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'Tis the season.... With Hallmark and other studios producing holiday and Christmas movies, it's hard to watch any show without a commercial for one of the movies. I admit, my wife and I enjoy watching them. And every once in a while, that age-old holiday movie recipe gets an unexpected change. Over the past 15 years, Hallmark alone has produced more than 300 Christmas movies using that "you know what's going to happen", feel good approach. But, this sentiment actually comes from an unsuccessful foray to Wal-Mart yesterday to find some Thanksgiving decorations for a family Thanksgiving meal. We could only find Christmas decorations. Yes, we obviously missed this by a mile. Soooo ... Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays ... early! |
I'm pretty sure Thanksgiving season in retail is only November 1st through November 2nd ...  |
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Since there were no How-To submissions in October, I'm extending the Open Prompt to the end of November. I know NanoWriMo 2024 is in full swing, but take a break at some point and submit those helpful How-To articles. I look forward to reading them. Best of luck! |
My Noticing Newbies newsletter, "Creating a Writing Empire"  , hit the site's stands this past Wednesday. In it I included a short Survey. I promised a merit badge for every fourth survey I received back. So far, I've received 12 replies; here are the MB recipients: Amethyst Angel 🍁🙏  Dale Ricky  foxtale  Thank you to all who read my newsletter, and to those who received the MBs. I'm still accepting surveys. |
Wow! Does it seem like October has flown by? Only four days left this month to get your entries submitted to the
Remember, it's an OPEN prompt. Do you have any How-To articles lurking somewhere in your Ports? Dust 'em off and send them my way. Best of luck. |
I'm baaaack! The cruise was fabulous. But the flying there and back left a lot to be desired--lost luggage delivered late, missing a flight due to maintenance delays in leaving an airport, and an eight-hour layover. Despite our limited language abilities in six Eastern and Central European countries, we found the people accepting and friendly, and some outstanding food and scenery. Pics to follow ... soon. |
| I'll be out of the net for the next two weeks traveling to Venice and cruising down the Adriatic to Greece. My only WDC contact will be via my phone, which I find difficult to use personally for anything major. But I will try to check in on the Newsfeed with short updates here and there. By the way, that guy will NOT be me. Well, probably not me ... I don't even own a shirt like that.  |
| My wife's first grandson has gone off to college. I thought I'd give him some words to live by as he approached his first exams. 1st Law of Applied Exams: Every instructor assumes that you have nothing else to do except study for that instructor's course. 2nd Law of Applied Exams: When reviewing your notes before an exam, the most important ones will be illegible. 3rd Law of Applied Exams: Eighty percent of the final exam will be based on that one lecture you missed, or that one book you didn't read. |
It's a new month. This month's prompt is: MISCELLANEOUS (Open) Any topic listed in "Writing.Com 101" is welcome. Remember, I'm looking for How-To articles that are written to help members navigate the many features of WDC. |
Last day to enter using the prompt: COMMUNICATION
You can do it! |
| I read a line from an Opinion article written by for the LA Times that I think sums up the current election cycle--from local to the Presidential election: "One can't really blame a politician for lying about a fundamental fact, any more than one can punish a dog for drinking out of the toilet. It's what they do." If you're interested in reading the opinion article, email me for the link. |
| It's September 23rd. Autumn is here now. Fully! And with only one week left before the end of the month, it's now time to prepare and submit your entry to ...
The prompt? COMMUNICATION Click on the link, and come back with something to help the rest of us. |
Pursuant (that's a really neat word, and one I've never had the occasion to use ... until now) to my "Note: A Mini-Newsfeed Contest
I've never be...", WakeUpAndLive~doingNaNo'24  pushed my CR to the 4-digit mark by awarding me the following MB last night and will receive the prizes listed. ![Merit Badge in Spiritual Ganesha
[Click For More Info]
Is this CR 1000? For Luck!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Spiritual_Ganesha.gif) I still remember when only one member had 1000+ CR. (I will refrain from mentioning the name of that member, but only because I remember the WHAT and not the WHO.) Now there are 48 members in that club with more knocking on the door daily. Though it took me 16 years to achieve that number, I feel honored. CR is more than just a number after your name. It represents participation and support of Writing.Com, and comradery among the members. I wish you all continued success on WDC. (By the way, The StoryMistress  is only ten away from that 1000 CR pillar. Well, nine--I started it off.) |
JACE  - and THANKFUL SONALI Library Class!  . Forgot to tell Jace that Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and bringer of good luck; the patron of arts and sciences; and the deva of intellect and wisdom. Ganesha is also invoked during writing sessions as a patron of letters and learning. |
| WakeUpAndLive~doingNaNo'24 - Yes, According to legend, Lord Ganesha was the scribe for the Mahabharata. My maternal grandparents celebrated his birthday each year, and since I'm the eldest grandchild, I got to perform the ceremony. The whole family gathered and sang the prayer. |
| WakeUpAndLive~doingNaNo'24 - i love Ganesh. In India Indians used to go the temple to pray for luck on Thursdays then apply for visas in the belief tht Ganesh would favor them on Thursdays which was his day. Visa refusals were higher on those days. |
| You survived the WDC Birthday festivities and a Friday the 13th. Since things always happen in threes, there's just one more thing for you to do this month. Enter .............
September's Prompt is COMMUNICATION I'm looking forward to reading your submissions. |
A Mini-Newsfeed Contest I've never been over-drawn (if that's such a phrase) to obtaining Community Recognition. At one time long ago, before Achievement MBs, Awardicons and Trinkets provided CR, I actually managed to earn my way into the top 10 of the Most Community Recognition list. Work and life intervened and for a few years I wasn't on WDC as often. But I returned with a vengeance and now as I approach that magical (well, magical in my own mind) number of 1000 CR, I've become a bit more obsessed with CR. To that end, I'm announcing a mini-Newsfeed contest, effective immediately and ending when I have a winner: The Rules The SM in his WDC infinite wisdom time-stamps everything that happens. Thus, the first CR item I receive that puts me at 1000 CR will receive the following prizes:  A three review mini-raid of that person's Port with a 10K Awardicon to the item of my choice. A special The File Cabinet merit badge normally only available for a winning entry in "WDC L'il Helper Contest" . In the event a WDC CR item (such as a Consistency Achievement MB) puts me at 1000, the next CR item by a member will win.Good luck! |
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