About Me
Single-but-attached 47-year old seeking personal satisfaction through blogging. A lifelong southerner, I have recently moved to urban Ohio and am transitioning from living in the Bible Belt to the place I think of as the crack showing above its waistband (“crack” being the operative word– there’s lots of it here).
In past incarnations, I’ve been a singing telegram girl, a cocktail waitress, a freelance greeting card/slogan writer, an optician, a payroll clerk, a counselor/advocate at a university, and a Human Resources coordinator.
I have Fibromyalgia, which has sort of changed the course of my life. I have a separate blog about that. If you’re interested, you can view it here.
Hobbies are: painting, photography, writing, bicycling, art, movies, music and reading.
Favorite people in the universe: Tom (my angel), my two precious children, and my amazing friends and family.
I love feedback– please feel free to leave comments, or contact me at the address listed on my sidebar. Happy trails to you!
meliluvsu said,
October 2, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Like
I said in my last comment I grew up in Ohio and now
I live in South
Carolina… thats weird…lol
For the Love of Dayton said,
October 10, 2007 at 12:01 am
Welcome to Dayton and please feel free to add my blog!
Netty Gritty said,
October 10, 2007 at 1:05 am
thanks for visiting my bog! and i will be exploring your blog a while later, as my neck pain ( i have spondylitis) is killing me right now due to militant blogging the past few days ( i am supposed to be away from computers for quite a while
)
cheers!
moonbeammcqueen said,
October 10, 2007 at 9:09 am
FLD: Thanks!
Netty, I hope you’re feeling better soon. I can relate to blogging around pain. Do you have a laptop? I just got an old, used one, and I think it’s going to change my (computing) life.
Looking forward to rummaging through your blog posts. You’ve got some good stuff there!
Netty Gritty said,
October 10, 2007 at 10:38 am
i used to have a very good secondhand mac laptop. would you believe it if i told you that i dropped it ? yeah, i did. and it broke. so i am on the lookout for another old mac. gosh, those things are expensive! but after having a mac, nothing else even compares!
and i am glad you liked my blog! please give me suggestions as to what you would like to find in that blog. i am quite dedicated to my readers’ needs, if they express them!
Netty Gritty said,
October 15, 2007 at 11:25 am
oh my god! do you HAVE to make me cry? do you do it on purpose? what do you get out of it? what did i do to deserve this??????????
gosh, you put me on YOUR BLOGROLL! i um, um, ahem, um, actually.well, i think i should stop now.
btw, those were tears of happiness – and it’s not like i cried really. but my eyes did go moist!
THANKS for liking my blog so much!
moonbeammcqueen said,
October 15, 2007 at 11:31 am
Oh no!!! What did I do? How did my “About Me” page make you cry? Is it the picture? Is it because I added you to my Blogroll? Warning– I am a moody woman, and my blog reflects this– I can go from cynical to sentimental in about 0.2 seconds. I wish I knew how to categorize my posts by tone, but I haven’t figured that one out yet. And I really do like your blog.
Netty Gritty said,
October 16, 2007 at 3:46 pm
you put me on your blogroll! that’s what made me say all that! and yeah, your about page rocks! and no, i don’t mind crying tears of joy! and i like moody bloggers!
moonbeammcqueen said,
October 16, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Oh…thank you!
Netty Gritty said,
October 23, 2007 at 8:17 am
i see you got that eco button!
looking good!
i never actually mentioned that i looooooooooooooooooooooooooooove the pic you have under “stealing is a sin”.
moonbeammcqueen said,
October 23, 2007 at 9:58 am
Netty– I did! And thanks for posting the button. I hope my “Stealing’s A Sin” sign actually works– I should probably put up a more “official” copyright notice, but hopefully, this will do.
Anna Tipton said,
November 1, 2007 at 12:51 am
Happy Holloween,I saw Bunky on the internet news about mystic voyage. It was very nice. It will be intresting to see Bunky turn it to a great leader. I pay attetion to Wiccans in the spotlight or famous stars or musicians who are wiccan , it’s a very precarious position to be in, famous AND Wiccan,Let’s see here,UM,well I guess anything is possible even for a Wiccan.But ,the spotlight can be precarious. I happen like Bunky’s forthrightouesness on teaching other wiccans on how to be financially responsible. I twas actually a first to hear those words outside of the household, good for Bunky and his crew. I need some wholesome teachings myself on finacially responsiblity ,if it is intertwined with Wiccanism I can now Digest my problems ,once again ,Thankx Bunky…
ajerseyromance said,
November 7, 2007 at 5:07 pm
I just wanted to stop by and say hello and tell you how glad I am to have stumbled upon your blog. I LOVE your writing and know I will look forward to your updates. I hope you don’t mind me adding you to my blogroll. Write on! I love it all!
