Bobette Bryan's News
 Announcements
March 10, 2010
A Romantic Evening
There are a lot of new St. Patrick's Day cards on PassionUp. Check them out!
I mainly created funny St. Patrick's Day greetings this year, because we have a lot of other types already, and because I've been in a silly mood these past few days.
Sometimes I lose track of time when I'm working. That's why I haven't updated my news in a couple of days. And tonight, I decided that I needed to spend some time with the husband I've been neglecting. So we went out for dinner--I was going to take him bowling too, which he loves, but couldn't convince myself to do so. But I wore a sexy black dress that I knew he'd love.
The problem was, however, that I didn't realize just how sexy that dress was before we left for the restaurant, because I'd never worn it before. And it only looked mildly low-cut in the bathroom mirror. However, at the restaurant, when I sat down, the fabric pulled tighter around me and pushed an indecent amount of me up and out of the bodice. Thus I repeatedly tried to pull the fabric up over my shoulders. The effort was futile. Not even a second later, it would be back to the dangerously low zone. Needless to say, I spent most of the meal with my arms in front of me like a shield. My husband found it all hilarious. I finally grew so tired of fighting the dress that I put my coat on. Ha, ha!
On the way home, my husband said the dress really stirred him. Yeah--it also stirred all the other men in the restaurant, including the waiter who couldn't seem to get our order right.
I'm never going to wear it out again.
Let this be a lesson to women everywhere. Always do a "sit test" before you wear a sexy dress out.
Anyway, the evening went well otherwise and ended with a trip to the grocery store. How romantic is that?
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
March 7, 2010
Ecard Newsletter
I've been trying to promote my new PassionUp cards on the social networking sites. Talk about overwhelming. I feel so lost in those places. I don't see what people find so fascinating about them. They're full of noisy, stolen graphics and a lot of lame one liners. Some seem more like dating sites than anything else.
There is one in particular that I'd rather stay away from (as if MySpace isn't bad enough) and that is Tagged. My email box is always full of male admirers from that site who want to meet me and most of them are local. I fear that I might run into them when I go out. LOL!
Of course, I've made it clear that I'm married and not interested in anything beyond friendship, but a lot of them won't take no for an answer and continue to write to me, ask me out, and send me love letters. There was one from MySpace who drove me nuts for months who came in the guise of wanting me to do a website for him. What madness!
I also saw that I've been "bought and sold" several times on Tagged. I don't like that either. I never agreed to participate in that. Now, I'm supposed to earn points in order to buy my freedom. How do I get these points? I have to send love and hugs to people. That would only attract more male admirers who are looking for a date.
Out of all of the social networking sites the one I find the most comfortable so far is Facebook-- though it seems to be going the way of the others.
How are these places working for promotion? I'm not sure yet. We'll see. Unfortunately, I only have very limited time to apply myself to such an endeavor.
Also, I'm about to send out a newsletter with my new card links on PassionUp. I've uploaded it to this site in case you're not on my newsletter list/and or your email server blocks it. Here it is:
PassionUp Ecard Newsletter for March 3, 2010.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
March 6, 2010
Still Working
I've learned that the leprechan card I posted about yesterday isn't coming up. I'd tested it and thought it was. I've removed the link and will let you know when the card is available.
I slept 12 hours last night, my body catching up on the sleep I've been missing. I awoke ravenous, went downstairs and threw a frozen bean burrito in the microwave--something I would rarely eat. As I ate it, I discovered that it was frozen in the middle. I ate it anyway.
Now I'm back at my desk, wondering what to work on this morning.
I've written a lot of great new text for cards, so I think I'll work on cards...but not Flash ones. I've lost enough time with that these past few days.
I said I was frustrated with Flash. Some of the frustration stems from trying to go between Swish (an easier program that creates Flash files) and Flash. And I had an older version of Flash, one that dates back to when Macromedia owned the program--Adobe owns it now. And some of the new Flash components I've picked up recently won't work in it or Swish. So it seems like nothing is working in anything. He, he! So I've purchased the latest edition of Flash, and I'm anxiously waiting for it to arrive. But until it does, I'm staying away from it, or I'll go completely mad.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
March 5, 2010
A Real Leprechaun Greeting Card
I've been up all night getting a new graphics package ready for ButterflyWebGraphics. I'd mentioned my Oriental package featuring my Cookie character, well, it's finally finished and on the site. I have a male character too and intend to create another package with him. Here's the link to this package: Cherry Blossom Cookie.
Beyond that, I got frustrated working with Flash last night, but I'm not giving up. Sometimes the more frustrated I get, the more determined I am to tackle something.
For today's featured PassionUp card, I wanted to share this funny St. Patrick's Day card:
A Real Leprechaun
It's not too early to send St. Patrick's day cards. So share this with the ladies in your life and make them smile.
Bobette
Announcements
March 3, 2010
Mother Teresa's Heart
I'm back from my short trip. It was good to get away from everything for a day. I've been under a lot of stress and suffering from a lot of uncertainty
about some things in my life. And I've been so busy these past few days. I'm sorry if I've not yet replied to your email. I will get back to you. I promise.
Here's another new card I created for PassionUp. We all love Mother Teresa, and she had so much wisdom and love to share with the world
that I wanted you to see and share this card right away. It features many of her most beautiful quotes. So please check it out.
Mother Teresa's Heart
This is an "experimental" new type of card. I would love to know what you readers think about this format. Please email me and let me know. Be honest. If you hate it, tell me so. You won't
hurt my feelings. It's just an experiment, and I'm creating cards for you--so I need to know what you want.
I also put a couple of short poems on the poetry page.
P.S. Thanks for the many wonderful comments you've left in my address book. Veronica, no he doesn't read my poetry. This is common when someone is married to a writer--or so other writers have told me. It doesn't bother me. I kind of think of my writing as my private thing. I think I'd be more upset if he did start snooping through it. And he has never expressed any jealousy toward the subject matter of what I write. A family member recently let it slip, however, that my mother-in-law drops by here occasionally. LOL!
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
March 2, 2010
Romantic Ecard
I've been busy working on new material, but I thought I'd drop by and post about another of my latest cards on PassionUp.
This was one of my most popular romance postcards on BobetteBryan.com. Readers absolutely love this card. So I converted it into
a card for PassionUp.
Fell In Love
I'm trying to come up with some ideas that will make PassionUp an even better site. If you have any suggestions, please email me.
Now I really need to work on some graphics for ButterflyWebGraphics.com. I haven't wanted to pull myself away from creating
cards to do so these past couple of days. And my husband and I plan on going out of town for the day on Wednesday, so I need to wrap up a project I'm working on this morning.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 28, 2010
Pug Friendship Ecard
Good morning, readers. I've been up working all night. It's hard to believe it's morning.
I just wanted to mention an adorable new friendship card I just put on PassionUp. Here's the link:
My Friend
There's no link to it on PassionUp yet, so you're hearing about it first here.
It has a cute pug.
I had a pug for a couple of weeks who looked much like the one in the photo. I was sitting on the porch, writing (of course) a couple of years ago when I saw a pug run up the busy street. He nearly got hit. I rescued him and brought him inside--and fell in love with him. I called him "Little Guy."
He was a lot of work, but he would cuddle up in my arms like a baby as I worked on my computer, and I quickly grew attached to him. I took him to the vet for a check up and found out that he was only about 3 months old.
