tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72006722676488098912024-03-13T07:59:53.629-07:00Dineane's Blogpersonal ramblings of a general interest writer.Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-75974234302190949282016-10-13T21:37:00.000-07:002016-10-13T21:51:57.028-07:00Abortion and the 2016 US Presidential RaceI've been trying to pay more attention this week to what conservative women are saying. I've been really trying to understand why they still might vote for Trump. A few keep throwing out the "well, look what Bill did” and “she bullied his victims" statements. I could write a book on why I think the situations are different, but I can't prove a negative. But the other statement I keep seeing is related to abortion. I know there's no need for me to refer those women to the fact-checkers regarding Clinton’s position on late-term abortions, because I believe at these women's core, they simply view abortion as "murder". I believe they sincerely feel this way. I don't agree with them, but that is irrelevant. Nothing I can say will change their view about this. Nothing anyone can say will change their minds about abortion until they or someone they deeply love is in a situation where abortion is their DIFFICULT but LEGAL choice.<br />
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But think about this...think about this, please, especially if you are one of the pro-lifers who does not even approve of choice for victims of rape. Abortion became legal in 1973, while Richard Nixon was President. Since then we have had 4 additional Republican presidents and 3 Democrat. Abortion is still LEGAL. That is not going to change, regardless of who wins this election. At least not anytime soon.
What might change is the nation's attitude towards women. We've made a lot of progress, but I know that women, along with African Americans and other minorities in our country, still face an uphill battle. We have challenges that white men simply do not face. And if we allow our progress to be hindered, rape culture is not going to improve. It's going to get worse. A lot of other things are going to be simply awful as well, but if abortion is your "make or break" issue, please take a little time to think about which president is more likely to prevent unwanted pregnancies.<br />
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Do you think it's the misogynist who feels entitled to take whatever he wants, whenever he wants? Or is the woman who has spent her life fighting for women and children, and sacrificing to gain the political experience necessary to run our country? Is it the bully who thinks it is okay to grab a kiss, or anything else, from a woman without her consent? Or is it the woman who completely understands how it feels to be violated by a man? (To clarify, the only thing I think we know for sure about Bill's ‘abuse’ of women is that he cheated on Hillary - no other charges have ever been proven, and he certainly has not been caught on tape bragging about his power over women. But I believe that women, and men, whose partners have cheated, feel extremely violated.) Do you want the man who has changed his position on abortion, who has cheated on and divorced previous wives to marry the “other woman”, who for that matter has changed which political agenda he has backed financially depending on how he thought HE could benefit at the time, or do you want the woman who has learned how to work for a better world, even when it meant forgiving her greatest hurts and negotiating with her greatest adversaries?<br />
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It's an easy choice for me, but I understand it's not for everyone. I just ask...no, I BEG, that if you are making this decision based on your position about abortion, that you take some time to really think about your other issues. I plan to keep observing your posts and comments in the next few weeks, so maybe another blog post will emerge…don’t count on it, though, since this is my first in literally YEARS!<br />
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One more thing, for any guys thinking about arguing with me about this post…you just shouldn’t. And to the great many men I’ve seen posting their enthusiastic support and empathy for women, a tremendous thank you!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-74526694477601866922013-12-19T10:55:00.003-08:002013-12-19T10:55:36.048-08:00Giving myself a new title, Social Media Consultant<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In an effort to be productive during my unemployment, I've taken a variety of online courses. This actually isn't a "new" activity for me - just a more frequent and concentrated effort since I have time on my hands. In my early career, I helped develop one of the first online courses offered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I just love saying that, even if it proves how old I am. And since then, in my telecom career, I've utilized a wide variety of online training methods, both as a student and as a trainer. These days, online courses are part of the training experience for most employees, and internet users everywhere are soaking up all kinds of information from all kinds of sources, formally (through MOOCs and other online university offers) and informally (such as through youtube "how to" videos).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />As I finished up my latest "diploma" (in social media marketing, by the way) from alison.com, I wondered whether to include the accomplishment on my resume. I'm still wondering, actually. I didn't hesitate to list my Quiz Achievement Badge from coursera.org for the MOOC, "Introduction to Sustainability". The latter was a serious college level course experience. The former was easy, at least for me, and some of the material was considerably out of date. I even questioned the authority of the primary presenter on some points.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />There is certainly an obvious quality difference between the courses at alison and the courses affliated with recognized and prominent universities, but maybe my hesitation is also because I haven't given myself enough credit for my "expertise" in social media…which also has me thinking about folks who call themselves "experts". I've been using social media for about as long as there has been such a thing. I've even used it to promote my own "business" as a writer. But I hesitate to call myself an "expert". "Social Media" is such a broad term - how can anyone really know it all? I spend way too much time on facebook every single day, but I know that I don't know <i><b>everything </b></i>about facebook. Even if I thought I did, they would change something tomorrow that I might or might not notice or bother to learn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />However, I am pretty skilled at learning things quickly and then teaching them to other people. Again, I hesitate to call myself an "expert" in training or teaching - I have very little formal education in education. I do seem to have an instinct for it, and I have a ton of practical experience. I might not be comfortable calling myself a Social Media Expert, but I am 100% comfortable that I am plenty good enough to point the beginner in the right direction to get started.<br /> <br />So….here it goes…I'm declaring myself a Social Media Consultant! In addition to completing the alison diploma, I've reviewed a ton of training videos on youtube, followed other "experts" on facebook, subscribed to related groups on linkedin, created relevant google alerts, and outlined several workshop proposals. I've learned a lot, but I've also confirmed how much I actually already knew. I'm looking forward to announcing my first hands-on course in the New Year….stay tuned!</span>Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-29578169147443029882013-12-10T22:23:00.000-08:002013-12-10T22:23:20.242-08:00Behind. Again.<div style="font-family: "Calibri Light"; font-size: 20.0pt; margin: 0in;">
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Blogging is not as
easy as it might seem.</div>
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I had a post ready
that started something like this:</div>
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Unemployed
and not all that thankful</div>
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Sunday,
November 24, 2013</div>
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I complained a bit.
