My Miscellanea

2009-08-12T23:14:00.001-04:00

Swidget 1.0great free widgetsWidgetbox

2009-06-14T11:23:00.003-04:00

I'd heard good things about SwagBucks and had been meaning to give it a try for a while now. This morning, SweetiesSwag tweeted about SwagBucks and offered her Blog readers a chance to join from one of links left in the comments. New members are then invited to add their own link to the list of future referrals. I thought that was cool, so I figured today was the day to join!

2008-11-21T23:45:00.001-05:00

Found this on Mashable:
40 Great Resources for Making Lists

2008-10-15T22:26:00.003-04:00

Blog Action Day

I hadn't formally planned to participate in this year's Blog Action Day, but today's mail delivery brought a serendipitous item combining two of my favorite pastimes - shopping and helping others - that also just happens to fit with this years' Blog Action theme of poverty. This item was a beautiful 75-page catalog filled with some of the most unique gifts and handcrafted items I've ever seen.

The catalog was from SERRV, a nonprofit organization that works for social and economic parity by promoting fair trade practices and empowering low income communities across the globe. SERRV gives artisans and farmers the opportunity to conduct business in a larger market by bringing their unique handcrafted and organic products to consumers around the world.

It was such a pleasure to page through the catalog and read about the villages where these beautiful baskets, pottery pieces, toys, food items, stone and wood sculptures, articles of clothing and other artistic and practical things originated. I was particularly delighted when I came to last page of the catalog and saw a selection of gorgeous candle holders. These will make great gift additions for the people on my list who were already going to be getting my candles!

Like many Americans, I am planning to cut back on excessive holiday shopping this year. The large corporate manufacturers of the same old pieces of assembly line junk do not deserve my hard-earned money. The artists represented by this catalog, however, really do. And they offer much more valuable products in return. I think a few special gifts thoughtfully selected from sources like SERRV will do so much more to promote the true spirit of the season.

2008-10-03T10:26:00.002-04:00

Goodbye, DVDspot

A few days ago I visited DVDspot, one of my favorite websites, to add a listing and rating for my recent viewing of the Sex and the City movie. To my dismay, I was greeted with a notice that the site will be closing on October 15th. The site creators want to focus on other projects. I can't blame them at all, they put together this incredible database driven application and then offered it to the online community for free. If their "other projects" have the potential to earn them a little money or will be a more practical use of their personal time, then more power to them. But their innovative site for cataloging a personal DVD collection and tracking movies that are owned, rented and watched will be missed.

Fortunately, they're offering a way to extract stored data in a spreadsheet format so viewing records and personal collection lists will not be completely lost. I've already retrieved my data and now I am looking for a comparable online site that will allow me to continue to track my movie watching and catalog my DVD library.

Here are three sites I've located so far:

Chasing the Frog

I Heart Movies

Movie Collector Plus

I will be taking a closer look at these sites over the next few days and plan to join one soon so I can get my collection back online and continue where I left off tracking my movie viewing for 2008.

If anyone has any opinions on any of these sites, or knows of any options I haven't listed here, please comment and share what you use!

2008-09-10T12:47:00.003-04:00

Win Some Pizza Hut Pasta

LisaCooking.com is having a contest to win a certificate to try Pizza Hut's new Bacon Mac 'N Cheese pasta dish. If it's half as good as Pizza Hut's Alfredo pasta, this will be quite a delicious prize!

Entering is easy, just click on over and leave a comment on the contest thread:

Pizza Hut’s Tuscani Pasta - Premium Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese Giveaway

2008-09-07T14:40:00.001-04:00

Interesting Wedding Photo Idea

My sister is getting married next year and I've been having a lot of fun planning the event with her. So much has changed since my own wedding years ago that it almost makes me wish I could get married again just so I could make use of cool ideas like this one for inviting your guests to share their digital pictures of your Big Day with you on the Internet.

Of course, weddings aren't the only events where there are likely to be multiple candid photographers. So, maybe I'll do this for the next kid birthday party, holiday gathering or graduation!

2008-08-31T14:20:00.003-04:00

Gift Basket Idea

I was browsing though one of my book club websites today and discovered this book on sale for 4.99. Suddenly it hit me: This would make a great basis for a holiday gift basket!