I watched the missing pet ads and notices in the neighborhood, but no one seemed to be looking for a pug. I'd assumed that he'd been dumped. I hoped he had, because I wanted to keep him.
I took him out late one night on his leash and heard people calling in the distance. A few minutes later, a man approached me, saying he was looking for a lost pug, that he was a pug breeder and lived a couple of streets down. Of course, Little Guy was the lost pug. The man told me Little Guy had been selected to be their prized stud dog. I had no choice but to turn Little Guy over to him. It was the right thing to do. I suppose he's happier anyhow, being a stud dog.
The man also told me that he'd see if I could have a pug from an upcoming litter. Of course that never happened. But maybe that was for the best. I have my hands full with three dogs anyway.
Still, I think of Little Guy sometimes...
Bobette
Announcements
February 27, 2010
New Egreetings
I've been so busy creating new cards that I haven't had a chance to update my news. I've created several new cards and have converted a few of my popular postcards for PassionUp. I need to get them all done and uploaded. I will let you all know when they're available on PassionUp.
I'm also spending some time, trying to find ways to help market my new cards on PassionUp--and that takes a lot of time.
It seems like the internet is very slow today. I studied some stats and learned that internet traffic slows down on the weekends. That's interesting, because activity on my graphics site picks up on the weekends. But I have noticed that slowing trend on the greeting card sites.
I also wanted to let you all know that my email may be down anytime between February 27-28, and will definitely be down Sunday, February 28, between 12:00 a.m. to 6 a.m Central time. My ISP is doing some upgrades. I'm hopeful that this will result in fewer email problems. It seems like so often anymore, I don't receive my email.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 25, 2010
Ecard Newsletter
I'm posting late tonight. I've been working on new cards...as usual. I sent out a newsletter from BobetteBryan.com as well with links to my latest
cards on PassionUp. Here's the link to it if you didn't receive it.
Latest Newsletter
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 24, 2010
An Angel Ecard
My latest cards are now available on PassionUp.com. Please check them out!
There are several exclusive new inspirational cards that I created for PassionUp, including:
Divine Guidance, for those who want to get in touch with the angels that are all around and live a more fulfilling life.
Alphabet of Thanks, a long awaited addition to my popular Alphabet of Happiness.
The Most of Life. Some wisdom that will help you make the most of life.
I hope you enjoy them and will share them with your family and friends.
Bobette
Announcements
February 23, 2010
Rabbits and More Rabbits
I updated my graphics site with little bunnies...one hundred and seven of them. Here's the link: Easter Bunny Graphics. They remind me of those rabbits in those "Raving Rabbid" games that my kids play. I also put up my springtime graphics index so that members can download the springtime graphics from previous years. There are some cute Easter graphics and St. Patrick's Day graphics in the mix. One of my favorites is this rabbit family, and this St. Patrick's Day Scrapbooking Kit.
I also put a new card up on BobetteBryan.com today, here's the URL:
Someone You meet, a card with an important message that we should all take to heart.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 22, 2010
Inspirational Ecards
I didn't update this site yesterday, because I've been too busy getting graphics ready for ButterflyWebgraphics.com.
This evening I also did some research for another new inspirational card I'm creating about personal accomplishment. I think it's a great card idea--I'll let you be the judge when it's finally finished and published.
I'm sorry that I've been too busy to answer my address book comments and emails, but thanks for all of your well wishes.
Vince, how do you know it's my imagination? LOL! Just kidding. I probably shouldn't have said that. I can almost hear a massive number of eyebrows raising.
Nettie, I'll announce my new cards here, so keep dropping by.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 20, 2010
William Arthur Ward
I actually slept last night, a rarity lately. Today, my husband is home, but I hope I'll get a chance to work on
graphics. I need to update ButterflyWebGraphics.com. And I'm working on a cute Oriental collection that would have
been great for the Chinese New Year. I can't wait until I get it done. I know my members will love it.
I put a new postcard greeting on BobetteBryan.com, just a quote that I came across and liked recently by William Arthur Ward, 1921–1994, who was known for his inspirational maxims.
Bobette
Announcements
February 19, 2010
Making Progress
It's nearly 7 AM. I've made great progress on converting some of my top cards to PassionUp's code--only a few more left to do. Then I need to go over them all. I think I'll take a break for a while.
Update: 11:40 PM
I had a nap earlier and awoke to find that my Doberman pup, 11-months old, had chewed up my hairbrush. It's times like these that I have to remind myself that he's a gift from above.
When I knew my old dog, Ulysses, didn't have long to live, I fell into a depression that I couldn't shake, thinking I couldn't live without him. The thought was unbearable. Then, we went to a pet store one day, and I ran into a man with the cutest 6-week old Doberman puppy. Upon hearing about Ulysses, he said that he had Doberman puppies, and I could have my pick of a litter. This was odd, because you can't find Dobermans here. They are on a list of dogs that require a special and costly breeding license, and so no one breeds them. And to run into a man with a Doberman, a man with a litter of pups who was willing to generously give me one, at that place and time in my life, seemed like a minor miracle. What's more, they were all black, and he had some males. I wanted a black male like Ulysses, one who would be serious and dedicated like Ulysses who followed me everywhere and was always looking out for me.
We went to the man's house to get a puppy, and I chose the little black male who bravely came over and sat in my lap. He seemed serious. He wasn't shy like the other pups who moved away from me. He seemed destined to be the one.
We took him home and dubbed him "Perseus," but we call him Percy. It was like taking a new baby home from the hospital. We were all up around the clock to tend to his needs, making sure he was warm, dry, and fed. None of us got much sleep for the first couple of months.
He did lift spirits and helped us all get through the loss of Ulysses.
But it turns out that he isn't the serious type of Doberman, I'd hoped for. Instead, we ended up with a clown, one of the five distinct Doberman personalities. And this dog is the strangest dog we've ever had. He sits on the couch like a human. When he's told to sit, he goes over to the couch and parks his rear on it, back legs dangling over the edge. It's a sight to see. I'll have to try to get a photo of it.
He chews up everything, including plaster, wood, shoes, and whatever else he can snag. He leaves a trail of chewed remnants through the house. Whatever is important or meaningful to any of us, is definitely something he'll bag and eat. And he whines endlessly, especially when I'm trying to write.
His tongue and nose are always on me. I wrote that poem about him that I posted on my poetry page, and I didn't exaggerate. Sometimes it seems like he wants to eat me.
As for guarding me, he hides behind my legs if he hears a strange noise. He even ran to the back door in horror one day when he heard squirrels chatting on the fence. Ha, ha! Some guard dog.
He is smart, but he doesn't seem to want to use his brain.
I'm hoping that he's still just puppy-brained and will mature during the coming year, because he's driving me insane. I've always been a dog person, but I fantasize about living somewhere far away from him, just me and my cat, Romeo, who's likely the most wonderful cat in the entire world.
Puppy classes...that might be a good idea, that might be just what he needs, something I need to look into. It would be much preferable to strangling him.
Bobette
Announcements
February 18, 2010 continued
Continued
A creative spell is coming on. I'm burning with a desire to write, especially some intense romantic poetry. If I write anything I like, maybe I'll create a card to post here later this evening. I do want to continue to get my latest work out to you readers. I know that many of you come here each day for my latest and I don't want you to leave disappointed.
