very sick in the middle of September and died on Oct. 7. I spent a few days a week with him those last couple of months going back and forth to Naples from Orlando, and that last week I was there w/ him round the clock, holding his hand when he died.

I finished your book shortly after I wrote to you. In some way, it gave me the strength I needed and the knowledge of what to expect. Papa died of cancer as well.

It was very sad and very difficult but at the same time, I believe I was as prepared as I could be when the time came. As soon as I finished your book, I got "Caring for aDying Loved One through Your Catholic Faith" and that helped too.

Papa's last week was so surreal. He was experiencing the phenomenon of "Nearing Death Awareness," talking symbolically and living both in this world and the next...talking to relatives and friends who died long before but was with it enough to be able to know me and tell me who he was talking to.

It was scary but amazing all at the same time. It was a comfort to know he had so many waiting for him when he died. I recognized the signs and was able to pinpoint the day of his death through my own intuition, what hospice said, and what he was telling me. He came home from the hospital w/ Hospice on a Saturday and I calculated in my head he had about a week and a half...and he died a week and a half later on Tuesday.

I was able to call all his relatives in NY and they came down. Many many family and friends and clergy came by to see him and say good-bye on Monday. (He had slipped into a sort of coma on Sunday) I'd say he had about 70 people in and out of his big Italian family house on Monday, and he died Tues morning at 6:10 am with his closest family around him. (His 3 kids, me - his granddaughter but really like his 4th child - his wife, and closest sister).

Like I said, it was so sad but at the same time so spiritual and timely. Everything happened just as it was supposed to...I truly believe that and the one thing I never thought I'd be ready for, I was. Strange.

My grandmother (his wife of 62 years) is doing very well. We got her a live-in companion...the niece of my boss, and it is working out beautifully. She calls her grandma, takes her everywhere, gets along great with my family. She was really a God-Send and my grandma just loves her.

The rest of my family is doing well too after losing the patriarch. Well, I think I've talked your ear off long enough about all this...but like I said, I feel like I know you and owe you a thanks. :)

How are you these days? According to your blog, still writing, that is great. Good for you. Do you have any plans of any more convention appearances? I'd like to buy you lunch one of these days!

Sincerely,
Stacey Cook

Stacey, if I ever get to a convention you're at, we'll definitely do lunch! And if you're ever in the Seattle-Tacoma area, let me know: I'll drag out all my De stuff and we'll have a De fest! You made my day with these emails!

What a Wonderful World! Fabulous Video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rooyt3ptNco&feature=email

A Way To Help Our Veterans...

Please logon to this URL and, if God's spirit leads you, help out this fine veteran's organization. DeForest and Carolyn Kelley supported veteran's groups their entire lives. (If you've read Terry Rioux's biography of De, you know why! They belonged to what Tom Brokaw called The Greatest Generation and lost friends in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm, many of whom were fans in the later wars...)

The Kelleys would love and support what it being done by this organization!

http://covo-us.org/

I Can Only Imagine (Right Now)... But One Day... *sigh*

Did My House/Horse/Dog Sitting Duty...

I spent all day Wednesday and part of the day Thursday up in Eatonville house-sitting and watching over two Swiss Mountain Dogs, a blue heeler, a Pomeranian, a pug and an adorable mixed mutt of some sort, plus three horses (two quarter horses and an Arabian, I believe). And yes, I know all of their names. In order, they are: Adonis and Star, Rocky, Coco, Rosie, Katie, Gus, Kissy (Charisma) and -- uh oh? -- Lady? I think the third horse is Lady but will have to ask next time to be sure, which will probably be pretty soon.

Luckily I didn't have to go to Clover Park Technical College yesterday because the class I take notes in was having a test for the full hour, so I was able to concentrate all day on getting about 12 articles written (for a cosmetic surgery firm, divorce insights, a diversity firm, and a security firm). I also spoke with a new buyer who wants me to write press releases for many of her clients, perhaps a few each week. If the cosmetic surgery firm likes what I wrote, I'll have them long-term, too.

