tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62605813930562080582024-03-14T01:21:54.177-06:00Elaine Mary PhillipsEMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-25620816473109933862011-09-02T01:12:00.000-06:002011-09-02T01:12:33.033-06:00"Friends, Moments, Countryside"Since this EMP dot com website is primarily a place to share my writing (and yes, I shall write again: frequently and with joyful abandon) and not a place to post endless snapshots of our summer holidays, I have set up a separate blog for readers who wish to flip through our Phillips family photo albums. <br />
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"Friends, Moments, Countryside": <a href="http://friendsmomentscountryside.blogspot.com/">http://friendsmomentscountryside.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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Please drop me a line about your special friends, treasured moments and beloved countryside. EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-29574299396533501602011-09-02T00:39:00.001-06:002011-09-02T00:43:36.045-06:00Labour Day long weekendTomorrow Sir Robin (my faithful co-instructor) and I will go camping with friends in a neighbouring province; he is sweetly sleeping while I pack and prepare for yet another long road trip this season. I've lost count of how many miles we've tracked since the end of May, when we headed west for Vancouver, the Island, and home again via Kamloops. <br />
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In mid-June we attended a former student's wedding in Medicine Hat, and for six weeks after that I stayed home (mostly in bed with pneumonia). That took care of July! August found us driving through the Rockies again, headed for Vernon, BC, and colourful Kalamalka Lake. The week of R&R with our Fairman friends did me the world of good. <br />
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I also met another of my pen pals in person: see next week's Pear Tree post. <br />
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And this weekend we're off to ... actually, I have no idea what our campground is called, but I'll write about it upon our return. <br />
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Happy Labour Day weekend, wherever you spend it. EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-21652407975773525342011-09-02T00:35:00.000-06:002011-09-02T00:35:19.557-06:00Back to schoolBack to school: three little words loved or dreaded by teachers and the taught. <br />
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It was pure joy being back in the classroom this week, after last week's New Student Orientation. This semester I teach two college classes in a row, for six consecutive hours (with only a short lunch break at noon), and I wasn't sure how my energy would ebb and flow. But all went well, and after a post-school nap of several hours, I awoke refreshed and ready for an unexpected visit with family friends from Calgary. <br />
EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-60473382698964023032011-09-02T00:02:00.000-06:002011-09-02T00:02:40.908-06:00My favourite seasonWelcome back.<br />
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Sweet September's here, and I'm back online after a long and pleasant summer break. <br />
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Blessings on this new season, dear Reader. What's your favourite time of year? <br />
EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-29058151545381663702011-08-08T07:41:00.000-06:002011-08-08T07:41:40.856-06:00Annual lakeside week awayThis is the week before Sir Robin's birthday when we spend every glorious day waking up in Vernon, BC. Today I am thankful for friends with the gift of hospitality. <br />
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Upon my return I hope to begin blogging again, after a summer-long hiatus. I needed the break (in June I was diagnosed with pneumonia...which lasted six lo-o-ong weeks) and on the whole I am feeling better after a serene mostly cyber-free summmer. EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-62588189141482232742011-05-20T13:30:00.002-06:002011-09-02T00:05:55.000-06:00Fond farewell to blogging (for now)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Dear occasional readers, blog “followers” and faithful friends </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">For several years I have been blogging rather randomly, at least according to my profile—although one of my blogs (Correspondence Quarter) has seen more activity than others. In recent weeks I have undergone some changes in my health (and, alas, a return of that old nemesis, carpal tunnel syndrome). While I work towards using my hands less (!) to relieve the immediate symptoms of CTS, I have made the radical decision to cease and desist from blogging for the foreseeable future. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love</i> writing, and will most likely continue to do so (it’s oxygen for my soul), but I suspect I blog each week more out of habit than anything else. It seemed a good idea at the time…. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Thank you for your kind input in my blogs in general, and my life in particular. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Please stay in touch via snail mail, e-mail: <a href="mailto:emph71@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">emph71@gmail.com</span></a> or FB: <a href="mailto:facebookphillips@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">facebookphillips@gmail.com</span></a>; I shall return to my cyber-travels in the fall. </div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-5607125960149105142011-05-08T23:41:00.004-06:002011-05-08T23:41:22.402-06:00Happy Mother's DayEMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-77350270011385468162011-05-08T23:41:00.002-06:002011-05-08T23:41:10.740-06:00Congrats, Graduates!EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-3578839599634325312011-05-06T23:29:00.000-06:002011-05-06T23:29:59.524-06:00Sweet sixteen<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Today RP and I celebrate 16 years of marriage. