What Can Be Worse Than Turning 50?

I thought turning 50 would be devastating, but it wasn't. Not when compared to all the other things that happened the first thing in the morning on my 50th birthday.

Every morning, I ensure Macey makes it from the kennel to the back door in less than 15 seconds. This is the amount of time it takes for her to register a full bladder. That didn't happen this morning.

I had been so proud of her, too. She has never made a dropping in her kennel until this morning, the morning of my 50th birthday. Did I mention that I'm 50 today?

Not only did Macey make a rather large deposit, but it was a loose one. She was so distraught over it that she tried to escape it, trampling it again and again. I can only imagine from the looks of things, she must have made several attempts to rid her paws of the foul smelling goo.

This cleanup job would need some forward thinking. The longer I stood there and contemplated my first moves, the more Macey yiped with anxiety. I made a decision. I would clean the ten-pound puppy first, put her outside, and then tackle the rest of the mess in a methodical approach. I was not prepared for the sheer force of puppy power when I opened the kennel door. Macey sprang from her cage and plowed into my arms.

Fuck me, right?

So, I cleaned and disinfected everything, including her squeaky toy and tug rope. I placed a new puppy training pad in the kennel. I brought Macey back inside to feed her. I bumped the glass beaker off the table and it fell onto the ceramic floor, shattering it into a thousand pieces. The loud noise scared Macey. She sprinted across the kitchen to the other side and pissed on the floor.

Now, if you're having a bad day, cheer up! It could be worse. You could be turning 50.

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My First Ever Demolition Derby

You all know that I'm one to try new things, right? Get ready for this one!

Okay, so I wasn't sure what I was going to experience, but sitting in the stand and watching the showboating, careening of metal, and mudslinging of pure earthly product, was actually a lot of fun. It reminded me that not everything in life that you create must be kept hidden away and protected from damage. The things you create produce no glory if others cannot see it and challenge it with their own creations. 

Here's a 9-minute video of the last heat of the demolition derby. We were up high enough to avoid the assault of flying dirt and debris, but the air reeked of smoke and burning rubber. Somehow, it was nostalgic and comforting.

When was the last time you experienced something for the first time? I guess I need to get out more often.   :)



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HASHTAG boycott NFL - Fail

I understand that many are upset with the protests occurring during the national anthem at NFL games. Athletes refusing to stand for the anthem chaps my ass as well. I won't mention names because I think these guys already get plenty of the attention they crave. I'm writing this post, not to lambaste the players for protesting by sitting during the anthem, but to say, "Really, America?"

Here's the point. Hash tags are great and social media is a valuable tool to make your point. But, hash tags and trending on Twitter do not make #BoycottNFL speak louder than the acts of the protesters. If you're still attending games and tuning in, then you only have yourselves to blame.

These players have the freedom to protest how they wish, but they can still be swayed by the consequences of their actions. Capitalism is what gives these players their stage. This is how Capitalism works.  When you buy something like a game ticket, it's called demand. When they get paid millions to play, it's called supply. Stop using Twitter as if it were some magical device that will end offensive behavior by trending a message. Instead, stop buying tickets and tuning into these games. People think that the more outrage they show on social media the more impact it will have. Maybe it will get the word out, maybe it won't. What percentage of those outraged will actually boycott the NFL? I hope 100%! Who's with me? There's still college ball. :)

Yes, I know there are plenty of players who show respect and they shouldn't be punished for the few who decide to basically put their finger to the society who feeds them, all too well. In my day, if one part of your group acted up, the entire group paid for it. When one group member didn’t do their assignment, everyone in the group got a poor grade. When enough of that shit happens, trust me, those few acting up will assimilate as the team sees fit. Until you decide to stop feeding the problem, the problem will remain.  These NFL teams aren't going to get the bad apples in line as long as they are getting fed by the same hand (sports fans). See what I mean? 

Put your money somewhere else for the time being and watch these teams kick some petulant children in the ass. Until then, these things will spiral out of control. These athletes will continue to bring in multi millions from sponsors, because society can’t get enough of these wonderful athletes and celebrity douche bags.

