.

Easter Bunnies ... by C.L. Beck

Wth Easter hopping closer every day, I thought it would be fun to post a few bunny photos from the ICanHasCheezburger site. Enjoy!



funny pictures
see more Lolcats and funny pictures



funny pictures of cats with captions
see more Lolcats and funny pictures



funny pictures of cats with captions
see more Lolcats and funny pictures



funny pictures of cats with captions
see more Lolcats and funny pictures



funny rabbit pictures - i be under yur bed chillin wit teh dust buneez.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures



funny pictures
see more Lolcats and funny pictures



This last one isn't a bunny photo, but it's funny, and fits for Easter, so I just had to include it.


Humorous Pictures
see more Lolcats and funny pictures


Do you have a favorite among all those shots? If so, please leave a comment and tell me about it. I'd love to hear from you.

Have a wonderful, warm Easter, and may the Easter bunny leave you lots of eggs ... all the chocolate kind!


~ Cindy


A Few Funnies... and "Your Inner Goddess" Yoplait Giveaway!



Adapted and Posted by C.L. (Cindy) Beck

** Because they had no reservations at a busy restaurant, an elderly man and his wife were told there would be a 45-minute wait for a table. The woman spoke up, "Young man, we're both 90 years old; we may not have 45 minutes." They were seated immediately.

** The reason congressmen try so hard to get re-elected is that they would hate to have to make a living under the laws they've passed.

** A shopper stood in the express lane at the grocery store looking highly annoyed. The woman ahead of her had slipped into the check-out line pushing a cart piled high with groceries. The shopper's scowl turned to delight when the cashier beckoned the woman to come forward, looked into her full cart and asked sweetly, “So, which six items would you like to buy?”

** A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

** Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

** All eyes were on the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle. They reached the altar and the waiting groom; the bride kissed her father and placed something in his hand. The guests in the front pews responded with ripples of laughter. Even the priest smiled broadly. As her father gave her away in marriage, the bride gave him back his credit card.

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THIS CURRENT GIVEAWAY (March 21-midnight, Apr 2, 1010): Yoplait Greek "Nourish Your Inner Goddess" gift pack, which includes 2 coupons* for free Greek yogurt. Your prize pack may differ slightly from mine, but mine included a terry/velor after bath wrap, slippers, loofah, and other bath accessories. Very nice! And should your inner goddess actually be an inner god (yup, guys, that's you) or should you already have all those items, it makes a great birthday gift to give to someone.



In addition, you can also visit Bricks Coupons to download a coupon* and save $0.30 on one cup of new Yoplait Greek today!

*Coupon offers for Yoplait Greek yogurt are not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

Contest open to US residents only.

THE PRODUCT:




Here's what Yoplait has to say about it:

With 12 grams of protein -- twice that found in leading yogurts-- new Yoplait Greek nourishes from the inside out. Available in four delicious flavors, Strawberry, Blueberry, Honey Vanilla and Plain, the brand´s newest offering has a unique thick and creamy texture with the unmatched taste expected of Yoplait.

To celebrate its new Greek yogurt and to encourage women to nourish their inner goddess, Yoplait has teamed up with actress Izabella Miko, who plays Greek Goddess Athena in the epic adventure new Warner Bros. Pictures´ and Legendary Pictures´ film "Clash of the Titans," in theaters April 2 in 3D.

Here's the trailer for the movie, in case you'd like a glimpse:





MY OPINION:


I'd heard that Greek yogurt was a little more tart than regular yogurt, so used my coupon for the plain flavor. Why? Because I like to use plain yogurt as a substitute for sour cream. The fact that the new Yoplait Greek Yogurt has more protein and is fat-free makes it perfect to use in gravies, or as a topper for baked potatoes. It's thick, creamy, and a little goes a long way. And that's another good reason to use it, in my book. I haven't had a chance to try the following idea yet, but I'm planning on using it with my favorite ranch dressing mix the next time I make up a batch. I think it would give a nice flavor with a touch of zing. If any of you try it that way, let me know what you think!

