#bloggingoninstagram

Do you listen to podcasts? If so, do you have a favorite podcaster? 

I’m not sure why I’d only occasionally listened to podcast episodes , but I’ve become a fan.

Two weeks ago, I connected with Rod & Inci Jones at @thoughtrowpodcast.️As we talked during the pre-interview, I felt like I’d known them forever.  We discovered we had shared memories & experiences from the heyday of advertising & commercial photography.  I realized they really are the podcast pros from Dover & was very impressed by their pre-production prep. 

The interview went live today. I’ve included a link above,  & I hope you’ll give it a listen.  We talk about a lot of stuff, including life, social media & Instagram. I also urge you to follow the art,  writing ✍️& interviews you’ll find on @rodjonesartist & @incijonesartist. They’re lovely & talented people. ‍❤️‍‍

During the interview, I mention my grandmother twice.  I loved her the best of all.  In the Polaroid picture above from around 1990, I’m wearing a Paul McCartney T-shirt —a souvenir of seeing him perform during the Seattle stop of his world tour.  It was fun to see Paul & my grandma in one photo because I told Rod & Inci that I’d planned to marry Paul when I grew up! 

Speaking of grandparents,  a week ago Wednesday, my husband & I officially joined the club.  We are thrilled! We haven’t yet met our twin granddaughters in person,  but I’m planning to meet them next week feel SUPER excited about it! 

I think my grandmother would be proud of me & the person I became. ❤️ She’s been gone for a long time & she still inspires me.

Do you have grandparents & feel the same way about them? OR are you grandparents & feel unconditional love for your grandchildren? Is it an intuitive feeling? 

I’m looking forward to finding out.
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PHOTOS: My grandma & me; A very professional #ThoughtRowPodcast promo created by Rod & Inci; a throwback photo of my #grandparents; #applepie made today with #Spitzenburg apples
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#grandmothers #grandparentsarethebest #podcastshow #podcasters #paulmccartney #bloggingonInstagram

Thank you again, @soniabublaitis, for introducing me to Rod & Inci!
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. (at Hood River, Oregon)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXDZMDtvuIn/?utm_medium=tumblr

How do you manage your schedules? On your phone, a printed calendar/diary, or a combination? ️

I’ve asked a similar question before, but it seems online scheduling services multiplied like rabbits while I wasn’t paying attention. (Hmm. It’s kinda like what happened with me & LinkedIn! ) There are now lots of options & they all seem to offer free & paid versions.

Do we need them? I recently met @lonelyroadlover #IRL & we agreed on details via IG DMs. I manually added the date to my Google calendar. Super easy! ✅

Last month I attended a post-launch authors’ workshop for my writing cohort, & I had a few side conversations in the chat window. One was with @dcasha, a fellow author who smart & nice & I wanted to get to know her better. We met on Zoom & clicked. We ended up exchanging copies of our books.

Asha used an appointment service that was unfamiliar to me —youcanbook.me. It worked great & even sent reminders. Most people I know use Calendly or a Google invite to schedule meetings. Have you tried any of these options?

Scheduling apps let you see a list of times when a person is free & you choose one. Boom. Done. Sync to calendar.

It used to be people talked on the phone ☎️ & agreed to get together. Now it seems we plan via email or text. Talking or emailing & texting is personal but take time. ⏳ Scheduling apps are fast⏩ and impersonal, but they address that 1) We are so busy ‍♀️ and; 2) We know we’re going to meet so no need for chit chat beforehand? ️

Whether you use them for travel, ✈️ business, or planning lunches or dinners,‍ scheduling apps can be great. If you don’t already use a scheduling app, do you want to try one?
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UPDATE: #BloggingOnInstagram hardbound edition: My Afterword is in review along with appendix citations. Next step: copy editing, layout & dust jacket!
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PHOTO #MISHMASH: Sarah & me in the historic #PanamaHotel in #japantown; Traveled a lot in #November2016 - #centralcoast #monterey #surferlife; #140conf #Whotel; #schedule #apps #meetups #firsttimeauthor
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. (at Monterey, California)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWfWV9fLNL4/?utm_medium=tumblr

Do you use LinkedIn? On a recent walk at Alki Beach  I was thinking about why I use it.

