How often have you been out in public, whether at a doctor's office, shopping for groceries or perhaps trying to decide what special gift to buy for a loved one's celebration, only to be distracted by a loud-mouthed person speaking their mind into your airspace (if they have a bluetooth) or yammering into their cellphone?
I don't want to know about some stranger's personal life, finances or misdeeds. I don't want to know who's going to pick her kids up from soccer practice, or their best score. Do you?
Are those folks so desperate to be seen and heard that they need to broadcast their concerns for the entire world to hear? Have they no sense of privacy... either yours or theirs? And while we're at it, whatever happened to simple courtesy?
It's bad enough that many folks think that driving the expressway is a great time to chat up their friends. Paying close attention to the driving patterns that surround us can certainly save our lives, or someone else's life, and being involved in a juicy tidbit of gossip isn't a recommended way to remain alert to those patterns.
The other day I was driving on the expressway and a woman in the lane next to me turned on her signal and swerved into my lane, nearly bumping me into the next lane and other traffic. She was on her cell phone and not looking to see if her move was clear. Perhaps she thought that her signal meant, "get the h--- out of my way." rather than a courteous, "this is my intention." If I hadn't been watching traffic I might have been "dead meat."
There are so many indications that courtesy is no longer important in our society and as I wondered why I developed a theory. It all points to the dumbing down of our American schools, the working family, the sense of entitlement that has pervaded our society and people viewing good manners as out of date.
The cell phone is only one more indication of how far we've come into the "new age" of technology, and how far we've come from genuine respect.
Just tooting my personal horn.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Random Observations
I’ve always wondered why we women make such a fuss about consideration and bathroom manners regarding the toilet seat not being put back down after our menfolk have relieved themselves. Yet, when some women go into a public facility to relieve themselves, if they choose not to be seated, do they follow the lines of courtesy they expect? Do they lift the seat in consideration of the women who come after them and who want or need to sit down?
Nope.
How many times have you unwittingly sat down on the wet residue of whomever was there before you? Yuch!
I remember, years ago, when I worked in corporate America, there was a woman who had it right. In each stall in the ladies’ room she put up signs that said, “If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie, lift the seatie!” And it worked, too.
________________
This past Sunday I went to the IHOP for breakfast. It was crowded, as it usually is on a late Sunday morning, but we were seated quickly. IHOP is a family restaurant, and that means children, of all ages. Seated at a table near us was a family with a couple of small children. One of them was a little boy about a year old apparently just learning to use his voice, to the chagrin of everyone in the restaurant. I have never heard so piercing and high pitched a sound coming from a human mouth.
Nope.
How many times have you unwittingly sat down on the wet residue of whomever was there before you? Yuch!
I remember, years ago, when I worked in corporate America, there was a woman who had it right. In each stall in the ladies’ room she put up signs that said, “If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie, lift the seatie!” And it worked, too.
________________
This past Sunday I went to the IHOP for breakfast. It was crowded, as it usually is on a late Sunday morning, but we were seated quickly. IHOP is a family restaurant, and that means children, of all ages. Seated at a table near us was a family with a couple of small children. One of them was a little boy about a year old apparently just learning to use his voice, to the chagrin of everyone in the restaurant. I have never heard so piercing and high pitched a sound coming from a human mouth.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
THE SYMPOSIUM and THE ASSOCIATES PROGRAM... New Ideas in Webinars
THE SYMPOSIUM
Join us at In The Company Of Writers from wherever you are as we schedule and present gatherings of authors, journalists, poets, and others to discuss writing, the world, relationships, spirituality... all manner of things from the point of view of the creative person.
Each colloquium will be moderated. Our changing ensemble will be made up of invitees chosen from among your suggested panelists or from our own network.
Panelists' views may often be outside the pale of everyday attitudes. They may be deeply serious and reflective, they might not always agree. They'll sometimes be zany and might go from the sublime to the ridiculous. But they'll never, ever, be boring.
Some of us, no matter how mature, are still trying to make sense of this Life we own so fleetingly. Others of us have a solid handle on who we are, where we going and why. Once we get rolling we hope you'll become addicted to listening to our experts' opinions and conjectures about who, what, where, and when, and everything else, too.
Questions? Email us at info@inthecompanyofwriters.com. Please put SYMPOSIUM in the subject line.
THE ASSOCIATES PROGRAM
In The Company of Writers is seeking a limited number of top level professionals in the writing field to become our associates.
Wanted are: Editors, Agents, Publishers, Ghost Writers, Indexers, Graphics Designers and others.
We want to partner with those whose skills, expertise, reputation and reliability we can comfortably recommend. We have an increasing number of writers asking us for referrals to quality providers of the services they need for their writing and/or publishing goals.
If you have (or know of someone who has) an established reputation in any of the writers' support skills listed above, or in some other related skill set we have not listed, please contact us immediately to discuss our Associate Program.
Questions? Email us at info@inthecompanyofwriters.com. Please put ASSOCIATES PROGRAM in the subject line.
Join us at In The Company Of Writers from wherever you are as we schedule and present gatherings of authors, journalists, poets, and others to discuss writing, the world, relationships, spirituality... all manner of things from the point of view of the creative person.
Each colloquium will be moderated. Our changing ensemble will be made up of invitees chosen from among your suggested panelists or from our own network.
Panelists' views may often be outside the pale of everyday attitudes. They may be deeply serious and reflective, they might not always agree. They'll sometimes be zany and might go from the sublime to the ridiculous. But they'll never, ever, be boring.
Some of us, no matter how mature, are still trying to make sense of this Life we own so fleetingly. Others of us have a solid handle on who we are, where we going and why. Once we get rolling we hope you'll become addicted to listening to our experts' opinions and conjectures about who, what, where, and when, and everything else, too.
Questions? Email us at info@inthecompanyofwriters.com. Please put SYMPOSIUM in the subject line.
THE ASSOCIATES PROGRAM
In The Company of Writers is seeking a limited number of top level professionals in the writing field to become our associates.
Wanted are: Editors, Agents, Publishers, Ghost Writers, Indexers, Graphics Designers and others.
We want to partner with those whose skills, expertise, reputation and reliability we can comfortably recommend. We have an increasing number of writers asking us for referrals to quality providers of the services they need for their writing and/or publishing goals.
If you have (or know of someone who has) an established reputation in any of the writers' support skills listed above, or in some other related skill set we have not listed, please contact us immediately to discuss our Associate Program.
Questions? Email us at info@inthecompanyofwriters.com. Please put ASSOCIATES PROGRAM in the subject line.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
OBITUARY
This morning, as I sat with a second cup of coffee and the newspaper, expecting a quiet half hour before resuming my morning tasks, my telephone rang. It was Mary Purcell, a former member of Georgia Writers Association and a long time friend of Jeannie Sutton Hogue. She called to tell me that Jeannie has passed away.
Following is a combination of her official obituary interspersed with some personal comments from me.
Jeannie Sutton Hogue, 55, of Gordon, Georgia passed away early Wednesday morning in a Milledgeville, Georgia hospital. Daughter of the late James Thomas & Geneva Reynolds Sutton, she was a native of Albany but had made her home in Wilkinson County most of her adult life.
She was a writer of mystery novels and had two published books to her credit; One Hell of a Mystery and Kudzu Murders: A Jesse Statham Mystery. She was a past President of the Georgia Writer's Association.
Jeannie was an unusual, even remarkable woman. Unique in attitude, bearing and speech, her comments were frequently surprising and most often quite funny. She had many health problems which caused her to curtail her activites but nothing stopped her pen. Plus, Jeannie was an avid reader and a lover of animals.
A number of years ago when I went to visit her, she had a surprise waiting for me... a nearly wild but loving "snowshoe" (part Siamese) kitten who I named Miss YumYum. As I prepared to leave, we put the kitten into a large box so that I could comfortably make the drive back to Atlanta.
