Ode to the Twinkie

This was so fun to write. I just shared it on Facebook, but thought I would share it here too.

I hope you like it.

Ode to the Twinkie
by E. Sheppard

(or Your Recipe's for Sale, and Nobody's in Jail).

Oh Ever Fresh, the plump and tasty,
Pulled off racks by lovers hasty.

I salute you!
[Hail the Cake - Fully Baked.]

Boss, your salary bills are rolled,
and a greedy tale is told.

Don't blame the peeps,
they're not the creeps.

Oh, Twinkie <wink!>

Unstinky <Twink!>

Not dinky...

My guilty pleasure...

A cakey treasure.

May you go on forever,
still fresh and light -

A landfill sight.

-ES

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Having Fun with NaNoWriMo 2012 - hi from betsyanne77 there.

Writing for NaNoWriMo is a huge challenge. But worth it.

If you have never heard of this before, NaNoWriMo is a challenge held yearly in the month of November.

Participants strive to finish a rough draft of a 50,000 word novel during the month. In the meantime, they receive pep talks online, connect with other writers, and type, type, type their novel every day.

It's actually harder than I thought to get all those words down. I joined later on in the month, but thought it would be a breeze to catch up (maybe...)

Now I know that it is a BUNCH of hard work to get that done. Plus, you have to remember everything you have written before and keep track of it.

It sounds much easier than it really is. I had an idea of how easy it might be, but also I had a fear of not finishing, which is spurring me on to action.

Another factoid: you upload your novel at the end of the month, and they have a way of encoding it, but still counting your words so you either succeed (at the word count) or not, by the deadline.

Some authors have been published after this! Others just get terrific practice, and go on to write their first published novel. They've expanded into the summer now, with one more challenge.

The NaNoWriMo challenge is free, but you are encouraged to donate, because their charity, The Office of Letters and Light, needs donations to keep going.

I'm writing away, and hoping to finish by the end of the month.

Here is their website:
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)

And here is my profile page there:
betsyanne77 on NaNoWriMo

I have a short description and an excerpt from my book there.

Later!
-Betsyanne

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Do you wish you could see the stars where you live too?

Stars original is by Patrick Hoesly on Flickr.

I love the stars. I think a lot of my readers do, too.

I wish I could see them at night, all the time.

I know you have to be OUT of the city (or pretty far out) because city lights obscure the sky. I also know that there are fewer and fewer places where you can actually see the full sky, horizon to horizon.

This weekend is another fun meteor show. It is the Leonid Meteor Shower. It isn't huge, but there WILL be meteors in the sky from time to time. I don't think I will see any. But one of these days!

Luckily, where I live, there is a FREE planetarium that gives great shows, and gives me a bit of the "hold on tight, this earth is flying through space" feeling.

But there's nothing like the real thing, seeing the Milky Way overhead or some beautiful constellations.

starry night of Yuzhu by livepine on Flickr.

Too many people have too many lights going on, I feel. It's light pollution, really.

If you are lucky enough to be in a dark enough area, do check out the star show this weekend. I'm still deciding whether or not to move somewhere - well, DARKER. This could still be in the country (I'm thinking: Kentucky or Wisconsin maybe) but it could also be near a desert. Think: no lights.

On the other hand, a new home might be on an ocean. But that probably would mean a lot of seasickness, because my new home could be a BOAT, but not a big one, and most certainly NOT an island.

Oh well. ::::heavy sigh::::

For now, I can dream!

:-)

All for now,
Betsyanne

Via Yahoo: Leonid Meteor Shower to Shine in Weekend Sky

Needless Light Pollution - what can you do?

Fight Light Pollution - by the Astromax site

The International Dark Sky Association
 
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A Fun Breakfast at Taco Del Mar

Rickey and I have been talking about visiting this new Mexican place, Taco Del Mar. 

We almost didn't go in today, mostly because it wasn't in its own building, but instead attached to a Shell station. But it was cute outside. It had a surfboard table too.

I took some pictures (below).

We each had a Breakfast Burrito, which turned out pretty big, because we could have all kinds of good stuff in it (custom made) and I picked guacamole, lettuce, salsa, and more (but as usual NOT hot peppers...) They had chorizo, and I liked it too.