HOW TO ENTER:Leave a comment on this article. If you're not a regular follower, but sure to leave your email address so you can be contacted should you win. (Required, and gives 1 entry)

Extra Entries (Optional)

*Click to follow my blog, in the sidebar on the right. If you already follow, tell me so. (1 entry)
* Follow me on Twitter, or if already a follower, tell me so. (1 entry)
* Tweet about the contest on Twitter, leaving a link there to the contest. (1 entry)
*Mention the contest on Facebook, leaving a link there to the contest. (1 entry)
*Subscribe to my newsletter (sidebar on the right), or if already subscribed, tell me so. (3 entries)
* Blog about the contest, being sure to leave a link to THIS blog post in your blog, and then leave the link to your blog post in your comment here (5 entries).

(Thanks for entering! This giveaway sponsored by Yoplait and MyBlogSparkTM . I received a gift pack and coupons for Greek yogurt from them, but my opinions are my own. If for some reason there is no winner, or I can not get in contact with the winner, I will redraw or give the gift pack to charity, at BlogSpark's and my discretion.)


Interview with Nichole Giles, Author of "The Sharp Edge of a Knife"




I'm currently participating in the blog tour for Nichole Giles' historical novel, The Sharp Edge of a Knife. You can find my review of the book, as well as a great contest here, while the interview with Nichole is below.

I've mentioned this before but just in case you missed it, the thing I love most about blog tours are the author interviews. That's when you get a glimpse into not only how and why the book was written, but also into the author's personality. So ... here we go, on with the fun!

A Few Interesting Facts about Nichole

1. She likes raspberry muffins. In fact, she likes almost any flavor muffin as long as it doesn't have walnuts.

2. Her favorite food is snow crab. And her favorite place to eat it? Well, that would be on a tropical island, of course, because Nichole loves balmy, island breezes.

3. When it comes to TV, Nichole has a few different shows she likes, but one of her favorites is watching the Food Network.

4. Two things that Nichole wishes? That she could play the guitar, and that she could hire a housekeeper. And the housekeeper, I'm sure, is so she can keep writing and not have to stop to clean the house!


Interview with D.N. (Nichole) Giles

Q: I see that this is a true story. How did you find out about it?

NG: This is actually a family story. The main character is my grandpa. I remember hearing during my childhood that he’d been kidnapped in the past. Actually, he was kidnapped or held hostage three times total in his life, which makes the story all that much more interesting to me.


Q: What made you want to write the story?

NG: After my grandpa died, I was reading his life history and this particular incident really stood out to me. I decided to write it as an article at first, but there was so much information, and so much research involved when it came to finding the facts that it turned into a book.

Q: Did it require a lot of research?

NG: Yes, it did. I started out with a handful of newspaper articles and about two pages worth of journal accounts from my grandpa, and somewhere in the mix there was a court subpoena. From there I called the police departments involved, but because the case was so old—fifty years—they referred me to the national archives in Denver. From there, I was able to get someone to help me track down the case and all the evidence and court documents. Interestingly, the knife used in the kidnapping, as well of some of the other evidence, is still there, and will remain there forever. Or at least, that’s what I’m told.

Q: That’s a lot of work. Did you have to do anything else?

NG: No, I didn’t have to, but I felt a need to so I actually did some more digging and tracked down one of the kidnappers. I wrote him a letter, asking him about the situation, and not really expecting a response. So, I was completely shocked when a week later this guy called me and talked to me on the phone for about an hour, telling me his side of things. He was very remorseful and teary. Very apologetic. It was probably the most profound conversation I’ve ever had.

Q: After all that, how long did it take you to actually write this book?

NG:
It was actually a fairly long process all things considered. From beginning to end, it took me almost three years to get from the inception of the idea to publication. And there was a lot that happened in between, including me working on two other major projects at the same time. All in all, though, I’m thrilled with how it turned out.

Q: Where can we learn more about The Sharp Edge of a Knife?

NG:
You can read the first chapter at my website, http://sharpedgeofaknife.blogspot.com/. My author bio is also there, with a few interesting facts pertaining to the story.

Q: Where can this book be purchased?

NG: Right now it’s definitely available on Amazon, and I’m told it will be in select stores sometime in the next few weeks, if not already. My official book launch promotion is scheduled for March 27th from 1-3:00 pm at Eborn books in the Provo Towne Center mall in Provo Utah. It’s open to the public, and going to be lots of fun. Readers can also watch my blog for more signing dates.

