Innovative Online Book Tours

 As many of you know I blog.. and blog.. and... well you get the picture.. I currently have six blogs.. I blog like crazy on one then get bored and move to another.. then circle around until I am back at the beginning... Never really leaving any of them but sometimes taking a break..

When I started Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy with two of my friends it was just for fun, another blog about something I love.. It's a great blog.. but I still needed more  I just needed another place to do my reviews so on January 1, 2012 I started Tea and Book.. originally I used it as a supplemental blog.. I promoted  BR and did my reviews, posted some POV posts that I couldn't do on BR.. because that spot had been taken by one of the others and she did a fabulous job.. 

Eventually I even included a friend in Tea and Book.. BEST Decision ever!! She went to Christine Feehan's Fan 2012 and before she was even on the plane home she had contacted me and told me we were starting a business!! She wanted to start an Online Book Tour site.. This venture is something that we completely compliment each other in.. She has a degree in Marketing and a no nonsense no fear attitude about approaching prospective bloggers and authors, I have 30 years in customer service behind me.. So together we can offer a site based completely on SERVICE.. that personal touch that so many people just forget about..

As the other two ladies at BR created their own site and  became less and less involved in BR before finally leaving to attend their site.. it was a perfect time to change the main theme of all the blogs to make them intertwine.. Tea and Book has become a site that talks about and promotes newer authors.. or even brand new ones.. As they grow we move them over to BR.. I just got an interview with Author Donna Grant for Tea and Book, then realized she no longer qualified as a New Author.. so I had to move her to BR.. that way we are completely circular.. Now that IO (Innovative Online Book Tours) has started.. we plan to act as their promoters and manage a blog team that we are creating, in order to review, interview and feature authors!! It is such an exciting time!!

If you are a blogger and are interested in joining our team.. have regular followers and enjoy book reviewing. No matter the genre.. go to our webiste and check us out.. We also have a company blogsite (IO Book Tours) that will offer advice and tips  on how to promote your blog and the author... If you are interested please fill out an application and we will get back to you with further information.. 

If  you are an author looking for a new way to promote your book, please come check us out, interested? Fill out an Author Application. We understand that you need to find the perfect fit to work with and as a service orientated company, we want to give you the best tour possible, with the least stress imaginable. We already have several authors ready to work with us!! Yes we are brand new but we have a love of reading and a lifetime of experience behind us..

Shauni

Dead Daughter's Voicemails Erased by Phone Company By ASHLEY JENNINGS | Good Morning America

This just made me cry!!

For 51-year-old Faron Butler, the thing he cherished most after his daughter's death was being able to hear her voice.

"Every time I had a bad day or just wanted to listen to her I'd go through my old voicemails," Butler told ABCNews.com through tears. "I had one that I'd play over and over again. She'd be saying 'Daddy, I love you and I miss you.'"

He said he was shocked when a few weeks ago he went to hear that familiar voice, only to find out the voicemail had been erased.

"I was going through my messages after a friend called me and was stunned when it said 'no saved messages.' I mean, my heart just stopped. It tears me up," Butler said.

Butler's daughter Rhema was 12 years old when she was diagnosed with desmoplastic cancer. She died two years later, on June 6, 2011.

Butler, who lives in Elma, Washington and has two other children, says he was offered a free trial of T-Mobile's "voice-to-text" service when Rehema's messages were deleted without warning. He says he called the company, asking them to recover the voicemails.

T-Mobile told Butler there was no way to get them back.

"They should have warned me, or I would have never ever done it," Butler said. "Just complete negligence on their part."

For Rhema's sister Kirsey, the voicemails meant being able to hold onto the friendship she and her sister shared.

"When someone dies you hold onto memories, pictures and cards," Kirsey said. "Now with technology you can hear the voicemails, and I'd go home and listen to her voice all the time. Now I can't, and it's awful."

T-Mobile released a statement to ABC affiliate KOMO in Seattle, saying, "T-Mobile deeply regrets the sorrow the Butler family is experiencing.

"When saving voice mail messages long-term, customers receive an alert and are prompted to re-save messages that they'd like to keep. Unfortunately, when the voicemail-to-text feature was added, which has a shorter window for saving messages, the voicemail messages were deleted. We sincerely apologize the Butlers were not adequately made aware of this possibility and are working internally to assure this information is clearly communicated to customers in the future."