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Here’s how we looked in ’95: </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfo_C7X9T0Q/TcTYkwO38VI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/lE1k1mJikXE/s1600/R%2526E+0510+6+May+95.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pfo_C7X9T0Q/TcTYkwO38VI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/lE1k1mJikXE/s320/R%2526E+0510+6+May+95.JPG" width="215" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-29030652688211286102011-05-06T23:21:00.001-06:002011-05-06T23:22:04.733-06:003BT: Sweet sixteen, King’s Fold (Day 2), supper and dessert<a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/05/3bt-sweet-sixteen-kings-fold-day-2.html?spref=bl">Correspondence Quarter: 3BT: Sweet sixteen, King’s Fold (Day 2), supper an...</a>:EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-5198896953088095332011-05-06T23:20:00.001-06:002011-05-06T23:20:33.497-06:003BT: Tea with LC, King’s Fold (Day 1), loft photo<a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/05/3bt-thurs-tea-with-lc-kings-fold-day-1.html?spref=bl">Correspondence Quarter: 3BT: (Thurs) Tea with LC, King’s Fold (Day 1), une...</a>:EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-31311910129977444762011-05-06T23:18:00.001-06:002011-05-06T23:19:00.370-06:003BT: A walk in the park, editing with Evie, coffee...<a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/05/3bt-walk-in-park-editing-with-evie.html?spref=bl">Correspondence Quarter: 3BT: A walk in the park, editing with Evie, coffee...</a>:EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-78681727503773097832011-05-06T23:17:00.001-06:002011-05-06T23:18:03.665-06:003BT: Pyjama day; chatting to my folks; afternoon rain<a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/05/3bt-pyjama-day-chatting-to-my-folks.html?spref=bl">Correspondence Quarter: 3BT: Pyjama day; chatting to my folks; afternoon r...</a>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-59525458084220819662011-05-06T23:16:00.000-06:002011-05-06T23:16:49.868-06:003BT: late morning; sunny day to vote; tea…and othe...<a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/05/3bt-late-morning-sunny-day-to-vote.html?spref=bl">Correspondence Quarter: 3BT: late morning; sunny day to vote; tea…and othe...</a>:<br /><br />"1. Sleeping late ; waking up in our home knowing our company (nine weeks ’ worth) had left. 2. Driving around in the warm spr..."EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-42350501725235483522011-05-06T23:15:00.001-06:002011-05-06T23:16:08.230-06:003BT Sunday: creativity, Chinese lunch, ducky cake<a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/05/3bt-sunday.html?spref=bl">Correspondence Quarter: 3BT Sunday: creativity, Chinese lunch, ducky cake</a>:<br />
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"1. Brad’s sermon on creativity (Genesis 1: “In the beginning, God created”—and we’re made in His image. Great reminder of the creativ..."EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-79691965891812700232011-04-30T22:29:00.002-06:002011-04-30T22:34:11.533-06:003BT Saturday: “You are not alone,” recycling, library (books, Lindt)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Early to gym (wearing Megumi’s “<strong>You are not alone</strong>” T-shirt), followed by tea at Tim’s<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><strong>Recycling</strong> during a mid-afternoon snowstorm</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>A pleasant <strong>library </strong>visit<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Bonus 4<sup>th</sup>BT: Reading a new <strong>book</strong> while eating <strong>Lindt </strong>chocolate (from the fabulous Fairmans) in a <strong>candlelit bath</strong>: bliss. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">No. 4</span> deserves a separate category: Annemarie and Carmen left the following Lindt bunny hanging on our door yesterday, but I only realised today that it was ours (we share the house part-time); it was (almost) too beautiful to eat! </div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-35786275883961558202011-04-30T22:19:00.004-06:002011-04-30T22:35:54.343-06:003BT Friday: fairytale wedding, spring snow(storm), meeting a deadline<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/3bt-friday-fairytale-wedding-spring.html">http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/3bt-friday-fairytale-wedding-spring.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Saturday, April 30</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Unintentionally I awoke early (after deciding not to!) and got up to watch the <strong>wedding of the year</strong> (!). Glad I did: the bride was simply beautiful. (Aren’t all brides?) I do love a fairytale—and I think this couple has what it takes to make it last. They’re friends. They both work hard. They seem to share a similar sense of humour. I am smiling as I type. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Despite the apparent appearance of spring earlier this week, <strong>it is snowing</strong> up a wee storm this morn. The garden has been spring-cleaned, and the barren earth is white again. But it’s probably too warm for the snow to settle for long. </span><span style="color: #93c47d;">[post pics] </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>I finally wrote my “<strong>More Glimpses</strong>” feature article for my patient and longsuffering editor. It is my privilege to write a regular column, and although my due date has come and gone, I chose to focus on teaching/ grading/ editing this week. Yesterday classes ended, and today I could concentrate on the next deadline on the horizon. