If you want to win that $50 voucher from Amazon, you’d better scoot over to Kat’s new blog and start submitting some names already!
The contest ends today so you only have a few hours left till America wakes up and she closes it …
Kat Cooper, my blogging inspiration, who lives in Florida and authors the My Single Mom Life site, has just started a new blog!
But shame, it’s nameless at the moment and Kat is on the hunt for a cool, catchy name so she’s running a “Name This Blog” contest. The prize is a $50 voucher from Amazon.com and all you need to do to stand a chance of winning is leave a comment on her new blog with your suggestion for a suitable name.
Easy-peasy hey?
But hurry, you only have 7 days … (now I sound like one of those horrid infomercial things LOL)
Here’s where to go: http://www.katjcooper.com/2008/07/name-this-blog-contest.html
Everyone, this is Kat.
Kat, this is everyone =)
Back in February of this year, I came across Kat’s personal blog at www.mysinglemomlife.com. I can’t remember how I found it exactly, but I had never read a personal blog before and I was really quite moved by how open and real she was in her writing.
The other thing that struck me at the time was how much I had in common with her – she’s about my age, a divorced mom raising 2 teenage boys, working from home, someone who loves music and cats, experiencing what appeared to be ups and downs very similar to my own. Yes, there were definitely issues that we have different opinions about, but so much of her life seemed to be a reflection of mine and I could relate to many things that she wrote about.
When I found her blog writings (which she’s been doing for over 10 years now) she was venting about her frustrations with the boys and the physical pain and mental exhaustion she was going through. I have since discovered that her physical pain is on a level much higher than mine and is the result of scoliosis and subsequent recent spinal surgery. (She now has a titanium rod the size of France in her back and she is in a lot of pain.)
But I digress.
Her blog touched me. I have wanted to write for many years and have never known quite how to do it. A novel seemed too intimidating, a journal seemed boring and non-fiction seemed crazy (what the hell do I know about anything?) Seeing her blog and what she was writing about provided just the spark I needed to finally get into my own writing.
And so I created justB[coz].
It is as a direct result of Kat’s personal blog that I found the inspiration I needed to start my own blog and use this space for anything and everything I wanted to write about. My very first post credited her with providing the spark of enthusiasm I needed to get going with this personal venture. Unlike Kat though, and as an aside, I don’t intend to make any money from justB[coz] – any reviews I write here are entirely off my own bat and I receive no compensation at all. Kat is unfortunately not able to go out and work so she relies on her blog for income and I admire her greatly for that. She is a survivor and she does the very best she can with what she has.
This lady has a special place in my heart. I still keep up with her writing as much as I can and support her to the best of my ability.
So you can imagine my delighted surprise when I got home from the birthday bash last night (which was very cool BTW) to find that Kat had left a comment on my blog! A beautiful, encouraging comment that was full of warmth and wisdom. I was ecstatic, and incredibly honored that the person responsible for setting me off on the blog path had come to visit my little space and taken the time to write a message to me.
I’m very chuffed! I just had to share that with you and let you know who she is and what she means to me =)
There is no dearth of sources in the media that slam South Africa at every available opportunity. The ongoing attacks come from all angles and target an enormous range of topics and people – crime, the government, inflation, power supply, our sports teams. Hells, even the poor eNews weatherman is not exempt =)
I’ve lived in this country all my life and while I cannot argue that there’s a lot of stuff that opposes MY opinion of how everything SHOULD be, I have absolutely no intention of leaving this land whatsoever. I believe that every country has its own problems, it’s own challenging issues to deal with and that for me to contemplate emigration because things are going to be “so much better” in another land is both naïve and irresponsible.
I am a citizen of this country, I am part of the Rainbow Nation and it is up to me, indeed to all of us, to “be the change you want to see in the world.” (Mahatma Gandhi)
Instead of bitching about how wrong things are all the time, what would happen if I deliberately made an effort to seek out and focus on the positive aspects of our beautiful country? You must have heard about “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne? It’s all about the universal Law of Attraction which states that “like attracts like”. In essence, each of us creates our own circumstances through our thoughts and attracts into our lives the very things we think about.
Simple truth: If we think about the negatives all the time, there is just no chance that we can attractive any positives into our lives.
Think about THAT for a moment – do you realize how powerful your thoughts are?
Ok, now I want you to think about what the cumulative effect of an entire nation thinking negatively about their country would be. What are the chances of that country turning things around and seeing growth in a positive direction of ANY kind? Slim to none I’d say.
So, with that in mind, I’d like to point you towards a media source that DOES focus on the positive aspects of South Africa. It’s a website called SA Rocks and it was created by Nic Haralambous.
Here’s what Nic has to say about the site:
After reading the incredibly upsetting anti-SA blogs from expats around the world I decided to make a stand. This blog is that stand. I am standing up for all the good in SA. For all the great things that SA citizens do and for all the people who love this country. I love this country and I believe in it and the success that is soon to come.
SA Rocks is not a website dedicated to blindly praising South Africa. I understand that every country has flaws and I do not deny the flaws of South Africa. I do feel that there are enough people who berate our country and it’s time for people to start acting and thinking positively about South Africa.
I think it’s fantastic to have such a refreshing view of our beautiful country published on the WWW for all to share and enjoy. Big up to Nic and all the contributing authors for SA Rocks!
Nic has also created a Facebook Fan Page for SA Rocks. It’s brand new, it was only launched today and the fan base is still small but I want to urge you to accept his invitation to join the page. Go and hook up with others who love South Africa, invite more people to join and engage in the positive interaction going on there.
Remember this: Thoughts are a powerful creative force. Your thoughts create your world so become aware of what you are creating and if you don’t like it, change your thinking.
Literally. No jokes.
As a result of the Driveway Drama the gate does not open far enough for me to get my car out, it only opens about half way and that only by the brute force of at least 2 strong men grunting and groaning and sweating to push it a few centimeters at a time. POOOOOESH!
Oh dear, lucky I don’t have any plans this weekend. Just as well – I’m such a social butterfly you know, I normally have heaps of engagements booked in my calendar. Not.
Actually, the 27Dinner is happening in Cape Town tonight at The Wild Fig (love that restaurant) and it would have been pretty cool to go to that and meet some of the folks I’ve hooked up with over the interwebs, but I didn’t get my name down on their limited-to-50-places guest list in time, so I’m gonna have to miss out. It’s ok though – my shy self doesn’t want to be there anyway =)
Guess who’s not going to have to go and do The Dreaded Weekly Grocery Shop though!? YES!! At least one good thing hey?
So …. What to do?
Well, I have wood for the fireplace, I have an Xbox and plenty of games, I have Sir G, I have a few cold ones in the fridge, and I have the Mr Delivery book … what more does a girl need?
Hopefully I survive till Monday wahaha!
Have a FABULOUS weekend everyone … later xx
OMG, could today actually get any better for this Cowgrrrl?
Methinks not …
Eric, the man behind Springleap.com has just personally delivered all my totally funky new Tshirts!!
I asked him to put together a surprise package for me (you can read about that here) and I am so NOT disappointed with the fab selection. They are super-duper!
I gathered the troops and told them all to claim what they wanted and everyone is really happy with their new Tees – especially Son#1 who just thrives on wearing fresh originals. And these particular designs have only been in the country Cape Town* for 3 hours, so you don’t get more fresh than that! Son#2 made his choice and immediately went out skateboarding to show off his new threads =)
Thanks Eric. Thanks Springleap. Very happy cow-stomer.
I think this calls for a drinkie-poo to celebrate!
* Edited after being Eric reminded me that his products are Proudly South African.