G is for Great White Shark

The first word that comes to mind when I think of a great white shark is ... majestic.

Like lions are kings of the jungle, sharks are kings of the ocean.

That's not to say they don't frighten me. When I was younger, my parents would take me and my three brothers to the lake. Now, I'd watched the movie Jaws and knew there was no way a great white could be in the lake water, but I was still scared.

When I'd finally go in, my brothers would hum the Jaws theme song. You know. *dun-unh ... dun-unh* They'd also swim under water and grab my feet. I'd scream at the top of my lungs and not go in for days. Rotten brothers!

                                   

When a great white shark is born, along with up to a dozen siblings, it immediately swims away from its mother. Baby GWS's are on their own right from the start, and their mother may see them only as prey.

According to scientists, after a big meal, a great white shark can last a month or two before feeding again. My thought? Do they really wait that long? On documentaries I've watched, it seems like they eat a lot in more than one sitting. Maybe a big meal to them is a bunch in a short span.

Highly adapted predators, the GWS's mouths are lined with up to 300 serrated, triangular teeth arranged in several rows, and they have an exceptional sense of smell to detect prey.

                        Doesn't this shark below look like he's smiling? Creepy.

          Check out other fabulous blogs at Blogging from A to Z Challenge here.

F is for Floral Arrangements

We've been busy this week, making floral arrangements for Easter time, so I thought I'd share some with you.

This arrangement is called Hoppy Easter and is one of my favorite things to make.

The design is by 1-800-Flowers, and just like the Santa Claus doggie was popular during the Christmas season, so is this puppy with bunny ears during Easter time.

This is an order from a man to his wife. He wanted a dozen roses added to it for her. Very sweet!






This pic is a lavender watering can with tulips, carnations, mini carns, daisies, and wax flower.








This is a ceramic containter made to look like grass.
Inside, I put daisies, wax flower, sweetheart roses, mini carns, a cute little chic, and a nest with baby eggs.











These roses aren't Easter-ish looking, but I had to share them with you guys. They 're called Circus Roses and are a yellow with an orange/hot pink edge. Gorgeous.


                  
                  
               Check out other blogs in the A to Z Challenge here.

E is for Elvis Presley

Fact or the twisted truth of Elvis Presley

The King’s first guitar, at age 10 or 11, cost $7.75 - 12.95.  This sounds expensive to me for the 1940's.

He was a huge comic book fan.  A man of good taste.

His natural hair color was sandy brown or blond, but he dyed it black. Excellent choice.

His favorite aftershave to impress the ladies was Brut.  I’m more of an Old Spice or Abercrombie kind of girl.

In August 1965, The Beatles visited Elvis at his home in California and joined him in an informal jam session that tragically wasn’t recorded.  I wish this would’ve been recorded. I would’ve so bought it.

Aside from gyrating hips, he had other moves. He was a black belt in karate. I wonder if Maroon 5 ever thought of calling their song, Moves Like Jagger, ... Moves Like Presley. It has a nice ring to it, I do believe.

Some of Elvis’s bejeweled jumpsuits weighed more than 25 pounds. Why would anyone want to wear something so heavy? Yikes.

In 1977, there were 170 Elvis impersonators. By 2002, there were 85,000. At that rate of growth, by 2019 a third of the world’s population will be Elvis impersonators. Holy cow!

His last concert was at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 26, 1977. So sad. :(

I've been in league bowling for years with my hubby and inlaws. When I first started out, my hubby bought me a ball with Elvis Presley's pic on it. When I'd bowl, sometimes my ball would veer off and away from the bowling pin I'd intended to knock down.

My father-in-law would say in a loud voice for the entire bowling alley to hear, "Elvis has left the building."

Click here to check out other blogs in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

D is for Determination (AtoZ Challenge and IWSG)

This is a two-fold post for the A to Z Challenge and the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Click on them to find out more about these awesome opportunities!

There are times when I read over my work and a number of things plague my mind.....

What the heck is this rubbish?

Why are you even trying to write?

