Wednesday, April 24, 2013

She Speaks...And How to Enter This Giveaway


Yes, I do speak but you'll probably have to turn your volume up a little to hear me. I hope this link works, because if you listen to it, it will tell you how to enter a giveaway I am hosting. (Leave your comment/answer to my question on this post, not on the Sound Cloud page the link will take you to.) My Texas accent comes through a little bit, and the mike I was using isn't very good, but it is me, sounding bullfroggish.

https://soundcloud.com/shellysm/blog4-recording-on-wednesday

Once you get to the page, you have to click on the play button on the upper left side. Then, when you're done, you can hit your back arrow to get back to this page. Leave your comment on this blog post, not on the Sound Cloud page. It is much easier!

And thank you to all who left those wonderful stories and comments on my last post about teachers. I am indebted to you!


89 comments:

  1. Hi, dear Shelly! I listened to your message but couldn't figure out a way to leave a comment on that page. I will leave it here if that's okay with you.

    First of all, dear friend, you have a pretty voice, a very professional speaking voice. I also love your Texas accent. If I had you as a teacher I would have no problem paying attention and following along.

    What makes me smile here in West Central Florida? Right now, it's a story in our local news about a tragedy with a silver lining. Two weeks ago the unthinkable happened to a young Tampa Bay area couple. The husband accidentally backed the riding mower over their two year old daughter. The blades severed both her legs at the calf and she also lost part of a hand. The child has undergone a number of surgeries and remains hospitalized. I am smiling because they showed pictures of the little girl on the local news today. She is making an amazing recovery and is all smiles, getting a "kick" out of being alive even if it's without feet. I am smiling because her mother held a news conference thanking the community for rallying around the family, holding fundraisers and putting them in touch with a company that will design prosthetic limbs for the girl. I am smiling about the resilience of the human spirit and the generosity and goodness that people always exhibit in the wake of tragedy.

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    1. SHady: First, thank you for letting me know the link worked! I was just about to take it down when I saw your comment, and thank you for your very kind words.

      I saw that tragedy on the news, and I'm so relieved to hear how she's bouncing back. This same thing happened to some friends of ours when she unknowingly ran over her two year old and he lost his leg. It was such a horrible time, but he's now grown and lives a happy, healthy life. I very thankful that little girl is coming along, and I pray the same for her parents, especially her dad.

      Have a wonderful week, my friend!

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  2. Hi Shelly I left a comment but ended up joining SoundCloud something I probably would not have done trying to figure it out not sure if my comment went through or not:). That being said I think you have a beautiful voice and it is a long way to mail something to Canada from Texas even though it sounds delicious. Not sure if it is for USA only people. Love your voice and no not what I was expecting at all. I did not hear your accent:) B

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    1. Buttons: Thank you, friend, and I did a better job of clarifying here that you all can comment here. Yes, I will mail internationally, and they are really good! Thank you for your sweet words- I was trying to record it in a hurry before my next class came in!

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  3. Well, darn, Shelly ... I was not able to leave a comment either and there was a "notice" that I needed to update my browser. You have a beautiful and professional sounding voice, I can understand how you speak before large groups. Hmmm...something to make me smile. I am needing to smile right now. Just knowing there are some wonderful and real people in blogland makes me smile. Thank you, Shelly, for sharing your voice with us.

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    1. Cindy: I hope I made it clearer now- I was in a rush when I recorded it and didn't think it all the way through! Thank you for taking the time to go through all that AND come back and comment! Thank you, friend~

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  4. How lovely after all this time to finally hear your voice and what a treat it was. The one thing that really makes me smile big time I wish I could get on a video but the timing is never right. When Rocky decides to eat his dog food he will look around in the dish for just the right piece and when he finds it he will grab it and quickly toss it to one side as he goes after it. Once eaten he will finish his meal normally. It's only on the first piece. So funny. Thanks for blessing us with your lovely voice and have a great rest of the week.

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    1. Odie: Oh, I can just imagine Rocky doing that! I hope you are able one day to get it on video. Thank you!

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  5. It's so great to hear your voice, Shelly! I agree with everyone else, you have a beautiful voice..one that is captivating so I say, do more vlogging! :)

    What is making me smile today are the flowers in full bloom. I have been dealing with heart problems and mainly indoors more than being outdoors. I love spring but I haven't been able to enjoy it. So, the flowers are my reminders that God truly cares about the big and little things.

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    1. Simone: Oh, I hope you are doing better- I am praying for you! And I agree- flowers are such a wonderful uplifter. I hope you get to see lots and lots of wonderful blooms~ and thank you!

