(Note: I have never used Flickr before, so I'm not sure if my album will show up properly. If you have any trouble clicking through the photos, let me know and I will try to fix it.)
Showing posts with label Fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fun. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
A Very Merry London Christmas
This past month has been amazing! London was not the only wonderful thing that happened recently, but it will be the focus of this post. If someone would have told me at the beginning of the year that I would get to go to London in December, I would have thought they were high. Something that I have prayed and dreamed about since I was a teenager has finally come to pass, and I thank God for providing the opportunity. Even though I only got to spend a week there, that trip helped make 2017 a great year for me. And going in December with Christmas right around the corner made it seem even more magical! I thought I would share a fraction of the pictures I took during my trip. I hope you enjoy and have a very Merry Christmas!
(Note: I have never used Flickr before, so I'm not sure if my album will show up properly. If you have any trouble clicking through the photos, let me know and I will try to fix it.)
(Note: I have never used Flickr before, so I'm not sure if my album will show up properly. If you have any trouble clicking through the photos, let me know and I will try to fix it.)
Friday, June 30, 2017
5 Weird Things About Me
I’ve said this before and I’m saying it again: Where does the time go?! I think this heat and humidity is really getting to me. I constantly feel lethargic and am unable to focus on anything for very long. I honestly don’t think Twitter has helped very much. It’s just another distracting feed like Facebook, so I have added it to my “distractions to avoid” list, which includes most of the internet. Speaking of the internet, my computer decided to do some avoiding for me and would only load email and a couple other websites no matter which browser I was using. After over a week of being unable to visit many sites and giving up on my computer time most days, I finally researched my problem on my phone (since Google results could not load on the computer). I had to do some high tech computer manipulation with the command prompt, but I got it working again, at least for now.
Anyway, Barbara from Life & Faith in Caneyhead has challenged me to name 5 weird things about myself. So, no Flashback Friday today, and sorry Barbara for my delay. I sort of had a hard time narrowing down my list, because being introverted and geeky automatically adds a lot of weird quirks, but here are the things I have chosen to share today:
5 Weird Things About Me
- When I was 5 years old, my dream job was to be a mom. I considered a couple other options in my teen years, but since then, being a stay-at-home mom has still been my dream.
- I enjoy playing video games. I have logged the most hours with Legend of Zelda and Star Wars: The Old Republic.
- I absolutely hate making phone calls! I sometimes have a hard time talking myself into calling my best friends, and if I am forced to call an insurance company or patient at work, I nearly have a panic attack.
- I live in Oklahoma, but I don’t like biscuits and gravy or Dr. Pepper, which apparently makes me weird in this state. I guess it’s because I was not born here :)
- I have an eclectic assortment of interests and I tend to have a hard time picking favorites. For example, if you ask me my favorite movie/book/song/pastime, I’ll ask you to name a genre, and then if I enjoy that genre, I’ll name at least three things that I like in that category in no particular order.
Since I’m joining in a little late, I won’t tag anyone else, but feel free to share your own oddities in a comment or let me know if you have already participated.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Flashback Friday: Cats
**I forgot to pre-schedule my Flashback Friday post! But, it's alright because it is still Friday where I am. Since it is a bit late, I thought I would include something new at the end as a bonus. Flashback Friday occurs the last Friday of the month. Participants repost an old post that needed more attention, that you're very proud of, that you think is still relevant, etc. It was hosted by Michael G D'Agostino, but he has opted out. You can still find a list of previous and current participants on his blog.**
Just a Quick Word (With Cats!) - Previously published July 24, 2015
Just for fun, I thought I would introduce everyone to my cats. They have made some appearances in post pictures before, and I thought they deserved a proper introduction!
Here they are:
They're pretty lazy
This is Kitty:
We wanted to come up with a great name for her when she was a kitten, so we waited for her personality to develop. But the next thing you know, we just couldn't come up with anything more fitting than Kitty or just The Cat since she was our only indoor cat for a while.
This is Sawyer:
He's my lap baby and a great comforter after a long day at work. He also likes to sleep in a lot of strange positions, so he ends up in more pictures than the other two.