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">—Douglas Adams, English humourist & science fiction novelist (1952–2001). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">And now, to nap! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-69942071163878501912011-04-30T22:16:00.002-06:002011-04-30T22:36:14.460-06:003BT: last day of school, snail mail, fellowship with friends<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/3bt-last-day-snail-mail-fellowship-with.html">http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/3bt-last-day-snail-mail-fellowship-with.html</a></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Thursday, April 28</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><strong>Today I taught</strong> my dozen+ college students for the very last time. Next semester I’ll have a new set of students—for two completely different courses (two or three may return). I have enjoyed getting to know these young women and men this past year; this has been one of those semesters in which I possibly learned (even) more than my students did. Today was bittersweet: I know I won’t see some of these precious people again, since they’ll move on with their lives (some to other countries), and I’ll remain here. Ah, the transience of the teaching life. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <strong> </strong></span></span></span><strong>Snail mail</strong>! More on that in my Monday Mail post. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Tonight our sweet <strong>Women in Ministry</strong> (WIM) group of gals met for fellowship (and food), also for the last time this semester. I took photos … and will post them here soon-ish. </div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-83804514750518703372011-04-30T22:06:00.002-06:002011-04-30T22:37:47.309-06:003BT: overseas phone call, tea in chapel, sunroom salad (+ word gifts)<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/3bt-overseas-phone-call-tea-in-chapel.html">http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/3bt-overseas-phone-call-tea-in-chapel.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, April 27</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early morning phone call from my mom-in-law in South Africa (how lovely to hear her voice; she has been in Australia, visiting RP’s brothers and all her grandkids). </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Early morning gym with my exercise accountability partner, WB, followed by the last chapel of the semester (cup of Tim’s steeped tea in hand). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Lunch in the sunroom (strawberry-mandarin-and-spinach salad) with my kingdom colleague, KM. Peace. Stillness. Serenity after an already long week. Shalom. </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Bonus of a 4thBT: </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two unexpected word-bearing gifts from students. I’ll post more on Monday. Off to nap now and enjoy my treasures! </span></div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-55169728959173257072011-04-30T21:56:00.002-06:002011-04-30T22:38:40.204-06:003BT: sunshine after snow, scintillating conversation, Emph Attic mail<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/3bt-tuesday.html">http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/3bt-tuesday.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3BT (“three beautiful things”) today, Tuesday, April 26: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1. <strong><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sunshine</span></strong> after weeks of snow! </span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2.<span style="color: #cc0000;"> An unexpected phone call from a city friend, TM, who visits me each Wednesday night to ask if I was free a night early. (I was.) <strong><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Scintillating conversation</span></strong> to follow! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3. Several positive responses to the e-mail version of my annual “<strong><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Emph Attic</span></strong>” Easter Epistle (really just an updated copy of my Very Long, Very Late Christmas correspondence which I chose not to send out last year, since I was going through a bit of a pre-40<sup>th</sup> b’day midlife crisis at yearend. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ll’s well in this new season. </span></span></div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-70936080736308485212011-04-30T21:47:00.002-06:002011-04-30T22:10:37.014-06:003BT: Three Beautiful Things<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/three-beautiful-things.html"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://correspondencequarter.blogspot.com/2011/04/three-beautiful-things.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Today I decided to join the marvellous miscellany of writers who share “<strong>three beautiful things</strong>” (3BT) each week. Check out this lovely blog: </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; line-height: 150%;"><br />
