Welcome!

I'm not new to talking, sharing ideas, or stating my opinion, especially stating my opinion! After all, I taught elementary school for 30 years! However, my audience has typically been smaller,just family, the classroom, or just talking to myself!

My blog has two goals: be an outlet for sharing thoughts on writing children's books and the path to publication (got my fingers crossed that I'll get there) and a place to chronicle my journey of losing my sight. Sometimes I imagine these two paths will overlap .


Saturday, June 5, 2010

Write From the Soul

Contest winners!!!!

Originally I planned on 3 prizes hoping I could reach my goal of 50 followers. But my blogger buddies are soooo supportive and gave me lots of shout-outs until I've reached 61 followers! [jumping up and down, doing cartwheels- actually trying to but falling over, ouch!] In honor of my 50 +11, I added one more book prize and 10 "chocolate winners". Drum roll please.............

Winners of the Borders and Barnes and Nobles gift cards:
 (and your favorite chocolate)
             Susanne Drazic and Cheryl Malandrinos 

Winners of the books (and favorite chocolate):
             Donna McDine- Lipstick Apology
             Cathy C. Hall- Savvy

Chocolate winners:
             Lydia Kang, Janet Johnson, Beth Revis, Steena      Holmes, Angela Ackerman, Bish Denham, Katie Anderson, Pat "StableGranny", Elizabeth Dulemba, and Roland Y.

Congratulations to all :-) Please send a snailmail address and the name of your favorite chocolate to:
g underscore handle at bellsouth dot net and I'll get your prizes to you.

Thanks to everyone. ( giant hug circling all of you)        Watch for another giveaway when I reach 100 followers!
XOXO
Gail

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Visualeyes

I took a big step today. I called a company that makes white canes and ordered my own. By just using the one my mobility instructor brings each session it means I only have to confront getting to the point where I need to use a cane, once a week. Having one, makes it harder to avoid.

I know myself well. I can sabotage my life without too much difficulty, and I can usually rationalize my way in or out of most decisions. So if there's something difficult to do, and I don't really want to do it, I need to narrow the parameters. That way I'm aimed toward the correct decision, not the one of least resistance.

That's why I paid for priority shipping so I'll have the cane early next week, like Tuesday. You see, Saturday next week, I'm going to the beach with a friend. That would be the perfect place and opportunity to practice using my cane. (Not actually on the beach, silly!!!) It's a small town that we can walk to from our condo. No one knows me there, thus eliminating the uncomfortable-being-seen issue and the embarrassment factor. And the friend I'm going with is one of my closest, dearest friends and one of my greatest supporters. I know she will cheer me on and revel in my accomplishments with me. It's the perfect set of conditions; the cane will be there, so I'll just have to use it.

And of course, by telling all of my wonderful blogger buddies and followers, I can't wiggle out of it :-D  (I have to be relentless with myself otherwise I adopt the attitude I heard way too often in my classroom.....do I have to??? Can you hear the whiny voice that goes with it? 

Surely the woman who took on the city of Dunwoody to get a proper sidewalk, and is taking on the leadership of Atlanta's mass transit organization to prevent removal of her much needed bus route, and handle using a cane for a week?

Do I have to???????