I think I may buy multiple copies of this title and place them in baskets with candles selected from Gold Canyon's Homespun Holiday collection. Maybe I'll finish it off with an edible treat of some kind (candy?) and a Gold Canyon scented bookmark.

2008-08-24T20:01:00.000-04:00

Only 123 More Shopping Days Left!

Christmas is four months away and I am off to a pretty good start with my shopping. I have a few things for the kids, some things for the hubby, and a list of ideas for other people.

This year, most of the ladies on my list will be getting something from my own catalog, of course. Candles have always been a gift-giving staple of mine - so many people I know and buy for love them as much as I do. This is the first year I'll get to buy them from myself!

2008-08-15T00:29:00.003-04:00

Scrapbook Page Maps: Sketches for Creative Layouts by Becky Fleck

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I think this may turn out to be the best scrapbooking idea book I've ever purchased. Everything about this book has been well thought out, from the fantastic sketches to the beautiful color examples to the fact that the book is spiral bound so it can lie flat on your work surface. The punch-out (and therefore portable, for shopping purposes) mini layout cards at the back of the book are an excellent bonus.

I anticipate getting a lot of use out of this one!

View all my reviews.

2008-08-06T23:52:00.001-04:00

It's Here! It's here!

My candle business starter kit arrived yesterday. I opened it right away, of course, and drank in the smells of several of the samples near the top of the box but didn't have a chance to sit down and really experience all 100+ samples provided.

Until tonight.

My sister came over and she and I had our own little mini party paging through the catalog and locating each scent in the kit. They. Were. Awesome!

I have always loved vanilla scented things and there were plenty of those to please my palate. I was very impressed. But what surprised me was just how good the scents that I am not usually a fan of (florals and "clean linen" types of things) were. There were a couple of the 1/2 dozen or so smells in the linen line that were exceptionally pleasant.

The fruits and other summery smells were heavenly and the baking scents were divine. We even got to sample a few things that hint at what is to come in the Fall and Winter catalogs, such as warm, spicy things like "Autumn Walk" and deep, invigorating Evergreen combinations.

Of course, we had a delicious smelling candle with blends of melon, strawberry, banana, jasmine and vanilla burning for most of the evening. I can still smell hints of it now and it's been extinguished for about an hour.

This business is going to be a blast!

2008-08-01T15:25:00.001-04:00

I'm Going to Earn While I Burn

I registered for my new candle business website this morning. Within a few hours of submitting my information they had my consultant site up and running. All I had to do was personalize the My Story page!

2008-07-31T23:57:00.003-04:00

DailyLit - A Great Way to Start Your Day

I've discovered yet another reason to love the Internet: reading free and inexpensive books by email.

DailyLit has a selection of over 1000 titles to chose from, including everything from classic works of literature to non-fiction on a variety of subjects. Each entry in the catalog indicates its price (many are free) and tells you how many email installments to expect. Sign up for something that sounds good and beginning reading in minutes.

Site registration (also free) gives you access to forums for discussing the things you're reading and a place to manage your subscriptions. You can set the time, frequency and length of the installments you want to receive. And if what you're reading is too good to wait until the next scheduled installment, you can click on the link at the bottom of your most recent email to have the next installment sent to your Inbox immediately.

Check out the My DailyLit widget in the right sidebar column to see what I'm reading now.

2008-07-30T14:51:00.002-04:00

I got an email just before Noon today saying that my candle business starter kit has been shipped! With any luck it will get here before Saturday so I'll have catalogs to share at my nephew's birthday party.

I'm SO excited about this!

2008-07-29T23:32:00.005-04:00

My Exciting New Venture

I've dabbled in network marketing / direct sales before and have worked with some wonderful companies with terrific product lines, but I have never enjoyed the level of success I desire and know I can achieve. Part of the problem may have been timing. The Internet has changed a lot since I first tried marketing a business online. I think maybe now it may be possible to build the kind of business I always imagined.

Even more important than getting the timing right is choosing a product you really love and can enthusiastically demonstrate to others. I have always adored scented candles. They soothe and relax us, they make a home smell inviting and they make exquisite gifts. Candles and related products are a perfect match for me.

I researched several companies and have slected one that I feel is right for me. I registered as a consultant earler this evening. This weekend I will get my website and will post a link here when it is ready to roll. I can't wait to get going on this!