Q: What are some of your future projects?

NG: Right now I'm looking for an agent for my next book, a young adult paranormal romance about a young woman who has a special ability to heal people. She discovers her ability is a threat, not only to her and her family, but to a whole lot of other people when the leader of an ancient demon army, who hungers to rule the modern world, decides he needs her heart and blood to restore him to power.

Along with submitting that project, I'm working on a sequel, as well as another YA book that involves a couple of misfit kids and some mermaids. That one is still very much in the rough-rough draft stage, though.

Q: Thank you for for the interview, Nichole!

NG: You're welcome.


Book Review for "Wrong Number"

Tidmore did the job, and the body is hidden in the manhole on 32nd Street, like we talked about. ~ From Wrong Number by Rachelle J. Christensen.




Blurb from the Jacket of Wrong Number


When Aubree Stewart receives a mysterious phone call on her way to work, she doesn't know what to think when the caller mentions a dead body. At first she assumes it's some kind of prank. But the call isn't a practical joke, and Aubree soon finds herself swept up in a world of danger, intrigue, and murder. With help from the FBI, Aubree races to protect herself and what's left of her family, but the one thing she forgets to protect is her own heart.

How long can she run? How long can she hide? And how will she discover who is chasing her?

What Other People are Saying about Wrong Number

"A gripping plot that revs its engines on page one, accelerates with each new chapter, and doesn't come to a stop until you close the book at its satisfying conclusion."

ToriAnn Perkey, editor.

"Rachelle Christensen has penned an exciting novel that will hook readers from the accidental discovery of a dead body to the thrilling and unexpected climax, with lots of twists and turns along the way. Don't expect to get a lot of sleep with this one. If the thrills of the chase don't get you, the thrills of the heart will. An excellent debut. I'll be looking for more by this author."

Jeffrey S Savage, author of the Shandra Covington mystery series and the FarWorld fantasy series.

My Opinion of Wrong Number

Wrong Number is a fast-paced, romantic suspense novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. When the main character, Aubree, receives a wrong number call on the cell phone, she ultimately ends up running for her life, no longer sure of whom she can trust.

The author, Rachelle Christensen, managed to warm my heart with romance one minute, and chill it with worry the next. The book was a page turner, and I must say that one scene, in an ice cave, almost caused me to pace the floor in anxiety. Wrong Number is a must read for those who love having romance in their suspense novels—a five-star, clean and yet exciting, love story.

The book is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and other books stores.

About the Author

Rachelle J. Christensen was born and raised in a small farming town in Idaho. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in music.

Rachelle loves spending time with her family and writing every minute she can. She also enjoys singing and songwriting, playing the piano, running, motivational speaking, and of course reading.

Her books include a romantic suspense novel, Wrong Number, and a nonfiction book, Lost Children: Coping with Miscarriage.

Rachelle is enjoying all the opportunities to be a social butterfly. You can follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/rachellewrites and check out her potpourri of postings on her blog:www.rachellewrites.blogspot.com and www.copingwithmiscarriage.blogspot.com.

[Disclosure: Although I do know the author and received a review copy of the book, I wasn’t compensated otherwise.. My opinions about the book are my own.]

-----© Cindy Beck, 2010-----

"The Sharp Edge of a Knife" Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Book Review



To celebrate the release of The Sharp Edge of a Knife, D.N. (Nichole) Giles has put together an exciting giveaway, with several opportunities to win. Before entering, please be sure to read the entry requirements, below, as they may vary slightly at different stops on the blog tour!

Since Nichole's book deals a lot with making choices, the prizes all have something to do with choice. Among the prizes Nichole has been collecting, Lisa at Watches by Lisa has agreed to sponsor the giveaway by donating a custom-made beaded watch and face. Head on over to her blog and take a look at the incredible selection at www.watchesbylisa.blogspot.com.

Watches by Lisa

So, choice number one: the winner gets to choose a watch band and face so that their watch is personalized to their tastes and fashion needs.

