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What Year Was Your Favorite Birthday And Why ?
2008-02-12 23:16:00
"I had more candles on my cake! Although, I guess that's not something to brag about though is it?- Well, never mind." :)What year was your favorite birthday and why? First, let me apologize for posting Tuesday's Question so late in the day. My stepfathers mother, Marie, passed away yesterday so I spent today at the funeral home saying goodbye. Although, with the exception of today I've been running behind a lot lately, for no apparent reason and with no acceptable excuse for my tardiness. Plus, in case you haven't noticed this is the third Tuesday's Question I've posted late in the day in the last three weeks. I've just been in a quandary for some reason, but at least today I have a legitimate excuse for my tardiness. I would have postponed Tuesday's Question and almost did, but Marie was not the type of person who would have approved of a postponement-people of her generation invented the attitude behind the expression, "the show must go on," in addition to having the ...
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A Scene from Paper Moon Is Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment
2008-02-09 08:42:00
This Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment debuted in 1973 and starred Ryan and Tatum O'Neal- Tatum who won an Oscar for the role. I remember reading the book during class in Junior High, when we were told to read a chapter out of our textbook. I used to hide whatever novel I was reading inside my textbooks- I bet my teacher wondered why I never knew the material, because I read a lot of books that year. Enjoy this scene, which is one of my favorites, and if you've never seen the movie or read the book, do both, it's a great story. Happy Saturday!TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
More About: Moon , Scene , Paper

Bloggers And Bloggets Worst And First Jobs
2008-02-06 21:19:00
I thought this was the perfect image to use for how one feels on the worst job of their life- the calf representing the boss of course, with his wicked little controlling grin on his face.There is nothing worse than an awful job, in fact a terrible job can make such a strong impression on you that you remember the "feelings" associated with the it more than the details of your job description. And oh, what a powerful feeling it is, for instance this Tuesday's Question was a choice between two questions to answer, What Is The Worst Or First Job Your Ever Had? And although there were a lot of first job answers, the worst job comments were packed with the details on how the jobs made them feel...Which proves the best advice my grandfather ever gave me and told me to never forget, and I'm sure you've probably heard before... I don't know the exact quote so I won't put it in quotations (I just wanted it to be clear that it is not an original thought, as if) Anyway, what my gra...
More About: Jobs , Bloggers

What Is The Worst Or First Job You Ever Had ?
2008-02-05 19:01:00
When I looked through my archives of Tuesday's Questions this morning to make sure I didn't repeat a question, I noticed that a lot of my regular post titles are questions- I guess because I'm so inquisitive, (which is something you probably didn't already know about me.) Anyway, I thought I asked this question before but I haven't- what I did was write a post entitled My First Job At Chicken Coop, although it wasn't my worst job... and I never asked either question. So this week for Tuesday's Question you get to pick which one you would prefer to answer. So you can tell us about your worst or first job experience, but remember I will post your comment tomorrow with a link back to your blog, so it will be published for the world to read. (Smile) Also tell your readers that you answered Tuesday's Question, and maybe they can meet a few more bloggers while they're reading your comment and vice versa. Also if you prefer I can link back to the post of your choice instead of y...

Weird Things About Me
2008-02-05 00:30:00
Drowsy Monkey">Drowsy Monkey tagged my good friend Dawn from Twisted Sister with the 7 weird things about me meme, and Dawn tagged me. I usually avoid the Weird Things About Me Meme's, because, who wants to admit weird things about themselves, especially if they happen to be neurotic? But in this case, I made an exception because, Dawn is my very good friend and has been since I began blogging, and I think that is enough of a reason to swallow my ego and do away with my dignity.Therefore, here are seven weird things about me the first of which may frighten you from reading the rest, but we will see... The first weird thing comes from a guilty conscious or at least it’s what my best friend from high school and I decided, since she does the same weird thing-I'm going to try to articulate the first weird thing about me by giving a made up scenario as an example… So imagine this... While visiting a friend’s house out of town for a while, the friend comes to me her eyes wild wit...

