Morning Meanderings – Page 8

Morning Meanderings… The Wine and Words 2016 Line Up

Published on February 17, 2016February 17, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

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Wednesday and I just keep adding to my “to do’s.” It is for that reason, I am always excited when I check a big task off and I can d that now with the 2016 Author Line Up for Wine and Words. It is our 4th year of doing this event and I enjoy the little details of making this work SO MUCH.

When it comes to finding the author mix I use several different methods to choose who to invite:

Watch best-selling book lists
Watch sites like Goodreads and Amazon for reviews
Recommendations from people in our community
Our local Book Store. I speak with the employees about what people are asking for.
At least 2 of the authors we try to be Minnesota authors.
YOU. My trusted book loving friends who review some pretty sweet books.

Next I am looking for a diverse genre mix. I want the authors to appeal to different people. For instance, perhaps the North shore mysteries that William Kent Krueger and his protagonist Cork do not speak to you, but Kathleen McCleary’s women’s literature does. In many of the cases, at the time of lining up the Wine and Words authors, I have not read them myself. It is always fun to introduce even myself to new authors.

So…. here they are. 2016 Wine and Words:

Brian Freeman is an international bestselling author of psychological suspense novels. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 20 languages and have appeared as Main Selections in the Literary Guild and the Book of the Month Club. His seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards presented by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His sixth novel THE BONE HOUSE was a finalist for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.

“This guy can tell a story,” says bestselling author Michael Connelly.

Helen Klein Ross is the author of What Was Mine, a novel published in January by Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books, a People magazine pick for “Best of 2016”. Her novel Making It: A Novel Of Madison Avenue (Gallery Books, 2013) is an e-book that experiments with digital epilogue. She is the creator and editor of The Traveler’s Vade Mecum, a crowd-sourced poetry anthology forthcoming in September from Red Hen Press. Her poetry, essays and fiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times and in The Iowa Review where she won the Iowa Review Award for Poetry in 2014. Helen spent decades as a writer/creative director at global ad agencies on both coasts. She graduated from Cornell University and received an MFA from The New School. She lives with her husband in Manhattan and Salisbury, CT.

New York Times Bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson is the author of six novels: Someone Else’s Love Story , gods in Alabama, Between, Georgia, The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, Backseat Saints, and A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages, won SIBA’s novel of the year, three times been a #1 Book Sense Pick, twice won Georgia Author of the Year, and three times been shortlisted for the Townsend prize.

A former actor, Jackson reads the audio versions of her novels; her work in this field has been nominated for the Audie Award, was selected by AudioFile Magazine for their best of the year list, has made the 2012 Audible All-Star list for highest listener ranks/reviews, and garnered three Listen Up Awards from Publisher’s Weekly. In 2012 Jackson began reading the audio versions of books written by other novelists, beginning with Shine Shine Shine by Lydia Netzer.

Allen Eskens is the award-winning author of The Life We Bury, published in October of 2014. It was named one of the best books of the year by Suspense Magazine and MysteryPeople and was named a finalist for six different awards including the prestigious Edgar Award. His second novel, The Guise of Another is out in October of 2015.

Allen Eskens grew up in the wooded hills of Missouri and, after high school, migrated north to pursue his education. He acquired a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Minnesota, and a Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law.

Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Devonshire Scream, her 17th Tea Shop Mystery, releases March 1, 2016. Little Girl Gone, the first book in her Afton Tangler Thriller Series written under her real name of Gerry Schmitt, releases July 5, 2016. In her previous life she was CEO of Mission Critical Marketing (with offices in Minneapolis and Austin, TX), authored several screenplays, and produced a reality TV show. She is married to Dr. Bob, a U of M professor of Chinese art history, enjoys travel, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.

There they are! Glad to have the line up in place! Thanks to a great team and a great venue to work with, the rest of it comes fairly easy.

