The Eclectic Writer

Buried in TechnoJunk

I check my cell phone and urgently signal a code red -- I'm down to the last bar on my power reading and I haven't even had my second cup of coffee yet.  Too early to run out of battery.  I've got to find my charger and get this baby revved up for the day. But to do this I need the power cord -- and I can't for the life of me figure out where it is.

If your household is anything like ours, you have a drawer in your kitchen affectionately referred to as "the junk drawer."  This fixture is as common as other home spaces, say the hope chest, spare room, or coat closet.  In other words, it's the place where you can haphazardly throw anything that really doesn't have a place anywhere else in your house. But you have this need to keep whatever it is on hand, within easy access, just in case.

Our junk drawer is actually not one, but three; however, each has a distinct organizational purpose for our random storage needs. One collects pencils, notepads, rulers, and other assorted writing tools. Another contains an eclectic array of useful gadgets -- a key chain stringing together a bunch of keys whose purpose is no longer known, an empty tape dispenser, stapler, paper clips, a calculator that doesn't work, a copy of the wedding audiocassette we gave to guests at our reception 17 years ago, Sharpie pens, a white board eraser, assorted business cards, pliers, and prize coupons for the local video arcade. I dare not clean out these drawers for fear I will someday need to find "Anne and Keith: A Remembrance" to play on our old-fashioned cassette player.

But then there's the technology/electronics junk drawer. This is a relatively new space, introduced to our home in the last ten years. This is where we keep the inventory of power cords for cell phones, iPods, mp3 players, Bluetooths, and other technonecessities of our 21st century lives.  There are also cords for the camcorders and digital cameras as well as a rechargeable battery pack that takes up a lot of space (what this is for, I do not know.)

The problem is that as these cords get tossed in the junk drawer, they mysteriously twist, turn, and maneuver themselves into a serpentine mess of wire. They are all black. They all have a rectangular box at the end that plugs into the wall, and a smaller, flatter rectangle prong at the other end with a faint arrow on top directing as to which side stays up. But when I go to find my one power cord that revs up my cell phone, I get trapped in a web of chaos. All wires look alike, and as I attempt to untangle the frightening mass, they all lead to another, like an endless string of Christmas lights.

It's important to note, however, that this trauma seems chronic to me alone. For some reason, my husband can go into the drawer, pull out the correct cord (disconnected by some miracle from all others around it) and hand it to me with a smirk on his face. I can be searching for 30 minutes and handled every cord in the drawer, but -- just like the Red Sea parted for Moses -- the wires in the drawer miraculously untangle for the alpha male of the house. It's not fair, I know, but long ago I learned this is how the world works. Wires and everything.

I've decided to create another junk drawer, this one identified for me alone.  This is where I'll keep all cords related to my technoneeds. It's going to be pretty empty -- but at least I'll know where things are.

Wish You Could Read This Blog Faster?

Do you ever wish you could read faster? Do you feel like if you could read more in less time, then you could enjoy your favorite books, blogs, newspapers, magazines, and websites more often?

Now's your chance! On June 3rd, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Speed Reading will be released and available for sale. It contains everything a reader needs to know to learn the secrets for reading better and faster both on paper AND on-screen.

My friend, Abby Markes-Beale, is a co-author of the book along with Pam Mullan. I took Abby's speed reading class many years ago and recently reconnected with her through the National Speakers' Association Connecticut Chapter. 

To celebrate the release, Abby and Pam will be hosting TWO separate teleconferences to talk about speed reading, their experiences teaching it, and the contents of this new book. Participants are invited, at no charge, to ask questions about speed reading and/or the book's contents.

Each teleconference will be no longer than 45 minutes: one session in the morning from 9am to 9:45am Eastern Time and then another one in the evening from 9pm to 9:45pm Eastern Time. Once you register, you will be sent the call-in phone number that can be used for either (or both!) sessions. There's no charge! Click here to register. (If the link doesn't open, please go to http://www.revitupreading.com/and click on the home page for Register for F*ree Teleclass.)

Those interested in purchasing the book can pre-order it on Abby's's website at www.RevItUpReading.com or go to any online book retailer. Remember, too, the book makes a GREAT present for anyone with a lot to read, especially business professionals and those going off to college or returning to school.

Hope you're able to join Abby and Pam!

Searching for Summer Solutions

I'm getting ready for a new experience this summer - being at home with my children. Part of me can't wait. The other part is figuring out how I'm going to work and play during the warm weather months without stressing out and losing my mind!