As fate would have it, driving the country roads from Gordon on my way home, there in the road I saw a small black puppy which I rescued from certain death. Before I resumed my drive I stopped at a couple of the rural houses, inquiring if anyone knew who owned this round and wiggling black ball of tongue and fur. No one claimed her and so, christening her "Road Kill", "Rodi" for short, I went home.
As Rodi grew my husband, who did not want a dog in the first place, became unhappy. She would scratch at the door of the deck trying to get into the house and eventually her claws damaged the door. Finally, he put his foot down and asked me to find Rodi a new home.
I called Jeannie, whose amenable husband and country residence offered ample room and safety for what was becoming a big dog. So, Jeannie gave me Miss YumYum (who passed away last September) and I gave her Rodi, who I believe is still a happy country dog.
Jeannie is survived by her loving husband, to whom she was deeply devoted: John E. Hogue, III of Gordon, Georgia and her brothers: James R. (Judy) Sutton and Scott Anthony (Cathy) Sutton of Macon; her sister: Brenda (Wayne) Bishop of Macon, and her Mother-in-law: Mrs. Wally Hogue of Gordon. Jeannie also left ten Nieces & Nephews and many saddened friends. You'll be missed, Jeannie. We all loved you.
Following is a combination of her official obituary interspersed with some personal comments from me.
Jeannie Sutton Hogue, 55, of Gordon, Georgia passed away early Wednesday morning in a Milledgeville, Georgia hospital. Daughter of the late James Thomas & Geneva Reynolds Sutton, she was a native of Albany but had made her home in Wilkinson County most of her adult life.
She was a writer of mystery novels and had two published books to her credit; One Hell of a Mystery and Kudzu Murders: A Jesse Statham Mystery. She was a past President of the Georgia Writer's Association.
Jeannie was an unusual, even remarkable woman. Unique in attitude, bearing and speech, her comments were frequently surprising and most often quite funny. She had many health problems which caused her to curtail her activites but nothing stopped her pen. Plus, Jeannie was an avid reader and a lover of animals.
A number of years ago when I went to visit her, she had a surprise waiting for me... a nearly wild but loving "snowshoe" (part Siamese) kitten who I named Miss YumYum. As I prepared to leave, we put the kitten into a large box so that I could comfortably make the drive back to Atlanta.
As fate would have it, driving the country roads from Gordon on my way home, there in the road I saw a small black puppy which I rescued from certain death. Before I resumed my drive I stopped at a couple of the rural houses, inquiring if anyone knew who owned this round and wiggling black ball of tongue and fur. No one claimed her and so, christening her "Road Kill", "Rodi" for short, I went home.
As Rodi grew my husband, who did not want a dog in the first place, became unhappy. She would scratch at the door of the deck trying to get into the house and eventually her claws damaged the door. Finally, he put his foot down and asked me to find Rodi a new home.
I called Jeannie, whose amenable husband and country residence offered ample room and safety for what was becoming a big dog. So, Jeannie gave me Miss YumYum (who passed away last September) and I gave her Rodi, who I believe is still a happy country dog.
Jeannie is survived by her loving husband, to whom she was deeply devoted: John E. Hogue, III of Gordon, Georgia and her brothers: James R. (Judy) Sutton and Scott Anthony (Cathy) Sutton of Macon; her sister: Brenda (Wayne) Bishop of Macon, and her Mother-in-law: Mrs. Wally Hogue of Gordon. Jeannie also left ten Nieces & Nephews and many saddened friends. You'll be missed, Jeannie. We all loved you.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Poets, Witches and Writers
As it might be imagined from the title of this blog, some of my favorite people are Poets. Among those favorite souls are also Witches and other Writers.
Last weekend I was an invited guest at the Harriette Austin Writers Conference, at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Held in the Georgia Center and sponsored by the Continuing Education Department, after a one year hiatus, it was the 14th year of this remarkably successful conference. There were eager writers and poets everywhere!
I had the great pleasure of greeting old friends and making some new ones. In the old friends department was, of course, the lovely and gracious Harriette, herself I was sorry to see that in the announcements there was no mention of the fact that she was the Lifetime Achievement Award winner at the 39th Annual Georgia author of the Year Awards. I believe the page is still up regardless of the fact that the website is undergoing radical changes.
Then there was the talented author of diverse genres and most excellent Southern gentleman, Hawk McKinney, who I hope will join us by presenting a Webinar some time soon; the prodigious and marvelous Terry Kay; the often controversial Bill Bray and his friend (and mine) Bowen Craig, who helps me move plants twice each year at the change of the seasons and who likes to tell people that he's my sometime houseboy; Chris Roerden, author of Don't Murder Your Mystery with whom I exchanged the "I'm older than you are" conversation (I won) as we sat together at lunch one day. My dear friend and "blood buddy" (we donate blood together), author of the Biscuit McKee cozy mystery series, Fran Stewart participated in an Author/Agent panel, after which I fled for home, being too exhausted to stay for the big dinner.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Lydia Crabtree, a real live Witch who is very unwitchlike. An author and teacher of pagan ways, I look forward to getting to know her better. See her own blog report on the conference.
I sat in on several of the workshops, mostly looking for future Webinar presenters and have two that I'm sure I'll be announcing soon: Bobby Nash on Graphic Novels and Peter Reinhart on Writing Cookbooks.
More later...
Last weekend I was an invited guest at the Harriette Austin Writers Conference, at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Held in the Georgia Center and sponsored by the Continuing Education Department, after a one year hiatus, it was the 14th year of this remarkably successful conference. There were eager writers and poets everywhere!
I had the great pleasure of greeting old friends and making some new ones. In the old friends department was, of course, the lovely and gracious Harriette, herself I was sorry to see that in the announcements there was no mention of the fact that she was the Lifetime Achievement Award winner at the 39th Annual Georgia author of the Year Awards. I believe the page is still up regardless of the fact that the website is undergoing radical changes.
Then there was the talented author of diverse genres and most excellent Southern gentleman, Hawk McKinney, who I hope will join us by presenting a Webinar some time soon; the prodigious and marvelous Terry Kay; the often controversial Bill Bray and his friend (and mine) Bowen Craig, who helps me move plants twice each year at the change of the seasons and who likes to tell people that he's my sometime houseboy; Chris Roerden, author of Don't Murder Your Mystery with whom I exchanged the "I'm older than you are" conversation (I won) as we sat together at lunch one day. My dear friend and "blood buddy" (we donate blood together), author of the Biscuit McKee cozy mystery series, Fran Stewart participated in an Author/Agent panel, after which I fled for home, being too exhausted to stay for the big dinner.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Lydia Crabtree, a real live Witch who is very unwitchlike. An author and teacher of pagan ways, I look forward to getting to know her better. See her own blog report on the conference.
I sat in on several of the workshops, mostly looking for future Webinar presenters and have two that I'm sure I'll be announcing soon: Bobby Nash on Graphic Novels and Peter Reinhart on Writing Cookbooks.
More later...
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Today I celebrate seventy three years of life on earth. I had a quiet awakening and decided to make myself a big breakfast, which I neither needed nor could finish.
While I was sipping my coffee I received a telephone call from a colleague that made me really excited about ITCW’s future. We talked and agreed to a partnership in a twelve-week series of Webinars that I believe will offer writers real value. So far I have been really pleased about everything offered and I hope this will only serve to increase the numbers of writers who hear about us and take the courses.
A bit later an email from another colleague offered me even more good news. I had been wanting to interview him for an in-depth article as he is not only already interesting but he’s doing something new that I find intriguing. (I wish I could tell you more but that would spoil the surprise… and my possible sale of the article.)
I spent an hour or so looking for some things I want to use at my party this weekend (my annual Summer Barbecue Bash) and just as I was finishing my granddaughter called to tell me she had paid off the loan I co-signed for her.
All these good things, however, are still surface matters, and while I am appreciative, I know that much deeper concerns are in my heart today.
