The photos of Tracy and Barbara reading my book, Outtakes From a Marriage, in Times Square, on the previous blog, gave me an idea for a contest. Send me pictures of my book (either of my books will do) – and the one that’s the funniest, or in the most unusual place will be the winner. If you’re shy, you don’t have to be in the photo. Just prop it up someplace. Or have a pet doing something with it (that’s Daphne, above, examining my shipment of the first edition of Outtakes. You guys can all vote, but my vote will always be for the photos of the book being read in a very public place. This blog entry is under the category “Shameless Self-Promotion,” after all.
Just email me your photos during the next month and I’ll post them in August and we’ll pick a winner. Haven’t figured out a prize yet.
Also, I see that several of you have joined my Facebook group. Those who haven’t, it’s here:
Everybody’s invited! We can have discussions and chats there …as soon as I figure out how. And for those who don’t like Facebook, don’t worry, the party’s still going on right here.
Can’t wait to see your photos!
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Hi everyone! First time commenting on the blog… I’m guessing the picture contest is over at the end of July? Let me know!
What a cool idea! My 12 year old just pulled your book off my bookshelf because she was looking for something to read. I didn’t even direct her to it. It just looked interesting to her. It’s “An Innocent, A Broad”. She’s loving it! She actually just blogged about how she’s enjoying it. Funny, huh?
Just saw your recent book on a table at Barnes & Noble in Canton, CT under the sign of good summer reads. I had to smile. I loved your novel.
Candy in Chicago
I posted that youtube thing because… that is how bad it can GET for some people. Because of that video I did ten reps of 10 lbs 5x last night. The body is a beautiful thing, but it can be unforgiving.
I feel bad if it bothered you
Dear Ann,
To borrow a message from a newborn’s onesie: Hi, I’m new here!
I arrived at your blog a few months ago via a circuitous route through Rescue Me, Wikipedia, and your books, both of which I loved reading. Your sense of humor and clever turns of phrase have me waiting eagerly for number three.
And despite the obvious differences between us – most notably: talent, achievement, age, fame – many of your blog entries and passages from your books leave me feeling that we’re kindred spirits all the same. I absolutely get the sadness you seem to find in exquisite beauty, how in awe you are of nature’s changing light, and that sense of ‘waiting for the other shoe to drop’ that you’ve so often hinted at or described outright. Those are just a few of the ways in which you remind me of me.
Okay. Introduction aside, I woke up yesterday with an idea for a photo for your contest. Picture this: a bride and groom at the altar, facing their priest/minister/ rabbi who, instead of a breviary or liturgy, holds an open copy of Outtakes from a Marriage. Too bad it’s not a scene that’s likely to occur by itself or I would be submitting the picture instead of the words. But maybe another of your bloggers has a wedding on her summer calendar (or is an expert with Photoshop) and could set it up and maybe walk off with the prize!?
Anyway, I wish you a wicked good summer.
Cindy
(fogged-in in Plymouth)
Thank you Ann!
Those are by far the worst looking arms ever, I agree, why would you post that. Scary.
Oh Lupe…I understand completely your total frustration. I must say, however, that you were lucky to even get through to a human being !! My anger and frustrations come out when I’m on the phone going around in circles trying to get through to a person..my insurance (employer covered) is changing tomorrow; I had questions about making sure my Sloan Kettering doctors and procedures would still be covered (they are, thank goodness—my true life savers and heroes!!), anyway—took me days to get through to a person !! I was glad I didn’t have a real medical emergency. I just don’t get it anymore–we have lost so much of that human touch and connection; replaced by machines, frustration and short tempers. And we think we’ve made progress. Oh well–now I’ve vented; thanks for bearing with me.
I’m still figuring out Facebook; can’t get addicted to it yet–I still love the phone, email, this blog and letter writing to keep in touch. I love to get my mail and have a note or card from a friend; even email is okay with me.
