I have been remiss and wish to apologize to any and all of you who have bought one of my books. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
I don't get any money from any of the sales, it all goes to help support Top Shelf. I set it up that way because I live on a very tight budget as I know a lot of you do and I can't afford to contribute money very often, or as often as I'd like to, so this is my way of helping keep Top Shelf online.
I've contacted both Beverly Taff and Persephone, both live in the U.K. and they are trying to reach out to Maddy. Hopefully they'll get to her in time.
7 days ago I made the decision. I'd been on Chantix for the past four weeks and I reached the point where I WANTED to quit.
I'd failed the past few times I tried to quit, but had not reached that "break point." This time almost feels like a let down, it's been almost effortless. I don't know how much good it's gonna do for my health, but it'll damned sure be a boost to my wallet. Ten bucks a pack now in stores adds up real fast.
Just thought I'd let you all know about this turning point in my life.
SO glad to see Grover back online and posting stories to boot! Welcome back my sister.
Now... unless I missed something, what the heck happened to John in Wauwatosa? He used to be a regular commenter here and had a very well developed sense of humor. He was always, as far as I know, welcome as a commenter and even contributed to a couple of stories as far as I know.
After a tumultuous several months and moves and new jobs and health problems and financial problems, it is my privilege, my extreme pleasure to welcome back, my dear friend, my sister from another mister(?), one of my very favorite authors...... GROVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have just had a skype conversation with Grover who has told me that they finally got connected to the internet and he would be posting new stories very soon! Grover tells me that, in the hiatus, he has been working feverishly on new stories and possible endings to a few unfinished ones!!!
Well, I guess it's time for me to get back on my soapbox and pontificate a bit.
Erin is worrying herself into sickness or worse andit's up to US to alieviate her worries a bit. For those who regularly contribute thank you SO much. You are the backbone of the financial help for Erin and Top Shelf. Again, thank you, from my heart.
Now... for the rest of us. Folks, I live on a VERY limited budget and I KNOW how hard it is to try to pry an extra buck or two loose from a wallet or purse that seems welded shut... but consider this.
Years ago, back in about 1972, I was part of a REACT team. That's Radio Emergency Action Team for those unfamiliar with the term. We used CB radios to track things like severe storms, tornados, on searches for lost people etc. We also had, and used, police/fire scanners both at home and in our cars. It was all strictly volunteer stuff with no actual legal standing, but the cops knew about it and left us alone unless we tried to beat them to a call or used it in the commission of something illegal.
I'm sitting here now, lost in memories of a life changing week at the Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta Georgia in 2009. Having reached the ripe old age of 72, I find myself remembering times and people and events there and in my life.
It's also on Amazon. EVERY PENNY the book earns goes directly to the site to help offset bills.
Everyone...please patronize ALL the authors here who have books out? You'll be helping the site AND the authors, some of whom also donate all the money from their book sales to the site.
Many, many thanks to Erin and the Editors who helped my new book get published. From Transformers (Sort Of) which is now titled Suited For Adventure. This is Book one. Book Two is in the process of finding a good "Break Point" and be ready for publishing so I can begin work on Book 3!!!
One of our dear friends, Scotty Bishop has been wrongfully terminated from his job of 12 years. He has been sending out resumes like they were going out of style with no results.
ANYONE who either might have a job or know someone who might have an opening, PLEASE email Scotty [email protected]
I'm watching the Weather Channel's coverage of this latest hurricane and very worried about all our Sisters and Brothers who live in Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia and further north.
To everyone in the affected areas, please, please, PLEASE, don't ignore evacuation orders. Get away from this monster storm as quickly as you can. It's affecting areas that were hit so hard in the LAST hurricane which will be even more vulnerable when this one hits.
one of our own writers and friends has been fired unjustly from his job. I won't mention his name here, but he is needing badly to find more work. He is very skilled regarding the internet and customer relations as well as diesel engines and their applications.
Anyone living on the east coast of the U.S., from D.C. down to the Carolinas.
PLEASE EVACUATE AS SOON AS YOU CAN!!!! Go for higher ground and take every precaution you possibly can!!
DON'T TRY TO RIDE THIS STORM OUT!!! PLEASE!!!
I've been watching the coverage on The Weather Channel and it looks absolutely horrible. ALSO, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OVER 11,000 FREE HOTSPOTS BEING SET UP by comcast and spectrum AND LET US KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE OKAY.
GO TO THE WEATHER CHANNEL TO FIND OUT HOW TO FIND THESE HOTSPOTS!