So I didn't post that entry.</div>
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A few days later I
tried to jazz it up with observations about how tough my life has been, as if
you didn't get that from the draft blog title. I even tried to give a bit of
blog-love to some other down-in-the-dumps but about-to-make-it-better folks on
the intrawebs:</div>
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(yeah,
that's not really a word yet)</div>
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ARE YOU
SERIOUS? I ACCIDENTLY DELETED THAT LINK? For Pete's sake. (I think that's
supposed to be nicer than saying "for God's sake". I think….but with
so many conflicting opinions about the new Pope, I'm not entirely sure.)</div>
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And now
I've totally forgotten the point.</div>
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If that
has never happened to you, then you might not have ever tried to blog once a
week.</div>
Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-15270550715729572162013-11-25T09:54:00.000-08:002013-11-25T09:54:23.880-08:00My First Job(s)<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Linkedin has been
running a series of articles recently with various business leaders sharing the
story of their first job. It has me thinking about my early jobs, and my early
"career" positions, which the placement agency advised me to leave off
my resume, not only in order to fit within the 2 page maximum recommended by
almost everyone, but also because those positions "date" me.</div>
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My very first job
was cleaning house on Saturdays for my grandmother, DauDau. I asked her for the
job, my first and only experience in landing a position created just for me. I
don't remember how young I was when I started, but I know I earned a dollar each
Saturday that first year, and I received a dollar raise on my birthday every
following year. I think I was making about $10 when I finally gave up the job
in high school. I was crushed when DauDau confessed to me years later that I
was never very good at the job. I know I liked dusting - removing all of the
framed photos and odds and ends from the book shelf, spraying the Pledge,
wiping everything down and then carefully arranging everything back in its
place. You wouldn't know it looking at my desk these days, but I think I was
developing an appreciation for order in my first job. </div>
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As a teen, I had
various odd jobs, including baby-sitting and cleaning houses, especially for
young moms in our church, and during summers, I worked in the fields with my
sisters and cousins, hoeing weeds from peanuts and peppers for my uncle. I
didn't necessarily need a paying job to understand hard work, however. We grew
up with horses, so my regular "chores" included shoveling poop and
hauling hay bales and 50 pound feed bags. The summer after my junior year,
after an impressive showing with my high school newspaper at the NC Scholastic
Press Association convention, I landed a "real job" writing features
for our local weekly newspaper. This was huge for me. I was an introvert by
nature, and this job forced me, at least a little, out of my shell. I had to
schedule and conduct interviews, with grown-ups, in order to follow my dream of
getting paid to write. And now that I think about it, I was wrong in the last
paragraph, because this was my second (but I am pretty sure my last) experience
landing a non-pre-existing position.</div>
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It is a shame,
really, that we do not talk more about our first jobs when we seek new
opportunities later in life. That's where our character is truly formed. That's
when we really learn how to serve others in exchange not only for money but for
recognition and an increase in self-esteem. My character was influenced by
those experiences, just are surely as my skills were sharpened in my later
years. And I'm not done yet - I'm not too old to keep learning,
"dated" or not!</div>
Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-21475524291144742912013-11-18T12:35:00.000-08:002013-11-18T17:06:53.098-08:00Job Hunting with TransparencyI've been job-hunting since my layoff May 31st, the day before my 8 year work anniversary with the company. I worked with a placement agency to tweak my resume. I have searched (and searched and searched) for opportunities with various tools online and directly on corporate, government, and university websites. I've taken online courses to improve various skills and used online tools to review my personality type, work values, etc. as I've considered potential career "transitions". I have tried to do the "right" things and have tried and failed to avoid the "wrong" things - depression, feelings of rejection, bad sleeping and eating habits. I believe I have been pretty honest with myself about all of my activities, good and bad, except in one important area: revealing my authentic self.<br />
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I quickly "scrubbed" my online presence in early June, deleting in particular my more political articles and blog entries, and I have avoided writing anything new. While I have made efforts to network, both in real life and online, I have been afraid to reveal anything more than the "me" on my official resume.<br />
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Last week, I realized it was time to start pursuing self-employment opportunities since the job offers are not exactly blowing up my inbox. As a start, I attended Martin Brossman's "Growing Your Business with Social Media" workshop sponsored by the Martin Community College Small Business Center. I was not really expecting to learn a lot, since I am fairly familiar with using social media, but in addition to picking up a new tip here or there, I knew this was an opportunity to at least get out of the house and do some real-life, in-person networking. Brossman did an excellent job of using each participant's brief introduction to integrate useful examples into his presentation. He even pulled up my linkedin profile and gave me solid suggestions to tweak it. But the first thing he told me to do was post a blog entry at least once a week and share it on linkedin.<br />
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I cringed. Blog? And share it on linkedin? What will I write about? I feel like an "expert" on next to nothing right about now. I have neglected my blog, and all of my online writing activity, for years.<br />
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On the drive home (in a strangely early snow flurry, by the way) I thought about why I felt this way, why I was literally afraid to share right now. Part of it is obvious - insecurity is part of the territory for the unemployed. But why wasn't I writing before my layoff? The easy answer is that I was busy. A lot of people think that those of us who work from home have it made in the shade. The truth is that like most of my virtual colleagues, I usually worked more than 10 hours a day, skipping breaks and eating lunch in front of my computer. And I was terribly busy, especially since I made it through the first few post-merger reorganizations which reduced the size of my team and the teams I supported.<br />
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I have also attempted to keep my online personas separate - linkedin for my "professional" connections, hubpages for my freelance writing, and facebook primarily for family and real-life friends. I made a few exceptions on facebook, but only for professional colleagues who truly crossed the boundary into friendship, and for a few online writers.<br />
<br />
But the truth is, I've been hired for almost every position I've held in the last 15 years or more because of someone who knew me, the real me, warts and all.<br />
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That should be no surprise, really. The experts out there in job-hunting land tell us that most opportunities are found by networking rather than responding to online job postings. It has been true in my experience - the only interviews, in fact the only communications other than the automated email acknowledgement, that I have received in my job hunt so far have been because of personal connections and recommendations.<br />
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I doubt I will ever be as transparent as one of my favorite bloggers, Glennon Melton at momastery.com. I admire her honesty, her ability to share her whole self with her readers. But my husband would not be as tolerant as Glennon's if I told you everything about our lives. Still, I think it is time in my job hunting strategy to share the process, the lessons I am learning, and more of who I really am. I will probably make some mistakes. I will probably do a lousy job of following the "how to get a job" advice that my placement agency and other career professionals promote. But I bet that I can help someone else on this journey feel more normal. If that is the only good that comes from my writing, then it is enough. That is the kind of "networking" I want to pursue, not just the pursuit of employment, but connections that allow me to serve others.
Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-5182310688536883662011-10-25T09:14:00.000-07:002011-10-25T09:18:18.643-07:00Talk about Last Minute Excitement!From the <a href="http://dineane.blogspot.com/2011/10/plymouth-to-go-hog-wild-with-ribs-on.html">Ribs on the Roanoke</a> planners, just minutes ago:<br /><br />"BREAKING NEWS ALERT!!!!!!!! just added to this years event will be an appearance from Lizard Lick Towing's Bobby Brantley, his wife Anita and Big Juicy. Be sure to drop by their tent for pictures autographs and t-shirts."<br /><br />Be sure to see my <a href="http://dineane.blogspot.com/2011/10/plymouth-to-go-hog-wild-with-ribs-on.html">last post </a>for more info about the event!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-16028526154693565842011-10-04T07:24:00.000-07:002011-10-18T15:07:32.694-07:00Plymouth to Go Hog Wild with Ribs on the Roanoke<em>{I've been a bad blogger again...and this really doesn't count for "catching up" but since I've been working on this press release, I thought I might as well post it here as a starting point for getting the word out. At least it follows nicely my last post about things to do around here!}</em><br /><br />Ribs on the Roanoke will feature a Car Show, live music, a horse shoe tournament, costume contest, and various other activities Saturday, October 29 in historic downtown Plymouth. The event is hosted by the Plymouth Downtown Development Association and sponsored by Tyson Automotive, The Soundside Group, and Feyer Ford.<br /><br />Ribs, bar-b-que, and combination plates will start selling at 11 a.m. “We are planning 150 rib plates,” explained DDA President Cheryl Byrum, and she emphasized “It’s first come, first served as long as they last.” Hot dogs will also be available from Plymouth Cub Scouts, and starting early, the Blue & Gold Stompers Relay for Life will sell baked goods and coffee.<br /><br />Registration for the Car Show starts at 8 a.m. First and second place trophies will be awarded in over 50 classes, as will specialty awards for Best Paint, Best Engine, Best Interior, Mayor’s Choice, Longest Distance, Best in Show, and Most Club Participation. The first 50 registered receive dash plaques and the first 25 t-shirts. In addition to door prizes, $350 worth of gas will be raffled. <br /><br />Live music begins at 9 a.m. with “Whoever Shows Up,” a local bluegrass-style, gospel band that performs in area nursing homes, rehab centers, churches and for the occasional birthday party. “Moonshine”, a band from the Bertie Hertford county area that plays country, southern rock, rock and “anything that will keep you on your feet” will perform from 10 a.m. until noon. “One Man Blues Band” featuring Eddie Lilley of Farm Life is scheduled from noon until 2. Eddie says, “Blues just keeps me grounded,” but he also enjoys playing Rock, Country, Bluegrass, R&B and Soul. Elvis-lover Dick Feyer of Roper will round out the musical entertainment from 2-3 p.m.<br /> <br />The festivities will feature a horse shoe tournament. Warm up and registration is scheduled for noon with the tournament starting at 1 pm. Prizes include gift certificates from Mama’s Pizza and Rack ‘em Billiards, and there is no entry fee.<br /><br />Other activities planned include a demonstration from Plymouth’s Fire Department, a costume contest, the Askew Farms “cow train”, a children’s bouncy house, and arts and crafts vendors. Winners will be announced for a coloring contest underway in the Washington County elementary schools of the “Go Hog Wild with Ribs on the Roanoke” logo.<br /><br />Pre-registration for the car show is $15 or participants can register the day of the show for $20. For more information about the car show, contact Shane Tyson at 252-217-4759. Vendor applications are still being accepted. Contact Pat Sawyer at 252-202-5492 for vendor information. For all other questions, contact Cheryl Byrum at 252-945-5504.Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-27028865964172392002011-04-21T09:14:00.000-07:002011-04-21T09:23:15.070-07:00What is there to do 'round here?Since we moved to Plymouth, NC a little over a year ago, I've been whining - just like I did in high school - that there's nothing to do 'round here.<br /><br />Well, I have to admit, I've just been lazy. Eastern NC is rich in historical attractions, outdoor activities, and adventure opportunities. I realized it was time for some of the spring activities to kick into gear - things we attended last year like <a href="http://mackeysmarina.com/">Mackeys CrabBash</a>, the <a href="http://www.livinghistoryweekend.com/intro.htm">Civil War Reinactment</a>, and various outdoor music events in downtown Plymouth. I started looking online for scheduling details and stumbled upon the new website for the <a href="http://www.chamberofwashingtoncounty.com/default.aspx">Washington County Chamber of Commerce</a>.<br /><br />Before we moved to Plymouth, I took advantage of various networking groups. Meetup.com was a great tool for finding all kinds of groups, from business networking to bowling to book clubs. I've browsed meetup since we've been "back home," but there are just a handful of Greenville groups that remotely interest me, and I'm looking for actvities closer to Plymouth.<br /><br />I don't know why I didn't think about the Chamber earlier, but just as I checked out the membership application and made up my mind to join, I noticed an event on the calender - "Hospitality Training". The description read, "Be a tourist for a day in your home county. Learn about hospitality and how it affects your business and your area."<br /><br />Now, I've been saying for ages that I'm going to start writing more travel articles focused on eastern NC, so how perfect was this? And it was free!<br /><br />I hustled to the chamber office to turn in my membership application, pay the dues, and to register for the training. Jennifer Arnold, Director, explained that the morning would include classroom-type sessions, and the afternoon would consist of visits to the downtown museums (how many small towns have THREE museums on a beautiful downtown waterfront?), a boat tour on the Roanoke River, and an optional airplane tour. Did I mention this was free?<br /><br />The event is co-sponsored by the Chamber, the <a href="http://washington.ces.ncsu.edu/">Washinton County NC Cooperative Extension</a>, <a href="http://gowildnc.org/ ">Washington County Travel & Tourism</a>, and the Plymouth Downtown Development Assocation (search "Plymouth DDA" on facebook). Washington County Extension Director Rebecca Liverman and Hyde County Extension director Mac Gibbs co-hosted the morning sessions with a mission to "Foster economic development by improving customer service, enhancing North Carolina Pride and strengthing communities." <br /><br />I wasn't surprised to learn that NC is the 6th most visited state of the US. I was surprised, however, to learn that toursim in Washington County generated $12.01 million in 2009. Thanks to our struggling economy in general, this number was actually down by almost 10% from 2008.