Nichole realizes that a beaded watch is not exactly a prize to be coveted by a bunch of masculine men (though it makes a great gift for the woman or girl in your life), which is why she’s also giving away more great stuff. Check out the following really cool prizes:

1. Choice between: An autographed copy of the New York Times number one, bestselling novel, Wings by Aprilynne Pike—or—a non-autographed copy of The Darwin Awards, Intelligent Design by Wendy Northcutt—or—a numbered, autographed copy of Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright. Click here to learn more about Wings, here to read about The Darwin Awards, and here to find out about Recovering Charles.

2. Choice between: A $25 gift certificate to the Restaurant Morelia in Murray, UT (Sorry out-of-state peeps, this is local to Utah) or $25 worth of vinyl lettering by Whaddayawannasay Vinyl Lettering—you choose your quote or phrase.

Bonus prizes, continued (that might interest author types):

3. You may substitute any of the above selections with the following incredible opportunity: The chance to sit in on a critique session with Nichole's wonderful, amazing, incredible critique group. While there, you will be treated to not one, but six critiques on the first chapter of your work in progress. This is no ordinary group. They have in their midst some fabulous authors including Tristi Pinkston, acquisitions editor for Valor publishing and author of the Secret Sisters series; Danyelle Ferguson, freelance editor for Ferguson Authors Editing & Review Services, and author of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel—who will edit via internet, since she actually lives in Kansas—Heather Justesen, author of The Ball’s In Her Court and the upcoming release, Rebound; Kimberly Job, author of I’ll Know You By Heart; Keith Fisher, up and coming author of women’s fiction and plotting genius; and Nichole Giles, also known as D.N. Giles.

**If enough people enter this contest, Nichole reserves the right to choose extra winners and give away some, or all, of the prizes left after the first three winners have made their choices.

Entries will be accepted between March 15th and April 3rd. On April 5th, Nichole will announce the contest winners on her blog.

Entry requirements:

1. You must be a follower of both my (Cindy--C.L.--Beck) blog and Nichole’s blog. Click to follow Cindy's blog, in the sidebar at the right. Nichole's can be found here and you can click to follow in her sidebar as well. You MUST leave a comment here, at Cindy's blog, stating the name under which you've clicked as a follower on Cindy's blog, regardless of whether you're a new follower or have previously signed up to follow. (I know this seems nit-picky, but I've recently spent a lot of time, on a different contest, tracking down followers who commented under one name and followed under another.)

2. You must leave a comment at my (Cindy--C.L.--Beck) blog telling me which prize you want to win and why.

3. For those wishing to win the watch, you must go to Watches by Lisa and become a follower, then come back and tell me which watch combination is your favorite.

Extra entries: Each extra entry requires a separate comment on this (Cindy's) blog!

1. Blog about this contest, then come back and leave either a url address or a link in a comment.

2. Twitter this contest, tell me where to find your tweet in a comment.

3. Follow me on Twitter and leave your Twitter link here.

4. Follow Nichole on Twitter and leave your Twitter link here.

5. Facebook the contest. If your Facebook page is private, and I’m not your friend, I can’t see that you’ve done this, so you’ll need to friend me and/or Nichole. Leave the Facebook link here.

6. Become a fan of The Sharp Edge of a Knife on Facebook. Leave a comment that you've done that.


You may enter this contest on any of the tour posts at the following blogs:

March 15th Cindy Beck, review
March 16th David J. West, review, interview
March 17th Cindy Beck, interview
March 18th Tristi Pinkston, review
March 19th Rachelle Christensen, review
March 22nd Shanda, LDS Women’s Book Review
March 23rd Kimberly Job, review
March 23rd Keith Fisher, interview
March 24th Heather Justesen, review
March 25th Christine Bryant, review
March 25th Connie Hall, interview
March 26th Kimberly Job, interview
March 26th Heather Justesen, interview
March 27th Keith Fisher, review
March 28th Ali Cross, review
March 29th Rachelle Christensen, interview
March 30th Heather Gardener, Fire and Ice Book Reviews
March 31st Danyelle Ferguson review, interview