Thanks for tuning in, but I'm tuning out (of the NFL). See you next time!

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Charles on Weed and Feed

A little background before you read the next story, which is in the context of a chat just to mix things up a bit. This is a flash fiction romance story between Diane Carlisle (that's me) and the new man in her life, a guy named Charles. His last name is omitted to protect his identity, of course. 

Charles is today's protagonist. Watch him on his journey as he sets out to help the poor lady spread Weed and Feed in her yard. You see, Diane purchased the concentrated mix because she has a degree in Computer Science and therefore, can read instructions.

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

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My 2016 A to Z Challenge Theme

I've chosen my theme for the 2016 A-Z Challenge. Every day in April, I will use the letter of that day to begin the titles of each post, because each post in April will be a "short" short story. Not even flash fiction, because I will try to keep them all under 500 words, some may be as short as 100 words, but I will ensure they are all complete stories!

This is my challenge to myself, so come along and pray that I don't screw this up by experiencing writer's block before I am able to finish the challenge!



A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z


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Successes and Failures: Feedback From 2015

Last year I mapped out the 10 Goals and Objectives for 2015. Here are the results of those:


Start Graduate School 

I started my first class on January 12, 2015 and I have 3 more classes to complete my Masters in Communications. I will finish this Summer.


Advance My Career 

I feel like I’m getting much more exposure to the tasks which build upon my skills, so consider this a huge advancement. It helps to let your boss know what your expectations are, even if it is to advance into another field. We can’t all stay rooted in the technical trenches forever.


Outline My Memoir 

I’ve decided I’m not as interesting as I would need to be in order to produce a successful memoir. Therefore, I’m working on becoming more interesting first. We’ll leave this one alone for now. I hope I don't scare off too many people.


Attend a Writing Retreat 

Where the hell did I think I was going to find the time to do this? FAIL.


Attend the Tallahassee Writers Association Conference 

Loved it! Had a blast and plan to attend next year as well.


Attend the Florida Writers Association Conference 

I couldn't attend because it conflicted with travel and prep work for the Marine Corps Marathon in D.C.


Get Back Into Yoga 

Consider this a success because I did get back into Yoga, just didn’t stay consistently going every Sunday. I have other things to do on Sundays. But now that they switched it to Saturdays, I have no more excuses. Oh, wait. School just started back after the holidays!


Take Gourmet Cooking Classes 

I didn't realize how much the classes were and I didn't have anyone to go with me on the days I checked on. Then I realized that I could spend the same amount of money experimenting in my own home and I don’t have to waste the gas to drive all the way out to Publix. Did I mention I also found a nice man willing to sample the surprises I concoct? Sweet!


Finish My GeekSsentials Website

I finished the design only. Now I just have to get some content together. Isn’t this the same problem I have had with doing websites for others? I always complained that they never give me any content. Well, look at me now.


Institute Mom's Night Out 

It never works out as planned. I think spontaneity is better. Just don't pop in on me while I'm cooking up a surprise. You might walk into a disaster area!


Well now, I'm not going to ask you to embarrass yourself by sharing your failed New Year Goals from 2015. Wait, yes I am.

So, spill it! Any failures you want to share?






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10 Things You Learn When Involved in a High Profile Project

Happy New Year everyone!

So much has been going on in my life these past few weeks that I haven't had the time to scavenge my thoughts long enough to write a post. I also have another class which started last weekend.  The class has been an inspiration to me because it made me reflect on the outcome of a high profile project I had the privilege to be involved with over the past 3 months. High profile to me means anything which can potentially get you fired if you fuck it up.

Because of the success of this project and as a celebration to its closure, I had sent out a survey to 20 people, professionals I know in various businesses, and asked them to provide their answers to the following questions:

What does nobody want to do during a high profile project?
What does everybody want to do during a high profile project?
What types of people want to be involved in a high profile project?
What are some things you've learned when working on a high profile project?

My favorite answers came from several people and I'll share them here. These are the 10 things you learn when involved in a high profile project. Enjoy!

1. Nobody wants to be that person who announces to the entire organization that a project is underway, especially if it's a high profile project.