If anyone out there is also into candles, I'd love to hear from you. Maybe someday we can even work together . . .

Update:
My website is online! Check it out.

2008-06-19T11:09:00.006-04:00

Last month I discovered Hulu, an entertainment website featuring full length movies and complete television show episodes for FREE. My favorite place to watch movies and television shows online just keeps getting better and better:

On June 16th, Hulu started their Hulu Days of Summer promotion. Each weekday from now through mid-August, Hulu will unveil new content for our viewing pleasure. Check the widget to the left for the continually updated schedule!

2008-06-18T14:56:00.003-04:00

It's All Too Much: Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff by Peter Walsh

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars

The suggestions in this book for getting rid of useless clutter (junk mail, old receipts, clothes that don't fit, etc.) are practical, but nothing that hasn't been said before by the hundreds of other organizing gurus out there. I was a little put off by Walsh's tone and the fact that he has little sympathy for bibliophiles - I could never abide by a "buy a book, get rid of one" philosophy, nor would I want to - but I am willing to put the author's snarkiness aside and try to de-clutter things that are not part of my vast book collection.

I guess what I really need is a book that offers unique ways of organizing what you have and want to keep!

View all my reviews.

2008-04-06T18:04:00.000-04:00

In my first post about the wonder that is the Good Reads website for bibliophiles, I mentioned that my plan was to primarily list only books that I'd read since the start of 2008. A few days ago, I decided to go ahead and list a few of my favorites that were read prior to 2008. I'm doing this because I am pretty stingy with the five-star rating and wanted to list a few of the books I've read in the past that I do consider to be worthy of that distinction. I'm also entering a few other 3 and 4 star selections that I especially enjoyed. Eventually I will probably go back and add some of the titles I remember reading in college.

Have I mentioned how much I love this site?!

2008-03-24T23:58:00.002-04:00

Tracking My "Good Reads"

I'd heard of Good Reads before but hadn't had a chance to register for an account and play around with it until this past weekend. It's a really fun place for bibliophiles to keep a record of books they've read, books they'd like to read, and books they'd recommend to others.

It's a social networking site, so there are plenty of opportunities to build a friends list and join special interest groups of readers who are interested in everything from art to zoology. Within my first 48 hours of becoming a member, I made 7 friends and joined the YA, Banned Books, and Rory (as in Gilmore Girl) Book Club groups.

Adding books to your collection is very easy. You can search by title, author or ISBN, and pull data from sources such as Amazon. You can categorize your collection by creating "shelves" (i.e. "tags") to label and sort your titles.

I am a life long reader and couldn't begin to recreate a comprehensive collection of the books I've read over the last thirtysomething years, so I have decided to start my Good Reads collection with just the dozen or so books I've read since the start of 2008. I'm still using LibraryThing, of course, to assemble an online catalog of my entire book collection as it exists now - including things I own but haven't read (yet). While I'm working on the catalog project, I can track my current reading activity at Good Reads.

2008-03-09T23:18:00.002-04:00

Heads Up to King Fans

If you're lucky enough to have Chiller in your cable television line-up and you happen to be a Stephen King fan, you might want to tune in for one of tomorrow's scheduled episodes of Tales from the Darkside. According to my TV listings, "Word Processor of the Gods" is going to be on.

Fire up those VCRs and Tivos!

2008-01-28T23:53:00.001-05:00

Chiller TV

Last month I was surfing my way through del.icio.us and discovered the website for the Chiller television network. I was intrigued by the schedule which included old episodes of Night Gallery and airings of old (sometimes cheesy, but still fun) horror flicks. I tagged the site immediately, lamenting the fact that there existed yet another really cool network (like the Independent Film Channel) that my local cable provider did not provide.

Today the cable was out for a little while they upgraded the system. I'd known that when it returned the line-up would be renumbered for some channels, but I didn't know that a handful of new channels were going to be added, as well. Imagine my delight to find Chiller TV among them!

I've been watching it on and off pretty much all day. I started with some Night Gallery, a show I am familiar with but haven't seen in years; I caught some Tales from the Crypt; and I was introduced to Tales from the Darkside and Night Visions, two old series that I'd never seen before.

This is going to be so much fun . . .

