I'm Teaching Blogging

A couple of years ago, I met my friend, Kristine, when she invited me to come and speak to a class she was teaching about blogging. Unbeknownst to me, she had been using my blog as an example in her classes. I also met Barbara that day. Very cool!

Well... fast-forward a couple of years... and I'm going to be teaching a whole blogging class in December at the Hutchinson Public Library. How cool is that? Exactly! And, to top it off, you can come to the class, which would just be oodles of fun on top of all this other cool stuff.

Introduction to Blogging with Patsy Terrell
Tuesday, December 7 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
and
Saturday, December 11 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
(It's the same class - just two options for when you come)

This is a hands-on class, so there are only 12 slots. Register by calling the library at 620-663-5441, ext. 163.

So, if you want to find out more about blogging, and why you might want to do it, and how to do it, call and sign up. You will leave that day with a blog of your very own, if you wish. It's going to be an adventure!

Besides, don't leave me sitting there by myself, all sad and pathetic.

Devil's Food Cake

A couple of weekends ago, I bought an old cookbook at the flea market for a quarter. Last night was Creative Sisterhood and I decided I'd make something from that book. Devil's Food cake was the winner.



I followed the instructions - even frothing the eggs with a fork.



I whipped the egg whites and folded them in as it suggested, although I confess I used the Kitchen Aid. Lets do keep up with modern conveniences.

And I melted the chocolate in the microwave to add into the batter.

I was very impressed that the cake baked perfectly level with the pan - not that big poof on top (like Snooki) that you often get when you bake, that has to be trimmed off.



Just in case you want to give it a go yourself, here's the recipe.

Everyone loved it at Creative Sisterhood. I'm not completely sold on it myself. I wasn't fond of the texture - a bit too crumbly for my tastes. I'm sure that was from folding in the egg whites, but it's just not my favorite.

However, I do appreciate opening a cookbook and not finding references to cake mixes in it.

Leadership

What does it mean to be a leader? I don't mean the definition we learn in leadership classes, but the real meaning of being a leader. I think it has to mean getting something done, either by yourself or with help, but something is changed. Some recite the definition of a leader and some act as a leader.

Johnny Mathis Heralds Christmas Season

This weekend Greg treated me to the Johnny Mathis Christmas show in Branson as an early birthday present. I love Christmas and no one sings a Christmas carol like Johnny Mathis. I love, love, love classic Christmas carols - and the way he sings them is fabulous.

So, this weekend I made my second trip to Branson. The first one was two years ago to see the Andy Williams Christmas show. You might notice a theme developing.

It was such a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. The main attraction was getting to be with Miss Joy (Greg's mom) and Greg. Johnny Mathis was a huge, added bonus.

I loved every minute of it!

Writing by Hand

There's magic in using a pen and paper to record thoughts as opposed to a keyboard. I still write by longhand, particularly when I'm thinking something through.

I like to always have a writing desk setup somewhere in my home that is devoted to writing in journals by hand. This one is in my downstairs sunporch. At various times it have been in my bedroom and other locations, but I like it there - especially in the early mornings.

Now that I write online almost everyday, I sometimes neglect my handwritten work. When I do make time for it it's like slipping back into a familiar, comforting rhythm I've been missing without realizing it.

I was recently flipping through my gratitude journal I've been writing in for a decade. Obviously, I don't write every day. I realized one year I had not made a single entry. That doesn't mean I wasn't finding anything to be grateful for, I just wasn't recording it. Another year I had only one entry.

I guess like most things, this goes in cycles.

What are you building?

One of the reasons I seek out things like lectures is because sometimes there's a little something that sparks a question for me, or a new thought.

The other day when I was listening to ethicist Michael Josephson I wrote down the above question. What are you building?

He had told the old story about men cutting bricks from stone. When asked what they're making, one says he's making bricks by cutting the stone. One says he's making a foundation. The last one says he's making a cathedral. The point was it's all a matter of how you see your role in the process. They're all doing the same task, but they see it differently.
 