Mouse Dreams
2008-02-01 04:58:00
I read an interesting article on MSN.com today about scientists conducting experiments on mice in an effort to better understand how memory is formed. According to Reuters, Japanese scientists have implanted a tiny camera inside a mouse’s brain to conduct the research that may someday help prevent diseases like Parkinson’s. In all seriousness, this might cause a big breakthrough someday, but just hearing about a camera inside a mouse’s brain evokes all kinds of silly images in my head. For one thing I was dazed when I begin reading the article, due to the lack of enough sleep lately, and as I read the article I thought about what we might see if we viewed the inside of a mouse's brain? For instance; what if we could see a mouse’s dreams? Dream land:“Hello, Mr. Mouse , and welcome to the cheese factory. We have all kinds here: Swiss, American, Brie, you name it, we got it. What would you like to partake in today?”“Wow, me? Well, sir, if you don’t mind I’ll ...
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The Best Bloggers Answers To Tuesdays Question
2008-01-30 21:11:00
The best and bravest bloggers answered yesterday's Tuesday's Question What Was The Biggest Lie You Told In Childhood? with an open heart and impressive honestly. The brief and magical moments we spend in childhood pass so quickly, yet we learn so much about the world and ourselves in that short period of time.Those tender years teach us many of life's most valuable lessons, than we learn at any other period in our lives and we remember them differently than whatever we learn later in life.I noticed from reading the following comments how much of an impact childhood experiences have on our lives...For example, I read the following type of sentences, "I'll never forget that one" "this is the one I'll tell you" or "I've never told anyone this, because the world is large when we are children and every lesson learned is a lesson we will not soon forget- through the trial and error of becoming a grown-up. (No doubt still a monumental task for me by any stretch of the imagination)So...
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What Is The Biggest Lie YouTold In Childhood?
2008-01-29 17:20:00
Hello and welcome to another Tuesday's Question, especially a few new readers (of which I'm sooo grateful) who may wonder what in the world Tuesday's Question is? Therefore, let me explain real quick: I began Tuesday's Question 22 glorious questions ago, in an effort to get to know who was reading my blog, in addition to introducing bloggers to one another...I also wanted to involve other bloggers who participated in a group post that included their comments every Wednesday, with a link back to their blogs - sort of like a blog review but more personable. Here's a link to all the questions as well as comments I've posted so far which may give those of you who aren't familiar with Tuesday's Question a better idea of what I'm writing about... or you might say, what it's all about...(Pardon me for getting off topic a minute but, "What's it's all about", reminds me of the lines to a song...what is it? I think it's by The Carpenters, You know, "What's it all about...) Anyw...
More About: Childhood

I Can't Get Through To Mrs. Blakemore
2008-01-25 08:54:00
I can't get through to Mrs.Blakemore. I have been corresponding with this lady by the name of Mrs Blakemore for a few weeks now, well I say correspond, actually she's the only person she's writing- I'm not convinced she cares if anyone writes back. Well, first let me say, I realize the effects stress can have on a person. In addition, we're all in such a hurry we barely have time to think straight, and simply aren't paying enough attention to what we're doing at times- however, I believe Mrs. Blakemore needs to READ my e-mails, I mean, sometimes someone else might have something important to say.For example, Mrs. Blakemore believes I am her son Clifford and it really doesn't matter what I say or do she keeps writing me. Anyway, I think she's harmless, and I thought I would share it with you because why should anyone have to endure this alone, and you are my friends, right? At the bottom of every e-mail she writes, "how do i get out of here??? esamplease putwheres the esap...

Can We Set A World Record?
2008-01-25 08:53:00
Can we set a world record in the amount of blogs that can link together in the blogosphere? Well, I've joined my friends in attempting to set the Big Bang World record! The goal is to reach and link together as many blogs as we can across the blogosphere. Let's see how big of a bang we can make!*Start Copy Here* You do not have to be tagged to play along. This game is simple and so are the rules. Copy from *Start Copy Here* through *End Copy Here*Add your site(s) to the list. Just be sure to post at each site you add. Tag or don’t tag, your choice, however, the more tags you create the bigger the list will grow.Let me know your blog’s name and url by leaving me a comment HERE. I will add you to the master list. (If you would like the scroll box code, leave me your email address and I will email it to you.)Come back and copy the master list back to your site, often. This process will allow late-comers to get as much link benefi...
More About: World Record , Record , Cord