2008-01-23T10:05:00.000-05:00

It's National Pie Day

The American Pie Council created National Pie Day to celebrate a slice of American heritage and promote the enjoyment and sharing of pie. So, feel free to indulge in a piece of your particular favorite variety today.

If you happen to be lucky enough to live near a Bakers Square, you can celebrate with a free slice, no other purchase necessary. Find the required coupon here: Celebrate Pie.

If you're in more of a DIY mood, look for a tempting recipe at one of these sites:

All Recipes - Dessert Pies

Pie Recipes

VeryBestBaking.com

Enjoy it!

2008-01-17T17:44:00.000-05:00

Spicy, Sweet & Sour

Did that title get your attention? It's the first part of the dinner I made last night and it was really good!

I found the recipe at UncleBens.com. The recipe is not specific about the size of pineapple can, so I used 1/2 of a 20 oz. can. I also used two 10 oz cans of ready-to-eat chicken in place of the 2 cups of cooked chicken called for in the recipe.

It was pretty spicy - it has onion, garlic, red peppers AND hot sauce in it, after all - but not overly so. The raisins and pineapple provided a nice balance to all the heat.

If I had been thinking like a true Project365-er, I might have taken a photo of the finished product before we ate it, but alas I did not. I'll try to remember to have the camera ready the next time I'm feeling adventurous in the kitchen.

2008-01-12T20:24:00.000-05:00

Book Review: Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids

I've finished reading my first book of 2008 and it was probably the best thing I could have chosen to start off the year. In Writer Mama, author Christina Katz provides a realistic outline for working writing time into even the most hectic of schedules and provides aspiring writers with a plan for developing their skills and marketing their work.

The book itself is constructed of short, information packed chapters and interesting side bars that are conducive to reading in the short periods of time that are like gold to a busy mother.

Katz's tone makes her reader feel as though the two of you are sitting down for coffee together and are chatting about the writing life. Her enthusiasm for writing drips off the page and inspires you to run out and get started as soon as you can.

Since reading the book, I've re-enrolled in a writing course I began years ago and am eagerly awaiting my materials so I can see where my renewed enthusiasm and resolve finally take me. I can't wait until I have my first "writing success story" to share on the Writer Mama Blog!

2008-01-04T08:49:00.000-05:00

PhotoBlog

I registered for a PhotoBlog account yesterday so I'd have a place to keep track of my Project365 photos this year. Compared to some of the really incredible work being posted by other members, my pics look pretty amateurish, but I'm hoping to be able to track some improvement over the course of 2008.

If anyone else has a PhotoBlog, post a link in the comments so I can check out your work!

2008-01-01T23:19:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

I've been meaning to get back to this Blog for a while now and the beginning of a brand new year seems like the perfect time to start. So let's kick things off with some chat about resolutions. The topic is a bit cliche for an early January post, but this is how I'm going to kick start my renewed and more prolific Blogging adventure.

Here are some of the things I'm going to work on in 2008:

Reading More
I have a LOT of books and I love to read, but sadly, I don't always find the time to do as much of it as I'd like. Last year I had the idea that I would try to read 50 books in a year. That didn't quite work, so this year I'm relieving some of that pressure by just committing to reading at least a little bit every single day. Some days it may be only a page, others it will be entire chapters, I hope. But no matter what, reading will be happening.

Writing Every Day
This is going to be the year that I seriously begin pursuing the life I am meant to be living. I know in my heart that that life centers around writing. 2008 will see the beginning of a new lifestyle for me, one in which I begin to make a living doing what I truly love. In order to accomplish this, I need to develop some good habits, hone my skills and carve time out of my already ridiculous schedule to make my dreams come true. I'll start with writing something - anything - each and every day.

Organizing My Entire Life
This may seem overly ambitious, but that's why I am giving myself the entire year to complete it. I want to live in a completely organized and efficient house, where everything is dust free, neatly stored or aesthetically displayed. I am starting this one tomorrow, and I'm tackling my Study first since it is currently a mass of empty post-holiday boxes, discarded wrappings and piles of 2007's junk mail. I also want to be more organized online, and I am in already in the process of streamlining my files and folders and transferring my massive list of Favorites to the wonderfully fun, useful and addicting Del.icio.us site.

