Good vs Evil

I was driving home this afternoon and the driver in a pick-up truck in front of me decided to slow down. The problem was, he slowed down in an area on the interstate that you need to speed up so you can smoothly merge into other traffic coming from another direction.

Well, I was jabbering a-mile-a-minute when I realized what I was saying. It was so funny that I had to share. It went like this.

"Everybody thinks they own the road."

"Then again, I must think I own the road."

"He's driving like a maniac."

"Of course, I'm the one speeding like a demon."

"Oh, now I understand. The old man probably can't see."

"Not that I'm some spring chicken myself..."

LOL! Some days I feel like I have the proverbial angel on one shoulder and devil on the other. They constantly bicker. As long as the angel kicks butt, I should be okay.

It's Been Awhile...Enjoy!

Stupid Computer

My laptop messed up again yesterday. Took me about two hours to fix and still don't know what I did to make it work. Oh, well.

Maybe it was jealous. I worked on my desktop computer for most of the day, updating the website for my writers group. It's amazing how long it takes to do stuff. My internet connection is fast and the software is easy to work with, but when you have lots to add (contest info and many other items), it takes time. Click Here to find out a part of what I was doing.

Plus I started working on what the writers group's new website will look like. Everyone should always update their website every two years or so. If you have the time or money, then you can change every year. Anyway, the group has had the same website design for about three years now. So time for a new one. I told them I'm going for one less busy and less work. LOL!

Thankful Friday

Each week, when I remember to do this, I try to be thankful for other things besides the norm. But I felt it was time to mention the norm...

I'm thankful for my two daughters. They light up my life in ways they can never imagine.
I'm thankful for my two critique partners as their friendship is priceless.
I'm thankful for my dad and sis. They believe in my dream to become a published writer.
I'm thankful for my buddy at work who makes me laugh even when I don't feel like it.

How To Let Go

I'm having problems letting go of my manuscript. First, I still need more pages so the manuscript can be regarded as 90,000 words. Second, I keep thinking of something to add. Nothing big, just little things. And third, maybe in the back of my mind, I worry this one will be rejected over and over again.

Sigh.

Don't worry. I'll get over it and start sending out soon.

A Long, Long Time Ago...

LOL! When my eldest reads the title of this post, she'll roll her eyes. Why? Today's her birthday. Happy birthday, sweetie!

Dance When You Can

Today, I said goodbye to a sweet lady and friend. I had the pleasure of working with her for about six years before she left the company to take care of her mother. She was amazing.

She loved to dance. In fact, if I remember correctly, she won a few ballroom dance competitions. In her home, I remember seeing pictures of her in full dance regalia, sequins and feathers and all. She was beautiful.

When I heard she'd died, all I could think of was that she finally was dancing with her beloved husband and sweet son.

Here's to Sylvia Holt! I know your dancing toes are as light as the clouds you're twirling on. Keep dancing, girlfriend!

On The Road Again

Each day it takes around thirty minutes from home to work and vice versa. I use to listen to the radio, but the stations in Birmingham are horrible. They have country, classic rock, really old classic rock or hip hop. I'm an alternative rock girl. Yep. You heard it right. I want to hear new unique stuff if I listen to the radio.

So what do I do? Well, most of the time I listen to the traffic (with sunroof open) or silence (sunroof closed). On occasions, I'll listen to my iPod. Then I listen to an eclectic list of music. Alternative to Opera to all the stuff I mentioned you can listen to on the radio in Birmingham. Ironic, isn't it? LOL!

Oh, Happy Birthday to Linda Howard!

Say What?!

Yesterday I mentioned working in a man's field. What I mean by that is, I work with mostly men and most of my customers are men. The type of product the company I work for makes is certainly a "man" type product. Ductile iron pipe. It's used in sewer and water treatment plants.

What I really want to mention is that as I work with so many men, I become more and more blunt and short in my dialogue with people. Not short as angry in my answer but more to do with my speech pattern. Men rarely beef up their language. Sure they may add curse words, but they don't say a lot of please, would you, could you or any of the lanuage we women use every day.

I figure that's why I have problems staying friends with women. Thankfully there are a few who understand me and overlook most of my short comings.

Hey, Diane, JoAnn and Sande.

Chin Up, Shoulders Back

I was thinking earlier today how much self-confidence can help you accomplish so much. Every time I allowed self doubt to take over, I've usually screwed up and missed out on something great. Now when I say self-confidence, I'm not talking about being stuck on myself and think I'm all that and a bag of chips. No. I'm referring to talking with moderate intelligence about what you're doing or want to do.

Whenever I had a reason to talk with a group of 20 to 100 people, I've usually been prepared. By being prepared, with a little speech or outline of what I plan to talk about, I rarely get nervous. I'm more apt to go into autopilot and when it's over with can't remember what I said. Later I'll ask someone how I did and they would say fine, that I didn't look nervous at all and my voice was clear and at the perfect level. That's always a relief. Too many times I've felt sorry for some of our presenters. We've had a few who would mumble, keep their eyes down and read off their notes (for the whole speech), use filler sounds (er, ah, uh, etc.) or include the filler phrase like "you know."

At work, I've had the occasion of talking to a group on the spur of the moment. Thankfully I know my job well enough that I don't have a problem with it. Besides, most of my friends know I enjoy positive attention and I do work in a man's field.

So I guess being aware of what you're doing and being informed are the keys to being self-confident.