moonbeammcqueen said,
November 7, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Thanks so much! I’m honored to be added to your blogroll.
bbabe said,
November 10, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I love your blog; it is very interesting. I have two blogs myself one political and one about life with chronic illness (grave’s disease, reactive arthrits, raynaud’s phenomenon). Anyway, just wanted to let you know you have another fan out there.
moonbeammcqueen said,
November 10, 2007 at 7:11 pm
@ bbabe: Thanks so much for your nice comments. I looked at your health blog, and I really like it. If it’s okay, I’d like to add it to my blogroll on my FibromyOWgia site. Didn’t see a link to your political blog– can you give me the URL?
boundandgags said,
December 27, 2007 at 6:15 pm
What greeting card companies have you worked for? I wrote for a bunch of small ones and American Greetings. I interviewed at Hallmark but the woman who would have been my supervisor hated me on sight.
moonbeammcqueen said,
December 27, 2007 at 9:27 pm
@ B&G: I’ve only freelanced, though I’d kill to work for Hallmark. I’ve sold stuff to Carol Wilson Fine Arts, Ephemera (I think they supply Archie McPhee with buttons, bumper stickers, etc), and Kalan, Inc. (who supplies greeting cards to Spencer’s Gifts).
This was all long ago and far away.
boundandgags said,
December 28, 2007 at 11:03 am
I like writing greeting cards. Suits my simple mind. Get in, get out. Everything’s wrapped up in less than fifteen words. When I was writing for a bunch of them everyday I’d look at the needs, find a subject I was interested in, and write ten to twenty bits. That worked for me. I haven’t done it for a while. The market seems to have dried up some for freelancers.
I do, of course, have a story. I was in a card store (doing research) and a woman picked up a card, read it, laughed, and tucked it away. I noted where she was (have to check my competition) and when she moved I wandered over. It was mine. I laughed my ass off. She looked at me, saw I had the same card so I told her, although I knew she wasn’t going to believe me, I wrote it. It was the only time I ever saw a card of mine in a store.
And, truthfully, the woman at Hallmark hated me before she met me. She told me she was interviewing me because other people liked me. She thought I was vulgar and risque. Well, dah! After the interview I got a check for something like $2.76 from them. It took me a while before it dawned on me why. It was to cover postage for something I’d sent them. I framed it, hung it in my office and would look at it whenever I started to feel cocky. That’s what I’m worth to one of the giants. I don’t know where it is right now but, in my head, I know it’s there.
WC said,
January 10, 2008 at 1:07 am
Love the pics and the blog…here’s a shout out from North Carolina!
moonbeammcqueen said,
January 10, 2008 at 1:50 am
@ b&g: I don’t know why I’m just now seeing this, but I love it! Sorry you didn’t get the Hallmark job, but at least you can always say you got a check from them!
When I wrote cards, I’d have different companies that I’d send ideas to, depending on my mood. At one point, I was in an unhappy marriage, and that’s when I was able to sell a LOT. All of my smart assy, cynical thoughts were actually making money! When I was feeling happy, I’d write for some of the more upbeat publishers, but my sales went down! Is there a moral here?
@ WC: Shout out back! Thanks for the nice comments– glad you stopped by here!
David said,
January 15, 2008 at 12:52 am
Just kind of fell into this blog, but I like it.
Bravo. Very well done.
-djr
litrags.wordpress.com
@ David: So glad you fell in! I’m enjoying your poetry.
croneandbearit said,
January 15, 2008 at 10:30 am
love your blog. I’m an east coast gal who ended up an urban Ohioan (Dayton) but long to retire a bit further south. come visit me @ croneandbearit.wordpress.com. Linda
moonbeammcqueen said,
January 15, 2008 at 10:52 am
@ croneandbearit: How nice to “meet” another Daytonian! We’re hoping to end up in a more southern locale too. I’m heading over to your blog.
kirbyann said,
January 24, 2008 at 11:41 am
I moved from The Crack to The Bible Belt lol. I am going to add you to my blogroll.
moonbeammcqueen said,
January 24, 2008 at 12:08 pm
@ kirbyann: I’m so glad you stopped by! You’re name’s not linked to your blog. Can you give me the URL so I can visit?
kirbyann said,
January 24, 2008 at 12:16 pm
http://www.kirbyann.wordpress.com
Narnie said,
January 28, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I see from the side there that you like Banksy… oh! me too. Im lucky to live in Brighton and we have loads of his work splashed on walls in the city centre and seafront. My favourite is the one of Jesus that he has done on a lamppost down on the prom, with the spikes (that are there to stop pigeons resting) as his crown of thorns. He is just brilliantly original.
moonbeammcqueen said,
January 28, 2008 at 9:36 pm
@ Narnie: I do love Banksy. You are so lucky to see his stuff live and in person. I agree– just brilliant.