Revisiting My Scrapbooking Hobby
I can't recall finishing a single layout in 2007, and that is just inexcusable. Even before I discovered the incredibly satisfying hobby of scrapbooking I always loved taking pictures and putting together photo albums. Now I have, in a corner of my Study that I can almost see over the tower of boxes and trash, a huge stash of largely untouched scrapbook supplies and tons of great pictures that no one ever sees. This year a lot of those materials will be transformed into finished pages, layouts and albums.

Related to this resolution is the development (pun intended, I think) of my photography skills. I stumbled upon Project365 today and was fascinated by the idea. Taking a photograph a day is a simple but brilliant idea and I'm looking froward to seeing what comes of this a year from now.

Learning Spanish
Despite three years of high school German and four semesters of French in college, I can only speak English. I think becoming conversant in at least one language other than your native tongue is a noble pursuit, and this year I have decided to give Spanish a try. I've found several promising online sources to make use of, including an interesting podcast course called Coffee Break Spanish.

Losing Weight
When I originally made this resolution I had a number of pounds in mind to lose and ideas about which diet plan I might want to start this time, but I have since decided to try this Secret style and just "put it out to the universe" that I will gradually, naturally and effortlessly be losing weight this year. Seriously. After struggling with thyroid issues and failing at "dieting", I have decided to stop counting calories, stop worrying about food, start falling back in love with my body - whatever it looks like - and just see if thinking less about food issues might actually make weight loss happen a little more. Even if it doesn't work, I plan to be a lot less stressed about the whole thing, which may work to my metabolic advantage as well.

So, there you have it - my outline for a fun, more productive and less stressful year. ¡Deséeme la suerte!

2006-08-28T17:04:00.000-04:00

Netflix to the Max

Yesterday I did something I've never done before. In fact, I didn't even know it could be done. I maxed out my Netflix queue!

After reading yet another rave review of the HBO series The Wire - this one written by the King of pop culture himself - I decided it was time to look into renting the first season. I went to Netflix, did my title search, found the first season and attempted to add all 5 discs to my list. Imagine my surprise when a red pop-up box informed me that in order to add this series to my queue I would have to delete some other titles from my 450 item long list.

Since I have several multi-disc television series in my queue, it was easy to select titles for the chopping block. I simply kept the first disc for of each of my television choices in the list and deleted all the subsequent discs. I figure I can always go back and add them individually when I am ready to watch them.

So, no big deal, I guess. But I still think it was a tad rude for Netflix to suggest that I am interested in watching too many things ;-)

2006-08-01T00:23:00.000-04:00

What I've Been Reading

Primary Whites: A Novel Look at Right-Wing Politics by Anonymous (as told to C. E. Crimmins and Thomas Maeder)
A satirical look at right wing politics circa 1996. Humorous read.
July 16 - July 31, 2006

Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell
A blogger documents a year spent cooking her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. A fantastic read!
July 1 - July 16, 2006

Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
by Ann Brashares
The third book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series for young adults follows Tibby, Carmen, Bridget and Lena through their last summer before starting college. A fun read.
June 20 - June 30, 2006

Book Doctor by Esther Cohen
A woman who earns a living helping others write the books they know they have inside them meets a client who causes her to reevaluate her own life choices. Interspersed throughout the story are letters sent to the Book Doctor from people interested in working with her. Most of the letters are very funny and they add a nice touch to this satire of the writing life. Even though I wasn't completely captivated by the characters in this novel all the way through, I did find the premise interesting, I enjoyed the letters and I think the conclusion was terrific. An amusing read.
June 4 - June 19, 2006

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
A father deals with his own personal demons after his daughter is raped by her ex-boyfriend. The book includes original artwork representing the graphic novel the main character is working on while the family undergoes the ordeal. A compelling read.
May 31 - June 3, 2006

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
Six friends gather to discuss Jane Austen's books and their intertwined lives. A pleasurable read that makes you want to revisit the classics the characters in the book are discussing.
May 14 - May 26, 2006

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
A small Derbyshire community voluntarily quarantines itself during a year of the infamous Black Plague that ravaged Europe in the 17th century. The story was inspired by records of the real village of Eyam and is a well researched work of historical fiction. A captivating read.
May 3 - May 13, 2006

