Party Decision! Please Read!

Hello Writers!

I have just spent well over an hour writing a nice blog post recapping the meeting, addressing some items of business, and reiterating the party plans. Just as I was proofing it, Verizon decided it had to debug and temporarily close the program! All went down the drain and I proceded to have a mini-fit! Or maybe it wasn't mini, the air is rather blue in here.
Now, I will address the party issue only. :))

It was unanimously agreed at Wednesday's meeting that we WILL have our Holiday celebration in the regular First Wednesday time slot on December 2nd. To keep it simple and make sure everyone has what they'd prefer to drink, we decided that each should bring their own beverage and a plate of food for the buffet table. We are going to keep track of what has already been volunteered so that we do have a variety and not 20 bags of potato chips and various dips. Spouses or a guest are welcome! There will be no official agenda and what happens, happens. It's to be an evening of fun and relaxation and it will be our ONLY meeting in December.

I will be out of town for Thanksgiving, so Russ has agreed to commandeer the emails as to what each is contributing and will update the list here on the blog. We would like to have an RSVP so that we can make sure we have enough for all.

Russ and Lee are bringing two buckets of grilled KFC and plastic ware and plates. We do have two large coolers for ice to keep drinks cold. Russ has agreed to also pick up the ice.

I will bring a variety of salads like potato and macaroni, and some baked beans from the Publix Deli. Time and arthritis won't allow me to do the homemade thing. Plus additional plasticware and plates. I don't have a spouse to bring. :)

Ann Favreau mentioned to me that she would bring a dessert. Ann loves to bake! She'll confirm when she reads this. Ann always reads the blog.

We will need some cheese and crackers, relish trays, veggie trays and dip and whatever other meat someone would like to have. And yes, potato chips and dip, maybe taco chips and salsa. Maybe some peanuts or pretzels and Christmas cookies and napkins. This is just for ideas, not absolutes. Food is not one of my priorities. :)) I'm looking for anyone that has one of those big coffee urns. If anyone has one or knows where we can borrow one, that would be nice. Coffee, that's my priority! :) Course, McDonald's is just down the road.

But please, do communicate with Russ so we will be prepared. I'm sure you all have his email address. I will get there early and attempt to make the room a bit festive. I do have a Christmas table cloth for the buffet table and other odds and ends. I may even bring my fiber-optic tree.

I will be home until Sunday afternoon so I can take the emails up until then. Just remember I can't answer most of you, so watching the blog for updates will be necessary. If you do happen to get an email from sucarha@yahoo.com that will be me. I've unlinked my stupid Verizon from my free Yahoo mail and that may or may not work. If it does, I may just start using that all the time. I have given up on Verizon or Comcast fixing this problem. I am just not important enough!

I wish you all a most happy and peaceful Thanksgiving wrapped in some rainbows!

Susan

Welcome Back!

Hi Rita - Just want to add a big CONGRATULATIONS and WELCOME BACK to Russ's. We hope for a recap at Wednesday's meeting! You CAN write to my email, just can't answer you from there. Can always catch you on Facebook! :) Don't forget, I can add your website link here on the blog when you're ready. ~~ Susan

Barry Featured In Local Paper

Rita Barry, one of our most widely traveled FWA members, was featured in the November 11, 2009, issue of the Longboat Key Observer newspaper.

The article covered Rita's international heritage as well as her current writing project, a travel cookbook which will feature recipes from around the world. The 60 to 70 recipes in the book are for vegetarian dishes. Rita became a vegetarian about 20 years ago.

Rita's cookbook, however, will not simply be a compilation of recipes. It will also include travel articles about the areas where the recipes originated.

Rita also started a business recently. It's called The Paperwork Doctor (www.paperdoc.net) and is affiliated with Eldercare Services Unlimited. The services her business offers include paperwork organization, bookkeeping, and insurance claims.

To read the entire article about Rita, click on the following website:
http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/Neighborhood/111120092978/Neighbors-Rita-Barry.

Congratulations, Rita! Hope to see you at our next meeting!

Posted by
Russ Heitz
www.russheitz.com

"Amber Returns to Maine"

Good Wednesday afternoon all!


http://www.sucarha.com/amber_returns_to_maine.htm
I have no idea if this link will post much less work, but it's listed on the home page and my site link is included on the left.

I've just posted the recap of my two month absense on my website if anyone is interested in reading it. I was going to read it to the group last week, my God it's been a week already, and never seem to have time. So it's up on sucarha.com

Also, I have received mail from Ann Favreau offering to make a special baked goodie should we decide to have a Christmas gathering. Thank you, Ann. Ann is off to Washington DC where she sits on the board for Colon Cancer Research.

I also received an email from another Guild member, Cheryl Baker, notifying that one of the member's daughters was severely injured in a motorcycle accident on Saturday. The Guild wishes for all caring people to send positive thought energy to Connie's daughter. I think FWA is also full of caring people so I'm posting it here. Thought Energy doesn't require a name or a knowing of the person to send positive thoughts.