I visited you blog for a little while earlier, and I really like it. I’ve subscribed, and am looking forward to reading more.
Narnie said,
January 29, 2008 at 3:00 pm
thanks – that is such a huge compliment…
Here is the link to that Banksy that is my favourite. Perfect that someone has scrawled PAX underneath.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mintball/580877677/
moonbeammcqueen said,
January 29, 2008 at 10:01 pm
@ Narnie: This is wonderful! Thank you– I hadn’t seen it!
I read your post today, and liked it a lot. I don’t always comment, because sometimes I just can’t come up with appropriate words, but I just want to let you know I’m reading!
rick mobbs said,
February 19, 2008 at 2:04 am
hey mz moonbeammcqueen, nice to find you. I’ll be coming back for more…
moonbeammcqueen said,
February 19, 2008 at 10:11 pm
@ rick: I’m so glad you stopped by! Your blog looks fascinating. I looked around a little, but when I’m feeling a bit better, I plan to look a lot!
Lucky said,
February 27, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I’m a ‘tard. I just realized I’ve never read your “About Me” until now. Maybe that’s a compliment. I found you so interesting I didn’t need to know more
(Iam glad I finally read though!)
moonbeammcqueen said,
February 27, 2008 at 11:12 pm
@ Lucky: If you’re a ‘tard, I’m lucky to be breathing. I’m glad you read it too– I love “about me” pages (although this one needs updating). I went back to make sure I’d read yours. Yup. Love it.
mallorypaige said,
April 29, 2008 at 3:52 am
love your blog! great writing, wonderful content, free spirit
Kerry Ann said,
July 13, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I surfed across your blog today and I came to appreciate what you have here. I have added you to my Humor Blog blogroll and was wondering if you might add me to yours? Either way, thanks for the great experience of visiting your site and hope you enjoy mine. Thanks Kerry Ann
Moonbeam McQueen said,
July 13, 2008 at 7:57 pm
@ mallorypaige: For some reason, I’m just now seeing your comment here, but thank you so much!
@ Kerry Ann: Hi and welcome! Thanks for the nice comments and the link– I visited your site and really liked it, so yes, I’ve added you too.
Josh Bokaie said,
July 22, 2008 at 11:05 pm
You have a very neat blog! It’s weird I found this becauseI was actually looking up one of my favorite childhood tv shows, Wishbone and I saw where you left a comment on one website saying that you had worked with Angee Hughes at one time who played Wanda Gilmore the next door neighbor on the show. I know this has nothing to do with your blog, but if you do not mind me asking, what was it like working with her? She was always one of my favorite characters on the show and I can never find anything on her. Again, you have a great website!!
Moonbeam McQueen said,
July 26, 2008 at 10:14 am
Hi Josh– Sorry it’s taken so long for me to answer this. I’ve been taking a little blog break. It was fun working with Angee. She had a different last name back then, and I think that one of the things that stuck with me most was that she was a pretty brilliant actor, completely devoted to her craft. She was always in some play or another, and often had bit parts in movies that filmed in our area. She was thin as a rail, had a tiny, very distinctive voice, and was quite an interesting person. She seems to be appearing in more and more films and television shows, and I’m glad for her. She’s worked hard, and deserves it.
Hope this answers your question- I’m glad you stopped by!
michelle2005 said,
October 14, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I followed your ‘footprints’ over here from the blog of ‘girlfromtheghetto’
You have a great site! I can relate to much of what you say…especially being in the midst of some significant physical issues.
I look forward to visiting often. I’ll be eager to read what you post next.
Kindest Regards,
Michelle
Narnie said,
April 17, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Hello you, remember me? It’s been quite a while and I was thrilled to find your page again today… but January? Aren’t the words busting to get out? I will console myself by reading more of your posts that I missed. I hope you are well Moonbeam.
matt said,
September 19, 2009 at 4:33 am
i went back to ohio
but my city was gone
there was no train station
no down town
hey oh a o-hi-o
ohio has its bad parts but i wouldnt trade it for anywhere (besides floride
). anywhere columbus and BELOW is fine. anywhere ABOVE columbus is crap.