Morning Meanderings…. SPOILER Alert

Published on February 16, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

The older posts that seem to create the most attention here at Book Journey are the SPOILER pages. I created SPOILER pages back in 2010 when I wanted so badly to talk openly about a book experience but could not put what I wanted to say in a review for fear of ruining the book for someone who had not read it. I even made a Sample Spoiler Page so those who were choosing to read a spoiler page knew EXACTLY what to expect.

I don’t use it often, only when I absolutely have more to say about a book and want to be able to talk about it freely with those who have read it.

On February 6th of this year, my Spoiler Page for Me Before You by JoJo Moyes received 3,978 views. It is not unusual for a spoiler page to pick up interest when it is going to be a movie, but this still surprised me. When Gone Girl first became a big deal with the movie following, that spoiler page was receiving close to 5,000 views a day for close to a month.

Recently the ROOM Spoiler Page had a rise in views as well which makes sense due to the upcoming release of the movie. Hot topic on that post? Breast feeding. Always has been.

I love spoiler discussions because they are kind of like a book club. You all have already read the book. There is a good chance in a great read that you have an opinion. It is fun to vent, share, show your love or hate for a book. Strong emotions are what drives a great spoiler page.

Come to think of it, I am due for a read like that. Have you read anything lately that is Spoiler Page Worthy? A book that you just want to talk about?

Morning Meanderings…. Weekend Project and Thinking about BOOKS

Published on February 15, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Monday! In an odd way, I have been looking forward to this one. In the past weeks, months, I have felt like I have been moving through pea soup. Everything seems to take twice as long to accomplish. My brain has felt foggy, it has been hard to hold a thought and while I had ideas and plans, they tended to fizzle out and I would easily lose the desire for them.

For someone who has always thrived on ideas and making things happen… this has been concerning.

Yet – something has always remained true throughout all my life trials. I always seem to dig up that desire to DO again. It crinkles up in the corner of my brain, ideas… projects…. ways to connect people….

Even now. This time around when I was not sure what would become of me as I battle through day-to-day fighting off depression and debilitating grief…

the ideas are itching at the corners of my vision and I feel as though I now can start to grasp them and MOVE. In a way it is a sigh of relief.

I have not reached this alone, nor do I think I would have. I have been blessed and surrounded by many friends, family, and a community that has wrapped its arms around Al, Brad, and I and helped us. I have had so many opportunities to be with people and cry and be sad and share this deep sadness. It is through that, that I have began to maybe not heal – but level out somewhat. I know my limitations, and I stick with them. I do not put myself in situations that I know will be hard on me. It means saying to things that at one time I would not have missed. I know this will be a lifelong healing process and I am ok with that. My kid is worth every tear.

And that I have learned, is ok.

Ok – if I keep going this direction I will have to change the post title 🙂

Over a nice fairly quiet weekend I worked on a project for our home.

I found the pieces on Amazon. The 12 picture frames, the clock piece, and the vinyl saying. I picked out the pics from the stash I have and used the top of one of our 20 gallon crock nightstands to make the circle.

Then….

it all went on the wall.

It was fun to do and I LOVE it.

On the bookish side of this post, I have been working on Gatsby things, finalizing Wine and Words author line up, book sale in March prep, and that inkling in my head? It is bringing out plans for an Edible Book Fair, Harry Potter event plans with the new book, A fall book club in a bar called something like Books and Brews, a possible Author breakfast…..

I am in here – somewhere.

Saturday Snapshot and Weekend Cooking w/ The Bookies

Published on February 13, 2016February 13, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Saturday morning. Saturday has always been my favorite day of the week. When I was younger it was the day of no school (and no school the next day to worry about!) and when I grew up (term used loosely) it was the day off of work, home with my kids, and no work or school the next day. Now I still like Saturdays. They have become the day that Al and I usually go out for a while in the late afternoon to a movie or for appetizers, or to some other adventure. I like that we take the time to connect when even now with me at home, we still are busy running in different directions during the week.

This past Tuesday our book club met for the review of The Life We Bury. There are many things I adore about our book club and the little extras we do really make me smile. With the protagonist being from Austin Minnesota, the home of SPAM, we had some fun. Here are a couple of recipes that you could use when you read the book, or just because you are fascinated with meat in a can like I am. 🙂 I am posting these recipes for weekend cooking.