Guess I sound like I’m in a mood today–sorry all…I’m really not..got WONDERFUL test news from my doctor yesterday…in fact life is fabulous !! So—I’m off to enjoy it now..thanks for letting me share…Barbara
Lupe,, you give me hope, the second video was pretty scary so me and my exercise ball are rolling out the flabby arms. thank you
Ok, duh, Mark the horse! It hit me a little bit ago. Everyone was busy talking about everyone’s pics, & I guess it has been awhile since Ann’s posted any horse or dog pics(Daphne’s above doesn’t count, since it’s from last year).
First, who is Mark???
Second, Lupe, stop bragging that you can see pics of Devin because you’re fb friends w/ Ann dammit! I’m tired of it already!
But Lupe, your son is HOT!!!!!
As for the 2nd video, I’m kind of at a loss for words. Why on earth would someone put that on youtube??????????? That’s way beyond granny arms!
Ann, your friend requests, if they don’t come by email, should show up on the bottom right of your fb page. There’s a little icon that probably has a little red box w/ a number in it. It’s your notifications. Click on that & then see all. It’ll bring up all your notifications & all your friend requests. Unless something happened & they just haven’t gone through for some reason.
Bev, you’re welcome. I figure anyone from the blog that friends me, I’ll send the others the friend suggestions, that way we don’t have to hunt each other down individually. OMG, the other pics of the spider bite are bad! Ouch!
Ok Ann going to say a few words on the wall about book now but trust me to gewt that far took some doning I know I am only 42 but i really have trouble with change so this techno stuff scares me lol here goes
Ann:
I posted some photos on Facebook. Found one of your family and I just loved Devin’s shoes!!.
Also, three of this laptop, with your book “Outtakes” opened up and everything.. I wonder if you can read the pages. I can!. Then again I can make the font larger, or the screen larger. (This is from the screen photo, not Mobipocket).
I could not resist and posted one of my first born, and as privacy tastes go, I may get in trouble for doing that. Oh well!.
Unsure if I posted the photos in the right spot, but it offered!
Tracy Thankyou!! It was so neat to have all of you on my facebook..I look forward to getting to know all of you even more!!!
Ann did you lose my friend request?…wahaaaaaa:( going to go look at all your pages now… Pics of the farmhouse will be up next week..I have to say I am loving it!!
I am having so much fun meeting some of you on Facebook! Bev’s spider bite photos are indeed noteworthy – OUCH! I just have to add, for anyone scrolling through here today, Lupe has outdone herself in the research dept with her YouTube video under “like these?” in regards to the bat wings issue. A classic. Ann, we horse lovers on FB are thanking you for so eloquently detailing the unique relationship.
I am having so much fun meeting some of you on Facebook! Bev’s spider bite photos are indeed noteworthy – OUCH! I just have to add, for anyone scrolling through here today, Lupe has outdone herself in the research dept with her YouTube video under “like these?” in regards to the bat wings issue. A classic. Ann, we horse lovers on FB are thanking you for so eloquently detailing the unique relationship.
Ann:
So, we have the photo context here (whereby we send you photos and the theme is your published work. And then we can discuss things in both Facebook and here?. I feel kind of lost for some silly reason. That Facebook is ‘busy’ and I do not have a simple interface where I can keep track of stuff.. yet anyhow.
I am in the mood to complain. Remember the phone?. Well. Tried to pay on line, does not accept payment, because??
* the street number the form asks for comes from the recent contract
* while the zip code of the billing address belongs to the original bank account billing address..
* while they have just the boxes in which to put your correct answers, you are supposed to know WHICH street number and zip code THEY may be talking about. Does not say on the form.
* you are supposed to remember all of the details for ’security reasons’ (but I am making a payment)
* they charged one dollar (my online account sez..) for this bit, BUT the customer service of the agency that accepts on line payments…. to make sure it was the right account…
* but, they cannot charge the whole payment because of the conflict between the:
street number (new account for cell phone, on the contract)
zip code of the original bank account.