Peter, I received your kind thank you note, but since I've written to you three times with no reply, I do believe that certain Verizon addresses are also attacking my emails even though I am a Verizon carrier. As said earlier, maybe I'm getting a message here to bow out! I did talk to Comcast yesterday and although a problem with my Cable TV was instantly solved, they too, are in the dark about my email being blocked and shot off to the ethereal. They assured me they do NOT block individual senders but only providers who tend to carry inordinate amounts of 'spam' mail. Head's up! Verizon! The thing I seem to have a horrid problem conveying to these people is that the mail DOES NOT come back to me! There is no error message about my mail being blocked as they keep asking for! On my mail site, it shows as SENT! Yet it never arrives, nor returns to me! Because I don't get that error message, I think they think I'm imagining all this. That none of you receive my emails, belies that! I'd be perfectly thrilled to print out my 'sent list' and offer it as proof!

Keep looking for the rainbows!

Susan

So You Wanna Read?

The November 4th meeting of the Florida Writers turned into the Florida Readers to everyone's enjoyment! We had a great turnout for a first Wednesday meeting of seventeen! Twelve, I think, shared readings! I made it a point to watch for reactions as people were reading and I saw interest, smiles, heads nodding, in agreement, not sleep. In a couple of instances I saw rapt attention and also a few watery eyes. It's pleasing to see people loosening up and feeling comfortable in front of the group. It's not my business to a countdown critique, but I would like to say everyone enjoyed the guest of Ann Favreau, Dr. Phil Dohlbren. We didn't do a sign in sheet so I stand to be corrected on the spelling of the good Doctor's name. Dr. Phil is a retired surgeon and read a delightful story about an operating room experience, not that surgery is ever delightful, but the Doctor surely was! He was heartily invited to return.
New member, Steve Choby, introduced us to something new! The near performance of a short story he'd written about "That Dreaded Stare". A member of Toastmasters, Steve gave an idea of the art of comfortably speaking to a group of people in a most animated way. I love the diversity that our group has become.
Lara Lazenby, at her second meeting, stood up, then sat down again, and beautifully read her first effort at writing a book. All agreed she captured the voice of the seven-year-old protagonist perfectly and we anxiously await future installments. We have novelists and poets, journalists and memoir writers, kid books and compilation short story writers, and now we also have a young adult writer. What's left? We have a great group, folks.
The poets that read did their usual beautiful job. We sang songs with Terry, traveled to France with Ann, sailed a boat on rocky sea with Joe, and reveled in reflection with Jim Kelly. Joanne read a chilling account of the caverns of hell and Irv gave another lesson on "Living on House Money." Linda, our performing poet, enjoyed the first half of the meeting but the exhaustion of moving into their new home took over and she left early. Gaile sat quietly and absorbed. Gaile appreciates everything. Ed, too, offered his usual bit of humor in a comment format and Rod, like me, is still crawling back into the rut after time away. Forgive me, if I've left anyone out. Senility is setting in after all and I did this from memory with NO sign in sheet! Proves I do pay attention! But I'm not finished, so keep reading . . .
The nice thing about a diverse group is Russ and I both are of the belief that a good writer is not happy being limited to a genre box. Yes, you will have your first love, mine is poetry, and you'll also have one that you prefer to use, but you enjoy the whole art of writing when given a chance to be exposed to it. Take heart, Steve!
Keep reading . . .
Then, we have Peter! What can I say about Peter that Peter couldn't voice better? I've personally decided that if I ever hear the physical voice of God, God will sound like Peter. His voice and reading ability meanders around in meadows of magnificence. He writes that way, too! :)
And then, there is Tuck! Our novelist extrordinaire. The only one that could help fill Bart's missing shoe as Bart works temporarily on the east coast. Tuck fills both his own while filling one of Bart's. His new novel, held up to be released in January to take advantage of a 2010 release, "Sarah's Creek" is a literary classic. Tuck requested Peter to read his excerpt for him. I need say no more. When an incredible voice reads incredible writing, the room is overwhelmed.
The meeting was a huge success for me.

Ann Favreau has jumped in to help, as she usually does, and has contacted Comcast and sent me their possible suggestions to solve my email dilemma. I was SO IMPRESSED just at their response. I'm in the mindset that if I can't fight them, join them. Verizon won't even address the problem! I'll keep you posted as to the continuing saga of the Email Horrors as they emerge. Please email me details of coming events you may be taking part in. Flash fiction, Russ??
I'm happy to also announce that Sharon, our long lost assistant, will be returning on the 18th of November for our next General Meeting! Yeeeehawwww! Hey Russ, maybe we can both sneak out next time!!
Seriously, be thinking of anything the group might like to do to celebrate the holiday season. I'll open it up for discussion at the next meeting. We do have the facility now and spouses and guests would be welcome! I continue to extend our thoughts to those out with personal trials. We miss you and look forward to your return. For those still traveling . . . the weather is great! We just need a little rain! And, please, remember I have that bet on hits on my website and appreciate your help with a visit. www.sucarha.com

Remember to watch for the rainbows! Especially since I didn't edit this and it's approaching 2 a.m. :))
Susan