As GO! Smell the flowers continues to bloom it’s time to bring more colour, more inspiration and more health here. These four talented 4 U.S based bloggers are the first bunch of red badged guest writers at our alternative community. You’ll find them permanently planted alongside our founders here at the main blog and in our blog roll with links to their wonderful blogs.
“AHEM, So without further ado” (why do people say that?) our U.S.A based guest writers joining other flower smellers all over the world:
Many of you have enjoyed and experienced the in depth from the heart contributions of Clinically Clueless who boldly and openly writes about her life experiences and really digs deep here in comments sharing what she learns along the way. On therapy, at her blogs masthead she states: “At times, clinically I was aware of the process, but applying it to myself, I could be clueless. My journey leads to this anonymous place where I can tell of my life of abuse and trauma primarily through my past journals, current commentary, some current journaling and posts on specific issues I face. I hope to increase awareness & compassion for those of us with mental illness.” Long may this continue here at GO! Smell the flowers CC!
Kathleen Blanchard is a Registered nurse, working many hours as a staff nurse in the Emergency Room and in ICU. Currently a Case Manager, employed in Home Health management writing quality health articles found at e-How, Livestrong and Her Active Life. Kathleen’s blog, Grab Some Health News, featuring health research news and information on health and well-being through dietary management , exercise and evidence based natural products.
Kathleen has the primary goal, with many years of watching healthcare from the inside out, “to show people that we have a lot at our disposal toward good health - if we just look at the intelligence of nature.”
Our very own guest “Doc”! Formerly known as Dr. Nicole Sundene from health blog the Kitchen Table Medicine posting alternative medicine news as well as tips on herbs, diet, nutrition, and exercise. Anyone who struggles with being healthy then you are in good hands by subscribing to her blog, as she refreshingly admits to “having some of the weakest will power on the planet!” . A regular over at Blog Catalog and a fantastic contributor to discussion threads covering a variety of health related topics.
Doc Nicole works hard to share with everyone my latest health promoting finds, tips and tricks so that we can all get the most out of life possible.
Finally and by no means least, welcome to Melinda, a former actress, musician, sex-industry worker, heroin addict and a musician in San Francisco’s punk rock scene of the 1980’s who has been in recovery for going on 15 years. Today, she is an online professor of psychology currently writing her memoir, ‘lost & found’, detailing her compelling journey. Inspirational posts at her Melindaville blog chronicling her journey of writing and publishing.
Melinda hopes to inspire others who suffer from painful early childhood experiences, addiction or other self-destructive tendencies, as well as raise awareness about the need for free and available treatment in our society.
Four valuable and interesting additions to the garden and as a small way of personally welcoming you all to GO! Smell the flowers this one is for YOU ladies:
Great tune, eh? Shivers down my spine at 117 seconds in! Worth taking 5 to upload and really listen to those words.
Welcome to the four of you, it’s an honour to have found you and to be connected with you as you bed down here at GO! Smell the flowers.
All comments are welcomed and any questions you might have to our new guest writers who can start posting here from Monday 13th October!
Welcome, welcome, welcome!
Not only will you bring your words of wisdom and something new to the site, your Guest Writer badges also add such a vibrant splash of colour!
Really looking forward to all of your first posts - very excited both for you and for Flowers
Welcome welcome welcome……
which one of your 4 new writers are you not sure about there Emma?
Thank you, Emma…you are such an encouragement.
way to go Jim. Love Love the badges. Welcome on board everyone, really excited to see your profiles.
A big hand to Jim to have reworked so much of ‘Flowers past 3 weeks, with new writers, content guidelines, new top bar, new sections and new direction.
Thank you!!
Badges thanks to our Dubai based design team at LOC8, Media City!
Brilliant.
Welcome to the diverse and vibrant ship that is GSTF!
Kathleen I’ve heard of as our latest Flower Contest Winner! DOH Kathleen.
Clinically Clueless - Well you trickster you - welcome very pleased to see you as a guest writer!
Doc: Can you have a look at my back, it’s giving me a twinge - do you think it’s my posture at the keyboard?
Melinda: You defintely sound inspirational - what a life - looking forward to reading your posts.
DOH… that Kathleen
thanks Mike
Mike, it was really hard keeping it a secret…I so wanted to tell!!!!! Glad to be aboard!
WOW!! welcome ladies. I’m looking forward to all your posts. CC, it’s great to see that you will be posting your own article and not only in the comments. Doc Nicole I know however, Kathleen and Melinda I haven’t come across before now. I’m really looking forward to all of your contributions here in the garden. They should make for some interesting reading and even more interesting comments!!
Thank you Ange. I hope to live up to your expectations. I know Melinda and you are going to love her.
welcome all
should be fun!
and barbara its an honour to have you amongst us again. how was your beauty sleep??
Thanks UP…it has already been fun!!