A T-Mobile representative, Graham Crow, said the company is looking into compensating the family.

"We understand and we feel sorry for what the family is going through," Crow said.

But Butler, who works for a labor union, said compensation isn't enough. He's hired attorney Chris Crew to file a negligence suit against the company, demanding them to tap into archives and retrieve the voicemails.

"What I think is really going on is that they don't want to tell people they can recover lost data, because then everyone will want their deleted items retrieved," Crew said. "It will cost them a lot to do it, and it would be worth it in this case, but not for everyone that's lost their voicemails."

Crew said the family plans to file the lawsuit next week.

"I listened to it probably twice a week because I miss her so much," Butler said. "We just want to be able to heal and remember her voice."

A Thought on Quality Time

Remember when society finally acknowledged that women actually worked outside the home? When women who did work outside the home wanted it all? When we were promised we could have it all? 

Well there was a very popular saying that they spent quality time with their families.

I was raised in that society, women not only COULD have it all they HAD to. I remember stating that I wanted to stay home and be a wife and mother. I was told no one had the right to free load off of someone else like that. Ok, won't even go into the anger that statement made me feel. I tried to explain that if women could do anything, then women should be able to choose to stay home. It took years but finally in the late 90's it became acceptable again. 

I had this conversation mid-90's oddly enough with the same person who called me a freeloader and she pointed out that I spent a LOT of time with my children.. I commented yes but that is Quantity time and her response was.. well somewhere in all that quantity there is some quality.. so keep on doing it your way. You are making it work.

I do not regret staying home and raising my children, oddly enough I regret having to go back to work after my divorce.. I missed years of being home when they came through the door.. but I am pleased to say they all turned out pretty darn good!!

While I am not a Fan of the make a law way of life....

Israel’s skinny model ban: New law requires body mass index of 18.5 or a doctor’s note

 

 I was thrilled to read this.. It's not that I approve or agree with the make law way of life. To me that is such a cop out on parenting and personal accountability. I feel that people should be accountable for their actions be they the individuals or the parents of minor children. I am still quite happy to see that someone is getting a clue. Too skinny is just ugly.. 

Hair Boy is very skinny always has been and I have always worried about his health. BUT his father's family has several members of the extended family that are just way too thin. It's genetic! Fortunately as we age I have noticed that all of these people have actually become quite good looking and filled out nicely. None of them TRIED to be skinny they just are. 

This need to promote the extra skinny as sexy is just odd. I don't get it. When I was in my late 20's I read an article that said Marilyn Monroe was fat.. really? the epitome of sexy? Too fat? 

I grew up in Southern California a nice size 11/12 which in today's sizes would mean a 7/8.. I was told my entire life that I was fat.. Totally destroyed my self esteem. I remember having a slumber party and for some reason everyone wanted to wear the same color pants.. So we went through my closet.. I will never forget the astonishment I felt when I discovered that my pants were too tight on some of the "skinny" girls.. how could that be? They were the skinny girls and I was a "fat" girl and yet my clothes were too small for them..

When I moved to the midwest and started going out with friends I was astounded when I would go to bars and get hit on.. Suddenly, I was considered an attractive woman.. why is this? I was the same size in Illinois as I had been in California.. it was the perception.. Sadly that too skinny concept grew and being normal is considered fat.

Consider the modeling industry.. did you know that a lot of the plus size models are size 8's.. Seriously, that's the PLUS size? It bothers me that my girls have to live with this.. that society dictates how their body should look instead of what is best for them.. As a woman it is hard to live with.. I don't know many women who don't have some type of body issue problems..

So while I don't like the make a law concept I congratulate Israel for taking a stand

Gabriel, A Review

Gabriel is the first book in the Elven Chronicles series by new author M.A. Abraham. I read this book initially because a friend had showed me an excerpt on it and I was most definitely intrigued. Fortunately Ms. Abraham was generous enough to send me an ARC...

