Ah, spring.



I don't know about you, but spring does it to me every year. I adore spring, with it's sunshine, flowers, budding trees, baby animals, brisk mornings, mild days and cool nights. I feel like I'm surrounded by hope. I'm envigorated by the newness of it. Every. Single. Year.

It fills me with desire and energy to do things I have avoided through the dreary, though admittedly snuggly, cold of winter. In spring I want to be outside. I want to purge my life of stuff and habits that I feel are holding me down and/or cluttering my life. Spring is a much more inspiring time for me to make resolutions of change than any old New Year is, because in spring I actually feel like doing something about it, rather than just feeling like I should do something about it - whatever 'it' is.

Among the many other things it makes me want to do, it makes me want to write, write, write, to improve my writing skills, to research and query those agents and publishers, in short to progress. when everything in nature is so ardently consumed with growing, it makes me want to grow, too.

The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring.

Bern Williams

How about you? Any seasons that especially inspire you?

Bright Quote for the Day

A zebra cannot change its spots.

                                     Al Gore

Indeed it can't!

The thing that makes dumb quotes so fun is that they're easy to relate to. We all say things that don't come out quite like we intended. Sometimes we know it as soon as the words leave our mouths, sometimes not so much. Either way, the dumb quotes posted on this blog are definitely a case of laughing with, not at, people.

Stay tuned for more quotes at random times.

What is it About Books?

Quote for the day - Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. ...Reading is bliss.

                                                                        Nora Ephron



Almost like magic, don't you think?

Now go read.

Can This Be True?

Ya wanna talk about so many dreams?

This thing definitely looks strange and certainly sounds too good to be true, but if it works? How cool would that be? Too bad Naperville, Illinois is so far away from California. I would sign up for a session in a second. It's a Zen Bed.

 http://screen.yahoo.com/zen-bed-offers-effects-of-a-full-night-s-sleep-in-20-minutes-27862491.html

Sounds Like a Nicholas Sparks Novel

This is almost too sweet to be true! Who is going to write their novel?


http://screen.yahoo.com/high-school-sweet-hearts-reunite-after-more-than-50-years-27858762.html

Why Do It?

You may have read these words before, but repetition of good things is a good thing. The first version posted is attributed to Mother Theresa (great woman!) and reportedly hung on the walls of her home for children in Calcutta, India. Some say they were even hung in her own room.



There's another version, by Kent Keith, that is said to be where she got her inspiration. How would you like to be known as an inspiration to Mother Theresa? I've included both versions.

___________________________________________

Mother Teresa's version:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

 

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

 

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

 

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

 

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

 

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

 

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

 

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

____________________________

(I found pictures of Dr. Kent, but couldn't get them to paste here.)

Dr. Keith M. Kent's version:
He was only 19 when he wrote this!

The Paradoxical Commandments

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.

Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

© 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith

"The Paradoxical Commandments" were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders.

____________________________________________

Happy side note: I have a partial request from a publisher for my manuscript! As my son put it, it's like getting a callback. If they like my first 100 pages, they'll request the full. If they like that, they'll make an offer on it. If they don't like it enough to offer on it, then at least I know it was good enough to generate some interest. I'll keep you posted.



My New Hero

Oh my goodness, you have to see this.

This man completely shatters most of the world's beliefs about what it means to get old.

When is it time to stop looking forward? Never.

How old is too old embrace a new dream? Apparentlly that age doesn't exist.

This man is inspiring on so many levels.




http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/good-sports/201110/100-year-old-marathoner-runs-late-loved-ones-and-all-us

Some Great Advice

Talk about achieving your dreams! Check this lady out. Be sure to read her advice at the end. With a little tweeking, it's applicable to any dream you may be working toward: starting a business, writing a book, finishing college, changing careers, creating a more stable environment for your kids than the one in which you grew up...you name it.

