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| If my blog had a closet door, this would be it. |
First, I want to bring your attention to a bloghop taking place next month, February 4-5th. It's the "Overcoming Adversity" bloghop, hosted by Nick Wilford at Scattergun Scribblings. The idea is for each of us to write something under 500 words that has to do with overcoming adversity, either in our own life or perhaps a character's. Nick will then compile the entries into an anthology and put it up for sale on Amazon.
I don't join many blogfests anymore simply because I'm trying hard not to get too distracted from writing the novel. But this one is about more than mingling online and finding new friends. Nick is sponsoring this bloghop to help out his stepson Andrew who has cerebral palsy and would like to have the same chance at going to the best college available to him as anyone else. You can click on the badge in my sidebar to learn more about Andrew's predicament and to sign up for the bloghop.
Second, I have consulted the random number generator to determine who will
By my reckoning that makes M.J. Fifield the
Oh, and third, I wanted to direct your attention to a new button at the top of my blog. Right now it's just a collection of the posts I did on Wales during the A to Z Challenge, but I plan to update it from time to time with new links to interesting stuff I find while researching Wales. You know, useful things like how to go for the bog snorkeling world record. Stuff like that.
(Honestly, I've been blogging two years and I've only recently figured out these new page buttons for the top bar. Yeah.)
And speaking of Wales...
Roughly 20% of the population there speaks Welsh, and so most signage is posted in both English and Welsh. Easy enough. Except when e-mail communication goes wonky. In this case it was apparently the work order.
Nid wyf yn y swyddfa ar hyn o bryd. Anfonwch unrhyw waith i'w gyfieithu = I'm not in the office right at the moment. Send any work to be translated.
Happy Friday!
Creative Commons photo and explanation of Welsh phrase by Duncan Hull.
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That's funny about the sign!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to MJ.
And Nick's blogfest is for an awesome cause. I signed up and promoted it as well.
Welsh spelling was always such a mystery to me.... Is Y always pronounced as I or not?
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck to Nick with his bloghop, we do love anything with a good cause!
I really look forward to browsing the Wales section! :)
ReplyDeleteToo funny on the sign!
I'll be checking out the wonderful bloghop!
I loved your Wales posts last year and look forward to reading more. I think that area of the world is so interesting.
ReplyDeleteNick's blogfest looks awesome, thanks for sharing the info. And Happy Friday to you as well! :)
Alex - I can imagine the reaction of Welsh drivers when they read that sign. WTH?
ReplyDeleteDezzy - I tried once to learn Welsh pronunciation. I think the "y" makes an "ee" sound, but I have no idea. I could never figure it out. It never sounds like it looks like it should sound.
Lexie - I do find some neat stuff in my research, so I thought I'd link to a few things. It will get more interesting as I work on it more.
Julie - Wales is gorgeous and has such cool history. And I hope you join us in the bloghop. :)
I had the impression the overcoming adversity thing was just flash fiction. I definitely have some real stories of adversity (*giggles to herself instead of crying*). Not sure I can squeeze any of them into 500 words.
ReplyDeleteEr, well, maybe that was MY interpretation. Go by Nick's site for clarification. Of course, you can always write one of your personal adversity tales and change the names to protect the innocent. ;)
DeleteOops.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know about the Overcoming Adversity blogfest.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had gotten a chance to visit Wales while living in England, but I was too busy traveling across Europe.
Jeff - D'oh.
ReplyDeleteIsis - I only visited the middle and northern parts of Wales, but it was so beautiful. Of course, I wouldn't turn down the chance to travel across the rest of Europe either. :)
Congrats to MJ! You really did have random number generator. Here I thought it was going to be you picking a name out of a hat. My bad!
ReplyDeleteI will check out Nick's bloghop, it is for such a worthy cause. I'm like Tonya though, 500 words, me? That would be a great way to challenge myself though.
My friend's dad is from Wales. He'd love this sign.
Happy weekend!!
Happy Friday, Lu. I love the way you talked about Bards and Prophets as having storage. I could almost picture you clapping dust from your hands as you pulled out old posts. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all your help, Luanne. I never expected so many to be blogging and tweeting about it. I'm humbled!
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, it could be fictional or real life, or even a poem or a short essay. Whatever, really. I'm hoping the book will be very varied!