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<a href="http://threebeautifulthings.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://threebeautifulthings.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As long as I can remember, I’ve asked my spouse (and others in my life) “What was good about today?” This blog seems to capture the essence of looking for the good, paying attention to life in all its fullness, being aware of the beautiful. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Was it Fyodor Dostoevsky who said the world would be saved by beauty? Join me in seeing the beauty all around us. Then share the joy! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "inherit", "serif"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">{Thanks, Clare and others for inviting us to join you.} </span></span></div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-82917518887002385552011-04-26T18:07:00.000-06:002011-04-26T18:07:11.863-06:00Winning streak!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Remember I wrote about winning some pretty tulip notecards in a random blog draw in March? {Thanks, Carla P at <strong>365 Letters</strong>:<strong> </strong><a href="http://365lettersblog.blogspot.com/%7D"><span style="color: #cc0000;">http://365lettersblog.blogspot.com/</span></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">}</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">See </span><a href="http://elainemaryphillips.blogspot.com/2011/03/im-winner.html"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">http://elainemaryphillips.blogspot.com/2011/03/im-winner.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">and </span><a href="http://elainemaryphillips.blogspot.com/2011/04/tulips-from-texas.html"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">http://elainemaryphillips.blogspot.com/2011/04/tulips-from-texas.html</span></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Then I entered another little contest, since I was having such fun getting to know other letter writers, and Angelia from <strong>A Year of Letters</strong>: <a href="http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/">http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/</a> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> chose me as her winner, too: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://elainemaryphillips.blogspot.com/2011/04/if-i-were-mail-carrier.html"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">http://elainemaryphillips.blogspot.com/2011/04/if-i-were-mail-carrier.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Last week I commented on a pen pal’s blog (read the full story below): </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://thepeartree.ca/2011/04/giveaway-french-butter-dish/"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">http://thepeartree.ca/2011/04/giveaway-french-butter-dish/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><strong>The Pear Tree</strong>’s lovely Lori-Anne Poirier writes: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a href="http://thepeartree.ca/2011/04/giveaway-french-butter-dish/"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">http://thepeartree.ca/2011/04/giveaway-french-butter-dish/</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">An admirable blend of quirky and clever, the French butter dish is a tall bowl with a cylindrical lid. The butter is packed into the lid, while a few centimetres of water sits on the bottom of the bowl. It’s a natural way to keep your butter fresh without refrigerating, which keeps it soft and spreadable. ... </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">... </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recently, a secret source (okay, it was my mum) unearthed a stash of these dishes at a shop, and picked up three of them for me. I am a butter fan (and, ahem, a bit clumsy, it’s true), but that’s more than enough for the Pear Tree House. So I’m going to share one butter dish with an interested reader! ... </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just leave a comment below, telling me what you like real butter on, and I’ll randomly pick a name on Friday at noon PST. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And then, today, most unexpectedly, I found out that I had won the butter dish: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Giveaway Winner Announced!</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">The randomly-drawn winner of the French butter dish was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Elaine M. Phillips</b>! Congratulations! We will be in touch with you shortly to arrange getting your butter dish to you. For everyone else, watch for more fun giveaways down the road. {Thanks, Lori-Anne at <a href="http://thepeartree.ca/">http://thepeartree.ca/</a>.} </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">RP says it’s time I bought a lottery ticket. <span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> </span></span></div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-61655816086893093262011-04-08T00:57:00.003-06:002011-04-08T00:58:56.313-06:00"If I Were a Mail Carrier"<div class="postnav"><div class="alignleft">« <a href="http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/if-i-was-a-mailman-first-friday-fun-contest/" rel="prev"><span style="color: #265e15;">If I Was a Mail Carrier (First Friday Fun Contest)</span></a></div><div class="alignright"><span style="color: #265e15;"></span></div></div><div class="post-1680 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-letters-received tag-a-year-of-letters tag-ayearofletters-wordpress-com tag-first-friday-fun tag-mail-carrier tag-winner" id="post-1680"><div class="posttitle"><h2>The Winner of “If I Was a Mail Carrier”…</h2><div class="post-info"><span style="font-size: large;">April 7, 2011 by </span><a href="http://ayearofletters.wordpress.com/author/ayearofletters/" title="Posts by ayearofletters"><span style="color: #265e15; font-size: large;">ayearofletters</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div class="entry"><div class="zemanta-img"><div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 250px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32563803@N00/1618954680"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Postman has been" height="141" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2402/1618954680_0fb4c93d02_m.jpg" title="Postman has been" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-size: large;">Image by xrrr via Flickr</span></div></div></div><span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations to </span><a href="http://www.elainemaryphillips.