As with many books that are the beginning a series there is much world building going on. Initially Ms Abraham stumbles a bit as she introduces both the characters and the world to us.. BUT once she brings all the characters together her stride smooths out and we are led on a path of wonder. Gabriel is a charming tale of accepting one’s destiny, learning to love and finding one’s place in the world, all wrapped up in a delightfully whimsical story.


We first meet our heroine Eden, as she is tracking the villains who kidnapped her mother and many women from the village. I am not sure if this particular part of the story was just to showcase Eden’s skills or if she has plans to use the reasons for the kidnapping in future stories, I hope the latter as it was intriguing. Eden, is a strong woman, with a special connection to the woods.. She can walk almost unseen within the forest. She is a loyal loving daughter who values her family and her community. But most of all she values her independence. 


Gabriel *sigh* oh yeah, Ms Abraham has given us a swoonworthy hero. He is a leader by nature and occupation. The leader of the Elven army, having successfully brought them through years of war. He is used to being in charge and for people to do what he says when he says. Eden literally falls into his arms upon their first meeting and as soon as their eyes meet both of them know that they have reached the other half of their souls. 


In the Elven community, this is the way they find their mates. It is an instant knowing.. of course our stubborn Hero and Heroine have to complicate things. Gabriel insists on being in charge, on ordering Eden’s compliance and having her do things his way. *snort* That went over really well, NOT.. Eden may have given him the chance right off the bat had his high handedness not forced to follow instead of offering her the respect she is due. 


The battle between these two escalates until they reach the center of the Elven territory and it is discovered that Eden is more than just good in the woods. She has a calling to heal them. She is almost compelled to heal all forms of plant life but most especially the ancient, sentient trees. As she grows into her powers and struggles with her personal feelings Eden also finds ways to heal some connections in the people around her. 


Eden is not alone in her desire to deal with her personal feelings for Gabriel, he too must learn to compromise. If he wants his soul mate he must earn the right to call her his. He must learn how to accept her for who and what she is. This goes both ways. 


Their struggle to learn each other is wrapped up in a wonderful story of a race recovering from wars that lasted for generations, a nation divided by one man’s mistake and another’s pride. A family accepting that some are less than perfect and that there is more to them than what they may seem. 


I was so into this story I almost screamed when it ended.. I kept trying to turn another page.. just one more.. and then of course another and another. I can not wait for Ms. Abraham’s next story in her wonderful Elven Chronicles and sincerely recommend this book. I think as she becomes more secure in her writing we will find that she will become a name in the Fantasy Romance genre..


Shauni

More Eagle Fun

My friend Nina, knowing how awed and amazed I was when she sent me the pictures of the Bald Eagles outside her home. Sent me this video..

Mama and Daddy watching over their babies as they emerge from the shell.. A powerful statement indeed.

Saying Goodbye

I have a friend who really loves the Friends for a Season Poem, she completely believes that we have 

Friends for a Reason

Friends for a Season

And Friends for a Lifetime

and I find I agree with her. It makes so many things so very much easier to bear...

Friends for a Reason are just that.. Friends for a Reason, you have a need that needs be fulfilled.. a Lesson to learn, They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

Friends for a Season..Come into your life for a brief time,  because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

Friends for a Lifetime, those are rare and precious pearls. I find I am blessed to have several such friends.. people I know I can lean on, I can turn to, I can be away from them for years and then when we reconnect feel like we just spoke yesterday. I treasure  these women so very much. I can not believe I have friendships that have lasted for over 40 years..  I plan on keeping them for years and years and years..

Recently, a friends for a reason friendship ended and yes it ended badly. But I am grateful for the times we spent laughing, goofing off and enjoying late night Saturdays.. I will miss them but it is time to move on. To be grateful for the lesson learned, to let go of any resentment or bitterness and to accept that they have other lessons to learn.. I wish them well but in all honesty, waving goodbye to the friendship is a burden lifted.. Time to move on..

Raw PopTarts

Do you have something that makes you smile everytime you do it? Something that brings back childhood memories? For me it's eating Poptarts.. Do I eat them on a regular basis? Nope but when I do, I can't help it I smile.

Back when I was in Jr High (and yes we called it Jr High) I was in this awesome Girl Scout troop, our leader was a man Mr See.. sadly his daughter moved on after I was in the troop just one year. This was pretty much the only troop in that area at the time and we had 52 girls. 