A Disobedient Chicken With Attitude
2008-01-24 11:53:00
This little One On The Egg Carton Is My Chicken ChoiceHere is my chicken for Speedcat Hollydale's wordless chicken Tuesday. I found the others too , but I don't like them, they lack character. (Please don't let this be the day when someone I'm trying to impress stops to read my page.) Anyway, I guess most chickens lack character, they're always too chicken to stick up for a friend, or admit when they're wrong, in addition, they're either clucking and ducking an issue or bossing each other around... I suppose that's why we started wringing their necks in the first place. But, I do like chickens with an attitude, and this little chicken on the egg cartoon's display of civil disobedience is my kind of chicken.Do you think I made the right choice? I mean the little chicken on the egg carton is a rebel, which suggests brains, and well look at the other poultry? One is ignoring her eggs and the other looks as if she is lecturing her little blank faced chick with a t...
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Readers Comment On What Scares The Daylights Out Of Them
2008-01-24 09:02:00
Draw! Tuesday's Question this week asked What Is Your Scariest Experience? What I find appealing about Tuesday's Question is the unpredictable answers I get each week in comments. I love this feature because it provides an inside look into the personality and experiences of the person behind the blog, in a different and fun format shared with other bloggers. In addition, it introduces bloggers to each other and the rest of the blogosphere and provides a link to their blogs.This particular question was a touchy one because it could have gone in either a sad or funny direction, and as it turns out it did both...however, we learn and grow from painful and scary experiences, and without pain you cannot know joy, just like without true honesty you cannot know real friendship. Therefore, I think you will come away from this post with something of value from these bloggers who took the time to write about their scariest, most painful, and funny experiences- and I hope they will g...
More About: Readers , Comment

What is Your Scariest Experience?
2008-01-22 12:22:00
Welcome to Tuesday's Question. For those of you who are are not familiar with Tuesday's Question I'll give a quick overview: I began posting a weekly question based on personal experiences and childhood memory to help get to know my readers better and vice versa about 21 questions ago, starting in September of 2007- (it sounds like a long time doesn't it?) And now the weekly post has become more than a question or a way of getting to know my readers- it's also turned out to work well for the blogs who comment. Because, in the spirit of friendship the posts with their comments has become sort of group blog review. What I mean is they're creating exposure for their blogs by providing information about themselves in the post, and...
More About: Experience

Sugar Sugar And Some New Features
2008-01-20 16:07:00
I posted this same video four months ago in September-(like you don't know September was four months ago) Anyway, the video, or rather the song, Sugar Sugar by The Archie's is my muse for a memoir I started writing in September- a manuscript I've decided to boldly share with my readers in one of my new features.I'm not sure if I can mention the title of the memoir, but I do have some pieces of it on my blog and I've wanted to share more of my writing life for some time, so I decided to include you in the ups and downs of writing a manuscript and sending it out to test the market. Basically, including my readers more in my writing life which actually I ought to say include you in the process of building a writing life.Anyway, I hope you like one of my favorite muses Sugar Sugar- I use different songs, places, and memories as muses for whatever I'm working on and it was the perfect video to use with the announcement of new featuresHere are a few new features or themes I'm going...
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Thank you Paula For The Polliwog Award
2008-01-20 09:38:00
Paula from Six4Paula and formally Polliwog's Pond has given me the very rare, The Polliwog Award . Thank you Paula for the kind recognition and clear compliment awarded A Nice Place In The Sun, in addition to only three other recipients! I was truly touched when I read what you wrote in my comments: "The Polliwog Award is for making a difference in people's lives. You don't pass it on, You just get it and know that you helped someone." Isn't that great? Therefore, I wanted to say thank you Paula in a post and I will proudly display it on my special Awards page, because it is indeed special, and very much appreciated. TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
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Saturdays Favorite Movie Moment - A River RunsThrough It
2008-01-19 11:53:00
This Saturday's favorite movie moment is a scene from A River Runs Through it starring Tom Skerritt, Craig Sheffer, and Brad Pitt. Pitt's character, Paul, has such a passion for life and fishing, that it's intoxicating to watch him gracefully glide down the splashy and powerful Blackfoot river with his prize fish at the end of his pole. This whole film is pleasant to the eye, but this scene is one of its finest moments. So if you haven't seen this movie you must and if you have, you'll want to see it again after viewing this clip, I did. Happy Saturday everyone!TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
More About: Movie , Moment , Favorite

You Cheer Me Up Award!
2008-01-17 04:58:00
Most of us know who cheers us up- what we don't know is if we cheer up others or if we're making a difference at all. That's because we let too much time go by without telling those we appreciate how much they mean to us, until it's too late and the opportunity slips away. So I decided to create an award to let my friends and co-workers in the blogosphere know how much they cheer me up! Hence, I'm happy to present my first award on A Nice Place In The Sun, called (drum roll please) You Cheer Me Up Award Here is it's code The bloggers I nominated I hold in high esteem, with the likes of Charlotte from Charlotte's Web, a box of Peanut Butter Panic from Blue Bunny Ice Cream, and a copy of a picture I have in my home of Lucy and Ethel on the job at a candy company. I would give anything for the opportunity to give E.B.White, one of my favorite writers and the author of Charlotte's Web the You Cheer Me Up Award... And Oh, how I dream I could give an award to Lucy a...

