Always Searching . . .

Christmas Dinner

2011-12-05T09:29:00.001-05:00

Every year in the past I have roasted turkey for Christmas, serving a “traditional” Christmas dinner to our international guests. Perhaps traditional American or traditional European would be more accurate. Most of my guests have been from India or East Asia and turkey and the fixings are not at all traditional there.

This year, I decided to forget tradition and go for celebration. (I cannot cook a Christmas dinner without European foods, I simply won’t cook the traditional ones.) That’s right, for celebration, I’ll concentrate on color and taste, Red and green and other celebratory colors, and spices and chocolate.

Instead of turkey, we’ll have turkey/spinach/carrot/mushroom lasagna with an Alfredo sauce. I will cook the boneless turkey breast in my slow cooker with onion and sage and shred it for the lasagna.

And how about an Asian inspired vegetarian dish? Fried red curry tofu will provide protein and color.

These main dishes will be accompanied by bright green peas, roasted red carrots on a bed of yellow squash, and other vegetables, either roasted or otherwise prepared to make the best use of their color.

To finish, everyone likes chocolate, so Molten Chocolate cakes are in order, along with a more healthful (and French) Apple Tart-Tatin.

What will you have for Christmas? Would you like to make some of the dishes I am making? I’m happy to share my recipes.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-22T09:54:00.001-05:00

(This was sent to my clients in 2004. Some things bear repeating.)

In 1863, during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln announced a day of Thanksgiving with these words:

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

So, today, I thank God for our country and our blessings, but also want to thank you for paying me to do what I find so enjoyable, for always be gracious in the midst of computer problems, for allowing me to take as long as I need to fix what needs to be fixed, for putting up with me on those days when the words don't come out clearly, for all that you do that makes my job so much fun: Thank YOU!!!

And when your computer causes you problems, before I get there, consider this: Reverend Billy Graham writes of theologian Matthew Henry who at an old age was mugged on the street corner. That night, Henry wrote in his diary, “Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.” (Billy Graham, Unto the Hills (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996), 411.) In the same spirit, when things go wrong with your computer or the way you use it, be thankful that you have a computer, thankful that this thing does not happen frequently, thankful that a computer is really such a small part of life (it really is!), and thankful that you are not the one who has to fix the problem!

Getting Started

2011-10-26T07:28:00.001-04:00

Someone asked me how to start writing. Here are some tips:

Make the time. Every day, if you can. If you can’t manage some spare time every day, take time whenever you can.
Use your preferred writing medium: computer or paper and start writing whatever is in your mind or heart.
Write anything. Write everything. Don’t stop until you’re ready.
Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation; you can take care of that later when you edit.
When an idea strikes, wherever you are, jot it down so you can use it later.
A good book to get you started might be Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Easy to read with some good suggestions.

Remember, it’s not how well you start; it’s how well you finish. So start in whatever way works for you and then work at it until you finish. I tend to write fairly complete first drafts, but my novel may be in it’s 20th rewrite!

Multi-Media Publishing

2011-10-21T09:42:00.001-04:00

When I was in college, the notebook or the typewriter was the medium used to write term papers. Multi-media meant combining one or more medium with another. That meant, for example, gluing or taping pictures to the written document or combining the projection of still photographic images with music. During and post-college I produced multi-media “slide shows” which were individual projected images accompanied by a sound track.

Very soon after this, the personal computer became available, and soon after that the internet.

Today, multi-media means much more than it did during my college days. When I or another blogger or any online source publishes text, we can combine those words with music, video, pictures, etc. I like simple presentations, so in many ways I despise today’s multi-media. When I am reading, I don’t want to be distracted by other media. Websites that automatically play music don’t stay long in my browser. When I click on a newspaper article, I don’t want to see moving animation unless it is directly connected to the article. Much of today’s multi-media takes the form of advertising which I particularly wish to avoid.