I like the sound of the Welsh language, though I only know a couple of words. My grandma is Welsh, so I feel quite an affinity with the place. It's a classic about the sign though.
Elsie - Yeah, they have these crazy computer generated things now that will pick the number for you. Crazy, right? :P
ReplyDeleteSuze - Oh, yeah, I got a basement and a dungeon too. You know, for the troublesome commenters. :)
Nick - It just smacks of unfairness that Andrew can't have the same opportunities to choose as everyone else. I understand special needs are expensive and not all places can accommodate him, but they shouldn't just dictate where he will go to school.
I may check out that bloghop - especially as it's for such a good cause!
ReplyDeleteI also signed up for Nick's blogfest. Congrats to MJ, and great sign! Julie
ReplyDeleteOh, man, that's so awesome. There was an episode of Parks & Rec where the main character sent a link to an image to be put on a sign, and the guy printed the link on the sign instead of the image. I never would have thought that kind of thing could happen for real!
ReplyDeleteLinda - Yeah, do join. They've been doing auctions and signing petitions too on Andrew's behalf.
ReplyDeleteENI - Yay! Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. Should be some inspirational stories.
Andrew - I know, right? How does that happen? Makes you think the interpreter saw the whole note and decided to have some fun. :P
That sounds like a fantastic blog hop! I'm not sure I'll have time, but I'll definitely go over and check it out. :) It's for a wonderful cause, after all. And that sign is quite amusing :D
ReplyDeleteYou know I have a thing for doors. This one takes my breath away. Love it! Thanks for the info about Nick's bloghop.
ReplyDeleteBethany - I'm not sure yet what I'm going to write, but I think I'll do a flash fiction piece using characters from my novel. Definitely for a good cause.
ReplyDeleteCarol - I have a thing for doors too. I always stop and take photos of ones that stand out to me. That one is in Conwy, Wales. I think it was the side door to a restaurant/pub.
I signed up for Nick's blogfest and now am panicking over what I'll write.
ReplyDeletelol on the sign translation. Best on getting your novel done.
Nick's blogfest idea is definitely awesome! Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteM Pax - Yeah, it looks like he's getting a pretty good list of participants going. Should be a big success.
ReplyDeleteCherie - Not your typical blogfest at all, but such a neat idea.
Hehehe, that sign is making me giggle. I can only imagine how Welsh-only readers must scratch their heads.
ReplyDeleteNick's blogfest sounds great - I'll give it a Tweet right now. Congrats to M.J. Fifield!
Uhhh...we can do pages at the top?lol I have to do this when I can carve out some time. Love the sign! And I'm checking out this blog hop too.
ReplyDeleteNicki - Hehe. The Welsh speakers can get their revenge by talking about the English behind their back right in front of them, because no one knows what they're saying. :P Thanks for Tweeting about the bloghop!!
ReplyDeleteMarsha - I know! I can be a little clueless sometimes. I figured out how to add them at the top maybe six months ago, but then I was like, uh, what are they for? Someday maybe I'll have some novels up there for sale or something. :)
Congratulations to M.J.! I signed up for Nick's blogfest too. His idea for fundraising is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYes, your idea to have other links in pages will let us see older work we might have missed. I like the way a theme can be carried forward. I just update the page with the new link each time.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to M.J.! Good luck to Nick with his fundraiser!
Christine - Yay! He's going to have a great collection from everyone who is signing up.
ReplyDeleteD.G. - Yeah, it took me awhile to figure out these "page" things. I used to have one on my sidebar that no one ever noticed. But they get a little more love at the top of the page. I still need to do an official "about me" page too.
LOL. What a mix-up on that sign!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to MJ.
will definitely check out the blogfest. And I love your closet doors :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to MJ! You'll find LG a great critiquer in that she spots all the stuff you missed and gives great suggestions as well.
ReplyDeleteAbout the sign, good thing that translator wasn't writing to his girlfriend.
And let me know if you find a pair of Patriots slippers while rummaging about in that closet - I think I left a pair in the archives.
Funny story about the sign! I'll go over and join Nick's blogfest. Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteGolden Eagle - I wonder if the sign is still up?
