I'm reading Crush It, by Gary Vaynerchuk. In case you haven't heard of him, he's the marketing genius who built his father's liquor business from four million in sales to fifty million in sales in just eight years. How did he do it? Mainly through video blogging, with his show, Wine Library TV, and the […]
Years ago, in a critique group I was a part of, we used to talk about Burning Questions. It began when I was working on a novel and got stuck halfway through. I didn't know where I was going and couldn't see my way to the end, so I sat down and wrote a series […]
I have been a walker for years. For the past twenty years, maybe more, I've walked three times a week with my friend Sharon. We met when our kids, then wee, were in a cooking class together, started walking, and kept up the habit ever since. We were a familiar sight on our route around […]
Yesterday I had jury duty. I resisted, mightily. Perhaps it is because I'm called to serve on jury duty more than anybody else on this planet. This was my third time, and I've gotten excused from service several times before, when my children were little. I know people who have never gotten a summons, ever. […]
For Christmas, I asked for and got paints. I got acrylic paints, canvases, a cool wooden box to put the paints in, paintbrushes, one of those round plastic palettes, a couple books on painting. Just looking at all these art supplies makes me tingle with anticipation. I've been feeling the urge to paint for awhile […]
Last weekend, I left home for a night to head south to Eugene, home of my alma mater, the University of Oregon (Go, Ducks!). This may shock you–it shocked me–but I didn't even turn on my computer the entire time I was gone. And I had a blast. We ate at Rennie's and the Glenwood, […]
A new Whole Foods store opened about 10 blocks from my house and so far this week I've shopped there ever day. I love everything about this store. I love driving up into the parking garage, grabbing a little green wire cart, and taking the elevator down into the store. I love wandering the aisles […]
One of my new year's resolutions was to be less judgmental. Every single member of my family laughed hysterically when they heard this idea. I was deeply offended by their presumption that I could never be less judgmental, even though my sister and I have raised judging others to an art form. So I've been […]
I'm perfect. I am. I am poised, intelligent, attractive, talented, funny, loyal, passionate. Like I said, perfect. And, already you are bored with me and ready to go elsewhere to read because who can relate to perfect? Already you are thinking, well, if she's perfect than I have nothing in common with her at all […]
I'm afraid of everything. At least that is how it seems some days. Most days. Most people, looking at me, assume that I'm brimming with self confidence. I travel alone, I speak and present workshops, I talk to strangers wherever I go. And maybe, if self confidence means constantly pushing at barriers, I am overflowing […]