I also had a Breakfast Taco, but took it home for lunch, along with half of the Breakfast Burrito.  We said we'd try to go back, maybe for breakfast, and maybe for lunch. Without the coffee, our bill was only $7.80. Not bad!

We liked the decorations and photos around the restaurant AND the price. I went next door to get a hot coffee and there was sugar-free vanilla coffee too so I made a combo.

Rickey looked Taco Del Mar up online, and found out it was a chain. It was one I had never been to before. I think they will get more visitors when there is a Corvette Museum event. I hope they get to stay. It's a cute place.

I liked it, and so did Rickey.  I think I'll put the pictures up on Facebook too.

Ale 8 - next door

Friends and Family - also 1961?

1961 - notice the rudders on these big size surfboards.

Check out the BIG surfboards around.

Love the hut topper.

Tiki Table!

I like the tree too.

-Betsyanne

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National Novel Writing Month = NaNoWriMo! I am participating this year.

I knew it was late to start - but I am jumping into NaNoWriMo today anyway. Yay me!

I just finished Chapter One of my new novel and I'm sprinting along wanting to catch up in a week or so.

I will need to write 3000 words a day for awhile to catch up.

Here is a logo I got from the site:

You can click on it to go to the site and find out more about it.

We participants have a month to write a rough draft of our story. And then we get to upload it after 50,000 words.

We have members there who have edited, then published their novels afterwards. That sounds great!

I have a lot to learn, but will be writing every day to get this done. I am excited about it.

I think I will put the NaNoWriMo logo on the side of my blogs too.

Wish me luck!!

Betsyanne

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The Election is over.... now what??

Some thoughts about the election...

Now that the election is over, I know many Americans have some things to ponder. For instance, will the warring factions in our government learn to come to a compromise and actually get something done in the next four years?

Pessimists say no.
But I think there is a chance they might. If everyone is pretty sick of the stalemate in Washington, we can all decide to really give our Congresspeople and Senators grief when they don't even talk to the other side about a compromise to get something done about many issues.

Nobody wants gridlock. But it seems like that is what we HAD, and what we might have again.

My idea: (and I'm sure it isn't a new one!) is for everyone to get more active and pressure our people in Washington to reach out more and actually work towards compromises. No, it won't make everyone happy about everything.

But we WILL have some progress towards things that the American people want to change.

The U.S. can't stand still. We have to start solving some things that have been left alone too long. The budget must be fixed (at least a start must be made), the immigrant policies that don't work must be changed, we must start saving money (which hopefully will be easier now that the wars MIGHT be winding down...), we must help our servicepeople, get a single payer health care system (what I think would be best), and help people get good jobs with good benefits.

There is a lot to do.

I will be hoping that the next four years will be noticeably much less partisan, and a lot more patriotic.

Betsyanne

What are YOUR thoughts? Leave a comment here. But please, no hate talk.




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Voting at Rockfield Precinct - 8:00 a.m. - a long line of about 20 minutes.

I actually remembered my camera today AND remembered to take some photos.

There was a big line at the Rockfield Precinct voting area Rickey and I go to today. We would have been earlier, but did get there before some people.

The first clue we had that it was jammed was the FULL parking lot. Luckily, somebody was leaving when we got there, so we didn't have to park that far away.

I think someday all we will have to do to vote is click on our computer from home. But I may not be alive for that!

Here are some photos:

Are you excited about today's election? Rickey says we may have to wait until tomorrow to find out who won... I said "unless there is a landslide!" But who knows. Certainly I am not an expert!

But I will be watching with interest.

Betsyanne
I voted! 

If you don't know whether to vote or not, do! Your vote does make a difference. 

Also: The Lions Club is at the Presbyterian church downtown from 10:30 until 3:00 and then 3:30-6. They make good beans and cornbread. It is $4.00.

Later.

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Searching for the Bell Witch in Adams, Tennessee - the Bell Witch Cave signs

Rickey brought me by the Bell Witch Cave this last weekend.