I can't say I have a good answer for this question yet, but I think it's a worthy question nonetheless.

Michael Josephson speaks in Hutchinson Kansas about Character Counts

Ethicist Michael Josephson spoke at the Dillon Lecture Series at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas on November 9. He founded "Character Counts" in 1993 to teach students and others integrity. More than 7,000,000 students have been involved with the program based on six pillars of character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.

He offered many summations I thought were worthy of note. Some were funny and some more thoughtful. I jotted down some of them to share here.
We are all building our own houses.
If you keep doing what you're doing, you're going to get what you're getting.
I want to be thin... when I'm not hungry.
You don't have to be sick to get better.
When you really believe something you want to share it.
Kids don't care what you know until they know you care.
Everyone has a label that says, "Make me feel important."
Someone who lies for you will lie to you.
First and foremost you're an individual responsible for your own actions.



He spoke about rational decisions and rationalization. He said the rational decision process is that you reason first and come to the conclusion. Rationalization is when we reach the decision then come up with the reasons for it. He said, "Rationalization is an anesthetic to the conscience."

He shared numbers from a  recently released report on values and conduct of American Youth that included 43,000 students.
55% of boys and 33% of girls had been bullied in the past 12 months
53% of students said they have hit someone because they were angry
28% of Seniors had five or more drinks in the past two weeks
26% of Seniors have used illegal drugs at least once in the past month
18% of boys and 12% of girls have had sex with at least four different partners
11% of girls have been forced to have intercourse at least once in her life
14% of girls have been pregnant at least once
64% have cheated on an exam in the last year (67% of athletes)


He said the true test of integrity is, "my willingness to do the right thing even when it costs more than I want to pay."

Some schools in the area participate in the program, and one of them mentioned at the luncheon that they just started the program last year, but a disciplinary standard they're tracking went from more than 300 last year, to 13 so far this year. Josephson says the idea is to make character part of the DNA of a community or school.

At the luncheon, someone asked if this program could work without the parents being involved and Josephson said it certainly did. Sometimes parents are part of the problem, he said, "Parents are a mixed bag," and represent all the behaviors possible. He said sometimes they're, "reprogramming kids from some of the problems."



Someone asked if this was a religion-based program. Of course, it's not, since it's used in public schools. When he was questioned more about religion in schools, he gave a great answer that it was best to keep them separate, because not everyone shared the same faith - he is Jewish for example, and he wanted the program to be able to reach the most people. He went on to say that character and religion were not tied together, saying, "There are people of character who have no religion."

Another question was about what is legal. He said legal is the bare minimum and "ethics is much broader than the law."

He spoke about politics saying "I think most people in politics are much better than their campaigns indicate." He asked an important question, "Why did compromise become such an ugly word? Democracy requires compromise." He said he wants people who can change their minds. That means you can receive new information. He said, "Thinking people disagree."

The Character Counts program is about starting with a notion of core values and a common language. He said we need to institutionalize continuity so regardless of who the mayor or superintendant is the program continues.

Author Friends

Today was a nice day - busy, but not frantic. It seems so many of my days in the last couple of months have been frantic. I don't care for that. At all. I don't mind it on occasion, but it's my choice of a lifestyle.

I had lunch today with Judith, who I'm really enjoying getting to know. Her first book, "As Grandma Says," is coming out in February from Harvest House Publishers. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. You can read more about it on her blog.

We were brainstorming some ideas today for publicizing the book. Every once in awhile my background in public relations and marketing is really useful. Most of the time it's something I, and most of those around me, take for granted. Being a PR person is a pretty thankless job most of the time. When it's working well, it seems like it's just happening by magic. (FYI - it's never just happening. Okay, maybe 1% of the time it's just happening - maybe not even that much. And even then it's because somebody like me layed the groundwork.)

