Laura

Thankful Tuesday

Daily writing prompt
What does it mean to be a kid at heart?
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Right now, just being able to not feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. Feeling free. Feeling happy.

Grateful for everyone’s support 🙏

I’m still feeling a bit of “disenchantment” as Kevin put it so perfectly, with the whole irritating occurrence that happened yesterday.

Even better – I can’t report it to WordPress to take down, as it’s not a WordPress site.***

Excellent news! 🙄

***at the time I posted this, I didn’t realize there would be another option. But I’m extremely thankful to John Howell who left me a comment about finding out who hosts the site by checking over at https://hostingchecker.com so now I can hopefully find out and send the thief a notice. Much appreciated! 😊

I never understand people who trawl through blogs and comments looking for material, but even worse, outright theft, and who knows how often or how much it happens, really.

I just don’t want the situation to become worse.

All your suggestions are so appreciated and I am grateful for the supportive comments I’ve received from everyone. You all are wonderful.

Trying to reclaim my peace… ✌️ ☕️

Now…it’s just allowing the creativity to re-emerge and flow again. It’s not as easy after being bogged down a bit.

I’m going to go forward, but with the intention of looking into more protection for my work as well as backing some things up that mean a lot to me.

Feelin’ the love which is always appreciated

It’s hard, because you have to sit and re-focus, and figure out what you want, how much you want it, and a game plan.

However, I’m determined to keep a positive mindset.

And now for something positive!

Extremely grateful to Adam Fenner for his awesome review of my poem “Steampunk Queen” which can be found here. Thank you again, Adam. Truly so appreciated and unexpected in a good way. 🙏

So, that was a great start to the morning, along with talking to someone very special. 🥰 ❤️

Then I had the pleasure of doing a Creative Call with Michele Lee this afternoon, as well. Thank you, Michele, for hosting – it was an honor and pleasure and I’m so happy to connect with other creative minds!

Lastly, I decided yesterday after all the chaos to buy myself a bit of a late birthday present.

Yayyy 😁

Of course, now I’ll have to make sure more than ever that my work is only attributed to me.

Let the fun begin.

Happy Taco Tuesday – although I’m trying to be a bit careful with that now as it seems posting about tacos lands me in a bit of trouble! 😆

Hope you all are having a fantastic start to your week. ☕️

I’m behind on some of your comments and posts…I’m sure you can understand the desire to step away for a bit. Catch-up soon. 😊

89 comments

  1. I’m glad you finally got yourself that camera. 😊

    And, I’m sorry that my hunch that nothing could be done was correct. This was one time I really wanted to be wrong.

    I’m glad you plan to continue. I’m not sure what I am going to do yet, but that’s neither here nor there. Your work is what’s important to me.

    And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a headache and am going to crash for a bit. 😴

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    • Thank you 😊 and I appreciate all your support so much 🙏 ❤️ I’m sorry you have a headache. ☹️

      I hope you want to continue as well. I know it sucks right now, but maybe as time wears on…I get it. My ambition has been a bit low, but I don’t want it to stop me.

      Your work is so important to me too. To all of us, I’m sure. 🙏

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      • I’m not going to get into my opinion of what my value is around here. This isn’t the forum for it.
        Right now I am just completely blank for ideas regardless.
        I don’t want it to stop you either and that’s why I’m glad you’re going to continue. 😊

        Headache is just this stupid weather. Another thing ruining my mood.

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  3. I miss the crefree days too.

    Make sure that where possible anything is marked as your like with a watermark. I like the new camera, have lots of fun with it. I thik it’s similar to my one.

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    • Thank you, Sara 🤗 I don’t know what to do, I guess I’m going to try and contact the guys website host, but it seems to make it more complicated 😫 I appreciate all your help ❤️

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      • When I was trying to sort my ‘theft’…info was vague. It’s a difficult one, because anything we put out there….can be stolen. Even though my painting was eventually taken down from the offending site…it could have been thrown around all over the web beforehand 🤔. It’s a double edged sword….😣. It’s an awful feeling when control of your work is compromised. 💕💕💕

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      • I made a report with his hosting site 😡 fingers crossed 🤞 it works out and they take it down. 👇
        It’s sad how much really can be stolen. It sucks a ton. And you know the feeling of violation and yes, out of control. Not a good one 😩 Appreciate you very much 💕 💕 🤗

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  7. I’m really sorry this happened to you, but I’m so glad you didn’t let that person bring you down. You got back up and stood strong, and that’s what matters. It’s all about refusing to let negativity drag us down.

