Twitter?

Honestly, I'm not one of those technology-hating gals who avoids new gadgets. I really appreciate new technology. Love my Iphone, my Shuffle, my laptop.

Somehow, though, my enthusiasm dies as soon as someone whispers "Twitter."

I am firmly anti-Twitter. I am a non-Tweet.

Last week, I was working at the computer all day so I signed into Facebook. Even though I think that Facebook could turn a person ADD if he/she wasn't already...there are some fun things about it. Connecting with people you've lost touch with, primarily.

One thing I noticed about those who Twitter...(feeds pop up on Facebook)...it turns from connecting with others...to a promotional tool. They're promoting...themselves. Authors are the worst!

It was interesting to see the same names pop up, using Twitter, over and over. I noticed that they don't comment on anyone else's updates, they're just trying to build their web presence, expand exposure, make their names recognizable.

There is no time for thought or reflection on Twitter...just odd updates on their daily goings on. They just scribble something that was going through their mind at that very moment. With really boring updates, too! As if they think others really need to know they are taking a nap or making dinner or off to see a child play soccer.

It's gone too far, I think. We just don't need to know that much about each other.

And if self-centeredness is one of the worst qualities of our generation...Twitter only feeds it.

But I'm willing to reconsider if someone can point out what good Twitter serves. Other than promotion, of course.

An "Africa" Rainstorm

My niece, Hilary, who lives in Aix-en-Provence, France, sent me this clip of "Africa" sung a capella jazz choir, Perpetuum Jazzile, from Solvenia.

The first two minutes are amazing! Group members simulate an African thunderstorm with their hands. It’s really something to see and hear. (Don't turn up your sound - the sound of raindrops begins really soft.)

This clip is a remake from the 1982 hit "Africa" by the rock band Toto.

Perpetuum Jazzile is an a cappella jazz choir from Slovenia. And though it sounds like a full band, it’s just voices (drum, bass, etc.)

Friday's List of Simple Pleasures

Aren't simple pleasures the very best ones?

Little things that don’t really cost a thing (or not much, anyway), but they are tremendously satisfying. They help us slow down and live "in the moment," to fully appreciate our life. Most simple pleasures seem to be connected with appreciating nature, it seems.

So I thought it would be fun to compile a list of simple pleasures. Send me yours for next Friday's list! Once you start...you can't stop. As Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing."

Tomatoes from the garden.
Walking the dog on a summer morning.
Listening to classical music.
Good coffee.
A great book.
Popcorn and an old movie on DVD.
The smell of fresh-cut grass.
Watching the sunrise.
Walking on the beach.
A gentle morning run.
Watching the sunset.
Hugging your child tightly.
Dark chocolate.
Laughing until your sides ache.
A long conversation with a good friend.
Root beer float.
Waking to a clean house.
An uncluttered room.
Watching your child play.
Fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.
Helping someone in need.
Making someone smile.
Homemade pie.
A nature hike.
Laying back and watching the stars.
Watching your children on Christmas morning.
Laying back and looking up at clouds.
Watching the ocean.
Reese’s peanut butter cups. Right out of the freezer.
Iced tea.
Taking a hot bath on a winter night.
A gentle breeze.
The feeling after a good workout.
Checking something off your to-do list.
Writing on good paper with a good pen.
A clear desk.
Fresh popped popcorn.
A fresh snow.
Swinging on a swing.
Homemade strawberry shortcake.
Watching animals in nature.
An empty email inbox.

What Kind of Cookie are You?

Here is an interesting, highly scientific (not!) quiz you can take to see what kind of cookie you would be...if you were a cookie.

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

Top Ten Things You'll Never Hear a Dad Say

10. Well, how 'bout that? I'm
lost! Looks like we'll have to
stop and ask for directions.

9. You know Pumpkin, now
that you're thirteen, you'll be
ready for unchaperoned car
dates. Won't that be fun?

8. I noticed that all your
friends have a certain "it’s
none of your business"
attitude. I like that.

7. Here's a credit card and the
keys to my new car -- GO
CRAZY.

6. What do you mean you
wanna play football? Figure
skating not good enough for
you, son?

5. Your Mother and I are
going away for the weekend.
You might want to consider
throwing a party.

4. Well, I don't know what's
wrong with your car. Probably
one of those doo-hickey
thingies -- you know -- that
makes it run or something.
Just have it towed to a
mechanic and pay whatever
he asks.

3. No son of mine is going to
live under this roof without
an earring -- now quit your
belly-aching, and let's go to
the mall.

