Monday, May 26, 2014

NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY of the PACIFIC


NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY of the PACIFIC
(Punchbowl Cemetery)

Memorial Day honors all who served in the military and took an oath to protect their country, the United States of America. The annual ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl in Honolulu reflects the pride of all who served and the appreciation of those whose freedoms have been defended.
 
 

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known locally as “Punchbowl Cemetery” occupies much of Punchbowl Crater. It has a small chapel and a tribute to the battles fought in the Pacific. It honors the men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces.
 
 
 
On Memorial Day, each grave is draped with a flag and a hand strung Hawaiian lei.
 
 




The statue of Lady Columbia
is also known as Lady Liberty, or Justice.
She stands 30 feet high.
 
 
 

IN THESE GARDENS ARE RECORDED
THE NAMES OF AMERICANS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
AND WHOSE EARTHLY RESTING PLACE
IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD
(plaque behind wreath)
 
 
All photographs taken today, May 26, 2014
during the Memorial Day ceremony
at Punchbowl in Honolulu.
 
 
Retiring of the Colors
 
 
All graves are decorated with flags and leis
for Memorial Day
Hand strung Hawaiian leis placed at each gravesite
 
 
 
 


 
The Memorial Day ceremony culminates each year with a 21-gun salute, which constitutes the sum total of 1776, the year of our independence; the playing of the national anthem by the Royal Hawaiian Band; and the retiring of the colors.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Z-to-A LOOKING BACK at APRIL AtoZCHALLENGE

 
For a blogger, surviving April has special meaning. As many bloggers know, April is the month of the AtoZChallenge originated launched by Arlee Bird and co-hosted this year by: 
      Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out                   Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh 
      Author Stephen Tremp                           Tina @ Life is Good 
      Damyanti @ Amlokiblogs                      Jeremy @ Being Retro
      Nicole Ayers - The Madlab Post            M. J. Joachim's Writing Tips 

      Heather M. Gardner     AJ @ Naturally Sweet     and     Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian 

Bloggers follow the alphabet around the calendar for the month, posting articles with alphabet titles such as C is for Collapsing Coastlines from http://positiveletters.blogspot.com/ ; Melissa's Imaginarium Ferris Wheel at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 http://melissasimaginarium.blogspot.com/ ; and Hauntings: Zoos http://lexacain.blogspot.com/2014/04/hauntings-zoos.html .  
 
My theme this year was Blues, Pupus, and Reviews (pupus being the hors d’oeuvres of Hawaii.) I enjoyed writing the posts but had the most fun doing the research before April cast its ominous shadow across my computer. 

Because most of my blog posts were prepared in advance, I was able to spend time visiting other blogs and meeting new people. I pinned many blog pictures to a Pinterest Board entitled “Great Pics 2014 AtoZ Blogs” and look forward to continuing visits to these interesting people and their blog sites. http://www.pinterest.com/gailmbaugniet/great-pics-2014-atoz-blogs/

Will I participate in another AtoZChallenge? Probably, but that is a year away. Thanks to Cherie Reich’s ingenious AtoZ Flashes of Foxwick (Amazon link below) I’ve developed a series of posts for the upcoming months: Myni Mystery Moments (many/mini stories). That should help with my AtoZ withdrawal symptoms.
 
 

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

CATATONIC STATE of MIND

The INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html



The first week-end of this month, May 3 & 4, our Sisters in Crime/Hawaii group held a booth at the Hawaii Book and Music Festival to promote the Chapter and to sell our published books. In November of 2013, 13 of us local authors had compiled and published an anthology of mystery short stories set in Hawaii. We offered that book for sale also.

Rosemary Mild, Gail Baugniet, Laurie Hanan (with Sage)
On Saturday, seven of us did readings from the anthology at the Author Mauka Pavilion. Because I am the current president of Sisters in Crime/Hawaii, I made the introductions and did the small talk between readings.

So where do the IWSG issues come in here? When I talk at meetings or get up in front of an audience with a bare minimum of a plan for what I’ll say, no problem. Ask me to give a five-minute planned speech and I go catatonic. 

Ask me to “market” my novels in person . . . catatonic! 

I can live without ever giving another planned speech in front of an audience, but I do need to learn how to market my work without developing a rash at the mere thought. I have signed up for a workshop in July that will focus on marketing. I'll let you know how that works out for me. 

Do any of you have trouble telling new acquaintances or strangers about your work in print?