2. Everybody wants to be the expert, but nobody wants to be the accountable.

3. The persons with the least knowledge are the most helpful (accidentally).

4. The persons with the most knowledge are the least helpful (on purpose).

5. The persons not working on the project are willing to provide feedback. If they like you, the feedback will be positive, and if they don't, the feedback will be negative.

6. While you're learning from your mistakes and growing, those least helpful are stagnating in their own lack of progress.

7. While you're learning from your mistakes and growing, those most helpful are bonding with a team that is grateful for their loyalty.

8. You find out who works best under pressure.

9. You find out how you work under pressure.

After writing down these nine answers, I stumbled upon a quick, closing note for answer number 10!

10. You finally realize who you need on your team and who you don't. I'll take willingness to work over knowledge any day of the week!

I'm a lifetime learner, so I learn something new every day. Just because someone has knowledge doesn't mean they will apply it while working on your team. Boot that mother fucker to the curb and find you some loyalty!  :)



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Creative Writing Prompts with a Communications Theme

This came to me from Nancy at Creative Writing Now, but I didn't want to keep it to myself, so I thought you guys in the Blogosphere might want to participate. Pick one of the following prompts, write a short piece, and share it as a link back to your blog through the Simply Linked sign up below. Happy writing!


In case you're looking for writing ideas this week, here are five story prompts that you can use to write fiction of your own.  All of these ideas are related to the theme of communication.

Oui Do, in Venice

On a foreign holiday, your character meets an extremely attractive man or woman.  They don't speak the same language, but they somehow find a way to understand each other, and your character feels a powerful connection that s/he has never felt with anyone before.  Impulsively, your character marries this person after they've only known each other a very short time.  Your character's new husband/wife moves to your character's country and begins to take language classes there.  The better the spouse is able to communicate, the more your character realizes that s/he isn't the person your character had believed...

Break a Leg...Just Kidding

On a first date, your character makes a joke about wanting to kill his/her boss.  But when the boss ends up in the hospital following a brutal attack, your character begins to worry that his/her new boyfriend/girlfriend may have taken the joke too literally...

Hello From Below

Your character runs a small charity.  The charity's most important donor has just died, and the donor’s widow shows no interest in continuing to contribute to the charity.  Your character fears that the charity will not survive the loss of funding.  Then your character learns that the widow regularly visits a psychic -- which gives your character an idea.  Your character will convince the widow that s/he has the ability to speak with the dead, and will pretend to pass on messages from the dead husband urging her to continue with the charitable donations.  But something strange and unexpected begins to happen.  When your character pretends to summon the dead, s/he has a distinct feeling that someone, or something, is actually trying to communicate with him or her...

Calling For Caroline

Every evening, when she goes to the parking garage of her office building, your character finds a new love note tucked under the windshield wipers of her car.  These love notes are very beautiful and fill your character with powerful emotions.  But they are all addressed to "Caroline".  Your character's name is Melissa...

Above the Garden, We Pray

Your character has been kidnapped and locked in an attic.  The attic has a small window overlooking the garden of a neighbor's house, where your character sometimes sees children playing.  Your character doesn't dare shout out the window because the kidnapper might hear.  S/he needs to find a way to signal for help without the kidnapper's discovering what s/he's doing, and without endangering the children...


Sign up below:



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Some WTF Moments Traveling to DC

I've been remiss in not posting the photos from last weekend where I spent my time with friends who participated in this year's Marine Corps Marathon. My trip started last Thursday when I bumped into my friend Yvette at the Tallahassee airport. I was like WTF are you doing here? And she was like, no wait...WTF are YOU doing here?

Turns out we were both traveling. She was going to Texas, and I was going to D.C. Funniest thing ever? We were both on the same flight to Tampa where Yvette had a 2 hour lay over, and I had a 4 hour lay over. Is there a better way to spend time with a friend than getting our buzz on before noon?