I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight by Margaret Cho
A collection of essays on a number of hot button topics by comedian/activist Margaret Cho. Politics, civil rights, the death penalty, abortion and other important issues are covered with wit, humor and insight. Many of these pieces originally appeared on her Blog. An entertaining and informative read.
April 16 - April 30, 2006

The Truth About Medium by Gary E. Schwartz
A description of university experiments conducted with Allison DuBois and other psychics to determine the validity of after-life communication theories. Interesting read.
April 4 - April 14, 2006

Cell by Stephen King
A technology-induced zombie tale by the King of the horror genre. Fast-paced story telling. Good read.
March 26 - April 4, 2006

2006-07-07T16:53:00.000-04:00

Books 4 Sale!

One of my favorite sources for books at bargain prices is offering three coupons through the month of July:

Summer Coupon Promotion

They are multiple use coupons, so you can order as often as you want until July 31.

Have fun!

2006-06-22T23:31:00.000-04:00

More on Net Neutrality

The editors of the The New Republic have posted a well written piece in defense of Net Neutrality:

Open Net

It looks like the Internet is poised to become just one more item on a long list of things that have been damaged beyond repair during these dark years.

Have you contacted your Senators yet?

2006-06-16T00:49:00.000-04:00

Save the Internet!

The Internet has changed my life, and I mean that literally. So whenever our corporate owned Congress starts trying to ruin it - with censorship, taxes, or discriminatory access practices - I take it kind of personally.

The Net Neutrality debate has had my stomach in a knot for a while now. Last week, the House of Representatives capitulated to telephone companies and passed legislation without important neutrality language. This may well mean that the fate of the Internet as we know it rests solely in the hands of the Senate.

There is still time to get involved. Visit Save the Internet, Blog about what's at stake, and tell your Senators about the importance of Net Neutrality.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Sites for further information:

Center for Digital Democracy - Save the Net

House vote threatens Internet users’ right to equal access (ALA)

Network Neutrality Under Challenge

2006-04-29T16:16:00.000-04:00

Free Books

For someone like me, those words are music to the ears.

One of my favorite online bookstores is finishing up a terrific "Dollar For Dollar" sale this weekend. If you buy at least $25 worth of books, you can then select free books from a list of thousands that equal the dollar amount you're spending.

The really great thing is that the store is a bargain book seller to begin with (remainders and such) so you're already getting great deals on the books you pay for. The free books are icing on the cake.

I just submitted my order. First I selected ten books that totaled about $41. I then got to choose free books to match that value. I found 8 titles. My order total with shipping was $51 and change - for a grand total of 18 books to add to my collection. That's less than $3 a book!

Today is a good day ;-)

The sale ends April 30. Go snag some free books for yourself while there's still time:

Dollar 4 Dollar Promotion

2006-04-21T22:27:00.000-04:00

Friday Feast

Here's what's on the menu this week:

Appetizer
List 3 things you keep putting off.
- writing my novel
- writing my second novel
- writing my third novel

Soup
What do you feel is your greatest responsibility?
Raising my children to be good people.

Salad
If you could have starred in any movie, which one would you have wanted to be in and why?
I think it would have been fun to play Scarlet O'Hara in Gone With the Wind.

Main Course
What is an expectation you had as a child about being an adult and, now that you are grown up, you realize you were wrong?
I had all these unrealistic expectations about how successful and famous I'd be by age 25. Now, nearly a decade past that benchmark, I continue to struggle with the mundane demands of everyday life that can keep people from pursuing creative dreams.

Dessert
When was the last time you had your car serviced?
My husband handles all things auto around here.

2006-04-18T22:54:00.000-04:00

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

I finally sat down and watched this terrific film last night.

I bought it, sight unseen, as soon as it was available on DVD because I loved the book so much and had read good reviews of the movie. It did not disappoint.

Julianne Moore stars as Evelyn Ryan, Contester Extraordinaire, who used her talent with words to win the kinds of slogan writing contests that used to be prevalent in the 1950s and 60s. With a husband (played by Woody Harrelson) who spent a disproportionate amount of the family's income on alcohol, this talent literally kept her ten children clothed, fed and sheltered for two decades.

The memoir, written by Evelyn's daughter Terry (nicknamed Tuff), is one of the most delightful books I've ever read, and I think they did an excellent job with the movie. I highly recommend both!

