May 2010
News, updates, & pronouncements from Pat Ballard,
the Queen of Rubenesque Romances

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. 
Eleanor Roosevelt

Something to think about....

It seems that great numbers of Nashvillians, and Tennesseans in general, understand the meaning of this quote.

As many of you have heard, middle Tennessee was hit last weekend by what is being called a "historical flood." It is being reported as the "once-in-500-year" flood. I don't know how they can go back for 500 years and confirm this, but that's what's being said. I'll write more about the damage in my personal section, below.

But what has been typical of residents of what is known as the Volunteer State is the fact that when this type of situation develops, people come by the hundreds to help each other.

Anderson Cooper, with CNN, was in town last night, doing his show from here. He apologized for coming on the scene "late." But one thing he seem genuinely impressed with was the way people had come together to help each other, and how quickly the cleanup process had gotten under way.

He said that in all the disasters he'd covered, he'd never seen as many people turn out to help each other and had never seen the cleanup organized and underway this quickly.

One man who hasn't been in the area very long and whose home and contents had been greatly damaged by water said he was astounded at how many strangers had just shown up and said, "What can we do to help? What needs to be done?"

As he tried to get through the interview he'd have to stop and regain his composure before continuing. He stated that it was almost worth going through what he'd gone through just to see the attitude of the people in this area.

So, as a whole I think Nashvillians, and Tennesseans, in general, seem to also understand what William Penn meant when he said:

 "I expect to pass through life but once.
If therefore, there be any kindness I can show,
or any good thing I can do to any fellow being,
let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it,
as I shall not pass this way again."

The weather forecasters, starting sometime in the middle of last week, warned us that we'd get a lot of rain on Saturday and Sunday. But even they didn't know what they were forecasting.

The rains—torrential downpours—started Saturday morning and continued most of the day. The hard rain slowed down and finally mostly stopped by night. But the next morning it started all over again. Officially, Nashville was reported to have gotten 15 inches in the
two-day period.

We (the Ballards) managed to stay high and dry during this disaster, even though we did have some runoff trying to get in through the den door until Joe, my husband, put a board in front of the door to divert the water. We were "flooded in" in our neighborhood a while on Saturday and Sunday, but not too long. Our son, Eric, and his family were also okay.

We've had 9 deaths in Nashville, with a couple of people still missing. I think the death toll for the state is 20. There is so much damage and so many people without their homes.

I felt guilty when I lay down in my bed last night because I'd just seen on the news an entire street where people had put all their life's belongings out on the curb for Metro to pick up. And this is happening in neighborhoods all over the area. It really is heartbreaking.

Homes, cars, businesses literally totally underwater. Downtown, the Bridgestone Arena, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the new Symphony Center, to name a few, had water damage. Opryland Hotel and Opry Mills Mall had major water damage. It may be 6 months before Opryland Hotel is open for business again.

Here is a link to today's Tennessean with coverage of the flood:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100507/NEWS01/100507011

On a happier note, I have roses, primroses, Ddises, purple sage, irises, a pin cushion plant, an English dogwood, honeysuckle, clematis, and pansies just blooming their little hearts out! Soon my day lilies will be in full bloom.

Everyone have a wonderful May.

Something To Think About: Reflections on Life, Family, Body Image & Other Weighty Matters by the Queen of Rubenesque Romances

Download it at
http://www.pearlsong.com/newsroom/patballard/somethingtothinkabout.pdf.
 

                                 Love,

                                         Pat

Visit Pat's Place at www.patballard.com | Write me at patballard@bellsouth.net
 

Click on the Bookbuzzr graphic (if visible on your computer screen) to browse an excerpt from Pat's book

10 Steps to Loving Your Body
(No Matter What Size You Are)

As a young woman Pat Ballard almost died trying to starve her body into a societally approved size. In 10 Steps to Loving Your Body (No Matter What Size You Are) she shares the steps she created―and took―to heal the damage of years of dieting. Join her in celebrating size diversity, self esteem, positive body image, and health at every size.

Your body is a unique work of art.
There never has been, nor will there ever be,
another body just like yours.
Learn to love it and it will love you back.

More info at the Pearlsong Press website. (All copies of 10 Steps purchased from the Pearlsong Press website are autographed by Pat.)

You can also browse and share Bookbuzzr excerpts from 10 Steps to Loving Your Body, Something to Think About and Pat's other books online at http://www.pearlsong.com/patballardbookexcerpts.htm.
 

Weighty Matters

May 6th is International No Diet Day. Even though I've missed getting this to you on INDD, please go ahead and take a "no diet day" in celebration of May 6th, if you missed it.

And hey, why not just go ahead and take a "Forever No Diet Day"? Maybe I'll start that one. May 12 is FNDD! 

Forever No Diet Day has  worked for me for 20-some-odd years, now.

In the meantime, check out INDD's history and some good advice at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_No_Diet_Day .
 

Reader Review of the Month

Editor's Note: We're now featuring reader reviews of Pat's books in The Queen's Proclamation. Post a review at an online bookstore, magazine, or public website and email us at proclamation @ pearlsong.com to let us know, and we'll consider yours for inclusion in The QP. 

The following comment about Pat's books was posted by Barbara Chabot at the Bookbuzzr website at www.freado.com: "I love reading these novels and stories! They are about real women in a world that is ever changing! Thank you, I have really enjoyed your books so far and look forward to more in the future!"
 

Browse and share excerpts from Pat Ballard's books online.

Listen to the mp3 recording of Pat, her fearless publisher, and several other Pearlsong Press authors in a Pearlsong Conversation about
creating fat friendly fiction and fat positive characters.

Listen to a Feb. 11, 2009 Conversation with Pat Ballard
(blog post with link to 50-min mp3 recording of Pat talking about her journey to
self- and body-acceptance and -love, her writing process,
and why a truly Happy Valentine's Day and satisfying sex life
starts with loving your body,
no matter what it looks like.
 

Calendar of Events

Now available from Pearlsong Press—Pat's newest book, the nonfiction Something to Think About: Reflections on Life, Family, Body Image, & Other Weighty Matters by the Queen of Rubenesque Romances. It's a FREE PDF ebook that can be downloaded at http://www.pearlsong.com/somethingtothinkabout.htm or via the link at the beginning of this newsletter.

Pat is now co-hosting Radio Free Nashville's Health At Every Size show, which airs every Monday morning. The show is streamed live over the Internet 10-11 a.m. CST Mondays. You can also subscribe to the podcast of the show (automatically receive the mp3 recordings of the weekly shows on your computer, iPod or mp3 player) via iTunes. Click on the "subscribe in a reader" button/link in the upper lefthand column, and select "Add to iTunes" or the podcatcher of your choice.

Listen to the live broadcasts over the Internet at http://www.radiofreenashville.org/. You can also listen to the live broadcasts through your telephone via UPSNAP.COM.  See the Health At Every Size show website or the Radio Free Nashville website for details. Davidson County, Tennessee residents can also hear the show live through the Secondary Audio Programming of Comcast cable's Channel 10.

For more on the show, check out the show blog at http://www.healthateverysize.info. You can also listen to or download recordings of many of the shows at www.pearlsong.com/audio.htm.
 

Give someone a good read as well as support in loving themselves.
Pat's books make great gifts!
 

Read previous issues of The Queen's Proclamation at http://www.pearlsong.com/newsletterarchives.htm.
 

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