2. Whaddya wanna go and get
a job for? I make plenty of
money for you to spend.

1. Father's Day? aahh -- don't
worry about that -- it's no big
deal.

Lost Generation

My friend Susan sent this to me last night...it is amazing! See it all the way through.

Exciting News!

Just found out that Amish Peace will be released in an audio version!



Already up on Amazon for pre-orders here.

I Could Use a Little Money

Dear Father,

$chool i$ really great. I am
making lot$ of friend$ and
$tudying very hard. With all
my $tuff, I $imply ¢an't think
of anything I need, $o if you
would like, you can ju$t $end
me a card, a$ I would love to
hear from you.
Love,
Your $on.

After receiving his son's
letter, the father immediately
replies by sending a letter
back.

Dear Son,
I kNOw that astroNOmy,
ecoNOmics, and
oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to
keep even an hoNOr student
busy. Do NOt forget that the
pursuit of kNOwledge is a
NOble task, and you can
never study eNOugh.
Love,
Dad

Learning to Live Frugally

Living frugally seems like voluntary poverty. The very word--frugal--sounds cheap. Parsimonious. Ebenezer Scrooge-ish.



Frugal may sound that way, but that's not really what it means.

Frugal means not wasteful. It's Latin word root, dating from 1590, actually means "fruit" as in "producing fruit."



So living frugally means a lifestyle that produces fruit.

And learning to live frugally is directly related to simplicity.

In a practical way, living frugally means buying less. Wasting less. And it also means wanting less. (There's the rub!)

Hopefully, though, the goal of simplicity is more peace in your life. More time spent doing the things you value and with the people you value.

So, oddly enough, living a frugal life does produce fruit. The kind worth having.

Slow Down Now

If you want to improve your productivity, slow down.




Experts say the quality of what you are doing will go way up. And it is much better to do things well, then in a half-baked way. It's much better to do one thing well, than six things in a half-baked way.

One of the things I enjoy most about having a new puppy (and Reyna is our 7th) is that it forces me to slow down. We have to go at her pace for just about...everything. Walks, eating, waiting for her to relieve. She gives me a good excuse to stargaze!

Plus, puppies naps a lot. That can't be a bad thing.



So our Day #4 assignment is to slow down. Today, slow down while you're doing a chore. Give a task the time it takes. Try not to rush through it.

Here are a couple of suggestions about slowing down from these so-called experts:

Eat slowly. If you cram your food down your throat, you are not only missing out on the great taste of the food, you are not eating healthy. Slow down to lose weight, improve digestion, and enjoy life more.

Drive slowly. Most people rush through traffic, honking and getting angry and frustrated and stressed out...and endangering themselves and others in the meantime. Driving slower is not only safer, but it is better on your fuel bill, and can be incredibly peaceful.

Today, give it a try. Slow down a little.

There's even a website about it: Slow Down Now

What's so Bad about Multi-Tasking?

A study carried out at the British Institute of Psychiatry found that multi-tasking reduced workers' intelligence and that those distracted by multi-tasking saw a ten-point fall in their IQ, over twice the impact of smoking or marijuana use.

Bottom line, multi-tasking makes you dumber and less productive.

How could that be?

A couple of reasons, says the study. First, multi-tasking is less efficient, due to the need to switch gears for each new task, and the switch back again.

Multi-tasking is more complicated, and thus makes you more prone to stress and errors.

Multi-tasking causes distractedness...so you never really learn something well in the first place.

Your brain can only make one decision at a time. When distracted while performing a task, it takes a certain amount of time to begin the new task, complete the new task and get back on track with the original task.

What's scary about this study is with the current mania for cell phones, text messaging, Twitter, etc....we're all going to end up ADD!

So Day 3 of Simplifying Life is to try and reduce multi-tasking. Just for today. Let's see if it makes a difference. Let me know what you think.

It's really about being "more present." These two words can make a huge difference in simplifying life. Living here and now, in the moment, keeps you aware of life, of what is going on around you and within you.

It does wonders for your sanity.

Day Two: Simplifying Your Life

So how does a person get started on simplifying her life? Not just for summer, but in a lasting, meaningful way?

Here's what the experts say...

(Note: These are the easy ones.)

What’s most important to you? What do you value most? What 4-5 things do you most want to do in your life? Simplifying starts with these priorities, as you are trying to make room in your life so you have more time for these things.

Evaluate your commitments. Look at everything you’ve got going on in your life. Everything, from work to home to civic to kids’ activities to hobbies to side businesses to other projects. Think about which of these really gives you value, which ones you love doing. Which of these are in line with the 4-5 most important things you listed above? Drop those that aren’t in line with those things.