New Blogroll
2008-01-17 04:53:00
My View Of It Santa's Certified Blogs Author Blog Complain, Complain, Complain Being A Mom Is Great Priscilla Palmer's Personal Development list WTIT Taped Radio The Painted Veil The Road Less Unraveled Observations From The Back 40 Life Mushy's Mushings Momma Mia Mea Culpa I love My Heart The Bestest Blog Healthy Lifestyle Blogzine Six For Paula Polliwogs Pond Flowers On A Friday The Secret Monologues Santa's Blog Of The Day Work Of A Poet Sugar Dreams Queen TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
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Kids Say The Craziest Things - Readers Comments
2008-01-16 15:47:00
Instead of phrasing Tuesday's Question, What is the Funniest Thing your child's ever said? I should have written "Whats the most profound, heartfelt, thought provoking statement you've ever heard your child say? Because children are genuine and teach us a lot more about life than we give them credit for, for example, one time when my brother asked my grandmother why he had to wash an apple before eating it, she said to keep you from eating a bug, in which he replied, "No it isn't Gussie, when they see my teeth they'll run away! " So you see we may have more life experience and education, but that doesn't mean we have all the answers.I guessed I phrased the question "Whats the funniest thing your child has ever said?" because children are so literal and real, we actually find the things they say comical, but when you think about it a lot of the things they say make absolute sense, we just don't give them credit.For my profile statement on the social web site Bumpzee I wrote,...
More About: Kids , Readers , Comments , Things

Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment!
2008-01-13 00:10:00
I loved this wonderfully romantic scene so much I published it a second time around.Have a great week-end and thanks for reading.TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
More About: Movie , Moment , Favorite

What is The Funniest Thing Your Child 's Ever Said?
2008-01-10 15:21:00
Welcome to my Tuesday Question feature that I post every Tuesday on Thursday. I've had one computer problem after another this week, therefore I apologize for the two day delay. I've been on the phone with computer doctors all week who tell me that "Dell" (my computer) just needed an update, and that he should be fine, especially after the the last two days of rest- geez...I thought, that's more rest than most of us- anyway I was glad to be back in business. At least, I thought I was back in business, because after happily writing this post this morning, that I planned to post Tuesday, I couldn't post the image. Consequently, I've spent the better part of today trying to post the image above of my beautiful boy, and low and behold, it posted! Now, we can have some fun answering Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday's Question- What is The Funniest Thing Your Child 's Ever said? I took my answer from a post I wrote when I first started blogging, entitled a The Funniest T...

Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment - Almost Famous
2008-01-05 20:54:00
I Remember when the car radio was the main source of communication, entertainment, and comfort between friends in the 1970s. Everyone piled in their cars and sang along to whatever song was playing on the radio every week-end. It was so much fun, plus those times created memories we will always remember... For a long time I thought it was just my gang who sang to the car radio, until the broadcast of the situation comedy That Seventies Show and of course, this movie. Which by the way, is a great film, one you should rent if you haven't already. It's based on the life of a Rolling Stone writer's first band interview when he was only fifteen years old. But, I'm not going to tell you anything else, because it will give too much away! Have a great week-end!TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
More About: Movie , Famous , Moment , Favorite

Santa's Blog Of The Day
2008-01-04 14:41:00
I know it might seem silly, but I was so happy to see that someone thought enough of A Nice Place In The Sun to nominate it for Santa's Blog Of The Day yesterday, that I could hardly stand it. The idea that someone thinks enough of your blog to fill out the form to nominate you is a big enough deal to me, so you can imagine my excitement when I received another exciting e-mail from Santa this morning. The e-mail stated that A Nice Place In The Sun had actually tied with The Original Blue Ribbon Bloggers in the number of votes needed to win the award.I'm sincerely grateful to Santa Claus for the award and the bloggers who voted for my blog, and would like to send my congratulations to all the members of The Blue Ribbon Bloggers who share this honor with me -In addition, upon reading Santa's post today for the second time, I discovered I've been nominated again, (evidently something is wrong with my reading comprehension) and like yesterday, I'm nominated with some of the ...

