One of Those (Wonderful) Days

This morning I overslept, slipped in the shower, accidentally punted the cat, and dumped a gallon of water on my favorite rug, making me late to the office and barely prepared for a meeting with a new client I knew in advance I couldn’t help. All things considered, this looked like a wonderful day. Since I couldn’t go back to bed and pull the comforter over my nose, I stuck with it anyway – and learned once more that the only guaranteed failure is the decision not to try. Let’s step back to 8a.m. The alarm clock jostles me from

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Washing My Hands of 2010

December 5-11 2010 is official “Hand Washing Awareness Week.” In light of that, and in the interest of full observance, permit me to mention a few things I’d like to wash my hands of as 2010 comes to a close: 1. Worrying.  It was recently brought to my attention that I spend more than my fair share of time concerned about things I cannot change.  I hereby wash my hands of fretting (but it’s probably going to get me into trouble…) 2.  The bad economy.  2010 wasn’t exactly a banner financial year for most of us.  I hereby wash my

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In Praise of the Mystery Tree

My family’s first Christmas present of the year is always the Christmas tree, because we never see it until we bring it home. For the past four years my family has gone to Home Depot (I know, very romantic and Christmas-y of us) and picked out a Christmas tree from the pile of wrapped “recent deliveries” still spooled up in shipping twine.  It takes about five minutes to select a victim,  another ten to pay and load it in the back of my Little Toy Truck, and six or seven more to drive it home.  Only once we get the

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‘Tis the Season…Part 1: Creepy Christmas Past

Some of you may have noticed that December is upon us, which means Christmas is approaching like a runaway freight train captained by squirrels on speed.  In the upcoming whirl of lights (this weekend), trees (this weekend), shopping (this…maybe next weekend), family and work, I thought I’d take a little time to share memories of Christmas-Past – from the days when lights were something we drove by after dinner, trees were something Mom and Dad picked out, and all the “Christmas shopping” was done for me instead of by me. Yes, Virginia, we’re going back thirty-five years. It was early

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Observing December 2010

December is upon us, and though most of you probably already know about the little holiday coming up in about 3 weeks (and the week-long holiday that started last night), December also has a few celebrations that might not be marked on your calendars.  A few of them are: Write a Business Plan Month (Note: the rules only say write it.  Feel free to ignore it thereafter.) Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruit Gifts Month (If I find a turnip under the tree, someone has some serious explaining to do.) Bingo’s Birthday Month (There was a party had a cake and

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Don’t Let the HNS Conference Sail Without You!

The Historical Novel Society is holding its North American conference on June 17-19, 2011. The conference will be held in San Diego, California (USA), at the Holiday Inn on the Bay.  More details (and schedules, and some neat speakers) are available at the HNS Conference Website. Registration opened this morning, and is limited to 300 attendees, so sign up now! (And yes, I’ve already signed up myself.) Let that inner history-geek out to play with the rest of us.  And please leave a comment if you’re planning to attend, I’d love to see you there!

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