Zen Monday: #231

 

It's hard for me not to tell you what I think of this photo. But on Zen Monday, that job is yours.

photos by John Sandel 

(PS: I'm trying out new templates and styles to see what works. I'll appreciate your comments and suggestions.) 

Zen Monday #230

Pardon the saturation and the oversized photo. I want to make sure you can read it.

Zen Monday: #229

Enlarge this one if you need to. I'm hoping somebody has an explanation.

Zen Monday: #229

And now, it's time for your Monday Zen.

Zen Monday: #228

I realize the picture is huge. I hope it doesn't take too long to load. I just want to make sure you can read it.

Oh, I love my Monday Zen.

Zen Monday: #227

I'm sorry we skipped our Zen last week. It was New Year's Day, or Halloween or something, and I forgot.

Regarding today's photo, I was bummed that my camera focused on the background instead of the important information about Hell. Then I discovered the neighborhood had been plastered with these bits of litter paper, so we can all find out what we need to know.

 

I don't usually share this much information on Mondays, but I'm anticipating the flood of requests.

Zen Monday: #226

It's Christmas Eve and Zen Monday. What to do? If I must choose (and I must, because I don't have a Zen Christmas Eve photo), then I choose Zen Monday.

Zen Monday: #225

It's Zen Monday, your turn to tell us what the photo's about. There's no competition. Just say what comes to mind.

Zen Monday: #224

Monday is the day I ask you to write the caption for the photo. Sometimes I choose the Zen Monday shot because I think it'll be fun, and sometimes I choose it because I don't know what to say.

Zen Monday: #223

If you're a Zen Monday regular, I don't need to say anything.

If you're not: Zen Monday is the day you tell us what the photo's about, rather than me telling you. The idea is (very loosely) based on the concept of Zen teaching, where a pupil learns through experience rather than through conventional methods like lectures. So please experience the photo and tell us what you've learned.

Zen Monday: #222

Rainy days and Mondays always get Boz down. Even Zen Mondays.

If Boz could sing, I don't think he'd sound like Karen Carpenter. I think he would sound like Robert Plant.

Sorry to go on. Zen Monday is supposed to be the day when you caption the photo instead of me. But feel free to add links to your favorite rain songs, if you're so inclined.

Zen Monday: #221

guest photographer: Ginab's friend Tom

Weehee! It's Monday! And a Zen Monday photo is just that: a Zen Monday photo. It is what it is. I mean, what is it? You tell us.

Zen Monday: #220

On Zen Monday, you write the caption instead of me. Please have at it in the comments.

**********

On the Camelot Where You Are front, a decisive victory to report:

Lisa is the winner, with #28 from Thursday, Lancelot's Love Bulletin. Congratulations, Lisa! You win a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, as soon as it comes out. (Before Christmas, I hope! Fingers crossed.)

Zen Monday #219

There is much I could tell you about this photo, but as is my wont, I won't. Instead, how about you tell us?

Zen Monday: #218

Some out-of-Pasadena (though not out-of California) Zen today.

**********

Kids and dogs, people, kids and dogs.

The winner of last Week's Camelot Where You Are contest is Susan, with her Wednesday rendition of #24, the Camelot Preschool (click the link or just scroll down to view). Congratulations, Susan! And thank you all for your entries. Susan wins a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, which, believe it or not, really will be published in the not-too-distant future. It's not happening as fast as I'd hoped, but it's happening.

Here are the stats. (Kids and dogs, I'm telling you.)

Currently, I have two more contest entries. I'm holding onto them until I get two more so we''ll have some competition. If we don't get two more, we'll have a run-off. One is from my New Zealander friend who lives in Germany and took the photo in New Hampshire. The other is a charmer from a blogger the Chieftess found. If you haven't sent in your entry, the details are here.

Zen Monday: #217

Zen Monday's the day when you write the copy. Just tell us what comes to mind.

I love Mondays. It's so nice to see you all.










For updates on my publishing misadventures and the Camelot Where You Are contest, please read below the asterisks.