SPLIDERS (SPAM Sliders)

You will need:

a package of Hawaiian rolls

a can of SPAM

a package of Swiss Cheese slices

butter

onion

a tasty mustard

Set over temp to 350 degrees. Open up each Hawaiian roll and lightly butter. Slice SPAM into 1/4 inch slices and place one slice on each roll. slice in half of fourths (depending on your cheese size) the Swiss cheese and place a slice on each roll on the spam. Add a little slice of onion, optional. Place all rolls in a 13 x 9 cake pan and place in oven until cheese is melted and sandwich is hot to the touch – 7 to 10 minutes. Serve hot with the mustard or mayo. Great for a movie night or any gathering.

I personally was surprised that I liked these. I have SPAM memories as a kid and I think that was the last time I ate it. SPAM today is not like SPAM was then, the jelly coating I remember around the meat that grossed me out is no longer there. The sandwiches were actually tasty and if I had not known it was SPAM I don’t think I would have guessed.

Cheesy Baby Reds (as found on the SPAM website)

Ingredients

1 12-ounce can SPAM^® Classic, diced
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 medium red bell pepper, diced
12 ounces whipped pimento spread
24 baby red potatoes, cut in half
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped chives, for garnish
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 400°F. In large skillet, in butter, heat the SPAM® Classic until lightly browned. Drain well.
Whip the pimento cheese spread in a blender until smooth. Place pimento cheese spread in a large bowl. Add the SPAM® Classic (reserve about 1/3 for garnish) and diced red bell pepper.
Thoroughly wash and clean the potatoes. Cut in half and scoop out the center of each with a spoon or Parisian scoop. Mix the olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Coat the potato halves with the mixture and place on a baking sheet, cut side down. Bake at 400°F for about 25 minutes or until soft when pierced with a knife.
Remove from oven and fill center with the SPAMento™ cheese mixture. Garnish the filled potatoes with the reserves SPAM® Classic, chives and a dusting of cayenne pepper, if desired. Serve immediately. Makes 48.

These were so good and I would totally make these!

As for a little Saturday Snapshot, I thought I would add a picture of our dogs this past week. Bailey(the white one) is 18 years old. Really, the miracle dog. A couple of years ago he started having seizures and then after a month they went away and we did not see him have another one until last month. It is horrible to see, but remarkably he comes out of them and goes on like nothing happened. The vet says he is not suffering in any way, he is not in pain and lives for his age a healthy lifestyle. Sammy ( the black one) has just recently taken to hanging out with Bailey a bit more. This was a cute picture of sleeping close together. Almost like Sammy is protecting him or being supportive.

Morning Meanderings…. A New Harry Potter Book? I Am Not Sure…

Published on February 11, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

I swear some days my sheltered world surprises me.

I am not a newspaper reader. I am not a news on TV watcher. I do not follow any website for the “happenings” in our world – either entertainment wise or real world stuff. I used to…. but now my world is all a little too real and raw and so I miss much of what is going on unless someone tells me. I like living in my Hobbit Hole.

And that is how I missed hearing about the new Harry Potter book.

and honestly, I am not sure how I feel about it.

Of course back when the books were coming out and we were drawing to a close in book 7….. I wanted more. Shoot – who didn’t? Yet as time went on it became a household discussion here. I still wanted JK Rowling to find a loop hole in her ending and bring the story back…. perhaps the rebuilding of Hogwarts and continue the story through the next generation, Harry’s, Ron’s Malfoy’s kids. I honestly wanted to keep the magic going…

and Justin did not.

When we talked here, Justin (wiser than me and clearly less muggle in him) knew that continuing the story would only create dissatisfaction. The books were too good, he would tell me. They are better off left as is.

And as time went on, as much as it pained me to admit it, I began to agree with him.

So here we are.