BOOK REVIEW FOR THE SHARP EDGE OF A KNIFE




Blurb from the book, The Sharp Edge of a Knife

Most people would have panicked, sitting bound and gagged on a boulder in the middle of the desert as I was, but for some reason, I didn't. A strange kind of reassurance washed over me from somewhere deep within. Whether it was peace that I'd go quickly, or comfort that I was being protected, I wasn't sure. When Mel Petersen leaves for work on the morning of February 7, he has no idea what awaits him. A few miles from his house, Mel picks up a pair of young men who appear to be college students, hoping to prevent them from having to walk in the cold. What Mel doesn't know is that the men are actually convicts on the run from the law who are desperate to get away by any means necessary. When one of his passengers holds a knife to Mel's throat, he has no choice but to submit to the demands of the criminals. Mel hopes he has what it takes to talk his captors into letting him live so he can return to his wife and children, but fears they will kill him before he has the chance. Based on a true story, The Sharp Edge of a Knife follows Mel and his captors on an unforgettable ride that will have you questioning the depth of your faith and sitting on the edge of your seat as it grabs your attention from the first sentence and keeps you riveted until the very end.

What Other People Are Saying

The Sharp Edge of a Knife is a story of faith, perseverance, and one man's determination to make it back to his wife and children at every cost but that of his integrity. ~Tristi Pinkston, author of Agent in Old Lace and others.

I found The Sharp Edge of the Knife to be a compelling and inspirational story. The example of grace under fire will help everyone, and to realize the story is true punctuates that inspiration. It’s a good read. ~Keith Fisher, author, reviewer

From the first page, I was pulled into this true account of unbelievable courage and faith. Nichole Giles has crafted an incredible story based on Mel Peterson’s harrowing kidnap and life-threatening events in such a compelling style, there was no escape until I reached the satisfying ending. ~Rachelle J. Christensen, author of Wrong Number

My Opinion of The Sharp Edge of a Knife

From the moment I started reading The Sharp Edge of a Knife, I was caught up in the suspense, drama, and intrigue of the circumstances under which Mel Peterson, an unassuming LDS Institute/Seminary director, becomes held against his will. Mel's kindness toward others is the reason for him picking up the two young men, who are hitchhiking on the side of the road, but it's his faith that will get him through the nightmare ... the nightmare of being kidnapped, bound, and left in the desert to die.

The Sharp Edge of a Knife is a compelling tale of one man's faith and courage in the face of extreme danger. Author, Nichole Giles, weaves a gripping story that will have the reader sitting on the edge of her seat, wishing for the ability to read in super speed in order to find out what happens next.

I love the accuracy with which Giles relates this unforgettable story of her grandfather's kidnapping. Her depiction of the fear and anxiety Mel experienced, plus her descriptions of the car ride, and ultimately the desert where Mel was left to die, combined to make me feel as if I were right there with Mel ... right at the sharp edge of the knife!

About the Author

Nichole Petersen Giles is the daughter of Joseph Petersen, Mel and Jeneal's second child and firstborn son. Nichole was born in Nevada , and moved with her parents to a number of cities in and around the Midwest, mostly staying in Utah , Nevada , Arizona, and snatches of time in Texas . Her early career plans included becoming a megastar actress or a rock star, but she decided instead to have a family and then become a writer, in that order. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her family, travel, and drive in the rain with the convertible top down. Her first book Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, an anthology of humorous anecdotes, was released in December 2009 by Cedar Fort Inc. and can be found online and wherever LDS books are sold. Some of her other work has been published in Highlights for Children, The Friend, and Boys' Quest, and she blogs regularly at www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com. For more information about Nichole or her work, contact her at writenichole@gmail.com.

[Disclosure: Although I do know the author, I was not compensated in any way for this review, and my opinion of the book expresses my own feelings.]


Interview with Rachelle Christensen, author of "Wrong Number"



I'm currently participating in the blog tour for Rachelle Christensen's romantic suspense novel, Wrong Number, and I'll be doing both a book review (March 17) and an author interview (today).

I have to mention that the thing I love most about blog tours are the author interviews. Oooo, yeah, that part where we talk to the author, learn about their hopes and dreams, and dig up all the dirt!

Wait ... what, Rachelle? No dirt?

Well, okay, that part where we learn all kinds of fun stuff.

Wrong Number is Rachelle's first published novel, and it's a romantic suspense story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. My favorite scene in the book takes place ... well, I won't give that away now, because you can read a smitch about that when I post my book review on March 17.

In the meantime, and without further ado, here's the "dirt" on Rachelle.



