Civilian - the one I call Mom - on the phone: Yes, we just heard three gunshots down on the highway. My daughter saw a flash as a car turned the corner.
911 Operator: What kind of car?
Civilian: We couldn’t tell; we’re about 650 yards from the highway and it’s dark.
911 Operator: Well, you know, it’s not illegal to fire a gun in Sonoma County.
Original post by paradisefound
And it’s recorded. The Newseum site features 700 front pages of newspapers from 66 different countries. Amazing, awe-inspiring, uplifting, historic. May the next four years be long enough for our new president to dig us out of the mess we’re in and make a positive change.
Original post by paradisefound
Anyone else feel like their life is on hold until this election is over? I keep catching myself holding my breath as if I can control what happens between now and tomorrow.
I can say that this election has served as a great education for my kids. We’ve discussed equal rights, racism, honesty, taxes, electoral votes, optimism, the separation of church and state, the legislative process, Roe v. Wade….the list goes on. I’ve even had the chance to set the example of becoming involved in an election - something I’ve never felt compelled to do before. Not only have I made monetary contributions, but I spent part of yesterday phone banking for Barack Obama. I was nervous, but mostly, people were very nice. I think I will do more calling today.
Heartwarming moment: my kids arguing over who got to post the “No on 8” sign in our yard. I am raising […]
Original post by paradisefound
It’s been a busy few weeks, and that promises to continue. I spent the past weekend in Florida for a writer’s conference - there are real people behind all of those magazine stories and books you read! It was nice to meet some. Here are a few things I discovered while gone:
If you fly home from Florida the likelihood of being seated in the center of an extended family with a passel of kids all hopped up on Mickey Mouse is very good.
If you leave a chore-like project for your kids to accomplish while your gone, the odds are not nearly as good.
Jockeys must be light so as not to be too much for the horse to carry. UPS drivers must be able to lift a certain number of pounds. Flight attendants really ought to be able to fit down the aisle without bumping passengers every time they go by.
Some […]
Original post by paradisefound
Brad, after watching Sarah Palin’s speech last night: “I bet she doesn’t listen to Bob Marley.”
Original post by paradisefound
We’ve been watching the Democratic National Convention; Brad especially has been interested in the political process of late. Last night as Barack Obama came on stage, it really hit home that this is indeed history in the making.
I wanted Brad to understand just how recent the Civil Rights movement was, just how much things have changed in what is really a very short time period. Martin Luther King’s fight for equality isn’t something that only happened in history books - this great man did his work during my lifetime.
The prejudice that blacks face(d) is something that I’ve seen first hand and I wanted Brad to hear this, so we stayed up late talking about MY history as it relates to current history. The rural community in which I grew up was very white. I remember seeing the occasional “mixed couple” (visitors, of course) and hearing the whispers about how indecent […]
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If you’re not living every moment to its fullest - or even if you think you are - head on over to read Tim’s beautiful post. It will inspire you to squeeze the beauty out of every single moment.
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I’m looking ahead to two full days without my children, and find myself wondering what to do with myself. I have a certain desire to be productive, but I’m kind of reveling in wandering in the solitude and quiet. Maybe being productive isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Original post by paradisefound
In my earlier post about teens and drinking, Tim said:
I wouldn’t draw too heavy a connection to the fact that the kids are in the public school system. My wife and I came from similar middle-class backgrounds and attended similar public high schools in Texas. She drank in high school, I didn’t.
While I agree that kids differ and lines are not always drawn along the homeschool/public school boundary, there is a difference in how kids are perceived in the different camps.
Becky said:
I think many parents, especially institutional school parents … have a certain set of expectations for teens, not limited to alcohol (and/or drugs). One of the biggest ones seems to be about the withdrawal of teens from family life in particular and adults in general, which I’ve watched sadly in my own nieces — it seems “natural” to expect them to become surly, snarly, and silent around adults, not […]
Original post by paradisefound
I spent one day this weekend with friends whose kids are in the public school system. Over glasses of wine, the discussion turned to our kids. I listened as these parents expressed their expectations of trouble in the future of their teens, specifically teenage drinking. I was surprised that these parents took for granted that this would be an issue. But then, with peer pressure in the schools, maybe it is? I certainly know what my own high school years looked like in public school.
I wonder if by assuming that teens will start drinking as teens, parents are feeding the possibilities? I don’t expect my kids not to drink. But I also don’t automatically assign the problem to them just because they are teens, as if the only possible answer to the equation is teens = drinking. Each child differs in personality and every choice will be different. For instance, […]
Original post by paradisefound
…that the people I know in Kona are not wondering where the mountain lion is that left a deer carcass less than a hundred feet from their house.
