{"id":693,"date":"2009-12-11T10:44:00","date_gmt":"2009-12-11T15:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.michellebeachy.com\/blog\/friday-december-11-2009\/"},"modified":"2009-12-11T10:44:00","modified_gmt":"2009-12-11T15:44:00","slug":"friday-december-11-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.michellebeachy.com\/blog\/friday-december-11-2009\/","title":{"rendered":"Friday December 11, 2009"},"content":{"rendered":"

reading to the boys<\/a><\/p>\n

The books have gone and are going out in shifts. I was amazed to hear that some people received their books in two days via media mail! So much for taking two weeks!<\/p>\n

Now I’d love to hear from you! Just for fun, I’m opening a small contest \/ giveaway. <\/p>\n

On Thanksgiving Day I played “Apples to Apples” for the first time. It was fun and frustrating at the same time. I love words; but being at the mercy of someone’s subjective connotations to them doesn’t allow any helpful strategy unless you know the people extremely well. I’ve tried and tried to think of a way to make this contest less like “Apples to Apples” and so far I haven’t come up with any good ways. So if you, like me, need strategy, I give you full permission to growl at these very vague rules.<\/p>\n

In case you haven’t been here before, here is “My Brother’s Keeper”<\/a> and here is “We Build A House”<\/a><\/p>\n

To enter this giveaway:<\/p>\n

Blog something about your books along with a link back to this post. This can be a photo, a video clip, something your child said (this includes funny stories or “read it again, Mommy,” or anything else you want to include), your own impressions about the books, or what you are planning to do with them (one person is planning to take them along to her photography class).<\/p>\n

Come back to this post and comment telling me where you featured your presentation.<\/p>\n

You do not have to be on xanga to enter this and if you don’t have a blog and want to enter, feature it elsewhere and let me know where.<\/p>\n

Here’s where the apples to apples part comes in. The entry that creates the most “awwww” factor for me wins. (David shook his head when he heard this and said, “I think you should have a male judge.”) But hey, this is just for fun!<\/p>\n

The winner receives his or her choice of<\/p>\n

A: A set of the two books<\/p>\n

— or —<\/p>\n

B: A $10 Starbucks card (unless you win and hate coffee, in which case you and I will find a mutually agreeable place to get your $10 card).<\/p>\n

I love reasoning and debate so help me out as the entries come in and lobby for the one you think should win. <\/p>\n

To help you get started, here are a few things that have already made my heart go flip flop flip:<\/p>\n

1. Benjamin’s grandmother (referring to, “My Brother’s Keeper”) said, “This sounds so much like them. I feel like I’m talking to their family.” I am pretty sure this will always and forever go down in my record of the highest compliment ever. Be glad she’s not on xanga or we’d already know who will win. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

2. The print broker’s dad who read, “My Brother’s Keeper,” and said, “This is an excellent book.” Choice words. Especially from one who sees thousands of books. <\/p>\n

3. Miss Carolyn, who said, “Thank you for using your talents for GOD. I see, and you too have seen, so much of the opposite. It’s sickening.” I have her note taped onto my refrigerator.<\/p>\n

And while these aren’t entry type things, I’m just going to add them because they are were such sweet little extras that made me smile. Sometimes, especially if you read the news or other popular pessimists, it’s easy to believe that everyone is out to get everyone else’s throat. That nothing except “myself to the top” matters in anyone anymore. It’s just all so dire. When we went shopping on Black Friday I was expecting shoplifting, selfish people shoving, and stampedes. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to see more graciousness and smiles then usual. (Ok, maybe it helped that I was at the mall, not Wal*Mart; but still!) So here’s my little applause to the people in the world who are doing positive things. Several people sent checks rounded up or handed over a $20 and said, “Keep the change.” I went slack-jawed the first time (that was you, Audrey!) because in this Christmas Season you always hear about people getting a little stretched and I was not expecting it (and it wouldn’t have been like me to do it, shame on me). Then it happened again, and again. A few other people sent cards or notes. Here are my two favorites that will definitely stay as keepers. One, because I love these angels. Two, because it is handmade and so pretty.
\"Dec<\/a> \"Dec<\/a> <\/p>\n

Back on subject, I will leave this contest open until January 10th. That way, no one will be left out in the event of a slow postal system. Can’t wait to hear from you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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