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #265e15; font-size: large;">Elaine Mary Phillips</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">If I were a mail carrier, I’d be irresistibly curious about the brown paper parcels containing books that I deliver each month: What treasure is nestled beneath the ordinary cover; who wrote it; will the recipient like it; would I like it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Your cards are in the mail! Thanks for playing everyone!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Putting Pen to Paper! </span></div></div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-48726979600024473842011-04-07T23:45:00.001-06:002011-04-07T23:49:42.298-06:00Tulips from Texas<div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5524798389496312071"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="5524798389496312071"></a><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Remember my March 23 win? (See below.) My pretty notecards arrived in the mail all the way from Carla P in sunny Texas this week, and I've already sent three of them to their new homes. </span></h3><div class="post-title entry-title"><br />
</div><h3 class="post-title entry-title">Well, today I'm a winner...again! See next post. </h3><div class="post-title entry-title"><br />
</div><h3 class="post-title entry-title">March 23 post: </h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title">Tulip Notecards Winner! </h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5524798389496312071"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aGysmTha0JE/TYd5KkaiJMI/AAAAAAAAAbY/4AnxoaBZLr0/s1600/FlowerCards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aGysmTha0JE/TYd5KkaiJMI/AAAAAAAAAbY/4AnxoaBZLr0/s200/FlowerCards.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The winner of the Tulip Notecards Giveaway, posted yesterday, is "EMP," aka Elaine Mary Phillips.<br />
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When the random number picker chose her number, I decided to click on her links to see what EMP was all about. The first thing I saw was her profile statement on Blogger. I was immediately intrigued. Here's what she says in the profile:<br />
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<blockquote>"Since I was 7, I knew I’d be a letter-writer-poet when I grew up. Once I ventured out on my own (after hap’ly co-authoring and publishing a book of letters in 2007), I set up a baker’s dozen blogs as a discipline to record my thoughts and type up all the random bits ’n’ pieces composed in coffee shops and on silent retreat days."</blockquote>EMP has a lovely <a href="http://elainemaryphillips.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #956839;">website</span></a>, and you can read more about her book, "The Hippo and the Unicorn: A Rainbow of Words" there. Browse around; she has some interesting stories!<br />
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Congratulations to EMP for winning the cards!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6260581393056208058.post-41786888715434719752011-04-01T00:16:00.000-06:002011-04-01T00:16:41.587-06:0050K: Mar 31<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">50K: Mar 31</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three cheers! I did it! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the stroke of midnight, I did a word count, and to my delight (and surprise), I more than doubled my quota for the 50,000-word challenge I had set myself in late February. From the first of March until the 31<sup>st</sup>, I added up all the words I wrote—unedited, and mostly unpublishable, I am realistic enough to realise—but all original. Written by me. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">J</span></span></span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say, I am over the moon. Thrilled to bits. Almost (but not quite) speechless that I actually made it, “it” being merely a first draft. Ahead lies the more arduous task of seeing if anything is worth salvaging from among the ruins of my often rambling thoughts. I’m treating this as my “composting” phase: pile up the words in the order in which they first appear, without structure or form (all the things I tell my students not to do in research writing). Get it down on the page. Say what you want to say. Deal with the niceties of grammar and spelling later…. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">And that’s about as many clichés as I can manage in one midnight missive. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of missives, I’m currently compiling my annual Easter Epistle and I hope to pop it in the mail by mid-month. Maybe I’ll do what I did several years ago and include a return envelope in each letter … ensuring a good supply of snail mail during the long(er) days of summer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">EMP, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">still smiling as I head off to bed—happy in the knowledge that </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I. Am. A. Writer. </span></div>EMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14712963771722584193noreply@blogger.com