Thank U is insufficient...

...but I can't say it enough. The messages of praise, encouragement & support that have been left for me on facebook, twitter, my voice mail, and my email is truly, truly awe-inspiring. The physical & spiritual attendees & energies surrounding us at the Grand Finale Celebration for Bloggers' Delight, vol. 1 have filled me with such joy.

Although it's inadequate: Thank U!

Click image for its source.

Thanx Eb & Dejanae for these images...

Until I download from my cameras here's what Eb the Celeb & Dejanae (above;-) posted! Thanx 2 my Li'l Sistahs of Blogland! SMOOCHEZ;-)!










A special shout out & Hug to my Brother from another mother: RJL, for taking his job as videographer (using the Flips) so seriously! Can't wait to look over all that footage!!

The NYC Book Celebration was FABULOUS!!

It was so wonderful to read under the stars, over-looking the Hudson river as the Autumn breezes caressed us! Thanks to everyone for coming out to support our first collection of short stories.

Bloggers came through and showed much luv:

Sheletha, Lance - the infamous Non-Blogger, Organized Noise, Eb the Celeb, Ali of Ali'sZay, Bougie Negro, Dejanae, BrooklynGirl, ShellyShell.

A special thanks to Troy Johnson, President of AALBC for coming out!

A extra big, ol' country hug to my gurl, Miz for treating us listeners to her beautiful voice in song! She had us all spellbound!

We couldn't have asked for a better NYC celebration:-)

Photos & videos will follow very soon!!

Musing on ... conversations....verbal dances

It's no secret that I love to talk. I'm proud that I've also become a better listener & observer of cues.

According to FreeDictionary.com:
The spoken exchange of thoughts, opinions, and feelings; talk.

According to Wikipedia:
Conversations are the ideal form of communication in some respects, since they allow people with different views of a topic to learn from each other. A speech, on the other hand, is an oral presentation by one person directed at a group.

Those engaging in conversation naturally relate the other speaker's statements to themselves, and insert themselves (or some degree of relation to themselves, ranging from the replier's opinions or points to actual stories about themselves) into their replies. For a successful conversation, the partners must achieve a workable balance of contributions. A successful conversation includes mutually interesting connections between the speakers or things that the speakers know. For this to happen, those engaging in conversation must find a topic on which they both can relate to in some sense.

As I think back on some of my most exciting conversations I've observed the following have kept me engaged & wanting to talk forEVER to the individuals:

We connected in unspoken ways. They read my signals - often better than I could have ever "read" myself. The conversation made me think & ponder on what I am doing with my own life/self. I laughed! I may have even cried. I reminisced and kept thinking forward toward a hopeful future. The individuals were passionate about life! We spoke with respect to each other, not speaking down to the other. We enjoyed the company and the meeting of the minds. We could disagree and keep the flow moving.

Great conversations are like dancing: you move joyfully together. Even if you accidentally step on each others' toes, you apologize and keep it moving!

I have a question to you who are reading this:
How do you keep your conversation engaging? Do you enjoy conversations (I must remember that there are those who prefer not to dance;-)?

As Stephanie says: Don't Be Afraid! Keep on Dancin'! Nonstop, now!


Click on image for source.