ReplyDeletemshatch - Those were made custom for my back of the blog closet. Unique space, had to be handmade. :P
MC - You're saying the sign could have been even MORE embarrassing for the sign department? And, uh, I used those Patriot slippers to get the fire going. Sorry, but it's snowing again. :P
Lara - Yeah, sign up! Gonna be some great inspirational stories come out of this bloghop.
I love that sign. That is awesome.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of the welsh button! Still wish I'd had 100 pages for you. :( Yay to the winner though!!!
LIbby - You know I have affection for silly signs. :P And perhaps we'll work out a page exchange in a few months when you have more. :))
DeleteHi Luanne - delighted to read you'll be adding to your Wales' posts.
ReplyDeleteI've signed up for Nick's blogfest and must get my act into gear for a post ...
Then your silly sign - crazy life isn't it ... cheers Hilary
What I meant to say .. loved the red door!! H
DeleteHilary - I love those red doors too. That photo just makes me happy. :)
DeleteAnd I've been trying to figure out what to write for the bloghop, and I've not come up with anything yet. Really going to have to scour the back storage closet of my brain to come up with something quick!
Congrats M.J.!!!
ReplyDeleteLuanne - Love the phot of the doors, and the new tab on Wales! (it took me a few years to learn how to do that too)
Tyrean - Oh, good, glad I'm not the only one who's a little slow on the behind the scenes blog stuff. :D
DeleteLuanne I am so fascinated with anything Welsh, and I understand that your novel takes place in a post apocalyptic Wales, wow brilliant. I would love to know more about how you write, how much you write daily, how do you motivate yourself, what do you when you feel less inspired? Maybe you'll blog about that one day, it would be helpful for me and many other aspiring writers out there...:) Kisses.
ReplyDeleteunikorna - You aren't an aspiring writer, Petronela. You're an author who is going to have her first short story published!! :D
DeleteThe blog-hop sounds intriguing (and for a good cause) -- I'll see if I can squeeze it in. Hilarious signage!
ReplyDeleteMIlo - That blog hop is right in your wheelhouse, oh master of the short fiction. :)
DeleteThanks for the interesting blog. I shall check out the impending adversity blog-hop (THAT didn't read right!) and look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteOh--I learned to drive "the right way" while vacationing in Wales--just outside Tinturn Abbey. I shall never forget it!
~Just Jill
http://jillhaugh.blogspot.com
That sign mistake is pretty funny. I see plenty of misspelled English here in Egypt, but nothing that messed up. lol
ReplyDeleteJill - Impending adversity is what I'm feeling right now. Would it be too cliche to write a flash fiction piece about a writer facing a blank page? :P And we drove through Wales too -- those streets are NARROW and blocked in by stone walls. Scary when you're trying to take in the beautiful scenery.
ReplyDeleteLexa - Oh, I'll bet you see some interesting signs. Another site I follow sometimes shows a collections of signs from around the world that display questionable translations of English. Too funny.
The Blog Hop sounds interesting! And the Welsh sign is fun. Lucky they also have all the signs in English!
ReplyDeleteThe blog hop is definitely for a good cause. I'll be sure and check it out! Who knew so many spoke welsh, lol! :)
ReplyDeleteNas - Yeah, I think most of the Welsh speakers understand English, but it's still a hilarious mistake. :P
ReplyDeleteCeleste - They are stubbornly holding onto their culture in Wales, and more power to them. :)
What a great cause for a blog hop.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to MJ! That is a great giveaway.
Great cause to highlight on your blog. I work with clients who have CP.
ReplyDeleteCiara - Yeah, Nick and his wife have really been fighting this thing about the choice of university and the cost, and hopefully they get a solution they want.
ReplyDeleteMichael - Oh, cool. I'll bet the technology aimed at helping them adapt these days would amaze!
Ha - the sign is hilarious! I signed up for Nick's blogfest as soon as I saw his post. It's SUCH a great effort!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Monday morning giggle! Too funny!
ReplyDeleteNicole - Such a neat way to raise money and awareness, I agree.
ReplyDeleteNancy - You are welcome. Or should I say Croeso. :)
Great cause, I joined too.
ReplyDeleteAnd look forward to see you in April for the challenge again :)
Lots of people signing up for Nick's bloghop. Glad to see it.
DeleteI have to get over there and sign up for that. I loved, loved, LOVED your series on Wales last year! It was one of the best A to Zs out there!
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you! I wish I were going to Wales again this spring. Sigh.
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