I was happy to help with some ideas. I wish I had time to enact all the ideas I have, but unfortunately that's not the case. But, at least I can help with plans, thoughts and ideas. It was a productive time together.

From what I understand, publicity of books these days is pretty much the author's job. It seems I'm uniquely qualified to work in this arena.

Question Quote

The other day I wrote about questions and how important they are. Last night someone posted the following quote on Twitter.

A single question can be more influential than a thousand statements.
Bo Bennett

Isn't it interesting how that happens? You're thinking about something and then the universe reinforces it.

Tweet at 650 Feet Down

Saturday night something cool is happening in Hutchinson. The first-ever underground Tweetup. A tweetup is just an in-person gathering of people who use twitter.com.

It will be from 5-8 p.m., Saturday, November 13. Tickets are $20. That includes a t-shirt, the gallery and dark ride tours, and refreshments. Reservations can be made, and tickets purchased, online at www.undergroundmuseum.org.

Your Presence

"When you love someone, the best you can offer is your presence."
-Thich Nhat Hahn

This thought, in one way or another, keeps coming up in my life. It can be interpreted in multiple ways, but for the moment I'm choosing to be present for those I love, who love me.

I'm looking forward to being with Greg and his mom this weekend, and to seeing my family over the Christmas holidays. "Love" can be a bit hard to define with some relationships in my life, but those are straightforward. So, that's where I want to be. Fully present.

Messages Arrive about a Lasting Loss

I've been thinking a lot these days about various relationships in my life. This morning I went to a lecture by ethicist Michaal Josephson. He included a poem he wrote called, "What Will Matter."

It's a poem about what will matter once we're no longer alive. He asks, "How will the value of your days be measured?"

It has a few stanzas, but one small part jumped out at me when I read it, and again when he recited it.
"What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone."

How many people have passed through your life that you still think of every day? Other than the obvious family members, there are quite a few for me - some who are dead, and some who are just missing from my world by choice.

I can honestly say I've never ended any relationship of friends, lovers or others without making intense efforts to maintain it. But it becomes ridiculous to continue to put energy into something when its glory days, if there ever were any, are long past.

I've never understood the idea of falling out of love with someone, or just not feeling a fondness for a friend that existed earlier. I don't understand it. I don't think I ever will. If I loved you at one time in my life, I still do. If we were ever friends, I still want to be friends. I feel a loss that you are not in my life.

In many ways, I'm very childlike in that I initially think others experience the world in the same way I do. But, logically I know from observing the actions of others is that this is not true for them. They do not feel the same loss I do at friendships lost or relationships gone. Regardless, sometimes life insists I let go, and make room for new relationships, even though I feel the loss.

So, how many will feel a lasting loss when I am gone? Or when you are gone? I guess that's the billion dollar question.

I know I feel a loss for some people who are absent from my life, but it seems there is nothing to do but accept that. Maybe for me the lesson is to be smarter and not put so much energy into obviously waning relationships. I never want to let go. I always think there's possibility. And I want to continue to build relationship.

Sometimes I feel as though I must be the only person on the planet who holds onto a 40 year old postcard, written by an elderly neighbor lady to a young girl. But, those few lines, no doubt written in haste, capture a moment. There's a wedding - I hope they're still happy; a note that she hopes Johnny is okay - a reference to a young man's health issue that was a tremendous concern; a card from Niagra Falls that reminds me of a trip with people I love that I had no idea would happen when that card was received.

I remember visiting Mrs. Wildharber. Hers was one of the two houses close enough to walk to when I was a kid. It was her husband, Clyde, who drove my mother to the hospital in the middle of a blizzard when she went into labor with me and my parents' vehicle wouldn't start.

She was so very kind to me. At various times she arranged for a state legislator to write me a letter, gifted me with knick knacks I was drawn to, and she talked to me - in person and on a postcard.

Was Mrs. Wildharber someone I was really close to? No. But she was someone who mattered in my life. I wanted to be with her more than Mama allowed. I guess even as a child I was seeking relationships with people, wanting conversation, a different world view.