This is Sophie:
She is the bratty, "little sister" of this clowder. She sometimes ninja-strikes all, whether cat, dog, or human, who cross her path.
And now (3/31/17), here is a little bonus picture. Can you spot the new cat?:
This is Arwen. While Kitty, Sawyer, and Sophie rule the indoors, Arwen is an outside cat who chose my family. She is a bit camera shy and she doesn't always come around, but I managed to capture her in a rare moment of getting cozy in the little house we got for her.
Friday, October 21, 2016
If I Were a Mobster Blogfest
Today,
I’m participating in Chrys Fey’s If I Were a Mobster Blogfest. She decided to do a blogfest to celebrate the release of her latest novella, 30 Seconds Before. I thought this
sounded like fun and it was also a great opportunity to practice character
creation. Here is my mobster:
Mobster Name:
Joanie Fiotta
Rank: The hacker/undercover
agent
Crime Zone: Orlando,
Florida
Look/Disguise: Operating
from the shadows and a master of disguise, Joanie can create any identity she
wants for herself and her partners.
Weapon of Choice:
Computer
Mobster Vehicle:
The most technologically-advanced vehicle available, like the Batmobile, except
less obvious.
What She’s Known
For: She is able to hack into complex systems and create new identities. She
can supply passports and get her cohorts wherever they need to go, including
overseas locations. She also excels at undercover field work because of her
keen observation skills.
Catch Phrase: “Don’t
worry boys, I can hack this!”
I read Chrys Fey's 30 Seconds and I liked it. It was action-packed and had some interesting twists and turns. And, guess what? She has it on sale for 99 cents until Nov. 4! Now, I'm turning this post over to Chrys:
I read Chrys Fey's 30 Seconds and I liked it. It was action-packed and had some interesting twists and turns. And, guess what? She has it on sale for 99 cents until Nov. 4! Now, I'm turning this post over to Chrys:
30 SECONDS BEFORE BLURB:
Blake Herro is a cop in the Cleveland Police Force. Ever
since he was a child he wanted to do right by the city he loved by cleaning up
the streets and protecting its citizens. Red, a notorious mobster, has other
plans.
On a bitter December night, ten police officers are drawn
into a trap and killed by Red’s followers. Blake wants to bring down the Mob to
avenge his fallen brothers and to prevent other cops from being murdered.
Except the only way he can do that is by infiltrating the Mob.
Every minute he’s with these mobsters he’s in danger.
Around every corner lies the threat of coming face to face with a gun. Will he
make it out of the Mob alive or will he be their next victim?
BUY LINKS:
To celebrate, 30 Seconds, the follow up story, is on sale for 99 cents!
Sale Oct. 21st – Nov. 4th
SALE LINKS:
Amazon / The Wild Rose Press / NOOK / KOBO
BIO:
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Good Morning! Would You Like Some Coffee?
Alright, so I'm not really a morning person, in fact, this post will be scheduled to go up before my morning alarms go off. But I do like coffee! I came across this great video in my YouTube recommendations in the aftermath of the A to Z Challenge. I actually did mention this particular cantata in my post for Letter D. This is the 4th movement in J.S. Bach's Secular cantata Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, also known as the Coffee Cantata. This song is quite hilarious, if you read the English lyrics (or know German). And believe it or not, it was written between 1732 and 1735! I hope you enjoy :)
In other news, I wanted to continue some thoughts on my post from a few weeks ago, but I have not managed to get them written out yet, but it should be coming at some point. I did find a nice way to share some of my older devotional posts. I signed up for Michael G D'Agostino's Flashback Friday, which will occur the last Friday of each month. Since that post is already written, I will probably have two posts next week, one on Wednesday and my first Flashback Friday post. So, I will be back next week. Now go get that coffee, milk, orange juice, or whatever morning beverage you enjoy!
Monday, December 14, 2015
The Joy of Christmas
****************************************
Christmas
was a very special time when I was a kid. I would get so excited about opening presents
on Christmas Eve at home and then waking up early the next morning to drive two
hours to Grandma’s house to open more presents. I did not realize the true
value of those moments until after my grandma died. My mom, dad, brother, and I
moved to Oklahoma about a year after Grandma passed away and the next few
Christmases seemed very sad and lonely with just the four of us. I have longed
for another big family Christmas since then. I cannot believe that this
Christmas will mark 20 years since the last time my mother’s side of the family
all gathered together at Grandma’s house. Over the years, I have realized that
the presents were only a small part of the joy of spending the holiday with
family, and my small family has started our own traditions to celebrate each year.