---------

For more information about the book, the movie and the real Ryan family, check out this website.

2006-04-17T13:26:00.000-04:00

Keeping Track of What I've Read

If you've scrolled through this page you may have noticed that I keep the book(s) I'm currently reading posted below in the right-hand column. Today I decided to create a thread for recording books that have been featured there in the past. This way, I'll have my own log of what I've read since I started Blogging, and others who are looking for their next book to read might find something they like there.

Here's the link for the What I've Been Reading thread.

Enjoy!

2006-04-14T21:25:00.000-04:00

Friday Feast - Third Helping

Is it Friday already? Here's another course of the weekly Feast:

Appetizer
What movie soundtracks do you own?
Three soundtracks from my collection that come readily to mind are:

Batman
The music is by Prince!
Chicago
I've been listening to this one a lot recently.
Sliding Doors
Great movie, with a lot of fun songs.

Soup
How much cash do you usually carry with you?
Very little. Between my debit card and my MyPoints card, which I use to earn Barnes & Noble gift cards, I hardly ever touch actual money any more.

Salad
Are you more comfortable around men or women? Why?
Women. Because I am one, I guess.

Main Course
What is the most mischievous thing you remember doing as a child?
When I was a sophomore in high school I once skipped out of school to go pick up McDonald's for lunch. I went with two senior guys, one of whom I had a crush on. I suggested that we stick to the drive-through (lower profile) and return quickly, but the genius who was in charge of the operation wanted to go inside to order. When we came back out to the car, we were greeted by the assistant principal of our school, who was parked right next to us. Busted!

Dessert
Who is the funniest member of your family?
My brothers are both very funny guys, in different ways. One is quirky and always doing strange things for a laugh and the other is witty and funny in a more subtle way. The latter should be writing for a sitcom, and the former should be starring in it ;-)

2006-04-10T16:52:00.000-04:00

Mad About Nick At Nite

One of my favorite sitcoms is returning to television tonight. Beginning at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time, Nick At Nite will be airing a Mad About You marathon that will continue every night this week.

I'm not sure what time slot the show will have after the marathon ends, but I'll find it. I often have Nick At Nite on in the background while I'm on the computer late into the night.

This is going to be great!

2006-04-07T22:51:00.000-04:00

Friday's Feast

It's time for another serving of Friday's Feast:

Appetizer
Name a trait you share with your parents or your children.
I come from a family of readers. We all love books :-)

Soup
List 3 qualities of a good leader, in your opinion.
- Intelligence
- Diplomacy
- Flexibility

Salad
Who is your favorite television chef?
I don't regularly watch many cooking programs, but if I had to choose I guess I'd go with that Naked Chef guy. (I think his name is Jamie Oliver.)

Main Course
Share a story about a gift you received from someone you love.
I have a small Precious Moments figurine collection. The individual pieces carry sentimental meaning for me based on the occasion they commemorate and/or the person who gave me the piece. Most of the collection was packed away for a while because I had no place to safely display it. One Christmas, my husband surprised me with a gorgeous corner curio cabinet. It was something that I'd always wanted. Now my figurines are out where I can enjoy them everyday.

Dessert
How do you react under pressure?
It depends on the pressure. The pressure of a deadline, for example, can sometimes kick my procrastinating butt into gear - and then I am often able to pull off whatever project I was avoiding with good results!

2006-04-04T18:09:00.000-04:00

What I Was Reading

I finished reading Cell yesterday. It's a compelling zombie tale in which a large portion of the world's population is simultaneously driven insane by a mysterious pulse transmitted through cell phones.

It had been over a year since I last sank my teeth into a Stephen King novel, and this did not disappoint. The book delivered good old fashioned can't-put-it-down story telling that King's fans like and expect.

I'm glad I picked this up!

2006-04-01T18:11:00.000-05:00

Daylight Saving Time

If you live where the phenomenon known as Daylight Saving Time is observed, remember to set your clocks ahead one hour tonight.

I like this little trick in the Fall, when we "gain" an hour, but "losing" an hour is not as much fun. I need more time in my life, not less.

Oh well. C’est la vie.

