Welcome to my website
March 17, 2009So here it is. My first website. You found me and I’m so glad you did.
Lee Woodruff.com. Kind of scary. Like a brand: a type of ketchup, pantyhose or fabric softener. And there is a huge part of me, with only two books under my belt that feels like a complete fraud having a website at all. Don’t you have to BE somebody to have a website?
But here I am, a techno-peasant who has plunged into the world of on-line communications and I’m thrilled to be able to communicate with you, show you some of my work and listen to what you have to say as well. I will try to keep this blog updated on a regular basis.
I can honestly say that over the past two years, after the publication of In an Instant I have been honored to meet so many individuals and families who are facing their own challenges that life has hurled at them.
When someone has read the book, one of the biggest compliments I hear is when that person tells me that they can imagine we might be friends if we lived in the same town. As a writer, it is an honor to think about the connections made to everyone who reads something I wrote. It’s humbling.
I hope that with this new book, Perfectly Imperfect and with the first book, In an Instant, I have captured some of the many, commonalities in simply being a wife, mother, caregiver, sister, daughter, working woman, friend and all the many other ways we define ourselves.
I also invite you to contact me with your story. Sometimes just the act of sharing opens people up to continue healing or simply feeling part of a greater community.
And now – a list of this week’s fun words to say. I’m a word-collector and so when I come across a word I like, or dislike, (some of these are parts of the male anatomy involved in reproduction ) I add it to a list.
These are my current fun words:
Chucklehead
Thatch
Cinnamon
Destruction
Lycra
Naturally Lycra is the key ingredient in Spanx. Now most of you gals know what Spanx are. I like to tell my husband they are sausage casing for the female form. A modern kind of girdle. You are looking nice and tight in your clothes and then BAMM – when you peel the body stocking off at bedtime it’s like Cup-O-Noodles after you add the hot water.
Some secrets are best not shared.
Lastly -- Do you twitter? Now you have a good reason to...
With Memorial Day coming up-- I'd love for you to Join me and Tweet to ReMIND Tweet for Injured Troops on Memorial Day Weekend
ReMIND.org's goal is to mobilize 400,000 Twitter users over Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 22, to Monday, May 25). We want to send a message of support to the troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, and raise $1.65 million for local support services and resources to assist their recovery from the physical and psychological wounds of war. Each Twitter user must Tweet at least four times in order to attain our goal.
Let our service members and military families know that you recognize the sacrifices they have made. Pledge now. Tweet to ReMIND on Memorial Day weekend! http://tweettoremind.org/
Tweets for Tweet to ReMIND must include the hashtag #tweettoremind
.
Reader Comments (56)
I really enjoy your website!
Love your blog Lee and am looking forward to reading your new book!
I loved your first book and can't wait for my pre-order to arrive. The website is great--wish you were visiting Long Island at some point, but I guess we'll have to try and see you in NYC.
Oh Lee, here I am sitting at my laptop far away in New Zealand. Waiting for winter. Missing my friends. And watching your video clip talking about your jewelery- it was like sitting on the beach at Slim and being funny with my dear friend... Thank you! More videos please, you look so great to me. Love,
Barb
Hi Lee,
I had the pleasure of meeting Bob a few weeks ago when he was filming interviews for the "Swimming Soldiers" segment at our villa on St. John. I recently released a book, "Yoga in America" and he mentioned that you have an active yoga practice. I'd be delighted to send a copy of the book to you. I've you'd like that, please email the your mailing address to deborah@florianvilla.com. I hope you enjoy the book - it has been receiving a lot of positive reviews and proceeds from the book support our fundraising to host future trips like the one we sponsored for Wounded Warriors when Bob was on island. Kind regards and best of luck with the blog...I know it talks a little while to get it up and running, so let me know if I can help in any way. Namaste, Deborah
I love your new patch of the Internet park, Lee. And though I'm avid reader of blogs, Web sites and a FaceBook junkie, I haven't yet made that leap to Twitter. Now I'm inspired. I'll get on board and Tweet for the troups. What an amazingly easy and fast way to make such a profound impact. I tell ya!