Bobette
Announcements
February 18, 2010
A Best Friend
It's 3 AM. I'm up early today, mainly because I'm not sleeping well. My husband works tonight, and I'm hoping to get a lot done. In fact,
I think I'll go downstairs and write this morning.
I see that you readers are sending a lot of cards from BobetteBryan.com. That's good. I thought it would slow down after Valentine's Day.
I'm glad to see that it hasn't--at least not significantly.
I created a couple of simple postcards this morning:
Since I received some emails about my poem, "A Valentine's Day Gift," I decided to make a postcard version...even though it's after Valentine's Day. You could send it as a belated Valentine. LOL!
I also created a friendship card, A Best Friend. A simple message that conveys the truth about having a close friend. Perhaps I should send it to my best friend. I haven't been in touch with her as much as I'd like to be lately. And she's such a good friend, always supportive of my schemes no matter how crazy some of them seem, accepting me for who I am always. She inspired this card. So check it out and send it to your best friend.
Bobette
Announcements
February 17, 2010
New Cards
I'm still working on new cards, and you'll be able to see them very soon.
My creativity is down. Words are coming but not very easy to me tonight. Hopefully, my creativity will improve this weekend. I admit it, I always get a little scared when this happens. Maybe all artists do. Even though I know, it will come back, and could do so at any moment--maybe even an hour from now, my hand will be burning across the page--I'm worried anyway.
To make matters worse, I have Laryngitis, making it painful to speak. That has me in a bit of a funk, because though I've had it several days now, it seems to be lingering.
I'd put a new poem on the poetry page, but I took it down as it seemed too personal--and way too rough. I hope I'm not getting stage fright. That can happen too sometimes and freeze up creativity. When it does, I have to pretend that I'm just writing for my eyes alone.
Oh, something funny to add. We went to a local Cajun restaurant for our Mardi Gras dinner. My husband, who is supposed to be on a low-fat diet, ran into his doctor there, who lectured him for eating such a meal. He, he! Something similar happened to me a couple of years ago, my endocrinologist put me on a strict diet for my diabetes. A couple of weeks later, I went to the store to pick up some things for my son who'd given me a long list. My cart was full of junk food like chips, cupcakes, candy, and deep fried frozen things and all kinds of sugary, sky-high-fat things, when I ran into my endocrinologist. I could have died from embarrassment.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 16, 2010
New Cards
I updated my poetry page with a new poem. A Valentine's Day Gift--a little late, I know. But it came to me out of the blue the day after Valentine's Day.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 15, 2010
ButterflyWebGraphics.com will Continue
I've received several worried emails from my ButterflyWebGraphics subscribers, asking if I'm going to quit running the site. The answer is no. Rest assured, that I'm dedicated to duty and will continue to create graphics for ButterflyWebGraphics.com. In fact, the site continues to do very well. I had posted a message about it in the member's area, because I was afraid my subscribers would be worried. I guess some of you haven't read it yet.
Also, I've found that I haven't been receiving all of my email the past few days. So if you subscribed and haven't heard from me, it's because I haven't received notification that you signed up. Please let me know, and I'll send your login information ASAP.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 14, 2010--continued
Happy Valentine's Day
It's finally Valentine's Day! I hope your day is full of love and beautiful memories!
I have a new Valentine's Day memory. My husband decided to surprise me with Valentine's Day cookies. I was upstairs in my office, working on my computer, when I caught a whiff of something burning. I was afraid the house was on fire, and so I dashed downstairs to find the first floor full of smoke. He'd baked the cookies on wax paper, and it started smoking and the paper, which hung over the sides of the pan, caught on fire in the oven. He, he! Luckily, there was no major damage. I'll never forget that.
Well, I'm up late, working on cards, but I probably won't get a chance to work on anything for the next couple of days as I have other plans, but I'll still try to update this site.
Ella: No! I don't know. Yes. I don't know. Yes. I don't know. And finally, I have!
There, the answer is a poem in itself. LOL! I'm not upset. I know you're just concerned, but remember that I always know what I want, even if it doesn't seem like it, and I have thought it through.
Vicky, I appreciate your message. Yes, all of my work is copyright protected and registered with the copyright office.
D. Estep, I agree. Thanks for saying exactly what I've been saying. Hopefully, this will end any lingering debate.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 13, 2010
Still Working on Cards
I stayed up all night last night to get a graphics package finished for ButteflyWebGraphics. It features that new model I'd mentioned a few days ago, "ScamPranx Pixie," a very unusual but cute character, with a mouse-like tail and ears.
I also worked on more cards. Today, I hope to get away from my computer and write. I'm fighting off a virus I picked up a couple of days ago so I'm trying to take it easy.
Thanks for your many warm messages. Sorry that I've not had time to address most of your comments and questions.
Mattie: Thanks for offering your opinion. As for the other thing you mentioned, yes, I've noticed that too. Quite a concern.
Brian: Thank you for considering me, but I'm not accepting any web or graphic design work. I just don't have time, but I wish you the best of luck with your endeavor.
Anita: Thanks! I'm glad you dropped by.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 9, 2010
Celebrating Mardi Gras and King Cake Recipe
Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is on February 16 this year, only two days after Valentine's Day. Mardi Gras is not a popular celebration in this part of Missouri. For a few years, there has been a Mardi Gras parade downtown, but this year, the city nixed that short-lived tradition due to the celebration's "Immorality." Ha, ha!
My family and I never went to it anyway, and, usually celebrate the holiday by going to a local Cajun restaurant. Last year, I hung a sparkling Mardi Gras wreath on the front door, which I made with purple and green Mardi Gras ornaments and beads. It seemed to catch the sun and lit up the entire entryway and everyone thought it was gorgeous. In fact, I hated to take it down. It was so unique and bright. Maybe I'll get it out today and hang it up again.
Last year, I also added the traditional Mardi Gras King Cake to our celebration.
After trying it, my family and I felt like we'd been missing out. We've decided that serving a King Cake will become part of our celebration each year. It's hard to describe King Cake. It has a unique taste, is magnificently strange, delicious, colorful, and is a touch bizarre. In its base form, it's something like a giant cinnamon roll with sugary frosting, and topped with sparkling purple, green, and gold sugar. There's a fancier version that can have all kinds of fillings, such as raspberry or Bavarian cream.
It's definitely something worth trying.
And if you'd like to do so, I've added a simple recipe for a King Cake, here:
King Cake Recipe:
But if you'd like to try a more complex one, here's a King Cake recipe by the famous Chef Emeril Lagasse. Or you can order a King Cake directly from New Orleans. People tell me that Randazzos King Cakes are fantastic as well.
A tiny plastic baby is hidden inside these cakes, and whoever gets the baby Jesus is obligated to bring a king cake to the next party--traditionally, whoever got the baby was supposed to host the next Mardi Gras Party. My family and I have altered the tradition a bit--whoever gets the baby in our household is considered to be blessed for the year and can make a special wish. Why not? It's always good to make a wish and even better when a wish comes true.
Happy Early Mardi Gras,
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 9, 2010
Celebrate Love
I'm in a hurry today. I'm off to work on graphics, but I put a new romance card. Here it is:
Celebrate Love
A special card for your long time love!
And I added a couple of poems to the poetry page.
