Six Weeks and Counting!

Here is the house and it's beautiful. It definitely deserves the Snoopy Dance!! Each day, they do something more to the inside and it's really starting to look like a home. It may have taken Centex Homes to erect this house in four months, but it's been twenty years in the making for me. I've reached a lot of goals this year. Had a lot of hardship, but I had faith--one of the hardest things to do. For you see it or touch. It just is. Thank you God for listening, thank you all for reading. I'm truly blessed.

Harper's Ferry Retreat

I was out of the loop this past weekend as I took a trip into the wilds of West Virginia. Every year Washington Romance Writers hold a retreat in the mountain of Harper's Ferry where the Rappahannock and the Potomac Rivers meet. I've snapped a few pictures for you to see the granduer of the place. It's such a quiet and peaceful place to be. We ate, attended workshops, drank a little wine, and reacquainted ourselves with the joy of writing. Can't wait until next year.

Birthday Month

Yes, I believe that if your birthday falls on the first of the month, you have the right to claim the whole month as your birthday month. I intend to celebrate my birthday for the whole month of May. Here are some tidbits about May birthdays.

Birthstone - emerald (characteristic is love), flower is Hawthorn, Lily of the Valley

Here are some interesting facts about birthdays.

In England, when you reach 80, 90 or 100 years of age, you receive a telegram from the Queen.
In Japan, usually only the birthdays of 60, 70, 79, 88, and 99 rate gifts. Also, gifts consisting of less than ten items in a set should be given in odd numbers (tea cups are sold in sets of five). Avoid the numbers 4 and 9 in general. White gift wrap is associated with death (so is four of something).
Germans take birthdays seriously, sometimes receiving a half-day of vacation. Flowers and wine are common gifts among friends.
In China, small birthday gifts are given by family and friends. Age 30 is considered becoming an adult (there's quite a celebration). For men, age 60 is usually combined with retirement (for those doing physical labor). Don't give clocks as gifts (the Mandarin word for clock is similar to one for death). Avoid wrapping the gift using white, black or blue colors.
The French and Italian celebrate Name Days more so than birthdays.
In India, black and white gift wrapping is considered unlucky.
In the Islamic world, green is a good color to use for wrapping.
In Korea, the two most important birthdays are the 100th day and the 60th year.