    Congratulations on the Positive review and Congratulations on the camera you got yourself.

    And happy that Kevin was there for you.

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    • Thank you so much Willie 🙏 sorry somehow I didn’t see the comment until just now 😩 i don’t know what’s going on with comments lately, all of mine seem to be going to spam… appreciated always for your kind and thoughtful words, and yes I’m very glad Kevin has been here for me through all this, it means a lot 😊

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  9. There is a wide old saying which you may have forgotten in this dark time. It is one which I utter when the need arises and I feel the need has once more, arisen: Don’t let the bastards get you down. x

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  12. Ohh, sorry to know that WP turned out to be a dead end. I’m glad that you got another helpful suggestion. Hopefully this one will work out. I don’t understand such thieves either. I’m glad that you’re reclaiming your creativity. Glad to know you got yourself a camera. Have fun!

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  13. That was they’re really awesome review of your poem and the praise was well deserved. I love your style and hope you don’t want your creativity get repressed by assholes. You are inspiration to many people. Congrats on your awesome present as well:-)

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    • Thank you so much 😊 really appreciated and it does give me a bit of hope and it means a lot I have people like you here reading and commenting that I’m able to interact with 🙏 your kind words do mean a lot and while it’s kinda hard as you worry about going forward, going to try and move on as best I can

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  14. Nice camera! I used to host my site elsewhere, but now I have everything (host, registration, and blog) with WordPress. Do you think consolidation would make things easier for yourself, and tougher for others? By the way, I want to see some food pics! 🍕🍨📸🤩

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    • Haha!! I will make sure I include some food pics in my test shots 😆 I’m not too sure, either about consolidation. Everything here is on WP, but it seems the other person is not with WP. I emailed their host though, so I guess we’ll see what happens 🙏 and thank you 📷 🍣🍰 now I have to find some fancy food to photograph! (Yours always looks too dang good!) 😀

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  15. Hope you get to the bottom of it and love your new birthday camera. Looks amazing. Love the community support and your time with Michele. Can’t wait to hear all. Sorry about the “spam liking”. Don’t go on vacation and forget your blog.. lol😹💕

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    • Not a problem at all 😊 thank you, I appreciate your kindness 💕 and you deserve the vacation! 😆 we all do, actually. And thanks 📷 I can’t wait to see what shots I end up taking 🙏

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    • Yes! 🙌 Now I can take some “real” photos haha. And appreciate the wishes, it was about 3 weeks ago so this is a bit of a “late” gift to myself, but thank you just the same 😊 🙏

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      • Yikes happy belated then! I look forward to see the pictures you take. Get a free editing software like Photopea if you don’t want to spend on Photoshop to enhance the images but not too much lol we don’t need a horse looking like a unicorn and give us false hope.😀 happy clicking!

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      • Thank you so much for the tip on the photo editing software, I used to have PS a longggg time ago 😀 and LOL yes I agree, just a touch of editing, not too much distortion. 😆 Appreciated always 🙏

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  18. Hi Laura😊. A great shot of your own new camera! How ironic😄. Now I’ll expect a much better one of your phone! Seriously, well done. I am sure we will get some even more stunning shots now, especially of your sister moon. Hope you are having a great week, enjoying your new camera, and enjoying life….Jay😊☕

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    • Thank you Jay 😆 lol and yes I was thinking this same. How ironic is it that I’m taking a photo of my camera! I’m ready to tear it out. 🙏 appreciate your kindness, things have been a bit chaotic but hoping they settle down soon ☕️ 😊 hope all is well your way!

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  19. Oh it’s your birthday today 🥳🥳🥳🥳, Laura , I wish you a very happy birthday 🎈🎂🎂🎂🎂. So you are a Scorpio too , btw I think all your posts are nice and great to read ☺️☺️☺️.