I still want those things, but they seem harder to find. Thankfully, I have room to carry memories of Mrs. Wildharber and many other important people who've played on the stage of my life. And I do feel the loss, but it seems there's no other option.

Inward

I am going through a period of looking inward. I'm contemplating many things, none of which is a cohesive enough thought to share yet. I have a blog post I've been working on for the past few weeks now and then, but it isn't ready yet. It may never be ready.

Suffice it to say that I haven't been able to muster much energy for recording my daily life here as I've been occupied with these thoughts. I realize I've been a fool for some time, and I'm considering how best to rectify that situation. I'm sure it will become obvious.

Quote of the Day

It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.
Eugene Ionesco

A few years ago in Honduras I was introduced to a brilliant Dutch man named Jacob. He was in San Pedro Sula for only a few days, but we were fortunate enough to visit with him just one day when our paths crossed

He told us a story of helping negotiate a treaty with a native group and a government. What I remembered most from his story was how he learned from the leaders of the native group that the questions asked were far more important than the answers. It was in the questions they found wisdom.

That stayed with me and I thought about it many times. A couple of years later, when we connected with Jacob in an Amsterdam coffee shop, again as our paths crossed in a place where none of us lived, he shared more stories. But all had this theme of asking questions.

I started to realize this tall, lanky man had made a life of asking questions - and carefully listening to the answers.

It gives a person reason to pause. And consider. What the questions can reveal, even without answers.

Buz Carpenter and Ribbit the Frog

After the presentation today, SR-71 pilot, Buz Carpenter, told Greg and me this funny story about taking a stuffed frog on a mission. Of course, Ace Jackalope inspired the story.

Buz Carpenter at Cosmosphere Nov. 6, 2010

Buz Carpenter, a former SR-71 pilot, who flew the plane housed at the Cosmosphere, will speak at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 6. The presentations are free to the public and he will sign autographs afterwards.

I got an opportunity to have dinner with Buz and Nancy, his wife, tonight. They're delightful and Buz gives a fabulous talk about the SR-71.

See more details and photos at The Lope. Be sure and come out to see him Saturday at 1 or 3. I promise you'll enjoy it, and it's yet another cool thing you can do for free in Hutchinson.

Pensive

I'm in a pensive mood the last couple of days.

Thinking. Pondering.

Maybe I've been listening to too much Paul Thorn.

Maybe I haven't been listening to enough Paul Thorn.

Politics

Demint says Tea Party candidates will end earmarks. Although I'm a liberal, I don't think that's a bad idea. I do think it's a very naive idea. Time will tell how that works out.

It seems no one in politics - of any persuasion - can get done what they say they want to do. I think that's because the system is designed to prevent any one person from doing what they want to do. We just don't seem to understand this.

I no longer get too worked up about politics because I've realized in our current system it doesn't really matter much. I vote in every election, and I always will. But our system is designed to be totally reactive to the whims of the moment at election time, only to have those folks realize the people they backed can't really do what they said they would do because the system prevents it.

People want whatever their immediate concern is addressed. Government isn't designed to address anything quickly. By the time government reacts to whatever the immediate concern is, the immediate concern has changed.

Two years from now people will be ticked off at the people who just got elected and they'll be ousted too. I'm just not going to invest my own energy in this dance, other than to vote or speak out when it's something really major.

Anyone who really wants to effect any kind of change - on either side - needs to hire public relations professionals to change the minds of the people. Then government has to react to that. It's designed to be that way, and it seems to work quite well, but it's not the way to accomplish much in a proactive manner.

Seaons Changing

The seasons are definitely changing. I needed a jacket this morning. Of course, it is November 2. This morning I needed a jacket. This afternoon I picked four ripe tomatoes. That pretty much doubled my garden yield for the year, I'm sorry to say.

