Has it really been since July 15?

You can thank Alexandra Franzen for this blog post. One of her recent pieces opened with something like "I haven't done a post in 80 days ..." It made me feel a lot better about being so lax about my own communications.

Recently, one of the best, and I mean the best, writing tips/nudges/inspiration came from Sara Caputo, principal of Radiant Organizing. And when a productivity expert sends me something, I read it. It's a post from the blog Barking up the Wrong Tree about, well, about writing. Read it. You'll laugh, and you'll laugh more.

In other Orozco Ink news ... 

Recommended reading!

•Here's a cool thing about my work: I get to be involved in other people's cool projects. I was part of the proofreading team for Cynthia Hamilton's book Finding Ruth, which was just published. Cynthia notes that Finding Ruth is a tribute to her mother, who held her family together at all costs, who showed dignity and strength when most people would’ve fled. What she learned by fitting together disjointed memories and facts has made her love and appreciate her mother more deeply than ever before. I recommend Finding Ruth. 

•My husband and I took a month-long vacation and visited Sweden and Italy. Actually, it was 32 days. If so inclined, you can check pictures of the fabulous trip on my Facebook page. 

My vacation journal. 

•"Cooperative Wisdom" is the book on my nightstand. The timing could not have been more perfect with the U.S. presidential election just ending. The sub-title is "Bringing People Together When Things Fall Apart." (See what I mean about the timing.)

This is from the book's  Web site: Cooperative Wisdom explains how cooperation breaks down in settings from boardrooms and family rooms to volunteer organizations and public agencies.

Written as a spirited exchange between an acclaimed ethicist and an inquisitive journalist, the book introduces five social virtues that crack open stubborn problems and reveal cooperative solutions. 

The inquisitive journalist is Carolyn Jabs, whom I know from the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Association for Women in Communication. I'm sure I'll be writing more about the book when I finish it. 

•I'll be in an improv show next Sunday, the 20th at 3 p.m. at the Plaza Playhouse Theater. It's been a while since I've performed, but it's guaranteed I'll have fun.

Improv Showcase on Nov. 20. 

Here's more info: Just in time for National Absurdity Day, is the Improv Showcase. Under the direction of Tom Mueller, this one-hour unscripted, unrehearsed show highlights the tools of improv, where just like in real life, the players make it up as they go along. Tickets are $10 and available at the box office starting 2:30 p.m. day of the show. There are no pre-sale tickets. For more information, call Diane at 805-284-5404.

Thanks for reading. Nice to be in touch again. Let's enjoy the day!

A Course in Miracles

Day 11 / 30-Day Writing Challenge

What would feel like a miracle feel right now?

Yep, that's right. I'm asking about miracles. Because I want to see if I can help make one happen. And cuz Alexandra Franzen told me to.

I follow Alexandra's blog. She writes about how to be a better writer and a nicer human being. Two things I'm really interested in.

So, tell me, what would fell like a miracle right now.

I'll go first: Right now, if I walked into my place and it was sparkling clean and fixed up exactly how I want it.

Now you.

Email - the good and the bad

One of the reasons I love email is that it really does the trick of giving me a false of productivity. Yep, I can beaver away for two hours and not get one business-related, income-generating task accomplished. For example, let's say this journalist is on deadline and needs to get a quote from someone known for his unpleasantness (toward her). What better way to stave off the dreaded phone call than to focus on cleaning out ye olde inbox?

Aren't the depths of fooling oneself are absolutely amazing!

OK. It's January and the jig is up. Oh, come on, you knew some kind of resolution was about to appear. It's January! Besides, the first paragraph gave plenty of foreshadowing. I'm changing my routine and it doesn't involve diet or exercise. For the first hour (at least) at my desk, there will be no email. There will be no Facebook or LinkedIn for that matter either. I'll be writing. Or editing. Or making phone calls. Or billing. Or making a book. Or brainstorming.

And, for the record. Not all email is great. You know the type. Asking you for money. Complaining (to put it mildly) about some sin unbeknownst to you, the apparent perpetrator. Want to know how to deal with those unpleasantries in a very professional, high-road sort of way? Check out this post from Alexandra Franzen. You'll love it, and her.