We started using stockings at some point when I was in high school, we had a
few Christmas dinners with friends from the church, my brother and I have taken
care of Christmas dinner for the past couple years, and my dad likes to read
the story of Christ’s birth from the Bible on Christmas day. Christmas has
become special for me again, and it has nothing to do with what I receive. I
enjoy seeing someone’s face light up when I finally find the right gift for
him/her. I enjoy hearing about how God sent His son to the earth as a little
baby in Bethlehem and all the beautiful songs about Him, like this one:
Christmas, especially this year in light of recent world
events, reminds me that we still have hope in Christ. When life looks bleak, I
think of the genuine, innocent joy of a child watching Christmas lights. In the
midst of bad news, I am grateful to find stories of good Samaritans who help
the poor, weary, wounded, and brave. As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes, there
is a time for mourning and sorrow, but there is also a time for joy and
laughter. I find joy in Christmas when I seek time to fellowship with family
and friends throughout the month of December.
****************************************
And now, here is a quick list of a few of my favorite things:
Beverage: Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks
Party: my church’s young adult Christmas party is usually the most fun
TV Episode: Garfield's Christmas Special
Christmas food: decorated sugar cookies
Beverage: Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks
Decoration: My snow globe collection
Songs: O Come, O Come Emmanuel and What Child is This?
Tradition: driving or walking through Christmas light
displays
Party: my church’s young adult Christmas party is usually the most fun
TV Episode: Garfield's Christmas Special
Movie: White Christmas
Speaking of a white Christmas, I also really enjoy seeing snow on the ground on Christmas day and I hope to see some this year.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
Christmas Joy Blog Hop Participants:
6. Susan Says
10. Birgit
11. Abba's Lap
Monday, November 23, 2015
Join the Christmas Joy Blog Hop!
- A special Christmas memory
- Favorite Christmas song/carol
- Share why you celebrate Christmas
- Favorite decorations, favorite food or treats, etc.
- The best gift you ever gave or received
- Traditions
I will probably include all of the above because Christmas has always been my favorite time of year! So, please join in on the fun and feel free to tell your friends :)
Christmas Joy Blog Hop Participants:
6. Susan Says
10. Birgit
11. Abba's Lap
Be Thankful
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Celebrating a Blogging Milestone
 |
| Sawyer is ready to celebrate! |
The wait is over, it is time for my special
announcement! This post marks a special milestone in my blogging history. Are
you ready to find out what it is?
*This is my 100th blog post!*
It is exciting to reach 100 posts :) I have finally reached a point where I post once a week unless circumstances don’t allow me to. Posting regularly was my initial intention when I created this blog, but back then I did not discipline myself very well with my writing and ultimately ended up posting only once a month until I abandoned blogging entirely in late 2013. I missed sharing my writing with my friends during that time away, and then I found out about the A to Z Challenge in February 2015 and decided to return with a vengeance! I discovered new connections with the amazing blogging community and I was again able to share my writing with my friends who read my posts from the beginning. So thank you to all my friends, both old and new, for sharing in my adventures with blogging! As a part of this celebration, I decided to create a Facebook fan page. Now my Facebook friends and fellow bloggers can unite to find my latest updates, blog posts, and fun extras. I decided to use my full name, Elizabeth Ann Otten, for my writings and you can find me here:
But wait, there's more! I am also considering hosting a Christmas blog hop. I would probably have it in mid-December. What do you think? Would you like to participate in a Christmas-themed blog hop? I know that I would need to visit all the participants if I took on this endeavor, is there anything else I need to know about hosting a blog hop? What would be a good day, I'm thinking a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday?
 |
| Yay Christmas! |
One more thing: I
realized that a few weeks ago I said I would publish this post on Monday.
Apparently, I forgot that the last two weeks when I said this would be a
Wednesday post. Oh well, sorry if anyone noticed that and was confused.
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