Evaluate your time. How do you spend your day? What things do you do, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep? Make a list, and evaluate whether they’re in line with your priorities. If not, eliminate the things that aren’t, and focus on what’s important. Redesign your day.

(Note: And here is the hardest one of all...)

Learn to say no. Always ask: Will this simplify my life? If the answer is no, reconsider. This is actually one of the key habits for those trying to simplify their lives.

Sigh. They make it sound so easy.

Simplify Your Life and Enjoy the Things that Matter

In our home, today is the first real day of summer. School's out!

So to honor this wonderful season's arrival, I'm having a week long theme about simplifying life.

I'm trying to figure out how best to spend next year. I have books releasing every few months, I have a senior in high school (my baby!), and I have a dad with Alzheimer's who loses more memory every few months.

I want to make this year count.

But a simpler life has a different meaning for every person.

For me, it means eliminating all but the essential, reducing frustration (say, for example, hunting for car keys), and spending time doing what’s truly important. Actually...what God thinks is important for me to do.

When I have searched through experts' advice to simplify... they leave God out of that equation. Still, there is good, practical advice they have to offer.

Experts say that there are really only two steps to simplifying:

1) Identify what’s most important to you.

2) Eliminate everything else.

Harder than it sounds!

Here's the assignment for Day 1:

Create a simplicity statement. What do you want to simplify in your life? Take a minute to write it out.

I'm going to do this! Today. I promise.

TGIF

This is a story my friend and fellow author Deb Coty sent to me:

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard.

I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.

He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head;
he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the
hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.



The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour.

This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar:

'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep.

Can I come with him tomorrow?'

News from Under the Headlines

From this week's Bristol Evening Post:

Outside Bristol Zoo is the car park, with spaces for 150 cars and 8
buses. It has been manned 6 days a week for 23 years by the same
charming and very polite car park attendant with the ticket machine.
The charges are £1. per car ($1.40) and £5. per coach ($7.00).

On Monday, June 1st, the parking attendant did not turn up for work. Bristol Zoo management phoned Bristol City Council to ask them to send a replacement parking
attendant.

The Council said, “That car park is your responsibility.”

The Zoo said, “The attendant was employed by the City Council… wasn’t he?”

The Council said, “What attendant?”

Gone missing is a man who has been taking daily the car park fees amounting to about £400. per day ($560) for the last 23 years…!

Total sum 7 million dollars.

I suggest looking for him in some villa in the south of Italy. But don't you wonder why he stopped? Was it his 65th birthday and he felt it was time to retire from a life of scam? Or did he have goal of $7 million for retirement and...to his credit...knew when to stop?

So few crooks do!

For Classical Music Lovers

These are the big winners from the Webbie Awards. They're so silly...and even funnier to think adults spend their days creating these. But I'm so glad they do!

Earthquake!

Yesterday afternoon, I was working at the computer, puppy sleeping by my side...when she suddenly woke up. The house started a weird and familiar creaking. Earthquake!

It was a 3.7, centered right smack in my town!

It was just a sharp jolt or two...nothing more.

Well, about an hour later, another one hit. A 2.9.

Some people find earthquakes to be a cause for a freak-out. But I've lived through a Typhoon 10 in Hong Kong--which was nasty--and a Hurricane 3 in Houston, Texas. And plenty of lightning storms and a few tornados.

To my way of thinking, there's always something to be afraid of. Anywhere.

All of these natural occurences are good reminders that we are NOT in control of this earth!

Job 12:7-10 - But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. (NIV)

Monday's Oddest News

There was an article in the local paper about a spunky little 90-year-old woman who survived being trapped in her bathtub for three days.

She came home from a seniors' bus trip to a gambling resort (!) where she said she loves the buffet. But last week, she skipped the buffet (didn't say why. Maybe she was winning?), came home and decided to take a bath before making dinner. But she was too weak to get out of the tub and unable to reach anyone for help.

Day 1:
Her daughter called twice, but there was no answer. The daughter assumed her mom was out at Bingo night (wow...this gal gets around!).

Day 2:
Neighbors said this lady is so busy, they weren't alarmed when they couldn't reach her after two days.

The lady kept replacing the cold water with warm to keep from getting chilled. She was not able to cup enough fresh water in her hands to drink but, fortunately, she has a rubber duckie collection and could drink from the sailor duck. This is a direct quote: "There is a fireman, a policeman and others. I jokingly tell my friends that I am going home to take a bath with the boys."