<br /><br />After the morning training sessions and lunch, Jennifer escorted us to the downtown Plymouth museums. We started at the Maritime Museum, and then crossed the street to climb to the top of the Roanoke River Lighthouse. Next stop was God's Creation Wildlife Museum, and we finished up at the Port O'Plymouth Museum. Jennifer gave us a nice introduction to each museum but left plenty for us to explore on our own at a later date. <br /><br />Next we enjoyed a boat ride provided by Tom Harrison, Director of Washington County Travel & Tourism. Not only was our tour guide informative, he turned out to be a hero. Our tour was interrupted when the boat's motor sputtered to a stop. With the wind fortunately in the right direction, Tom guided us gently back to the dock. While the tour might have been shortened a bit, we finished the day with a little excitement!<br /><br />Speaking of the wind, it turned out to be a bit too rough for our plane ride, but the day was a success. We finished up with ice cream at Norm's and shared suggestions with Rebecca for the next event. I'm still shaking my head that this training experience is available, right here in Plymouth, and at no charge! The event that I attended was the second hosted, and at least two more are planned. I hope more local businesses take advantage of this valuable resource. As for me, I have confirmed a long list of writing topics about something to do 'round here.Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-79675211683722002582011-04-14T09:52:00.000-07:002011-04-14T10:00:14.327-07:00Falling Behind, Catching UpThis will be one of those short, or maybe not short but rambling and disconnected, blog entries. I function in bursts of effeciency and productivity, especially when it comes to writing. Before I get too far behind on the blog, I decided to just write <em>something</em>.<br /><br />I did finally finish and publish the hub about <a href="http://hubpages.com/_dineaneblog/hub/Learning-to-Play-a-Musical-Instrument-as-an-Adult">learning to play a musical instrument as an adult</a>. It's the first hub I've published in nearly two years. It's also a bit more labor intensive than what I like to publish on hubpages, but I wanted to write it, and that is the beauty of writing for hubpages--I write whatever I want to write. <br /><br />We also had a couple of major milestones in the Whitaker home this week - Ken turned 45 Tuesday and we 'celebrated' nine years of holy matrimony Wednesday. I thought having our anniversary the day after Ken's birthday would help us both remember it, and I guess it does, but we didn't really do anything special either day. I guess we are both just appreciating "normal" more these days, although I'm afraid we are probably getting a bit boring! <br /><br />I'm going to challenge myself to do something interesting and write about it....soon.Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-77623024394952489852011-04-02T14:21:00.000-07:002011-04-02T14:50:19.644-07:00Getting the Garden Going<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_uM1F5tXTs1AXVSccx0AQIoUXkuICCaA2JcqhdSjANHA0qSE1AVj_zxuGjY04x4O18utgUlNPnIy4O1vedq2sp5kOM8gFCAJs1KkwN8hiY16qmnISuGUcfsG47IRBwRu8Ox2SMB6mFs/s1600/asparagus.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_uM1F5tXTs1AXVSccx0AQIoUXkuICCaA2JcqhdSjANHA0qSE1AVj_zxuGjY04x4O18utgUlNPnIy4O1vedq2sp5kOM8gFCAJs1KkwN8hiY16qmnISuGUcfsG47IRBwRu8Ox2SMB6mFs/s320/asparagus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591100892747992978" /></a><br />I got my exercise today, that's for sure! I had help loading the 9 bags of dirt into the truck, but I unloaded myself. And dug and shoveled and pulled weeds. I moved all of the mulch and weed paper from last year's tomato/herb/cucumber bed to the front "flower bed". Over two hours of cardio and strength training.<br /><br />I planted the asparagus a couple of weeks ago but did little more than churn up the very center of each bed and add a little manure. Today I have both the back asparagus bed and the "general purpose" bed ready for more planting. I put a few seeds out - carrots, radishes, cucumbers and lettuce. It might be too early, or maybe I should have started all of them inside. Whatever. I'm going with my gut. If everything dies, I'll know better next year.<br /><br />I want to get one more bed established, but my dear sister is too busy with her own planting and settling in to her new home to get over here and help me. It's okay - I will figure out where to add some tomato plants, at the very least. Last years tomato crop was awesome, and I'm looking forward to a few additions this year.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXlmaVUS1NyY3GnxHqG9W1VcorH3Q_UPIhq1Yu5Aaf7YwpAxo0EJdk22cxBnPWwvrcgTEvYPWF__N7lhCTX-WEuT13bfs-Ze8Us_z2BP7_OMDhcB4h1GcAdFN2lsoW1sDFckJAU0IR5c/s1600/originalmultipurposeplot.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXlmaVUS1NyY3GnxHqG9W1VcorH3Q_UPIhq1Yu5Aaf7YwpAxo0EJdk22cxBnPWwvrcgTEvYPWF__N7lhCTX-WEuT13bfs-Ze8Us_z2BP7_OMDhcB4h1GcAdFN2lsoW1sDFckJAU0IR5c/s320/originalmultipurposeplot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591100492271510274" /></a><br />The green stuff in this photo are my herbs that survived from last year - left to right, rosemary, sage, parsley, thyme, catnip and more rosemary. I had mint in the front flower bed last year, but it didn't make it. The veggies I planted there didn't do well either. I am giving up on that bed - I'll just spread some more mulch and let the few daffodils and tulips left by the previous residents do their thing. I figure if I can't grow mint in that spot, then I can't grow anything there.<br /><br />P.S. - I almost forgot! Just as I was finishing the last little corner of weeding, I found a snake! (Shhhhh, don't tell Julia, or she might not come help me next week!) It was just a tiny little brown snake. I raked him into the shovel and moved him out of the way. Thank goodness it wasn't a big spider - my gardening days might have been over!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-8674436265550538682011-03-31T14:07:00.000-07:002011-03-31T14:20:49.013-07:00The Meal PlanYesterday I wrote about lists and how I use them in three main areas of my life - work, writing and household chores. Later I was thinking about how there's an obvious, important area of life missing from that list of three - my health and well-being. I thought it was blog-worthy to note that for my longest stretch ever, I'm still following my New Year's resolution, to eat more healthy foods. <br /><br />Part of my success has been to not be overly strict. Notice I didn't say "to eat <strong><em>only</em></strong> healthy foods". First, as my mother loves to point out, that would be pretty inconsistent with my nasty tobacco and alcohol habits. But I figure every little bit helps. I have given myself permission to binge on the weekends, and I've decided not to worry about the smoking until I have lost at least (<em>mumbles a number</em>) pounds. The last time I quit smoking for any length of time, I gained 15 pounds in two months. I'm too stupidly vain to repeat that experience right now.