My account was dormant for several years  & I brought it back to life when the #BloggingonInstagram Indiegogo campaign launched.  I didn’t realize how robust LinkedIn had become, ️ & since my book was published, I’ve been trying to post & check in more often. ✅

When I log in, I feel overwhelmed & anxious.  There are so many updates & posts by people that I should be seeing, ️ liking ♥️ & engaging with.  Do I worry about comments & likes on my posts?  No. Yet, just as is the case here, reciprocity & engagement are keys to making it successful & I feel I should do more.  Nearly every time I’m on LinkedIn, I feel an overwhelming urge to leave as soon as possible. ‍♀️ If you use it, I’m wondering if this happens to you, too?

@Tim_Hughes1 @Rodjonesartist @dcasha ⚡ & others have tagged me in posts that have included a bunch of important people.  I’ve felt honored & flattered & haven’t always been sure what to do. ‍♀️ In some cases I’ve shared the post, but I didn’t jump in & start chatting with new faces. ️ I know that’s how conversations start here, or on Twitter.  Why not there?

When I first joined LinkedIn, it was exclusive and invitation only & its users were expected to add only known connections. ☑️ It was like a system of verification.  It’s now very similar to other social networks where the number of followers or connections is an important metric  & strangers frequently reach out to connect. 

This week a close friend told me he deleted his LinkedIn account  & found it quite satisfying!

If you’re on LinkedIn, what is the greatest benefit to you?  If you’re not on LinkedIn, are you interested in joining? ‍♂️ Why or why not?
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PHOTOS: Recent #Alki photos & a #Spitzenberg #applepie baked last night (@tpagosseattle).  It’s not my best-looking pie, but better crust this time, @rsimonson.sea!
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#alkibeach #westseattle #stormyskies #sunsetpic #seattleskyline #linkedin #linkedinmarketing #linkedinlife
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. (at Alki Beach Park)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWNV6ddrt5h/?utm_medium=tumblr

Do you read paperbacks, eBooks or hardbound books?

Right now my hardbound edition is in the works. Does it seem backwards ◀️ to have the paperback come out first?

For decades, publishers would first produce hardbound editions because that’s how it was always done. There was an incentive, too: Hardbacks generate more income & publishers could more quickly recover the author’s “advance” ✍️ + money spent on printing, marketing, shipping & distribution.

Paperbacks would be released a year later & give books a second life as a cheaper & more portable option. EBooks are even more portable. Despite the notion that printed books are dead, Pew Research revealed 37% of readers only read printed books; 28% read print+digital; & 27% read no books at all. (1% didn’t know!)

Hardbound books feel more substantial. I’m a collector of hardback books & felt #BloggingOnInstagram wouldn’t be real until it came out with a hard cover & dustjacket.

Doing the sequence backward has been a blessing. Shortly after my book went into production Instagram announced platform changes that drove me bonkers. There is no way a book on a technology-topic ⌨️ can be completely current unless it exists only as an eBook. By doing the hardback second, I have an opportunity to insert an extra chapter—The Afterword.

In the Afterword, I address some of the developments that happened since publishing. And even though things will keep changing, I feel better being able to mention some of them. Also, I misspelled someone’s name & this edition has given me a chance to fix it. If you opt for the hardbound edition, you’ll read about some of the changes.

Would you like to have a personal assistant? ‍♀️ Sometimes I feel like I need one. Thanks to @soniabublaitis, ‍ I met @rodjonesartist @thoughtrowpodcast who is helping me reach more people.

Thank you again for inspiring me to write my book. And happy birthday @queenhorsfall

PHOTOS: Hunter & Grey #caturdayeveryday #happycaturday #catinabox #catsinboxes #silvertabby #mainecoonkitty #mainecoonlove #firsttimeauthor #bookstagram #ndp (at Seattle, Washington)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CV7Nz4cL-Tb/?utm_medium=tumblr

Do you have arachnophobia? 