Original post by paradisefound
I discover the darndest things when I’m researching my books. I’m editing my medieval book, and right now focusing on medieval witchcraft and sorcery (no hands-on projects here, I promise!). I just discovered this site, where you can order spells to suit your every need. Who knew?
Original post by paradisefound
Isn’t it funny how we’ve used glass for hundreds of years in this world, and it’s not linked to chemical poisoning, off-gassing, environmental impact, or cancer like plastic is? Even the tin cans our food comes in have apparently been treated with bisphenol which seeps into our food.
Glass. It’s so simple.
Original post by paradisefound
According to EnviroSax, an estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make the 380 billion plastic bags we use in America each year (!). I’m aiming for a one-hundred percent reduction of these bags coming into my house by the end of the year. It’s easy to forget to bring reusable bags (I usually have a half-full cart before I remember and go back out to get mine out of the car), but this is so important. It’s one simple step.
Instead of those disposable bags, check into all of these options. Or perhaps try making your own. And if you’re up for a challenge, join me in this effort and let me know you’re doing so by posting a comment. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in our world and to educate our kids about the reduction of unnecessary excess.
Off soapbox now…
Original post by paradisefound
I am preparing to be interviewed for a podcast on team building. This makes me nervous. Evan’s advice?
“Just don’t use your business voice.”
I guess my nervous voice sounds very much like a business voice.
Original post by paradisefound
Ron Paul.
I won’t vote for him, but damn it’s good to have him in the race, simply because he says the stuff that needs to be said without worrying about repercussions. I think, in a sense (well, a really BROAD sense) he’s helped to keep this election a little bit more honest by asking tough questions. I’d have him over for dinner.
That, and the fact that my 15-year-old has taken a keen interest in the debates and is gaining a slight understanding of our convoluted election policies.
Original post by paradisefound
2 electric guitars + 1 set of drums = one oversized headache
Original post by paradisefound
I allowed myself to take the month of December off from writing - which, in the freelance world is often more about selling yourself than actually stringing words together - to recharge and enjoy the holidays. Oddly, when the beginning of January came I was out of sorts with myself and having a hard time getting back to business. Of course it doesn’t help that it seems like every editor in the business has been out of the office since the holidays.
During this time I’ve been thinking and pondering and ruminating over an idea for a book. I reread this book. And on Monday I was inspired to go for it. I did some research and verified that there isn’t anything quite like this out there. It’s non-fiction and completely out of the realm of anything I’ve done before (read: scary), but I’ve spent the past several days working […]
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I posted about my new buddy Jeremy awhile back. I’ve just switched over from classic google to igoogle. Lo and behold, I can get a new Zits comic on my desktop every day. That makes me happy!
Original post by paradisefound
If every person in the world lived as Americans do—that is, consuming as Americans do—it would take more than six-and-a-half earths to sustain the human race.
Found here.
Original post by paradisefound
I read over at Farm School that BBC Films is acquiring options to all twelve of the Swallows and Amazons adventures. I love these books. If you haven’t read them out loud to your kids, I highly recommend them. I haven’t seen the older versions of the Swallows and Amazons movies, so I can’t speak to them. But I will say that I’m tired of people making movies or writing books “Inspired by the success of The Dangerous Book for Boys.”The book is just not that fabulous, people. Don’t get me wrong; it’s good in the sense that apparently it has moved some kids from the couch to the out of doors. But it’s not a new concept. Kids - including mine - have been hammering and sawing and building and climbing and decoding long before they had a brick red handbook telling them how to do so. If parents want to encourage their kids to […]
Original post by paradisefound
And I am grateful. Grateful that the wind was blowing in the direction it was, otherwise it would have been much, much worse. The recent storms in California brought 60-70 mile per hour winds, enough for this 40-50 foot tall tree to crack and fall - onto the very corner of the garage eave. A shift in wind and it would have been in the middle of the house. I’m also incredibly grateful that our tenants were not at home (can you imagine the noise??) and no one was hurt. It is a little odd being so far away, knowing that this needs to be dealt with, but how nice to have access to images via the Internet.
Original post by paradisefound
Someone invited me to join Facebook. You can’t see what Facebook is about until you join. So I joined. I don’t get it. I’ve tried - goodness knows I hate to miss out - but I just don’t get it. Are you there? Convince me that it’s worth my time. Or not. (for what it’s worth, I don’t get MySpace, either, but I find that LinkedIn makes a bit more sense)
Original post by paradisefound
Exercise, Schmexercise! My New Year’s resolution is to use fewer Ziploc bags.
Original post by paradisefound