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  6. I can't make it work. I am too inept. I clicked on the link and it took me to a bunch of people and then I didn't know what to do. Waaaaaaaaah!

    Love,
    Janie

    P.S. It appears to me from the comments that you asked what's making us smile today. I seldom smile, but PBS is making me happy today with a miniseries called The Bletchley Circle. I'm sorry I'm not very enthusiastic. Elvis Aaron Schwarz is at home loading his truck so he can go to his new and better job. I'm glad for him, but a whole month without EAS will be hard.

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    1. Janie: Oh, I'm sorry! The recording part is above the people, and looks like a kind of squiggly black band, with a little play button on the top left of it.

      I don't envy you- I wouldn't be too happy if my man was going to be gone a month. But, you know what they say, absence makes the heart grow even fonder, and what a fun reunion it will be~

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    2. Earlier this year we didn't see each other for six weeks because EAS was working overtime, and I was horribly sick with the flu. When I finally saw him again, I thought, Yeah, maybe this is what love feels like.

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    3. Janie: I do hope the time passes quickly for you- and you'll be able to focus on planning a really great reunion!

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  7. I got it to work and left a comment there saying it was hard to hear but I listened and you sound just like the wonderful woman you are, and you know what makes me smile...........it's my family

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    1. Jo-Anne: That's what makes me smile, too, and always will. Thank you!

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  8. Nicely done. Professional quality, lovely tones. As for smiling? Seeing the response of people, old and young, in our community as they seek to help one another following the flood of last week makes me smile.

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    1. vanilla: There is not much more wonderful than to see people come together for the common good and to help others out. Thank you for the kind comments, and I know Texas accents are familiar to y'all!

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  9. Your voice is as sophisticated as I imagine you to be. Anyone can say that you are highly educated and on top of your education your voice tells that you are a wonderful person as well. Your students are very lucky to have had you as a teacher and when you retire they will be missing a great teacher as well as a humanitarian.
    What makes me smile? My grand kids and my grown children, my daughter in law and of course my hubby. My goofy brothers and my little sister will always make me laugh. The memories of my parents are there in my eyes before I fall a sleep. They make me go to bed with a hopeful smile that they are alright up there as angels. Also the simplest things in the world can make me smile.

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    1. Munir: What a lovely image you paint of your parents in your eyes as you fall asleep. That is wonderful to me and I am going to remember it.

      I love what makes you smile. That is so much of the good in life.

      Thank you for your very kind words!

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  10. I am just going to say hello and send a hug your way. Sandie

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  11. I guess I didn't expect that you'd sound so...young, smooth and professional, like you've done voice-overs.

    What makes me smile? My wife makes me smile every day. Today she stopped by the bakery and brought me home a chocolate cookie. Just one, for obvious reasons, but enough to remind me how much I'm loved.

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    1. Stephen: You have a wonderful wife, and that is just the kind of thoughtful, unique thing that makes days wonderful.

      And ha! Thank you- I have done a little voice over work, but mainly just to laugh about it.

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  12. What makes me smile? Our neighbors...we have the most wonderful neighbors that anyone could ask for! We live in the country, on a farm, and have had mostly elderly neighbors forever. They have been fabulous neighbors...but now we have a young family as well, and our kids...teenagers...finally have some friends to hang out with, without jumping in the car and driving! Spur of the moment, fun times! And your voice? Love that southern drawl! So different than the PA Dutch accents that I'm used to hearing! :)

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    1. Alica: Now that made me smile, especially that your kids can have good people to hang out with without having to drive. And yes, my drawl is sometimes a little hard for me to erase!

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  13. You sounded more serious than I expected, Shelly! (Maybe just for the purpose of the recording?) I often "hear" your responses here as full of mischief and sometimes giggling :) I would love to talk face to face!

    So many things make me smile, and for that I feel I am a very lucky person. Things no sooner go wrong than I am thinking of how to describe them to my husband or my dad or kids, to make them laugh with me!

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    1. jenny_o: Ha! You do the same thing I do, because I love to turn my foibles into stories we all share at home. I love that you have so many things to smile about!

      And yes, you can believe I am full of mischief and usually laughing at something! I was trying to record it in a hurry, before my last class came in~

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  14. Dearest Shelly,
    Oh, you are so kind hosting "give away"(♥˘◡˘♥)
    First of all, I couldn't figure out what kind of gourmet food you are giving away in English(^^;) Although I'm SO facilitated to hear this wonderful give away (must be really yummy), I don't want you to have trouble dealing with the company sending it to Japan. So I'll leave this marvelous chance to your other friend(*^_^*) 
    Wow, you sound really elegant, sweet and placid, my dear friend. I was happy to be able to feel you closer from the voice♡♡♡
    Well, only little student I'm teaching (3rd grade girl of elementary school) looked SO happy receiving "little Easter basket" I bought for her when I was teaching about Easter this year. Her happy face made me smile and feel so pleasurable to have a chance to teach other culture at home.

    Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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    1. Miyako: I can imagine how thrilled your little student must have been to get that basket, my dear friend, and that makes me smile, too! What a wonderful teacher you are.

      And a praline has nuts (pecans)in it and is a candy, mostly well known here in Texas and the southern part of the United States.

      Have a wonderful day, my friend!

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  15. What a fun surprise, Shelly! Your voice is lovely - I would love to hear you read the speech you are writing for Teacher Appreciation Day. :)

    I am smiling because on the way to drop my daughter at preschool this morning, she chirped from the backseat, "Mom? I'm glad God gave us to each other."

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    1. Amy: Oh, I love what she said- that would have me smiling all day! And right now, I am just praying I can get through that presentation without crying. I am not a pretty crier.

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  16. You sound very young!! As far as what makes me smile, sunrises, sunsets, animals of any sort, and family :)

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    1. Optimistic Existentialist: Oh, what lovely words! :) And those are the things that make me have a smile in my heart, too.

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  17. I could listen to you all day! Especially that little laugh at the end. Your voice is beautiful. I am from MN and I probably sound weird.

    My husband has the best sense of humor. Also, my second born son. They crack me up.

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    1. Christine: I've heard your voice on your videos and you sound great! If I had to talk in the weather you all are having up there, my teeth would chatter uncontrollably.

      I'll bet you have a great laugh, too, and get to use it with your husband and son!

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  18. You have a beautiful voice! :) So fun to hear you talking.

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    1. Elisa: Thank you- I wish I could hear all my blogging friends' voices. It adds a new depth to what we know of each other. I'm excited about your audio book coming out!

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  19. You know, I don't know WHAT I was expecting, but I find your voice to be warm, slightly Southern, and smiley. :-)

    What makes me smile in my neck of the woods? :-) Minnesotans are friendly and mean no harm; and no matter what part of the world we are from (and we have quite a diverse group here in Minneapolis), it's the willingness to look into each other's eyes -- especially on a spring day! -- and know that we are both thinking 'thank goodness the sun is out!'

    I shall have to record my voice sometime. :-) It's been described as "smokey", which is funny because I don't smoke.

    Pearl

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    1. Pearl: I like that- looking into someone else's eyes and have a shared feeling of thankfulness so profound you recognize it but don't have to speak it.

      I have found and been told by others that the more the day wears on, or the tireder I am, the more drawl creeps into my voice.

      I would LOVE it if you recorded yourself- I always wonder what my blogging friends sounds like. OK, Smokey Pearl- your turn at the mike!

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  20. You sound exactly like I imagined, what a relief! lol I once met a man online and our first phone call--dreadful! (he sounded like an animated cartoon mouse. *sigh*) An interesting idea, hearing blogger voices, I'm afraid I'd sound frogish.

    Today, the sun makes me smile. And I'm headed upstairs to paint....

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    1. Chantel: Oh, I had visions of coming across as sounding like a guttural mosquito, but I just slapped it out there. I'm sure you don't sound froggish, but what a pity that man sounded so different than what you knew of him! Kind of destroys the whole picture!

      Ah, the sun. Always warms my face and my heart~

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  21. Hi Shelly. I'm late to the party I'm afraid ! :(. How wonderful to hear your voice like that - very clever. You certainly have a lovely voice , full of warmth. I've always thought how it would be good if we could hear the actual voices of all our bloggy friends. A real treat today my friend. I realise that you won't be able to send anything to the United Kingdom, but I think you probably already know that it is my grandchildren and family that make me smile!!

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    1. thisisme: Family always gives me the biggest smiles, too! I think this company ships internationally, so I will still put your name in the drawing.

      I've heard a snippet of your voice, I think on one of your videos, and I loved it! I would love to hear everyone's voice here in blogland. I just think it makes it so much more personal.

      Thank you my friend, for your kind comments and for stopping by!

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  22. You sound exactly what I thought you'd sound like - warm and friendly! What makes me happy? Spring daffodils in bloom!

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    1. SHerry: Thanks- and daffodils are one of my favorite spring flowers- hope you have lots of them there!

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  23. Now that was fun!!! So happy you did that! Your sweet voice fits you perfectly!

    I'm seeing warmer and warmer temps--70's predicted for Sat and Sunday, that makes me SMILE BIG!!