Jim-that song with the video was awesome!!! It literally brought tears to my eyes. I want to be able to touch people like that!!
after being away for some time it is surprising to see the change around here, but of course the change is for a better GSTF and so keep on smelling the flowers (and thorns) along the way!
Hi Sarah good to see you here again
nice to be back..feels like being home..
I thought my cat had attacked you hamster… :O I’m glad to see that wasn’t the case Sarah.
Oh no..your cat has been so nice to my hamster..don’t worry..they will be friends instead of foe..
go on then Sarah- where have you been?? not jail again!!
Perhaps the only time I would step into a jail is when I kill you..hahaha..no offense..I been busy celebrating a festival thats all..
Hi all, and thanks for the warm welcome.
What a great video, and community!
Hi Kathleen,
I am looking forward to getting to know you!
CC,
Same here - I’ve been reading your blog
Thanks,
Kathleen
Don’t forget to tap Mike up for your free flowers you won Kathleen! In the last caption contest :0)
FANTASTIC!
And speaking of FANS, I’m one of CC’s biggest.
I’ve got three more to get to know — and big giant welcome aboard. The Garden Will Rock!
(not to be confused with Rock Gardens)
Thank you BCG!! You rock!!!
I am so happy to see these new writers. I have only had the pleasure to read CC’s blog, so I can’t wait to see what the other’s have in store. I love those colorful badges too…very very nifty.
Congrats CC…
And welcome aboard. I know you will rock the Flowers. 
Thanks TB!!! I can’t wait to post!!
I can’t wait to see it.. YAY… Squeeeee …
it should make for some interesting, lively and diverse debate
and I think that will really set things going to the next level here
just remember the golden 2 rules
rule 1- urban is always right
rule 2- any more questions refer to rule 1
rule 3-sometimes TB can pull one over on Urban but mostly refer to rule 1 (LOL)
rule 4- since when have I followed the rules?
Ah…fellow Americans. Now, my spelling and grammar are going to become even more confused. Now, everyone pronounce “aluminum.” (hee, hee)
rule 5- anyone adding onto rule 2 will be subject to the urban pagan disciplinary procedures.
trust me ladies you don’t want to go there
rule 6- no one should threaten anyone…only promises…LOL
oh my I have been away for way too long. I am so surprised at the changes. These guest authors sound just fantastic. I have been away for almost forever and for that I apologize. Much took place in my daily life this past year. but, I am back now and looking forward to being a regular again!!
Welcome back Shinade, great to see you here again!
Jim, I love the song, but it was bothering me because I couldn’t hear all the lyrics and I knew the song from somewhere. So I did some research and it answered my questions. The song is a cover version of Minnie Riperton who is best known for “Lovin’ You.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uU6aYNXnUk YouTube also has Minnie’s original version.
Minnie had an amazing vocal range. In 1977 Riperton became the first black female to serve as spokesperson for the American Cancer Society and to receive the Society’s Courage Award from President Jimmy Carter.
Really beautiful choice of song and video!!
These are the lyrics:
Will somebody wear me to the fair?
Will a lady pin me in her hair?
Will a child find me by a stream?
Kiss my petals and weave me through a dream
For all of these simple things and much more a flower was born
It blooms to spread love and joy faith and hope to people forlorn
Inside every man lives the seed of a flower
If he looks within he finds beauty and power
Ring all the bells sing and tell the people everywhere that the flower has come
Light up the sky with your prayers of gladness and rejoice for the darkness is gone
Throw off your fears let your heart beat freely at the sign that a new time is born
Hey thanks for posting the lyrics CC - I was tempted but was taking up far to much space and here they are….
It really hit me that song and it felt right to save it for you 4! 117 seconds in does it for me…..
Well done and welcome
Am greatly looking forward to reading your upcoming post…
Hey CC nice…. very cool.. girl…
Welcome welcome welcome!
Looking forward to your virginial posts.
Sorry, just read the Daniel Craig post, one thought leads to another…..
Excellent, excellent! This is a great way to meet new bloggers too.
CC - can’t wait to see what you post here, as well as the others who’s blogs I’m yet to read.
Bring it on!
I can’t wait to see what I post too!
Hopefully its not too much of a surprise to you CC!
Hi and welcome to the garden.
I’ve been wanting to post for days now but someone ate my hampster (wireless mouse) - I blame daniel craig!
Looking forward to seeing your posts and I will get around to visiting your blogs / sites very soon.
Jonathan
P.S love the red badges
I Think Joel Grey sums it up nicely…
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry_fR5H1GYw
Well said, Sir!
P13, thanks for the entertainment.
A big warm welcome to you all….always good to have some new flowers sprouting up here at Go! to enhance the color a bit!~
Hi Mighty Morgan! Missed you lately. Hope all is well. Thank you for the welcome.
Welcome back Mighty!!
Hi everyone! Thanks for all the kind welcomes
Feel free to stop by my kitchen table anytime to ask a question!