Okay, so it's not the new adventures of Winnie the Pooh, but it is the new adventures of me...This picture is just cuter. 

Now that August is nearly upon us, I'm thinking it's time to share my latest news in writing land. 

You might have noticed that in the last month or so I've been focusing primarily on my TV Moms Examiner column and less and less on my Billings Early Childhood/Parenting things. There's a reason for that. 

Earlier this month I met with the founder of the local magazine I regularly submit articles to and starting in August I'll be taking on a more active role on their website. I'll be doing some blogging about various parenting topics for them, and I'm excited to see where this will take me. This doesn't mean that I'm totally abandoning my Billings Examiner column, but odds are you'll only see the occasional article published there from here on out. I'll of course keep you posted on where and how you can keep up with me on the Simply Family website once everything gets up and running. 

Also in the land of random, but awesome: in July I had received an e-mail about a scavenger hunt that DoSomething.org was putting on with the suggestion that it might be a good tie-in for my TV Moms column. I definitely agreed and this exchange turned out to be a beautiful God-incidence in the making. Working on an upcoming piece for a magazine, the person who e-mailed me turned out to be the perfect source. She was incredible in answering my questions and it was just all around amazing. When I can let you know a little more about that, I totally will. 

Until then...Stay tuned, and thanks for reading. 

I've always said that if you're going to choose to write about something that could be considered controversial, you've got to be prepared for the responses you get. I still think that, but I thought I'd toss out a response of sorts to some of the comments I've been getting on the Amy Winehouse post I put up on Saturday. 

First, can I say: thanks for taking the time to comment - I'm a writer so knowing someone is reading what I've written never hurts my feelings - even if we disagree. Second, I know there are incredibly important, powerful, and devastating things happening in our world at large. I promise you I'm not totally oblivious. My lack of coverage on various world topics isn't a lack of caring, it's just not the direction I usually go in my writing. 

There are certain things I absolutely don't feel qualified to comment on and there are others that I don't feel fall in my niche. I have my opinions - we all do, but I'd say it's safe to say that you will never catch me using my corner of the web for a place to discuss the latest political happenings or major world events (I'm talking honest-to-God news here). That's not who I am.

You'll have your opinions and I'll have mine, but mostly this blog is just me putting out whatever random thoughts that happen to be flitting through my brain that day or letting you know what kind of progress or epic fail I've experienced with my writing. 

Ahhh, with all of that said, I do think debate is important so really and truly; thanks for stopping by, reading my work, and taking the time to comment. It keeps things interesting. 

Until next time...

News of singer Amy Winehouse's death hit the web this afternoon, July 23, 2011, and it has created a flurry of reactions across the massive community that is the internet. 

I'm not popping in today to give you any of the news information on her death, rather, I want to talk about people's reactions to this news. 

Amy Winehouse was 27 years old, an incredible artist, and an addict. But above all she was a human being. It seems that basic concept is forgotten when you see people respond with blasé  statements, like: 

~ It was only a matter of time.
~ No shocker there. 
~ Sad, but not surprising. 
~ GOOD!!! 
~ Not at all surprised.
                    --via Twitter and Facebook
I could go on, but it should be noted that the cause of death has not been determined yet. We can assume all we want, but as of this writing we don't know how or why she died. Even if eventually we learn that she died as a result of drug usage, can't we demonstrate a little compassion for those left behind and a lost life? 

Obviously everyone has a right to their own opinions, but out there in the real world Amy Winehouse has friends and family who love her - faults and all. Not one of us is perfect, yet it's so easy to toss judgments out. I do it; we all do. But today I just want us to think of one thing - there are people whose worlds shattered today because Ms. Winehouse is no longer in it. 

And let us not forget there's a lot going on in our world at large today that could use our sensitivity, sympathy, and prayers. Those coping with and recovering from the attack in Norway, our military, and countless individuals whose stories will never be told. 

I guess what I'm saying is, let's take it back to kindergarten: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. 

Thanks for letting me divert from the norm.