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/poweryourfuture/welfare-mom-creates-million-dollar-biz-how-she-did-it-2573956

                

Welfare mom creates million dollar biz: how she did it

The Afters

Some events leave a person going, "Now what?"
With the recent tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I've been remembering how when the dust of the Pentagon and the World Trade Center buildings, those marvels of architecture, settled, holding within them untold tales of tragedy and heroism, it seemed as if the whole nation asked together, "Now what?" Our collective perception had been suddenly and irrevocably changed.

I'm sure many historic events, not all tragic, have had the same effect: the Civil Rights Movement, the attack on Pearl Harbor, the end of each World War, the Emancipation Proclamation, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, just to name a few. These were all very Big Events which required some time afterward to adjust to a new way of thinking, a new kind of reality. In looking at how people responded after life changed in such dramatic ways, we're reminded of how much of life depends on how we handle transitions.

We all have to deal with what I call The Afters. After the goal is met or the unexpected event happens, then what? Knowing how to transition is vital to our progress.
          We've finished college. Now what?
          We've gotten married...
          Had our first child...
          Gotten a new job...
          Finished our first novel...
          Accomplished a Big Goal...
          Experienced health problems...
          A job is lost...
          A long, lost uncle dies and leaves us a fortune (What? It happened to Jane Eyre.)...
The list is endless.

Good things, bad things, things we can plan for, things we can't. One thing is sure; things will change.

The more skilled we are at transitioning, the more easily we'll keep progressing and the happier we'll be in the long run.

Any tips you can share that help you with transitions?

The Good Kind of Crazy

Here's an inspiring story for you. Perhaps you've heard of Kathryn Stockett, author of the Help. When her husband is asked about her best quality, he smiles and says, "She never gives up." When asked about her worst, his eyes narrow and he says, "She. Never. Gives. Up."

Here are a few stats that prove he knows what he's talking about.

- It took her a year and a half to write her original version.
- She queried agents for three and a half years before one took interest and signed her.
- In that three and a half years she received 60 rejections, one of which read, "There is no market for this kind of tiring writing." (Ouch!)
- Also during that three and a half years she continued to revise and polish her beloved project.
- After about 15 rejections when a friend said, "Maybe the next book will be the one," Kathryn thought, "Next book?" She wasn't about to give up because of "a few stupid letters."

She tells of how after about a year and a half and about 40 rejections she started lying to her friends about what she did on weekends to save them and her embarrassment. Some time after the 45th rejection  she even stooped to lying to her husband - a "girls' weekend" was likely to find her holed up by herself at the Comfort Inn around the corner for a few hours of writing time. (When people first find out we're pursuing our passion they think it's cool. After years of what seems like little or no progress or pay off? Maybe not so much.)

The way I see it, this is the good kind of crazy.

The happy ending? Only three weeks after signing with her agent, her book sold to a publisher. It went on to become a bestseller and has been made into a movie which opens this week in theaters nationwide.

Go, Kathryn!

And here's a great quote from her -
The point is, I can't tell you how to succeed. But I can tell you how not to: Give in to the shame of being rejected and put your manuscript - or painting, song, voice, dance moves, [insert passion here] - in the coffin that is your bedside drawer and close it for good. I guarantee you that it won't take you anywhere. Or you could do what this writer did: Give in to your obession instead.

And if your friends make fun of you for chasing your dream, remember - just lie.

You can read her full article at - http://shine.yahoo.com/event/poweryourfuture/kathryn-stocketts-the-help-turned-down-60-times-before-becoming-a-bestseller-2523496/ 

Here's to Hindsight

A couple more quotes to keep you going - one especially for Michael Offutt.


Everything that can be invented has been invented.
  Charles H. Duell, commissioner, U. S. Office of Patents, 1899


But what ...is it (a microchip) good for?
  engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968

Where Never is Heard a Discouraging Word

We all hear discouraging words. Some of us more often than others. Sometimes those words come from right inside our own heads. Too often people try to dress up negativity by calling it practicality. Being practical is a good thing, after all, right?

Maybe yes. Maybe no.