In case any of you were as oblivious as me (thank you for that if you were) here is the basics of what I know:

JK Rowling, after years of saying there would not be a continuing story, has indeed written an 8th book that will release as the others did, on midnight of July 31st. As I type this, there is a lump in my throat because it was Justin and I who would plan crazy things to grab the book hot off the shelves at midnight each release. I have to wonder, how I do it this year.

To my understand, as I try to catch up, there is a play in London with the same title as the book. The push was that HP fans who were unable to get to London to see the play wanted a book so they too can be a part on this experience. JK Rowling and the Publisher Little Brown came to an agreement to give the fans what they wanted.

The official synopsis is:

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

It’s new. Admittedly it is exciting. And of course for me, a bit sad. “It’s happening,” I think…. and I have to do this one alone.

What do you think of this new development? Are you YAY for it? Or NAY leave it alone? Is Rita Skeeter retired now? What ever happened to Hagrid? I would love to know your thoughts. 🙂

Morning Meanderings… Getting Through

Published on February 10, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Coffee morning.

Or perhaps, they all are.

This one however is a reminiscent morning. I am sitting here quietly thinking over the last 24 hours. Yesterday was my birthday and another day to get through. This one had a lot of hold on me for two reasons…

This birthday would officially make me the oldest living member of my immediate family (mom, dad, sister), something that I have thought about for years.
This would be the first one without Justin.

Getting through it, defenses up seemed the way to go.

I had explained to friends early on that I did not have any desire to celebrate this birthday. I asked that they let me go through this as quickly and as quietly as possible. Just another day. I really struggle(d) with the thought that I was getting older, and my son would not.

However, friends, like loopholes…. and while they did not 100% follow my wishes, they were very sweet about it. As a “Valentines Gift” I received a “Dammit Doll” (a doll that you are supposed to use when you are frustrated, smacking her on the table saying… you guessed it, “Dammit Dammit Dammit.” I decided she looked a little like me and she had enough so she will not be beat by me…. instead she sits on a shelf in the book room.

My friend Gail sent me a “Happy February” card with a promise of a custom made rack to let beans grow on for my garden this spring. My friend Wendy had lunch with me yesterday and celebrated “February” by giving me a beautiful wine sign and a woozie, a wine cozy.

Then last evening was book club and we had an excellent review of The Life We Buried and fun with Spam (more on this later today so be sure to come back!), but they also had a little celebration of my birthday which was unexpected. There was cheesecake (really my favorite cake), and a few gifts. It was very sweet of them to do as I read cards through tears.

The little item on the black wrap is a charm for my Pandora bracelet… it is a clover which represents Justin and I and our times together. He had a tattoo of a clover to commemorate our annual trips to Florida (it is the symbol used at the Irish Pub we always stopped at), and this spring I too got the clover tattoo in memory of him and our times together.

So that was my day yesterday. Not quite as quiet and straight on through it as I had planned – but honestly, my friends were very sweet and while it was a hard birthday, the kindness of those in my life really helped me walk on through this too. Justin, I know would be cheering.

Morning Meanderings…. A Little Weekend Cooking of Peanut Butter French Toast

Published on February 7, 2016February 7, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Sunday morning.

YES.

I have a low key day planned…. a few reviews to write, a little audio to listen to , and possibly a little painting in the house. If all goes well, I will not have to leave the house at all today.

I do like that soooooo much.

Al and I are not big breakfast eaters but a friend recently told me about a way to make french toast with peanut butter. Al loves all things peanut butter, so this morning I thought I would give it a try. Seemed like a good Weekend Cooking thing to do.

Peanut Butter French Toast

keeping it simple, use whatever your favorite french toast recipe is…. I like to put vanilla, cinnamon, and powdered sugar in my mix

Mix up your french toast batter

Take your bread of choice and put a layer of smooth peanut butter on it.

Add another slice of bread to the top like a peanut butter sandwich

Dip the sandwich in your french toast batter and let both sides get soaked in batter

Place sandwich in a heated fry pan with a little melted butter

cook 2 to 3 minutes until bottom side is done (golden brown) then flip over an repeat on other side.

Serve immediately with maple syrup.