I recently read an article from the New Yorker. I found it interesting, but lengthy, so I printed it to read later. Although the piece was interesting, it referred to embedded video which I could not view in the printout. I printed a newspaper article about spiders for my files. It had two illustrations. However they were presented as an animated slide show, so only one of the illustrations appeared in the print out; not the one I particularly wanted. In each case, I was left wanting.

What does this mean? Have we become a paperless society? Future news and information will be read on devices like the Kindle or the Fire or any tablet or phone or computer that pulls video, still images, and music from the web to your device. Is this better or worse or indifferent.

Let’s start with better. Never a cognitive morning reader, I found a better way to read the poem: have a professional read it to me. I always have trouble with some punctuation marks: semi-colons and long dashes. I was able to find a site that not only made it clear, but read sentences so I could hear the difference. Graphics, video, and audio files all add to our understanding.

Now for the worse. I’m tired of being bombarded with pictures and music that add nothing to the text or detract from it. Some of these are ads; some are simply irrelevant to the text. You have all heard the webpage that has “stupid” music playing in the background, or the page with pictures that have nothing to do with the article or blog you are reading. That is one reason why my blog posts contain few pictures.

As for the indifferent, this is more a perspective of the reader/listener than the web designer. After awhile we learn to tune out all but the most obnoxious tunes, pictures, and videos. Or if one site annoys, we’ll find what we want on another.

So, embrace the multi-media that improves your experience and when you do think about what life would be like without it and give thanks for these small, but significant advances in technology.

Electronic Note Taking

2011-10-21T08:58:00.001-04:00

When you visit any website, Amazon, a blog, a journal, any website, you might want to take notes on what you find there. I take notes on information relating to my novels and short stories, my business, recipes, and other matters. In the past I have recommended Microsoft One Note and have used it extensively. The time has come to make a new recommendation.

First, let me explain why I have moved away from Microsoft One Note. Microsoft has put One Note in the place where Apple computers once lived: in the land of non-compatibility. In the past, if you wanted to play a certain game or use a certain app on a Mac, you couldn’t. But Apple has gained wisdom while Microsoft’s petty attitude of superiority is costing it a loyal customer. Simply consider one Apple app: ITunes. You can use it on a Mac or on a PC or on your smartphone. Now consider the equivalent Microsoft app: Windows Media Player. You can use it on a PC or on your smartphone, but only if it is a Windows smartphone. Get the picture?

The same thing holds true for One Note. You can use it on a PC or on a Windows smartphone or an IPhone, but not on an Android phone, and certainly not Blackberry or Palm. What if you want to use a PC, an Android phone, and an Ipad? Say goodbye to One Note and hello to Evernote. Evernote works on almost every smartphone, tablet, and with Mac, PC, Android, Blackberry, and Palm.

What are the functional differences between One Note and Evernote? I set up Evernote on my Windows 7 PC and imported my notes from One Note. All my notes from all my folders imported into a single notebook in Evernote. However they were tagged with the name of their folder (Recipes, Cabin, Journal, etc.) so it was a simple matter to set up Evernote notebooks with those names and move the notes to the appropriate notebook.

I used One Note mainly for saving web clippings. I copied an article of interest to me and pasted it into Evernote. It worked as seamlessly as One Note and looked better. Like Amazon’s Kindle, Evernote give you an email address to let you send notes directly to Evernote. I haven’t tried it, but it sounds like a good idea. I can then forward an interesting email to that email address and have it saved in Evernote. Cool. Evernote stores your notes online, so you can access them from any computer. Finally, Evernote is free for a basic account, which is all I and most people need. If you want the Premium Account it only costs $5 month or $45/year.

What else can you do with Evernote? You can share your note by emailing it or posting it on Twitter or Facebook. I emailed one to myself to test it and I received the body of the note in the body of the email. I haven’t yet tried posting to Twitter or Facebook, but I expect it will work as seamlessly.

Is there any reason to continue using One Note? I haven’t found one. If you have, please let me know.

A Whisper of Peace: A Review

2011-10-17T07:41:00.001-04:00

A Whisper of Peace is a novel which takes place predominately in the 19th century Alaskan wilderness. Of all the new novels by Christian authors I have read this year, this one was the most well-crafted and well-written.