Drinking Mai Tais & Strawberry Martinis

Okay, so enough of that shit. Eventually, we said our goodbyes, Yvette took off to Texas, and I popped another Oxy in preparation for my flight into D.C. where I would eventually meet up with my other pals from Tallahassee, the ones who were all running as part of team Tim Carlisle, in honor of my late husband. Yes, you should visit the link and see how much his friends raised for their charity, Semper Fi Fund. Here's a video outside the Smithsonian's American History Museum.

Team Tim Carlisle and their families celebrate
after the run on Sunday.

My friends, Lisa and Robert Roddy

Tim's buddy, Garrick. Responsible
for creating the team and raising over
$11,000.00 of their $10,000.00 goal!

Despite the long trip, parts of which I can't even explain (like the 50 foot drop the plane took during a bout of turbulence), I had some "me" moments where I was able to reflect on the past and even ruminate on my future a bit. Where I'd once had fears of eating alone in a restaurant, I was forced to do so while experiencing my first encounter with Vietnamese cuisine. I ordered this stuff called Pho.

When this came, I was like, "Okay, I get it."
Pho fuck's sake! Where's the rest of my food!!

I soon discovered that wasn't all there was to my order. That's just the nasty stuff you're supposed to use to make your meal look more enticing. Wait for it....

Yeah, that's meat floating inside the
soup bowl. It's like some kind of beef
brisket, floating around in hot soup.
I'm not kidding. LOOK at it!

Did I eat it? Yes. I was hungry. Despite the fact that I'm only 5'3" weighing in at 115 pounds, I still do require some sustenance. No worries either, I did not skimp on my caloric intake.

Less calories than an entire bowl
of Fettuccine Alfredo

Nestle Dibs wasn't the only thing I consumed during my alone time. I walked to the local 7 Eleven (yes they still have those in D.C.) and picked up a sugar free Red Bull to drink on my way back to my room, though I did pass a crowd of Mexicans hovered over what looked to be a scratch off lottery ticket.

This is true. I experienced it, so don't call me a racist. I can't help it they were Mexican. I really wish they had been Asian so that I could say they were Asians. But, if they were Asian, they'd have been taking pictures of each other standing in front of the local 7 Eleven and maybe holding up a sugar free Red Bull.

Life's too short not to enjoy one of these.
I bought the sunglasses at the 7 Eleven, too.
Classy? Maybe more like classic.

So anyway, my trip to D.C. was just another journey on my path to making progress. I'm doing me, and me says it's time to celebrate the meaning of life, try new things, experience the freedom of being you, and take an Oxy 45 minutes before you get on an airplane.

Cheers!

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The Ethical Hacker - Oxymoron

Someone in my class used this term earlier this week and I had to respond to it. I'm tired of people using these two words together as if anyone at a professional level wouldn't be completely offended by it. There is no such thing as an ethical hacker. Please stop using these two words together. They make up the truest oxymoron in existence today. DON'T DO IT!


hacker
[hak-er]

noun
1. a person or thing that hacks.
2. Slang. a person who engages in an activity without talent or skill:
3.Computers.

a. a person who has a high level of skill in computer technology or programming; a computer expert or enthusiast.

b. a person who circumvents security and breaks into a network, computer, file, etc., usually with malicious intent.


ethical
[eth-i-kuh l]

adjective
1. pertaining to or dealing with morals or the principles of morality; pertaining to right and wrong in conduct.

2. being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, especially the standards of a profession.



Seriously, I don't like the term ethical hacker. Professional experts who access systems using skills other than ones known to the average user are not hackers, a term connoting persons hacking away at something until they gain access to what is needed. An expert who legally utilizes skills in order to access systems does so in a methodical approach.

What makes it legal is the owner of the system requests their expertise to assist in accessing areas where they've lost capabilities in doing so. There's no reason to tie the word "ethical" to a negative term in order to indicate the opposite of that term which refers to IT professionals who already carry titles such as Systems Engineers, Network Analysts, Security Analysts, etc.

Hackers are criminals. There is nothing "ethical" about hacking. You are gaining access to a system in which you do not have permission to access. Would you ever refer to a locksmith as an ethical burglar?

