vkmack: I live just an hour and a half north of Houston here in East Texas. While I am shattered as we survey the destruction of our community, region, and state, my heart is touched by the extraordinary heroism and sacrifice around me. Things here will never be the same: we will never be the same. But I hope and pray that we will come back stronger and more connected than ever before. We have all learned the hard way that we are, indeed, just "walking one another home."
Peace & Love,
Vista Kay
    DR DIP: I hope everybody regathers and bounces back from this devastating tragedy.
    My thoughts go out to you
    dip -


vkmack: When you are away for a lengthy period of time, you forget how welcoming fanstory can be. I wish I didn't have to work a day job, but don't we all?

<3 <3 <3
    rama devi: Yes...indeed...it is a time vortex but also does prove worth it, in the long run. However, I spend less time here than I used to, in general...
    Welcome back! -
    vkmack: Thanks, Rama Devi. It's great to be back! Yes, I suspect finding a balance is key. For the first couple of years that I was here, I worked part-time, so I was tremendously involved. But that's not the case anymore.

    I do wish I had more time to read all the amazing things that are posted and respond in a more timely manner. These days, I'm working full time and caring for my elderly mom. I need an extra four hours in the day or--best case scenario--that four-day work week we would all love to have. 😊 -


vkmack: It's been a busy summer, with family coming and going for vacations and our attempts to swim through the Texas floods. I haven't been here nearly as much as I had hoped, and I've missed it. :(


vkmack: I'm confused as to why writers are randomly using scare quotes or single quotation marks in their writing. These are only used to specify a quote within a quote. The most helpful manuals for writing are The Chicago Manual of Style and Strunk & White, The Elements of Style. The latter is the easiest and handiest.
Even a good website can be helpful for quick reference.

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/3-erroneous-uses-of-scare-quotes/


vkmack: After an absence of eight long months, I'm slowly inching my way back onto Fanstory. It's like taking a dip in a spring pool one tentative toe at a time. Please be patient with me. So much has happened and continues to do so. But it's nice to be here when I can. I've missed this Family.
    Michaelk: I know what you mean. I've only been away for two months and it feels like forever. Welcome back. -
    vkmack: You, too, Michaelk! Yes, a life without writing and Fanstory doesn't seem like much of a life at all. It's such a relief to be interacting with writers again! :) -


vkmack: I have been away for so long, and I returned tonight to find such wonderful news! Thanks for all of the congrats and kudos. I have such a fabulous family of friends here, and the Fanstory recognition is such an honor. Thanks to you all again. It means the world to me that you are such supportive fellow writers.
Please forgive the absence of over a week, but that bronchitis is finally gone. Thanks for being understanding.
You guys are SO great!
    Dawn Munro: Vista Kay, I have tried and tried to get into your story, "The Bargain", but for some reason it isn't letting me access it...???
    I hope you are well, my friend - missing you! -


FanStory wrote to vkmack: Congratulations! haiku (celestial pearl moon) won the contest "Haiku Poetry Contest"
    humpwhistle: Hey, Vista Kay, nice going. satin sapphire sky is killer. -
    Bayberry: I'm thrilled at this wonderful news, my friend. Your victory is well-deserved. :-) -
    Selina Stambi: So very well done, Vista Kay. Happy for you. Congratulations! xx -
    twinklepoems: Congratulations! Hope this helps your recovery! -
    Maria C.: Congratulations!Beautiful.
    -
    Lovewritingstuff: Hi Vkmack, I am so thrilled to learn about your winning! Many congrats. You deserved it so much. Loved it. Hope you're getting better. -
    Dawn Munro: Congratulations, Vista Kay! I am so very pleased to learn that you won! It's such a well-deserved win, my friend - a beautiful, perfect haiku!) (Hope you are feeling better - sending lots of healing vibes!!!) XX -
    judiverse: Congratulations on your haiku contest win with "celestial pearl." It was lovely. judiverse -
    bichonfrisegirl: Congrats Vista Kay! So very well deserved! Hope the nasty bug has left you, and that you are now breathing easier, dear friend!

    Keep well!