Took me a while to EXPLAIN this bit to the people refusing the payment…
Then she sez..
that the thing for me to do IS TO CONTACT the bank and ASK them to CHANGE the zip code, so that the outfit collecting the payments DOES not get confused.
I am telling you
Note: If I am getting any of this wrong (like posting in the wrong spot about my troubles and tribulations making an online payment), please advice.
I need a Mark fix. Post a photo when you get a chance Ann………………..Please!
I stand corrected.
I did post a pic yesterday from the Blogapalooza. I see you posted some links, I want to check them out when I get a chance.
“I think the fb blog group is more to discuss the book, which hasn’t happened yet.”
This made me laugh. It’s true, I originally started the page, a year ago, for that purpose, but since it hasn’t happened yet, I think it unlikely it ever will. I thought I’d change it to an extension of the blog so that you can all post pictures, if you want. And also, you can have discussions about anything, not just my book.
Betsey, Please believe me, we are not abandoning the blog for fb & the blog group there!!!!! Are you kidding, I love it here! This blog is the best place in the world. I keep it as an open tab on my computer all day & keep refreshing it all day & evening at home to see new comments & posts by Ann. It’s just a way to see pics of other bloggers, to get to know more about each other without hogging blog space. hee, that sounds funny. Hogging blog space. We’ll probably say a lot of the same things here, as some people aren’t addicted to fb like I am.
I think the fb blog group is more to discuss the book, which hasn’t happened yet.
We’ll be here, I would miss all of you too much.
Well, since it’s being extended till the end of the summer, I may hold my pics till the end, when I take them. Don’t want anyone topping me! So there! hehe
It’s so great having so many of you find me on fb, putting faces to names, & getting more of an idea of what you’re all like! I love it!!!! FB is so awesome!
Bev, you & your girls are gorgeous, & I can tell from your pics that you are really fun spirited & full of life. Same w/ Sandy O. I haven’t gotten to everyone’s pages yet, but I’m continually amazed at the things I have in common with the people from this blog. Thank you Ann for bringing us together!!!
Bev, the pic of the spider bite is awful! It’s weird to see it after hearing about it on the blog.
Sorry to the non fb users, don’t mean to leave you out. We’re not talking about blog stuff, honestly! Just checking out each others pages & photos.
Looks like Daphne got her hair styled for the summer
Cute!
Sounds like a really fun contest! Our little local newspaper posts photos of people reading the paper from places all over the world. Lots of interesting and remote places.
I will have my thinking cap on for this one….
It is fun to see so many faces on Facebook, and connect that way. Thanks Ann, for that opportunity!
Betsy,I found the one from yesterday, but not the one from today. Can you resend?
First, so glad to hear Bev is feeling better!
And it’s also very cool to see most of you on Facebook. I like having faces to the names.
I’m thinking and thinking of where to take your book and photograph it. Even my husband came up with an idea…we’ll see….:)
It will be fun to see where your book ends up!
Ann:
Really, I’m not trying to be a pest. But I posted a comment on Tracy’s Blogapalooza blog last night and one on today’s blog this morning. Neither of them have appeared, and I’m at a loss as to what I could have started doing wrong after all this time. If you have any idea what could be happening, I would very much appreciate your help. Thanks.
Mary L.
I know what you mean.. I included two videos to make sure we are speaking the same language.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muk727cpzog
You mean, like these??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFNV1-BlNEQ&feature=related
What works for me is to do barbell lifts:
Straight back
Bend at the knees
Grab the barbells
Lift barbells
Bend at elbows, away from your shoulders and towards your back
Lift
Repeat
Start with small 3 lb weights, and then increase. I can do 10 lbs now!.
Coupled with all kinds of other free weight exercises, it actually tones that godawful area. It is as difficult as the double chin!.
Any rowing exercise, pulling, helps too. Swimming helps too.
And remember, warm up, do the deed, cool down.