I took them over to Bob and Ruth. I didn't have anything on hand worthy of enjoying them with and it was the least I could do considering that they've been taking care of my lawn all year long. I don't know what I ever did to deserve them as neighbors, but I'm thankful. They're great.

Yesterday at the 140 Character Conference I completed the last big project I had hanging over me for a couple of weeks. I have a few days now to just focus on the tasks at hand, but nothing is critical. So, it's time to put out some feelers for other freelance jobs, and tidy up a few little things that are hanging out there undone, and get myself organized.

This coming weekend we have an event at the Cosmosphere so I'll be working. Buz Carpenter, who flew the SR-71 Blackbird that's in our lobby, will be here to speak. He was here last year and was very popular so he's coming back again. Should be good. He and his wife are really pleasant people. It will be good to see them again. He's speaking at 1 and 3 on Saturday, for free, and signing autographs afterwards, so I expect we'll have good crowds.

I'm really having the urge to work on the novel again, but that's not writing that will pay me right away, so I'm just churning thoughts away in my brain. When I do get a chance to write maybe the remaining bits will just pour out of me with little effort. Wouldn't that be great?

I spent part of the morning with a gentleman I met at the conference yesterday, giving him a tour. I do love showing off the musuem. I'm very excited the 140conf is coming back to Hutchinson next year. Quite amazing. We have work to do before then.

This afternoon I had to take some materials to Wichita to the school system. It was a beautiful afternoon and kind of nice to let my brain be in neutral while I drove. Usually I have a long list of things to accomplish when I go over so it was nice to have a simpler agenda.

A few projects I've wanted to happen for 3-4 years seem like they may come to fruition soon. That would be wonderful. I can only hope it works out.

Twitter is Today's Civic Club - #140conf Speech in Hutchinson Kansas.

Today was the 140conf in Hutchinson, Kansas. It's the first ever smalltown one, and they're making plans to return next year - tentatively on Sept. 20, so make your plans now.

I was thrilled to be invited to speak, and despite last minute editing and rewriting of my speech it went well, I think.

We each had 10 minutes, so I knew I needed a script. Generally when I speak I just use bullet points, but if you ramble when you have 30 minutes it's no big deal - there's plenty of time to get back on track. If you ramble in 10 minutes, it's bad. So, I wrote a script. And stuck to it.

I thought I'd share it with you here....

In May of 2001, I sat in Kentucky with my best friends on either side of
me. Their arms were draped over my shoulders, literally and figuratively holding me together, through my mother’s funeral. If I’d had any doubt about the importance of friends, it would have been quelled that Mother’s Day.

Humans are instinctively drawn to form bonds. Building connection made sense as a way to share the chores of hunting and gathering, and it still makes sense regardless of where we are on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

When we connect with people amazing things happen in our bodies. Our stress levels plummet, we are less likely to be depressed and we can even fight infection more effectively. Connection is a magical thing – for our physical and mental health.

Developing friendship requires two things:
1. an opportunity to meet and
2. a willingness to engage.

Opportunities often arrive through a connection – we go to the same school, live in the same neighborhood, work at the same company, believe the same things, or know the same people.

Throughout our history, we have created these opportunities. After the industrial revolution took people from rural areas to more urban ones, they created civic clubs as a way to connect. All of the major ones were formed within a few years during that time period.

They gave people an opportunity to organize around a cause, and to have a chance to interact with people they might not otherwise have met. Within that structure some meaningful friendships were formed. Not psuedo friendships that didn’t exist outside of the club, but real friendships.

Real friendships are never formed over Roberts Rules of Order, just like they’re not made because you happen to work down the hall, go to the same church, or both tweet about marketing. They’re created through repeated interactions that deal with life. And not all of life is about major events, much of it is about the daily bits - Those seemingly insignificant occurrences of day to day living are what end up creating a lifetime.

