We Survived The Snowstorm!

4/30/19

We Survived The Snowstorm!

Good thing I wasted no time on Friday bringing in the deck furniture. Honestly, so for oh, maybe a week the weather folks were forecasting a 7 inch snowfall for last Saturday. First, it started at 12 inches, then by Wednesday we were down to 2-9 inches and then I heard 3-6 inches. Saturday I believe the final number for Madison was 4 inches.   

So, we all waited for the dreaded storm. And waited. And waited. "It's coming! The system is just slowing down a bit but it's coming!" we heard over the broadcast networks. And, so we waited some more. 

Finally, the tiny flakes began to fall around 11am. They didn't stick to the ground and the roads never showed any signs of the frozen precipitation. All in all, we hardly had a dusting on the ground all day! 

Thanks for the hype. Let's hope Winter has taken it's final curtain call for 2019. It's time to move on. 

We've had about all the fun we can take. 

As I type this blog my eyes glance over to our deck once again. The same unscraped, unpainted deck project that was supposed to happen last weekend. Will we accomplish the goal at the end of this week? 

I'm guessing those chances are slim to none. We have company coming and Mr. Quilter Cook and Son #1 are going to the Star Wars themed Milwaukee Brewers game on Saturday night. Sunday, they  have a tee time at 2pm. In addition, I have a friend coming and we will be on road trip shopping to our hearts content. I cannot be expected to ruin my shopping mojo to scrape paint. 

I can't put my finger on the reason we end up hiring out DIY projects but I think it has something to do with priorities. This is why we moved to a condo where our HOA pays a company to mow and shovel so generally we don't have to do any of those homeowner tasks.

 Our deck is another story. The HOA tells us what exact paint color it has to be and it's our job to keep it up to par. Why don't we replace it with the new material that we wouldn't have to maintain?

Well folks, that requires a special petition to the HOA. The very HOA that meets twice a year. Also the one who frowns on a Little Library installation on the property. Oh, also the one who allows owners to have cats in their condos but no dogs whatsoever on the entire land. No walking, no overnights. No Canines of any kind at any time. Or, there will be consequences.

The answer to your question is NO. No, I did not personally read the 3 ring multi hundred page HOA agreement before we moved in. My bad.

 Let my stupidity be a lesson to the rest of you.

Excuse me, I digress. 

Meanwhile, if you know a professional that has the time to scrape and paint a 10x10 wood deck in the area, I have a hunch we may have a job for them in the next few weeks. 

Volunteering all day today. Public library in the am and at a senior community in the afternoon. Tomorrow, I have two hours of dental torture beginning at 8am to complete the final bridge prep. If I make it through, I'll be rewarded with a temp bridge I get to wear for two weeks while my real one is being made in the lab. The last time I had to wear the temp for 3 weeks because the lab messed up. Not fun. The silly thing kept coming loose and I had to carry denture adhesive around in my purse to glue it back in repeatedly throughout the adventure. rrrrrr.....but my suffering got me $100 off the total bill when we are done. Will that $100 make a dent in the cost?

I'm guessing that answer is no. 

But, on May 15th I'll be DONE! DONE I SAY! 

Enjoy your day! 

Rhonda 

Back To Winter Once Again!

4/27/19

Well, we enjoyed our Spring season...looks like we are back to Winter once again. Yes, sad to say that we have had to reopen those boxes of cold weather woolens. Hard to believe we were basking in 80 degree temps last Sunday. Mark my words, there will be no sandals at church this week!

The Weather Channel and local forecasters seem to be wavering a bit on actual accumulations for our area, but the latest as of around 8am was to be 5 inches of the white stuff for the Madison area with spots here and there receiving close to 8 inches.

At 9:15 am I find that hard to digest, considering it's close to 40 degrees and holding. It's going to have to drop another ten degrees for any precipitation of the icy kind to fall from the skies today. Although, I have to admit that my left kneecap hurts so that's usually an indication of snow.

We have the oldest son home today. He attended the Billy Joel concert at Miller Park last night and used the Ma & Pa Motel as a cheap overnight. He packed to stay an extra night due to the weather forecast, but I'm guessing he'll head back up north to Eau Claire if by noon there's no snow. Just in case, I have packed him a basket full of treats to take along and it's sitting on the kitchen counter for him to grab on the way out.

