Do Not Disturb

Flashing oversized packages of candy while striding into my office works better than any old “Do Not Disturb" sign. Add to that, the solid close of the office door and solitude is ensured. 

No one asks "how's it going?" when they see me sporting a "Share Size" of Peanut M&M's. 

"Share Size." Talk about a euphemism. "Share Size" my eye.

eu·phe·mismˈyo͞ofəˌmizəm/

noun: euphemism; plural noun: euphemismsa mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing."“downsizing” as a euphemism for cuts"

Euphemisms are an important tool for writers. Being able to lay it out in black and white is important, too. 

So how about "Better Keep My Mouth Shut" size"?  "Sure Beats a Gun" size." Or, "Just Because You Shouldn't" size." 

I'm surprised there are no "Do NOT Disturb" signs. I think there may be a very good market for them

I stayed at the Hard Day's Night hotel on at recent trip to Liverpool. I think their version of the "Do Not Disturb" sign is the best I've ever seen. 

Change your email password, now!

Monday morning greeted me with a hacked email account. What a nuisance that was. Still cleaning up that mess.

A firm believer in silver linings, allow me share with you two positives that came from that situation. 

First, it was very nice to know so many of my contacts look out for me. I received phone calls, texts, emails to my other account, and Facebook posts alerting me to the situation. That made me feel very good. 

Second, this is a good opportunity to clean up my digital files, update passwords, synchronize social media, among other housekeeping items I tend not to not fuss with very often. 

Take a tip from someone who knows: change your passwords!

Below is the email the hack was sending out. I hope no one sent money. I'm sure they'll let me know. 

 

The Confidence Code

I have "higher than average confidence" according to a quiz I just took. And, the funny thing is I was confident I would score in the lowest percentile!

The Confidence Code Assessment is in tandem with the book The Confidence Code by Catty Kay and Claire Shipman, which is the first read for the Association of Women in Communication-Santa Barbara's Books for Breakfast series. 

Who knew that confidence is more important than competence in the workplace? Never once did I get that memo during my formative years. Now I understand how nincompoops rise to the top.  

The Confidence Code is a real eyeopener. I recommend reading this book. Really good stuff.

Can I get a suggestion from the audience?

I'll be working on Friday night ... at the Plaza Playhouse Theater. I'm in an improv show, part of the Plaza Improv Players. We titled it "The World's Safest Beach." Curtain rises at 7 p.m. 

I hope I see you ... though it's tough to see who's in the audience when those bright lights are on you. 

Come anyway, will ya?

Finding my way with The Artist's Way

Dusted off my copy of "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron last night. Somehow, that book, which changed my life (for reals), walked off my bedside table and joined a pile of books in another room. 

It's always good to check in with "The Artist's Way." Read a chapter here, do an exercise there. Restart the morning pages. 

It was fun to reread some of my thoughts from years ago. For example, I don't remember AT ALL having a desire to go skydiving. But there it was, in my handwriting (more than once) in the margins of a few pages. "Try skydiving." 

Decided I'm going to do the course again. There's an online version.  Want to get more focused. Need to get more focused to make some decisions on my business. Giving very serious thought to adding other ways of making money, such as handmade books. 

There's an online version, too. This is one of the most influential books I have read. In my life. No kidding. 

Limerick laughs

Friday Funny

Limericks. Those are the five line poems, usually kind of naughty and funny with a rhyme scheme of AABBA. I'm sure you have heard the following, or a variation of it. 

There was an old man of Nantucket

who kept all his cash in a bucket

but his daughter, named Nan

ran away with a man

as as for the bucket, Nantucket

Edward Lear popularized limericks, he did not call them limericks, in the 19th century.

As a poetic form, limericks adhere to a set of rules. Actually, limerick rules are rather strict compared to other poetry. 

They are:

• Limericks are five lines long
• Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme
• Lines 3 and 4 rhyme
• Limericks are typically funny

Here's another example. Author unknown.

The limerick packs laughs anatomical

Into space that is quite economical.

But the good ones I've seen

So seldom are clean

And the clean ones so seldom are comical. 

And now, here's my go at it.

There once was a woman writer

whose mental blocks would bite her;

but she kept at her keyboard

til a story struck a big chord

now her job is a money counter

Now, your turn.

Mission Accomplished

Day 30 / 30-Day Writing Challenge

Mission accomplished. I did it. Successfully completed my 30-Day Writing Challenge. 

Maybe I should have called it the 30-Day Showing Up Challenge. Because that was the essence of it. The writing part was secondary. I am/was creating a container for my work, which is writing. 

The plan is to continue posting to Behind the Scenes at Orozco Ink. Twice a week is plenty. That may be a bigger challenge than the 30-day one. Sticking with the Friday Funny. Tuesday will be the other post day. 

Looking forward to growing my business by trying new things.