#UpbeatAuthors: Thriftiness with Self

December 31, 2018September 3, 2018

It’s the end of the year, which is a time I like to look forward instead of back. That means looking at my social media schedule, as well as the things I know I will have going on with my life. I also need to take other things into consideration: specifically, my elderly parents and their growing neediness. I need to look at my reality.

So there will be a few changes to my social media presence in 2019. Nothing too drastic, but changes that I hope will make managing my social media easier and quicker so I can focus more on the writing.

Happy New Year!

Hydration

May 31, 2018May 6, 20182 Comments

The last time I went to the doctor, he told me I was dehydrated. I try very hard to drink water throughout the day, but am not always successful. My solution to that is to keep several insulated containers of cold water at my desk. Doing this has helped.

At home is another story. I was swilling iced tea faster than I could make it and chill it, so I was holding back drinking, so I’d have something cold to drink “later.” I finally decided that was a bogus strategy, since it prevented me from drinking enough fluids.

I went on line and found my favorite iced tea pitcher and purchased it in several additional colors. Then I created a color-coded key and hung it on the fridge.

I like teas from Celestial Seasonings, especially their Cool Brew black teas. I order these by the case directly from Celestial Seasonings, as I cannot find them in stores around here. You don’t need to boil water to make them. I also like their fruit teas, especially the blueberry and acai mango.

So here is what the top shelf of my fridge now looks like:

I never go thirsty.

Universal Hour of Peace

December 31, 2017November 23, 2017

Copied from the Universal Hour of Peace web page:

The Universal Hour of Peace is measured locally from 11:30 pm December 3lst through 12:30 am January 1st. We encourage you to initiate the new year with peace-filled intent. Refraining from any harmful thought and activity, some meditate in solitude while others join with family and friends in harmonious reflection.

I think this should be a New Year’s Eve tradition.

Change starts with me.

Nat’l Speak in Complete Sentences Day: Catch of the Day

May 31, 2017April 30, 2017

One of my favorite fictional heroes rarely says a word. Complete sentences? Pul-ease.

Kristan Higgin’s Rita-Award winning Catch of the Day features “Maloner the Loner,” a lobster man who proves the cliche “actions speak louder than words.” Malone doesn’t need to talk to show us he’s a hero. The heroine, Maggie, is nearly talked to death by her high school sweetheart, the priest on whom she has an inappropriate crush, and the series of men she dates while trying to find Mr. Right. Even her father, brother, and brother-in-law are a lot of talk and no action, proving again and again that talk is cheap.

The only two men in her life who don’t blather on are the short-order cook in Maggie’s diner, and Malone. Turns out these are the only two men on whom she can depend, too.

Kristan Higgins proves that complete sentences are sometimes overrated.