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Parts of Speech

‘Mother’ is my role; I am blessed

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Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 08 May 2012 13:56

“Unfortunately for my cat, I tend to take a lot of stress out on him and find myself screaming things like, “I don’t need to hear whining out of you too you little #*!$#.” I know—horrific behavior. But it was either him or the kids and I thought it best to keep the swearing on the down-low until they’re about 10.” —Mama at generationsuncorked.com

In what proved to be an ironic twist, I ran into the mother of a former high school friend while waiting for my Cinco de Mayo margarita. She was alone in her booth with a festive plate and pretty frozen drink, so I went over to say hello and was greeted with the friendliest smile and hug.

Our houses weren’t more than a few short blocks away from each other in our hometown and...

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The world needs to come to music

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Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 24 April 2012 14:46

There’s a wooden board hanging on my kitchen wall. Half of it is corkboard where I tack up pictures, lunch menus, shopping lists and forgotten expired coupons. The other half is a white board. It serves several purposes, but lately it’s been hosting the “song of the day.”

Every morning I write a song title in bright neon colors and pull out one of the lyrics in quotes. You’d be surprised how this small thing can slow down a rushed morning.

Music is another body in our house. It’s always there. The girls rarely walk from one room to another without either an iPod or a Kindle going. I’ve warned them about the dangers of toilets and electronics, as I’ve lost a phone myself, but that doesn’t seem to stop them. No room is...

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The world needs to come to music

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Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 24 April 2012 14:46

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Hard work creates our own luck

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Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 10 April 2012 14:03

“I wonder what it’s like to be the rainmaker. Wonder what it’s like to know that I made the rain.” —Matchbox 20

“If something isn’t working for you, it isn’t friggin’ luck. It’s you needing to do more.”

This is according to C. Hope Clark, a writing coach/blogger/novelist from South Carolina. She is excellent at writing editorials in her newsletters that leave me feeling much less productive than I know I should be, which is a good thing because in the end, it’s motivating.

Her newest feature was titled “Luck.” A gift just for me, I have to say, because honestly I’ve been in a slump and getting pretty tired of feeling sorry for myself. Opening that newsletter was the kick in the butt I needed.

Who else...

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Perspective key for yard work, too

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Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 27 March 2012 13:50

“The Dandelion’s pallid tube / Astonishes the grass / And winter instantly becomes / An infinite Alas. The tube uplifts a signal Bud / And then a shouting Flower / The Proclamation of the Suns / That sepulture is o’er.” —Emily Dickinson

It’s funny how quickly we forget. I am, at this very moment, seeing glimpses of blue in the sky after so many solid hours of cloud cover.

I have officially ruled out relocating to the upper northwest. I can’t imagine 220 more days in one year like the wet dark ones we’ve had here last week. And now, as I’m beginning to squint from the sunbeam through my curtains, I remember how bright things can be.

Suddenly, I’m completely psyched up for clearing my yard and replanting my...

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