I know it may sound strange, but I've never experienced summer at home before. My husband has always held down the fort while I went to work, just like I did the other ten months of the year.  He full time managed camp calendars, playdates, day trips, errands, grocery shopping, video store runs, and end of summer blues.  All I had to do was plan what days I was going to take vacation, work extra hours to prepare for being out of the office, and then weigh in some ideas about what we could do and where we could go.

So here I am with a new work/life balance situation to figure out. Add in my midsummer trip to eastern Europe, and I'd better be getting our summer plans in gear NOW.  My focus is clear:

Keep work and goals moving forward:

1. Work my tail off while kids are at camp
2. Accept the fact now that I won't get much sleep then
3. Stock up on caffeinated products since most work will get done early morning or late evening

Recognize that this isn't going to be easy:

1. Research new techniques for muting distractions
2. Buy an iPod with headphones
3. Up my yoga practice to twice a day

Figure out fun things to do when we're together that are memorable and cost efficient

The first two I can handle. Jugging many balls at once is a natural state for me. The last one, however, is a challenge, especially as soaring gasoline prices make driving the minivan more costly than a week's tuition at day camp for two kids.

So I've been brainstorming ideas, trying to be clever in bundling activities within the same geographic regions into multiday excursions, and identifying things we can do locally that will be fun, get us together with friends, and give us the quality time without crashing our retirement accounts.

Here's some ideas I've brainstormed:

• Local concerts on the green
• Old-fashioned picnics
• Splash-filled swims at our town lake and lots of time on the new tennis courts
• Visits to the zoo (our memberships give us reciprocal FREE entry to museums, aquariums, and other zoos in neighboring states)
• Bike trails, hiking trails
• Trips to nearby amusement parks
• Local movies on the green
• Beach fun
• Family tag sale at community Lion's Club event (which means a family-friendy summer housecleaning fling to get ready!)
• Volunteer at the animal shelter

I figure in the end I'll be tan, in good shape, have a clean house, and be ready for a really productive and successful autumn! And we'll have special memories of mom's first summer to remember forever.

A Change of View

With academic ceremonies behind me, it's time to look forward and officially let my blog readers in on what I've been up to over the past several months.

Pushing Pause

As I completed my graduate studies, I decided to take a temporary sabbatical. As I like to put it, I pressed the pause button on life and took time to re-energize, re-focus, and re-assess my personal and professional goals. I felt very fortunate to be in a position and at a point in my life where I was able to do this.

I attended the AWP writing conference in the city. I had two articles accepted for a book on writing about family. I worked on my novel. I queried essays from my thesis. I began writing my second non fiction book about midlife transformation.  But all in all, I gave myself permission to pause and consider what was next.

After more than twenty years of hard work and, yes, "climbing the ladder of life," I realized I'd acquired tremendous skills and experience in the corporate world, somehow managed to get both children from daycare into grade school, and fulfilled my longtime goal of earning an M.F.A. It was time to figure out the next chapter.

Pursuing My Passions

Giving myself the gift of time, I thought a lot about my writing and where I want to take it. Publishing my work is an incredibly important goal for me. I've been diligently submitting my work, researching markets and opportunities, looking for an agent, and, of course, writing!

I've begun to further hone my professional speaking skills, delivering presentations at the Women in Business Summit and getting involved with professional organizations like the National Speakers Association Connecticut chapter.  My passion is to share my voice, not just through the words I write on a page, but those I speak to an audience at conferences, meetings, and events.

I've dusted off my picture book manuscript and am renewing my membership with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I'm further developing my writers' workshops for children, originally designed for my children's classrooms, and hope to deliver to a broader audience come fall.

I've also started a communications consulting company, so I could continue to "keep a toe in the water" and earn a living in the field I've loved, while giving myself the flexibility I need to pursue my writing goals.

A lot on my plate? Yes, but that's me.  Scary? Of course! But I'm happy, energized, and pushing forward with a lot of great support and wonderful people rooting me on.

What's Next?

I've also been thinking a lot about this blog. While The Eclectic Writer has served its original purpose -- to get me blogging and keep me writing -- I've sensed growing pains. The blog was ready to evolve to the next level, but what did that mean?

You'll notice the tag line for The Eclectic Writer has been updated with, "Life is an adventure -- write about it." I realized that, for now, The Eclectic Writer continues to serve a purpose, to give me a platform to write about the big and little things that make up the adventure we call life. I'll continue to share my thoughts about everyday life, both the extraordinary and mundane, my writing career, family matters, and current events. But new, exciting things lie ahead...