Halloween  is coming & it’s spider season. There seems to be a ton of them everywhere!

Last week @carole.m.hargrave posted a spider️ & I thought of it last night. There was a pretty big spider (when I was a kid we called them “daddy longlegs”) walking around in my bathtub.  I cupped him in my hands & put him in a small container on the windowsill while I drew a bath.

I read somewhere there is nothing worse than picking up an indoor spider & putting it outside. ️ It’s like a death sentence!  Anyhow, I left the room & when I came back, OMG, the spider was floating in the water!  It crawled out of the cup on the windowsill & went back into the bathtub filling with water . Did it have a death wish?! ☠️

I scooped it up & gently set it on a tissue & again left it on the windowsill. I gently blew on it to see if it was alive. ️ (It’s not like you can give a spider CPR!) It seemed drier. I thought I saw a small twitch but I assumed it was a goner. ⚰️ After my bath I checked on it. Still no movement.  Blew on it again. Nothing. ‍♀️

But one thing I noticed—it didn’t look all crunched up like spiders sometimes look when they’re really dead. 

The next day  I was doing my morning routine & noticed the tissue on the windowsill. The spider was GONE! Yay! I think he made it! 

It turns out spiders are around all year but @seaclarridge of the @seattletimes says right now they’re out searching for mates  & that’s why we see many more of them.

Do you have a fear of spiders or bugs? ️
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NEWS: Today was Sansei Lunch Club. So great to see my 3 long-time friends! ❤️ Also, I’m in the midst of signing & packing books going to Indiegogo supporters of #BloggingOnInstagram. Many have been shipped & few are being hand delivered. Today I dropped off books to Laura, George, Dave & Carol, Doug & Mike O.! More coming! [Book link is in my bio.]
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PHOTOS from Dave & Carol’s garden: #Autumntrees #japaneseanemone #fallenleaves. And another #bathtubspider! #spidersofinstagram #spiderseason #arachnophobia
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. (at Sand Point)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUzFxUBLX05/?utm_medium=tumblr

Is there someone who brings out the best in you?  How about the worst? 

There is a person in my life who drives me nuts.  We’ll get along for a while, but something will set her off, then BAM—she verbally jabs, berates & argues. Sometimes I take the bait & respond, & boy, it can escalate quickly. 

I try to get along with everyone. This kind of conflict doesn’t happen with my family ‍‍‍, friends  or colleagues. It just happens with this one person.  A few weeks ago there was another incident & I felt like it was the last straw. 

On the other hand, there are people who bring out my best.  One of them is my sister. ‍♀️ Throughout my adult life & especially during the pandemic, I’ve been grateful to have such a great friend, therapist & supporter all rolled into one person.  I wasn’t the nicest sister when we were kids, but as I grew up I realized how lucky I am &got better. 

When someone brings out your best, they believe in you. They’re not judgmental. ‍⚖️ They’re not critical.  They don’t compete with you & genuinely want what’s best for you.  They’re on your team.  Don’t we all need that?

The person who brings out my worst, makes me dislike myself AND the person.  I hate that she knows how to push my buttons.  My solution is to limit communications & only make contact if essential. Time & space helps. ⏳

Is there a toxic person in your life?  What’s your best remedy? And who is the person who brings out your best? 
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UPDATE — the $1.99 #ebook promo price of #BloggingOnInstagram expires 9/25! Hurry! #instagram #firsttimeauthor
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PHOTOS: My brother gave me tickets to Herbie Hancock  at the #ParamountTheatre #downtownSeattle. @jenniferannegood & I had great seats & enjoyed the show. I shot some photos & before the encore we walked down to the main floor by the #soundengineer. I was shooting a photo when a security guard told me, “No pictures.”  I had what I needed in my #GooglePixel  #jazzbaby #herbiehancock #headhunters #jazzfunk #livemusicphoto #pixelperfect
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. (at Paramount Theatre)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUPDtyRr4Pu/?utm_medium=tumblr

What happens when a bully grows up? 