Membership in civic clubs has steadily declined since the mid 1960s. We haven’t lost the interest in bonding, but that model isn’t serving our lives well anymore. One of the new ways we’ve found to meet and connect is through social media. We don’t have to live on the same street now to have a chance to meet each other, we can search out those with similar interests and even eavesdrop on their recent conversations to see if our initial instincts about them were right. Wouldn’t that be convenient in real life, too?

We share the happenings in our daily world with hundreds of people at a time through status updates. We connect with a whole twitterverse of people and our relationships get the Facebook Official stamp of approval.

Social media allows the conversation to continue even if geography prevents a face to face interaction. It helps us stay connected to people we have a history with and to develop new potential friendships.

But, there’s a second part of friendship, beyond the opportunity to meet - the willingness to engage.

Unless both parties are willing to engage in meaningful interaction, the relationship never goes beyond the “hi, how are you?” or the “oh, you should read this” stage. Just like people who met every Thursday at noon for a civic club, friendships only deepen if we go beyond the superficial. The same skill set is required online or off. Friendships require constant care and feedingThey demand that we put forth effort to connect, engage and repeat. And some risk is involved.

And we still seek that face to face interaction. We have tweetups and social media clubs and 140confs. When we do meet, our interaction online allows our real life conversation to start in a different place. Part of the reason we are driven to meet in person is that it’s easier to engage that way, no emoticons necessary. How many times have we read or written, “things don’t always come across the right way online.”

The friendships that support you at your mother’s funeral don’t come from casual conversation about a shared interest or because you work down the hall from each other. But they may start that way. They grow through repeated, meaningful interaction.

Every friendship starts somewhere - maybe at a club meeting or maybe through a tweet. That’s the opportunity to connect. The challenge is to have the willingness to engage.

Handwriting Beneficial for the Brain

Research showing that handwriting engages different parts of the brain, and strengthens the brain, is no shock to those of us who know what we write by hand is very different from what we write on keyboards. But, apparently, it's news to other people. So much so that The Wall Street Journal is reporting on a recent study.

They quote:
"It seems there is something really important about manually manipulating and drawing out two-dimensional things we see all the time," says Karin Harman James, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Indiana University who led the study.

Read the whole story at:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704631504575531932754922518-lMyQjAxMTAwMDAwNjEwNDYyWj.html

We've known for years that different parts of the brain are engaged when we write by hand. In "Patsy World," this is common sense. I guess in the "World World," we need studies to confirm it. I'm glad there is a new one. And that the media is reporting it.

Speech writing

I've been working on a number of things today, including my speech for the 140conf. In the process I've been rereading some blog entries, including this one about Dr. Robert Putnam speaking in Hutchinson.

Whenever I make notes for a speech, I'm amazed at how many different directions it can take. Eventually I hit upon something that seems workable for the particular occasion. This one is 95% there. I'm hoping the remaining 5% comes tomorrow.

Long Day

I got up at 5:15 this morning to get to El Dorado early for a presentation I was giving at 9. I was there in plenty of time, but I needed it to get everything set up. It was an ongoing joke when I worked in radio I was never good with the mechanical stuff. Unfortunately, I'm still not.

But, I had the computer and projector going when it was time for m presentation about social media. Unfortunately, I didn't get an opportunity to hear the keynote speaker, which I had hoped to do. It was someone I met at the TIAK conference a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to hear him speak. But, I guess today wasn't the day.

Jami was there, which was cool. I hope I didn't bore her senseless. Well, I hope I didn't bore anyone.

I really enjoy doing these presentations.

Tomorrow I have to finish up my speech for the 140conf on Monday. My topic is "Twitter is the new Civic Club." Hopefully I'll have something to say that's worth hearing. I hope.

Flights of Fancy

I've had this idea in the back of my mind for awhile... to be in Paris in May of 2011. I want to be there over Mother's Day and May 11. My mother died May 11 of 2001 and we buried her on Mother's Day that year. I'd like to be in Paris on that 10 year anniversary.