The next year we got two really great leaders.. sadly they wanted to take the troop in different directions so they split. 

One was going to be physical, athletic, Outdoor oriented, the other was more into well girl stuff. I was an extremely athletic person but one thing I have always been was loyal and I felt I needed to remain in the troop we had. I liked my leader (I later learned to ADORE her) and my closest friends pretty much agreed with me. We stayed in the original troop while Mr Hartzell took the other one. Like I said he was a very good man and his troop had loads of fun. Of course in Jr High, there was no way we could acknowledge that fact. So we of course became "enemies" yeah that's the GS way. 

Our troop leader was Mrs Couron and she was amazing.. have I already said that? anyway on one of our weekend activities we had decided to go backpacking.. Of course it came up as an inside joke that we couldn't go backpacking cuz we were the girly girl troop. What would we know about backpacking? We won't mention that I had backpacked in the local mountains on numerous occasions.. BUT..  Anyway. we really got into a heated discussion about our toughness.. we were laughing and joking and making fun of ourselves. When one of my best friends and sister of my heart, Judy, who by the way is a gorgeous woman now but as a child and early teen she was gangly (and that is being nice) of course she showed me cuz she is absolutely beautiful and I am well, not *grins* Sheesh back on track again. Anyway Judy looked at us all and with a completely straight face said "I'm tough. I eat RAW poptarts!" Needless to say we were completely lost at that point and laughed hysterically.

Today I was eating my toasted poptarts and realized I was no longer tough, because I preferred my poptarts toasted. Of course I had to post it on my FB page.. And then it gets even funnier. One of my best friends on FB.. she was in the other troop. So Colleen, my cohort in crime and Trish our arch frenemy and I have had a great discussion on raw poptarts.. Seems Colleen is still quite tough!!

Anyway, that is why eating poptarts make me smile

Airlines in the News

Toddler Tantrum Gets Family Booted from JetBlue Flight. Is Flying Still Kid-friendly?

 

Hmmm seems like a provocative headline..  I just read this on yahoo news and found it quite interesting. Seems the toddler was quite horrid and would not remain in her seat. Now we all know FAA rules say that everyone over two needs to be belted in before a plane can take off.

 How many of us have been on a flight with horrid children? I remember one red eye flight where the toddler ran up and down the aisle the entire flight making it impossible for anyone to relax and the parents just let them. They were excited you see.. 

 I traveled frequently with my kids when they were little and believe me they didn't cry, they didn't run up and down the aisle and they remained in their seats. While in their seats, they didn't kick the seat in front of them and they didn't scream.. Did I have perfect toddlers and small children, no.. they were just raised to know that in some cases a child really was to be seen and not heard.. I know how incredibly old fashioned of me. 

I am tired of hearing about poor kids who were expected to behave!! I do like the fact that while the parents were worn out and frazzled they didn't really blame the airlines. I didn't like that JetBlue didn't offer another flight.. The parents ended up forking out another 2grand in hotel and airline fees to get home. I am sure that poor little girl was exhausted and would have been fine on another flight.. 

 

Something Worth Reporting

 you need to see this.

Mike Monsoor,

Mike Monsoor was Awarded "The Congressional Medal Of Honor" Last Week, For Giving His Life In Iraq , As He Jumped On, And Covered With His Body, A Live Hand Grenade, Saving The Lives Of A Large Group Of Navy Seals That Was Passing By!

During Mike Monsoor's Funeral, At Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery , In San Diego , California ...

The Six Pallbearers Removed The Rosewood Casket From The Hearse, And Lined Up On Each Side Of Mike Monsoor's Casket, Were His Family Members, Friends, Fellow Sailors, And Well-wishers. The Column Of People Continued From The Hearse, All The Way To The Grave Site.

What The Group Didn't Know At The Time Was, Every Navy Seal(45 To Be Exact)

That Mike Monsoor Saved That Day Was Scattered Through-Out The Column!