<br /><br />But, I do believe being conscious of the food I select to nurture my body will help offset the negatives of my otherwise unhealthy choices. My primary change in behavior has been to stop buying and preparing processed foods, at least for meals. There's been no Hamburger Helper on the Whitaker dinner table in 2011. I invested in a small freezer and am stocking up on meat when it's on sale. Soon, I'm going to follow through on my intention to purchase organic meat in bulk and fill that freezer up. I am ordering produce from <a href="http://soggybottomroadside.com/">Soggy Bottom Produce</a>, now that they've opened for the year. We are eating fresh and local veggies, and next week they will have strawberries! I've also been loosely following the slow-carb diet recommended by Timothy Ferriss in <em>The 4-Hour Body</em>. I know his books haven't gotten the best reviews, but I think a lot of his advice makes sense. (And who cares???? He is on the best seller list! You can criticize my writing all you'd like after I start making the big bucks, and I promise, I won't care. Until then, please play nice on my blog. :-0)<br /><br />An important part of these new eating goals is to make yet another list. Not just a grocery list, but a meal plan. So far I really only bother about dinner. For breakfast, I generally eat eggs and spinach, sometimes with beans if there are any left over from the night before. Occassionally I substitute a protein shake. Lunch is either leftovers, a sandwich or maybe canned tuna or cottage cheese. Ken fixes his own breakfast and lunch, so dinner is my only "pressure" meal - the one that used to turn into frozen entrees or ordering a pizza after a hectic work day. Dinner was the meal that needed a plan. Again, I don't worry too much about weekends, but by Sunday night, I have a general idea of what I'm cooking the rest of the week. Here was this week's plan:<br /><br />Monday - pork chops, rice, brocolli, black beans (I ended up substituting field peas and snaps that were in the freezer for the black beans)<br /><br />Tuesday - turkey wings, new potatoes & spinach (prepared together in the crock pot) and red kidney beans<br /><br />Wednesday - Baked salmon, seasoned with Old Bay, roasted asparagus, carrots, and black beans<br /><br />Thursday - Soup (cleaning out the freezer, or "garbage soup". I used brocolli, rice, a variety of beans, carrots, and part of a London broil from the freezer, and I added some canned tomato sauce and some diced tomato, and a little water. It's really more like what Rachael Ray calls stoup, a cross between soup and stew.)<br /><br />I'll be honest, I haven't lost as much weight as I was hoping to. But I feel better knowing I've made a major improvement in the number of nutrients we are consuming, versus the number of perservatives. I think I'm saving money on my grocery bill, too - and that's a much welcome added bonus! <br /><br />It occurs to me that my meal plan illustrates an important part of successfully using lists. I keep it simple and stay flexible. Side dishes, or entire meals, can be swapped around without causing "failure". But having a starting point, a plan, helps me navigate in a satisfying fashion. I need to remember this philosphy with my other "lists" instead of getting discouraged by a few misses here and there.<br /><br />Final thought....I can't remember exactly where I read this, but did you know you are 80% more likely to do reach a goal if you write it down? Maybe that's some made-up statistic in some crazy self-help resource I studied at some point, but I'd say it's pretty close to accurate in my experience. What would you like to do today? Write it down, and let me know what happens!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-42850538828938651342011-03-30T17:03:00.000-07:002011-03-30T17:09:42.739-07:00Most Days, I Like ListsI'm not sure when I first started making my own lists. I do remember the small blackboard in DauDau's kitchen that she used for her grocery list. Frequently, when there were just a few critical items on the board, like bread or milk or toilet paper, she would scribble the list onto a piece of paper and send one of us grandkids to the A&P. When I say scribble, I mean that literally. DauDau's handwriting was awful, but I can't say much. Mine might be even worse. But we could decipher her short lists, probably because they were short enough to memorize and recite rather quickly. We would cut through the yard of the house across the street and come out in the A&P parking lot. Those were the days when you could let little kids run around town unsupervised. I felt like a grownup going to the grocery store for DauDau. <br /><br />Over the years I've continued to value lists. I particularly appreciate lists of "goals" in progressing my "personal growth." I'm not as consistent as I could be, that's for sure, hence my tendancy to get stuck in a rut or two. But when I'm ready for a change, out come the pens and paper, and of course the keyboard. <br /><br />This week I've been making lists every night of things I want to accomplish the next day. I have lists in three basic areas - work, writing, and household chores. It's only Wednesday, and already I feel a lack of productivity. I've crossed off very little on my lists today. <br /><br />I have used a work list with consistency for years. Actually make that multiple lists at work. My team has a conference call a couple of times a week (we used to meet even more often) to maintain a "priorities" list. In addition there's my inbox, and my various email folders, and our ticketing system, which all serve as lists that I check frequently to remind myself what needs to be done. I react pretty quickly to my inbox. I like moving the quick tasks to the finished folder, the equivalent of drawing a line through the grocery item that's in my cart, I suppose. But I'm realizing more and more how ineffecient that work strategy is. I need to organize my work into better priorities, and more cohesive blocks of time. I'm getting too old to multi-task as well as I used to, and recovering from even brief interruptions often means practically starting over on some tasks. I think I also need to focus more on true "goals" for work rather than "tasks". But of the three, my work lists coincide with my most successful productivity. I'm sure my employer would be happy to know that. Even as busy as I was today, and with as many interruptions and conference calls, I still hit most of the items on my priorities list.