    Hugs,
    Connie -
    Lulube: Hey you!!! look what a disappearance for awhile can do. Congrats. you really deserve it.
    your bud
    lulube -
    Just2Write: A lovely Haiku - So deserving of the win. Congratulations. Rose. -
    vkmack: WOW! I've been out of town, and I just opened up fanstory to find this amazing surprise. What a thrill! You are an awesome family of writers, and I'm proud to belong. Thanks for all of you.
    <3 -


vkmack: I'm in bed with acute bronchitis, and, as the old joke goes, it's not so cute. Forgive me if I'm slow to read, review, and post here. I'm also lagging behind in messages. I've been fighting this for a week and have decided to surrender and focus on healing.
    nannabot: Awww, so sorry you're not feeling well. You just concentrate on getting well, and don't worry about us sweetness. I'll put your name down on my local 'absent Spiritual healing list' Lots more hugs from Maggy. xxxxxxxxxx -
    Dawn Munro: I KNEW it! I visited here a couple of times and haven't heard from you - I KNEW something was up! Feel better, and don't worry about us - big hugs. XXOO -
    vkmack: Thanks to you both, Maggy and Dawn. I over-extended, thought I was better, was WRONG, got worse, and am much better now. And that Spiritual Healing List did the trick, Maggy. Thanks. xoxo to you both. -
    Dawn Munro: Thinking of you and hoping all is well. Missing you! -


vkmack: "And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
~Dr. Seuss

Merry Christmas!
    vkmack: Sunni! What a gorgeous Christmas Card! This is the first time I've been to my own profile since the holidays, and I feel like I got another gift. Thank you, Sunni. I'm taken aback. I may just sit and look at this for quite a while.
    I hope your New Year is a good one. You deserve the best ever!

    -
    sunnilicious: I was just thinking about you. Hope you've settled in to your new place and made friends with the neighbors. -
    Dawn Munro: Missing in action!!! Where are you? (hugs - missing you - hope all is going well, dear Vista Kay.) -


vkmack: I am moving to Austin on New Year's Eve, so the packing is intense right now, as is all the planning. Friends are trying to coordinate their time and energy to help, and I have storage concerns and am tossing and packing and dancing in panic as fast as I can. Please forgive me for being absent. I'd love to be here much more often and feel I'm missing so much. I'll work to catch up with the New Year.
    vkmack: Shelley, I've been in Texas for 51 of my 52 years (check the profile)! A decade and a half of those were in the wonderfully liberal and musical hippy land of Austin. I've just decided to go home! Excited, but busy.

    I think I'll survive. LOL

    Why ew?

    Why sympathies?

    I needed those months ago when I thought I was stuck here in the wasteland. -
    vkmack: Merry Christmas to you, too, Dawn! Hope it's fabulous! -
    sunnilicious: But New Year's Rockin' Eve' is gonna be on tv... I'd have issues if I were you. Happy 2014... Cheers!

    vkmack: lol Sunni, you are hysterical. Well, I have issues anyway. Ask most people who know me. ;)

    Hope your New Year is rockin every day of the week! -


vkmack: Sunday night, I took a break from packing for the big move to Austin to make a treat with my mother, who was here for a visit. We made the Rugelach from the recipe Sunnilicious posted. I have to say that it was incredibly delicious. If you guys have not tried it, let me recommend it--and the story of the recipe as told by our sunnilicious--for the holidays. You won't regret it.
    Lovinia: I have Sunni's rcipe ready to make for Christmas Day. Sounds delicious and now you have confirmed it! I loved her story too. Kudos for Sunnilicious and her fab recipes and writing. Thanks to vk for letting us know. Merry Christmas and Happy Move! Hugs -Lovi xoxoxo



    -
    vkmack: Lovinia, I just heard from some friends who want more Rugelach! Hurry and make it; it's fabulous. Thanks, Sunnilicious! You rock! -
    vkmack: Love the hearts--but they are a lot smaller than yours, Sunni! -


vkmack: So sorry to see another Fanstory member go because people were childishly asking for votes and being bullies.