As always, I will update this entry when I have more news to share.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 8, 2010
Always In Bloom
I'm up early again today. I actually slept last night. Yeah! I hadn't slept in days.
And I put a new and beautiful romance card up. You can't miss this one! Here it is:
Always In Bloom
Awaken to beauty that will ever bloom in your heart!
I'm in a very creative mood and hope to find a chance to write today.
I will update this entry when I have more news to share.
Update: I added a couple of poems to the poetry page.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 7, 2010
The Bird Sings
I realize that I accidentally deleted this entry about my new card "The Bird Sings," so I'm reposting it:
The Bird Sings
Celebrate freedom and possibilities.
I also slightly altered my card: "I Believe In You."
I Believe In You
So check it out.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 6, 2010
Another Day!
Well, it's another day...I sometimes don't know what day it is, because my sleeping pattern is so out of whack. I've been sleeping about 4 hours and then I get up for several hours and sleep whenever my body finally gives out. Not a healthy thing to do, I know. It seems like all I ever do is write, work on graphics, or create cards. My husband and I have decided to go out on Sunday. I need that.
I also wanted to announce that I've decided, though I believe in freedom of speech, not to allow any more guestbook entries that contain anything blatantly sexual, personal, or anything that might be offensive to others. I hope my readers understand. I hate to make such a statement as I don't want to scare anyone off, and I do appreciate your comments, but I want this site to be a positive experience for all who come here.
I've created another cute friendship card (and switched the midi I had in my previous friendship card as I thought it went much better with this one). Here is the link:
Very Best Friend
A friendship card for a friend who is the best.
And here's another heartfelt card that I uploaded this evening:
To Shine
A heartfelt card for someone special in your life.
I've created some others too, but I'm not ready to put them up yet. I've been in a very creative mood today, which is wonderful as I've gone through a bit of block the past few days. It's good that my creativity is high again. I suppose I should get offline for a while and get some much-needed sleep, but I hate to when the words are flowing with such ease.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 5, 2010
More Valentines!
It's nearly 5 AM. I've been up working all night. I'm going to get off of my computer for awhile.
I created several beautiful Valentine's Day cards:
Your Love
A touching message of love.
We Did It
This is a sensual Valentine card. Send it to ignite some sparks.
My Keepsake
Let a distant love know that he or she is in your thoughts.
I also added some new postcard Valentine's to BobetteBryan.com.
And I created a cute friendship card:
Sharing Our Hearts
This friendship card would be great for a close friend or even a relative.
I don't know how many more Valentines, if any, I'm going to create this year. I recall that I wrote a good poem for another valentine, but I don't know where I put it. LOL! Unfortunately, I lost a poem I wrote the other day. I was going to use it in a card, and had written it in notepad, but I took a break from my computer, came back, and found that someone had turned my computer off without saving the file. Arghhh! And I can't remember a single line of it, except that it was a good one. It may come back to me one of these days, but it probably won't.
Strangely, I'll sometimes, out of the blue, and for no apparent reason, realize something I should change in a poem I'd written earlier...sometimes many years earlier. The creative brain works in strange ways. I think it's always working even when I'm not--like a computer program running in the background.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 4, 2010
Thank You, Friend
I'm in the midst of converting one of the popular Valentine's postcards to a full page greeting, and fighting off a migraine, but I wanted to drop by long enough to address an alarming message left in my guestbook.
Update: I've finished the Valentine's Day card I converted from my postcard version. Here's the link:
Thank You, Friend
A feminine Card that's sure to appeal to all of the lady friends in your life.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 3, 2010
Most Popular Valentine's Day Card
I've added a new Valentine Card:
A Heart.
A cute verse, but a beautifully designed Valentine card that touch your love's heart.
I added some poems to the poetry page as well...I'm still going through a bit of a creative dry spell. I don't know what's up with me. I do know these phases pass.
I also wanted to announce that the most popular Valentine's Day card, is my Love Sonnet. Share it and fall in love all over again.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 2, 2010
Life Lessons
I added a wonderful new card today. Here's the link:
Life Lessons.
If you like my "Lessons of Life," poem on PassionUp, you'll like this one. Don't miss it, or you may miss an important life lesson...and a chance to spread some sunshine.
Sikh: I appreciate your message. I do not allow anyone to publish my work. I reserve that right. Thanks for understanding.
Anonymous: I always see the truth through lies!
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
February 1, 2010
New Flash Card and Heavy Traffic
I stayed up the whole night and struggled with Flash. Finally, I put up the card I was working on in the wee hours. Will working with Flash get any easier and feel more natural to me? I don't know. One problem I have is that since I'm so artistically brained, I don't think in a linear fashion. My thoughts are all over the place all at once--like fog. Flash takes linear thinking, and that's hard for me. Still, I might get better at it the more I try. We never know what we're capable of until we put some effort into it. It will also help, of course, for me to get past the barrier of knowing how to use the program. He, he! I always just jump right into everything.
Here is the card.
The Whole Sky
A beautiful message that you can send to just about anyone on your Valentine's Day list.
There is a postcard version of it on BobetteBryan.com as well. Here's the link:
The Whole Sky Postcard Version.
Keep in mind, that since this is Flash, the music is built in. So I suggest that you don't try to alter the music in the postcard section or two songs will play at once.
I received a server alert this morning that 814 people came to BobetteBryan.com at once. That's very interesting! A few days ago,
over 2,000 people came to BobetteBryan.com at once, and that took my server down for a short time. I'm not sure what starts these sudden tidal waves, but I hope the servers hold up on Valentine's Day!
Kim, I never went to Benton High School. You probably saw that on one of those reunion sites. I signed up for that, only because I was looking for an old friend who went there (I never found her). But I never graduated from high school in the traditional sense. I was put in college when I was only 15. I was accelerated in the 7th grade to 8th grade, and then, when I went to high school, I was put in college before my Freshman year was out. This is largely due to a school counselor named Robert Vaughn who took great interest in me. Unfortunately for me, I got kidney stones and was in and out of the hospital for most of the year. I met my husband not too long afterward and got married when I was only 17, and so it was a few years before I got back to college...and then I had to lug a baby to class with me. There you go...there's some little known news for some of you biography hunters.
Shirley, thanks. I appreciate your message. And I do truly care about the site I spent many years building and would like to see it turn around.
Thanks, Brenda.
Jessica, I'm sorry for your loss. I know what it's like to lose a close friend. Laminate and read all you want.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 31, 2010
Dear Sister Valentine Greeting
Wow, it's January 31. This month has passed so quickly. And tomorrow, we can welcome in February and it's promise of spring.
I'll likely update this post again with new cards, depending on what I feel like working on today. I do hope to put some more new cards up. A reader requested a Valentine's day card for her sister, and so I created this beauitful ecard with lots of lace and pink hearts.
Dear Sister
A beautiful message for all of the sisters out there.
There is a postcard version of it on BobetteBryan.com as well.
