marcoujor: September Salutations

Hi dear friends and faithful readers,

I missed you all over this summer. As many of you know, I took a hiatus from my weekly publishing schedule on marcoujor’s musings for a few reasons...

A needed break from technology

My colleagues, Angelia Phillips (of flashPress) and Vicki Warner (of WarnerWords), and I had been less than pleased with Weebly’s technological glitches, especially as some of you were unable to leave comments or were inconvenienced by making several attempts before success. 

​​Thanks to Angelia for exploring many of the alternative websites currently available. At this time, we’ve decided to stay with Weebly as the other options have their own brand of navigational difficulties.

My fingers remain permanently crossed!

Time to write, oddly enough

​I wanted to dedicate a season’s worth of time to finish up a book, long in my heart, called...

A Toolbox for Novice Nurses
From A to Z

​Here is a sneak peek at the cover page, designed by the talented Michael Friedman of Mockingbird Books.

I’m ever grateful to the generosity of valued colleagues, students and friends who have given me inspiration over the years. Some of their wisdom has been incorporated into the specific chapters.

I’m also thankful to Peg Cole (of In The World) and Angelia Phillips, who are currently giving the manuscript an editorial scrutiny.

​I recently learned that September is the month of National Self-Care Awareness and Mental Health Awareness. Both of these issues are close to my heart. I encourage my students to develop and maintain a self-care plan and to reflect on self-awareness daily--both in practice and my upcoming book.

I’ll be sure and let you all know when this labor of love has been published. My projection date is on or before September 23rd, the first day of Fall.

​Last, but not least

As age would have it, I have attended to a couple of my own self-care issues, involving my eyes and some pain, after physical strain, for a home improvement initiative.

I’m relieved to say that all is well, both with my health and our home. I was reminded of Mom, who would have said something like, “Your body will tell you when it’s time to slow down.” ​

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I have very much missed…

​…sharing my latest musical inspirations with you. I have lots of catching up to do in that arena.

As any of you who check my FB wall knows, many of us mourned the August 16th death of a musical goddess, Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul.

It only seems fitting to wrap this post up with a few of the zillions of Aretha songs I had to choose from. I’ve selected some of her bluesy sounds, perhaps not as well known to you.

If you are a lover of the blues, as I am, no one does it better. If you are not accustomed to this musical genre, give Queen Aretha a listen and let me know what you think.

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ShoutOuts

☙ Our Garden--A Slideshow via Martie’s Foyer

☙ A World of Fingers and Toes via WarnerWords

☙ Jacob Carney: flashPress’ New Cub Reporter

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Until next week, be happy and at peace,

mar​