The count down begins!

3 weeks to go!

Next week I leave South Africa to travel to the US on my own. I can hardly believe it! First the east coast (NJ), then Phoenix, then San Francisco – then back home again. I’ll be in Phoenix some days before the 1st April, when Susan Schwartz and I will revise our posts and hopefully push a button and UP will appear our posts on the accompanying day of the letter. I’ve been saving our posts in the draft folder of the A-Z – a mission.

 I did not have a theme for last year’s A-Z blog challenge, my first time. This time the theme is very much on ‘Aging & Becoming’. As mentioned before, Dr. Susan Schwartz and I are collaborating on this and each post will alternate between the 2 Susans.  I am not sure having a theme has made it any easier – it is challenging nevertheless, as was last year.

I sincerely and deeply thank many co-hosts e.g. Guilie, Damyanti, and many others who have gone beyond kindness in helping me create a link to my comments on other blogs. And for all the co-hosts’ ongoing, helpful posts as to to A-Z guidelines. Their encouragement is contagious!

 I know only too well how irritating it is to jump hoops to comment back to the person who  commented on yours. I know this has been the case with mine. Many of you use Bloggers or blog.com as your host. Mine is WordPress and this has caused difficulties in the past, now resolved.

I’ve been jumping around on the list which is growing steadily and leaving comments and I’m amazed at the number of posts that do not yet have the A-Z badge displayed. Those who have not yet put up your badge please do so! And those who have captchas really need to remove them – please!

Please use the sign up on the right hand side if you wish to automatically receive my blog posts. I would so appreciate this. Usually I email many friends to say I have just put up a post, but I don’t think I will do this any longer after this one. It feels to me that I am putting pressure on the receiver and it is time consuming on my side.

Re: images to use on blog posts – a tip. On Google, there is an images button and these are free unless they have a watermark! I’ve been checking them out for suitability and use for mine and there are some great ones.

I know that many if not most of the A-Z bloggers are from the US and that the weather is improving with signs of Spring! So great! Here in SA the weather is really cold and damp and we’ve had tons of rain up here on the highveld. It’s enough already…I’m so looking forward to coming to the States … it’s been too long since my last time.

All best as the count down begins!

35 Comments on Count down to April A-Z 2014

  1. Susan, I can’t believe it’s been a year since we connected in the A-Z Challenge for 2013! Where did those 12 months go? Flying by, obviously. Due to health issues for my husband since 12/25/13, his recent back surgery followed by a blood clot in the arm used for the IV port, and my own health issues the last three months, I’ve had to put a lot of things on hold and dispense with others. Needless to say, A-Z has been dispensed with for this year. However, I’ll look forward to your posts as well as the other Susan’s on a topic well-suited to the time in my life. Wish you had listed Portland, OR among your stops while in the US, but I’ll just pretend you’re dropping by. Happy and safe travels!

    • Dear Sherrey, how lovely to hear from you thank you! ThoughI’m very sorry to hear of health issues of your husband. If I read the date correctly, this was from Christmas Day. Back surgery is awful and followed by blood clot … caretaking of him was and is a huge emotional and physical something Sherrey and this may well have affected your own health. So essential to be mindful of all of this as you no doubt are, and to take time out to rest relax and allow for healing in its own time and place.

      I so hope with the arrival of Spring and renewal that you tune into its renewal for both of you and that you both reclaim good health and vitality.

      It would have been lovely to meet indeed Sherrey – I hear that Oregon is so beautiful in all its seasons.

      All very best wishes,

      Susan

  2. Hello Dawna! Thanks so much for stopping by! And for your enthusiastic response! Hopefully the posts will provide some grist to the mill and our agingand becoming can be better embraced!

    A pleasure to meet you Dawna .. all best wishes.

  3. Hello, Susan!

    I am just dropping by to return the favor of a visit. 🙂 I LOVE the sound of your theme for the A to Z Challenge.

    I’ve been exploring my own “midlife” transition for a few years now and would love more ideas on which to ponder as I move forward in my own aging and becoming process.

    It is a pleasure to meet you!

  5. Just a quick stop – I enjoy the look of your blog, and appreciate your post on the A to Z challenge. I hope to visit again! (And thanks for your visit to mine! [storycrossings.com/blog] Enjoy your time in the US!!

  6. Thanks for stopping by Rachel! I’m sitting out on the porch and it is a lovely evening – mild. I flew in from NJ yesterday and there it was COLD. Not unlike Johannesburg South Africa and the winters there – where I live.
    Thank you again ..

  7. I just wanted to thank you for the nice comment on my blog! I’m actually in Arizona, so I’m going to recommend you bring cool clothes (shorts or dresses) for the days, but pants for the night (since its still getting chilly during the night). Then again, I’ve only lived here a couple months, so I may be a wimp and the temperature change isn’t actually as different as I think. Anyways, have a safe trip and good luck with the challenge!

  8. Thank you Carolyn … mmm, not so sure that all is fully organised, but hopefully come the day and he hour it will be! Good luck to you too!

  11. The signature link is such a help. Popped right over to your site with no middle steps.

    Your topic sounds like an excellent one. You might have the makings of a book there.