Verdict: It was good, I am not as big of a peanut butter fan as m husband. If I were to do it again I may consider adding sliced banana in the sandwich.

What is your favorite version of French Toast?

Morning Meanderings…. EVERYONE Needs A Little Bob Marley In Their Life

Published on February 5, 2016February 5, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

Good Morning! 2nd cup of COFFEE today and have a coffee date coming up here shortly. MMMMM…. friends and coffee. My mom would be proud :).

My Bob Marley encounters are few put impactful.

A few years ago at the Book Expo in New York I went to a signing of a book by Bob Marley’s son, Ky-Mani. I had the book dedicated to my son, Justin.

I really felt that would be my last connection with Bob…

Then we went to Cancun a few weeks ago. At the all-inclusive resort we stayed at they had a drink called the Bob Marley. The drink was named for it’s coloring, it striped in the glass green, yellow, red. For me it was a bit strong, but for the ladies I went on this trip with, they really liked it and every day by the pool when the waitress went by it was the requested beverage.

Once we came back home, I wanted to get each of the ladies I went with a little something as a thank you for a trip that had every potential of being very hard on me, but actually turned out ok due to the company we were with. I wanted to go with something that I had learned about each of them and for two of the ladies *cough Wendy and Julie cough* I wanted that item to be Bob Marley related.

Originally I was thinking a bobblehead doll…. but wow. On line these babies go for around $75 each! So I started exploring and discovered great sayings that Marley had said throughout his life that had been made into vinyl to put on your wall. I have been to each of these ladies homes so I know the layout and thought they may think this is cool. If not, it is still a fun connection to the trip.

What I did not expect is that while looking around, I would find one for me. I love words. I love words on the wall. If I could go all words and a few pictures I would. My house should read like a story of my life. As I look around at books, and pictures, and memories…. I guess it does. It still did not stop my from picking out one for myself and yesterday I put it on my wall to see what it would look like and to be able to tell the girls how to put theirs up if they choose to.

Love

it.

Guess I have a little Bob Marley memory as well. 🙂

Today is a coffee date and a lunch date. A trip to the store and later reading of the book club book pick for next weeks discussion. Sounds like a pretty fair kick off to the weekend.

I will leave you with this – not sure if it “THE” recipe, but here is a Bob Marley drink recipe. This drink may cause you to synchronize swim in the pool, dance a little in your lounger, and talk to people you do not know. Proceed with caution. 😉

1 oz. Creme de Menthe, green

•1/2 oz. Liqueur, banana

•1/2 oz. Rum, overproof/151 proof

•1 oz. Grenadine

Mixing Instructions

The true Bob Marley is grenadine at the bottom, creme de menthe in the middle, and 151 plus creme de bananna, so it makes the red, green and yellow of the Jamaican flag

Morning Meanderings…. The End Of January 2016

Published on January 31, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

Sunday and the last day of January 2016. While filling the outdoor wood stove this morning (yes, some of us in Minnesota do that 😉 ) I found myself really thinking about this past year. It is just crazy to think that in two more months it will be a year…

It doesn’t feel like that can be true.

I have struggled daily. Lately, this last month… I am searching for a way to assemble some sort of life… goals…. a way of going on – NOT moving on, but going on. This time of my life has been the absolute hardest of anything I have ever experienced. I am glad at least that I am starting to want to get started with something again and have been slowly working on reconnecting with my contracts and the outside world.

Bitter sweet to see me using an agenda again. It is one of the geeky things I have always loved to do and I quit last April and didn’t touch my agenda for the rest of the year. I love to write things down and see what I have completed and what I have planned. It took a while to bring this back.

New books in the house (because apparently I am rambling today….)

Look at these fun titles. Makes me want to read RIGHT NOW.

The Life We Bury is our book club pick for February. Minnesota author.

Odysseus Abroad came in from Vintage Books a division of Random House

The Immortals looks fun and is going to be a part of an upcoming giveaway!

The Good Liar has a tasty title doesn’t it? Harper sent this one.