~

As The Pallbearers Carried The Rosewood Casket Down The Column Of People To The Grave Side. The Column Would Collapse.. Which Formed A Group Of People That Followed Behind. Every Time The Rosewood Casket Passed A Navy Seal,

He Would Remove His Gold Trident Pin From His Uniform, And Slap It Down Hard, Causing The Gold Trident Pin To Embed Itself Into The Top Of The Wooden Casket! Then The Navy Seal Would Step Back From The Column, And Salute!

~

Now For Those, Who Don't Know What A Trident Pin Is, Here Is The Definition!

~

After One Completes The Basic Navy Seals Program Which Lasts For Three Weeks, And Is Followed By Seal Qualification Training, Which Is 15 More Weeks Of Training, Necessary To Continue Improving Basic Skills And To Learn New Tactics And Techniques, Required For An Assignment To A Navy Seal Platoon.

After successful completion, Trainees Are Given Their Naval Enlisted Code, And Are Awarded The Navy Seal Trident Pin. With This Gold Pin They Are Now Officially Navy Seals!

It Was Said, That You Could Hear Each Of The 45 Slaps From Across The Cemetery! By The Time The Rosewood Casket Reached The Grave Site, It Looked As Though It Had A Gold Inlay From The 45 Trident Pins That Lined The Top!

This Was A Fitting End To An Eternal Send-Off For A Warrior Hero! This Should Be Front-Page News! Instead Of The Garbage We Listen To And See Every Day. ~

Here's A Good Idea! Since The Main Stream Media Won't Make This News. Then We Choose To Make It News By Forwarding It. I Am Proud Of All The Branches Of Our Military..

If You Are Proud Too, Please Pass This On

Even Celebrities Get Silly Over Kiss Cam

I got the biggest kick out of this... Seems Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson were at a Ducks game and got picked for the Kiss Cam.. Ok, he is an Academy Award winner and she has plenty of acting and producing under her belt. They are friends with Steven Speilberg and Mary Steenburgen.. among others and yet they still got a kick out of being on Kiss Cam.. I just found it endearing.

National Christina Dodd Day

I was reading on Twitter and I discovered it was National Christina Dodd Day.. I wanted t o verify this fact so I went to Facebook.. and sure enough.. Christina said it was so.. It must be true.. It was on Twitter AND Facebook!!

Today is NATIONAL CHRISTINA DODD DAY!! (As declared by my good friend & fellow writer, Emily March.) We’re celebrating with a contest: Emily's March Madness. Register to win not only SECRETS OF BELLA TERRA &  REVENGE AT BELLA TERRA, but even cooler, an advance reading copy of BETRAYAL, on sale April 3! And I'll autograph &  personalize the books to you! Even better, register once & you'll be entered for a month of prizes. *Read the rules,* then sign up! http://tinyurl.com/7f9lrjw

I just though this was so fun I would play along!! So along with announcing an unknown and obviously unappreciated National Holiday.. I thought I would post some pictures I found..

and if you want to order the Bella Terra Series.. here's your chance..

Can You See the Smoke?

A Couple of my other blogs have that newsletter via Twitter.. It's a really cool concept.. It takes tweets from your followers and people you follow on Twitter and generates a daily newsletter. One of them had this one article.. To say I am livid.. well that is not extreme enough.

In WI, there is this senator who is proposing a bill that will claim, single parenthood is a form of child abuse... WI Child Abuse Law

Let me set some background on my life for you.. I am NOT whining just setting a scene..

I married what I thought was a nice, family oriented man.. who happened to be a recovering alchoholic. yes he had been married twice previously but he had drinking issues at the time and was now sober..had been sober for five years.

What he was in reality was a dry drunk.. as soon as we were married he started having an occasional drink, by the time our second son was born he drank on a very regular basis, weekly working towards daily. I was married at 25 by 26 we had a home and a child, by 30 we had three kids and had lost our home. He made excellent money but was already drinking most of it away. When I was 30 I had gone home for a family wedding, my mom wanted me to just bring my oldest as he was in the wedding, I insisted on bringing all three of them.. I had planned on not returning to Illinois.. sadly, my time spent in CA with my family was so miserable I came back to my husband.. we had one more child, while she was a blessing she was not planned.

