Tag: random

For Shannon

You mentioned essential oils in a post. Do you have a Whole Foods Market there? Or a store that sells organic stuff? They often have essential oils. I used to have the BEST supplier here, but she closed her shop. Whole Foods sells a brand, Wyndmere, that I’ve also ordered online. I like all their oils and used them in my practice (when I had one; sorry, Lindsey). But I also really like their blends, most particularly Anxiety Release, Breathe Easier, Digestive Aide, Head Aide, Hormonal Balance, Immune Support, Joyful Spirit, Mentally Sharp, Self Confidence, and Stress Relief. You can check out their web site.

Another really good source you can order from is Gritman. I’ve been pleased with everything I ever got from them.

I’ll have to find and send you the recipe I blended for Tim many years ago to help him with insomnia. The only thing I remember for sure that was in it was myrrh.

And just an FYI: I’m not a fan of spending a lot of money on diffusers and nebulizers, so there are none I endorse, but lots of people do like them.

Definitely worth noting

From the International Day Against Homophobia web site:

“Homophobia is an insidious process that channels its effects through subtle, usually transparent ways. No one is safe from hostile manifestations to homosexuality. Quite surprisingly, many homosexual individuals themselves adopt homophobic behaviour, hoping it will protect them against prejudice from their entourage. The International Day Against Homophobia aims to reach all groups of society, regardless of their sexual orientation.

An International Day Against Homophobia belongs to no one individual. It’s about all people hoping for a prejudice-free world that can provide a place at the table for everyone regardless of their sexual orientation. Inspired by all world theme-days, the day set aside to fight homophobia needs to be appropriated by all of those actively involved in civil society: gay and lesbian community organisations, those organisations focusing on other types of sexual diversity, unions, employers, private businesses, governments, public administration, professional associations, and all individuals seeking equality.”

For more information, background, and positive steps toward eliminating homophobia, check out the web site linked above.

Homophobia hurts everyone.

I now have proof…

…that my keyboard is my brain.

Someone I knew seventeen years ago called me because he was trying to determine the last name of someone else we knew–VERY BRIEFLY–also seventeen years ago. He wondered if the last name started with a “T.” I keep lots of records, but I had little hope that the full name was written anywhere. Still, I have a certain journal that I thought might help. Eventually I did find the initials of the person, but the last initial was “H.” I tried and tried to remember the last name, without success.

So I put my hands on my keyboard, closed my eyes, and said, “Just type it.” I came up with an “H” name that is completely uncommon and unfamiliar. I google-imaged the name, and–DAMN!–there he was!

I returned the call and provided the last name.

I find that completely bizarre, since I can’t remember what I ate yesterday.

The Internet rocks.

If humility is a virtue…

I have a lot of writing to do, and I sense that soon I’ll be like Gregalicious with nubs for fingers and little time to post. A writer must always negotiate for time because, sad to say, VERY FEW people understand how time-consuming writing can be. It’s amazing some of the things people expect you to do because they just don’t get that you HAVE A JOB, even if you’re your own boss and you’re not making boatloads of money. (It’s even more amazing how money is the single most important standard a lot of people have for defining what is work. Whatever.) There are always hurt feelings from unanswered phone calls and e-mails, postponed and missed meetings–enh, it’s a hazard of the profession. I do my best, and that’s all I can do.

There are a lot of things I don’t do when I go into full-on writing mode. I watch even less TV (though that hardly seems possible). I see no clients. I stop reading as much news, because it agitates me and keeps me in this world when I need to be getting lost in whatever world I’m creating. I confine my book-reading time to little fragments, mostly in bed before I fall asleep.

When I do take breaks, I feel like I should be doing something constructive. Like this.

Yeah. That’d be Christmas presents I’ve been buying for the past five months and started wrapping on Friday. I’m determined that I’ll do this a little at a time while I’m writing these novels. That way, by the time Thanksgiving comes, I’ll not only have turned in two manuscripts, but I’ll be FINISHED with my Christmas stuff. I dare to dream that I could have a relatively stress-free December. We’ll see.

Another thing I cut out is reading most of the blogs that I enjoy. It’s for the best. Friday, one of those blogs linked me to someone who linked me to someone who’s an aspiring writer. We’ll call him A.W. Oh, the things A.W. had to say about the evil of people who’ve been published. Did you know that published authors have HUGE egos and must “know someone” because nearly everything being published is CRAP, unlike his own original, brilliant, and imaginative manuscripts? The ones he’s never finished? Never submitted? Never let anyone rip to shreds?

Maybe A.W. is a great writer. If so, I hope he has what it takes to persist until he gets published, because then maybe he will learn humility. It’s a virtue the world will gladly help an author achieve. Here are a few examples off the top of my head.

how we keep it real