The total Package…. ahh Stephanie Plum, we have a love-like relationship but I still cant resist seeing what this is about 🙂 TLC Blog tour

The EX I picked up at the library yesterday while changing out the window. Love the title…. sounds good 🙂

The RAMBLERS has a fun synopsis that has me curious. TLC blog tour.

So that’s all I am going to chat about today. I have a full day of prepping for two Library related meetings tomorrow. One in St Paul, and one in my home town. It will truly be a Library Day 🙂

Morning Meanderings…. The Beauty Of Connections

Published on January 29, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

Friday!

What a first week back in Minnesota! I had big plans of what I was going to accomplish this week and for the most part none of it happened. My life went in a totally different direction and I pretty much became a “Girl Who Lunches” this week.

For whatever reason, I had a lot of connections this week. Calls and messages to have coffee or lunch. On Wednesday I had two coffee dates and a lunch date. I am not complaining, I like my friends and I like seeing them. When hanging out with one group this week one of the ladies said, “You just know so many people within the different things that you do.”

That made me think.

My son Justin was a connector. If there is such a thing (and if not I am making it a thing right now), Justin brought people together. His work friends met his life friends, his hang out friends met his college friends, and so on. The nice thing about this connecting is that these people (kids really) now have each other in his absence and they will say again and again how it was Justin who brought them together. I am so glad they have that kind of connecting support.

This week I spent some time thinking of myself as a connector. For whatever reason I decided to make a chart this morning of the different relationships we probably all have within our lives in something like this:

Some of the titles may change, but you probably have a similar grouping if you wrote them down. Mine are defined as:

Book Friends: People I relate to through books. My book club, authors, publishers, well… YOU.

Adventure Friends: The friends I can call up to do a 5k, mud run, stomp the grapes dressed as Lucille Ball…. they know who they are. 😉

Work Out Friends: The friends that will take walks with me, ride bike, meet me at the gym

School Friends: The people I still connect with from my school days either on Facebook, email, and occasionally in Real face to face life.

Church Friends: Friends I have made through church.

Movie Friends: That awesome list of people I can text to go to a movie with.

Family Friends: Family members who are friends to me as well… they fall into several f thee categories.

Friends You Volunteer With: I may have met these friends through volunteering somewhere.

Library Friends: Friends I have made through my love for the library.

Coffee Friends: You know who you are… we catch up over a great cup of Joe….or two…. or three

Group Friends: Friends I have made through a group I hang out with. These are people I usually meet up with when we are doing a group thing.

On-Line Friends: People I have met through this blog and through other on line things I participate in. While some may argue that is not a friendship, I beg to differ. Quite a few of you who I have “met” through this website, I have also met in real life. I do consider you friends. A few I have not met in RL have sent me cards and encouragement this year. I consider you friends.

Friends Of Friends: People I met through your friends. I may not go and do something without the mutual friend, but some day I might.

Phone Friends: I think we all have them. They are friends, they re people we know in RL… but for whatever reason can never get together and basically keep up through phone calls and texts.

Work Friends: The people I met through a job and enjoy.

Lunch Friends: These friends I mainly hang out with over a lunch date to catch up.

Common interest friends: Friends I made through taking a class or doing a study.

Business friends: People I have met through our business or my Freelance business who could fall into one of these other categories.

I should have a point to this. I think I do. When I look at these groupings I can see where a friend may have started in one but is now also in one or more of these groups. For instance our book club started through a job I used to work at. Since Bookies started that way, the initial start up group was work friends, and some that are still in the book club so the work friends also become book friends. Business friends would be like the people we went to Australia with last year who, because of that trip, we also took this trip to Mexico this year and they also fall into Lunch Friends, where we meet and catch up.

Anyway… I am constantly in awe of connections and how they work into our lives. This weeks connections led me to two potential job opportunities through my freelance. That was a bonus to my meet ups this week. So while I did have other plans for my week, these meet ups really worked out well in the direction I was planning on going this week anyway which was to start working on lining up a few freelance jobs.

It’s funny how things can work out.