It's always bittersweet when the kids grow up and move away. When they first go, it's exciting to think of not being tied down to teenage school and work schedules. Then, about 24 hrs after they leave you realize this is a forever thing and the loss hits you. I've gotten used to it over the years, but I still am excited to see them come and sad when they leave. It's a mom thing.

 I hope I never get over it.

The treat basket is a thing I do almost every time either or both come home. I like to pack their favorites and send them off knowing that in case there is a crisis on the road they won't starve to death. Really, you just never know what could happen. It's good to know that Son #1 will have a healthy variety of snacks to choose from today--should he need survival food. The Milky Way bars, Kit Kats, Rum Balls, Snickerdoodles, raisins and jar of peanut butter should pull him through until a tow truck arrives.

Mr. Quilter Cook has a funeral to attend early this afternoon and so if Matt stays we'll do something fun. If he leaves, I have plenty of quilting projects to keep me busy. Yesterday, I went to garage sales and wouldn't you know it? I happened across one that was made up of nothing but quilt-related items! It was Heaven! The garage was loaded with patterns, gadgets, tools, full quilt kits, books and oh, yes...need I say? FABRIC! Yep, lots and lots of pre-cuts. I was very excited. I quickly gathered my arms full of goodies! When I got home I added up what all of it would have cost me full price. I'm guessing around $150. I spent $19. SCORE!

 If quilting is wrong, I don't want to be right!

Still no snow on the ground or even rain falling yet, but that calm-before-the-storm feeling surrounds us all in the Madison, WI area this morning.

I'll keep you updated. Meanwhile, I'll be in my craft room having a grand 'ole time with my new purchases!

Enjoy your day-whatever it may bring!

Rhonda

P.S. The Favorite Recipes page has been updated. I try to add  more cookbooks every few days or so. It takes some time, so be patient. The Favorite Reads will be coming soon.

While you are at it, check out my new facebook page  Quilter Cook Friends and Family Page! Just type it in the search box. It will take you right there. Not much content yet. I'll add pictures at time goes on...

WHAT IS THIS I SEE OUT MY WINDOW?? SNOW!! HERE WE GO....Finally.

The Next Day

4/25/19

The Next Day

Yes, there is a next day after a tooth extraction. If you are like me, your dread of having the procedure done can kind of cloud out the rest of the week, But, I survived! Now, what shall I do with the day ahead? 

My mouth is sore but not too bad. Nothing like when I had the eye tooth done.  I can eat, drink and talk which are my priorities. I don't even need any pain relief. Actually, the whole process didn't require but three doses of Tylenol-regular strength. I think I have always had a fairly high pain tolerance, which in these situations is a real blessing. 

After some content writing on my blog I think I will treat myself to a trip to the fabric store.  Normally, this would also include a trip through Starbucks for some hot coffee, but nope. I have to hold off on very hot or very cold liquids and straws for a few days. No sense taking chances of irritating the extraction area and have a bleed out. Or worse yet, end up with a dry socket. That is pain like no other, let me tell you! I'll follow the rules and play it cool. 

I see that the weather gurus are predicting SNOW for us again this weekend so starting a new quilting or sewing project would be a good idea. One European model shows our area in southern Wisconsin getting slammed with 5-8 inches of heavy snow. Well, that's just great. I've already put the Adirondack chair and matching side table out on the deck. 

As you may recall from an earlier blog, that very deck was to be scraped and painted this weekend. Well, I guess that project is now on hold. I'm sure Mr. Quilter Cook will be very disappointed. Not. I still say let's buy a big outdoor rug and cover it up another year and avoid this job all together. In truth, Mr. Quilter Cook may secretly agree with me, but when he brought home a floor scraper last night to use on this project, I knew he was serious about getting it checked off his to-do list.   

It's hard to know just what to do this time of year in Wisconsin. One day we are dancing around in summer skirts and sandals and out working in the flower gardens and the next day we are digging out from another snowstorm! AUGH! 

 It's supposed to get up in temps around 70 degrees with some rain this afternoon. That's normal for April.  I can deal with it. Of course, I'll also deal with the snow. What choice do we have? We choose to live here. 

Today Is A Good Day To Have A Good Day! -Joanna Gaines

-Rhonda 

Mommy's Getting A Makeover!