More later...
While I was sipping my coffee I received a telephone call from a colleague that made me really excited about ITCW’s future. We talked and agreed to a partnership in a twelve-week series of Webinars that I believe will offer writers real value. So far I have been really pleased about everything offered and I hope this will only serve to increase the numbers of writers who hear about us and take the courses.
A bit later an email from another colleague offered me even more good news. I had been wanting to interview him for an in-depth article as he is not only already interesting but he’s doing something new that I find intriguing. (I wish I could tell you more but that would spoil the surprise… and my possible sale of the article.)
I spent an hour or so looking for some things I want to use at my party this weekend (my annual Summer Barbecue Bash) and just as I was finishing my granddaughter called to tell me she had paid off the loan I co-signed for her.
All these good things, however, are still surface matters, and while I am appreciative, I know that much deeper concerns are in my heart today.
More later...
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Watering the Family Tree
Most of us know something about our family tree, our genealogy. Many of us are proud of our antecedents and some have spent considerable time and money researching our roots. But what of the future?
In these early years of the twenty-first century, with the increasing concern over climate changes, dying polar bears, diminishing species, what is our individual responsibility to be good stewards of the earth? Will our actions make those in our families who come after us, proud? Or will we carelessly contribute to difficulties they might encounter because today’s population (that’s you and me, folks) is made up of people who are too lazy or too self-centered?
Do you tell yourself that letting the water run in the yard, the kitchen or bathroom sink doesn't matter? Or that flushing the toilet after dropping in a piece of tissue is insignificant? It most certainly is significant, and as time passes it becomes more and more so.
Some may find this graphic comment distasteful, but many years ago when I was living in Eugene, Oregon there was a water shortage in that part of the country. The motto all across the state was, "It's mellow if it's yellow, if it's brown, flush it down."
My research has informed me that the highest average water use in the world is in the US, where the average person uses 150 gallons of water per day. Do the math… multiply the number of people in your household times the average amount of water a person uses in one day and multiply that again just by the number of households in your family. If you keep on going, it becomes astronomical.
So what’s the point of my harangue? Well, here in Georgia we’re in the middle of a drought. There’s a water ban in effect (are you paying attention yet?) and like it or not every one of us is responsible for keeping our usage to a fair and reasonable level.
As water continues to become a critical concern for everyone I thought I would pass along information on the websites below. One is for the latest watering ban information in our local area, four more include water saving tips, the fifth is about water facts, and the last one is for a small but possibly important solution... information on rain barrel cisterns.
Here you will find ban information: http://www.northgeorgiawater.com/html/305.htm; here you’ll find some great downloadable tips to save water: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/.
Want more information on water use? See: http://www.wssc.dst.md.us/INFO/tips.cfm, www.caes.uga.edu, www.watersmart.net, and
http://www.water.org/resources/waterfacts.htm
And last, to find out more about rain barrel cisterns for collecting rainwater, go to: http://www.SavingWithRain.com.
Every household, whether in a drought area or not, ought to review the information on water, water conservation, watering bans and why it is an increasing problem.
And while I’m berating you, are you recycling? (Paper, aluminum, glass...) It’s every bit as important as saving water. Please help me to help your great grandchildren and mine to a healthy planet. Let’s not have them remember us as being selfish and lazy, or worse, make it impossible for some of them to survive at all.
In these early years of the twenty-first century, with the increasing concern over climate changes, dying polar bears, diminishing species, what is our individual responsibility to be good stewards of the earth? Will our actions make those in our families who come after us, proud? Or will we carelessly contribute to difficulties they might encounter because today’s population (that’s you and me, folks) is made up of people who are too lazy or too self-centered?
Do you tell yourself that letting the water run in the yard, the kitchen or bathroom sink doesn't matter? Or that flushing the toilet after dropping in a piece of tissue is insignificant? It most certainly is significant, and as time passes it becomes more and more so.
Some may find this graphic comment distasteful, but many years ago when I was living in Eugene, Oregon there was a water shortage in that part of the country. The motto all across the state was, "It's mellow if it's yellow, if it's brown, flush it down."
My research has informed me that the highest average water use in the world is in the US, where the average person uses 150 gallons of water per day. Do the math… multiply the number of people in your household times the average amount of water a person uses in one day and multiply that again just by the number of households in your family. If you keep on going, it becomes astronomical.
So what’s the point of my harangue? Well, here in Georgia we’re in the middle of a drought. There’s a water ban in effect (are you paying attention yet?) and like it or not every one of us is responsible for keeping our usage to a fair and reasonable level.
As water continues to become a critical concern for everyone I thought I would pass along information on the websites below. One is for the latest watering ban information in our local area, four more include water saving tips, the fifth is about water facts, and the last one is for a small but possibly important solution... information on rain barrel cisterns.
Here you will find ban information: http://www.northgeorgiawater.com/html/305.htm; here you’ll find some great downloadable tips to save water: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/.
Want more information on water use? See: http://www.wssc.dst.md.us/INFO/tips.cfm, www.caes.uga.edu, www.watersmart.net, and
http://www.water.org/resources/waterfacts.htm
And last, to find out more about rain barrel cisterns for collecting rainwater, go to: http://www.SavingWithRain.com.
Every household, whether in a drought area or not, ought to review the information on water, water conservation, watering bans and why it is an increasing problem.
And while I’m berating you, are you recycling? (Paper, aluminum, glass...) It’s every bit as important as saving water. Please help me to help your great grandchildren and mine to a healthy planet. Let’s not have them remember us as being selfish and lazy, or worse, make it impossible for some of them to survive at all.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Mother’s Day Matchmaker
As we sat in IHOP laughing and talking and enjoying Miss Elsa’s antics, Michelle, Teryn and I noticed a gentleman seated at a table across the aisle from us. He was waving to Miss Elsa and laughing, too. Finally, he could contain himself no longer as she flirted in her one-year old way, and he spoke up. As he watched her nibble on the puffs her mother had supplied, while we ate crepes and other grownup foods, he assured her that he would be happy to cook just for her.
Our Mother’s Day breakfast progressed and Michelle, (more like her mother than she realizes) engaged our breakfasting neighbor in conversation. After a few pleasantries she asked him where he was from and as both Michelle and I already knew the answer due to his accent, we weren’t surprised when he said “Italy, I am from Rome.”
Encouraged, as his willingness for conversation continued, Michelle explained that we are four first (and only) daughters. The gentleman, whose name we later discovered is Romolo, told us that he has four grown daughters, all independent from his care, and that his wife passed away from breast cancer five years ago.
I’m certain it was in that moment that Michelle made her decision. Continuing in breakfast table conversation across the aisle, she managed to tell Romolo that I speak (or rather used to speak) Italian, and she also managed to pique his further interest by conveying to him in a subtle manner that I might be interested in making a new friend.
He was interested. Romolo and I discovered that we live nearby one another. He mentioned that he has a very nice home and I said, “So do I.” Michelle, now playing matchmaker to the hilt, mentioned that I prepare wonderful Italian dishes, whereupon Romolo assured her that I wouldn’t have to cook, that he’d take me out. As his enthusiasm gained momentum he mentioned that a trip to Italy for we two was possibly in the cards for next year and I decided it was time to leave the restaurant, before I found myself engaged to be married.
When we stood to leave he asked if I’d care to have him call. I asked for his card but as he had none I gave him mine. In the best tradition of the continental gentleman he took my hand and kissed it, and looked deep into my eyes.
On the way out my daughter, completely tickled with herself, told me more than once how sweet a man she thought he was, and I could tell from that sparkle in her eyes that she had visions of a happy forever after for me, in her loving heart. We are a family of romantics but from my point of view, that's a bit of a reach.
Thanks, Miss Elsa, you little flirt!
Friday, May 11, 2007
A New Writing Task
Over the past few days I've been working on what is one of the toughest writing tasks I've ever attempted. For some this might be easy but for me it is a genuine (and welcome) learning experience.