<br /><br />While I want my writing to be a more defining part of my life, I've kept my writing goals fairly small this week. They have been the same for three days - editing hubs, blogging, and "starting" a new hub. I want it to "stick", so I'm hesitant to commit to the Great American Novel until I've truly established my writing habits as routine. But even the small goals seem a bit daunting. I've scribbled some ideas for hubs, but I haven't really "started" anything yet. It was 3 pm before I started this blog entry, and I haven't started my editing quota for today. But I have time - these are things I can do while Ken watches Family Guy.<br /><br />I did really well on my chores Monday and Tuesday - accomplishing even more than I put on my lists. Today has been a bust. I've been busier than usual at work, so I have a really good excuse, but still, I can feel the disappointment, the temptation to submit to defeat, seeping in. I know I'm not likely to do any extra chores at night - cooking dinner and cleaning up the kitchen are enough! I knew even as I put my main three tasks on paper last night that they were probably too 'big'. I like 15 minute or less kinds of chores, and at least two of the three are more time-consuming. <br /><br />But, the day is not over! I'm not giving up! I was feeling overwhelmed with work, and I knew I needed a break. I took a look at my lists and committed to getting the blog entry written. And look - only 12 minutes, and I'm almost there! I find the more I can cross off my list, the more likely I am to move to the next item. <br /><br />***<br /><br />Almost 8 p.m. now - I had to get back to work earlier. As predicated, I managed to complete my "editing hubs" task while Ken has been watching t.v. I also sent emails with interview questions for an article (and I consider that "starting"). Finally, I moved two of my house-keeping chores to tomorrow's list, and I'm post-poning the third indefinitely. I did complete a couple of chores that really should have been on today's list instead - like cleaning the litter box. You KNOW I deserve extra credit for that one!<br /><br />The best thing about a list is definitely crossing things off. And I'd say the scratches on my notebook don't look too bad today after all.Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-5820560508900608602011-03-29T15:01:00.001-07:002011-03-29T20:22:16.645-07:00Writing from PlymouthI've been so negligent. My poor little blog has been out here in cyberspace, all alone, wondering where the readers went, wondering why no one visits anymore. It's my fault. I've been a poor hostess.<br /><br />Last time I was here, I claimed I was ready for a fresh start. It's not that I lied, exactly, it's just that, well, hmmm....let's see...like I said, we moved a little over a year ago to my hometown, Plymouth. And we've just been so busy settling in, getting to know new friends, reconnecting with old friends, figuring out the social life in Plymouth...NOT. <br /><br />I have been learning to play the Bass - Daddy has been teaching me. It has not been easy, but it also has not been hard enough to completely discourage me. I enjoy our weekly "practice" sessions. Julia and Aunt Judy usually come, and we have invited a few others who might eventually join in.<br /><br />That's my social life in Plymouth--driving to Jamesville for music lessons. And I joined a book club last fall and a writer's group this winter (technically, I guess I'm a "founding" member of both). And of course we have the occassional family shin-dig, like Julia's birthday party weekend before last. But I miss my Raleigh area friends, our karaoke nights, the variety of restaurants we frequented, the art museums. <br /><br />Ok, I lied again. I haven't been to an art museum in many years, maybe even since I was in England in 1995. But I miss the idea that they are an option in close proximity.<br /><br />In spite of feeling like there's "nothing to do" around here, we do seem to stay pretty busy. But, excuses won't fix anything. It's just time, again, to try to move forward. I'm a little more convicted this time. Before I wrote this post, to get this party started, I spent some time yesterday updating a few hubs. I made a list of new article ideas. The weekly hub suggestion is DIY, and I have several projects I want to get to. Maybe I can turn one of them into a hub before the week is out. <br /><br />I also posted on facebook last night to try to solicit a few folks to interview. I want to write about learning to play a musical instrument as an adult. I know "expereinced" musicians who have learned a new instrument as an adult, but I'm looking for the beginner, or the adult who had minimal experience as a child and re-learned something or picked up something new later in life. If you are interested, send me an email. If I "interview", I will write, so, help me out - keep me honest!<br /><br />The other reason I feel more optimistic about "sticking with it" this time comes from finding some other really interesting blogs lately. I'll probably highlight or feature some of them more specifically, soon, but for today, the main thing they all have in common are....well, lapses. Or periodically short, and I mean very short, entries. It helps me get over the "perfectionist" in myself. I have a hard time just throwing something out here without preparation, editing, etc., etc. But isn't a blog really just a sort of public diary? I've found a few heros out there in blog land, and they've reminded me it's okay to be human and to write about it. <br /><br />So here I am, again. And I plan to see you again soon - even if it's just a quick visit now and then instead of a blow-out. Here's what my typical blog entry will probably look like:<br /><br />I had a very productive day today. "Productive" is relative in my world, lately, but here's what it looks like: <br /><br />I checked off most of my "to-do" list for work. I checked over 10 old hubs for quick improvements. (The main thing I'm looking for on hubpages at the moment are old Amazon ads. I thought I had converted them all to ebay when Amazon changed their affiliate terms and booted North Carolina participants, but apparently I never finished that chore. I worked through 10 yesterday, too, so better than 20% through that project.) I made it through my "house hold chore" list. Laundry is caught up - that's huge! Bathrooms are "swished", Flylady style. And....drumroll, please....I finished a blog entry! :-)Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-794966110333802032009-12-05T09:00:00.000-08:002009-12-05T09:10:07.732-08:00About Time!I've neglected not only this blog but ALL of my writing for nearly 6 months! Why? Oh, I could find dozens of excuses, but why bother. It's just time to get started again!