4/24/19

Mommy's Getting A Makeover

Never underestimate the power of a great oral surgeon and dentist. Next to bariatric surgeons, they rank pretty high in The Quilter Cook list of docs. Both can change your life. 

So, today's tale begins with a tooth that felt loose on that polar vortex trip we took to Dallas in January. I bit into something...hmm...maybe a crouton...and oops...loose tooth. Super. I was determined not to have a dental crisis while on vacation so I took very good care of it and didn't have any more problems. Until about two weeks later I chomped down on an olive and it came out while I was eating supper. 

Then the inevitable happened. I had to call the dreaded dentist. 

Let me digress a moment and fill you in on some of my dental history. I'm not going into much detail, but I grew up in a small town in Iowa and we had ONE dentist in that small town. That didn't give us a real opportunity to shop around. Plus, back in the day you pretty much went for three things. Your check-ups, fillings and extractions. Braces and dentures were luxuries in those days and you had to go to specialists. 

My parents were not helicopter types so it was easy to allow my oral health to deteriorate over my formative years. This resulted in learning at just about every check up that a filling or two was to follow. 

My dental phobia-Dentophobia-I believe came from this small town dentist drilling...and drilling...and drilling...with a big heavy drill until he hit the nerve...way...way...way... down in my tooth. Now, interesting enough it wasn't just me who had this experience at this very same dentist, just saying. I'm not giving out the name of the dentist or other dental victims, but you know who you are. 

When you go to a dentist and this happens over and over again...something in your brain says "Let's avoid this torture AT ALL COSTS." Made sense to me. 

So, as I grew older I had ongoing countless fillings and a few teeth all pulled by the same guy. Let the record show that he thought four days before I headed off to college was a great time to pull all four of my wisdom teeth at once.

It was that experience that made me decide that dentists were not my friends. One bad case of dry socket can do that to a girl. 

Naturally, I married a man who is a member of the Brushy Brushy Club and has perfect teeth. 

So, for many years he went to his appointments...and I refused...out of fear. Fear can be very powerful.

Teeth don't really go for that kind of action...or non-action I guess you could say. 

A few years ago, while eating oatmeal one morning...CRACK! An eyetooth that had a big cavity in the back where nobody could see busted in half. I ran to the bathroom mirror to find to my horror a dagger and a half tooth sticking out right in the front of my mouth!! AUGH!! 

Enter, THE DREADED DENTIST and then...wait for it...THE ORAL SURGEON!

I had no choice but to DO SOMETHING. The dagger had to come out and the hole had to be filled. I had no idea then, but over the next few months I would undergo an extraction and an implant. Now, these are not cheap. The pulling of a tooth is one thing. An implant....well...$$$$$$$$$$$.

Before I go on, let me state that we have ALWAYS had the BEST dental insurance. Even with that, the above mentioned procedures still carry a VERY HIGH price tag into the thousands for ONE. And no, I refuse to go to some fly by night place and have them torture me. Been there, done that in Indy once. NOPE. Lesson learned.

The prep for an implant is no fun. The oral surgeon first pulls the tooth. Then they let that heal, then you go back and they split the gum open and pack it with this calcium stuff for your bone to get strong. Then, That has to heal. Meanwhile, you go to your dentist and he makes a "flipper" tooth you wear for looks to cover the hideous cavern in your smile. Once the bone stuff soaks in and hardens up and heals, you go back to the oral surgeon where opens the area up again and drills way down into the bone and sets the stump that will hold the implant. And then that has to heal up. 

Finally, you get your implant. They glue it in and off you go. I may have some of this incorrect, but I was in a daze throughout this whole deal so you need to focus on the big picture.  It's not a great journey, but in the end it's great!  I keep forgetting I have an implant!

Ok, so here I am three years later with a new situation. Once I consulted my dentist back home here when this new tooth fell out, he had a heart to heart with me and explained I needed to make some choices to hopefully avoid dentures later in life. I needed to get with the dental program. And fast. 

Over the last two months, I have undergone a good cleaning,  five crowns, three fillings, an extraction, one complete bridge with another bridge prep scheduled for next Tuesday morning. The worst part has been dealing with the temp bridge that kept coming off- which I had to wear for an extra week because the lab made a mistake.But bless his heart, my dentist gave me a discount for having to wait. So, that happened.