Caught some sort of mutant virus that has me flat on my back in pain, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, headache, runny nose... in short all the great parts of having a cold.
I AM NOT PLANNING OR THINKING ABOUT DOING ANYTHING SERIOUS TO MYSELF!
Bear in mind as you read this, if you do read it, that I can be a long-winded bitch.
I think part of it is aging and knowing that I've been here longer than I will be going forward... and I don't feel like I've accomplished anything for having existed... except existing.
I don't know how this slipped past me, but on May 13th we lost Margot Kidder! You know, Lois Lane to Christopher Reeve's Superman.
Apparently there are allegations of drug involvement, although I don't know if she was using them or if, according to some sources, her home was overrun with meth users.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I will never get the scene where she flew with Superman, not the words to the song playing while they flew...
Every month Erin has to BEG on bended knee, for money to help keep Top Shelf functioning and with the exception of a few who regularly go far past what might be expected, the contributions trickle in with no real solution that could eliminate the problem.
Well, here's my solution. It seems painfully obvious to me, but I understand if it doesn't to everyone else.
There are in excess of TEN THOUSAND members on this site. If each of them would just contribute ONE DOLLAR, each month, it would eliminate any need for Erin to have to BEG for any monetary help.
Okay. I know that Top Shelf and it's owners etc have nothing to do with it anymore, but I am having a problem with the sign-in process at The Crystal Hall.
I've tried changing my sign in name and password but the site won't allow it and I can't get signed in.
Anyone got a clue about this? Email me at cathy_t_99 At yahoo.com or message me here at Top Shelf.
I will freely admit that I am one of those people for whom misspelled words can take me out of a story.
Having said that, I KNOW that no one is perfect, myself included. LOL.
So... I AM willing to help authors by proofreading their work, with the understanding that I do NOT edit. I only proofread for spelling and usage errors. I can and will even proof stories that have already been posted here at Top Shelf.
PLEASE!!!! keep your political views and/or personal feelings about certain public figures to yourselves. The last time I posted this blog entry, it got demoted off the front page thanks to those political views and attacks, so please don't air them here this time?
If you're thinking about downloading the new version of Skype, be careful. more than a few people have lost either voice, video, or contact lists after starting it.
If you're thinking about downloading the new version of Skype, be careful. more than a few people have lost either voice, video, or contact lists after starting it.
Right now, Beverly Taff, in the U.K. is having a deuce of a time trying to get the voice part of it to work and she just today manage to retrieve her contact list. Persephone, also in the U.K. has had similar problems.
Skype is still urging me to download the newest version but I have been and will continue to resist it.
By now I'm sure that all of you are sick of me banging on the donation drum... but here I go again.
We have X (I use the X in deference to Erin who hasn't given me permission to use the exact number) numbers of members on the site. If each of them just gave ONE DOLLAR A MONTH, it would more than cover the monthly operating costs and generate funds to pay off loans and keep Erin out of the poorhouse!
ONE DOLLAR! You can't even get a decent cup of coffee, a soft drink, a candy bar, or even a newspaper for a buck any more, but you CAN help save a site!
Several years ago The Scotsman posted two parts of a story called To Be The Best. Since then... nothing. No more stories from this author who had a damned good beginning in this tale.
If you're still out there Scotsman, please, please, PLEASE continue the story and/or write more. You had the makings of a really good storyteller and I know I'm not the only one who thinks that.
In an impromptu interview, John Cena, a well known WWE Superstar and movie and TV star said, when asked if the WWE could ever have a Transgender wrestling star:
"I’m a storyteller, my friend, and that’s what we do in WWE. It’s not segregated to sex, race, creed, religion, any of that. As long as the story is good, it belongs in WWE."
You don't have to be a wrestling fan to know who John Cena is. He's been in many movies as an action star and has appeared and hosted many TV awards shows including The Kids Awards Show.
I just finished re-reading an older story by Lisa Sartori, Like A Candle In The Wind, and I am somewhat disheartened by the lack of kudos and comments.
Could it be that because it is such an older story and those who read it before haven't bothered to re-read it? Lisa has updated it quite a bit and there is a different ending.
It's such a wonderful story that SHOULD speak to the fantasies and dreams of a lot of us, and it's so well written with great characters and a solid, engaging plot, and it makes me wonder.
Checks can be made out & sent to:
Joyce Melton
1001 Third St.
Space 80
Calimesa, CA 92320
USA
Note: $6000 is the operating, maintenance and upgrade budget. Amounts received in excess of the $6000 will be applied to long term debt accrued over the last 19 years.