<br /><br />The big news lately is our pending move. We've bought a house in Plymouth. I never would have believed, even just a couple of years ago, that I would be moving back home. And even when I started toying with the idea a year or so ago, I never thought it would happen this soon! <br /><br />We are excited, but still sort of stressed, too. Buying a house is nerve-wracking, and we had plenty of bumps along the way that might have made good blog material if the whole process wasn't so competitive. That, and my husband particularly likes his privacy - which limits my public blog material :-)<br /><br />My sister, Julia, is bringing Dad's trailer up tonight and we will move the first load of stuff tomorrow. The final move won't be until the end of January. We have a few things we want to do in the house, like restoring the hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms, before we completely move in. I'll be keeping Julia busy for the next couple of months! For those who don't already know, Julia is the bomb at everything home improvement related. I'm a lucky sister :)<br /><br />There. It's a start. Just like the moving and the Christmas preparation and pretty much any other big job in my life, it all gets done a little at a time. Likely, this post will lead to another - in less than six months!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-80897314641619659262009-06-28T07:53:00.000-07:002009-06-28T08:00:51.187-07:00Camille, the World Traveler, is Home!She made it back safe and sound! Her first words to me (while I was almost hugging the life out of her) were, "What kind of mom gets all her hair cut while her daughter is out of the country?" Ha Ha! I told her I updated my facebook photo just so she would recognize me, but at one Euro for 15 minutes online at the internet cafe, she didn't check in as much as I'd hoped she would.<br /><br />In spite of a bit of bad luck (they lost everyone's luggage on the way there,and someone broke into her hotel room in Paris), Camille had a grand time. I'm sure I'll be hearing more about it. We only talked an hour or so when she got home, and she's at her dad's for the rest of the weekend. I haven't even seen the pictures yet. She couldn't wait to show me all the cool clothes she bought, though!<br /><br />Now, maybe my writer's block will go away! I been able to write or think about anything but her!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-52221212333956126832009-06-16T11:06:00.000-07:002009-06-16T11:40:03.837-07:00Camille is in France!I have to write a retraction of my recent hub, <a href="http://hubpages.com/_dineaneblog/hub/Approaching-an-Empty-Nest">Approaching an Empty Nest</a>. I was totally unprepared for what a "baby" I would be when my "baby" headed across the Atlantic Ocean.<br /><br />It started Sunday night. Ken & I took a ride Saturday to eastern NC to look at houses. When Camille got home Sunday night, she asked why we were looking at houses in Jamesville and informed me, "YOU CAN'T MOVE AWAY! I HAVE ANOTHER YEAR LEFT!"<br /><br />After she went to bed, I boo-whoo'd my way through my journals from my trip to Great Britain when she was only three. I'm very excited for her, and I wouldn't say I am worried, just ridiculously emotional. <br /><br />Her flight out from RDU was delayed last night, so I was able to keep in touch via text message for a while. She sounded fine, of course, and she called me when they finally made it to DC. She said they were "power walking" through the airport and she had to pee and was afraid she wouldn't have time before they boarded again. But she sounded good.<br /><br />Today is Doug's birthday so he got the first call from France - and he missed it! But he called to tell me she had left a voice mail, she sounded good and in a hurry, and they lost her luggage!!! Poor thing! <br /><br />I hope she makes it to an internet cafe soon and catches us all up with some details. I know she will be home before I can blink, and if she was home she wouldn't be here...she'd be off with her friends. But I miss her!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-83624979578135298412009-06-07T13:40:00.001-07:002009-06-07T13:49:40.093-07:00Thirty Articles in Thirty Days!I did it. I published <a href="http://hubpages.com/_dineaneblog/author/dineane/latest/">30 hubs in 30 days on hubpages</a>. Whew. I had hopes of finishing another 5 to bring my total hubs a a nice round 100, but I'm happy right now with the 30. I've seen an increase in traffic, and the corresponding increase in pennies earned, but the best thing for me about this challenge was realizing that I can manage and complete a reasonable writing goal. <br /><br />Thirty was a bit of a push, but not terrible. My next goal is to publish five hubs per week for the rest of the summer. I'll revisit and set new goals around my birthday (Labor Day weekend). <br /><br />It's still early....maybe I'll get a start on those next five now.Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-21371094861538648552009-05-17T15:06:00.000-07:002009-05-17T17:14:48.717-07:00HubChallenge Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26fQKURtMXoLtv2G_-feoulfZMdIbe15FeoRLSw3jK-pLTwTmGyRMLQDKOWkPg-M5wuYJysdg1o5NBxrOUu-biQ9mxY65D8DVM7Kuu0CRSWpbOHvuS6W2f8D1hh9x9zujxuyXM6lvi_Y/s1600-h/1092216.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26fQKURtMXoLtv2G_-feoulfZMdIbe15FeoRLSw3jK-pLTwTmGyRMLQDKOWkPg-M5wuYJysdg1o5NBxrOUu-biQ9mxY65D8DVM7Kuu0CRSWpbOHvuS6W2f8D1hh9x9zujxuyXM6lvi_Y/s320/1092216.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336949990482308802" /></a><br />Just one week into the HubChallenge, and I've published 20 of the 30 hubs that I committed to! As I've progressed this week, it's crossed my mind a time or two that maybe I should have gone for the 100, but it's time for <a href="http://hubpages.com/_dineaneblog/hub/12th-Annual-Preddyfest-Bluegrass-Festival">Preddyfest</a>, and I don't think I'll be cranking 'em out this week. <br /><br />Preddyfest is providing material for me though - my last 3 hubs, published today, were all inspired by the Franklinton Bluegrass festival. Daddy & Julie, Deborah, and Julia & Price are all there already. Ken & I went out for a short visit yesterday. We saw <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Rodney-Preddy-Hosts-12th-Annual-Preddyfest">Rodney Preddy (the host of the event), </a>and Wayne came over to play for a little bit. We waved at Debbie when we rode past their camp, and Deborah told me Johnny and Lucille were there, too.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the regulars, and of course to all the music! I'll probably have more fodder for hubs when I get back next weekend!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-24255068412332890552009-05-11T15:44:00.000-07:002009-05-11T15:51:47.649-07:00Published Three of the Thirty<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqclFllFrUdf_I4AN5X1jIazfK5Ohrg25JXkf-9PaYJSLgR8Di4NFIWwytRLfY_0-Au7k8r9nwle8AOKwZYTYp8iI-Wa4gL6d9bl7x_HUTAUFOps6E_aZYJ9XefEq4ZdbFc_Wu3fWXHyk/s1600-h/1092216.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqclFllFrUdf_I4AN5X1jIazfK5Ohrg25JXkf-9PaYJSLgR8Di4NFIWwytRLfY_0-Au7k8r9nwle8AOKwZYTYp8iI-Wa4gL6d9bl7x_HUTAUFOps6E_aZYJ9XefEq4ZdbFc_Wu3fWXHyk/s320/1092216.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334702584063443762" /></a><br />I'm off to a decent start in the Hubpages 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge. I've published the first three today, and it's tempting to think that maybe I *could* do 100, but honestly, I wrote these three yesterday and just polished and transferred to HubPages today. 