I was recently contacted by a company that prepares writing tests on fluency and comprehension for Departments of Education over elementary school children in four Southeastern states. They asked for short "stories" of from 100 to a maximum of 175 words, depending on the grade level. I was provided with an online tool to check the reading level of what I would write and I got to work. I began by rewriting a couple of stories I had written in the past just to see how to "downwrite," restructure my writing to a far lower grade level than the one the story had been written for originally. After numerous tries I finally began to get the hang of it but single syllable words don't always get the point across.
I was really surprised when pasting the stories into the program to learn which words scored as difficult. Contractions such as "can't" or "wouldn't" were highlighted for 4th and 5th grade readers. Words such as "feisty" or "territorial" received the same warning score for 6th grade readers. No wonder this country has so many literacy problems! It seems that our children aren't being taught the sort of written language skills needed to comprehend the world around them. Yet I know they hear these words and many more sophisticated ones on TV and in the movies. So what is one to think?
In the meantime I've begun writing new little stories. I think about our daily lives and about things that might interest or inform youngsters, then I craft a lttle story around these things. I'm getting better. Pretty soon I'll be churning them out so fast it might even work out to be worth my while.
I was recently contacted by a company that prepares writing tests on fluency and comprehension for Departments of Education over elementary school children in four Southeastern states. They asked for short "stories" of from 100 to a maximum of 175 words, depending on the grade level. I was provided with an online tool to check the reading level of what I would write and I got to work. I began by rewriting a couple of stories I had written in the past just to see how to "downwrite," restructure my writing to a far lower grade level than the one the story had been written for originally. After numerous tries I finally began to get the hang of it but single syllable words don't always get the point across.
I was really surprised when pasting the stories into the program to learn which words scored as difficult. Contractions such as "can't" or "wouldn't" were highlighted for 4th and 5th grade readers. Words such as "feisty" or "territorial" received the same warning score for 6th grade readers. No wonder this country has so many literacy problems! It seems that our children aren't being taught the sort of written language skills needed to comprehend the world around them. Yet I know they hear these words and many more sophisticated ones on TV and in the movies. So what is one to think?
In the meantime I've begun writing new little stories. I think about our daily lives and about things that might interest or inform youngsters, then I craft a lttle story around these things. I'm getting better. Pretty soon I'll be churning them out so fast it might even work out to be worth my while.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Motherhood in the 21st Century
Last Thursday I received an invitation from the AJC Gwinnett Opinions page, sent to those of us on the Voice of Gwinnett panelist list to comment on Motherhood in 2007, posed as follows:
Question:
What are the qualities, character and skills needed to be a good mother in 2007? Are they timeless, the same as in generations past? Or have they adapted and evolved as society has changed?
My response:
I know I'm not unique, but it hardly seems possible to me that only yesterday I was a very young mother and today I am a great grandmother. I have much to reflect upon. Motherhood? Though the care required and the skills needed to raise a child from infancy upward remain basically the same, we know there are far greater challenges in 2007 than there were in 1952.
Safety and health, nourishment, love, play, instruction and discipline are as much in the mix as they ever were. But as the world has changed, become so much more complicated and now offers the very young choices not even imagined in the past, a mother must remain far more discerning regarding the physical, cultural, moral and intellectual development of her children. Whether threats come from the street or from information filtering into the home from television and the internet, a mother's task is to choose wisely what is simply a matter of cultural change or is insidious and harmful. Nothing, however, can take the place of love, bedtime stories and being the anchor of the home.
I sent along the photo of myself and Miss Elsa, taken in November, which you can see right here.
It seems my comments were appreciated and will be published in Sunday's paper.
Question:
What are the qualities, character and skills needed to be a good mother in 2007? Are they timeless, the same as in generations past? Or have they adapted and evolved as society has changed?
My response:
I know I'm not unique, but it hardly seems possible to me that only yesterday I was a very young mother and today I am a great grandmother. I have much to reflect upon. Motherhood? Though the care required and the skills needed to raise a child from infancy upward remain basically the same, we know there are far greater challenges in 2007 than there were in 1952.
Safety and health, nourishment, love, play, instruction and discipline are as much in the mix as they ever were. But as the world has changed, become so much more complicated and now offers the very young choices not even imagined in the past, a mother must remain far more discerning regarding the physical, cultural, moral and intellectual development of her children. Whether threats come from the street or from information filtering into the home from television and the internet, a mother's task is to choose wisely what is simply a matter of cultural change or is insidious and harmful. Nothing, however, can take the place of love, bedtime stories and being the anchor of the home.
I sent along the photo of myself and Miss Elsa, taken in November, which you can see right here.
It seems my comments were appreciated and will be published in Sunday's paper.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Georgia Writers Association's 11th Annual Spring Festival
Yesterday was Georgia Writers Association's 11th Annual Spring Festival of Writers Workshops. As usual it was an event loaded with information for both wannabees (thank goodness they keep surfacing) and those who are nearly ready, ready to publish, or already published and seeking marketing tips and information. You can see the lineup on Georgia Writers website if you're curious. It is http://www.georgiawriters.org/Festival-2007.htm.
Each year, usually starting in December or January, I have put this event together. Many of the presenters have been "regulars" with new ones added each year. If I do it again, and I might, the next one will be different. Of course there are a few I will always ask to participate as they're mainstays, people with information for writers that is solid and timeless. But I'm thinking it's time for a possibly fresh approach.
Quite a few of the writers attending signed up for In The Company of Writers' mailing list. I'm hoping that nearly all of them will want to sign up for the next Webinar. Valerie Clark will be presenting What Agents Are Looking For on June 9 and it promises to be well worthwhile for anyone at the point of needing an agent in their writing efforts. If this fits you, go back to the ITCW website and click on "Coming Up!"
Each year, usually starting in December or January, I have put this event together. Many of the presenters have been "regulars" with new ones added each year. If I do it again, and I might, the next one will be different. Of course there are a few I will always ask to participate as they're mainstays, people with information for writers that is solid and timeless. But I'm thinking it's time for a possibly fresh approach.
Quite a few of the writers attending signed up for In The Company of Writers' mailing list. I'm hoping that nearly all of them will want to sign up for the next Webinar. Valerie Clark will be presenting What Agents Are Looking For on June 9 and it promises to be well worthwhile for anyone at the point of needing an agent in their writing efforts. If this fits you, go back to the ITCW website and click on "Coming Up!"
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
A Poem to Outgrow A War
I've been wondering what I'd say on my next post... I don't have to wonder any more. This just came into my email from ARTNEWS, a listserve of artists, poets, writers and other loveable (and sometimes not so loveable) creative types. Thanks be.
Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminal
by Naomi Shihab Nye
After learning my flight was detained 4 hours,
I heard the announcement:
If anyone in the vicinity of gate 4-A understands any
Arabic,
Please come to the gate immediately
Well -- one pauses these days. Gate 4-A was my own
gate. I went there.
An older woman in full traditional Palestinian dress,
Just like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor,
wailing loudly.
Help, said the flight service person. Talk to her.
What is her
Problem? we told her the flight was going to be four
hours late and she
Did this.
I put my arm around her and spoke to her haltingly.
Shu dow-a, shu- biduck habibti, stani stani schway,
min fadlick,
Sho bit se-wee?
The minute she heard any words she knew -- however
poorly used -
She stopped crying.
She thought our flight had been cancelled entirely.
She needed to be in El Paso for some major medical
treatment the
Following day. I said no, no, we're fine, you'll get
there, just late,
Who is picking you up? Let's call him and tell him.
We called her son and I spoke with him in English.
I told him I would stay with his mother till we got on
the plane and
Would ride next to her -- southwest.
She talked to him. Then we called her other sons just
for the fun of it.
Then we called my dad and he and she spoke for a while
in Arabic and
Found out of course they had ten shared friends.