Your website and blog are welcome additions to my "favorites"! I can't wait for your new book Lee; you have a beautiful way of writing. It is one that makes me feel like you are sitting next to me, talking on the porch (mine, yours or the Inn!) or a couch. Thanks for sharing your gift of writing with all of us!
i was a little disheartened when i read the number 9 in your list of tips in this issue of Ladies Home Journal. I have recently had 3 major surgeries, I lost a brother-in-law and 4 days later i lost my sister. I lived for the moments when i could connect with someone who would simply say "the peace of the Lord be with you." i knew instantly that my faith and my beliefs were truer and stronger and that my heart and spirit would heal. to not say anything that praises the Lord for His strength, His grace, His watching over me, His love, His guidance, His light in my life seems so foreign to me and to not have others share with me their love of the Lord is something I hope i never have to deal with. if not for the fellowship and the family of faith, i would not be here today to so much as read a book. I have followed the amazing journey that the Woodruff family has taken, the good, the horrible, the wonderful healing and I feel it was Because of God, despite people hiding their love and faith for fear it wont be "taken" as it was intended. God Bless you all. Good luck with your book, you are a talented writer---praise God for that.
my comment was not posted????? a simple opinion is not posted unless it is gushy and gooey????????? makes me wonder about many things here.
hang on a tick!!! wait a sec--- its just me managing my website-- mother of 4, loser at technology and book coming out on Tuesday-- I've been on the road for the past two days taking care of my Dad with Alzheimers-- and now I'm back home. Just completed a home birthday party for my nine year old twins. I'm just logging on to the website now to see what is happening and yes-- every comment (unless they are very cruel or dirty) will get posted. I'm not one of those people with "handlers" to do this for me though, so please be patient with me folks!
Becky, thanks so much for taking the time to visit the site and read the Ladies Home Journal article and to have read the first book. Between this website, email, facebook and alll the other things I'm supposed to be doing Im feeling really inadequate for not getting back to you sooner.
Becky-- I am reading from the bottom up so I just saw this. I have much to say about faith and in our first book, "In an Instant" it is very much laced through the pages. I don't mean to suggest that people should "hide their faith" when they talk to someone going through a difficult time or worry it might be "taken as it wasnt intended." I do urge people to say what makes them feel comfortable, but in talking to literally thousands of caregiver and people who are going through a rough time one of the most common pieces of advice I heard was the over-use of "trite" phrases-- (not all necessarily laced with faith). Sometimes these canned phrases can sound like greeting card philosophy. That's very different in my book than "the peace of the Lord be with you." Im the first one to say, out loud and proud -- that faith , family and friends were are still are my cornerstones, before during and after Bob's recovery. We would not be where we are today without the "three F's"
Wherever I speak publically, whenever I talk to people I am very quick to give my faith and relaitonship with God its proper due
I believe God is not in the tiny details of an awful tragedy. He doesn't decide that this particular child will die or get cancer, that your brother-in-law will pass away or give you a reason to have surgery again, for the third time-- and I am so sorry about that. He is just there-- loving us always and helping us to heal in amazing ways.
I hope what I have said makes some sense and Im so sorry for what you and your family have gone through. I am so glad that your faith sustains you.
Hi Lee!
I'm so glad you have a website and a new book! I loved your first book (and recommend it to everyone) and was happy to see that you are still writing. Thanks for being a wonderful, funny, real, and thoughtful writer. I look forward to seeing what's next!
all my best!
Hi Lee,
Thank you so much for coming to KC to speak. I love your book.
I just finished reading the friendship chapter and it brought tears to my eyes. I know I'm reading a great book when it makes me cry and reflect. I am taking my time reading your book because I want to savor it like a good cup of coffee. Even though I have one child not four I can still relate to your words. I also lost my Dad a month ago and the hospitalization he had is still fresh in my mind. Your writing about Bobs hospital stay hits home. I have three sisters and I will pass the book on to them after I finish.
Thank you for your honesty and compassion. Please keep writing if you can. I look forward to future books. Have a great day!!
Hi lee,
Thank you for your article on the FOX opinion Blog. it was very touching and real!.
I would like to ask you to contact FOX and request that they redesign their blog to prevent "trolls" or ID theft on the blog itself. It seems that many including myself are the victims of anoying bloggers who simply log in using the identical ID of someone allready on the blog and countradicts and slanders everyone on the blog.
All that would be needed is for FOX to eliminat duplicate ID's and since they have the ID and the email address that should be simple.
I have attempted to contact FOX directly but to no avail. this has been an increasing and anoying issue lately.
best regards and Happy Mothers Day,
bob dittmer
I'm so pleased I found your blog as I have been very curious to find out more about your family since I saw you on Oprah last year while I was recovering from my own MTBI. My father also has TBI from a quite serious accident so it was fantastic to see you on TV discussing.
I need to find out if your books are available in NZ to buy!
I truly am so pleased to see your husband has returned to work and that you are out talking about Brain Injuries - so much education needs to be done! I am sure Bob is still struggling with fatigue and memory issues as well - I would love to hear more about his return to work and the subtle difficulties. My father has said that people just don't understand that he is not what he used to be, how frustrating it is to no longer have a good memory etc etc.
God bless!