Unfortunately, it was not open. It re-opens in May. But I definitely could feel some haunted vibes around the town, and it was kind of creepy to look down the road and have a closed, locked gate here. I think imagination makes things even scarier when you can't see them all the way.

The signs here were VERY interesting too.


















I think many people who live in Kentucky and in Tennessee have heard of the Bell Witch legend. I know I have heard of it. Legend has it that the Bell Witch has taken revenge on the Bell family for 3 generations.























 Some stories say that the Bell Witch ghost was taken advantage of in a land deal. I hope to read more about it before visiting again.

The third generation haunting or revenging should have happened too, but Rickey said he heard everyone was so busy with World War II about this time and that things just seemed to have stopped then. At least, the stories may have.

But not all... some of the links at the end of this posting mention moaning sounds coming from the cave.

















Rickey said that another story said that a person should not bring a rock out of the cave, because she would not like it.

I was surprised to see the canoe sign - - and Rickey was surprised to see that no video cameras were allowed. Plus NO profanity. I kind of like that rule though, but I almost NEVER see it on a sign. I am glad that people CAN take photos though.

Here are some photos from the Bell Witch Cave entrance and the road. I look forward to seeing the cave itself - - maybe next year.

Betsyanne

Find out more about the Bell Witch cave:

The Official Home of the Bell Witch / An American Haunting

The Bell Witch Cave - via Wikipedia

The Bell Witch Cave News

The Bell Witch Cave - The Moonlit Road - Strange Tales of the American South

Travels Beyond - the Bell Witch Cave. (a visit, some photos)

Haunting Experiences with the Bell Witch Cave - via Yahoo Voices

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Some more photos... I posted here and also on Facebook.

I have posted some photos of downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky at Fountain Square Park today and also of the Pots Place, outside and inside.

Here are a few:

They are pumping out the Fountain this week.

Pomona is watching!

The tools for the job and the Fountain fence.

My Halloween pumpkin! (I got to decorate it)

Do you like photos? I have the rest of these posted to Facebook. Here are those links:

Downtown Bowling Green Kentucky - Fountain Square Park, October 31, 2012

The Pots Place inside and outside October 31, 2012

All for today! And thanks for stopping by.

-Betsyanne

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Watching the Hurricane News - some links, and some surprising facts

Hurricane Sandy is giving the U.S. coastline a beating. 

There are stories and photos already coming out of the storm. Some people wish they had evacuated, and plan to get out of the area after the storm has passed. NPR has had great coverage today on the local radio station.

I think I will try to watch the news coverage on TV too. I hope everyone there will be safe. Lots of people on Facebook are starting to put prayers on and urge others to share their information and well wishes to anyone in the path of the storm.

President Obama has spoken to the nation again today, and told about all the good preparations the country is making. The National Guard (photo below) and FEMA is ready and prepared too.

Army Gen. Frank Grass, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, consults at the Pentagon on Oct. 29, 2012, with senior leaders guiding the National Guard's response to Hurricane Sandy as part of the federal, state and local team. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill) (Released) Via The National Guard on Flickr.

I like it that the National Guard is posting photos on Flickr. It makes me feel better about the situation, knowing that trained people are prepared to help.

I listened to some news on NPR in the car today, on the way home from picking up some medicine at WalMart today. The wind here in Kentucky was gusty, but nothing like a hurricane.

NPR said on their program that some people were very nervous. They had not evacuated, and were all packed and ready to get out of their areas after the storm.They said that some people are very used to being in storms, but this time they didn't know what to expect.

The political news is going to take a back seat to news of this storm, NPR mentioned. Both campaigns are winding to an almost-stop, though Governor Romney still was doing a speech today. So, both sides will lose some media attention because everyone will be wanting to hear about Hurrican Sandy.

I was surprised to see that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington is still going to have soldiers guarding it even during the storm. I hope they will be OK.

Tomb Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - by DVIDSHUB on Flickr.

Some flooding has gone into houses already, and some piers have been damaged. This reminds me of a pier I used to see every summer up in Wisconsin. One year it just vanished. Of course, it could have taken awhile. But water can surely wreak havoc with them.

Here are some articles I found this morning while checking on Facebook and Yahoo. I have a link her also to NPR, which also has up to the minute coverage.