A Whisper of Peace is the story of three people who are searching for peace in their lives. Clay, the son of a pastor ministering to Paiutes, has left his home in the Oklahoma Territory. Armed with high expectations of following in his father’s footsteps, he tries, with little success, to start a successful church among the Athabascan natives of Alaska. His half-sister, Vivian, joins him to get a fresh start from the secret which haunts her past. The first Athabascan Clay and Vivian meet is Lizzie. Deserted by her Caucasian father and an outcast from her tribe, she seeks peace through reconciliation with her grandparents and finding her father in San Francisco. Clay and Vivian try to heal a generational rift between Lizzie, and her grandparents, an action which puts Clay and Vivian at odds with the very people they want to help and creates a dilemma between helping the one and helping the many.

These three characters find their lives taking turns that they had not expected. Vivian finds that her secret is not as she had believed. She changes her life to reflect her new perspective. Lizzie discovers her life objective changed; She changes, too. Clay realizes that church is not what he thinks it is--a brief note from his father and he immediately feels better. Predictably Clay and Lizzie fall in love. You will have to read the book for yourself to find out what happens.

I enjoyed the author’s depictions of wilderness life: canoeing, hunting, snaring, and fishing, and her description of tribal culture. (You can learn more about the Athabascan people here.) I also enjoyed the two child characters that were links between Lizzie and the missionaries and her Athabascan people. I found most characters’ physical descriptions believable.

I have only two complaints about the book. First, I couldn’t generate any particular like or dislike for any of the characters. Clay and Lizzie both have clear-cut goals and a strong determination to achieve their goals. Vivian doesn’t know what she wants. I wanted to find some point of identification with the characters, but their problems seemed so easily handled. Indeed, some major problems arise, then without further comment, they disappear. One example is a head injury which debilitates Clay until all at once it is no longer an issue. The heavy internal issues that the characters wrestle with don’t seem to consume them as they would a real person. At the end, the novel skips ahead two years and shows all the characters perfectly happy.

My other complaint, and it may be related to the first one, is that the book seems old. Not old in the sense of a timeless classic, but old in the sense that it tries to communicate to someone living in another time period, I’m just not sure where. I recently reviewed a novel that contained a “chaste kiss;” For a love story, this novel has no kiss at all and little passion.

Sure, Clay shows great passion for what he wants to do for God, but little passion for anyone or anything else. Indeed, his passion for Lizzie, the woman he loves, comes only in fits and spurts and he shows very little care for his step-sister Vivian. I want an author to make me feel what the characters feel and these characters feel very little.

That being said, this is the most well-written new Christian novel I have read this year. There were no glaring spelling or grammar errors. If you want to read a book purely for entertainment and to get a small glimpse of 19th century frontier life, pick this up. But if you want to enter the world of people who lead deep lives that resonate into the 21st century, find another novel.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Ebooks and Their Readers

2011-10-11T07:46:00.001-04:00

At a past writer’s conference, one of the presenters gave a talk on the ontology of books. His main point seemed to be that the ebook was a failure. It was a failure because it did not give the emotional satisfaction of a book. It was a failure because an ebook cost as much or more to produce than a book. He spoke about the printing industry and the emotional bond he had with his father through his father’s library.

At the time, I partially agreed. I had no knowledge of the printing industry and how it compared to ebook production and his statements seemed reasonable. My personal experience with my Kindle was a love/hate experience, but the love slightly outweighed the hate. Sure the Kindle was expensive, needed to be charged, could be broken, and did not have the tactile feel of a book. But I did find it convenient to carry. I am usually reading several books at a time and don’t’ always know which one I will feel like reading in a particular situation. It is also convenient not to have to move the book light every time I turn a page. Yes, I read at night in bed.