2006-03-31T22:12:00.000-05:00

Friday's Feast

I have been looking for a fun meme to use on this Blog but hadn't found one I really liked until today when a great gal named Nichole stopped by my Blog and commented on yesterday's post. When I visited her Blog, I had the pleasure of reading her answers to a meme called "Friday's Feast" and decided that I wanted to play along, too.

So, here's my first entry for Friday's Feast. Bon Appetit!

Appetizer
Name 3 things that you think are strange.

The "big buckin' chicken" BK commercial.
The BK commercials with the freaky looking guy who shows up at people's windows and other unusual places.
The ad execs who work for BK.

Soup
What was the last ceremony you attended?
My brother's wedding. It was a small ceremony for immediate family with a reception at a local university hall that was decorated with a large, gorgeous Christmas tree. There was good finger food, nice background music, and lots of catching up with some of our favorite relatives. It was lovely!

Salad
What is one lesson you have learned in the past year?
That disorganization can cost money, in terms of lost gift certificates and/or missed expiration dates. I'm a consummate bargain hunter and when I miss out on a deal due to my own lack of organization, it is hard for me to forgive myself. Organization is one of the big things I'm working on this year.

Main Course
Tell us about one of your childhood memories.
We had a creative writing assignment in fourth grade in which we were supposed to write something from the point of view of a well-known book character. I came up with a long and detailed letter from Alice in Wonderland that really impressed the teacher. Before handing the assignments back, she called me to her desk to tell me that she thought it was very good and to ask if I'd ever considered becoming a writer. I was so proud, and happily told her that that was exactly what I hoped to be one day. I'll never forget that moment. Or that teacher. If I ever win a literary prize of some kind I hope she is around and knows about it.

Dessert
If you could extend any of the four seasons to be twice as long as normal, which season would you want to lengthen?
Autumn, without a doubt. I love when the weather starts to turn cooler and I love the changing colors of the leaves. Also, two of the best holidays, Thanksgiving and Halloween, happen in the Fall. It's just a wonderful, cozy time of year!

2006-03-30T01:30:00.000-05:00

Dinner For Five

One of my favorite things about Netflix has been "discovering" things (films, series, specials, documentaries) that I never knew existed. My latest discovery is the cool TV series Dinner For Five.

Each episode of Dinner For Five, hosted by Jon Favreau (Monica's millionaire boyfriend on Friends), brings five celebrities together at various restaurants for dinner and unscripted conversation about the entertainment industry. The show has an intimate feel to it and it is fun to listen in and learn more about not only the guests at the table but actors and directors they've worked with and about whom they have stories to tell.

It looks like the show enjoyed four seasons between 2001 and 2005. The first season is available on DVD. Those of you lucky enough to have a cable provider that offers The Independent Film Channel can watch reruns of the show on a weekly basis. The rest of us have to queue it up in our Netflix lists.

If you're looking for a little something new and different to watch, I recommend giving this series a try!

2006-03-27T00:45:00.000-05:00

This Weekend's Netflix Pick

We watched Good Night, And Good Luck this weekend. It's a very well done film of historical significance whose themes, unfortunately, are still resonant in today's political climate.

David Strathairn's performance as journalist Edward R. Murrow is especially good.

2006-03-26T00:42:00.000-05:00

Entering the Blogosphere

This is my first personal Blog, but I have been using Blogger to keep records of my telecommute work for years. Each time I make an entry there I'm reminded that I'd like to have a place like this online for my personal interests.

I am a planner. This is often to my detriment because I tend to over think projects and spend more time daydreaming about how to start them than actually getting them started. Such was the case with my Blog. I brainstormed about the kinds of things I might want to collect onto a Blog. I made lists. I did research (i.e. read a lot of other people's Blogs). I was quite happy doing these things and could have kept doing them ad infinitum, but then I might never actually get around to starting a Blog of my own.

My pre-planning brainstorming revealed several common themes. Each of these topics could easily be Blogs in and of themselves, but I don't have the time to maintain dozens of separate Blogs. A handful, maybe, but not a dozen or more. So, what I am planning to do is create a few specialized Blogs on topics that are especially dear to my heart. In the mean time, I will Blog about any and everything else - including commentary on the progress of the special Blog projects - right here.

The planning stage of Project Blog(s) is officially over. Less outlining, more writing from this point on. That's advice I plan to carry over into my professional life, as well. I hope you'll come along for the ride!