Why'd You Throw That Away?

There's a timely article in the March 16th Newsweek titled "The Frugal Family Guide." The author, Steve Tuttle, tells about the time he visited his parents' cabin and spotted a dead mouse in a rusty trap. Assuming he was doing his mom and dad a favor, he threw away the mouse...and the
dilapidated old trap.

WRONG! When his deed was disclosed, his parents just shook their heads and lamented they'd had that trap since they got married (about a half-century before.)

Tuttle goes on to say his parents are not cheap. They just don't throw out anything that's still getting the job done. Like that mouse trap (which obviously was still doing the trick!)

So, I'm looking at those things I automatically toss out without considering if they're really outdated or of no further purpose.

Most who know me would say I err on the side of caution and keep things waaaay past their prime. Like the last cell phone I turned in that was creeping toward antique status.

At the end of the day, WHY do we hold on to things too long or not long enough?

Why Would You Shop Anywhere Else?

Have I got a deal for you! Okay, technically, I don't have the deal, my publisher does...But either way, read this...

"If you spend $10.00 on a paperback from Echelon Press, I'll send you a FREE PDF download of your choice. Any PDF book from Echelon. That is two books for the price of one. What a deal! This offer is good on orders placed before midnight March 20, 2009. I'm telling you, order ANY paperback from Echelon Press and choose any PDF download for FREE."

Naturally, I'm little partial to MY book-WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty! But, hey, truth is, there are other great books on Echelon's shelves, and I would encourage you to check 'em out. Their line of children's books is one of the best. That's under their Quake division.

Oh, no need to thank me for the heads up...Thank Echelon Press for understanding how important it is for buyers to stimulate the economy and retailers to do all they can to help people spend smart.

Why Not Tuesday the 26th?

Friday the 13th. What's up with that? In this modern age of technology and yummy varieties of dark chocolate, why do we hang onto such an ancient superstition?

I think we like to scare ourselves. I do. I think we like drama and mystery and being able to say, Hey, it was Friday the 13th and I was scaling the side of a building and fell 500 stories! Oh, bad, bad Friday the 13th.

In my case, I got engaged on Friday the 13th. It was February 13th, as a matter of fact (1987). Oh, no, it apparently couldn't wait till the next day. Valentine's Day -- a day of romance and love and huggy-kissy stuff.

I was asked and accepted on Friday the 13th. And you know what? It kind of set the tone for a pretty amazing relationship. Some bad stuff, but mostly good. Mostly wonderful.

And WHY do you supposed that is? Maybe because Friday is named for Frigga, the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility...and 13 follows the number 12 which generally denotes completeness. So maybe 13 transends completeness?

At the end of the day, even Friday the 13th, aren't most days all about what we make of them?

Why E-Book Week?

Please check out the Echelon Press blog for the reasons WHY you should read an e-book this week -- along with some darn fine e-books to read!

Just click here!

Why Can't I Have A Barbie?

Me. Fifty years ago. Telling myself the doll in my hands, the one Santa brought INSTEAD of Barbie, was, in fact, Barbie.

Yeah, I'm just making that up...But, oh, how I longed to have that doll with the Miss America figure and eye shadow the color of a Southern Indiana summer sky.

But day after day Mother said, "No..." followed by some other stuff. I don't know her reasoning. My ears always shut down after hearing that two-letter word... (Sigh)

Not my mouth though. "But, why?"

"Because..."

Again, I never listened beyond the rejection.

That's really too bad, because Mother probably had some very good reasons.

But maybe the real reasons weren't even the ones she attempted to share with me. After all, what does a little kid understand about RBI (realistic body image)?

Regardless, I wish Barbie a happy 50th today...She's grown and matured over the years, just like the little girls who've adored her.

Even the ones who never actually had a Barbie, and will never know WHY...

For a beautiful story about Barbie and friendship, go to WoofersClub.Blogspot.com

One of Many Reasons Why...

Okay, so I won't go into the OTHER reasons I adore this woman, my friend Carol. (The majority would have you questioning our sanity. (rightfully so!) Others are too close to my heart.)

But this one reason, this ONE reason is worth sharing with the world!

Carol's son and his wife just returned from Africa where they finally had the joy of meeting Aberash, their now youngest of three daughters.

And all indications are (proof's in the pictures!) Aberash is very happy and comfortable in her new home.

A retired elementary educator, Carol is a perfect mentor--on so many levels-- for this delightful, young girl. She volunteers several times a week both at a school and a local hospital, and still pays weekly visits to a colleague who suffered a stroke many years back. She's one of funniest women you could ever hope to meet, and Aberash will learn first-hand from "Gram" that she can succeed at anything she sets her mind to.

So, there you have it...Aberash will come up with her own list of reasons WHY. This is just one of mine...

Why Annie Leibovitz I'm Not...

I try. Really I do...

Alas this is the best group shot I managed to salvage of the Echelon Press booth at the South Carolina Book Fest. (Sorry, Marc, you were probably making a sale just to my right.)

Anyhoo, pictured here are (l to r): Sam Morton, Marc Vun Kannon's daughter Julia, Regan Black, , Karen Syed, Regan's daughter Jordan, Marlis Day (in red), Jaquelyn Sylvan, Austin Camacho, and Mary Cunningham.

Though blueprints were hastily drawn up resembling an ark, spirits of those attending or hawking their books were not dampened. Authors are nothing if not resilient!

So...please check out these witty, talented writers...and see WHY their books are read the world over.