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    1. Jamie: Oh, I'm so glad you all are getting out of the snow and FINALLY into the spring! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

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  24. You sound very professional. What makes me happy is that I see the snow is finally melting in my neck of the woods.

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    1. Dawn: I know you all must be so ready for spring! And thank you~

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  25. I smile about living here in Southern California. Every time I see a headline about eastern states being hit with snow and read sob stories by people who have to clear the ice off their cars and driveways before driving to work, I am thankful for living here in the land of sunshine and balmy weather. I have never wished to live anywhere else.

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    1. Lorna: We have the same weather here, although a little dry at the moment, and I agree. It is a wonderful thing to smile about!

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  26. Shelly, why don't we all put an audio file on our blog as another way or presenting ourselves to the blogging community? The thing is, I have to learn how to get an audio file onto my blog. Does anyone know the easiest, easiest way? I have a Blogger blog. BlotSpot.
    -Lorna

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    1. Lorna: A smashing idea! The Sound Cloud that I used is what blogger recommends, and you are supposed to be able to share it right into a post. However, you have to do it through Google Plus, and I am not a fan of that, but if you look in the help section on Blogger, it will have some ideas.

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  27. Great to hear your voice Shelly and you sounded fantastic. What makes me smile? Well, right now I'm sitting in my extension with warm sunlight streaming in, waiting for my boy to come home from school (all by himself!) which will only serve to make my smile even bigger :-)))

    xx Jazzy

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    1. jazzygal: Oh, now that's a wonderful setting and a wonderful thing to look forward to!

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  28. You have such a sweet voice. I am really glad you decided to share this with us. It is really a nice experience to hear the voice of the blogger I’ve read for so long and I must say it sounds like I thought it would. You should do this more often.

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  29. What a great idea. You sounded like you could be a professional broadcaster :) One of the things that makes me smile on my own doorstep is next door's cat which comes to sit there in the hopes we'll invite him in... or at least, not stop him as he tries to scoot inside. So far he hasn't made it. But the sight of him sitting there hopefully always raises a smile for me. .

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    1. Jenny: That would make me giggle. We have a cat that always tries to get in when he's not supposed to, and I can just see the one at your doorstep sitting there so full of hope!

      And thank you!

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  30. Hi, Shelly:

    Yes, you did sound like what I thought you would. You could do broadcasting, btw! Your voice is sunny.

    As for what makes me smile, it's the dynamics of my neighborhood. We live in an area that so many different cultures call home, that you hear children speak to you in one language and their parents in another, and you do not flinch. In fact, there is an elderly Italian lady who lives a few doors down from us. Doesn't speak a word of English. She has always spoken to me and my kids in Italian even though I'd tell her gently "No capiche Italiano." She likes to offer us vegetables from her garden, so I looked online and learned a few words in Italian and she is now thrilled we can have somewhat of a conversation. Lol. It's just a nice coming together of cultures, so that is what makes me smile.

    No need to enter my name in the giveaway. We have several food allergies in my home, but I wanted to comment anyway. :-)

    Be well...

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    1. Janette: How wonderful of you to take the time to learn some Italian just to converse with her more! I can see why that touched her heart. I love your global village. It's a wonderful way to learn about others and appreciate the differences, as well. Thank you, my friend!

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  31. What accent? I could barely hear your Texas accent at all. I agree with many others here in that you have a very sunny, uplifting voice. Now I will have to google pralines. (That was how spell check approved, so I hope I spelled them correctly.)

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    1. Rita: I guess we never sound like what we think we sound like! Thank you, and pralines are uniquely southern, full of pecans and sweetness~

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  32. Okay....okay, maybe just a tad bit Texan!! Barely an accent. But, trust me, I do know now what you could do if you ever want to get out of retirement and find another vocation -- do consider either radio or maybe even replacing someone on Kiii or Kris tv. Yes indeed.

    Altho you make me smile, and so much of blogger visits can get me even laughing sometimes, your giveaway is Texas Pralines. I will pass on it 'cause I can get them on a whim. Do let others take the prize from Texas and let THEM enjoy the sweet goodness from the Lonestar State. I know whoever wins this treat will want more.

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    1. HOOTIN ANNI: That's very sweet of you, and I always appreciate how kind you are.

      And thank you- I've been told the tireder I am, the more of my accent comes out. And when I talk to people for an extended period, I tend to pick up their accents or verbal nuances. :)

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  33. Hello Shelley...This silly Ozzie couldn't get it to work? I have a new puter and don't seem to be able to download the flash player?? so will have to wait for one of my kids to come over and do it.. I tried on another site also, and it wouldn't work. So sorry as I wanted to hear you. xxx

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    1. Crystal Mary: Oh, I'm so sorry you couldn't get it to work! I will enter you in the drawing, anyway!