So I'm building up a small clientele that wants me to write for them every week. Fabulous! There is still enough time left in the day to continue to bid on smaller jobs that have quick turnaround deadlines, too, so I'm in good shape. Not exactly "rolling in dough" by any stretch of the imagination, but over time maybe I'll find some to roll in... and if I do, it'll smell and feel like rose petals because my dream of being self-employed and making enough to survive will be fully realized! Boy howdy, that is going to be one mighty delightful day!

I was just thanking God last night for blessing the road I'm on. I told Him a year ago that if I was still struggling by the time my unemployment ran out, I would give up the notion of "writing for a living" and get a 9-t0-5 job as a secretary, administrative assistant or receptionist -- all of which pay pretty paltry sums up here, and are hard to find in this economy, but... hey, they're what I know how to do reliably! I kinda had a hunch that if I really hunkered down and went for it, pushing past the fear, something good would happen, but it took some serious doing to move forward with the plan. It was when I kept getting unemployment extensions beyond all understanding that I realized, "Hey, God really is in all of this!" so I kept plugging away, still applying for dozens upon dozens of other jobs as required by the Employment Security Department, but NONE of the many apps and resumes ever resulted in interviews (except several times for the same non-profit, which ultimately went another way). So I thought, "OK... I can't even GET a normal 9-to-5 job right now... so what does that tell me? GOD IS IN THIS! HE WANTS ME TO BELIEVE IN THE DREAM HE PLACED IN MY HEART AS AN EIGHT YEAR OLD, WHICH HAS NEVER WAVERED!!!!"

I'm a real dunce sometimes, ya know? I had Pulitzer nominees telling me I was a helluva writer (thanks Ted Crail!), actors who know good writing encouraging me (Thanks, De!) an English teacher buying me THE WRITER magazine because she saw my potential as a sixth and seventh grader and couldn't teach me herself, not being a writer... and still I doubted?!?!?!?

I should have had my head examined!

I still haven't had my head examined, because it's a pretty good head, with Jesus inside. I just have to listen to it, and especially to my heart, and decide to follow them! When I do, sometimes magic happens -- if not for me, certainly for others.

And that's the way God planned it, from the very beginning... before any of us were here! That everything we engage in should be either "good" (of God) or "very good." Jesus said, "You will do even greater things than I have..."

I'm still waiting to see that happen in our lives! LOL!

Now, THERE'S a mountain to climb!!!

Yes! Let's Do It!

Satan can talk like this....

WE SHOULDN'T!

LOL!

How Sad...

Several of President Obama's key people have withdrawn their names from consideration to serve him because of tax or other investigation problems. Sadly, I think it's a sign of the times, and since the President is really intent on "cleaning house," this just shows, I suppose, how systemic and broad the underlying problems really are and have been for decades if not generations. When even "good" people fudge on their taxes until they're caught and charged, it's awfully scary. Until we fully "get" the Golden Rule (which probably won't be till Kingdom Come), I suppose we'll always have some of these problems. It stinks!

I do think that whatever house cleaning Obama can do will be good for all of us down the road, though. I'm sad to see Tom Daschle take the fall -- I really, really like the man and it's a shame he won't be heading up HHS. The others, except for Bill Richardson, I don't know as well and so can't comment on. I hope Richardson's name is cleared during the investigation so he can help Obama, as he wants to do...

I still am gung-ho for Obama-Biden! Haven't seen anything in this team that dissuades me from continuing to feel good about them and their assembled team.

I'll Be Away From Home Again Soon

Jackie will be holding down the fort once again while I take a day and a half to house-, horse- and dog-sit in Eatonville (about 22 miles away) for a 36-hour stretch while a couple I know gets away for a quick wedding anniversary retreat at Cannon Beach, Oregon. I should have Internet access there this time, and so may be able to continue to blog and do my Elance work from there, but no guarantees until I actually get there!