**********

Oh hey! Nice to see you down here. 

I'm forging ahead with the publication of Camelot & Vine, my novel about a failing Hollywood actress who, on her fortieth birthday, gets fired from her cheesy acting job, catches her boyfriend in the arms of his wife, gets drunk on a flight to London, collides on horseback with a Mercedes, flies through a gap in time and lands in the sixth century, accidentally saving King Arthur's Life.

So far, forty sucks. And it's about to suck. more.
 
It pains me to tell you I might not have the book ready before the end of this month. So I'm readjusting my hopes, and my fondest wish is to have it ready long before Christmas.

Meanwhile, the rate of receipt of entries for the Camelot Where You Are contest has slowed, which works out because we have the best of both worlds: some contest, some blog. This week I have enough entries, so we'll do the contest. Stop by during the week and check them out. If you'd like to enter, read the rules (or lack thereof) and send in a photo!

Zen Monday: #216

photo by John Sandel

Here is your Monday Zen.

Now you say something.

**********

We're taking a break from the Camelot Where You Are photo contest this week but we'll get back to it next week. Details are here.

Last week's winner is (drumroll)
Ann Erdman, with #19, the Knight in Shining Armor at Avalon Lake!
Here's how it all shook out:

 

Thank you all for participating. The winner gets a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, when it comes out (more on that this week). 

I want to come up with a prize for everyone who enters. I'm wracking my brains but bookmarks just don't cut it. Any ideas?

Zen Monday: #215

Zen Monday returns!

Zen Monday is the day when you tell us what the photo's about, rather than me telling you. For newcomers: the idea is loosely (very loosely) based on the Zen practice of teaching and learning through action and example, rather than through didactic lectures.

So basically, you already know what this photo's about. Just say what comes to mind.

**********

Here's the latest on the Camelot Where You Are photo contest:

The winner of last week's round is Katie, with #15, House of Shields!
(You are a bunch of lushes, aren't you?)

Congratulations, Katie! Thank you all so much for entering. Every photo last week was imaginative, beautiful and spectacular.

The contest returns tomorrow, with four entries this week. The rate of receipt of entries is diminishing so we might take next week off. According to the contest rules, I'm accepting entries until the date of publication. So far the rules are working, so I'm sticking to them.

I still don't have a definite publication date, so the contest continues!

Zen Monday: #214

We like our Zen Mondays around here, we surely do. Monday is the day you tell us what the photo's about, rather than me describing it for you.

 **********

I will likely skip Zen Monday next week, and perhaps the week after, to accommodate entries to the Camelot Where You Are photo contest. We're having a good time with this, so enter a photo! The instructions are here (it's super easy) and each week's winner gets a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, upon its release in October. Come back throughout the week to see entries from around the world. Tomorrow's is from Torino, Italy!

************************

Good morning! Boz and I are exercized, I'm coffeed, the day begins.

I apologize for last night's glitch with the poll. Susan C. was unable to vote at 10:25pm LA time, and that shouldn't have been the case. I thought I had set the thing for Pacific time, but I take responsibility for the problem. In any case, our front runner was far enough ahead that a tie is unlikely.

I haven't sent polldaddy to export results to the blog, so if you'd like to receive a pdf of the tally just email me and I'll be glad to send it to you.

Drum roll, please!

The winner is #2, Chris, with King Arthur Flour! Chris wins a free copy (signed, if she wishes) of Camelot & Vine, which comes out in October if we all cross our fingers.

Congratulations, Chris! And thank you all for entering. The contest continues until the book comes out, if we get enough entries. Details (it's easy) are here.

Zen Monday: #213

It's Zen Monday all over again, the day you tell us what the photo's about rather than me telling you. Experience it, tell it, that's Monday Zen.

**********

The Camelot Where You Are photo contest starts tomorrow and I've already received entries from around the world! I'm so excited I almost time-traveled. I hope you're planning to enter, because each week I'll be giving away a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine. Details are here. Go find some Camelot Where You Are, take a picture of it and send it in!