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Memorial to the Victims of Terrorist Attacks

I remember the day when the planes crashed into the twin towers. I was at an IBM conference in Orlando, away from family and friends. The conference leaders dismissed sessions in order for the attendees to watch as networks covered the horrific events.

I can't tell you how small I felt watching the footage unfold on wide-screens in the lobby of that hotel. I wanted to hold my husband and my children. I needed to comprehend how the most powerful country in the world could be experiencing such a mind blowing phenomenon such as the picture spiraling out of control before my eyes.

And then I wept.

I had nobody to hold me that night and nothing to look forward to, just the knowledge I had yet another session to attend in the morning. It was a long night.

I woke the next morning to complimentary bagels and cream cheese, a selection of fruit, and a choice between coffee or tea. I picked coffee.

I wonder today how different my life was at that moment than any number of the folks who jumped from windows of the twin towers to avoid the painful death of burning as opposed to sudden impact.

Choices.

The next time you make one, remember those who lost their lives on that day. At least you have another day for choices.



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A Tale of Two Writers

Ha! A friend and colleague of mine helped me out today and produced some super, high-quality documentation for training on a project we've been trying to roll-out for the past six months. In celebration of the moment, I found something as close as I could get to describing how we probably feel this evening! PC Weenies is a wonderful comic strip and the artist gets deep into the psyche of geeks like us.

Imagine me as Bob and imagine her as the purple-headed geek trainer, only:

1. We weren't writing on corporate ethics
2. She sits in an office rather than a cubicle
3. I'm actually the one who dreams of writing that Great American Novel!

Thanks, Amy. And like I always say, you are the bomb diggity. :)

Do you have a collaboration partner in your writing projects? How does that work out for you? Share your experience in the comments below!



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Strategic Gaming - Learning and Advancing

Okay, like...WHAT?? It's mine!

I know getting killed in a game can be somewhat painful depending on how far you've made it to the next check point, but the development of gaming expertise comes with some pretty specific criteria, namely knowing how to build your skill set.

With the game controller being the only input device utilized during game play (besides the inner workings of your brain), it is important to master all of the additional features packed into the already complex mechanism.

Once you've mastered the controls, the next important concept to wrap your brain around is strategy. If you're going to die (and you are), you must die in a manner which will produce the most efficient and effective ratio of learning to advancement. I'll explain.

Learning = how much knowledge and skill you develop while utilizing the controller through the duration of game scenarios

Advancement = the swiftness and accuracy with which you utilize the controller while advancing through game scenarios

I'm providing two examples below, and if you or anybody you know is in the tech field, you already know this. It's okay to die often if your method is to collect data in order to advance your knowledge.

Example #1

You've recently acquired a Longbow and 10 arrows and wish to try out your new weapon, so when a zombie appears in the distance, oh say about 70 yards away, you immediately mount an arrow, aim, and fire off that pointy stick. You miss and quickly try again. By the time the zombie is 10 feet in front of you, you've used up all but one arrow and BLAM! You finally sink one deep into its chest.

Now you'll spend your time advancing forward, searching for more arrows to replenish your stock. But you won't find any before you pass the next check point and another zombie latches onto your jugular and you die. When your life is restored, you still have no arrows. Learning=1, Advancement=1

Example #2

Same scenario, but when you spot the zombie 70 yards away, you mount an arrow, aim, and wait for the zombie to get within 10 feet before firing. You miss because you hadn't quite had enough time to learn the controls, it was your first shot! The zombie devours your jugular and you die.

When your life is restored, you have all your 10 arrows and you try it again, over and over until you succeed in killing it with one arrow before advancing through the game, passing through two more checkpoints and expertly killing another zombie or two along the way. Learning=1, Advancement=2

The moral here? Maybe it's not really a moral, more of a preference in game play for me. I'd rather learn first than to go in like a blind mouse in search of cheese. You'll get further in the long run, but that's just my opinion.



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Making Change Instead of Accepting Change

You don't need me to tell you that I make progress in life because of my writing. I write to survive. My mental notes need a way to make it onto paper, but why?

I need to know that I'm still the good person I've always been, though I've had this tendency to be an asshole lately. I think it's because I've lost my rock, the person in my life who always made sure that folks didn't take advantage of my good nature.