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  34. Shelly, Your voice is soothing, professional and kind. In my part of the world there are so many things to lift the spirit and bring a smile to the surface:
    In Greensboro, people have unspoken social rules about graciousness and kindness when speaking to one another. There is a certain subtle, gentle way to greet a person and begin a conversation, which begins like a dance with careful two steps when unpleasant subjects come about. It is such a different way of communicating than where I grew up in the north, where being direct while speaking about the difficulties of life is common and respected. Discussions without any sugar to go with painful, awkward or bald truth is the norm, especially when it comes to politics. The thing that makes me smile is that after eleven years, I have learned to appreciate the importance of gentle words and kindness and how "not to alienate" with my often bold observations. I can learn to live happily in my adopted place without feeling like an outsider or someone in exile. I have made friends with my neighbors and people in my community, so everyday life is less painful and lonely. In my part of the world, people make me smile.

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    1. Jenny: What a lovely thing, that it is people who make you smile! I know well the social protocol you speak of, as that is much the way it is here. That you've adapted and not allowed yourself to feel like an outsider is a wonderful testament to your fortitude.

      You are astute in recognizing this, my friend~

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  35. P.S. To be a fly on the wall in your classroom while you read anything...poetry, Red Fern...that would be sweet!

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    1. Jenny: One thing that surprised me early on was how much students of all ages still love to be read to. Most probably think it's just the little ones that like that, but the older ones really enjoy it, too. And thank you!

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  36. You sound fantastic Shelley and it is really great to hear your voice!

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  37. Wow, so weird to hear you talk! And yet, you sound like what I thought you'd sound like. :) Also, I think you could sell anything, you've got such a nice voice!

    What have i seen that makes me smile around here? Lately, it's my blooming magnolia tree. Before that--wild turkeys!

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    1. Lydia: I love magnolia trees, and we just had some wild turkeys hustle their way through the back yard. Hmm...selling things? Maybe a possible second career!

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  38. Dear Shelly, your voice is so youthful!!! You sound kind. And I can hear laughter behind the syllables of your words. Like "Lydia Kang," I think you could sell anything!

    As to what is making me smile--it's the cats. Maggie, a long-haired calico, continues to be the CIA agent who spies out what the other two cats and I are doing. Ellie, who is brindled, continues to be philosophical about the fact that she now lives here and that the elderly man with whom she spent the first three years of her life is now gone. Matthew, a shorthair tiger, continues to race through the house, as if he's trying out for the Kentucky Derby. They all three bring much joy into my life. Peace.

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    1. Dee: Oh, how I loved the descriptions of those beautiful cats. I could see them all and their interactions. They sound delightful!

      And thank you for your kind words. I have done some voice over work for local commercials, but mainly just for the fun of it. I don't know that anyone would actually listen to me!

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  39. It's so rare to actually get a more personal glimpse into someone's life by hearing their voice. It's so cool! Every time my five year old peeks up at me and giggles my heart just melts with happiness.

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    1. Julie: I would love to hear the voice of my fellow blogger; as you said it gives us a more personal look at someone. And I can just imagine your five year old's giggles. There not a purer sound on earth than a young child's laughter.

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  40. I loved hearing your voice! You sound just like I thought you'd sound--only your accent wasn't as thick as I imagined;). What makes me smile? My family!

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    1. Maria: Family is a wonderful thing to smile about! And I'm told my accent gets much thicker when I am tired. Guess it's a brain control thing~

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  41. I hope that every thing is fine with you and yours. We don't hear much about Texas on T.V. there must be a lot to clean- up.

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    1. Munir: Thank you, friend. If you're talking of the horrible explosion in West, yes, there is a huge amount to clean up, restore, and rebuild. They're about 8 hours away from us, so we don't get info everyday on it, but from friends near there, we know it's much larger than what we've seen on tv.

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  42. Hi, Shelly. Thanks for offering this! Have a lovely day,
    Jen

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    1. Jen: Somehow this comment went into my spam folder and I just now saw it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  43. I've been thinking of doing a post featuring my voice. Hmmm... Eventually...
    You've inspired me. :)

    Btw, your voice is very pleasant, but then, regardless of what it sounds like (if it were different), it wouldn't be anything but pleasant because it would match your personality. :)

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    1. Anita: Oh, I hope you do feature your voice soon! You're so sweet- thank you!

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