30 in 30 is much more realistic for me!<br /><br />Are you up for the challenge? Then <a href="http://hubpages.com/_dineaneblog/">come join me at hubpages</a>at HubPages and see how much revenue you can generate in your first month!<br /><br />Here are my first three hubs for the challenge:<br /><br /><a href="http://hubpages.com/_dineaneblog/hub/Entertainer-Steve-Quinney-Celebrates-60-Years">Entertainer Steve Quinney Celebrates 60 Years</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hubpages.com/_dineaneblog/hub/Copyright-and-the-Public-Domain-One-Hubbers-Perspective">Copyright and the Public Domain: One Hubber's Perspective</a><br /><br /><a href="http://hubpages.com/_dineaneblog/hub/Copyright-and-Fair-Use-on-message-board-forums">Copyright and Fair Use: Is it okay to post song lyrics in message board forums?</a>Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-1286680195269088302009-05-09T15:10:00.001-07:002011-05-29T15:15:07.312-07:00A Hub Challenge, and Twitter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnW_5c1NMIfvs1kqVSntO9aeUJXWE_YhF9u7XwDS3DRdl8-v0GCBpg18YsI0eV_kwSRJvi73MEF00P4mVQjhqV9lRsf7nND5Nix5aI_J1lcrwy0XC-Q1s1pOiqW-mt1OXU_Lzs8Fqj9-c/s1600-h/1092216.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnW_5c1NMIfvs1kqVSntO9aeUJXWE_YhF9u7XwDS3DRdl8-v0GCBpg18YsI0eV_kwSRJvi73MEF00P4mVQjhqV9lRsf7nND5Nix5aI_J1lcrwy0XC-Q1s1pOiqW-mt1OXU_Lzs8Fqj9-c/s320/1092216.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333952984612472354" /></a><br />This week I've managed to type with two hands! Haven't written a book or anything, but I've been able to do some basic data entry at work, managed emails and even a few forum posts. And my mind has been on writing, even if my pen hasn't touched paper much more than my left fingers have touched keyboard. <br /><br />Just as I was trying to talk myself into setting up some goals and priorities to jumpstart my writing, along comes HubPages with a new challenge - 100 Hubs in 30 Days - or for the slightly less ambitious, 30 Hubs in 30 Days. As busy as we have been at work lately, I have no doubt I'd fail the 100 Hub challenge, but 30...well, that's just 1 a day. It's similar to what I tried to do when I started my first MarriageUndone blog post [edited to remove the link, and to admit my focus changed to marriage working instead of surviving divorce.]<br />As part of the hub challenge, I've also finally signed up for twitter - I'm easy to find since "dineane" is still pretty uncommon in internet land :-) I have lots to learn about twittering and tweets, but it looks pretty easy to use.<br /><br />Think you can write a short article every day for a month? Then <a href="http://hubpages.com/_dineaneblog/">come join me at hubpages</a> and try the 30 day challenge!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-32726100448852359222009-04-11T06:49:00.000-07:002009-04-11T07:03:48.246-07:00Typing with One Hand<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQJr-9h3SMnb0aH0UHWDbceS60yQvyGcMG8oUNuPp7ZU7fvryNYLnCBl3xoZqFJV-IgZunA2YUOLPGWLKqfOlVyNTaim6_MGr1CYM3K00zBaiD3vPfsDugMea7TqCdz74orxPewi54No/s1600-h/dineane's+fractures.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQJr-9h3SMnb0aH0UHWDbceS60yQvyGcMG8oUNuPp7ZU7fvryNYLnCBl3xoZqFJV-IgZunA2YUOLPGWLKqfOlVyNTaim6_MGr1CYM3K00zBaiD3vPfsDugMea7TqCdz74orxPewi54No/s320/dineane's+fractures.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323433828373419970" /></a><br />A broken arm hurts. And after the pain meds kick in, it's frustrating. Little things like buttoning my shirt (and I have to wear button-down shirts cuz I can't get my arm in a pull-over) take 2 or 3 times as long as they should. But even more frustrating to me is typing with one hand.<br /><br />Not only is my job tougher, I feel like my creativity is blocked. I can't type as fast as I think. I'm starting to abbreviate, esp online, sounding like a texting teen. I'm thinking about adding a line to my email signature - please excuse the brevity & typos while my broken arm heals.<br /><br />I'm trying to be positive. At least I didn't break my right arm. And maybe the need to slow down will teach me more patience. Maybe I'll learn to smell a few more flowers. Maybe my husband and my daughter will learn to do a few more chores around the house. <br /><br />I'm thinking about buying a bunch of those no-slip adhesive thingies that you put in the bathtub and attaching them to the bottom of all of my shoes so I don't slip and fall again. So maybe my creativity isn't entirely gone, just detoured. My one-handed perspective might come in handy after all.Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-54282572045022403182009-03-22T17:39:00.000-07:002009-03-22T17:40:43.256-07:00RCA Small Wonder EZ101: Digital Camcorder Product Review<a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/RCA-Small-Wonder-EZ101-Digital-Camcorder-Product-Review">RCA Small Wonder EZ101: Digital Camcorder Product Review</a><br /><br />I'm testing a feature I haven't used from hubpages - I just updated this hub today with a cute video of my sweet nephew eating his first birthday cake. Maybe everyone will love it so much they'll click right over to amazon and order a Small Wonder camera!<br /><br />I just remembered that I did something similar with "No Rigs..." a few posts ago, but I think I did it a different way. So much to learn!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-76568620004447581152009-03-14T20:33:00.000-07:002009-03-14T20:51:27.553-07:00Camille Wins!There is just no need to get into an internet battle with your teenager - let's face it - this is their forte!<br /><br />I was showing something so cute to Camille tonight, and then she one upped me...check it out:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM">Charlie Bit My Finger!</a><br /><br />I just keep watching this over and over - and LMAO!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-511694461824401162009-02-17T19:22:00.001-08:002009-02-17T19:24:49.023-08:00Thanks, Deborah!Haven't blogged in a while, and I need a few hours to do justice to my visit to see my sister this past weekend, but since I don't have hours, here's a short acknowledgment!<br /><br />Five hours on the road Saturday morning...X number of beers.....five hours on the road back Sunday. There was obviously some fun in between all that driving!<br /><br />Love ya, buddy-sister-friend! And tell Bobby, thanks for the hospitality, too!Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7200672267648809891.post-82197867724104420192009-02-17T19:22:00.000-08:002009-02-17T19:22:00.397-08:00No Rigs but Lots of Fish!<a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/No-Rigs-but-Lots-of-Fish">No Rigs but Lots of Fish!</a><br /><br />experimenting with a feature on Hubpages - have y'all read this one yet?Dineanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17106229917604130180noreply@blogger.com2