As I have used it over the years, however, I have found the benefits to outweigh the detriments. The Kindle is great for notes. I don’t carry a notebook when I read; I lose notebooks. Nor do I carry a highlighter or post-its. The Kindle lets me mark passages and refer to them later. If I have forgotten to mark a passage, I can do a search. The search function is very useful when I review a book. I can easily count the number of times an author has used a word or term. And when I am ready to write my review, I can go back through my pages of notes and pick out quotes to use in the review. My notes give me a link back to their location in the book so I can check context.

What don’t I like? Sure, the battery lasts a long, long time, but I dread the day when I pick it up to write a review and it says “low battery.” If that does happen, I can go to kindle.amazon.com and find my notes, but not link to the context. Kindle for PC or Mac or Smartphone lets you sync with your computer or phone. You can find your notes and link to the context. For some books this does not work at all. If you, as I do, acquire some of your books from a source other than Amazon, you may not be able to see your notes anywhere but your Kindle. (*Some of the publishers I review for have their own download link for review copies.)

Library books are available for the Kindle but they are limited. I had been hoping that borrowing with the Kindle would provide a better experience than the library. I don’t usually borrow library books, because I have trouble returning them by the due date. EBooks can be borrowed for two weeks only. That short time really doesn’t bother me because there are so few books available that I would want to read.

As a writer, I keep track of the publishing industry. The latest figures show eBooks outselling paper books. And why not? An eBook is instantly accessible, never smells musty, never becomes damaged. It’s a different method of reading but the words and thoughts are the same. Whether you prefer paper or eBook is up to you. I’ll push to have my novels published in both forms, but will read them on my Kindle. They were composed on a computer; why not read them on an electronic device? Let me know what you think about eBooks and Ereaders. Are you using them? Do you love or hate them?

The Soul Reader By Gerard D. Webster: A Review

2011-10-10T11:29:00.001-04:00

The Soul Reader: A Novel of Suspense

The Soul Reader has a name. No it’s not simply the name of the book but also the description of the protagonist, Ward McNulty, who has the power (but only in sufficient light) to discern a person’s spiritual state. Like any good hero, however, he fails to recognize his own failings. . . until the middle of the book.

This novel begins as a perilous adventure to discover the mastermind behind a series of murders. McNulty, a journalist, has hit bottom: jobless, homeless, and crippled, when his erstwhile girlfriend, Carrie, hands him a book deal partnership where his investigative journalism skills come to the fore in their quest to expose the mastermind behind the murders of members of a large commercial fraud, including the murder of McNulty’s father. The story unfolds with the involvement of a retired police detective, a member of the FBI, a Colombian saint, and an Italian businessman. And let’s not forget to throw in the assassin with no identity other than “Culebra,” until the middle of the book.

Yes, it’s the middle of the book where the loose ends start to be tied while the novel falls apart. First, let me state that if you are a traditional Roman Catholic, this novel may enthrall you. But for other readers, it is a mess. Disturbing news reports of McNulty’s demise cause McNulty’s mother and wannabe girlfriend to sit together and recite the rosary. It calms them. Then McNulty, in the midst of danger, starts to say the hours, decades, or centuries. I’m not sure which, because I have no idea what any of it means. To top it all off, I find my first textual error: a misspelled word.

You might think I am anti-Roman Catholic. I’ll leave that to your perception. I thoroughly enjoyed and recommended a novel where the lead character was a Roman Catholic “sister,” and have great respect for other Roman Catholic authors including Flannery O’Connor, J.R.R. Tolkien, Malcolm Muggeridge, Walker Percy, Henri Nouwen, G.K. Chesterton, Graham Greene, and Thomas Merton. What made “The Passion of Mary-Margaret,” a contemporary Roman Catholic novel, readable, was the simple and clear explanations of Roman Catholicisms. And that is where The Soul Reader completely fails.