The Power Of A Perfect Phrase
2008-01-04 12:40:00
My father sent this e-mail to me yesterday, and I liked it so much I decided to post it with a few added images. I thought it read like something you would love as much as I did. These days we read or hear what is said in disagreements between celebrities, writers, and politicians on cable news networks and in popular magazines, where the words are downright forthcoming. However, the articulation simply pales in comparison to yesterdays disagreements quoted in the following e-mail. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did, if not, you will note a comparable difference in the way we phrase our arguments today. E-mail begins here:"There was a time when words were used beautifully. These glorious insults are from an era when cleverness with words was still valued, before a great portion of the English language was boiled down to four-letter words!" The exchange between Churchill and Lady Astor: She said, "If you were my husband, I'd give you poison," and he said,"If you...
More About: Power , Perfect

New Years Resolution Or Not ?
2008-01-02 21:19:00
Thank you Mel from Monday Morning Power, and Sandee from Comedy Plus for tagging A Nice Place In The Sun to participate in the Resolution or Not? blogroll. I stopped making New Years Resolutions years ago, opting instead to make a new resolution each month, many of which I lived to regret. However, this year, I changed my mind, because I found a resolution that will leave me with few regrets, that is, aside from the fact that I didn't write it myself.My resolution is a line in the film When Harry Met Sally where the main character proclaims his intention to let the rest of his life begin as soon as possible. I loved his proclamation to live his life without the doubts, hesitations, and fears, that often robe us of a life fully lived, examined, or explored.When a voice says "Ann, it's time to come home" I want to know that I damned the obstacles... and chose a life likened to that of a great thoroughbred. One filled with a mighty heart full of passion, who crosses the finish lin...
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Happy New Year!
2008-01-01 03:44:00
TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
More About: New Year , Happy , Happy New Year , Year

Children's Picture Book Reviews For The New Year
2007-12-30 03:42:00
I've decided to repost a picture book review for the New Year s holiday. When my son was a little boy we spent the holidays reading books together. It was such fun to fill our book bags at the local library with the best titles, many of which, I I remembered from my own childhood, or read my a cheat sheet my mother gave me before we went. A librarian and huge reader herself, my mother provided my son with some of the best titles in children's literature, a gift for which I will be forever grateful. I was lucky to have help full-filling a desire to share a love for language and literature with my child by reading to him often. Language is music for the soul and a great book will be there to comfort, teach, and entertain you always.Anyway, I would have had a difficult time finding such great titles without my mothers guidance. Hence, I've decided to review more of my families favorite titles, in addition to authors requests for new children's book reviews in the coming ye...
More About: Reviews , Book Reviews , Picture , Book

Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment
2007-12-29 10:33:00
This New Years Eve we should all take Harry's advice and "Let the rest of our life begin as soon as possible." Enjoy this favorite movie clip from Harry Met Sally starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.TEXT Posted by Ann Clemmons
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Holiday Update
2007-12-29 00:27:00
This is my cat Simon, refusing to jump off the office chair Santa brought me for Christmas. Simon and I fight all of the time, but we go way back. I was ill a few years ago and Simon lay at my feet and nursed me back to health. Now, he feels I'm indebted to him and I sort of agree. Animals are amazing, and this one did me a good turn, so -as my regular readers know- I put up with a lot from Simon this past year. As far as our new fight over the chair, I told him I was going to take a picture in case I might need evidence of his behavior. Because he moaned a mean moan when I tried to make him jump down, then turned his back on me- meaning leave him alone- brat. In addition, now that Simon's discovered the chair he's invented new ways to interrupt me when I'm working, and when I get up to correct him he jumps in the chair. He thinks this is sneaky when it's so transparent what he's doing...Anyway, I just wanted to write a quick update to let everyone know that Simon hasn...
More About: Holiday , Update

My Christmas Gift Awards Need The Instructions
2007-12-26 20:13:00
I hope everyone had gobs of the kind of Christmas fun apparent in the picture posted above. An image you may recognize, since it's the same image I posted with my Christmas Gift Award post last week. The reason I'm using it again is to help clear up what appears to be some confusion in regards to the instructions intended to go along with the gifts.But first, thanks to everyone who responded to my award post and adopted a gift. I was so happy when I read your comments, that I danced around my tree high on Christmas joy!I am afraid, however that the rules or instructions have been misunderstood, so I decided to post them again. I just want to clear things up before it becomes too confusing to unravel, and so that everyone knows what to do in the event they receive a gift.Here are the instructions along with a link to the original award post still posted on my title page. If you decide to pass along a gift, please copy the instructions highlighted below and list them in your...
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