When we have something that makes our heart sing, or that we know deep in our center we just have to do, then "practicality" can be a cursed thing. For many of us there comes a time when we simply have to hold on to our dream in spite of all reason seeming to speak out against it.

So how can we do that?

One way is to look at history. I love it when I find quotes or hear stories that are either very shortsighted or just plain wrong about someone or something that went on to be wildy successful and/or popular. It reminds me that my own naysayers are probably wrong, too. After all, I only fail if I quit trying. It may take a long time to succeed, but that's okay.

In an effort to remind you that the pooh-poohers in your life may be, and probably are, out in left field, I have some quotes for you.



I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.
              Thomas Watson, chairman of the board, IBM, 1943


There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.
            Ken Olson, founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1972




So if you're discouraged or on the verge of being discouraged, buck up, my friends, and watch for more quotes throughout the rest of the week.

A Little Bubbly, Anyone?

Registration started at our high school today. As I stood in line with my youngest child waiting to register her for her senior year, it was easy to see and feel the different emotions of the teens and parents around us.

For some the start of a new school year is a dreaded thing; they'd rather be doing almost anything else. Some are completely indifferent; school just is what it is. Then there are those who look forward to it; a certain kind of excitement lights their eyes (whether they mean for it to or not).

So, what causes the difference?

I believe one of the main things is hope.

When a student holds hope for something good - being with their friends, better classes/teachers than last year, a fresh start, grades good enough to win scholarships, playing a favorite sport, landing the lead in the school play - anything good, it infuses them with the ability and desire to look forward, to keep moving on. It adds effervescence to what otherwise could be tedious or tiresome.

Hope is a promise, like a little (or large) spark that lights something deep inside us and keeps us going. It's like the bubbles in our soda or champagne. Without the bubbles we'd still have something to drink, but with them it's oh so much better.

Cheers to the bubbly that is hope!

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might

Congratulations to Marsha for knowing half of the answer to yesterday's title question (Neil Diamond, Hello Again). She now has 500 bonus points. Woo hoo! Hold on to them, Marsha. They may be worth something here should I decide to do some kind of contest or give away, which I likely will. And Kristin gets 100 points of her own for being a good sport and guessing. Now, don't you ladies feel richer?

Today I have an Official Declaration to make. Are you ready?

I officially declare August the month of HOPE. Because I have the authority to do that, you know.

Hope is a powerful thing, a thing upon which I have been stewing as of late. You can look forward to some hopeful posts this month. And so to kick things off...

Quote of the Day: When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.
                                                              from I am Number Four

Let the hoping begin!!

Tell us: What gives you hope?

Hello, Again, Hello.

First of all - 500 bonus points to anyone who can name the song and the artist I ripped off the title of this post from. (Yes, I know it should be "...from whom I ripped off...,"  but that just sounds too proper for this venue.)

I'm sure you'll be just thrilled to know I figured out why I've been such a flaky blogger. Here's my problem - I put too much pressure on myself to have posts that are big and important and valuable. Not that there's anything wrong with posts like that, but I just couldn't come up with that every day, you know?

Then I had a light bulb moment. I realized that many of the blogs I like to follow have short, simple, fun posts most of the time. There's importance and value in those, too. (Okay, so maybe I'm a little slow sometimes. I'm sure most of you have already figured this out.)

So, this is me recommitting myself to blogging. I think I have discovered a more workable approach to this. You can count on regular posts - I'm aiming for M-F. They may be as simple as a Quote of the Day, or as dynamic as a Life Altering Moment of Enlightenment. (Yes, I know I think big.)

Be watching for a new design soon, too. I swear I'm finally going to learn how to post pics and links if it's the last thing I do!



Quote of the Day: If we played like that every week, we wouldn't be so                                 inconsistent.                                         Bryan Robson

Ya think?

10 Random Thoughts from a Newbie Writer

The author of one of the blogs I follow extended an invitation for her readers to write guest posts. I don't know if she will choose my submission to run on her blog, but either way, I thought I'd share it with you.