    Have a great trip!

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

    • Thanks so much Arlee! Also for trip wishes! Yes, as stated in previous blogs Susan in Phoenix and I are writing a book on this very topic – we’re hoping that we attract some comments that can be used in the book with permission of course.
      All best to you …

    • Thanks Mike! Have response this morning from Arlee, co-host for A-Z – who says link makes life so much easier so this is great. Thank you for all your wonderful help.

    • Thank you Bridgina! Most kind! I tapped on your name but the server said it couldn’t retrieve or words to that effect?
      Hope to see you on the blogosphere..
      All best, susan

  14. I still haven’t decided whether or not to participate, but I know I’ll be checking out your posts. I could have sworn I’d signed up to receive your posts already, but maybe you didn’t have the subscription box before…? At any rate, I’ve signed up now, so I’m good to go when April comes storming in all it’s blogoriffic hoopla!

    • Hello Kern, yes you were signed up I think until all went peculiar. I actually am so green that I do not know who is signed up or not. Maybe mike can help ..
      Thank you for being so encouraging about checking out the blog posts come 1st April! Are you engaging in strengthening exercises in prep? Glad you’ve signed up! Nothing like mad distractions, every day!!!

  15. Susan — I signed up for notification of your posts. I am already signed up with other WordPress bloggers and with T.J. at Blogger.com. All works well. I have a signup place on my blog, too.

    Re the rest of your techspeak here, I’m not sure I understand. Are these measures I can employ for better broadcasting of my blog? You don’t have to answer me just now — I know you’re devoting your time to trip preparation — but for later.

    I do look forward to your and Susan’s A-Z. You have promoted it — and your upcoming book — so well. I need to take lessons.

    Thanks for all your endeavors, and I look forward to making contact with you when you are in the U.S.

    As Lesley says, bon voyage!

    xo, Samantha

    • So terrific that you stopped by Samantha thank you! Whatever tips or help I can give you for promoting your books I will give you only with pleasure though I am so not good on this. But will let you know what little I know!

      Is TJ doing the A-Z?

      And speak to you soon .. Maybe even in person!!!!!

      • In person would be a real treat, Susan.

        Always my pleasure to stop by; and no, T.J. is not doing the A-Z. She’s occupied writing her weekly column for petsadvisers.com [sic] and her blog. I think that pretty much keeps her out of trouble. 🙂

  16. Susan, I am excited for you. I am sure your adventure will be nothing short of your expectations! I have been spoiled by your emails but have done as you asked and signed up.
    So many people have had trouble when changing over to their personal site name on wordpress – It has scared me into keeping with my double format.

    Looking forward to the A-Z, especially with your theme. bye for now and bon voyage a vous xox

    • Thanks so much Lesley for your comment and for signing up! My son mike is in Johannesburg for a couple of days, and we may change the sign up format again! All in the name of safety .. Will keep posted if this occurs

  17. I sent you a comment but another is in order as you did not get it.I refer to how much you have done to get this a to z going and communicating with others on the list. They do not seem to be in age place of age recognition but that is ok. Education comes in many ways and i think your contact with them is so helpful. Thank you for including me.
    Best,
    Susan

    • Thank you Susan, received! A HUGE problem with someone hacking the blog but now resolved; though it is now necessary to use the ‘block’ on rhs with email addresses which means I cannot avoid precisely that which I wanted to avoid. This must mean something though its meaning beats me …

  18. Aging definitely is a “HOT TOPIC” especially for those of us getting along in age. I’m looking forward to your words of wisdom. Also, according to your note you need to manually subscribe me to your blog and the posting. Will you please add me as I definitely want to receive your posts. Now I wish I knew how to let people subscribe to my blog.

    Have a delightful trip to the states.

    • Thank you dear Gwynn. It is an interesting topic … And it will great to share it with you.
      I’m hoping to sort the subscription story.. Son Mike was alerted to someone hacking my blog – we’ve taken steps to keep them out.

  19. Marsha, thank you so much! I look forward to being on the same continent as you and please remind me exactly where you are?

  20. I am excited that you will be here, although the USA is so big. I doubt I will be able to see you and Susan. I want to read everyone of your A-Z blogs and of course anything else you write so beautifully.

    Marsha

  21. Susan, I am most eager to read your posts (in collaboration with Dr. Susan Schwartz). Sounds like a topic everyone should read about.

    Thank you for all the tips you offer here. Having a signature link at the bottom of the post makes visiting blogs much easier. So many times the profile takes me to Google or elsewhere, where there is no mention of a blog, so I spend valuable time searching. (Yours is easy for me as we’re both on WP). Searching for blogs won’t be possible in April as there are too many, the demands on our time too great, so this is a great reminder.

    Have fun in the U.S. They are expecting yet one more snow storm on the East Coast, but everything is a-okay in California.

    • Thank you so much Sylvia! So lovely to get your response and encouragement. Also for the ‘warning’ re snow storm on east coast. Of course I’m in a tither about what to pack and I travel with an on board bag ..

  22. Dear Susan,

    I am so looking forward to your A to Z challenge.

    Please come see us in the US if you can find the time.

    Cheers,

    R.

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