Then I thought just for the heck of it why not call
some Palestinian
Poets I know and let them chat with her. This all took
up about 2 hours.
She was laughing a lot by then. Telling about her
life. Answering
Questions.
She had pulled a sack of homemade mamool cookies --
little powderedSugar crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and nuts --
out of her bag --
And was offering them to all the women at the gate.
To my amazement, not a single woman declined one. It
was like a
Sacrament. The traveler from Argentina, the traveler
from California,
The lovely woman from Laredo -- we were all covered
with the same
Powdered sugar. And smiling. There is no better
cookies.
And then the airline broke out the free beverages from
huge coolers --
Non-alcoholic -- and the two little girls for our
flight, one African
American, one Mexican American -- ran around serving
us all apple juice
And lemonade and they were covered with powdered sugar
too.
And I noticed my new best friend -- by now we were holding hands --
Had a potted plant poking out of her bag, some
medicinal thing,
With green furry leaves. Such an old country traveling
tradition. Always
Carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere.
And I looked around that gate of late and weary ones
and thought,
This is the world I want to live in. The shared world.
Not a single person in this gate -- once the crying of
confusion stopped
-- has seemed apprehensive about any other person.
They took the cookies. I wanted to hug all those other
women too.
This can still happen anywhere.
Not everything is lost.
Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminal
by Naomi Shihab Nye
After learning my flight was detained 4 hours,
I heard the announcement:
If anyone in the vicinity of gate 4-A understands any
Arabic,
Please come to the gate immediately
Well -- one pauses these days. Gate 4-A was my own
gate. I went there.
An older woman in full traditional Palestinian dress,
Just like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor,
wailing loudly.
Help, said the flight service person. Talk to her.
What is her
Problem? we told her the flight was going to be four
hours late and she
Did this.
I put my arm around her and spoke to her haltingly.
Shu dow-a, shu- biduck habibti, stani stani schway,
min fadlick,
Sho bit se-wee?
The minute she heard any words she knew -- however
poorly used -
She stopped crying.
She thought our flight had been cancelled entirely.
She needed to be in El Paso for some major medical
treatment the
Following day. I said no, no, we're fine, you'll get
there, just late,
Who is picking you up? Let's call him and tell him.
We called her son and I spoke with him in English.
I told him I would stay with his mother till we got on
the plane and
Would ride next to her -- southwest.
She talked to him. Then we called her other sons just
for the fun of it.
Then we called my dad and he and she spoke for a while
in Arabic and
Found out of course they had ten shared friends.
Then I thought just for the heck of it why not call
some Palestinian
Poets I know and let them chat with her. This all took
up about 2 hours.
She was laughing a lot by then. Telling about her
life. Answering
Questions.
She had pulled a sack of homemade mamool cookies --
little powderedSugar crumbly mounds stuffed with dates and nuts --
out of her bag --
And was offering them to all the women at the gate.
To my amazement, not a single woman declined one. It
was like a
Sacrament. The traveler from Argentina, the traveler
from California,
The lovely woman from Laredo -- we were all covered
with the same
Powdered sugar. And smiling. There is no better
cookies.
And then the airline broke out the free beverages from
huge coolers --
Non-alcoholic -- and the two little girls for our
flight, one African
American, one Mexican American -- ran around serving
us all apple juice
And lemonade and they were covered with powdered sugar
too.
And I noticed my new best friend -- by now we were holding hands --
Had a potted plant poking out of her bag, some
medicinal thing,
With green furry leaves. Such an old country traveling
tradition. Always
Carry a plant. Always stay rooted to somewhere.
And I looked around that gate of late and weary ones
and thought,
This is the world I want to live in. The shared world.
Not a single person in this gate -- once the crying of
confusion stopped
-- has seemed apprehensive about any other person.
They took the cookies. I wanted to hug all those other
women too.
This can still happen anywhere.
Not everything is lost.
Friday, April 27, 2007
The Hummingbird Wars
My friend Bill York, who like me is a hummingbird enthusiast, tells me that the hummers have returned early this year. Bill called the other day to say that he had already seen a pair near his deck. He promptly put up a feeder.
At the end of last year's season my favorite feeder fell and broke, leaving me to search for a new one. I was unable to find a replacement as the season was over and the kind I like were off the shelves. The stores that sell animal products have a selection of various sizes and styles and most of them are pitiful.
Yesterday, keeping in mind that I knew what I wanted, I went hunting. I was in luck. One of the local stores had a 50% off sale on last year's feeders and as it happens they were exactly the kind I prefer. I bought three.
From this time of year until October when the hummingbirds leave for warmer climes, every week or so I can be seen with red-stained hands. This is because I always make my own nectar; 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water and a tiny drop of red food coloring, and I always manage to get some of the powerful red stuff on my fingers. I heat the water so the sugar will dissolve thoroughly, add the food coloring and when the nectar has cooled down I fill the feeders. I hang them from the pergola above my deck and in the trees in the front yard and then I wait for the hungry little birds to entertain me as they zip in for nourishment.
A few years ago when they were in full summer's activities, and after having tried for weeks to attract these tiny birds, I wrote this little story and I share it with you now.
The Hummingbird Wars
I have finally been successful in coaxing the establishment of a hummingbird population in my yard. The feeder needs regular replenishment. My cats and I are royally entertained by “hummer” antics as we watch them just outside the living room window. Unaware of their diminutive size, hummingbirds are feisty and territorial. They are diligent in their performance of hummingbird business: raising lilliputian progeny and vying for first nectar-drinking rights.
Lately a dominant male has taken to hiding in the philodendron that swings beside the feeder. He is determined to keep others away from “his” food source. It is a constant battle. The moment he takes off chasing one impertinent interloper, another zooms in to steal a meal.
The other day while I was watering the flowers on my deck, the self-appointed proprietor of the feeder confronted me. For a moment, it was a stand-off as we each remained in position, he in midair, I, motionless, not wanting to frighten him away. How often can you stare down such a brave critter? But in a flash a brazen encroacher, unaware of our rendezvous, zipped onto the scene and he and my heroic tenant nearly crashed before my eyes.
An old fable about the hummingbird goes like this: Once there was a great fire in the jungle. A hummingbird, flying at high speed, passed by a lion. The lion, startled, asked him, “Hummingbird, where are you going in such a hurry?”
The hummingbird responded, “I am carrying water, in my beak, to put out a fire in the forest!”
The lion retorted, “But the amount of water you can carry in your beak is so tiny!”
To which the hummingbird replied, “I am doing my part!”
How about you?
At the end of last year's season my favorite feeder fell and broke, leaving me to search for a new one. I was unable to find a replacement as the season was over and the kind I like were off the shelves. The stores that sell animal products have a selection of various sizes and styles and most of them are pitiful.
Yesterday, keeping in mind that I knew what I wanted, I went hunting. I was in luck. One of the local stores had a 50% off sale on last year's feeders and as it happens they were exactly the kind I prefer. I bought three.
From this time of year until October when the hummingbirds leave for warmer climes, every week or so I can be seen with red-stained hands. This is because I always make my own nectar; 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water and a tiny drop of red food coloring, and I always manage to get some of the powerful red stuff on my fingers. I heat the water so the sugar will dissolve thoroughly, add the food coloring and when the nectar has cooled down I fill the feeders. I hang them from the pergola above my deck and in the trees in the front yard and then I wait for the hungry little birds to entertain me as they zip in for nourishment.
A few years ago when they were in full summer's activities, and after having tried for weeks to attract these tiny birds, I wrote this little story and I share it with you now.
The Hummingbird Wars
I have finally been successful in coaxing the establishment of a hummingbird population in my yard. The feeder needs regular replenishment. My cats and I are royally entertained by “hummer” antics as we watch them just outside the living room window. Unaware of their diminutive size, hummingbirds are feisty and territorial. They are diligent in their performance of hummingbird business: raising lilliputian progeny and vying for first nectar-drinking rights.