The first year after she died I was in Notre Dame at the exact moment of her death the year before. It was where I needed to be. Afterwards I went to Angelina's, and wrote, over curried chicken salad and their famous hot chocolate. I walked a few blocks to one of my favorite shops in Paris for perfume. Perfume is one of those little luxuries I adore, and has always been a symbol to me of finding joy in daily living. Then I surrounded myself with Monet's final eight works in l'Orangerie and tried to pull some of that beauty into my soul.

One of the greatest gifts Mama ever gave me was to teach me to do the things that make me happy. So on that day, I grieved - intensely and painfully - all morning for the loss of her. And that afternoon I celebrated the blessing of happiness she gifted me with, and walked around Paris grateful for it. That night I slept soundly, waking to a new reality. I had to say goodbye to some other things that May 11, some possibilities, and I had to accept some new realities. It was one of those "defining moment" days in my life.

For a few weeks I've been thinking about returning to Paris next May. Tonight I even looked up one of the places I've stay and it's available over that time frame, which is somewhat surprising. But, the cost of being there for a week is almost identical to just one of the medical bills I opened yesterday. So, my current reality only allows for trips to Paris in flights of fancy.

I have myself on such a strict budget that I haven't even allowed the purchase of a particular perfume I ran out of this past summer. Of course, I have plenty of other perfume, but it's funny how those little things matter so much. It's no surprise I guess. After all, I wrote a whole "This I Believe" piece about how little things matter to me.

But, obviously, these are not life or death problems, and I don't want to give the impression I don't understand that. I do. Very well. So, I think for now I'll just have to visit Paris in my mind, in those flights of fancy.

Quote of the Day

He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.
~Friedrich Nietzsche

Better Days Ahead

The last few work days have been difficult ones for a variety of reasons. Tomorrow will be a very long day, but hopefully it will go smoothly. There are better days ahead, I'm sure. Hopefully tomorrow is one of them.

The last week or so I've arrived home most nights worn out on multiple levels. Unfortunately, I can't afford the luxury of relaxing once I come home, so I never get to let go of the stress. But I have to be working on my extra jobs, or that house of cards will tumble. For the moment, this is just the way it is, and people have far worse problems.

So, I hope the coming days bring calm and contentment for all of us. I certainly need it, and I'm guessing others do too.

I come into...

I was rereading a Wendell Berry poem recently in which he says, "I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water."

I love that phrase, "I come into..." He speaks of coming into the peace of wild things who don't think about grief. My grandmother used to say, "Don't borrow sorrow from tomorrow." That's what he's saying ... to come into peace ... to not worry about future difficulties. A worthy goal ... to have peace.

In this same poem he writes about resting in the grace of the world. I love that sentiment - resting in grace.

Grace is my constant companion. I am thankful.

Hutch Haunts was Great

Saturday night I attended Hutch Haunts, a partnership of the Kansas Underground Salt Museum (KUSM) and the Hutchinson Theatre Guild. They were kind enough to invite me so I could write about the evening. It was a very full, and very fun, evening.

We started at KUSM with a welcome from Director Linda Schmitt, and heard an overview of the findings of paranormal investigators from Kansas City and Hutchinson. In a nutshell, they found no activity at Armstrong's Antiques or Fire Station Number 1, but found much activity at the Reno County Museum. They pointed out it didn't mean there was nothing there, just that nothing happened when they investigated.

Our next stop was Eastside Cemetery, where the theatre guild was doing its fourth annual presentation of "Talking Tombstones."

It was a perfect fall evening activity.









We then convened at the Reno County Museum and began a tour of the downtown spots the investigators went to. Our group finished at the museum, but we got a bit of history about it from a vantage point across the street at Memorial Hall as we started our tour.



Next we toured Armstrong's Antiques.



I'm afraid this ghostly flag flapping in the breeze was the most mysterious thing I photographed all night. And that wasn't too mysterious.