He whispers in my ear every day, "Take charge, don't let the idiots direct how things turn out." Even from heaven he still guides me! And I still write.

Don't let change happen to you, let it happen because of you.

God bless our Guardian Angels! :)




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Z is for Zealot

I feel so stupid for choosing this word. At this very moment, I wonder what the hell was going through my mind when I decided to use zealot in any stream of consciousness exercise. Oh wait, because nobody offered a Z word that I could use instead!

I'm not a zealot about anything. I'm not religious or politically fanatical. I don't even have a favorite candidate running in 2016. I'm not to the point where I want to vote for a woman to take the highest office of Presidency in our United States of America just because she's a woman, or because people think since we gave that opportunity to a black man already, it's now the woman's turn. That's just stupid.

[snipped like 3 pages of stuff that might have gotten me fired, arrested by the secret service, or mobbed in the middle of the night by Hillary sympathizers]

You know what? I just realized I'm probably a zealot and it's not something I should be publishing. :)

I thank you all for putting up with my A-Z Challenge and I've enjoyed the experience. This has been a great exercise for me, freeing my mind and allowing me to share what's been in my heart during some pretty dark moments. Thanks for hanging in there with me. You all rock! I am forever blessed to have you as my sounding board.


My List
Aging (and Apples)
Barnacle
Creativity
Destiny 
Ego 
Forgiveness 
Grace
Haters
IHOP 
Jealousy 
Kindness 
Lesbian 
Magnanimous 
Nostalgia
Oxymoron 
Pizza 
Questions 
Resource 
Serendipity 
Technology 
Undergraduate
Virgin 
Writing
XXX 
Yoga 

Zealot - You are here

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Y is for Yoga

I picked yoga as one of the topics on my list this year because it's one thing I decided I would stick to as part of my Sunday routine. I even went out and bought a Beginning Yoga DVD, a yoga mat and block, some yoga workout clothing, and an audio CD with sounds of soothing chimes and wind-instrument background compilations. I'm ready!

But I like going to the gym, so I haven't used my DVD or the CD. The yoga instructor at the YMCA provides all that. I also don't wear my yoga workout clothing because I think I would look silly wearing all that legit stuff while in a beginning yoga class. Who am I kidding right? I don't deserve to wear all that cool gear. At least not yet. I'll wait until I've mastered the Tree Stance with the grace of Aphrodite.

So this leaves the yoga mat and block. I could use the ones provided by the gym, but I have to put myself at least one notch over the newbies who never been before. After all, I have done this once or twice. I just haven't gone every Sunday. I've been busy writing papers and compiling presentations, so I had an excuse. And then I was out of town the once, and last week was the writers conference.

I think I'm starting to see a pattern here.


My List
Aging (and Apples)
Barnacle
Creativity
Destiny 
Ego 
Forgiveness 
Grace
Haters
IHOP 
Jealousy 
Kindness 
Lesbian 
Magnanimous 
Nostalgia
Oxymoron 
Pizza 
Questions 
Resource 
Serendipity 
Technology 
Undergraduate
Virgin 
Writing
XXX 
Yoga  - You are HERE

Zealot 

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X is for XXX

I'm not sure why XXX is on my list. I think when I picked it I had been thinking about X-Mart, that novelty store where people go to buy gag gifts and stuff. What, you don't buy gag gifts there?

I just remember Tim and I going there one day to buy gifts for my all girls game night several years ago. I still feel this apprehension recalling that day. It was the creepiest place to be, all these video packages of naked folks on the covers. And there was this black, leather swing with all kinds of holes in it. I wasn't going to ask, but yeah. It was a good thing we were the only folks in the store shopping (for gag gifts, did I say that already?)

Then I said to Tim, "Oh my God! What if I round the corner and run into my boss? And with all these naked photos all around us! What would I say?"

"You could always ask him what he's doing here. Maybe he's buying a gag gift?"