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  20. Happy birthday to you Laura! 📷🎉 Thanks so much for the mention and for being there, for the first of what I hope will be many more engaging conservations about our creative processes and projects. I am so grateful for each of you! 🙏🏻🥰✨ Sorry you’re having to deal with the frustrations of a thief. Looks like John offered a helpful resource. 👍🏻

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    • Thank you, Michele 😊 very kind of you 🙏 it was about 3 weeks ago, this is a bit of a late birthday gift to myself 😀 📷 I can’t with to have more conversations with you guys as well about the creative process 💕 and yes, I was able to email the host of the website but they said there wasn’t sufficient enough evidence to take it down 🙄🙄 we’ll see, I sent them something back 🤞

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      • You’re welcome and I thought so, but I figured it’s still your birthday month, so hey, one more day to say happy birthday! 💃🏻 😄 I am certain there will never be a shortage of creative topics to discuss. Thank you so very much and as for people like that, things have a way of sorting themselves out. I had some work plagiarized in grad school. It is very upsetting. You’ve taken appropriate steps, and your unfortunate circumstance has made your readers more aware, so that is a silver lining. 😌

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  23. Happy Birthday !!!! (In the key of Pavarotti … lol) A purrfect day and may all your wishes be granted divinely and timely !!! Love the deep poetic analysis of your Steampunk Queen poem and thrilled you have treated yourself to a new osm camera (AHHHH) … Can’t wait for the night pics / moonbows / palms / ocean photography galore !!! You are so inspiring and whatever new creations you beautifully convey I await, ❤ !!! ~ Always

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    • Thank you loveeee ❤️ I hope to see your email at some point 🙏 and I can’t wait to use that camera, a bit of a late birthday gift to myself, but hey! 😆 lol sorry I’m behind with comments, been a bit hard to be on here the last few days with all that’s been going on ❤️

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  25. Looking forward to more photos Laura.

    Hopefully everything turns out well and best wishes and blessings as you move forward.
    Remember the song, ‘never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down’…

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  26. 🤗👏🏻I’m glad that after these misfortunes, you decided to treat yourself to this beautiful camera. I wish you lots of inspiration and now more than ever to protect your work. A suggestion, you can create a document in Lightroom (Exif) for your photos, like a file with all the data of the photo and the photographer, maybe it will help to intimidate these people who try to appropriate other people’s work. I know how you feel, because it happened to me on another occasion in the past. And surround the camera with crystals, incense and all the protection 👀🌶️😅. May the good vibes always be with you.🤗🙌🏻✨🎃🌜Happy Halloween.

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    • Ohhh thank you so much!! 😊 I appreciate that 🙏 🤗 and yes, all the protection 🙌 I’m so sorry this happened to you as well at some point 😩 people are awful! 😞 I can’t wait to start taking some fotos hehe 📷 been trying to get out of that funk from the last few days 😁 thank you as always for your kindness and great energy ✨ 🌹 🌙 and Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻

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  27. i have had the experience of my words shared across various platforms (reddit, fb, IG, wp, you get it). the worst was when a store abroad used my poem as a valentine’s day sale tagline, without asking. and of course ones where they erased my name and put theirs instead. or other so-called writers take one or two phrases that were clearly mine. it’s irritating. at the time my concern was: they’d think i was the imposter, not the OG (because i’m a nobody) but over the years i learned to let go. and over time i learned to not give too much. my best works now go to copyrighted scenes but these things really did discourage me to write anything good publicly lol. if it’s bad no one would want it, right? 🤭🩶

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    • Yeah it’s hard when things like this happen. I’ve had fotos of mine stolen before and it’s frustrating because it’s hard to prove sometimes if you don’t have it linked or watermarked elsewhere and then there’s ways around that as well

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  29. I feel your pain, Laura. My poems had been stolen in the past, and are most likely still being used elsewhere. The funniest thing, perhaps, was when I was messaged by a user on WattPad, asking me to relinquish my pen name to them, because they wanted to use it themselves.

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    • What a nightmare, Tash. Seems it happens to anyone whose writing is worth a damn. We don’t even know sometimes and this was pure luck that Kevin even found it. Sometimes I think ignorance is bliss, but at the end of the day, I guess I’d rather know

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  30. So sorry to hear your content was stolen, that seriously sucks. You should definitely contact the host for the site. It’s probably one of the big companies like GoDaddy. Hopefully, it’ll get taken down quickly.

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