10 Random Thoughts from a Newbie Writer

1) I have a time warp feature on my computer of which I was previously unaware. It seems to be activated only when I am involved in literary pursuits - writing, reading agent/author blogs, things like that. This feature causes my clocks to move at five to ten times normal speed.






2) How badly do I really need sleep? I've heard that a person can last at least three to four days without sleep before going psychotic. Is that true? And if it is, would psychosis help or hurt the creative process? Just askin'.






3) It's the coolest thing ever to be able to sit in front of the computer wearing sweats or pjs, surfing all manner of fascinating things on the net and call it research, or to let my imagination run and play at will and call it work. Am I right?






4) Who knew 'l' and 'y' were so evil when placed together at the end of a word?






5) Publishing type people are insanely helpful!






6) Janet Reid scares me. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to have her in my corner fighting for me and my work. But yikes. *shudders*






7) Speaking of agents extraodinaire, why did Nathan Bransford have to switch careers just when I was getting ready to query him? I'm sure it was nothing personal.






8) Seriously, how long am I going to feel the need to keep revising/editing? I get to be 'done' at some point, don't I?






9) How can my characters have such minds of their own when they exist solely in my mind and on my pages?






10) It seems I have lots more friends now that I have all the imaginary ones running around in my head.



??Any random thoughts you'd care to share?? The randomer, the better.

Hellllloooo 2011!

So, so, so. Happy New Year, ya'll! I hope you can feel the positive energy humming around you. I can.

Seeing as the name of the blog is So Many Dreams, I figured it would be appropos to mention which dreams of mine are in the crosshairs at the moment. Here's what my little heart will be set upon for 2011 (or longer or shorter than that, as needed.)

1) Query, query, query my manuscript until a)I sign with a good agent or editor, or b)every single person whom I would reasonably consider to represent me and my work has been asked and said 'no,' at which point I would regroup and explore other options.

2) Write a rough draft of and begin editing my next book.

3) Figure out some way under the sun to get financing to progress toward my elusive degree. (And then progress toward it, of course.)

I will also be a more frequent blog poster, although I'm not stating that in an official I'm-putting-this-out-into-the-universe kind of way. I'm just saying I'm gonna be a good girl and do it.

Soooo...What about you? Care to share where your 2011 is going to take you if you have your way?

SCBWI Conference (Part 3) - The Big Finish

I used to have the idea that literary professionals were rather...unapproachable, shall we say.

I don't anymore.

Lest I forget, let me say right now that the workshops and events on Saturday of the conference were very helpful. I even had a one on one critique of the first 15 pages of my manuscript with Cheryl Klein of Arthur A. Levine. For those of you who don't recognize Cheryl's name, pull out your copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and look at the pages at the very end of the book where credits are listed. You'll see her name as the editor for the American versions of Deathly Hallows. (Number 7 isn't the only one she did, either.)

Yeah. I had part of my manuscript in the hands of JK Rowlings' American editor! Crazy. I seriously cannot believe how much insight I gained about my writing in only 15 minutes with her. And she was so kind. That session alone was worth more than the price of the whole conference.

As good as the classes were, though, they were not the highlight of the weekend. I totally expected to get a lot from the events of the conference, but I was not prepared for the experience I had with the people there. I went into it without much expectation in regards to how the people would be, so I can't say it's not like I thought it would be.

Let me give you just one example of the level of goodness there. As I mentioned earlier, they had a raffle planned. Well, the prizes, which were all donated and were very abundant, ranged from cute note cards, to bottles of wine, all the way up to tons of critiques and consultations - for query letters, unfinished manuscripts, finished manuscripts, you name it. These critiques and consultations were offered by published authors, agents and editors of varying renown. Awesome prizes, these! All the proceeds from the raffle were going to provide need-based scholarships to various SCBWI events and programs for SCBWI members.