Keep your day job.

Not even close.

La-who-sa-her.

These self doubt messages try to get in my way, but determination can keep me in check, if I let it.

The below thoughts are what I strive for my replies to be.....

It may be rubbish now, but I can work with rubbish. I can revise and fix it, and make it shine.

I’m writing because I enjoy it, and I NEED to. It’s like breathing.

I will keep my day job AND write.

I'm getting there.

I'm not perfect, but I'm not a loser either.

I need to remember to replace doubt with belief. The end result is so worth it, and my determination will get me there.

.

Check out other blogs on the A to Z Challenge blog

 

Check out other blogs on the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog

C is for Cereal

The first US cereal was invented in 1863 by James C. Jackson. “Granula” (not granola) was deemed inconvenient since the bran needed to be soaked overnight before it was tender enough to consume.
Later, John H. Kellogg tried the same process with boiled wheat, and then rolled the product out creating wheat flakes.
Breakfast cereal was born.



       
I LOVE cereal with either soy milk or skim milk. My favorites? I could go on and on, but I'll only share five to spare you.

Doesn't the Cracklin' Oat Bran look like cat food? It's yummy, though, with a cinnamon/oatmeal taste.

Do you like cereal? What are your favorites?

For other A to Z Challenge blogs go here.     

B is for Beta Readers

Beta readers (or critique partners) are invaluable, and not only for their “editing skills” but also for something that I’m fortunate to have gained with my betas . . . friendship. We email, text, and talk on the phone. Sometimes, it's about writing. Other times, it's about family and life outside the writing world. 

But as for the "beta-ing" part of beta readers....here’s my list I’ve what I try to help with when I beta

and what my betas help with when reading my manuscripts:  

spelling

grammar
plot
dialogue
characters
flow
voice
word choice
word usage
continuity
ideas


The beauty of having more than one beta to read your work is that what one may not see, another may catch, and vice-versa. In essence, betas are a set of fresh eyes and ideas.
Also, beta reading is a perfect opportunity to give encouragement, advice, support, and to cheer each other on when we may feel like throwing our WIP in the pond. :D

I have three wonderful betas.

Two have been with me through this craziness for a couple years,

and one I recently started swapping material with.

I wouldn't trade these amazing people for the world.

I heart my beta readers and am honored to call them friends. :D

 

      Have you joined the Blogging from A to Z Challenge yet?!

                                   
                                    Check it out here!

Tagged By Pearson Report - A to Z Challenge Co-Host

Have you ever wondered what would happen if we played TAG out here in Bloggerville?

TAG = The Answer Game.

I ask you the following questions and you answer them on your blog! (a simple copy and paste event - no biggie) 

Then you pose the same questions to your Followers and so on, and so on…

If you play the game...I’ll add your blog to my TAGGED BY PEARSON REPORT Blog List - where everyone will know you are a team player who's kickin' it with me and the A to Z team. Our goal is to see 1,000 participants, on the sign-up list, by March 1st...so here’s your chance to pitch in and show your support by playing TAG.

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS:

Are you signed up for the A to Z Challenge? 

~ Absolutely!

What is your sign-up number? 

~ My sign up number is #474 - Jackie @ Bouquet of Books

Are you ready? If yes...explain yourself. 

~ When I write, I'm a panster/plotter....  I have a tiny outline going on that I'll write down. It's enough to make me run with it and write away. :)

   So, I figure, why not do the same with this blogfest?!

If you’re not ready...what’s your excuse? 

~ see above

Just copy and paste these questions in your post and have at ‘er! Let’s see what makes you a Blogging from A to Z participant!

Let Pearson Report know when you post your answers and she’ll add you to my TAGGED BY PEARSON REPORT Blog List.

So what are you waiting for...you’ve just been TAGGED!

And a little perk for Pearson Report's Followers of Note - if you participate, she'll enter your sign-up number into a draw basket for an original artistic creation from her daughter, Courtney, a designer in Animation. The piece she has selected is called Life and is a series of four prints - they can be seen HERE