Update: I've updated ButterflyWebGraphics.com with a new graphics package: Victorian Valentine's Day Tokens. I'm still working on renders of that new model I'd mentioned.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 30, 2010
To Psyche
My writing session didn't go so well yesterday or this morning. My brain feels tired--the passion in my heart dull and only faintly visible. Nothing good came from my pen. It may be because I haven't been sleeping well. So I quit trying to force myself to write and worked on graphics instead, which is necessary anyway as I need to update ButterflyWebGraphics.com. It's no big deal. I have stacks of notebooks full of poetry I've written these past few months, but I'm so intimidated by those mountains of pages that I'm afraid to approach them. Besides whatever clouds are hanging over my spirit and drowning my muse could break at any moment. That's how it works. An appointment between mind and that special place in the psyche of a poet have to meet in order for the words to flow.
What I did write, I've posted on the poetry page.
Please know that the poem, entitled: To Psyche, isn't about some secret lover, but about the creative appointment I mentioned above. I don't want readers to get the wrong idea.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 28, 2010
I Believe In You
I've been working on graphics today. I have a new 3D model, so I've been playing with my "dolls." But I stopped long enough to put up a great new inspirational card.
Here's the link:
I Believe In You.
A message that someone special in your life will never forget.
I've created a postcard version of this card as well that you can customize. I Believe In You Postcard Version.
I hope to get off my computer tonight and write. My husband is at work, and so I hope to get a lot done.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 27, 2010 Continued
New Birthday Cards
My brain is running so fast this morning that I'm having difficulty catching my thoughts.
I had a graphic design project in mind for ButterflyWebGraphics, but I needed my Photoshop layer styles to do it, which I lost in that hard drive crash. I have numerous hard drives and files from 1998 backed up on some of them. Since I lost my Photoshop layer styles, I decided to hunt on those drives this morning in hopes that I'd backed them up. I found things I didn't know I still had and haven't seen for a decade or more. It was like rumaging through old trunks in an attic. It was hard to stay on course, because I kept pausing to look at old photos, old poems, various graphics I've created over the years, music files, and other stuff. Needless to say, I didn't find the Photoshop Layer styles. So nix that idea. But I'm happy that I found some of my old writing. It will be interesting to look through it.
Since I couldn't work on the design project, I created another birthday card. Here's the link:
Birthday Wishes.
A beautiful card for someone special.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 27, 2010
New Birthday Cards
I saw Bright Star and enjoyed it. It's a sad but beautiful story. I won't comment on it, though I yearn to do so, in case you haven't seen it yet. I'd hate to ruin it for you. It does make me yearn to spend some quality time with my pad and pen. Hopefully, I'll get some time to do that tomorrow while my husband is at work. So many things have distracted me from that goal this week. I did stop writing that column I'd mentioned--for at least a year, maybe forever. It's not where my passion lies and is taking too much time away from my poetry. My goal is to have at least one thousand, new, high-quality, eye-popping, drop-dead gorgeous cards up on BobetteBryan.com within the next year--all, of course, with poetry and text that's delicious enough to eat. Maybe that number is too grand. I don't know. We'll have to see.
I intend to create some more quizzes too. I know my readers enjoy them.
I put up some new full page birthday cards.
Happy Birthday, Friend.
A beautiful card for a great friend.
Your Birthday.
A heartfelt birthday card that you can send to someone who's very close to you, including your love.
Happy Birthday, My Love.
A birthday card for the love of your life.
Jan Jonson. Thanks. I appreciate your message. It means a lot to me. May God bless you and yours too.
Richard Davis, Thank you. It's good to know that my readers are finding me. Your message made my day and inspires me to try all the harder!
Jan Tobiason. Welcome, friend. It's good to see you here. Thanks.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 26, 2010
Bright Star
Today is the day I've been waiting for...the day that Bright Star comes out on DVD, a movie about poet John Keats. I missed it at the theatre, because I didn't know it had been released, so I'm anxious to see it. Here's a trailer for the move: Bright Star.
It will be good for me to relax and watch something I enjoy tonight. I've been very upset about some recent developments...though I'm happy about how well this site and BobetteBryan.com is doing.
I will update this post when I put new up new cards.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 25, 2010
The Heart's Treasure
There was another huge jump in traffic this week for both this site and BobetteBryan.com, which increased this site and BobetteBryan.com to around 1.5 in the Alexa rankings. That's great news!
I should be going to bed, because I have a doctor's appointment in Overland Park, Kansas today, but I stayed up
to put another Valentine's Day card up. I wish I didn't have that appointment, because I'd love to work on more
cards. And we're supposed to get snow today. I hope the roads aren't slick.
Here's the link to the new card:
The Heart's Treasure, a lovely
heartfelt Valentine's Day card that you can send to someone close.
K., thanks, but I can take care of myself, and you know it. I went up and down the stairs several times, because I was going to write, but kept forgetting something.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 24, 2010
Valentine's Day Ecards
Wow! There was a huge jump in traffic and card sends this past month. I'm very happy about that!
I've put up two new Valentine's Day cards and a Valentine's Day Card index. I will, of course, continue to create more Valentine's Day greetings. I took down the link to the New Years and Christmas Cards, but you can still access them here.
Here are the two new cards:
My Love Grows
Many Reasons
Now to answer my guestbook entries:
K., What were you doing looking in my windows?
Gerald, thanks. I'm glad you like it. That's a very popular card. You may have more luck if you send the card to yourself on the greeting card site. Then click the link to print it. Using your browser, be sure to use "Page Setup" before you print. In order to get the entire card on one page, you'll have to resize it.
Elizabeth, I'm glad you like my cards. It's always great to meet another cousin, especially a Stafford. LOL! I lost my geneaology files in a recent computer crash. If you could write to me and point me to the info you found online, I'd be grateful. I know I'd published it, but I've been unable to find it in a search.
Victoria, Thanks! I appreciate your message.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 23, 2010
Our Love
Yesterday, I was in a very creative mood and intended on creating several new cards as I've written a lot of text that is yearning to be read, but I had another computer mishap and I haven't been able to use my computer until tonight. I've had a lot of bad luck with computers lately. I'm lucky that my son, Patrick, knows how to fix just about anything that's wrong with a computer or I'd still be lost. He has the entire household set up on a network. I wouldn't know how to do that either. He can even build a computer...and I think that's really cool!
Here's the new romance card I created tonight: Our Love. Cherish a love created in heaven and blessed by God.
I'm very pleased to see that a lot of fullpage greetings are being sent. The site is growing.
I've split my news section into two pages. This page will cover January 2010. There's a link at the bottom of this page, if you want to catch my previous news.
BTW, if you're on MySpace, please add me as your friend. Here's Bobette Bryan's MySpace Profile. I probably should take down my Halloween graphics on my profile. He, he! I created several free MySpace Layouts a couple of years ago to promote ButterflyWebGraphics.com, but it appears that I've accidentally removed the link. Here's the link in case you'd like to see them: Free MySpace Layouts. Now I need to go put that missing link back up.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 22, 2010
Spring In My Heart
I put a springtime romance postcard on BobetteBryan.com: Spring In My Heart. Light up someone's heart with this touching message of love.
Here is the postcard version: Spring In My Heart.
In looking over the stats on BobetteBryan.com, I found that I have many male members. I'm glad that my work appeals to a male audience as well as a female audience. As always, my romance cards are very popular. I find it interesting that very often, someone will send not just one, but 30 or more different romance cards, to a single recipient at the same time.
Overall, things are going very well with the greeting card site, and it's growing. Some of you have written to tell me that the database is eating cards. This appears to only happen occasionally. I've written to the developer about this and am awaiting his reply.