Japanese TV station NHK World is showing a series on bullying. In the old days I think people who were bullied felt ashamed & embarrassed to be victims. I was.

Driving through the Beacon Hill neighborhood ️ always reminds me of middle & high school. Starting in the 7th grade, I was bullied by a “frenemy” who picked on me on & off for 5 years.  We hung around the same crowd of people  but she was sly & no one noticed. I always wondered why she chose me? 

She & I liked the same boy when we were in middle school. She enlisted a group of girls to threaten to beat me up after school.  I was petrified. The girls let me go without hurting me, but it really shook me up. 

The frenemy later worked on the H.S. paper  & attributed things to me that I never said, making some angry! And of course, she got away with it. 

The events happened decades years ago.  I’d like to purge her from my thoughts, but can’t. I’ve wondered if she’s given a moment’s thought to any of it? 

What makes a person bully & torment others for fun, & do they continue being a bully into adulthood? ‍♀️

We crossed paths again later as adults. ☠️ Our kids were in the same after-school program.  I had a successful design business & she was a low-level bureaucrat in the midst of getting a divorce. Not quite karma, but close!

  She acted as though nothing had ever happened. But it’s hard to believe someone can forget menacing another person. 

Have you ever been a bully,  or have you ever been bullied? Do you still remember why or how it felt, & did you ever resolve things with the other person? 

On another note, thanks to all of you who have supported #BloggingOnInstagram. If you purchased the book, please tag me in a shoutout so I can thank you! You’ve helped it rotate thru eight categories as #1 best new release!

Photos: In #JapantownSeattle. I met fellow author @p.s.travelstories. I have a few copies of my book & we did an exchange. #japantown #alleyway #alleywayart #kobeterrace #chinatownseattle #internationaldistrict #firstttimeauthor #bookexchange #homegrowntomatoes

(at Japantown Seattle)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CT9B4cdLbnm/?utm_medium=tumblr

How was your week? I hope it was great! Drum roll:  rat-a-tat-tat—my book is published!

I say with all seriousness, TGIF! 

“Blogging on Instagram”—both the eBook  & paperback —are now for sale on Amazon! I’ve compared writing this book to giving birth to a baby Asian elephant  (Asian elephants gestate 18-22 months, just like this book!) It took a lot of pushing to get this baby out into the world! ️

Wednesday I took a deep breath before uploading my files to Kindle Direct Publishing, Kobo & Ingraham Spark. I set up accounts on all three sites & followed precise directions for each to make sure I didn’t blow it. It was scary! 

My publisher, editor & #NDP team members were there to guide me. Luckily, I had a bullet-proof demo to show me the way. Four hours later (including a break for a cup of noodles) I’d triumphed. 

Guys, your comments  & interaction led to this book & many of you have been here from the start. I hoped to include a list of those who regularly engaged with my posts , but the proofing & verification proved too daunting. ❤️ My hope is to tag you in a series of IG stories to acknowledge you & show my appreciation. 

The top link in my bio leads to my book! The eBook has a promotional price of $1.99 USD until Sept. 25.  If you’re an active Amazon customer, you’ll be able to rate  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & review the book. ✍️ It would be SO awesome if you are able & willing to do that!

Backers of my Indiegogo campaign will receive their books in late Sept.  I’ll share the unboxing here! I haven’t yet received a physical copy myself! 

Have you gone through this publishing process?  Have you wanted to write a book? I’d love to hear about your experiences ️

Like Hunter & Grey, I plan to sleep a lot this weekend! Thank you again & happy #CaturdayEveryday!
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Photos via my publisher, #Amazon & me. #independentauthor #bloggingoninstagram #eBookstagram #paperbackbooks #contentmanagement #humancomputerinteraction #firsttimeauthor #kindledirectpublishing #sleepycats #sleepycatsofinstagram #catnapping
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  (at Seattle, Washington)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CTG-XSsLyV2/?utm_medium=tumblr

Do you ever get so immersed in something that everything else ceases to exist? I have a habit of hyperfocusing ️ on whatever I’m working on.