My List
Aging (and Apples)
Barnacle
Creativity
Destiny 
Ego 
Forgiveness 
Grace
Haters
IHOP 
Jealousy 
Kindness 
Lesbian 
Magnanimous 
Nostalgia
Oxymoron 
Pizza 
Questions 
Resource 
Serendipity 
Technology 
Undergraduate
Virgin 
Writing
XXX  - You are HERE
Yoga 

Zealot 

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W is for Writing

Writing is one word I just had to include on this list because almost all of you are writers. What better way to celebrate the things we have in common than to write about writing, and the fact that I attended the 2015 TWA Writers Conference and Book Fair this weekend. I ran into folks I haven't seen in such a long time and did I miss everyone so much. I think some I even haven't seen since Tim began treatments well over a year ago. Dang, time flies.

So, back to writing!

I'm going back and forth between my A to Z Challenge stream of consciousness writings and my scholastic responsibilities in pumping out graduate level papers. This stretch is the weirdest thing for me. It's hard to write in my own tongue and then revert back to my scholarly voice. I can tell you one thing, it sure keeps my brain pumping! Just imagine letting go and writing whatever comes to mind, then when you have to sit down and analyze why Healthcare.gov wasn't a complete failure, you begin to wonder where your senses went.

Writing. It can be a blessing if you use it. Keep at it, just so I have stuff to read, too!



My List
Aging (and Apples)
Barnacle
Creativity
Destiny 
Ego 
Forgiveness 
Grace
Haters
IHOP 
Jealousy 
Kindness 
Lesbian 
Magnanimous 
Nostalgia
Oxymoron 
Pizza 
Questions 
Resource 
Serendipity 
Technology 
Undergraduate
Virgin 
Writing - You are HERE
XXX 
Yoga 

Zealot 

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V is for Virgin

This makes me think of those innocent words, "I'm saving myself for after I'm married."

I don't know who picked this word, because it definitely didn't come from me. I think "virgin" is so old school that in today's society it might be reduced to "newbie" and I'm sorry.

That's me thinking out loud. Actually, that's me writing stream of consciousness. I can't take that back. I can, but I won't. Newbie isn't as positive as virgin, but it sort of has the same connotation. Unworldly, lacking experience, needing to be shown the ropes. This is all very disconcerting to me, but I can't seem to shut up. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? In other words, virginity isn't as valued as once before, but neither is marriage. So what happened?

I think there were just too many girls discovering that sex was more powerful than virtue. With sex, they could get guys to do what they want, when they want. The girl had the power between her legs. But, will she have the power of persuading him to walk down that aisle? Am I being too cynical?


My List
Aging (and Apples)
Barnacle
Creativity
Destiny 
Ego 
Forgiveness 
Grace
Haters
IHOP 
Jealousy 
Kindness 
Lesbian 
Magnanimous 
Nostalgia
Oxymoron 
Pizza 
Questions 
Resource 
Serendipity 
Technology 
Undergraduate
Virgin  - You are HERE
Writing
XXX 
Yoga 

Zealot 

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U is for Undergraduate

I'm ashamed to say I was an undergraduate for almost 12 years. Twelve! It's difficult to build residency at a college when you are moving every 3 years. As a supporter of Tim's career in the Marine Corps, I followed him from one military base to another.

So what is an undergraduate degree if not just a piece of paper? It's the proof of dedication to a challenge by some institution holding you to a standard completely foreign to anyone hunting and pecking to find meaning in life.

Where once I was an undergraduate with the passion to do things the right way, I am quickly discovering the right way can't happen because the majority of folks around do not subscribe to best practices. They subscribe to get it done and out the door, off my desk, or in the closet and through the cracks. What's a girl to do?


My List
Aging (and Apples)
Barnacle
Creativity
Destiny 
Ego 
Forgiveness 
Grace
Haters
IHOP 
Jealousy 
Kindness 
Lesbian 
Magnanimous 
Nostalgia
Oxymoron 
Pizza 
Questions 
Resource 
Serendipity 
Technology 
Undergraduate - You are HERE
Virgin 
Writing
XXX 
Yoga 

Zealot 

If you enjoyed this article and would like to receive future articles in your inbox --- Subscribe to our free newsletter