Last night, I was updating my profile on LinkedIn, to add BobetteBryan.com, and I noticed that the listing states that there are two other "employees," including a physican's assistant and a chiropractor. Ha, ha! I guess you can not only send a card, but also get a checkup and a spinal manipulation. It's obviously some kind of bug. I wrote to their support about it, but it gave me a chuckle as I imagined having those two on board. But just think those medical professionals now have listings that include romantic poetry. I guess, they can not only fix your body, but also mend a broken heart.
I've been gathering my favorite songs on youtube to listen to when I work on graphics--and probably spending way too much time doing so.
Today, I hope to get several new cards up as I've written a lot of material that I like and want to share with you. I'll update this entry as I add new cards. I'm picky about my work. You will get quality here!
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 21, 2010
Sweet Bud of the Morning
It's just about time for my husband to get home, so I'll make this entry short.
I spent a lot of time writing this evening, but I found the time to put up another new bright and sunny card: Sweet Bud of Morning. Send it and make your love's heart shine.
I've also put a few new poems on the poetry page. I think the prayer
will make a great card.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 20, 2010
Looking Forward to the Weekend
It's 5:18 AM. I'm up late or early, depending on one's perspective. I have a confession. I sometimes write responses to "relationship" questions in a publication by the New York Times--not under my own name. I do this only because I'm trying to help people deal with painful relationship issues. And that's why I'm up so late tonight. I'd stopped doing it for the past year, because a reader scared me with his sexual questions. I was afraid that he'd learn my identity. Hopefully, he has forgotten me and has moved on. And now, I don't know if I'll continue to do this type of writing as it's time consuming and emotionally draining. Whatever I decide, I fully intend to stick to my poetry and greeting cards. I do not make empty promises.
Today, I've wanted so badly to write poetry, but between that writing project and my husband being home, I only wrote a couple of poems tonight. I'm going to try to write something this morning after I get Butterflywebgraphics.com updated. I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully, I'll get a lot done. I've been in a very creative mood for the past few days but with little opportunity to take advantage of it.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 19, 2010
The Real Thing
I'm dropping in early today with two new cards. Here are the links:
Wonderful, another bright and sunny card that will lend you hope.
Hello, Sunshine, a card to send to your sunshine.
I also want to remind my readers that should they see "Designed by Bobette Bryan," on any page, that doesn't mean that I wrote the poem on that page or had anything, whatsoever, to do with its publication. Make sure it's the real thing and also says, "Written by Bobette Bryan."
I'm writing and creating cards exclusively for bobettebryan.com, which I announce here. No other site has my latest poetry or cards. I've not written for PassionUp since 2004. And anything on that site, or their other sites, which says "new" and has my name attached to it, is either not new or is not my work. Don't settle for anything less!
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 18, 2010
How to Be A Poet and a Lost Island
I didn't put up a new card today, but I put a new poem on the poetry page.
My husband and I are in the midst of rewatching one of my favorite television series, "Lost." I have all of the available seasons on DVD. But I've not watched season 5 or the final season that's now being aired on ABC. So I'm going to watch them all again to build up to season 5. Right now, we're midway through season 1. And after we watch season 5, it will be very painful waiting for the last season to come out on DVD.
I'd mentioned writing a novel based around an island. It's nothing like the Lost series. It's a literary novel. And it was "Lost" when my hard drive failed, along with several of my other novels. Hopefully, a data recovery service will be able to restore them. If not, I'll have to rewrite the novel from scratch as I've never printed out a copy. I know it's insane that I didn't have them backed up! I thought I did.
I was stuck on that particular novel, because years ago, I'd read about an island off the East coast that's practically hidden. A man who worked at one of the auto plants owned it and used to go to it in the summer and on the weekends with his large family. One of the teenage girls in the family slipped and died and supposedly she haunts the island. That true account planted some creative seeds in my mind and a story grew around it a couple of years later. But when I started writing the novel, I got stuck and couldn't finish the story, (though I have the complete plot in my head) because I couldn't remember where I'd read that source--in a book, in a magazine? I read so much material, and I always read more than one book at once, so it's not an easy task to retrace my steps. And, worst of all, I couldn't remember the name of the island. I wanted to research it more--and, maybe even go there.
It's remains a mystery to this day.
I've hunted high and low. I've searched through tons of books and magazines looking for that lost island account. I could go ahead and finish the story without it, but I feel that if I did that and got it published, that I'd find the true account and later regret not including some important details. It's illogical. I know. And, because I don't recall exactly where the real island is, I can't decide whether I want to set it along the northern east coast where the weather is more frigid or south where it's more tropical.
So if anyone out there knows what island I'm talking about, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 17, 2010
How Much Do I Love You?
I put up a new Romance card. This is the lovely card with blue flowers I'd mentioned. Here's the link: How Much Do I Love You?
If you tried to send a card earlier, please try again. The server was down this evening.
There are a lot of guestbook comments I need to address:
Bogdana, thanks. Sorry you've had difficulty with the site. I wish I could tell you why, but I'm not sure. I think the site is sometimes overwhelmed by traffic like it was this evening and occasionally, a card won't post to the database. As for your questions, those are private. Sorry, but I can't answer them here.
Maddie, thank you. I appreciate your warm message.
Anonymous, at first I thought your message was a prank from a friend, but I realize you're serious. I've received other strange messages and emails that have suggested that all redheads go live on an exclusive island and mate. This is because, since only 2% of the population is redheaded, we're supposed to become extinct in the future. As for the redhead island, my husband said if such a thing existed, the redheads would kill each other off.
Jay, it sounds like fun, but I just have too much going on right now. Sorry. Maybe next time.
And Jason Milhouse, if that's you who keeps knocking at the door, STOP! It's getting creepy!
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 16, 2010
Meant to Be
I put up a new Valentine card. The text is similar to my "To Believe." I'll probably change it. I spent the most time on the design. These roses are so lovely. Here's the link: Meant to Be. I made another that is just as beautiful with blue springtime flowers, but I haven't put it up yet.
I also put a couple of Valentine's Day postcards on BobetteBryan.com.
I'm in a hurry, because my husband just came home and wants me to get off of my computer. It is late--nearly 2 AM. Sorry, but I don't have
time to comment on my guestbook entries. I'll try to tomorrow.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 15, 2010
Together
I put up a new romance card. Here's the link: Together. This is a good card to send when your relationship has become serious.
I've also updated the card pages on this site a bit and moved some things around for Valentine's Day. Soon, I'm going to reduce the card pages to one and put the rest of the full page greeting links on BobetteBryan.com. I thought about retiring the winter holiday cards, but some people are still sending them so I'll keep them up for now.
And I should be working on Valentine's Day cards, but I haven't much. Maybe tomorrow I'll be in the mood to work on some. For the past couple of days, I've spent a lot of time writing. I put up a new sonnet on the poetry page, thinking I'd gotten it just right, and then I noticed the "tongue" and "wrong" problem--these two words are not proper rhymes. So I'll be back to the grindstone on that one. At least I worked on a sonnet. I'd intended to write a sonnet each day. That dream is not panning out. I never seem to find the time between the greeting card site and the graphics site. Maybe one a week would be a more realistic goal. It takes considerable thought and time to write a sonnet.
