The Internet Needs More Kittens!!!

Some of you guys have been friends with me for a long time....You might remember May of 2010 when my dear Stripes died.  I was put into a long sad funk.  I met some awesome bloggy friends during my grief.  (*waves*) 

On July 30th of this year, I stopped at our vet's office to drop off Ginger for boarding while we were gone on a trip....

That's when it happened...

I fell in love!

Our dear vet (let's call him John) had a tiny kitten in his office.  Someone found her injured and starving and brought her to him so he could put her to sleep.  He took her back to his office and gave her a little food.  She gobbled it up.  At this point she weighed 8 ounces.  I'm guessing she purred and that was it...he was in kitty love.  He couldn't put her to sleep.  She had a leg injury and wasn't very mobile.  He and his staff nursed her back to health.  They petted her and loved her.  "John" wanted to bring her home to his ever growing pet kingdom.  But he already had quite a few pets.  So he hoped that someone would adopt her.

We thought about her for a week...We named her Peaches (because she looks like peach ice cream).  When I could take it no more, I sent "John" a facebook message.  Katherine and I were desperate for our vacation to end so we could see if Peaches was still there. 

We were not disappointed.  "John" saved her for us.  She weighed about 4 pounds when we got her two weeks ago.  She now weighs about 5 pounds.  Everyone loves her!

She and Ginger are bonding.  Macy adores her.  (Sorry no photo.) Macy gives her kisses and follows her around. 

She's pretty happy, as are the rest of us...

(She probably will always have a limp, but her purrs make up for it.)

Did you have anything happen this summer that has left a lasting smile on your face?

(I'm planning on posting once a week from now on.  Unless I have a burning issue that I feel compelled to post.  This will give me more time to visit everyones' blogs and to continue with the good writing habits I established in August.) 

I hope everyone had a wonderful month!  (((Hugs)))

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Catherine and Amy were selected by random.org, as the winner's of Gene Gagliano's book MY TEACHER DANCES ON HIS DESK.  They each will get a signed copy.

While I was working through losing Stripes several of my lovely blog friends gave me some awards and I'd like to pass them on:

Wendy, aka Quillfeather, has a lovely blog full of interesting and informative posts.  If you haven't checked her head down under...well, err..to New Zealand and have a look around.  :)

I'd like to pass this along to a few of my new blog friends...Brian and Jacqueline have creative cat blogs.  If you love cats check them out.

So let's see four truths and one untruth about me....
1. I'm 5'5.5" tall.
2. I've been to five countries including the US.
3. I'm a women's rights activist.
4. I've helped build a Habitat For Humanity house.
5. I was honored by the American Red Cross in Missouri a few years ago.

This award comes from one of my new critique group members: Hema.  Hema has an insightful blog full of deep thoughts.  I'd like to pass this award along to...Joany who has been steadily blogging and emailing even in her dentist induced tortured condition and to Talli who posts the most wonderful pictures of England and Wales and makes me a little bit homesick.

This lovely award came from Shannon.  Shannon is all over the blogging world.  I think I have yet to visit a site that she hasn't made a comment on.  I'd like to pass this along to Jill. She's a Christian romance writer and has a lovely blog.  She's the one who motivated me to post my weekly goals.  I'd also like to present this award to Jennifer, aka Old Kitty.  She and her cat Charlie frequent a lot of blogs and leave wonderful insightful comments.



This sweet blog award came from Jade.  Jade is in the middle of trying to make a big decision about her career.  So hop over and see if you can offer up any advice...I'd like to present this award to Dawn.  I met Dawn through Mark McVeigh and hope you'll check her out.  I'd also like to present it to A.L. (Amy).  I had the honor of reading the first 15 pages of one of her manuscripts.  To me it's a huge honor when someone wants my advice on a piece.  (big smile)  If you haven't checked out these blogs...give 'em a shot.  (really big smile)



Again, I'd like to thank all of you for helping me during my struggle with losing Stripes.  Over the past two weeks I discovered a whole new world of bloggers.  I had no idea people blogged about so many topics.  Seriously, I just thought blogging was a writer thing.  I found a whole world of bloggers that appear to be cats...cats that can type and take beautiful photographs.  (wink)  I found bloggers that talk about different diseases.  Blogs that are about our current culture and ones about decorating and crafts.  I put a few of my favorites on my sidebar.

Have you discovered any non-writer blogs that you have to check on, just because they make you smile?  Feel free to share.  I'm close to reaching my new blogs visited (and commmented on) goal for Jackee's May Scramble.  I promise, I will go visit any blogs you list (unless I think they are naughty ones...).

(Updated) Thank You & Query Letter Queries....

First, I’d like to thank everyone for their kind words and thoughts over the loss of my beloved Stripes. I’m working my way back into the blog world…

Literary Agent, Wendy Lawton at Books & Such has been blogging about queries letters this week. I've been reading them every day and thought you might find them interesting.

Monday, Wendy talked about #queryfail announcements on Twitter and gave everyone a chance to sound off on their frustrations.
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/queryfail-frustrating-process/

Tuesday, she talked about query myths:
Myth #1: When I get a form letter or no response at all, it means either my book is no good or my query was no good.
Myth #2: If I don’t follow the rules for a query an agent will dismiss it out of hand.
Myth #3: Agents remember the queries they receive. If I sent an amateurish query early-on to an agent I’ve got that mark forever against me.
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/queryfail-debunking-the-myths/

Wednesday, she wrote about using humor in your queries and gave some examples.
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/queryfail-clever-queries/

Thursday, she posted on the negative impact of putting too much information (TMI) in your query letters.
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/queryfail-tmi/

Friday, Wendy discussed the effects of putting over the top information or promises in your query.
http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/queryfailover-the-top/#more-6135



Wendy has written a great series, full of information that is helpful to both the new and the seasoned querier. I hope you hop over and check out her posts and their informative website.

Books & Such will accept e-mail queries for the following genres:
• Adult fiction and nonfiction
• Teen fiction and nonfiction
• Twenty-to-thirty something fiction and nonfiction
• Children’s and youth fiction and nonfiction.

(My Summary) Know who you are querying, their likes and dislikes, if you follow their blog let them know, go to conferences and meet agents and editors, and most importantly read their submission guidelines…

Do you have any query advice you’d like to share?

R.I.P. MY DEAR STRIPES

In the week of July fourth 2001, he picked me. I walked past him to get to the cute little grey kittens. They were tiny and playfully romping around their gage. The MO Feline Rescue Association brought cats into to Petsmart about once a month. A giant cat reached out of the cage and patted my arm with his paws. I stopped and stuck my fingers in the cage and he rubbed his face on my fingers and began to purr. He was pretty but I wanted a kitten, and he was huge. I turned again to walk to the cage full of kittens and he reached out and grabbed a mouthful of my arm to get my attention. He didn’t hurt me, he just wanted me. I don’t think I ever made it down to the “kittens.”

Stripes was a 16 week old Maine Coon. He followed me from room to room. He slept with me. He sat on top of my armchair, when I was in it, and somehow he managed to balance on the top of my office chair. He would pull my hair if I hit the snooze too many times. He didn’t like competing with the computer and often walked in front of the screen to get my attention. Over the last year his health declined. When we traveled, he protested when we got back. We started taking him with us to our cabin (about 10 hour drive) so he would be less stressed. He and the dog, Macy, would alternate sitting in my lap. Sometimes, they would both sit with me facing opposite directions. He just wanted to be with me.

I can’t even begin to explain how much Stripes will be missed. Yesterday was my first day home alone without him (everyone went back to work and school). It was very lonely. I’m sure I’ll get back to normal eventually, but right now I just need to be sad…