And now I must digress. The two women find comfort in repeating “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” They repeat it over and over. I have been to Roman Catholic funerals and seen and heard this. Why not pray scripture? Perhaps one of the Psalms? From my perspective, reciting those words over and over is no different from reciting any word or words for meditation reasons. Whether the word be Om or Jesus or Holy Mary, such repetition may be designed only to clear the mind for meditation. If a Christian is in distress, as I believed these women were, why wouldn’t they call on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith? Why wouldn’t they tell him how they feel? Why wouldn’t they use an appropriate Psalm? I often pray Psalm 121 or Psalm 139 in my distress. One of the women says that she thinks of Psalm 61 while she is reciting the rosary, but that’s as far as it goes. The Psalms are all directed to God in joy or distress or thanksgiving. It seems to me, that if we’re calling on God is our distress, we’re going to want to directly entreat God as did our examples in the Bible, and not call on the mother of Jesus, a practice nowhere mentioned in the Bible.

But, digression aside, let’s return to the text. It is in the center of the novel where I became aware of Culebra’s identity before any of the novel’s characters knew his identity, and where I began to see the secret behind the Italian businessman. At this point, I wondered if I even wanted to read through to the end. I have read so many bad novels by Christian authors in the past year; I would love to be proven wrong about a book that started with so much promise.

Did it prove me wrong in the end? Partially. There were a couple of twists I hadn’t anticipated. There were also a couple of misspelled words, bad placement of the word “only,” one word used for its opposite meaning, and an office pulled out of thin air. I was also irritated by the 28 times the author used the word “feature” instead of “face” or spiritual “state” or “condition.” The author used the word “basically” three times in a single paragraph. He used the word animal magnetism only once but once is too often in any writing. I also found problems with simile and comparison. Perhaps I am too literal, but does this work on any level?

. . . as insensitive to the feelings of others as a buzzard would be to the feelings of roadkill.

Or how about this comparison?

Mercy was more foreign than Mercury. . .

No, there was no science fiction or space travel in this novel and no consideration of the night sky.

This Soul Reader was a good start for this author. With a good editor, he could lose the middle and the very end and add some real passion and emotion rather than a “chaste kiss,” He might then have a book full of exciting moments. As the book stands, however, only a Roman Catholic reader might truly enjoy it.

When I Wanted to Quit the Church

2011-10-07T07:09:00.001-04:00

Have you ever wanted to quit church? Perhaps you never started. Here is the story of why I wanted to quit church and why I ended up staying.

Seventh grade was the worst year of my life.

Fourth grade had been the worst year. New school, new city, no friends. Even though I loved the quiet area where we lived, I felt like I was drifting through life, like I was being done to rather than doing. I wasn’t yet old enough to see the light ahead.

Following fourth grade, fifth grade was the worst year of my life. New school, new city, no friends, and a densely populated area. Life was horrible at home and I only wanted to hide under my desk at school. My walk from school took me past a library. I hid in my room and read books.

After fifth grade, sixth grade was the worst year of my life. Same school, same city, no friends. I grew my hair long and continued to cart home as many library books as I could carry. In school I hid behind my long hair and at home I hid in the books I read.

But seventh grade was the worst of all. Same city, new school, no friends; it was the other changes that brought new lows. I no longer passed a library on my walk to school and I was expected to go to school dances and participate in school and church activities.

The high points: I had a poem published in the school paper and I met a friend. It wasn’t a particularly good poem and we were friends for all of the wrong reasons. We were the kind of friends who never spent the night at each other’s house. So what made us friends? We were the ones who didn’t fit in. We went to dances and agreed not to dance so neither of us could feel bad that we weren’t asked. We went out for cheerleading knowing that we both would fail. This friendship of avoidance and failure ended when I left that school after two years.

The low point: my search for meaning. I was enrolled in catechism classes that year. They were taught by the pastor of the church. I loved church. I loved the music, the liturgy. It was a place of safety and security. The one place with the promise of “all is well and all will be well.” My heart leapt with the words of the Te Deum Laudamus (We Praise Thee, O God) which we sang as a sort of chant.

We praise thee, O God :
    we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee :
    the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud :
    the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim :
    continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy :
    Lord God of Sabaoth*;

Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty :
    of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles : praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets : praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs : praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world :
    doth acknowledge thee. . .