A few fun things about Rachelle:

1. She's loves children, cats, and a good backyard game of baseball.
2. As a kid, Rachelle once sprayed air freshener up her brother's nose and her mom had to call poison control.
3. She's a country girl at heart, having grown up in Idaho on a farm.
4. Lastly, (and this will come as no surprise) Rachelle has always dreamed of being a writer.


Interview with Rachelle:

What inspired you to write Wrong Number?
I wanted to enter a chapter into the first chapter contest at LDStorymakers in 2007. I came up with the first chapter of Wrong Number, it won second place, and then I went on to write the rest of the novel.

What books or authors have influenced your writing and what do you like to read?
I like to read a wide variety of books from children to YA to adult. I really like a good romance, but nothing too detailed. And yes, I love romantic suspense. It’s hard to pinpoint a certain author because I go through phases where I’ll gobble up everything I can by an author and then move on. I love Agatha Christie, Shannon Hale, Clair Poulson, Mitch Albom—and many more. A favorite book of mine is Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart. You can check out my Goodreads list of favorites and repeat-offenders to see more all time favorites.

Do you outline or write by the seat of your pants?
For Wrong Number, I did have a very rough outline that I worked from and I talked through a lot of ideas with my brother and his wife. They helped me to come up with a believable motive for murdering more than one person. I’m actually trying to do better with outlining and I think it has helped with my current writing projects. My outlines aren’t set in stone, more jumping off points for how I want the story to flow. I like to have a general idea of the beginning, middle, and end, but my characters usually end up writing scenes in interesting directions.

What’s coming up?
My nonfiction book, Lost Children: Coping with Miscarriage for Latter-day Saints will be released in May 2010. I’ve also got a few things I’m working on. I’ve finished an inspirational romance that I love, called Wind Song and I’m enjoying writing my WIP-working title Caller ID, so I guess we’ll see what comes up first on the docket.

Do you have any advice for other authors?
If you’re serious about writing, attend writers conferences and classes, join a great critique group, read novels in your genre of interest, and write, write, write! Also, learn how to take criticism and know when to apply it to your writing and when to chuck it out the window.

Where can we find your books?
Anywhere books are sold : Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc.
If you're in a bookstore and don’t see it, ask for it and they can order it in.

If you’d like to get a sneak peek at Wrong Number, check out the book trailer—it’s awesome!

Check out my blog to see what I’m up to.

Thanks for stopping by, Rachelle!
Thank you so much for this interview! Happy reading and writing.

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Chocolate Cheerios Winner

The winner of the Chocolate Cheerios Gift Pack is ... (drum roll, please)

... Rachelle Christensen!

Congrats, Rachelle! You've had quite an exciting day ... your first book signing for your new novel, Wrong Number, and winning a prize worth $30.

For those who didn't win, thanks for entering, and please try again. I have a contest going on right HERE AND NOW for a fantastic Office Box, worth almost $900, as well as preliminary prizes of a gift card and discounts on books. Click on the image below for contest rules.




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Office Box Giveaway and Book Launch for "Wrong Number"


The Original Scrapbox has a brand new piece of organizing furniture and you have a chance to win it! Introducing the Office Box...
And we're celebrating the launch of Rachelle J. Christensen's suspense novel, Wrong Number, with a chance to win an autographed copy!



The Office Box was created as an addition to the line of incredible scrapbooking furniture The Original Scrapbox has to offer, such as The Workbox and The EZ View Craft Desk.

Check out the amazing features on The Office Box, available in 4 different colors: Space for a 19" monitor, magazine holder, Totes that act as slide-out drawers, Velcro storage/organizers, Power cord hole in back of box. This folds out to 72" by 48" by 36" and closes up to the sleek space of only 36" wide by 48" high and 21" deep.

I'm hosting a preliminary giveaway here with some awesome prizes:
$10 gift card, plus a 20% discount on any of my books or on books that feature my non-fiction stories: Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors, Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers, or Mormon Mishaps and Mischief.

You can enter to win my prize and on March 16th, I'll announce the winner who will then go on for the grand prize drawing of The Office Box and a copy of Wrong Number.The Grand Prize Winner will be drawn on March 19, 2010 at RachelleWrites. She will select a winner from the 25 finalists to receive one Office Box (Value $895.00) in their choice of color and an autographed copy of Wrong Number by Rachelle J. Christensen.