Building a Midlife Platform

Down the road, soon I think, I'll branch off with another blog focused on my midlife musings. With gas prices skyrocketing, the economy in turmoil, and stress levels at an all time high, I'm meeting a lot of people -- particularly midlife women like myself -- who are ready (or at least thinking about) pushing pause and transforming their lives to write their next chapters.  These women are looking for innovative ideas and platforms for sharing.  More details to come...

Thanks for being a loyal reader. Your visits keep me inspired. To help keep The Eclectic Writer building momentum (and internet traffic) please take a moment to:

• Save www.theeclecticwriter.typepad.com as a favorite
• Share this link with your family and friends so they can keep up with the adventure
• Check in often -- I'm trying to post 3-4 x week
• Most importantly, be an active reader -- the joy of blogging is that the writer can read comments from readers and learn from your thoughts and ideas

Through the Years

The big night finally came.  I marched in the academic graduation ceremony on Friday evening and was ceremoniously "hooded" as an M.F.A. in Professional Writing graduate from Western Connecticut State University. My mother, husband, daughter, and son came to watch me march down the aisle. 

Although I wasn't at first thrilled about participating, in the end I was happy I did it. As with most rituals, this one put closure on what I'm finally realizing was quite an accomplishment.  It was also so good to see some of my M.F.A. colleagues again.

That's me on the left with Ron, Carmen, Don, and Kim at the post-ceremony reception.

I also realized it's been twenty-four years since I participated in a graduation ceremony.  I graduated in 1984 with a B.A. in English from Southern Connecticut State University. As new pictures were snapped of the M.F.A. me, it was a good time to take a trip down memory lane and open up the scrapbooks.

Here I am, when I was 22-years-old, getting my bachelor's degree. Everything was looking up --we were young and ready to conquer the world! I had originally been a biology major (pre-med) for three years and sort of double-majored in English because I liked it, but finally realized my true calling was with the language and words, and ended up graduating with a B.A. English, specialization in professional writing, and a Minor in Biology.

This was my college graduation portrait.  For anyone wondering, you are probably the closest to ever seeing my hair color in its most natural state. I began going gray in my thirties -- much too early for me!

Graduation. Again. I'm glad I did it. Now I'll take it the next step and do it. I'll write. I'll publish. I'll keep the dream alive and make it real.

To all of my fellow graduates, and those of you who pursue your passions...

"I hope your dreams take you... to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.” Unknown.

Getting Ready to March

Tonight is my graduation ceremony.  As many of you know, I earned a Master's in Fine Arts, Professional Writing in January.  This evening I will march with some of my esteemed colleagues to be "hooded" in an academic ceremony with roots many years old. 

I never did dry clean the robe and hood. In fact, I decided to just leave them safely in the plastic bag until I get to the campus tonight. They didn't look too crinkly when I peeked inside; and anyhow, if I'm crinkly tonight, certainly many others will be, too.

Yours truly is featured on the Graduates in the Spotlight page of the university's website. The usual...why I was nuts enough to do this, favorite memories, advice to new students.  You'll also see my good friend, Fletcher Dean, listed here as well. Fletch is a fellow corporate communicator, with a special talent for writing great speeches! He and I both juggled our full-time studies with our day jobs of writing words for other people.

If you'd like to check it out, click here.

Now I've got to figure out WHAT to wear under that cap, gown, and hood.  A few hours to go...any ideas? Formal, casual, wacky, crazy?

Writers' Quote of the Day

Found this one on the Pink magazine submission guidelines website:

"Writing became such a process of discovery that I couldn't wait to get to work in the morning: I wanted to know what I was going to say." --Sharon O'Brien, psychotherapist and freelance writer

Do You Dry Clean a Cap and Gown?

I picked up my cap and gown today. Getting ready for the big day -- Friday is when I walk, as they say in academic lingo. No, I don't think there will be any red carpet involved. But I will put closure on an adventure that began three years ago this August -- my pursuit of an M.F.A.

The women at Alumni Affairs (keeper of the caps) delicately handed me my cello-wrapped package.

"Congratulations," she said, sounding genuinely sincere. It was nice. I may have actually blushed.

She then handed me a book called Retire Without Worry. It was donated as a gift to the graduates. I told her thanks.

I noticed a box filled with red and blue plastic flashlights laying on the floor. They were stamped with a logo and tag line.  "University Alumni -- We won't leave you in the dark."

"Do you mind if I take two for my kids?" I ask.

I stepped out of the building and placed the sealed package containing the cap and gown, book, and flashlights in the backseat. After a windy spring morning that felt more like autumn, temps were warming up and I cranked open the sunroof. As I drove away from the campus, for a short time I felt like I was twenty-two again, graduating at the end of the week. Classes were over and a new phase was beginning. I relived my carefree youth, except for one thing.  In the back of my mind, I had one nagging, annoyingly grown up thought:

"Am I supposed to get this thing dry cleaned before Friday?"

