Monday is Martin Luther King's Birthday. It's also special for another reason: It's the day we brought home our rescue dog, Rafferty.Two years ago, I told my husband I wanted another dog to keep our prissy Miss Victoria company. Of course, David said, "No," and later relented. "But it has to be a Bichon," he said. "I don't want fur all over the house." My son and I checked out the local humane society. There we saw a three-legged dog. "A … [Read more...] about Some People are Just Plain STUPID
Blog
Nerves…How to Control Them When You Speak
Because I once made my living as a motivational speaker, people often assume I don't get nervous when I speak. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, every professional speaker I've met … [Read more...] about Nerves…How to Control Them When You Speak
News from My Little Corner of the World
Sometimes, life just isn't fair. And the most talented among us get overlooked. For example, my good friend Tony Hooper emailed me last week with this lament: Dear Joanna, Walter Bargen narrowly edged me out to become Missouri's first Poet Laureate. I probably should have steered away from controversy in my poems, one of which began:I think that I shall never seeA state so fair as Missouri,I love her highways, streets, and roads;Some have … [Read more...] about News from My Little Corner of the World
The Best of British Scrapbooking 2007
Since 2004, I've been judging The Best of British Scrapbooking, a contest I started in the UK to spotlight new talent. When I began the contest, people wondered if there was really enough talent … [Read more...] about The Best of British Scrapbooking 2007
Hoppin' John for a Happy New Year
Hoppin' JohnStop by our house tomorrow, and you'll find me cooking a mess of "Hoppin' John.""Hoppin' John" is an essential part of southern lore, especially honored in the Low Country, South Carolina's coastal counties. If you stop in an area restaurant around New Year's Day, no matter what you order, they'll slip you a small dish of beans and rice … [Read more...] about Hoppin' John for a Happy New Year
Back from Vacation
Just home from Kiawah Island, SC, and a marathon bookreading vacation.My husband David and I laugh that we must be getting old. We ENJOY sitting around, reading, and going to bed early. I particularly loved reading In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spenser-Fleming. Wow. That's all I can say. It's an absolutely terrific book. One that I wish I'd written. The protagonist is an Episcopalian priest, a woman. Since I grew up in the Anglican church, I … [Read more...] about Back from Vacation
