Technology is Our Friend

by G.Parker

Well, at least that's what I keep telling myself.  This isn't quite the post I would have done had I had more time, but since I'm using my daugters little tablet, this is the best I can do this week.  My computer (my lovely large keyboard that is erogonomicly friendly- sorry if there are any spelling errors, she also doesn't have firefox or chrome and IE doesn't have a spell check!) has been suffering due to the switch my hubby has that doesn't like me right now.  He's a wonderful computer tech, and we have a switch to have multiple computers on the internet at the same time.  Well, the switch seems to be dying, and the wireless connections are working, but not the wired ones.  Sigh.  So, I started work this week and don't have time to access things at work, so I'm stuck.  My hubby is studying on his computer, and when he's not, it's a little tablet like my daugter's and it's also locked with a passwrod I haven't bothered to memorize.  I mean, what's the point?  I never use it...  lol.

So.  As a writer in today's world, I've come to rely on computers.  I used to write with a pen and paper.  I even used to use a pencil, which makes me shudder to think of it now.  (Pencil fades)  But when my fingers were able to type almost as fast as I thought, it was much easier to write my stories on a keyboard rather than on paper.  I loved the electric typewriter.  Remember the movie You've Got Mail and the one guy's fascination with the electric typewriter?  I can totally relate.  Well...to a point.  I wouldn't collect the same one. :)

It has also gotten to the point where to submit to a publisher you need to be able to do it in electronic format.  I remember the first time I saw that on a submission requirement.  I wondered what the world had come to.  I guess that gives away my age - but then, how many of you actually used a typewriter anyway?  There's a reason they call it keyboarding instead of typing now. 

Well, since I'm using my daughter's computer, I need to cut this rambling short, so I'll sign off now.  Have a great weekend, enjoy your internet connections and reflect on how strange your writing life would be without the computer.

We'd be back in the dark ages!  ARGH.  I'm okay now.

The Winner is....

Well...the one and only person who even tried, and so the WINNER is Pennylessteacher!  YEAH....let's hear it for her!!  You win the three books, so way to go!  I'll be getting the information to the shipper this week.  Sorry I wasn't able to announce it Monday, but we've been having internet issues with my comptuer and I had to borrow my daughters...lol
Anyway - fun stuff.  Aren't we thankful for modern technology???  Ugh.

Book Giveaway!!

Okay...now that I'm a grandmother, and have to think about what my grandchildren are going to be reading in the future, I've begun to look at books for children and young adults.  I have come across a series of books that are sooo cute and hilarious, that I just know my grandkids are going to love them.  If only they didn't have to wait 6 years!  lol

Anyway, if you haven't heard of the Piper Reed series, you've missed out.  My mom would have loved these books, which is another vote in their favor.  I was fortunate enough to get in on a free copy of the latest book, which is Forever Friend, and now I wish I'd read the other ones.  I'll have to go find them...

But along with that, I get to give away three books!!  A hardback of Forever Friends, and then a paperback of Navy Brat and Rodeo Star.  Everyone raise their hand who would love to win a free book!!!???  Okay - giveaway rules:

1 - leave a comment on my blog with email so I can contact you for mailing address.

2 - like Piper Reed on facebook (and tell me about it)

3 - tell me the craziest thing you ever did as a kid!  lol

The top entries will be the winner!!

Contest runs through Friday the 17th and I'll announce the winner on Monday the 20th.

So, give her books a try!  You'll love it.  I think it's a great story about how a young navy brat (to quote the title above) deals with moving around so much.  I really liked the idea of a gypsy club, I wonder how many clubs have been sparked by reading the book!  Anyway, get your kids to read it, it's clean, it's funny, and it has silly illustrations.  You'll want to get the whole series so they can start at the beginning!.

Well, they're over for now...

Well, the closing ceremonies have played, and the flames were extinguished.  Interestingly enough, it wasn't as sad a thing as it had been in 2012, so perhaps the reality that they aren't that far away dulls the pain.  lol.  I realize it's a bit silly, but I love the Olympics, and it's always a little sad when they end.  My family, on the other hand, takes a deep breath of relief, as they won't have to face every evening of watching the coverage on TV.  Though, there were several nights we missed and they should be thankful...lol

What cracks me up is the review of the closing ceremonies I read this morning.  You would think that the whole audience hated the party and the guy that did the show had no taste.  While those of us 'on this side of the pond' as they like to put it, thought it was pretty fun.  Strange - but fun.  There were aspects that we didn't like, thought were bizarre, but we put it down to the strange English humor. I could have done without the girl, Jessie J? and her skin outfits, but she did a good job with Queen, and my kids liked most the show.  I figure that's a pretty good feat.

We're excited for Rio, though I figure the opening ceremonies are going to be one big carnival.  What do you think? lol

(I was going to post a photo, but since there is a big stink right now over copyright and stuff, I don't have one.  Sorry!)