Oh, a friend sent me an American Greeting card, and I saw an idiotic line on it--I see this line quite often (and hopefully it's not on any of my old cards on PassionUp. I'm afraid to look. I admit it--I often see things I'd like to edit on those old cards). Anyway, here's the idiotic line: "Put a smile on your face." Where else would one put a smile--on their backend? Ha, ha! It's even more ridiculous than the phrase, "New Beginnings." A beginning can only be new. Okay, I could go on forever about things like this so I better stop.
Bobette Bryan
Who's in love with the English language
Announcements
January 14, 2010
A Prayer
I'd mentioned using the Prayer poem from my poetry page for a card, and I've done so (I've edited it too). Here's the link: A Prayer. This prayer might be a good Flash candidate. I worked on another Flash card today, but I'm not ready to publish it. I still have so much to learn about Flash.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 13, 2010
I'm Still Here!
I didn't update this site yesterday, and I received panicked emails. No, I'm not "retiring." I'll retire when I'm dead. Yes, I'm still here and not quitting. I'm not going to go away this time. I'm sticking around until the mental ward finally collects me. I was just tired last night and dispirited over my friend's death, asking myself, perhaps a zillion times, if there was something I could have done to change what happened. I know this is illogical thinking, because many people who were close to him, including his best friend, had no idea that he was depressed and intended to kill himself. Still, we always feel like this when someone we care about dies and ask ourselves if there was something we could have done to prevent it.
I felt this way when my 10-year old Doberman died in the summer. He was diabetic, and I figured, being diabetic myself and knowing how to manage diabetes, that I could manage his and keep him alive longer, even though the vet said that diabetes is not very manageable in a large dog. I meticulously tested and charted his blood glucose each day, gave him insulin shots at a precise time twice a day, cooked special low-carb meals for him, ordered costly low-carb dog kibble to add to this food to make him feel fuller, made homemade snacks for him, spent countless hours researching canine diabetes, and spent a fortune on his medical treatment and insulin each month. I did my best, and took better care of his diabetes than I did my own. And yet, I still felt guilty when his liver failed and he died, asking myself if I could have done better.
I did put some new postcards on BobetteBryan.com from material I wrote today, including: God Speaks
and a couple of simple thank you cards. Here's the link to Where We're Going.
I've also added several new poems to the poetry page...which I'm hesitant to do as I've not gone over them. I wrote many more as well, but I'll need to carefully consider whether I should publish them there as they are very erotic.
Thanks for your emails. If you left a message in my guestbook tonight, I haven't read it because I couldn't login.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 11, 2010
A Celebration of Friendship
A close friend of the family died. He committed suicide. I'm in shock. And am so sorry for his loss. He was such a wonderful person with so much to live for. Everyone thought he was happy. It seemed like he had everything. He'd invented a plumbing tool years ago that made him wealthy, and he ran a business he enjoyed. He'd bought a new Jaguar in December, a top-of-the-line computer, and had just returned from a lavish vacation. He had everything--except love. That's what he really wanted.
He had a seemingly tough exterior, and the things he'd say would probably send many people running. He ventured far from being politically correct and made no apologies for it. He would relay gossip to us about everyone in town. And, at times, he almost seemed like an Archie Bunker hold over. I loved to hear him talk, because the things he'd say were so outrageous that it always struck me funny. But his cold side was all an act. He had a soft interior with a heart that was warm and beautiful. He was always willing to reach out and help others. I learned tonight that he'd been taking in homeless people and doing other charitable work. That shocked me too. I would never have thought that he'd do that.
I wrote a friendship card in his Honor: Gifts of the Heart. It's not about death but a celebration of life and friendship that you can share with someone special.
A reader had said in my guestbook that he thought some of my poetry revealed that someone I cared about died. Since 2004, four people whom
I was close to died, including an aunt and three close friends. In my Lessons of Friendship card, I say: "the people we love the most
are often taken away from us too soon," and I truly meant that. We never know how much time anyone has left, including ourselves. No one comes with guarantees. So make the time you have left count. And if you have a friend whom you've been neglecting or perhaps a close family member that you haven't spoken to in a while, today is a great day to let them know you care.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 10, 2010
A Beautiful Day
I'm so behind schedule today, but I wanted to drop by and announce my latest fullpage greeting, A Beautiful Day, which is a bright and sunny card to lift someone's spirit this winter. This is a great card to send to all of your family and friends.
I've also added a short poem, "For Love," on my poetry page.
I'm in the midst of creating Valentine's Day cards, and I intend to spend some time away from my computer today so that I can write some more Valentine's Day poems.
Sarah, thanks for telling me about my poem, "Love's Journey," being used on that blog. The text above it is also from one of my PassionUp cards: "Unexpected Rain." It upsets me when my poetry is used without author attribution.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 8, 2010
I'm Not Ignoring You!
I've received a lot of emails the past couple of days from friends and ButterflyWebGraphics members, telling me they've tried to email me several times and received no response. I'm horrified that people think I was purposely ignoring them. I wouldn't do this! If you've written to me, and I didn't reply, then I didn't receive your email. I think this is due to that old hard drive not working properly--a few days ago my primary hard drive died. I knew that an occasional email would bounce but I'd thought it was just because my ISP has a strict email filter on my account due to all of the viruses I receive. I didn't know that so much legitimate mail wasn't coming through.
I'm getting ready to work on some new cards. I slept much of the day. I'm feeling worn out right now, following that surgery. And it's so cold outside. It's supposed to drop down to -15 tonight and with wind chills it will feel like it's around -35. That's too cold for me. It makes me want to sleep. I'll be glad when this cold spell passes. I look forward to February and its promise of spring.
A few days ago, I brought in one of the stray cats I take care of, out of fear that he'd freeze to death--a big black and white cat that I've dubbed "Hamlet." He was completely wild, and over the past few months, I've earned his trust and tamed him. People say this can't be done, but it worked with him, though he's having difficulty accepting being inside.
There's also a black and white female, probably his sister, who will let me pet her from time to time, but she's still wild at heart, and though I've tried and tried these past few days to catch her and get her in from the cold, I've been unsuccessful. We put a house on the porch for her and there are blankets inside it for her to curl up in, so she's not without shelter, but I'm still worried about her...especially tonight.
Well, I'll update this post when I have new cards or other news to announce.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 7, 2010 Continued
A Prayer
Well, I got some writing done tonight, and I posted a few poems on the poetry page, but I'm too tired to make any new cards tonight. Tomorrow, I will, and I'll make a greeting card with that "Prayer" poem I wrote tonight. It will be interesting to see if people like a prayer that's a little atypical. I may remove the "casting off of clothes" line...I'm not sure. I'm too sleepy to think it out.
Oh, and Jamie Cameron, very amusing. Though some of what you said is correct, the same could likely be said for just about everyone.
Goodnight!
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 7, 2010
My Heart
I've updated ButterflyWebGraphics.com today with some adorable Goth girls and Scary Bears. I love Goth graphics; they're among my favorites. As I rendered them today and yesterday, I listened to one of my favorite groups Nickelback. I found a bunch of my favorite Nickleback songs on Youtube and saved them to my favorites. I have all of their music on CD, but it's easier to access their songs on Youtube when I'm working. You can check them out here. I listen to heavier rock when I'm creating graphics or doing design work, but I can't do that when I write poety and need quiet so I can hear my own words.
I also created a new Valentine's Day Full page greeting card: My Heart for your true love.
