10-Things I've Learned so Far from 10-Days Of Quarantine

10-Things I've Learned so Far from 10-Days Of Quarantine

These days take no explanation more than to yell “it’s crazy out there!” I must say, I went into self-imposed staying home in stages. I didn’t want to drink the Kool-aid of fear and panic the media seemed to be serving 24/7. I took precautions, I was the person wearing red wool gloves at Walmart the other day when I ran low on mustard and salad. I rarely shop at that establishment and don’t know what prompted the visit as I passed 3 other grocery stores on my way. I survived.

But I’ve joined the stay at home ranks and am trying to make the best of it as are you.

That’s all we can do. Fortunately, I’m a home-body type. I like my house and enjoy the nest I’ve created. I say all that knowing I’ve been inside for 10 days now, except for walks in the neighborhood. For how much longer I will be content remains to be seen. Until then, I’ve decided to look on the bright side and list some things learned so far.

Join Me for March's FREE Online Writing Workshop!

Join Me for March's FREE Online Writing Workshop!

If your corner of the world has had the biggest snowstorm of the year, the worst is over! Happy Spring! It’s the perfect time to crack open your journal and join us this Sunday, March 8th at 8pm Eastern for a 45-minute writing workshop on the topic of Daily Bread.

All skill levels and writing abilities are welcome! Even if you’ve never written anything more than a birthday card, this FREE class is for you! We’ll meet together online using Zoom (a free video-conferencing app, like Skype but better.) This will be our virtual classroom.

LET'S WRITE! Join Me for February's FREE Online Writing Workshop!

LET'S WRITE! Join Me for February's FREE Online Writing Workshop!

Our first LET’S WRITE online workshop went so well, we’re doing it again this weekend! Please join us this Sunday, February 9th at 8pm Eastern for a 45-minute writing workshop on the topic of… Love In The Midst of Loss.

All skill levels and writing abilities are welcome! Even if you’ve never written anything more than a birthday card, this FREE class is for you! We’ll meet together online using Zoom (a free video-conferencing app, like Skype but better.) This will be our virtual classroom.

LET'S WRITE! Join Me for This Month's FREE Online Writing Workshop!

LET'S WRITE! Join Me for This Month's FREE Online Writing Workshop!

Join me on January 30th for a FREE monthly online writing workshop. All skill levels and writing abilities welcome! Even if you’ve never written anything more than a birthday card, this FREE class is for you! 

We’ll meet together online using Zoom as our virtual classroom. I’ll send along the conference call information before our meeting. And tell you how to download ZOOM if you don’t have it on your computer.

Each month we’ll discuss a theme, I’ll give a prompt and teach a few new journaling techniques.

It’s fun, it’s easy and it’s FREE. This is a great opportunity to meet others online from all over to write together. There’s no pressure to share your piece, and spelling, grammar or writing ability doesn’t matter.

Is Your Vision Clear?

Is Your Vision Clear?

Here we go, another New Year. I’m still trying to accomplish a To-Do list from 2018. Time marches on, and so must we, accomplishments checked off our list or not. I’ve decided to forget making any resolutions for this year since I never keep them anyway. For this new decade, especially since the year is an optometrists’ delight, I’ve dedicated 2020 to be a year of a new vision for me.

I know all about blurry sight.  All I need to do is take my glasses off and my sight smears as if looking at the world through a bouquet of cotton candy. There’s no distinct or sharp point of seeing. My glasses bend the light into my eye to create a sharp 20/20 vision.

I want to take that kind of clarity and make sure I see circumstances, opportunities and purpose up ahead in my life this next year. I want 2020 to be the year I see with clear vision the purpose set before me.

I'm Breaking a Family Holiday Tradition!

I'm Breaking a Family Holiday Tradition!

I’m breaking a family holiday tradition. The Christmas cookie tradition to be exact. It’s not what you’re thinking, however. I’m not talking about a long-held family recipe that dates back to a couple of grandmothers. I’m not even breaking the leave-a-few-cookies-for-Santa tradition…

My Secret Gratitude

My Secret Gratitude

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude” Karl Barth

This time of year, we’re bombarded with the concept of thanksgiving. The word can be found everywhere from scripted print on paper plates to decorative wall hangings. As the month of November marches on, grocery stores experience tidal waves of frantic shoppers, carts full of traditional food-fixings including, of course, the loved frozen solid turkey. Home cooks new at the Thanksgiving meal game have a certain terror in their eyes. The promise made to never volunteer to host the holiday again can be detected as if tattooed across a forehead. I speak from experience, some Thanksgivings the thing I’m most thankful for is not what I’m proud to share. My secret gratitude is that: the cooking is done, the meal is over, dishes are done, and everyone has gone home!

Food Writing and Sweet Iced Tea

Food Writing and Sweet Iced Tea

I’m taking an on-line class. I’ve taken them before and have finally managed to maneuver my way through the online class components of Blackboard and submitting my homework. My daughter, a professor at the university level teaches online courses is proud of my success. Me too. 

This time I’ve got myself taking a class from Gotham Writers School. There is an in-seat program where students meet at the school located in NYC. They offer all kinds of writing courses from Playwriting to Novels. They also have a large selection of online classes. 

 My course is called, Food Writing.

The Ending in Row 22

The Ending in Row 22

I was heading home. My travels took me from a small airport to a larger hub, then a flight to my city. I was mentally prepared for a whole day of travel which included a two hour time change, where I was on the losing side. I’ve flown this route before, so I was not expecting any surprises. My only wish was to avoid chatty seat mates so I could relax and read.

It was time to board, and I proceed down the tiny aisle to discover row 22, a rear of the plane, aisle seat. It was a single, only one seat, so happily I buckled up, no other seat next to me. Across the small aisle were to be the other passengers of row 22, seats for two. We would be taking off shortly, as most all passengers were seated and ready to go.

I didn’t see the women come down the aisle, but noticed she seemed to make a crash landing into her seat directly across from me, at row 22. What happened next was shocking.