Stimula-ting Mail

We received an official-looking piece of mail.  Written in red, stand-out letters were these words:

Understanding Your Economic Stimulus Payment

Did we get a check?" my husband asked.

I actually thought we'd already received our payment, that it had been included with the direct deposit made with my federal return. I was a bit confused. With all the talk lately about "Economic Stimulus Payments," I lost track of what was actually going on.

We opened the letter, like so many other eager Americans, and read these words.

"You are entitled to an economic stimulus payment of $X."

A little more than I thought, which is good, I said.

"You can expect payment by such-and-such a date."

Oh, didn't know that.

"What You Need to Do."

Basically, nothing.

As a writer of all things eclectic, but particularly an expert on the art of the business message, I'm always amazed by the disparity between the media headlines enticing us to believe the economic stimulus payment is the best thing since sliced bread, and these archaic, emotionless pieces of paper that come to us in the mail from government officials with a serious tone and passive voice rhetoric. The flatness glazes us over and renders us motionless as we absorb the nothingness of its contents.

Wouldn't it be better to get a letter that declared boldly on the outside, "Good News Inside!" with a smiley face next to it?

Then as a more uplifting salutation, "Congratulations. As part of a collaborative effort to jumpstart our economy, your government is pleased to provide you with this wonderful bonus refund for being such a good taxpayer during the year."

And maybe end with a, "Thanks for everything you do to help keep America full speed ahead."

Hey, I'm not knocking the Economic Stimulus Payment.  It's always nice to get money you did not expect. However, like most people (according to the countless polls) we're not planning to go out and spend our windfall on another flat screen television or ipod. No, like most others we'll probably pay off a bill. Or put it into savings. Or fill a tank with gas.

An Economic Stimulus Payment isn't going to change the world. But if receiving that piece of paper in the mail reminds us all that each and every one of us has to change how we live -- that we can choose to drive more fuel efficient cars, or maybe bike to the grocery store, or better plan errands so we do more driving less miles, or recycle more goods....if our habits truly change as a result of receiving our government bonus....then we'll be back in better shape than ever before.

But if we just cash the check and spend it, nothing will change.  And therein lies the importance of delivering the right message.

Mother's Day Ponderings

Here's the funny thing about the days I affectionately call "Hallmark holidays." They set up expectations that life will take a time out to be perfect because a calendar tells us they should be -- and then we live through guilt if anything goes asunder. 

Take, for example, Mother's Day.  Somehow as a mother I always feel like I'm supposed to transform into this Stepford-like woman for 24-hours on that third Sunday of May-- so if , say, I lose it with my kids when they don't listen or have to revert to my "stop it right now or you lose PS2" litany to halt their whining or bickering, I spend the rest of the day on a massive guilt trip.

Don't get me wrong.  I had a nice Mother's Day.  I got to sleep until 9:30. My kids gave me SingStar 90 and my husband presented me with the warm vanilla bath products I covet.  I belted out Black Hole Sun and You Can't Touch This at the top of my lungs while feeling smooth-skinned and smelling nice. We all went to see Speed Racer.

But I had my moments when life just didn't cooperate with the calendar.  Yes, I was cranky on Mother's Day.  Allergies were driving me crazy, I was crampy, and the kids were occassionally whiney.  But somehow at the end of the day, they still seemed to love me despite my human-ness. And as I sang Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head to each (part of our bedtime ritual) I knew I was doing ok as a mom -- and with kids as good as mine, maybe even doing great.

I'm a writer and mother who happens to write a lot about my children.  My literary heroes, to whom I strive to be in their company, are writers like Jean Kerr and Erma Bombeck.  They all knew this was not an easy gig, but captured the essence of motherhood with humor and grace.  I continuously strive to do so with my words and spirit.

In celebration of mother's day, some of my favorite quotes  about motherhood. Included are a couple from those grande dames of the written word, Kerr and Bombeck:

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." Mark Twain

"Now the thing about having a baby - and I can't be the first person to have noticed this - is that thereafter you have it. " ~Jean Kerr

"I take a very practical view of raising children. I put a sign in each of their rooms: "Check out time is 18 years." Erma Bombeck

"Mothers are the most instinctive philosophers." Harriet Beecher Stowe

"Motherhood is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." Marion C. Garretty

"I'd like to be the ideal mother, but I'm too busy raising my kids." Unknown

"A mother understands what a child does not say." Jewish Proverb

To all you mothers out there, hope you had a happy day.