No photo yet to share, but I do have a funny “Outtakes” story. Ordered my copy from Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago, along with a new copy of “Innocent”, which had disappeared. Toad hurling husband was to be away for a couple of days (Olympic tryouts . . kidding), so uninterrupted reading awaited me. For some karmic reason, B&N delivered two books about raising the difficult child. I could have used those books about 25 years ago. Child no longer difficult and not in prison, so I’m pretty pleased with my parenting skills right now. Returned books and just received correct books, which I plan to enjoy this week. And then maybe some photo ops will occur.
Glad to hear Bev is doing better!
Wonderful! Thanks, Ann!
Best,
Lynne from Calgary
Oh yeah!!!!!!! Now if I still had my big Kool-Aide blow up I would do something cool..here’s an Idea any blow-up..ok now I am just getting off topic or at least yours.. sorry folks looking forward to the photos,now I have to say with an imagination like yours Ann I think you should also enter do we all get to vote if so you definetly should enter and winner should pick blog conversation of the day maybe?just a thought
Welcome Lynne, and because you seem so incredibly nice, and also because it occurs to me that others might be traveling to cool places where they can photograph my books, I will extend the contest until the end of the summer. What I’m thinking of doing, though, is showing them occasionally, as they come in. Then, at the end of the summer, we’ll all vote.
Hi:
I am going to send some photos I have in mind, like one with Ann’s book, opened up, on my computer, from Mobipocket!. See if I can use the cell phone for that and I shall post on Facebook. And see.
Other ideas shall come up.
I have been watching movies on DVD. I came upon.. one, called “Dressed to Kill” and I had seen it already, but it had a new meaning now.
The female that gets murdered had a psychotherapist to deal with her marriage issues. I wondered, why didn’t she just talk to her girlfriends!..
Then she gets involved in a strange-interaction with somebody at a museum, that prompts a rendezvous in a taxicab no less,
to be followed latter at his abode. The story continues when the romeo has already left her by herself in his house, she takes the time to leave him a note handwritten, pink color paper, plus a couple of drafts of same in the trash bin. and ‘happens’ to read that he has a ’summons to appear’ to the county of choice, as he is a venereal disease carrier. Perhaps distracted by that, she leaves only to find out that she has left her under wears and her diamond wedding ring at his place. So the story needs not bringing up that her marriage is on the rocks, but now she has to deal and does not do well, with her own psychotherapist who is a male, wants to be a female and get so pissed off at his getting aroused by women, that he kills them.
Told you: she should have been talking to her girlfriends!.
Game on.
Ann – cool contest.
Lupe – I didn’t have a computer during the ask Lupe time, so here is my question now. I was riding in my friend’s new mustang convertible when I heard a strange flapping noise. I asked her if she had a flag on the car somewhere and she said no. I then realized it was my upper arm flapping in the wind. So how do you get rid of “granny arms” that I didn’t know I had until that point????
This is too funny. I am racking my brain now for an imaginative place to photograph your book…stay tuned…
Dear Ann,
I LOVED, LOVED,LOVED “Outtakes” and I am currently awaiting my copy of An Innocent, A Broad. I will miss the contest deadline, but I will (sometime this summer) send you a pic of “Outtakes in the Rockies” (very near here) and perhaps “An Innocent in London” as I’m going there in late August. I like your writing so much that I’d be happy to do this without the promise of a prize!(The real prize is reading your stuff!)
Wishing you and yours the loveliest of summers,
Lynne (Bell)
(lurking in Calgary, Canada)
This sounds so fun! I have great ideas already. I like that Barbara’s & my photos sparked the idea. Does that make me vain? hehehe
Love the pic of Daphne! That’s the same thing my cats do with anything new that comes into the house. They have to inspect everything. Then they have to climb in & out of the boxes. For my cat Shanti, I actually have to immediately remove & store packing peanuts in the closet. I swear he can actually smell them through the box, & he likes to chew on them! I worry about him choking on them, or at the very least he’ll barf them up, so away they go.