But the same man who led that church couldn’t be bothered with the questions of pre-teen girl searching for meaning. I don’t remember what I asked; nor do I remember the response. I only remember that his response ridiculed me in front of the others in that catechism class. I begged my mother to let me drop out, but she refused. I begged to stay home from church, but she refused that, also.

I finished the class and to this day remember only these words: “I will fear and love God,” a phrase that appropriately states the ambiguity of faith. But I had no room for ambiguity in my life; fear overwhelmed love. I finished that class without asking any more questions, donned the white robe, and was subsequently accepted into the church, a church that was no longer safe and secure. A church of hypocrisy and fear.

And yet, I knew there was something more. Somewhere.

Now an adult, I know that all churches are filled with the same types of people we find anywhere else: the broken narcissists, the depressed hypocrites, the maudlin pundits. (Yes, I had to throw them in to lighten this dire non-diatribe.) But the churches I respect most are those where the people realize their own lack and look to Jesus, where they acknowledge that we live in a stasis between what is and what should be, and where none of us is bigger than God.

Yes, I said “we” and “us.” I cannot leave the church because, as it hobbles along, its crutch is Jesus and that’s the same secure aid I need in my life. And the people hobbling with me are the ones I need to be with in my worst of times and my best.

But I will never stop searching; not for the best church or the best people, but for the best life lived in Christ in his church. I want to stand in the church of the here and the yet to come, the church of the crumpled and crushed, the church of the damaged and destroyed, the church without pretension. As part of that church, I am part of something bigger and more important than an Ohio State Football game and its fickle fans (no pun intended.). As part of that church, my life has greater purpose than I could have ever envisioned.

Church is the place of the holy ones of God who are called together through wars and hardship, wins and losses, struggles and pain, to lie prostrate, kneel, or stand and worship the Lord of Heaven and Earth. Here is where I join the saints, angels, and martyrs to shout, sing or whimper, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Here is where “the saints go marching in” and I do, do, do “want to be in that number.”

We are trav'ling in the footsteps
Of those who've gone before,
And we'll all be reunited,
On a new and sunlit shore,
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
And when the sun refuse to shine
And when the sun refuse to shine
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the sun refuse to shine
And when the moon turns red with blood
And when the moon turns red with blood
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the moon turns red with blood
Oh, when the trumpet sounds its call
Oh, when the trumpet sounds its call
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the trumpet sounds its call
Some say this world of trouble,
Is the only one we need,
But I'm waiting for that morning,
When the new world is revealed.
Oh When the new world is revealed
Oh When the new world is revealed
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the new world is revealed
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

Does your heart cry to be in that number? Do you feel outcast, rejected? As I was writing this, I happened upon a video that may say it better. And no, going back to church doesn’t have to happen on September 18, December 25, or any other propitious date. Whenever you go, it is the right time.

If you are looking for a church like the one in the video or the one that I want, don’t be afraid to ask me for a recommendation. Here are two I recommend: Vineyard Church of Columbus, Vineyard Chillicothe. And there are many others. Please leave a comment and let me know whether your pain kept you from church or brought you to church.

I leave you with a lighter song from the early 1980’s.

*Sabaoth is the Anglicizing of the Latinizing of the Greek of the Hebrew word for “armies.”

Camping in Georgia by D. Harkness

2011-10-04T14:39:00.000-04:00

Camping in Georgia

The darkest dark of moonless night

around that Georgia lake

the tent went up by car headlight

the poles, the nylon, and the stakes

Happy to be safe inside

we touched, we kissed, and more

the night was warm and as we drowsed

the water lapped the shore

But terrors of the night abound

which ears and flesh invade

and unseen creepy crawly things

a camper's nightmare preys

Just a dream I knew it was

until I felt it there

and in the light I knew it true

creepy crawly in my hair

First love, now rape

in every crevice every pore

ants within and on my skin

ants covering the floor

Grabbing cover; To the showers!

No quiet sleep that night

the car seat was the bed of choice

until the first daylight.

The brightest bright of Georgia day

showed truly where we faltered

the entire lakeside was their home

the ants thought we were squatters!