The past year I’ve spent writing my book ⌨️has been intense. but it wasn’t just writing ✍️—It’s all the other stuff I didn’t know I was going to have to do. 

In my head I thought I could write 50K words  & give it to someone who would clean it up & turn it into a book.  Not even close!

I’ve worked with four editors—each helped me through a stage of my book journey. ️ My marketing & revisions editor, @what_chauncey, has done most of the heavy lifting.  In addition to editing & advising ‍ he’s also been a wrangler & therapist. ‍⚕️ He knows so much. I’m starting to wonder how I’m going to carry on without him!

There have been many #sleeplessinseattle nights  I think caused by doing things outside my  comfort zone. Running a crowdfunding campaign felt like the worst,  until the IG announcement about moving to video & shopping️ which threw me for a loop. Gotta thank @phillip.wilcox.author for restoring calm. 

“Blogging on Instagram” is scheduled to be printed at the end of August. ️ I’m finalizing the cover & the interior layout right now.  You guys inspired my book.  Thank you all for your advice & for sharing your experiences with me.

I’ve been looking forward to free time, but learned I need to set up interviews ️ & develop an article series & other marketing activities.  I didn’t know I’d have to do stuff like this. Sometimes I want to crawl under the covers. 

And there’s more! I need to plan a book launch sometime in late September.  I’d love some advice or ideas! 

Have you planned a launch or opening event?  Can you think of a fun activity venue  or event that you’d enjoy if you could be here with me? I hope some of you can come, Covid permitting! 

Thanks again for your help!  Have a great weekend!
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Photos: #onmywalk #sewardparkloop. #boatingseason on #lakewashington #parkbench #sewardpark #seattlesummer #firsttimeauthor #bloggingoninstagram
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(at Seward Park)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSQ5Ampr2UC/?utm_medium=tumblr

When did podcasts become so popular?  Are you a fan? Do you have a favorite? 

When I studied digital marketing, @kylecbarber ‍ introduedpodcasting as a form of content creation. In 2019, I wasn’t a fan & didn’t recognize the importance.

Fast forward to 2022—In the past 10 days 3 podcasters allowed me to talk about my book, #BloggingonInstagram: @NealSchaffer ️, in Orange County, CA; @creativesensei ️ (Begona Pino) in Spain; & yesterday @tim_hughes1 ️ in the UK all generously shared their platforms with me. (Links in bio )

Tim’s was a “livestream”  which meant “NO DO-OVERS.” I searched for tips on how to be a better guest & I found an episode on @billysamoa’s “For the Love of Podcast” If you have a chance to be on a podcast, here are some good tips from Billy:

✅ —USE A SMALL, CARPETED ROOM  Low ceilings. Smaller is better. Soundwaves are absorbed by soft surfaces & prevent echos. Avoid large, barren rooms
✅ —CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT  Use an external mic & headphones
✅ —CHECK FOR STRONG WIFI 
✅ —BE CAMERA-READY & have a nice background 
✅ —BE PREPARED TO DELIVER VALUE & share insights & actionable nuggets of wisdom
✅ —HAVE A CLEAR POINT OF VIEW  Share unique perspective so people will remember
✅ —KNOW THE AUDIENCE & know who is listening  Then you know how to serve them
✅ —TURN OFF NOISEMAKERS:  AC/Fans, appliances, notifications, etc.
✅ —MAKE SURE YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT HEAD SPACE ‍♀️ Get settled. Take 15-30 minutes to prepare. Arrive 5 minutes early
✅ —MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS READY ️ Do vocal exercises & have water on hand

I didn’t follow all tips, but practice makes perfect.  Thanks to earlier hosts @sacredvisionsstudio, @thoughtrowpodcast & @whenitworked for also sharing their platforms with me.   (Links in bio)

Do you have expertise that others could learn from? ‍ Would you like to be a guest on a podcast? 