 But now the permanent bridge is in I love it. When I was handed a mirror to see it for the first time  I started to cry. I couldn't believe how great it looked. So, I guess I can endure all that comes with this makeover  just one more time on the other side of my lower mouth knowing how wonderful I will feel when it's all over--which it will be on MAY 15th!!

I'd love to take  a picture of my beautiful mouth but I'm a little too fresh from the extraction. When BOTH bridges are in and the dental work is complete, you'll see it. I know, something to look forward to huh? 

Well, for me it's a HUGE deal for two reasons. One, I finally have teeth where I have had holes for years and years. Two, I am no longer afraid of THE DENTIST! 

Ok, you can still keep that big drill AWAY FROM ME  the rest of my life and that would be great!  

Have a super day! I'm going to read, watch some movies and work on the blog! 

Rhonda 

April Flowers

4/23/19

After a beautiful warm Day, we are now back to the 60's and chilly. It's sunny, but not sandal weather. I guess I need to be patient. Pretty soon it will be too hot for my liking! 

Yesterday, I decided it would be a great day to go out to the local garden centers and buy some houseplants. I like having a few plants around to beautify and help cozy up my house and every Spring I kind of go into a plant-buying spurt. 

I wouldn't say I have a green thumb, but I can grow things. I can also kill things, but that's another blog for another day. At one time I even managed a small flower shop. I always enjoyed making up planters and transplanting plants into bigger pots. There's something very earthy and refreshing about giving a growing plant room to spread their roots. 

One of my favorite gardening activities this time of year is buying flowers and decorating our deck. E Truth be told, I end up buying too many. But, I just love it...for about a month until the rains come and drown my planters. Every time. Can't begin to tell you how many hundreds of dollars have been wasted out on my deck, but I can't help myself.  It makes me happy to look out my patio doors and see my beautiful planters bursting with flowers. We always have birds flying in to feast on the goodies in our feeders and butterflies hovering around the blooms. It's heartwarming. If I lose a little money along the way, it's part of the circle of life. 

But all of that will have to wait a bit this year. Mr. Quilter Cook and I will be painting our deck. It's  not terrible and frankly with a big outdoor rug we could cover the worst part- the floor- completely.  We aren't do-it-yourself types, but when it comes to ways we can easily save a few hundred dollars and not hire a professional to paint a simple 10x10 deck, we'll do it. 

So, I'm in charge of scraping the railing and the spindles- the high work. He's in charge of the floor and going around the outside where needed-the rest. I'm anxious to get started on the project so I can go buy my flowers and set up the table and chairs so I can sit outside with my morning coffee! 

I'm thinking that's our weekend plan...and afterwards...guess who's going shopping for flowers???

Enjoy your day!  

Rhonda 

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! 

4/21/19

What a glorious morning to behold in central Wisconsin! The minute we arrived back from early church we threw up the shades and opened all the windows! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and we are both writing on our blogs at the dining table now in shorts, t-shirts and SANDALS! Yep, I wore mine to church just as I promised I would! I was very happy to see many other women did also! 

Mr. Quilter Cook and I are celebrating quietly today after our big road trip yesterday. We even ducked out of church before the Easter potluck breakfast. Instead, we feasted on some of the best cinnamon rolls I have ever baked!

What's so special about these cinnamon rolls you ask? I believe it has something to do with how you prepare this dough. Frankly, it's very different from any other kind of dough I've ever made before. It requires no eggs. I was dubious, but wow! Fabulous! 

 I found the recipe for these cinnamon rolls in The Pioneer Woman Cooks-Recipes From An Accidental Country Girl cookbook pp. 36-39. I'd highly suggest you go out and buy yourself a copy of this cookbook. They have them stacked up and ready for sale at Walmart and Sam's Club. I suppose just about anywhere else that sells cookbooks carries them also, but you'll find them the cheapest at Walmart/Sam's Club. This was the first of Ree Drummond's five cookbooks. All are simply delightful. If you watch her show The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network, you'll see many of the recipes featured from her series. (See recipe for the cinnamon rolls on the Favorite Recipes page on right hand side of Home page.) 

