Typos

Typos are so common, especially when spell check isn't used. But even with spell check they can occur. Since I am a good speller, it disturbs me when I see anything I've posted having a misspelled word in it. I like to think that the word isn't misspelled--it's a typo. And it usually is. In my last post the word 'immediately' has the a missing. I hate that!

So my apologies for that missing letter a. Now for another misused word:

Your vs You're:

Your.........denotes ownership--belonging to you.

You're....is a contraction for you are.

That's it for today. Happy Sunday!!

I Read...a lot!

Since I am an independent self-publisher, I enjoy supporting other authors who are in the same position. I have noticed a lot of common errors in writing. Of course there are typos. Even the best of authors with expensive editors and agents cannot catch every typo.

I am referring to common grammaical errors and word usage. When I see them, I automatically  want to correct them. Since I cannot do that, I am going to put the misused words here in this blog, and post the correct usage. This is not meant to be condescending or hurtful, but I hope it can be helpful. I want every writer to succeed. There can never be too many books. So here are the words that immeditely come to mind. As I see more, I will post them here.

its vs. it's:

It's..............a contraction for it is. 
Its................belonging to it.

Then vs. Than (This one is so commonly used incorrectly.):

Than is used to show a comparison.  Bigger than; taller than; The water was deeper than she thought it to be. (Test: The water was deeper than she thought it was deep.) Than is actually a conjunction.

Then is used for sequence of events or sometime time frames. Ex: The days seemed longer back then. She hurried to straighten up the room, and then she went to the door. Then is an adverb.

Their; There; They're:

Their......an adjective showing ownership. Their job; Their car; Their purpose.
There.....denotes a place or position. Over there. Put the book there. Adverb.
They're...A contraction for they are. And without the apostrophe (theyre), it is not a word.

That's it for today. As they come to mind, I will post them. Remember, I only want to be helpful.

I Moved!!

I have been soooo busy with this move. After living in the same apartment for 8 years, I finally moved into my own place. You can just imagine how much stuff one can accumulate in 8 years! I felt sorry for those guys who had to carry all those boxes of books. I know they were heavy, guys! Sorry! I'm a book freak.

Anyway....now I'm living in my place and still looking at mountains of boxes to open and unpack. One box at a time....that's all I can do.

My computer desk didn't survive the move. It looked like it exploded when they were carrying it down the steps! I finally got a new one. It was really uncomforable trying to answer emails hunched over the chair my monitor, mouse, and keyboard sat on, so I didn't do much else other than get through the emails.

Hopefully I can spend a little more time here at the computer now that my transition is all downhill from here.

Have a great Sunday and a fine week.

Interview at "An Avid Reader's Haven"

I am the featured author at An Avid Reader's Haven this Week! Please go visit the site!

http://anavidreadershaven.blogspot.com/2012/07/author-interview-wcarole-spalino.html

Thanks to Louise and Deanna for the lovely time and the opportunity to appear on their blog. I'm very proud of the interview!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all of you fathers. I'd like to reflect on my own father for a moment. He passed away from cancer in 1997,  just before his 81st birthday. I still miss him.

Was he perfect? No, of course not. Did he always say the right things? No. Did he always do the right things? No. But he was there. When something broke, he fixed it. When we needed something, he was there to give it, and not always without a lecture. He taught me that to be on time was to get there at least five minutes early. He taught me that you earn what you get. Hard work and integrity pays off, and that your work defines you. He believed that we are all here to help each other and he told us that success was good as long as we remembered to give back.

Dad had a lot of people who loved him. He was jokingly called "The Mayor" in his neighborhood. When someone needed help, he was the first to show up, sometimes carrying his toolbox. He volunteered his services when the local church was having a 'hoagie' drive. He was there assembling the submarine sandwiches the night before deliveries. Eventually, he joined that church.

He wasn't a demonstrative person. He didn't show a lot of affection, but we all knew it was there. We just knew that although he was tough on us, he cared. He cared about his family, and he cared about his community, and he cared about mankind, in general.

Dad? If you can read this from Heaven, I just want to say "Happy Father's Day" and "I love you." Your daughter, Carole

And a special Happy Father's Day wish to my son Eric, who couldn't wait to be a father. Unfortunately The Lord took him before he got to hold his son. But I know Eric is watching him from above.

An Earlier Poem by Terry Miller

Terry wrote this poem shortly before he met his wife, Brenda.
                           Where

Where are you?  Do you live near-by?
I pray for you.  For your faith may see.
God loves you, so know we’re special.
Do you pray for God to bring you me?

Where is my mystery lady tonight?
I pray for us.  Too soon to be a team?
God is working in both our lives.
He will answer to make real this dream.

Where am I?  Am I ready for you?
I pray for me.  For truth and trust.
Success comes by putting God first.
Please God, make You and me and her, “us.”
                  terry miller

Remembering Eric McKee

I'm no poet, but this comes from the heart:

Lord, I hope You are happy.

I see no reason You would not be.
You see, it is ten years to the day
That You took my son from me.

 I am sure You had Your reasons--

Reasons I can not understand.
You took him without asking,
Ending all the things he had planned.

 No, it was not an accident;

It was the PNH disease.
I remember I begged You to spare him.
I begged and begged on my knees.

 The world lost a great man

That day Eric drew his last breath.
He had so much of himself to give;
But his giving ended with his death.

 He was such a joy here on Earth;

So I hope You can truly see
The wonderful husband, father, brother, son
You took from his wife, his child, his sister,
                                                            And me………….

Please visit www.pnhdisease.org for more information about PNH.