The response to the raffle was so great that all the tickets were sold out by Saturday morning. Keep in mind this was a small conference with probably no more than 100 people, including the staff, in attendance. That afternoon when the time came to raffle off the prizes there were a handful of people who had purchased what looked like five to six foot lengths of tickets. After meeting some of them, my guess is that their reasons for buying so many were rooted in their willingness to support the scholarship fund as much as hoping to win some of the valuable prizes.


Anyway, just as they were getting ready to start the drawing of tickets, someone on the staff suggested that a limit of three prizes be placed on those who had gotten so many tickets. Now, those people who had so many tickets had paid a lot of money for them and so desereved to have all those chances to win, but every one of those multi-ticket holders thought this limiting of how much one person could win was a good idea. So agreeable and kind of them.

It gets even better, though. Since the tickets sold out so fast, there were people who wanted to buy tickets, but didn't get the chance and were sitting empty handed during the raffle. It so happened that one of the men who had tons of tickets was the first person who hit the three prize limit. When he pointed out that his most recent win was his third, instead of just removing himself from eligibility, he then offered the rest of his still numerous tickets to those who hadn't had a chance to get any. He just passed them around the room telling the non-ticket holders to take at least two each, then added as an afterthought that if someone won with one of the free tickets they had received they should make a donation to the scholarship fund. I swear I felt more like I was at some small town church bazaar than at a professional literary conference. More than anything else, the caliber of people I met at that conference made me want to join SCBWI as soon as I could. (I am now a member.)

Literary professionals unapproachable? Aloof? Too busy to be bothered with an untrained, wannabe first time authors like myself? I don't think so!

Writer's Conference Part 2 - Wherein Tracy learns something about Kristin she maybe didn't want to know

In that whole last post we only got as far as the check in for the reception, but fear not. I promise I'm not going to give a second by second recounting of the whole conference (hereafter called SCBWI. I know. It's a mouthful. It stands for Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators. So you see, they really couldn't shorten it and maintain it specificity.)



Aaanyway, moving on.



When I entered the very chatty, energized room the first order of business was to find Kristin. That was easy since she was sitting by the cookie table just like she said, and she was dressed distinctively. See, Kristin loves her steampunk (think sort of old England) and pirates and dresses accordingly. If you want to see what I'm talking about you can go check out some of her pics on her blog kristinbaker.blogspot.com. So. Hugs, intros and chit chat with Kristin.

Before we were quite finished with that the organizers were getting everybody's attention to introduce the staff. When this began, and before all the staff had gathered up front, I ended up standing next to Tracey Adams, an agent and owner of Adams Literary Agency. She was definitely on my list of people to meet. However, before I, a lowly, unpublished, wannbe author, could approach her, an esteemed literary professional, (I hope you realize I'm kidding here. While there are certainly positions that deserve respect, people are people no matter what their station in life and therefore deserve to treated with respect, too. In otherwords, while I respect her position as an agent, I don't think she's better than me because of that.) she made contact with me.

Again, can I say friendly? (See the last post.)

While we were all clapping for something one of the organizers had just said Tracey smiled over at me and glanced down at my name tag. Her face brightened, she smiled even bigger and pointed back and forth between my name tag and hers. So nice, these people. She then took her place up front to be introduced with the rest of the staff.

With that taken care of Kristin and I proceeded around the room, looking at the books they had for sale, checking our the table of items to be raffled, working ourselves up for introducing ourselves to these nice strangers, and scoping out the refreshments. That's when we ran into a little...situation, shall we say?

You know the saying "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?" Well, we weren't in Vegas, Kristin, so I'm telling on you. (Actuallly, I have her permission, so don't worry.)

You need to know that Kristin and I are both wives and mothers who, for religious reasons, don't smoke or drink. Because of that I guess both of us are a bit happily naive about liquor. As we were scoping out the refreshments we saw these adorable tiny chocolate cups filled with chocolate liquid.

Who is the genius who thought up this wonderful idea? Chocolate cups? The imagination runs wild with what delights one could fill a chocolate cup - and then eat the cup when you're done with its contents! Brilliance, I tell you.