Day 3:
By now the daughter got a bad feeling. She finally went to her mother's house, found the car in the driveway and three newspapers in front. She found her mother, shriveled and worn out, in the tub. Alive!

The newspaper warns that this could happen to anyone, so I am cutting out the article and sending it to my mom. Even though she doesn't have a bath in her apartment.

Don't you want to meet this high-rolling 90-year-old lady? Bet she's got some stories to tell!

A Real Life Tail...I mean Tale

This happened near my house this very week!

A pair of wild turkeys crossed a busy road with their five chicks. All traffic stopped and waited for them to get to safety. The turkey family caused a 22-car traffic jam that closed both lanes of traffic for ten minutes!

Aw.... I like these kinds of stories...where people actually slow down, stop their harried life, and appreciate God's gift of nature.

Here's another story that will start your weekend off right.



And if that doesn't brighten your day...today is National Doughnut Day! Dunkin' Donuts is giving away a doughnut of your choice when you purchase a beverage. Now if that doesn't give you a TGIF feeling, I don't know what will.

California's 'Day of Reckoning'

The top story in yesterday's news was that Governor Arnold Schwarzeneger challenged the State Legislature to "spend only what we have."

It strikes me as a plan that belongs under the the heading: "Department of the Obvious."

Maybe I'm oversimplifying the government...but it seems as if they had always managed the budget by spending only what they had...like many households try to do...well, maybe we wouldn't be needing the devastating cuts to dig out of an estimated $24 billion deficit.

The Editing Letter

This is from my editor at Vintage, Dawn Carrington. To all of you writers out there...enjoy! What a clever way to promote a book, too!

Garage Sale

Our local Guide Dog for the Blind puppy club had a garage sale this weekend. It is just amazing how much STUFF there is in this world. I think it just migrates from one home to another.

I worked an early morning shift. It never let up! People arrived at a constant rate. Most left with their arms full. A lot of elderly people, a lot of immigrant families.

Two weekends ago, we cleaned out my parents' storage unit. The excess went to that garage sale. It was a little sad--to see objects that reminded me of childhood--sold off to strangers. And yet, it's better to let these things be used than to sit in a dark (and a little creepy) Public Storage unit.

Makes you realize, though, how important it is to use things so your kids will have memories attached to them. My folks weren't good at that. They inherited much from their parents' homes and stuffed it all in the back of their garage. A lot of valuable antiques, objects with interesting backgrounds, and many things we had NO idea what the heck it was.

Do you know what this is?



It's an old leather water bucket. Apparently, people would keep them filled with water to douse out a fire. I happened to notice the "Harlow" family crest on it and grabbed it from the pile. My grandmother was Marion Harlow Gibson (then Woods). For you history buffs...the Fort Harlow House in Plymouth, Massachusetts is the oldest house in America.

How about this?


This is a cranberry scooper. My dad was raised on Cape Cod and scooped many a cranberry from a bog. Now, we use it to hold magazines.

But! I digress.

Garage sales are fascinating evidence of how trends come and go. I saw a yogurt maker, similar to the one my sister used to nearly poison me (her cooking skills have always been a bit...erratic.)

There was a LOT of silver...nobody wants to polish anymore. Colorful fondue pots. Tons of old ashtrays.

Made me want to come home and purge my garage and cupboards and closets!

Radio!

Just found out a radio interview is up on this link.

I have a hard time listening to myself without wanting to do major, major, major edits on myself.

June First

Can you believe today is June 1st? Summer is on the horizon! Longer twilights, calmer schedules (theoretically), a break from routine.

Time flies like a flock of birds.

My daughter, Lindsey, who moved with her husband Josh to Rhode Island, starts her new job today. She had one interview...one! (in this economy?!) and was hired. She works as a third party quality assurance auditor...testing consumer products to make sure they're up to snuff.

Little Reyna is now 9 weeks old.



She has a WONDERFUL temperament! Mellow, sleeps through the night, sleeps a lot in the day, isn't too nippy.



We're still working on that whole housebreaking thing...which she has yet to embrace.



The thing about having a puppy in your life is you just can't take things too seriously. They certainly don't!

Only downside is I can't quite get as much writing done. She's just too cute.



Other thing I can't believe is that--a few days ago--my counter clicked over to 15,000 hits since I started blogging. Still no ads!

Thank you, to each and every reader, who pops in to read my blog. Your time is valuable! So I hope this blog puts a smile on your face.