I came up with this grand plan to deliver freshly-baked hot cross buns to my friends and neighbors on Good Friday. (There's a recipe for the hot cross buns in The Pioneer Woman Cooks-A Year Of Holidays pp. 89-92,) Then I took into consideration that I was starting late on this baking project and quickly changed my mind to baking the cinnamon rolls instead as a present for Mr. Quilter Cook. They were so simple. This will now be my go-to for anything requiring a basic dough base. Five stars! 

I didn't forget the idea of delivering a handmade gift to the neighbors. I baked up a batch of Quilter Cook Sugar Cookies, cut the dough into bunny, flower and egg shapes and gave them away  tucked into Easter baskets early this morning. In truth, it was Mr. Quilter Cook who hopped from house to house while I was in the shower. I delivered the one to church to our pastor's family while he parked the car before early service.  

So, with all of that done we are now looking forward to a day of just relaxing. We'll have our oldest son home each of the next two weekends and are going to spend the Memorial Day holiday with our youngest son and his wife so we are all doing our own thing.  After many years of preparing huge ham dinners, dying eggs and baking my signature lamb cake for dessert-I'm fine taking a break this year. I sent out Starbucks and Barnes and Noble gift cards earlier in the week to the extended family so the Easter Bunny had them all covered.

During the day today, I'll be  working on some new pages for the blog. One will list my favorite cookbooks and another my favorite reads. I'll just keep adding to them so don't think if I only have three authors listed that's all I've read for Heaven's sake. I'm a voracious bookworm. I read at least 50-60  books a year. It's hard to pick my favorites off the top of my head. 

The cookbook list will be easy. All 200 plus books are handy on my kitchen counter or lined up on my special holiday bookshelf in the basement!

Enjoy a very blessed Easter Day! 

Rhonda 

And Just Like That It Is Springtime Again!

4/20/19

Here in the Midwest, we are about at our wits end by the time Spring rolls around. After months of chattering teeth and freezing our digits off we get a little crazy when the local weatherman finally announces that the temps will be rising up into the 50's or 60's.

 It is at that moment we leap from our comfy recliners, sprint to our closets and pack up our winter coats, hats, mittens and scarves and toss them in a cardboard box labeled WINTER STUFF. We still keep our boots handy throughout the Spring to get to and from the mailbox in the mud.

 One of you out there who is not native to this northern climate challenged me to give you 3 good reasons why we continue to torture ourselves Up North. First of all, I had to educate my reader. She was unaware that Madison, WI is not even considered to be Up North. I lived Up North for 13 years and trust me, it's colder there...much much colder. She'd never make it. She had a parka, hat and mittens on when it was 53 degrees. So, I think it's safe to say she doesn't know what cold really feels like.

3 Reasons Why We Can't (or Won't) Move South

*I'm not speaking for every person from the Midwest. Someone has to own the condos in Florida for us to visit, just saying. The collective We are for those of us who anticipate that first beautiful snowfall in November but are DONE with it by March 1.

1) The terrible winter weather gives us something to talk about at church on Sundays. It's a conversation starter. We secretly like to outdo each other with miserable weather woes we have endured between Sundays. To say that you couldn't even make it to 8 am service last week because you were snowed in but somehow managed to shovel a path down your driveway to get your whole family to church in time for Sunday School at 9:15 well, I'm telling you. Those are extra points right there.

2) It wouldn't be the same for us if we could eat Christmas dinner out on a deck or at the beach. Really, the deck or beach? Outside? We know you are kidding here. We need to be elbow to elbows sweating from food overload around Aunt Edna's oak table stuffing ourselves full of turkey and all the trimmings just like we did four weeks earlier at Grandma Freda's house. We like to regale each other with tales of how much weight we've already gained and then top it off with slices of pumpkin pie! Eating out on the deck might mean we'd be offered a barbeque, which may even include FRESH FRUIT or say a SALAD! We just can't have that. No, we cannot.

3) We would have nothing to wear during the winter months in the South. All we own are Packer, Badger and other team related items with matching sweatpants and slippers for the cold season up here. They are comfy and roomy. The cold months bring in an extra thermal layer and frankly, we like it. What would we be expected to don down there anyway? Sandals? Shorts? t-shirts? Swim attire? Please. Those things have been packed up since Labor Day Weekend into the boxes marked SUMMER STUFF.