Next on our tour was Fire Station Number 1, which has been occupied 365 days a year since the early 20th century. At one time it housed the police station, too, and they showed us the two cell jail, which was interesting.



They even played a song for us, sung by Nancy Sinatra, written by someone who spent some time in the non-climate-controlled jail. It was called, "It's Cold in the Hutchinson Jail."

One of my favorite parts of the night was hearing a ghost story from Firefighter Casanova.



I could have listened to him talk about his experience for a long time. It was a highlight of the evening. Our timing was very good, too, because just as we were leaving an alarm went off and the firetruck was on its way to an emergency.

Our tour group wrapped up at the museum. I didn't know anything about ghost hunting, but apparently the approach is to go into any investigation trying to explain away anything that has been reported as unusual.

The ghost hunters shared their findings at each place, including some photographs they took the night they were investigating.



The blue room below was one of the "hot spots" in the museum. My photo, unfortunately, has nothing unusual about it. It's just a blue room.



We then went back to KUSM for a special underground tour through non-public areas. It was too dark for me to get photos during that tour, but suffice it to say that it was amazing.



Myron Marcotte, who oversees the mining operation, led us on a hike through the underground area, and shared some stories with us about miners who've died. I really, really enjoyed his tales of Lloyd Lightner.

Everytime I'm down in the salt mine I want to explore more and more. I've written about it before. We're so very fortunate to have it and the Cosmosphere in town - two world-class attractions right here.

Meaningful and Productive

I've noticed lately that two words keep coming up in my conversation - "meaningful" and "productive."

"Meaningful" is something I've been aware of for a long time, but "productive" is one I've not noticed so much.

Both of these are related to time, I think. I've always felt that time is short, very limited, and I'd best live fully every day because I don't have enough days to do all I want to do. That's not meant to be morbid - I expect to live a good, long time. But there's so much I feel driven to accomplish that I think there won't be enough time unless I'm cautious in how I spend it.

We talk about "spending time," but I think few people realize what it really means. We're spending it. We can't ever get it back.

So, because time seems so fleeting to me, I strive to make life meaningful - meaningful interaction and conversation. And by creating meaningful things. That's where the productivity comes in.

Have I actually created anything meaningful? Well, that remains to be seen and/or is in the eye of the beholder. But, I'm sure being productive is part of the process of working toward that if it hasn't yet happened. The idea of "paying your dues" is one that's really true. We have to have enough hours of practice to really get proficient at something.

That could spin off into a long, rambling, questioning series of paragraphs about what I'm proficient at. But, I'm going to spare us both - you from reading, and me from the inevitable conclusion that I'm not yet proficient at much.

So, there you go. All the more reason to be productive... to get proficient... to create something meaningful.

Written Right

Don’t get it right, just get it written.
James Thurber

This is great advice for writers - except those specializing in journalism. But the idea to get your fiction stories written - and fix the problems later - is sound.

When I ran across this quote tonight I was reminded of a conversation earlier this week with a young writer.

During the conversation I suddenly found myself sounding like one of those obnoxious old people dispensing advice. I think it was because I was giving advice. Who does that? Only old people. Obnoxious, old people. Well, at least any advice anyone would pay attention to. And this writer was listening, like I might know something. No doubt, she just didn't know anyone else to discuss such things with. That's the only logical explanation.

While I was enjoying the conversation, a part of me was screaming, "No, No, No... this can't be happening... I'm now *that* person... blathering on about how important it is to be able to write to time, space and deadline... Who's saying that? Oh my gosh, it's me... It can't be me... surely not... No, no, it's coming out of my mouth. It *is* me... Have I been reduced to this? Really? When did that happen?"

Unfortunately, it was hard to deny when, despite this conversation going on in my head, I did not stop talking. Oh no I didn't. I kept on going. Just like old people do when they're giving advice people have stopped listening to a few minutes before they stop talking. At that point you're just being indulged.

I prefer to think of this as a momentary lapse, and not a new pattern. I can't be that person. Not yet.