Now, I'm going downstairs to write some poetry...as it's possible that I lost much of the poetry I've written these past few months due to my harddrive failure. And unfortunately, I've been throwing away the pages in my notebooks after I transcribe them. I never used to do that. I used to keep every scrap of paper, but that builds up fast into scary mountains and so I was trying to avoid that. Too bad. I won't know what all is lost until I go over the external drive that now holds the remains of the old computer files. My son saved what he could for me, but found that much of the secondary drive was corrupt--all of the main drive is toast.
Well, I better run in hopes that I can claim the parlor before one of my sons puts on a movie in the adjoining room and drives me out. All three are home today as we've suffered yet another bad winter storm and the roads are dangerous.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 6, 2010
I'm Alive!
I had my surgery and am doing well. Everything went smoothly. My recovery has been quick. I'm sure I'll be myself in no time. After my surgery, I was ravenous from having to fast overnight (I'm diabetic so this is always scary) so we stopped at a Chinese buffet on the way home. When we got home, I immediately went to bed and slept 12 hours. When I woke up, I felt wonderful, very little pain. In fact, I'm on my computer tonight, rendering 3D graphics for a new graphics package I hope to feature on Butterflywebgraphics.com sometime this morning.
I do have some bad news to report. My old computer died. Now I'm having to access the internet with the computer that I render 3D graphics on (which has the horrid Vista on it). It has a wide screen monitor and so everything looks much different. It's strange being online on a different computer. At first, I felt lost but I'm starting to get used to it. Apparently, the main drive died, and it's not fixable. I don't know what all I've lost so far other than many years of emails and a lot of treasured photoshop layer styles. The old computer is 9-10 years old, so it wasn't completely unexpected. All the poetry I've written these past few months is on a secondary (good) drive on the old computer, and I'm unable to access it. I can't stick that drive in this computer, because it's too old and incompatible, so I'm going to have to write something new for my latest cards until I can get the data off that drive.
Also, I fixed the New Year card, Believe realizing that it had an extra "Your" in it that I didn't notice--so embarrassing--this is from working many hours and not getting enough sleep. And then I noticed that the text on the new Valentines Day card and a couple of others, including, I Write For You wasn't centered. I probably wouldn't have noticed it at all if I hadn't gotten online with my widescreen monitor as it looks fine on my other monitor. I've fixed all of these cards. Please, let me know if you see any errors like these, and I'll fix them ASAP.
This is another example of why it's important to check a webpage on various monitors.
And I see that I accidentally deleted one of my entries below--I must be on a roll here--so I wanted to state again, that the site one of you mentioned in my guestbook who had stolen creative material from me was a competitive graphics site, NOT the site that was mentioned (I edited that part to remove the name) in the guestbook. And that problem was resolved. I also deleted another guestbook entry that I thought might be offensive. Yes, I was offered a position with another greeting card company, but I don't intend to accept it for many personal reasons, including the fact that I'd have to move to another state. I'm happy working online and doing my own thing. It's really not about money. My goal right now is to become a better poet.
My husband nags me too. He wants me to send my poetry to print publications. But I don't care about print. I can reach a wider audience online. And would much rather remain the "People's Poet" and be in touch with my readers rather than subject my work to some snobby literary magazine where some crusty old English professors can debate what it all means. I reserve print for my novels.
Thank you for your many warm comments and the wonderful letters you've sent me. And yes, Dustin Greg, redheads are magical.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 3, 2010 Continued
Important Notice!
I've replaced the "Send this card to a friend" link on all of the full-page greetings and installed a script on my web server. So if you've had difficulty sending a card, please try again. The card notification program is now hosted on BobetteBryan.com instead of with a third party, and the recipient should receive the notification immediately after you send a card. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.
I've also added a Valentine's Day version of my popular Love Sonnet...only this time with an adorable cupid. Here's the link: Love Sonnet Valentine's Day Version. For those of you who've asked, yes, I'm going to write some more love sonnets. Of course I am.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 3, 2010
Full Page Greetings and Birthday Ecards
I've learned from some readers that the email notification, which is going through a third party, isn't working on the full-page greetings. Some have said that the recipient never received the new year's cards they sent. One lady has been trying to send the fireworks new year card since December 30. So I tried it myself, and, indeed, I never received a card notification. So today, I've been working to install a new tell a friend script. And I'll be removing that third party tell a friend link with the new one. I'll let you know when I complete the task. It's top priority. Hopefully, I'll resolve the problem before I have surgery on Tuesday.
I'm continuing to build up the postcard type greetings on bobettebryan.com and have added some more birthday cards. I need to add many birthday cards, and it will be a major focus during the next few months.
Here are the links:
Your Birthday (For your love)
Your Birthday (For a Close Friend)
Your Birthday (For your Daughter)
P.S. I noticed that I'd accidentally overwritten a birthday ecard I'd created in 2006, "Most Beautiful." I've replaced it, altered it a bit, and added a version with a blue candle for him.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
January 1, 2010
New Holiday and Occasion Cards
I've been up working all night. I'm trying to get on a day schedule so I'm staying up today so I'll sleep tonight. I do this all the time--especially when I have something on my mind, and I do right now.
At least I used the time well and created some much needed occasion and holiday postcards for BobetteBryan.com. Here are the links:
Thinking of You
No text--just a cute teddy bear postcard.
Prayer for A New Mother
A prayer from a parent for a daughter who's about to become a mother. I'll also soon create a sister and friend version of this poem.
Thank You Friend
A friendship valentine with unusual graphics. I put a lot of design work into this one for a very unique look.
Happy Mother's Day!
I know...you're probably wondering why in the world I'm posting a mother's day card in January...or even working on them. I'm just working on what I feel like doing right now, and I need to create my holiday cards in advance so I'm going where inspiration is taking me. And I know it's early, but I'm mentioning it here so that you won't forget it, and because I did a lot of time-consuming design work on the card. LOL!
Valentine's Day Bear
This is a cute and cheerful Valentine's Day card, similar to the cards that were around when I was a kid--ages ago. This one took a lot of design work too.
Perfect for Each Other.
Just a simple and irrestible romance postcard. Not many words are needed here. The image says it all.
His Dream
A Martin Luther King Day card I created in Flash. That's the next holiday. MLK Day is on January 18. I'm trying to grow in Flash. I ordered the "Flash Bible," from Amazon a couple of days ago, and I'm watching the mail for it.
Well, that's it for now. There's sure to be much more tomorrow.
P.S. Family and friends, please, if you have something personal to say to me, email me or call me rather than put it in my guestbook. I have it set to be moderated, but that doesn't always work. Sometimes messages post without my approval. Maybe one of these days, I'll replace it with a better address book.
Bobette Bryan
Announcements
December 31, 2009
Happy New Year!
It will soon be a new year...I know it's already a new year where many of you live. So Happy New Year! I wish you great things in the year ahead, including a dream come true.
I wanted to mention another New Year card I added to BobetteBryan.com: New Year Hope. Even if you don't send it, I hope you will keep the message in your heart, during the year ahead.
I've also created a romance card with a beautiful lyrical poem, in both a full page version and a postcard version. Here are the links:
On Silver Wings Fullpage Version.
On Silver Wings Postcard Version.
Many blessings to you and yours in the new year,
Bobette Bryan
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