I’d be grateful to have you check out the links in my bio! Thank you! 
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PHOTOS – Me with my hardbound book #Podcastpromotion
#firsttimeauthor #bookpromotion #podcasttips #podcastinterview #podcastlovers #podcastofInstagram #podcastlove #podcasters #contentmarketingtips #howtopodcast
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(at Seattle, Washington)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccr0YgPuwnC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Do you endlessly ponder your options, or can you make quick decisions? I’m 50/50.

3 weeks ago, fellow Creator Institute author Begoña Pinoinvited me to be a guest on her podcast. We had a fun, unscripted conversation about our books. Hers, “Join the Playful Revolution,” is about how play can make us happier & help creativity flourish. Mine, “Blogging on Instagram,” is about using Instagram as a rewarding & easy writing platform.✍️.

After I published my book last August, it was frustrating as Instagram announced lots of new features. When I had a chance to produce my hardbound version, I included some of them in a new Afterword . My book also has a dust jacket, so I had 2 extra panels for text. ⏳I spent time at @elliottbaybookco perusing business books for ideas.

I knew what to do but designers are the worst design clients, so it took many text & design tweaks before my hardback book was published last month by New Degree Press. 

After a book is published, a new journey starts with the quest for guest blogging & podcast  opportunities . I’m grateful to find generous folks who are willing to share their platforms with me. They give me a chance to reach new audiences. 

Begoña is one of those people. ️ We’re both new at podcasts but had a great rapport. Toward the end she asked if I’m facing any problems that she could help solve?

I told her I need to decide what to do next? She created a simple decision matrix for me that I’m sharing above (swipe right). Now I just need to plug in the variables & see what surfaces‍♀️. When the podcast is live, you’ll see it in my Linktree.️ I hope you’ll give it a listen! 

How do you make decisions? Do you toss a coin?  Do you list pros & cons  , or do you usually intuitively know what to do? 
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PHOTOS:
#springblossoms #springforward #redtwigdogwood w/ Bill & Charmaine #hellebore #camelia #decisionmaking
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#Firsttimeauthor #BloggingonInstagram #hardbound #hardback #graphicdesignchallenge #bookediting #hardbackbook #dustjacket #bookdesign #podcastsofinstagram #whatnext
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. (at Big Fish Grill Issaquah)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbRqLboubGk/?utm_medium=tumblr

Raise your hand if you’re ready to say hello to 2022! 

This year, thanks to many of you, I published a book . I was interviewed on 3 podcasts  (links in bio); I became a grandparent ‍. And during my first trip to Kentucky I got close to my first tornado! ️ I returned to Seattle where a ton of snow fell ☃️ & we had the coldest day in 31 years.❄️

In 2021 there were simple pleasures like seeing friends for lunch,  meeting new ones, & taking a break from social media.  It was weird how good it felt to step away from Twitter,  IG & more. It made me think how much more productive I was before the iPhone. 

It was wonderful to see @queenhorsfall & our oldest son after a 2-year gap. Meeting our new twin granddaughters—2 tiny, adorable & entertaining people,  was joyful. Our son & daughter-in-law are amazing parents. ‍‍‍ I don’t think I could’ve managed 2 babies at once.

In King County  where Seattle is located, 96% of people aged 16 & older have been vaccinated, so life was feeling pretty “normal” here.  A few friends of friends got mild cases of covid,  but mostly, coronavirus hasn’t been top of mind until very recently. 

Omicron chipped away at the confidence of companies, attendees & exhibitors, & I canceled my trip to CES (Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas ) as a social media influencer. #CES2022 ️ IRL is no longer an option for me, so I’ll attend virtually. ‍

What was the best or worst about 2021 for you?  What do you look forward to in 2022?
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PHOTOS: #Granddaughters, SNOW! #TopNine and top nine identified by Instagram data
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#kentuckytornado #grandbabies #twinsisters #vaccinationdone✔️ #firsttimeauthor #newauthor #bloggingonInstagram #podcastshows #hello2022 #seattlelove #seattlesnow #SeattleSnowpocalypse #bookstagrammers
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https://www.instagram.com/p/CYLhR2brZpA/?utm_medium=tumblr