Giveaway open from March 5, 2010-March 15, 2010 at 11:59pm Mountain Standard Time.
Open to addresses in the contiguous United States only.

Giveaway Rules:
*You can only enter under one name
*It is possible to win more than one preliminary prize, which means it’s possible to be entered into the grand prize drawing more than once.
*All winner’s addresses must be stateside US addresses
*You must complete the required entry to be eligible to win


Here's how to enter:Please leave details in your comment of how you entered, along with required links. I'll put all entries into a spreadsheet and use Random.org to select the winner.

*Required entry:
1. You must visit The Original Scrapbox website and leave a comment telling me your favorite item.
2. You must also click to become a follower on THIS blog, in the follower's box on the sidebar to the right, and let me know that you did that in your comment, as well. (Or if already a follower, let me know).

Extra Entries: (Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each one of these that you do.)
  • Tweet the contest with linkback in your comment and use the hashtag #officebox or #scrapbox in your tweet
  • Facebook the contest with linkback in your comment
  • Add the contest button(pictured above) to your sidebar with a link to this contest

To receive 15 extra entries, you must do the following 5 things together on your blog post, and please leave a link back to your blog post with your comment (only one comment required, but you must leave a link so I can check your post). Link back to this contest, so that people know where to enter.
  1. Blog about the contest WITH a picture of The Office Box and Wrong Number in your post, AND include a link back to this post.
  2. In your blog post link the phrase "The Office Box " to http://theoriginalscrapbox.com/catalog/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=138
  3. Link the phrase "The Original Scrapbox" to http://theoriginalscrapbox.com/catalog/
  4. Link the phrase "Wrong Number" to http://www.amazon.com/Wrong-Number-Rachelle-J-Christensen/dp/1599553643/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1
  5. Post the Wrong Number book trailer from You Tube on your blog
There are 25 different blogs participating in this giveaway. Each blog is giving away a preliminary prize and a chance to win an entry into the Grand Prize Drawing. Stay tuned for reviews on Wrong Number and author interviews as well!

Here's the list of blogs where you can enter:

The Mommy Files
Cricut Christmas
Little Birdie Secrets
Priscilla Styles
Mommy Mandy
RockinMama
RachelleWrites
Alvor-Dare To Dream
Diony George
Heather Justesen
Queen of the Clan
Scribbled Scraps
Anne Bradshaw
Rachel Rager
Tristi Pinkston
Cami Checketts
Nichole Giles
Wendy Paul
Marilyn Bunderson
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Control Tower to Pilot

Received in an email, author unknown.



As you've probably already guessed, I get a big kick out of airline/air traffic control stories, and love to receive them in emails (hint, hint). Here are a number of alleged communications between control towers and pilots that I'm sure you'll enjoy, too.

Tower: "TWA 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 degrees."
TWA 2341: "Center, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?"
Tower: "Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?"
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Tower: "Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o'clock, 6 miles!"
Delta 351: "Give us another hint! We have digital watches!"
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A student became lost during a solo cross-country flight. While attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked: "What was your last known position?"
Student: "When I was number one for takeoff."
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A DC-10 had come in a little hot and thus had an exceedingly long roll out after touching down. San Jose Tower noted:
"American 751, make a hard right turn at the end of the runway, if you are able. If you are not able, take the Guadeloupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport."
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A Pan Am 727 flight, waiting for start clearance in Munich, overheard the following:
Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?"
Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak in English."
Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany . Why must I speak English?"
Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war!"
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Tower: "Eastern 702, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on frequency 124.7"
Eastern 702: "Tower, Eastern 702 switching to Departure. By the way, after we lifted off we saw some kind of dead animal on the far end of the runway."
Tower: "Continental 635, cleared for takeoff behind Eastern 702, contact Departure on frequency 124.7. Did you copy that report from Eastern 702?"
Continental 635: "Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, roger; and yes, we copied Eastern ... we've already notified our caterers."
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The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one's gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206.
Speedbird 206: " Frankfurt , Speedbird 206 clear of active runway."
Ground: "Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven."
The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"
Speedbird 206: "Stand by Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now."
Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?"
Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark—and I didn't land."

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