You can see what's coming here, can't you? Yep. Kristin took one of those adorable little treats. Who could resist? It turns out that what we thought was melted chocolate in those little cups was actually chocolate liqueur or something. Whatever it was, it contained alcohol. To make it worse, if I remember correctly, she even spilled a little on herself. Of course I had to threaten to tell her family and her bishop or I'm sure she would have just kept going back for more. ; )

I had certainly expected lots of different experiences that weekend, but hanging out with a drunk? Not what I saw coming.

Love you, Kristin.

I'm sure she's repented by now. : )


(I suppose I should mention that even though the cup held only a fraction of an ounce, she didn't drink but about a drop of it.)

In a word - Friendly (Writer's conference - day one)

Well! So much good stuff happened at the conference I will need more than one post to deal with it.

Now, even if you aren't a writer and you are reading this, fear not. This more of a "lovin' life" post. Besides, I believe that when we are working toward our dreams that the feelings involved are so similar that it is almost irrelevant what the dream is. In other words, I think you can relate anyway.

It has been quite some time since I have done anything that has taken me as far out of my comfort zone as going to this conference did. If you know me, you know I'm not much of one to get worked up over things. In fact, I actually like to step out of my safe little zone - keep having new experiences and learning new things, you know? But this conference? I felt like almost like a teenager about to go out on a date for the first time ever. Excited, nervous, curious, hopeful. But then, what if it was a major let down? At least I'm old enough not to have been worried about what they would think of me. That was a bonus.

So - off I went all alone to Virginia City with only the comfort of knowing I would meet there (for the first time) another member of ANWA, the writing group to which I belong.

After checking in at the motel and getting some dinner - a whole story in and of itself - I made my way to the St. Mary's Art Center where an evening reception was being held. From the parking lot I texted Kristin, the other ANWA member, to see if she had arrived. She had. She was upstairs by the cookies. (By the cookies - I knew I would like her.) Now at least I had someone specific to look for.

I took a deep breath, feeling like I was stepping into a whole new chapter of my life, and mounted the stairs to the old brick building. Mind you, all this time I was also questioning myself as to why I was making such a big deal out of this. The grown up voice in my head told me, I am an adult. I have been to other kinds of conferences before. How different can this be from those? I need to act my age (translation: in control, and frankly, boring). Well, pooh on acting my age! I was excited and felt no need to rein myself in. So there.

I did keep enough control of myself to at least appear professional, though.

When I opened the big wooden door I found a very friendly (warning: You will read this word often in the next few minutes, because seriously, these people were FRIENDLY!) woman who directed me upstairs and told me to, "Just follow the voices."

A momentary side trip to describe the art center so you can get the whole picture. It's an historic, supposedly haunted, red brick building fronted with beautiful white columns. The interior is wonderfully maintained, has great, sturdy staircases, wooden floors, and is filled with that distinctive 100 year old building smell. Very cool.

Anyway, when I reached the top of the stairs - BTW, 'follow the voices' was very good advice. The place was abuzz in conversation. - and gave the woman at the check in table my name, another woman, Suzanne Morgan Williams, a published author of 12 children's books and one of the main organizers of the conference, gave me a big smile and said, "Oh Tracy, I've been waiting to meet you."

No kidding.

That was my introduction to SCBWI. Talk about feeling welcome!

My face must have shown my surprise because she went on to explain, "I've been seeing your name for weeks now."

Oh. The benefits of having an 'A' last name. That didn't diminish the warmth of her welcome, though. I later learned that most of the people at the conference knew each other, too, so the fact that my name was new to her helped as well. Can I say again - friendly? I told her that this was my first conference and she practically lit up and went off about what a great group of people the Nevada chapter of SCBWI is, so friendly and willing to talk to everyone.

Yeah, I already picked up on that.

She enthusiastically encouraged me to jump right in and not be afraid to approach anyone. How could I possibly have been afraid anymore after a welcome like that?

I must say, that this 'first date' was off to a splendid start!

More of the reception and Saturday classes another time.

Adios!