By this time I was 32 and living in hell.. I managed to make my marriage last 3 more years.. for a total of 10 years.. that's right 10 years of marriage and 4 kids from 9 - 3... He was verbally abusive.. constantly belittling me, ranting and raving if I purchased more than two gallons of milk a week.. That's right four children and only allowed to buy two gallons a week. He would go on for hours because I insisted on my children being involved in little league and scouts...

Finally, one day he almost took a swing at me.. He had his arm back but had enough of the man he should have been left to realize he couldn't hit me. But I saw it coming.. so I told him, we would be better of on public aid than with him in the house. He took me at my word, cleaned out the accounts, didn't pay any bills, took the car and left. There I was w/four kids starting school in three days w/no money, no food and soon found out no shelter.

Over the next couple of years we struggled but I gave up EVERYTHING so my kids would have a normal, balanced life. I didn't drink, smoke or do drugs.. (I never had). I didn't even date. I made sure my children were involved in scouts, dance, choir, band and even a competitive swim team.. I took them to their father's church (he was catholic, I am not) because that is how I had begun and I wanted them to have a stable life. Shoot, I stayed in a town where I was miserable because it was best for my kids... I worked jobs way beneath me and my experience because they were close by and I wanted to be able to get to my kids if they needed me. We moved a lot because I really couldn't afford our town and yes once we were homeless for 89 days.. But I was ALWAYS there and I gave them my entire life.

Now that they are all almost adults, I see amazing individuals that I will gladly claim as mine.. I will shout from the mountaintops that I DID THAT.. yes, I had a good support system but I gave up my life for them.. I don't regret a minute of it!! But then to find out that this idiot from WI says I abused them by not being married, I want to just spit!! How dare he say my children would be better off with a drunken sot..

His life has deteriorated to such a degree.. that he is just a few steps away from being what in the old days would be called the town drunk. He is a miserable, lonely bitter man.. who, has had several relationships since our split, some with lovely women, some not so lovely.. since he met all of them in bars.. This is what Senator Glenn Grothman wants for my children. My amazing, strong, gifted and talented children. To pressure me to stay in a miserable, abusive marriage or be termed a child abuser..

Don't get me wrong, I believe in marriage.. I feel so very deeply that I stayed as long as I could. Had he been even a little different I might have stayed married. Even if it wasn't perfect I would have done everything I could to make it work..  To the extent of destroying my self esteem.. but it was an environment that put me and my children in danger.. so I had to end it.

Sure this is in WI and it doesn't affect me.. but it does.. if this monstrosity becomes a law in WI, that means it gains legitimacy.. and other states are going to vote it in and that my friends scares the beejeebers out of me..

Sound off.. make yourself heard.. Support the people of WI.. do all you can to help keep this law from being voted in..

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss

Over at Speculative Fiction they are doing celebrating Dr Seuss' birthday by doing Seuss style blog

Here's my attempt

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss
you'd be here if I choose
you'd be here to write a book
you'd be here to meet a zook

If I had my way
You'd be here to stay
writing writing every day
maybe even writing a play

If you were here
I would stand up and cheer
wishing you well
with my silly spell

but you are not
things aren't so hot
you've been gone a while
But I still smile

when I hear about ham
and someone named sam
whenever a hoo let's out a shout
or a screech is out and about

I miss you today
All of the way
But at least we know
what you tried to show

that you were you,
that is truer than true
and there is no one alive, who is Youer than You!!

@Shauni

hey don't laugh it's a poem

Blogging Frustrations

Blogging is fun!! Cathartic, a great way to meet new people, share your thoughts.. some people even manage to make a few dollars from it. But what happens when the frustrations hit?

You know you don't have a thing to write about.. That very concept just makes me laugh, I always have something to say.. and yet there are days when I can not think of a single thing to write about..

Or.. when you write something and it's about you.. your feelings your thoughts your expressions and you get comments that people are irked that you are writing about them..

Or.. entrecard decides your blogs don't qualify for some reason and delete them.. Not this on.. but my Tea and Book blog has been deleted from my entrecard account. No reason, just gone and all my lovely credits on that account.. GONE.. poof.. It was just so very frustrating..

My Poetry blog.. no longer an active account.. no reason..

I know entrecard has it's good points and bad points.. it has some rather irksome issues but I have met some very lovely people and I enjoy checking out their blogs.. I will keep dropping..