So sad.
    Debra White: Not again?? I hope they reported the culprit(s) before they decided to leave... shame for them to go because of other people...x -
    nor84: If we all reported such actions, then nobody would feel forced to leave. Tom would take action against the offenders. -
    Lovinia: So sorry to hear this..... I don't know who .... why are those with integrity leaving and the cheats and bullies remaining??
    I'm amazed at the ego of one who solicits votes and demeans others .... not on. Great of you to comment vk.

    Hi Debra, nice to 'see' you! lol Warmest regards - Lovi xoxoxo -
    rama devi: Sorry to hear that to. No idea who it as, though I am also leaving today...not for the same reason. I will continue to review as a standard member, though! Blessings, rd -
    vkmack: The writer did report the offenders (one of whom has won several contests), but she's decided to go anyway. People behave so immaturely. I'm baffled as to why behaving immorally over $100 is supposedly acceptable. I've only been asked for a vote once, and I just ignored the request. It never happened again, and I hope it doesn't. I will not hesitate to report a request at this point. The number of incidents has become disturbing. I know people who refuse to engage in the contests because they fear that kind of behavior. A contest entry is an investment, and we expect others to behave in an appropriate manner. Instead, they attack the other entrants and then request votes. That's such petulant and childish behavior. -
    vkmack: I guess I don't understand why we can't get along and "play fair." -
    Jade Lawson : Honesty is an expensive gift. Don't expect it from cheap people! -
    Titanx9: When people come on and ingratiate themselves with Tom, showing him how to do almost magically things with technology, I imagine it's difficult for him to see the culprit for the unprincipled cads they are....just saying.... -
    vkmack: Thanks for the comments, you guys. But blinders are only necessary for horses--and then just during a fire. Immoral people hurt the rest of us, and I'm so tired of dealing with it. It's depressing. Can anyone explain why we should keep entering contests only to have cheaters win? -
    Dawn Munro: I have personally become so disgusted, I no longer enter prompts - yours was the only one in several months. I cannot imagine how this was not dealt with severely, since a complaint was made - it has given me great pause, as I have also complained at one time about possible unethical behaviour and received no response. -
    vkmack: Well, I was told that the offending parties were gone, but my information was incorrect. The member who was bullied is leaving, while the idiots who abused their membership are, apparently, allowed to stay. I'm not commenting on this again. My final word? If I'm asked for votes or discover plagiarism (And I was an English teacher; it's surprisingly easy.), I won't hesitate to expose the offending parties. Y'all have a great rest of the week. Peace be with you. -
    Jade Lawson : It was quite surprising to have won the story of the month, considering it was the first short story I ever wrote, and through a simple language. Anyway, it feels great to have winning without the need of cheating or plagiarizing. Regarding the cheating, well, we cannot say the same regarding the last winner of the past story of the month... -
    vkmack: Congrats on the win, Angel! You were very deserving! The story was incredibly touching and brave.
    VK -


FanStory wrote to vkmack: Congratulations on your third place finish in the Reviewing Competition.
    vkmack: Thank you all for the warm congrats! How nice to have you check in. :) -
    Just2Write: Hey VK - Congrats on that third place finish on the Reviewing Contest. It is a lot of hard work to review well - Nice that you got some reconition for what you do. Rose. -
    Bayberry: Very much deserved recognition, my friend. What an uplift! :) -
    vkmack: Thanks to you all again for your lovely thoughts and good wishes!

    This is such a wonderful family.

    VK -
    sunnilicious: It's never too late to be proud.... Congratulations! -
    vkmack: Oh, Sunni! Thanks so much! -


vkmack: Well, I'm back, but I'm seven pounds lighter. Wow. That was a real bug. You guys eat your veggies and drink some OJ.
    Silent1rose: Welcome back VK! I love OJ or Vita C. :P -
    vkmack: Thanks, Rose! Glad to be checking in and doing some reviewing. I'm taking my vitamins, like a good girl. ;) -


vkmack: I am recuperating from the flu, so I'm in and out of the fanstory site as I am able to sit at the computer. This was the worst bout I've had with the flu bug in a long time, and recovery is slow, but I'll be back in full swing as soon as I can.
I miss you guys!