Lately a dominant male has taken to hiding in the philodendron that swings beside the feeder. He is determined to keep others away from “his” food source. It is a constant battle. The moment he takes off chasing one impertinent interloper, another zooms in to steal a meal.
The other day while I was watering the flowers on my deck, the self-appointed proprietor of the feeder confronted me. For a moment, it was a stand-off as we each remained in position, he in midair, I, motionless, not wanting to frighten him away. How often can you stare down such a brave critter? But in a flash a brazen encroacher, unaware of our rendezvous, zipped onto the scene and he and my heroic tenant nearly crashed before my eyes.
An old fable about the hummingbird goes like this: Once there was a great fire in the jungle. A hummingbird, flying at high speed, passed by a lion. The lion, startled, asked him, “Hummingbird, where are you going in such a hurry?”
The hummingbird responded, “I am carrying water, in my beak, to put out a fire in the forest!”
The lion retorted, “But the amount of water you can carry in your beak is so tiny!”
To which the hummingbird replied, “I am doing my part!”
How about you?
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Miss Elsa’s Lesson for Writers: What My One-Year Old Great Granddaughter Taught Me About Writing
As I was watching Miss Elsa, my beautiful almost one-year-old great granddaughter, learning to walk, it occurred to me that a process we all take for granted was once a major challenge. And what really impressed me is how she went about acquiring the ability to go from one place to another on her two little legs and tiny feet, limbs and appendages she was hardly aware of to begin with.
I realized that her learning process had some profound lessons for us as writers.
• First, she was single-minded and on-purpose. Once she realized walking was possible, she chose to go everywhere on two feet. Never mind that she often fell down. Unless there was some tight spot she couldn’t get through standing up, she was up trying to walk.
• Second, she is Unstoppable. If someone or something gets in her way, she’ll walk around them or it. And she keeps on going. She’ll walk from the front door to the kitchen to the living room and back again, just because she can.
• Third, she is failure-proof. When she started off she fell down every few steps. She realized, however, that all she had to do was to get up and she could be off on her mission again. Getting up became easy, and falling down became less frequent. Even when she fell in a way that would cause any adult to wince, she just popped right up, because getting up after falling down had become second nature for her.
And you know this is a proven formula for success. We all learned to walk quite well—right?
How Does This Apply To Writing?
First, Be Single-minded and On-purpose. To do this you have to have a goal. For example, “I’m going to finish one short story each month for the next six months and submit each one as I complete it. I will then have my work circulating and greatly increase my chances of becoming a writer who is supported by her/his work and be accumulating credits.”
You have to have a plan to reach that goal—i.e., “I’m going to research the best places to submit my style of work, whether to magazines, literary journals or reviews, or contests.” Become familiar with the best ones likely to accept (and pay for) it.
Seond, Be Unstoppable. If rejections seem unending, learn why. Do you need to be more selective in where you submit your work? Have you sufficiently reviewed the type of material your target publishes? Are you familiar with their audience? Remember the mantra of the four Ss: “Some will, Some won’t, So what, Someone’s waiting (to publish your work).”
Third, Be Failure-proof. Remember that challenges—like “falling down”— are part of the process. Get up and keep on going. In time, the getting up will become easy and second nature and the challenges will become less frequent. Do you need to rework the story? Do you need to develop your character(s) more fully? Are you telling rather than showing? How is your dialogue? Find or develop a really good critique group. Take the best classes in your genre that you can find.
Would you like a little help in getting back into your one-year-old mindset? Keep these points in mind:
• Clarify your goals and set up a step-by-step plan, in writing, to achieve them.
• Get the knowledge you need to improve your skills.
• Seek out support and guidance to acquire what you might be missing.
• Get the marketing insights for your particular kind of work by reading and researching what’s out there.
You must go out on that literary limb and do it—no whining, no excuses. Your success depends on your diligence and dedication, the investment you make in your art and to improving your craft. If you’re willing to do what it takes you can achieve your goal to become a recognized and successful writer.
Credit where credit is due: Many thanks to my son-in-law, Dr. Richard Odessey, for the concept on which this fun article is based.
I realized that her learning process had some profound lessons for us as writers.
• First, she was single-minded and on-purpose. Once she realized walking was possible, she chose to go everywhere on two feet. Never mind that she often fell down. Unless there was some tight spot she couldn’t get through standing up, she was up trying to walk.
• Second, she is Unstoppable. If someone or something gets in her way, she’ll walk around them or it. And she keeps on going. She’ll walk from the front door to the kitchen to the living room and back again, just because she can.
• Third, she is failure-proof. When she started off she fell down every few steps. She realized, however, that all she had to do was to get up and she could be off on her mission again. Getting up became easy, and falling down became less frequent. Even when she fell in a way that would cause any adult to wince, she just popped right up, because getting up after falling down had become second nature for her.
And you know this is a proven formula for success. We all learned to walk quite well—right?
How Does This Apply To Writing?
First, Be Single-minded and On-purpose. To do this you have to have a goal. For example, “I’m going to finish one short story each month for the next six months and submit each one as I complete it. I will then have my work circulating and greatly increase my chances of becoming a writer who is supported by her/his work and be accumulating credits.”
You have to have a plan to reach that goal—i.e., “I’m going to research the best places to submit my style of work, whether to magazines, literary journals or reviews, or contests.” Become familiar with the best ones likely to accept (and pay for) it.
Seond, Be Unstoppable. If rejections seem unending, learn why. Do you need to be more selective in where you submit your work? Have you sufficiently reviewed the type of material your target publishes? Are you familiar with their audience? Remember the mantra of the four Ss: “Some will, Some won’t, So what, Someone’s waiting (to publish your work).”
Third, Be Failure-proof. Remember that challenges—like “falling down”— are part of the process. Get up and keep on going. In time, the getting up will become easy and second nature and the challenges will become less frequent. Do you need to rework the story? Do you need to develop your character(s) more fully? Are you telling rather than showing? How is your dialogue? Find or develop a really good critique group. Take the best classes in your genre that you can find.
Would you like a little help in getting back into your one-year-old mindset? Keep these points in mind:
• Clarify your goals and set up a step-by-step plan, in writing, to achieve them.
• Get the knowledge you need to improve your skills.
• Seek out support and guidance to acquire what you might be missing.
• Get the marketing insights for your particular kind of work by reading and researching what’s out there.
You must go out on that literary limb and do it—no whining, no excuses. Your success depends on your diligence and dedication, the investment you make in your art and to improving your craft. If you’re willing to do what it takes you can achieve your goal to become a recognized and successful writer.
Credit where credit is due: Many thanks to my son-in-law, Dr. Richard Odessey, for the concept on which this fun article is based.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Blackberry Winter
The other day I received an email from my friend Charles McNair. He and his Paste Magazine partner, Nick Purdy, are founding a "media brand" for the South called SCOUT. In the email Charles named the freezing morning a "blackeberry winter morning." I was curious about the phrase and this is what I found: A (mainly Southern) term used to describe a brief period of cold weather that coincides with the time the blackberries are in bloom, (typically in early to mid May). I like the term but detest the cold and my blackberries are most certainly not in bloom.
Nearly all the beautiful azaleas, lilacs and other flowering delights in my yard are pathetic looking after this record-breaking freeze over the last few days. My luscious tropicals, many of which I have nurtured for long years, were moved outdoors for the season by two strong men. They couldn't be moved back in on short notice, they're just too huge. They're wrapped in sheets and plastic but I don't have a good feeling about what the cold might have done to them. I've been reluctant to go and look until the cold snap is done... maybe by tomorrow. I had thought about waiting to move them until after the tenth of April but the weather seemed so lovely... I should have heeded that little voice, now I'm experiencing Mother Nature's little "gotcha."
I'll bet I'll have to replant all my tomatoes, peppers, sweet basil and strawberries.