These are only the beginning of the reasons we will never give up our dreaded winters. Sure, we'll go on vacations to the South. As a matter of fact Mr. Quilter Cook and I heard about that polar vortex and just like nobody's business hopped on a plane at -28 degrees for Dallas, Texas where it was 50 degrees. The plane hit terrible turbulence and we were sure we'd crash somewhere over Missouri, but we persevered. We needed a break from all that cold. BUT, we came back five days later. The mailbox was frozen shut and our Amazon delivery boxes were frozen to our front steps when we got back, but that's to be expected.

But alas enough of all that talk. It is Springtime again!

 Today we took a road trip to IL and photographed four covered bridges. The day was a glorious 70 degrees (almost) and the sun was shining bright. Tomorrow, on Easter Day the forecast is for 80 degrees! I plan to wear my sandals to church to celebrate! Granted, it won't be 80 degrees at 8am, but by golly I'm wearing them anyway!

Even if that mean weatherman predicts a sudden snowstorm, I'M WEARING THE SANDALS!

Rhonda

Beginnings 4/17/19

April 17,2019

Hello-
I created this blog as a canvas for me to share all kinds of things that you may or may not find interesting. At times, you might discover  a new recipe you'd like to try or perhaps a book suggestion. More often than not, you'll read stories about my day to day life.
 I've started other blogs but each had a purpose. This one does not. I need a place to express myself and frankly my Word docs are filling up my hard drive files. I'm just going with whatever I have ready to post. It might be daily or weekly or yeah...hmm...whenever. So, tune in frequently. You don't want to miss anything juicy. Be sure to check out the tab of extra pages on the right side of the home page to see some other Quilter Cook pages.
Let's get started...

Tonight, I had about a half hour to play around on my laptop before a writing group meeting so I challenged myself to write a short piece in 15 minutes. Here's what transpired.

Beginnings

I lost exact count, but I believe it was on the third trip around the block that I clicked on my blinker and made the turn into the library parking lot.

Tonight, I’m attending a writing group for the first time. I am not sure who will be attending. I only know the leader. She’s a famous published author. As she has a real contract with a publishing house that pays her real money on a regular basis to write books. She was my instructor a few summers ago at a writing conference here in the city. She told us then that her writing group was by invitation only.

Two months ago, I received an invitation.

There’s a lot riding on this two hour meeting. I don’t really understand why I am here or what I will be doing if I’m not really in the group yet. I’m on a short waiting list. Yet, here I am. Ok, I hope that is explained. Does this mean I am only observing and taking notes for future meetings I will attend as a full-fledged member? Will I be asked questions about my writing? Just in case, I am ready.

“So, what genre do you write?” Asks a disheveled old guy in a coffee stained t-shirt.

“I am working on a cozy mystery.” I will say this with confidence and with pride.

“Oh?” responds the lady across from me with the big knotty wart on her nose.

“Yes, and oh I also write a column for a local magazine.” I take a slow pull from my lukewarm coffee as I meet the stares of those unpublished around me.

“How long have you been writing? The column I mean?” asks the college girl in the WI Badger hoodie who has been eyeing me up and down since I walked into the meeting.

“Hmm… about five years now in May. I write for Your Family magazine published by Verona Press.” I take another sip knowing most sitting at the table have no idea it’s a penny saver rag. I'm not telling them either. I write for free. Zippo. I don't advertise that part of my story. 

“What got you into writing?” asks the very polite older woman to my right. I notice she’s been silently counting my sips. I'm guessing she's wondering if I’m fake drinking or I really have something in my cup.

“Actually, one day I decided that the imaginary people who lived in the imaginary town in my head needed to tell their story. So, I sat down and began to type and then I posted the tale on an online forum and soon had over 250,000 readers.” I sit and wait to be tossed out of the room or asked to prove my readership numbers on the spot.

“Well, that’s certainly interesting…” says an older gentleman who could sign up  for a Santa gig for extra cash around the holidays.

With that, the group changes direction and starts chatting among themselves while my heart continues to beat like a bass drum as I try feverishly try not to appear terrified. Am I in? Am I in?

More importantly, does anyone have a Tums?

-The Quilter Cook  4/17/19

Please Note: Let the record show that the above piece is mostly fiction. I asked to attend the group. If I ever make it past the short waiting list I may be asked to officially join. This was just a fun writing jag. No persons or conversation even closely resembled anything above. Just saying.
It was a delightful evening among fellow writers! I can only hope to be asked to join!