The moral of this story strange

is not what you might expect

for only in that one state park

did ants arrive unchecked.

So never set the tent by dark

and never in that Georgia park

where ants control entire tracts

and danger lurks behind your back.

The Scroll by Grant R. Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky (A review)

2011-10-01T19:42:00.001-04:00

The Scroll: A Novel

The Scroll is a novel in which many of the characters are archaeologists. Lest you immediately think of the dull painstaking removal of ancient dust by means of a small paintbrush, these archaeologists get right to business using the latest technology and reluctantly blowing holes in standard archeological practice, while avoiding having holes blown in themselves.

Dr. David Chambers is the lead archaeologist, ready to change archeological and life direction until called back to Israel by his mentor, Abram Ben-Judah, to lead a group looking for treasure places described by a copper scroll discovered in the Qumran area. The novel gives the reader a taste of current archeological method including the difficulty in deciphering ancient text and location when spelling, iconography, and geography have changed or disappeared in time. We are also introduced to new methods of surveying beneath the earth’s surface for long buried evidence.

The story is a straightforward archaeological mystery, intertwined with a volatile political situation. There is love and death and subterfuge, but this novel cannot be described as suspenseful or romantic. Although the character of David Chambers is multi-faceted, the other characters appeared one-dimensional. I was left wishing for more danger, more action, more emotion, and better characterization. I was wishing for anything to make me feel something for the characters. If this novel is made into a movie, I definitely want to see it.

The Scroll is an easy read for a summer beach or a winter fire, especially if you are interested in Biblical archeology.

Unpacking Creative Speculative Non-Fiction

2011-09-28T08:08:00.001-04:00

When I plan a vacation, my first thought is the box of books. Which can I finish? Which will inspire me? Which will propel me forward in life? I stare at the piles of books and the corrugated box. I want to include everything and nothing. I want the selected few, but I don’t know which fall into that category. Should I take the books waiting to be reviewed or the ones I didn’t finish last year or the year before or the year before that?

This year, I became wise. I took one fiction book

Valley of Bones (Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy)

one book of creative non-fiction

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America

an academic book I have been reading

On the Reliability of the Old Testament

and my Kindle which contains my Bible and other books.

So how did I do with the reading? I never picked up Valley of Bones. I never picked up On the Reliability of the Old Testament. I completely finished The Devil in the White City. And I read a few out of print short stories on my Kindle.

The Devil in the White City is a work of creative non-fiction. I am not completely convinced that this genre should even exist. Creative non-fiction is factual writing mixed with “what could have happened.” Now, if you take this to its extreme, it is historical fiction. Historical fiction is a fictional story set in a historical period. Could it have happened? Maybe.

The Devil in the White City is a true story set in a historical period with what may or may not be fictional elements. I am writing a series of novels about the Prophet Elijah. What we know about him would not fill a single book. However I have set his story in its historical time and included elements of modern thought, technology, clothing, etc. How would I have to modify my novel to make it creative non-fiction? I could take out the modern elements, thought, and place names. What then? The characters I invented could have existed. There is no evidence for or against their existence. The action I wrote could have taken place. There is no evidence for or against it.

Others have told me that my fiction is speculative fiction. How about creative speculative non-fiction? If I include footnotes will that make my novel non-fiction?

And what is true? If we add what might have been and call it “creative” is it still true? And if it is not true, can it be called “non-fiction.” I have always believed that the untrue was fiction. Have we so blurred the lines of demarcation that we no longer call what is true, non-fiction?

There is a writers conference in the spring on narrative non-fiction. If I attend will they answer my questions?

What do you think about all of this?

Authors that Disappoint: A Review of Two Books

2011-09-17T17:12:00.001-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to read two novels: one by a best-selling Christian author I have long known and read, the other by an author I had never heard of. The first book is One Step Away by Eric Wilson; the second, Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann.

These novels are set in the current time, in recognizable places in the United States. What both novels also share is unexpected poor writing. Let me qualify the remarks that follow by noting that One Step Away was in paper book format, Indelible in Kindle format.

