Sunday, September 12, 2010

Thoughts from the Abnormaly Everyday

Hey y’all, greetings from Hot On Us, Texas. That’s my own ingenious little anagram for Houston, city of infamous humidity and home to my firstborn, her husband, and the Baby Beau Czar of All Things Southern, AKA, my grandson Grant Thomas. Let the record show that I love my son-in-law very much, even if he did move my daughter half-way across the country. (Okay, so it’s just one state over and six and a half hours up the road but still.)


I couldn’t seem to remember the word anagram when I first twisted the city’s letters so I did what everyone else on planet Earth does now, I googled. The official definition for anagram is “A word or phrase formed by scrambling the letters of another word or phrase.” Somehow that seems a fitting way to re-introduce myself to y’all. Writing almost always does that for me. A story, a character, a question, an idea, sometimes they drop in my head as gracious individuals, other times they storm me en masse but it’s always squatters’ rights until I take the notion to a notebook or a keyboard and force it out the tips of my fingers. But here's the good part-- nine times out of ten, the end product is barely recognizable from the original idea, somewhere along the way I learned something surprising about myself, something new about the world around me, or both.

My friend, Kathy Patrick, Pulpwood Queen/marketer extraordinaire, tells me reintroducing ourselves is the theme this go around. (Kathy, thank you for continuing this marvelous blog; you are a force. And Karin, thank you for birthing this baby and encouraging community in a field that lends itself far too easily to isolation.)

By way of introduction, I’m Shellie. They call me the Belle of All Things Southern. I regularly opine on my beloved region and the wonderfully strange, uniquely common, abnormally everyday people who live here. I also wonder aloud on current events, faith as I experience it, belching frogs in the Bahamas, and whatever else has caught my fancy. And for some blessed reason for which I am continually amazed and eternally grateful, people read this! You can see more and read more of All Things Southern on my website but for now I’ll close with three little known pieces of autobiographical trivia.

1. I have never given up the childhood practice of seeing things in the clouds and I don’t intend to anytime soon. Today I saw an elephant and the Grinch that stole Christmas while driving to Hot On Us, Texas. I don’t think there is any spiritual significance between the two but I will let you know if something comes to me.

2. I have written a novel that is unlike anything else of mine in print. I would love to see Sierra get a chance to tell y’all the story she told me.

3. I cry, a lot, and I'm okay with that.

Hugs,
Shellie

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson lives in Lake Providence, Louisiana with her husband, Phil. Their daughter, Jessica, and her husband, Patrick, live in Houston, TX. They have a baby boy named Grant Thomas, (A.K.A, The Baby Beau Czar of All Things Southern.) Their son, Phillip, and his wife, Carey, live in Lake Providence, LA. They have a little girl named Emerson Ann, (A.K.A, The Bellerina Czar of All Things Southern) and are expecting again! Shellie is the author of "Lessons Learned on Bull Run Road", "'Twas the Night before the Very First Christmas" and "Southern Comfort with Shellie Rushing Tomlinson" and the 2008 Penguin Group USA release, "Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On". Look for it's sequel Spring 2011, "Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy!" Shellie is owner and publisher of All Things Southern and the host of a daily radio show and weekly TV segment by the same name. A list of the twenty-eight radio stations that carry Shellie's southern features can be found here. You can see Shellie's weekly videos on her website and listen to Shellie's All Things Southern LIVE Talk Show each Friday morning from 8:00 to 9:00 CST on FOX 92.7 FM. The show streams LIVE and podcasts are available so everyone can join Shellie's southern celebration!

18 comments:

River Jordan said...

I cry a lot to Shellie and I just wish it didn't do such a number on my eyes by making them look like a blowfish. I cry when my characters make me laugh or cry - I cry when I read other people's that make me laugh or cry. I cry during all the commercials on tv that make me laugh or cry. Thanks for being human in the middle of your fabulous writer life!

Unknown said...

Shellie,
You always make me smile, make me laugh and bring big joy into my reading life! Long may you reign!

Peggy Webb said...

Great post, Shellie. I particularly loved the part about you finding elephants and such in the clouds.

Hope this comment goes through. I've been trying all afternoon.

A Good Blog Is Hard to Find said...

You're most welcome, River. And for the record, I might should have mentioned that not only do I cry, but I cry ugly. Some people don't you know, they cry right pretty like.

tomtom@allthingssouthern.com said...

Aw, thanks Kathy. That just makes me wanna spread some joy asap. I may even sing JOY to the world and it's not even Christmas!

A Good Blog Is Hard to Find said...

Thanks, Peggy! I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I occasionally post cloud pics on my fbook wall. The other day Alfred Hitchcock was in the clouds-- no joke. You can see him on my mobile pics...

Oh-- and dear folks-- I see that I didn't log out last night so I just commented as "the good blog". Sorry-- then I logged back in as me and it posted my EMAIL ADDRESS when it always just says Shellie. Strange goings on today...

A Good Blog Is Hard to Find said...

Thanks, Peggy! I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I occasionally post cloud pics on my fbook wall. The other day Alfred Hitchcock was in the clouds-- no joke. You can see him on my mobile pics...

Oh-- and dear folks-- I see that I didn't log out last night so I just commented as "the good blog". Sorry-- then I logged back in as me and it posted my EMAIL ADDRESS when it always just says Shellie. Strange goings on today...

Anonymous said...

Just to let you know I read the good hard to find blog and enjoyed it. Rosalie, New Boston TX

Susan Cushman said...

Creative way to "re-introduce yourself," Shellie. And Kathy, I guess the comment app is working:-)

A Good Blog Is Hard to Find said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shellie Tomlinson said...

Thanks, Rosalie-- I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Shellie Tomlinson said...

Thanks, Susan! I figured the ones who already knew me might appreciate a break from the same old story :)

Heidi @ Decor & More said...

Nice to meet you, Shellie! You cry, girl, all you want to. :)

Shellie Tomlinson said...

And a pleasure to meet you, too Heidiopia! Thanks for having my back on the tears!

Kat said...

Oh my, I cry ugly too :) And at the moment I'm laughing myself silly over the title of your new book. Actually I'm laughing like a loon, and the husband is starting to look alarmed. Thanks for the laugh, I really needed it today. Kat

Kathryn Casey said...

Hey Shellie,

You're in Houston. You didn't call me? We could get together, talk writing, laugh, and have a generally good time. I don't want to tear you away from the grandbaby, but e-mail me, girl! LOL. I would sincerely love to see you if you have time. Loved the blog post!

Shellie Tomlinson said...

Hello Kat, nice to meet you even if it is on the other side of a screen. Glad to provide a laugh or two for 'ya with that book title. I invite you to follow me back to my place and subscribe to ATS to stay in touch!

Shellie Tomlinson said...

Hey Kathryn!!! Why don't you private message me your number on fbook. I don't know that I'll have time on this trip, but I'd love to have you in my bbbery just in case-- and for next time!!!