Nearly all the beautiful azaleas, lilacs and other flowering delights in my yard are pathetic looking after this record-breaking freeze over the last few days. My luscious tropicals, many of which I have nurtured for long years, were moved outdoors for the season by two strong men. They couldn't be moved back in on short notice, they're just too huge. They're wrapped in sheets and plastic but I don't have a good feeling about what the cold might have done to them. I've been reluctant to go and look until the cold snap is done... maybe by tomorrow. I had thought about waiting to move them until after the tenth of April but the weather seemed so lovely... I should have heeded that little voice, now I'm experiencing Mother Nature's little "gotcha."
I'll bet I'll have to replant all my tomatoes, peppers, sweet basil and strawberries.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
This must be Spring!
In The Company of Writers is moving ahead. New webinars are in the planning stages and it won't be long before there'll really be something for everyone. Although our "virtual classroom" has taken just a bit longer than planned due to the editing service having taken longer to deliver than was originally promised. But I'm told that several of the segments are ready to upload and it will hopefully only be a matter of days now before the classroom is in full operation. Check out my website and you'll see.
In the meantime, here's something new, and you can call me a dinosaur, but I've just discovered Photobucket. Of course I signed right up, and above you see the first result.
Here in Atlanta the weather has finally turned warm. There have even been a couple of hot days. Yesterday I spent the day in the kitchen in preparation for last night's houseful of dinner guests for the First Seder of Passover. I prepared huge amounts of everything. There was the pot of my special chicken soup with a ton of matzoh balls and my also special charoset (grated fresh apples seasoned with sweet kosher blackberry wine, a touch of cinnamon and ginger, a breath of lemon juice and chopped pecans). I smoked a leg of lamb and a large chicken in my Big Green Egg, made latkes (potatoe pancakes) and served them with the beautiful pink sugar free applesauce I made and put up last November. There were green beans and carrots and salad, and of course gefilte fish and horseradish. And for my vegetarian long distance husband, I made Mahi Mahi and baked sweet potatoe. We topped it all off with more wine and macaroons.
When I finally realized the house was way too warm, I turned on the A/C only to discover that it was dead. Well, we survived the evening in spite of the too warm dining room and the mountains of food and wine we all consumed. How I love Passover!
I had the pleasure of sharing the Passover experience with two dear friends, neither of whom had ever attended a seder. My good friend, John Naugle, Co-Founder of Atlanta: City of Peace and my dear friend and buddy, prize winning mystery author Fran Stewart. Both were suitably and delightedly touched by the ceremony, the fun and the food.
But last night's star guest was Miss Elsa who'll be a year old on the 19th. She was wearing her "My First Passover" bib. At one point in the ceremony, that point being that it was time to go home and to bed, Elsa's beautiful mother, Teryn, guided her to the afikomen (a token piece of matzoh, unleavened bread, that signifies the haste and hardships of that long ago time). It had been strategically placed on the bottom stair and you'd have thought she understood what was happening. She grabbed it and waved it in the air, squealing with joy. Her ransom price was a stuffed Mamma Polar bear and her twin cubs, one of which was clutching a dollar bill. With love from Grammy (me, her oh-so-proud great grandmother).
Last Thursday was grooming day for my four cats and as I was finishing clipping the claws of my huge white male, he growled a couple of times and pretended to bite. I ignored him and kept going. Suddenly he let me have it with a fierce bite on the fleshy part of my thumb. Wow, did that ever hurt! I cleaned it off, squeezing it a bit to make it bleed so as to cleanse the two deep bite wounds, and went about my business.
By the next day my hand was swollen and in the late afternoon, as I was preparing to go to a cocktail party/fund raiser for Atlanta:City of Peace, I realized that I was in trouble. I hurriedly telephoned a local emergency doctor's office and shortly afterward I found myself lying on a table with an intravenous tube of antibiotic dripping into my vein. This was after they first used me for a pincushion trying to find the right vein. I was informed that if I had waited any longer things would have been far more serious. It took a couple of hours and consequently I missed a great party.
I'm fine now but I'm still taking bolus-sized antibiotic pills and will have to do so for another week. It was both expensive and painful to be such a smart aleck. For females: if you ever have to take antibiotics, it's a good idea to follow them up an hour or so later with acidophilus and some live-bacteria yogurt to avoid a possible yeast infection.
There you have it, my comments about ignoring purrfectly clear cat warnings and my resulting medical advice, and a rhapsodic narration of Passover fun.
Post a note or email me... and Happy Spring.
In the meantime, here's something new, and you can call me a dinosaur, but I've just discovered Photobucket. Of course I signed right up, and above you see the first result.
Here in Atlanta the weather has finally turned warm. There have even been a couple of hot days. Yesterday I spent the day in the kitchen in preparation for last night's houseful of dinner guests for the First Seder of Passover. I prepared huge amounts of everything. There was the pot of my special chicken soup with a ton of matzoh balls and my also special charoset (grated fresh apples seasoned with sweet kosher blackberry wine, a touch of cinnamon and ginger, a breath of lemon juice and chopped pecans). I smoked a leg of lamb and a large chicken in my Big Green Egg, made latkes (potatoe pancakes) and served them with the beautiful pink sugar free applesauce I made and put up last November. There were green beans and carrots and salad, and of course gefilte fish and horseradish. And for my vegetarian long distance husband, I made Mahi Mahi and baked sweet potatoe. We topped it all off with more wine and macaroons.
When I finally realized the house was way too warm, I turned on the A/C only to discover that it was dead. Well, we survived the evening in spite of the too warm dining room and the mountains of food and wine we all consumed. How I love Passover!
I had the pleasure of sharing the Passover experience with two dear friends, neither of whom had ever attended a seder. My good friend, John Naugle, Co-Founder of Atlanta: City of Peace and my dear friend and buddy, prize winning mystery author Fran Stewart. Both were suitably and delightedly touched by the ceremony, the fun and the food.
But last night's star guest was Miss Elsa who'll be a year old on the 19th. She was wearing her "My First Passover" bib. At one point in the ceremony, that point being that it was time to go home and to bed, Elsa's beautiful mother, Teryn, guided her to the afikomen (a token piece of matzoh, unleavened bread, that signifies the haste and hardships of that long ago time). It had been strategically placed on the bottom stair and you'd have thought she understood what was happening. She grabbed it and waved it in the air, squealing with joy. Her ransom price was a stuffed Mamma Polar bear and her twin cubs, one of which was clutching a dollar bill. With love from Grammy (me, her oh-so-proud great grandmother).
Last Thursday was grooming day for my four cats and as I was finishing clipping the claws of my huge white male, he growled a couple of times and pretended to bite. I ignored him and kept going. Suddenly he let me have it with a fierce bite on the fleshy part of my thumb. Wow, did that ever hurt! I cleaned it off, squeezing it a bit to make it bleed so as to cleanse the two deep bite wounds, and went about my business.
By the next day my hand was swollen and in the late afternoon, as I was preparing to go to a cocktail party/fund raiser for Atlanta:City of Peace, I realized that I was in trouble. I hurriedly telephoned a local emergency doctor's office and shortly afterward I found myself lying on a table with an intravenous tube of antibiotic dripping into my vein. This was after they first used me for a pincushion trying to find the right vein. I was informed that if I had waited any longer things would have been far more serious. It took a couple of hours and consequently I missed a great party.
I'm fine now but I'm still taking bolus-sized antibiotic pills and will have to do so for another week. It was both expensive and painful to be such a smart aleck. For females: if you ever have to take antibiotics, it's a good idea to follow them up an hour or so later with acidophilus and some live-bacteria yogurt to avoid a possible yeast infection.
There you have it, my comments about ignoring purrfectly clear cat warnings and my resulting medical advice, and a rhapsodic narration of Passover fun.
