T ~ Take it One Day at a Time/Thank You Tina's Terrific Team!

At this point in the Challenge, it's the last few laps of the loooonnngggg race and your energy may be lagging.

Just take it one day at a time.  "OK, I can write one more post."  Then the next day, "OK, I can write one more post." 

I used to be a distance runner, which was a lot easier in cross-country where you had terrain and interesting things to look at, but in track when all you're doing is going around and around, you're tempted to quit.  Just put one foot in front of the other, and keep at it was my mantra.  I'd also sing Bruce Springsteen songs to myself...but that might not help you, specifically.        

Since we're on T, I'd also like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Tina's Terrific Team for all their hard work and for helping me stay sane.  You ladies are TRULY TERRIFIC!                                                                                                                

Andrea @ Maybe It's Just Me

Hilary Melton-Butcher @ Positive letters...inspirational stories...

jenn @ QUIRKY PICKINGS

Jo @ Jo on Food, My Travels, and a Scent of Chocolate

JoJo @ Tahoma Beadworks and Photography

Kate @ Another Clean Slate

~Tina, tired but totally taking it one day at a time   

The Sweet Smell of Survival #atozchallenge

You're past the half-way point and can almost taste it.
Hints of an alphabet blogging victory are near.
Soon, you'll cheer for joy, sharing a proud moment with hundreds of other people from around the world who, like you, challenged themselves to blog everyday for 26 days...and finally made it.

Until that day comes, smell the progress in the air.
It takes a special kind of blogger to stay the course,
with the solace in knowing he or she is almost there.

Some of us have already experienced this sensation that's getting stronger day by day.

Others are curious about what it's like, so they have no plans for going astray.

It's called the sweet smell of survival.

Those who are watching from the sidelines may be curious about such an aroma, that which makes us unstoppable in this way.
Since we started and kept going, we owe it to ourselves to continue, and finish, for then we can reflect on all we've accomplished, come May.

Can YOU smell the nearby victory that the 2014 A-to-Z is cooking?

Will YOU be at the Survivor's Summit, on Wednesday, April 30th (The Final Lap of the 2014 #AtoZChallenge) and Monday, May 5th (The Day of Reflections for the 2014 #AtoZChallenge)?

ROAR into the #atozchallenge !

 When a lion roars in the savannah, it strikes fear into the heart of all that listen to its long drawn out grunts.

But AZers have a different kind of roar. Their roars call to people, help build community, and with each comment they leave in the savannah of blogland, they make new friends, share new joys, acquire new knowledge.

How is the A to Z Challenge treating you? Are you roaring through, or do you sense a flag in energies? Have you made new friends? New followers? Earned comments and appreciation?

If you feel low, go into a room, close all the doors and windows, and roar!

Let all the air and sound and tension rush out of you, and then, when you attack the screen and the list of blogs you need to visit, you'll find renewed energy!

Here's to roaring through the A to Z Challenge!

#atozchallenge - QUICK!!! Stormy has something to tell you!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special announcement.

This is Stormy the Weather Gnome bringing you some important, real-time, genuine, hot-off-the-presses information.

After today...

...you only have 11 more posts to go!

You guys are doing great!

Don't give up!

You are almost there!

Keep moving forward!

You can do it!

This message was paid for by the

Friends to Elect

Stormy the Weather Gnome.

P post for Pam!

P is for Pam!

Welcome to P day! Naturally I had to choose my letter day to share my thoughts with you, right?  I'm so happy to be here today and I am thrilled to share a special book with you.  The book is called

P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia

What's important about this title is that the main characters are children of color, which children's literature is still sorely lacking.  The author, Williams-Garcia, is an award winning author and one that I'm thrilled to share with you today.  P.S. Be Eleven is the sequel to One Crazy Summer which describes the events of three young sisters who visit their estranged mother in California.  Their mother is part of a radical activist group and leads a life very different from the one they are accustomed to living in Brooklyn with their father and grandmother. 

As if that glimpse into life in the African American community in the 1960s isn't interesting enough, P.S. Be Eleven continues the story as the girls return to Brooklyn with a new found independence. Aside from the usual struggles of being sisters and starting school, family dynamics and change and the girls witness a relative return from Vietnam and the damage that the conflict has inflicted on him.  

I remember being eleven years old. Barely.  It's supposed to be a time of discovery and fun. I can't think of a better book to share with you on my name day!

Have you read any of Williams-Garcia's books? Do you have a book that starts with P?

Pam, An Unconventional Librarian