I took on another role at a divorce assistance website today. I'll be doing their e-newsletter, too -- with talking points provided by the owner of the site. The site is being re-launched later this month. When I know the URL, I'll let you know what it is so you can glean information from it if you're going through a divorce or know someone who is.

I'll be writing articles for a cosmetic surgery company here in Tacoma in the not-too-distant future. They found me via Elance! I'm looking forward to that... And I'll be writing for a life coach soon, too, God willing and if everything goes forward as planned... all via Elance!

I'm at the tail-end of a large project for a Canadian company right now. I've written 95% of the material and now just have to make any edits that are necessary after the client reviews it. I hope that'll be all put to bed before I head for Eatonville the day after tomorrow.

Today is Jackie's birthday so we've been celebrating that for about three days with various family members and friends. It's always a lot of fun. There were 13 people here for the Super Bowl yesterday while we celebrated Part One of Jackie's Birthday Gala. What a game at the end, huh?

By contrast, I hide during my birthday. Always have, even when I was a kid. I don't even remember any birthday parties for me; I have blanked them out of my memory entirely, although I know I had them, as did Laurel and Jackie. I don't like being placed into a spotlight. It's too nerve-wracking. I've been that way pretty much forever -- which is probably why I love to write! I have lots to say, but am too freakin' shy to say it when I'm around other people!

The funny thing is, I register as a very high "I" (along with a very high D and S) on the DISC personality insights scale. I used to be a Shirley Temple-type sparkler when I was very young. But it got it "corrected" out of me by my parents, who viewed me as "over-the-top." The correction stuck and kinda crippled me: I guess I figured there was something intrinsically wrong with being a sparkler!

But I wanted to be an actress (and always a writer!) as a teenager, after I worked my way out of the corner of every room, where I usually hid. I started with puppet shows, then graduated to debate and speeches. (If you can survive debate and speeches and not have a heart attack, you're doing fine in the public arena, even if you're still feeling scared spit-less.)

What else? Our next Writer's Edge class gathering is this Saturday at church from 10-1 so I'm very much looking forward to that. Pastor Ken Ecker (my former boss at Church For All Nations) is going to give the class a refresher course on proper written English and grammar using all those fancy terms that teachers use when teaching, most of which I have long since forgotten. He was an English teacher before he became a pastor, so we've corralled him for a few sessions every few months or so.

The student I'm taking notes for at Clover Park wasn't in class today. Her teacher told me that her husband suffered a heart attack this morning. So please keep him and her in your prayers. Her name is Cheryl. I don't know his name, but God does, so your prayers are much appreciated, I'm sure.

Guess that's all the news that's fit to print for this time...

Message from President Obama

The economic crisis is growing more serious every day, and the time for action has come.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will jumpstart our economy and put more than 3 million people back to work. I hope to sign the recovery plan into law in the next few weeks.

But I need your help to spread the word and build support. It's not enough for this bill to simply pass Congress. Americans need to know how it will affect their lives -- they need to know that help is on the way and that this administration is investing in economic growth and stability.

Governor Tim Kaine has agreed to record a video outlining the recovery plan and answering questions about what it means for your community. You can submit your questions online and then invite your friends, family, and neighbors to watch the video with you at an Economic Recovery House Meeting.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/economicmeetings/

The stakes are too high to allow partisan politics to get in the way. That's why I've consulted with Republicans as well as Democrats to put together a plan that will address the crisis we face. I've also taken steps to ensure an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Once it's passed, you will be able to see how every penny in this plan is being spent.

You can help restore confidence in our economy by making sure your friends, family, and neighbors understand how the recovery plan will impact your community.

Our ability to come together as a nation in difficult times has never been more important.

I know I can rely on your spirit and resolve as we lead our country to recovery.

Thank you,
President Barack Obama

P.S. -- If you can't host or attend an Economic Recovery House Meeting, you can still submit your questions for Governor Kaine and then share the video with your friends and family this weekend.