Post a note or email me... and Happy Spring.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Partially thanks to my good friend Collin Kelley, I'm finally getting started with a blog. His level headedness and kind encouragement has always been a pleasure for me. I also have Michelle Odessey to thank as she is my primary "go do already it for God's sake" prodder. You have to understand that Michelle, (who has a highly successful website, InvestorWealthcom) has earned the right to prod me in a different way. She's my daughter.
I'm still recovering from the AWP conference. It was mind boggling. There were many readings and lectures to choose from, but as no one could do them all it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, to use an old saying.
And addressing that phrase I'd like to stand in defense of many of the good old cliches, i.e., "quick as a wink," "bet your bottom dollar" and so forth. They were created to make a point about something and they did a good job. That is not to say that I'm not a proponent of fresh language, words creatively used to bring a thought to common understanding.
This morning I thought about creating a list for myself of phrases that pop into my head, which happens sometimes. If I did, as the list grew I'd have a field of my own smart words to choose from when I was stuck. But then I'd have to start categorizing them and keeping track and all that and it quickly assumed the guise of more work. I'll have to be satisfied to allow my muse to step in when I need to fire off a brilliant mot juste.
Back to the AWP, I there was one thing that happened that has stood out from everything else there. I showed Tony Grooms my poem, "Placenta" which I had written last April, on the day my great granddaughter was born. He told me to take it over to Allison Joseph, Editor of Crab Orchard Review and show it to her. She asked me to send it to her, adding the caveat that it was no guarantee of publication. Editors can never be too careful. We'll see what happens.
A couple of nights ago I awoke in a fit of concern that my birds were getting chilled and would become ill. The day had been fairly warm and I had opened all the windows in the sunroom, where I keep the seventy or so finches I have in four cages in that bright room. I rushed downstairs to find that it wasn't really all that cold, but I did close the windows anyway. Now as I'm sitting here in the office with the ceiling fan moving to keep the air fresh... I'm hot.
It's been interesting to watch as the changes take place in Georgia Writers Association now that I am no longer in charge. Last July 1, when Kennesaw University officially took over the administration of GWA, I relinquished my position as Executive Director, a position I had held since Tony Grooms, Susan Graham and I began the organization. I still hold the position of President but my thoughts and opinions seem to be pretty much only a token now. Things have changed and will continue to do so as GWA settles in to its new life in academia. GWA was created to serve all writers at all levels in Georgia. I hope it continues to exemplify that rather lofty goal. It certainly took all my energy to move it forward and I have no regrets, about any of it.
Now there's In The Company of Writers (ITCW) my new endeavor. ITCW is a new web-based educational service for writers in all genres and at all levels of their writing careers. Interactive classes, called Webinars, are conducted live via the combination of telephone and computer. Students can both hear the presenter and see the examples of what is being discussed... on their own computer, in their own home or office, and enjoy a unique learning experience. No travel time or gas expense, no hotel, valet or parking fees, and no expensive meals.
Via the Internet, ITCW offers a virtual highway to participants' success as authors, freelance writers, poets, journalists, memoirists, family historians, documentarists, playwrights, screenwriters... you name it. Faculty members are professionals, people whose names and expertise are recognizable. They have a track record in education, leading seminars, workshops, conferences, etc., book publication, and/or marketing.
What a pleasant surprise it was to find a mention of me and ITCW on a blog search this morning. Thanks to Dan Wickett. I did have a small correction to his post, however, although we hope that all writers become "good" writers, our name does not include that word.
Our first webinar series, "SHAPE OF WORDS, Novel Writing from Concept to Contract" and presented by Dr. Brian Corrigan, was fun and chock full of valuable information for fiction writers especially. It actually had good tips for anyone writing. Its description is still up under Just Completed, a link also found on ITCW's home page. The entire class was recorded, as all our classes will be, and will be ready for new students in our "virtual classroom" probably on March 30. It will be complete but not live, of course.
ITCW is producing an online forum on writers' problems, Saturdays at noon EST. Called BLOCK TALK with Michael Lucker, it will begin on April 7, 2007 and run each Saturday for the entire month. If it is successful we'll continue into May and then review and consider our options. See the website and click on Coming April 7 for more information.
That should do it for my first posting. Thanks and goodnight.
~ GT
I'm still recovering from the AWP conference. It was mind boggling. There were many readings and lectures to choose from, but as no one could do them all it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, to use an old saying.
And addressing that phrase I'd like to stand in defense of many of the good old cliches, i.e., "quick as a wink," "bet your bottom dollar" and so forth. They were created to make a point about something and they did a good job. That is not to say that I'm not a proponent of fresh language, words creatively used to bring a thought to common understanding.
This morning I thought about creating a list for myself of phrases that pop into my head, which happens sometimes. If I did, as the list grew I'd have a field of my own smart words to choose from when I was stuck. But then I'd have to start categorizing them and keeping track and all that and it quickly assumed the guise of more work. I'll have to be satisfied to allow my muse to step in when I need to fire off a brilliant mot juste.
Back to the AWP, I there was one thing that happened that has stood out from everything else there. I showed Tony Grooms my poem, "Placenta" which I had written last April, on the day my great granddaughter was born. He told me to take it over to Allison Joseph, Editor of Crab Orchard Review and show it to her. She asked me to send it to her, adding the caveat that it was no guarantee of publication. Editors can never be too careful. We'll see what happens.
A couple of nights ago I awoke in a fit of concern that my birds were getting chilled and would become ill. The day had been fairly warm and I had opened all the windows in the sunroom, where I keep the seventy or so finches I have in four cages in that bright room. I rushed downstairs to find that it wasn't really all that cold, but I did close the windows anyway. Now as I'm sitting here in the office with the ceiling fan moving to keep the air fresh... I'm hot.
It's been interesting to watch as the changes take place in Georgia Writers Association now that I am no longer in charge. Last July 1, when Kennesaw University officially took over the administration of GWA, I relinquished my position as Executive Director, a position I had held since Tony Grooms, Susan Graham and I began the organization. I still hold the position of President but my thoughts and opinions seem to be pretty much only a token now. Things have changed and will continue to do so as GWA settles in to its new life in academia. GWA was created to serve all writers at all levels in Georgia. I hope it continues to exemplify that rather lofty goal. It certainly took all my energy to move it forward and I have no regrets, about any of it.
Now there's In The Company of Writers (ITCW) my new endeavor. ITCW is a new web-based educational service for writers in all genres and at all levels of their writing careers. Interactive classes, called Webinars, are conducted live via the combination of telephone and computer. Students can both hear the presenter and see the examples of what is being discussed... on their own computer, in their own home or office, and enjoy a unique learning experience. No travel time or gas expense, no hotel, valet or parking fees, and no expensive meals.
Via the Internet, ITCW offers a virtual highway to participants' success as authors, freelance writers, poets, journalists, memoirists, family historians, documentarists, playwrights, screenwriters... you name it. Faculty members are professionals, people whose names and expertise are recognizable. They have a track record in education, leading seminars, workshops, conferences, etc., book publication, and/or marketing.
What a pleasant surprise it was to find a mention of me and ITCW on a blog search this morning. Thanks to Dan Wickett. I did have a small correction to his post, however, although we hope that all writers become "good" writers, our name does not include that word.
Our first webinar series, "SHAPE OF WORDS, Novel Writing from Concept to Contract" and presented by Dr. Brian Corrigan, was fun and chock full of valuable information for fiction writers especially. It actually had good tips for anyone writing. Its description is still up under Just Completed, a link also found on ITCW's home page. The entire class was recorded, as all our classes will be, and will be ready for new students in our "virtual classroom" probably on March 30. It will be complete but not live, of course.
ITCW is producing an online forum on writers' problems, Saturdays at noon EST. Called BLOCK TALK with Michael Lucker, it will begin on April 7, 2007 and run each Saturday for the entire month. If it is successful we'll continue into May and then review and consider our options. See the website and click on Coming April 7 for more information.
That should do it for my first posting. Thanks and goodnight.
~ GT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