Guards at Tomb of the Unknown to remain on-site during hurricane (via Yahoo News)

Sandy Wrecks large ocean pier at boardwalk of Maryland beach resort Ocean City (Yahoo News)

Via NPR: Tracking Hurricane Sandy: Handy Maps and Apps

I know many others will be watching Sandy very closely today and also tomorrow!

Betsyanne

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And wouldn't you know it? Some people are having Storm Parties too. This party poster is from the Washington, D.C. area.

Photo from Glyn Lowe's Photoworks' Photostream on Flickr

My Happenings Sunday - Thursday posting...My Other blog... plus Popular Postings.

Halloween - - my other blog -- and the most popular postings here.

And here are the events in the area I had here last night: see the Garden Spot plus BG Events blog. I switched this back over this morning.

I was in a hurry! So I posted the events here instead of to my other blog. Wet noodle time...

Anyway, I am considering blending both of these blogs, but not yet.

Friends - at the Pumpkin Patch at Cheekwood. My photo.

Are you ready for Halloween yet?

We have our Trader Joe's candy and crackers ready, though we usually don't have many trick or treaters on Halloween. But I do like the holiday!

Here are some other blog postings to read. They are the very most popular of all of them.

My Top 16 Sales and Auction Sites - Rated

Ning Alternatives for your Group or Interest

Haunted Attractions in the Bowling Green area - - (see the Updated 2012 version here at my Squidoo Page)

Free Clipart Sites, and

Democratic Headquarters in Bowling Green

And have a great Sunday!

Betsyanne

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Thoughts about the Rockfield Post Office

We pick up our mail here.

The property next to the Rockfield Post Office used to be Rockfield School, and was used for an antique store for some time. It was packed with neat things different dealers brought in.

AND it is plenty big.

This day (a couple of days ago...) I saw that the windows were completely out in the back of the school. Rickey says it has been that way for awhile.

No doubt they are fixing the windows... but I wonder if they should put something there where the glass used to be.

The property owned by whoever owns this has been sold (the house near there) but this seems to still be on the market.

It is plenty big, but needs some work, like replacing some bricks on the outside and some other holes besides the new window holes.

NOW it needs windows. But you do get a LOT of property. The sign says 16,600 square feet for the building, plus 3.5 acres, I think.

Here are some photos I took. I could see in the window spaces just a little bit to see the fans, stairs, what looks like a blackboard, and some kind of machine - maybe a floor cleaner.

Some birds on a window sill flew away as I got closer with the camera.

 I hope our government votes to let the Post Offices close on Saturdays to save money. I wouldn't mind if they closed on Friday either.

Have a great week! I hope to post again soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Later!

-Betsyanne

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The clouds are so pretty right now.

Oh, the clouds! I wanted to videotape this afternoon's clouds. It is windy and the clouds are so beautiful right now.

Here are a few photos I did get though.

Betsyanne

Onward and Upward!  It's time to get one day at least on the Events Blog tonight before the storm. Unless it passes us...

Later!

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Photos from another walk in my neighborhood - plus a hidden garden

I so enjoyed my walk around the neighborhood yesterday. As usual, I brought my camera. I went a different direction, and turned left at the next street.

It was there on the corner, I saw a couple putting the finishing touches on a truck they were polishing up. I waved, and Mary, my almost-neighbor, waved me over and talked to me. It turns out we had a friend in common! From way back too.

She was gracious and let me see her beautiful garden, which has been a labor of love for many years. She let me take some photos too.

I took some more photos from the street of the farm, and got to see a horse in the distance.

Also, I met another neighbor, Mary. She and her husband have a cute little garden, complete with fountain and bench. I did get a few photos of it and some other things.

Here are just some of the photos I took:

It was peaceful and shady in their yard. They had re-painted some of the figures there. That gave me an idea about the cat I have from Mom. Maybe it can be re-painted too someday.

You can see more of these photos on my Facebook photos page.

Have a GREAT day, loyal and fun followers of this blog. I hope to get my Betsyanne News going soon again, hopefully before or just after the Holidays. If you want to get a copy, just sign up here:


-Betsyanne

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