Both books suffer from grammar and punctuation errors. The first is homonym confusion. Homonyms are words that sound alike or similar but have different meanings. For example, you can pique someone’s interest, but you cannot peak their interest. That was an actual example of homonym confusion from Indelible. Other words were simply wrong and I suspect the author consulted a thesaurus rather than a dictionary. Among these are canted which is never something done with a neck as the author states and a word not used at all in this time; spewed which is poured out of something, not as the author used it for rocks sliding away from a trail runner. And two characters drive their hands; one into dense clay which is an acceptable use, one into water, which is not. One Step Away contained missing words.

The worst offender, Indelible, contained hyphenated words that should not be hyphenated and individual words that should be hyphenated left unhyphenated. Some paragraphs were indented; some weren’t. Some phrases were in a much larger font than the rest of the book. Some words were combined which should have been spaced. Finally, the letter “r” or “S” in a different font was inserted sporadically.

One Step Away contained characters that acted out of character, creating unbelievable characters and a predictable plot. Indelible had characters with silly names and a predictable plot. Indelible used at least one unbelievable metaphor (eg. disturbed leaves in a rocky mountain stream compared to goldfish—which would never be found in a cold Colorado creek) and other descriptive terms pulled inappropriately from other disciplines (eg. segue, a musical term). Possibly Indelible’s most inexcusable error was to use bits of the the epic poem, Paradise Lost, pulled out of context to drive a subplot.

To be fair, Indelible ‘s author had greater dexterity in describing scenes and places than did the author of One Step Away. But I found myself racing to the end of both books merely to be done with them. Do authors realize how much grammatical errors distract from their writing? Have publishers stopped editing? What more can I say about these books? If you want to read a well-written novel, stay away from both of them.

I was provided a free review copy of Indelible by the publisher for the purpose of this review. I purchased my copy of One Step Away.

My Review of Surprised by Oxford: A Memoir by Carolyn Weber

2011-08-25T12:49:00.001-04:00

Surprised by Oxford: A Memoir

Surprised by Oxford encompasses Carolyn Weber’s first year of graduate studies in literature at Oxford University. From this Canadian native’s mishaps with British busses, to the memorable professors, colorful students, and descriptions of student life at Oxford, there is never a boring chapter. Weber shows us her search for a true life course, rather than her coursework. From time to time the linear pattern based on the sessions at Oxford, digresses to reveal her less than perfect childhood, but never to the point of self-indulgence. Brief glimpses of her family show a selfish and absentee father, balanced by a tight-knit family of mother, sister, and brother. From the time she arrives at Oxford, Carolyn “Caro” Weber’s world view is confronted by the literature she reads and by her fellow students and professors. Reluctantly she sees her life change in a way she had never imagined.

Now, before I continue I must state that I don’t read memoirs. Why would I want someone else’s memories when I cannot fully appreciate my own? I would not have read this one were it not for the word Oxford in the title. Oxford summons for me all the mystery of cloistered halls inhabited with the characters and spirits of, among others, C. S. Lewis, (“and now the bridge is breaking. . .”); J.R.R. Tolkien (“A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a short cut to meet it.”); Thomas Hobbes (Appetite, with an opinion of attaining, is called hope; the same, without such opinion, despair.”); John Locke (“The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom.”); and John Donne (“More than kisses, letters mingle souls.”) How could I refuse such a book, if it would, only in snatches, put me in the presence of such as these. I love Oxford for the writers it has nourished, who have then nourished me.

But, on to the book. I fully expected to hate it as a memoir, but the more I read the more I wanted to read. I soaked up every quote at the beginning of each chapter and the quotes within, quotes from U2 and the Beatles to poets, poets, and more poets. I found myself laughing at her mishaps and cringing at her pain. When I finished reading, I found myself wanting to stand in Oxford with her. I wanted to eavesdrop on her conversations. I wanted to know her friends. Beyond every pain and the paradox, she found joy. And when it all came to a close, it became a small love story within a larger love story that overcame the author’s doubts as she learned to live with paradox and promise. It very much reminded me in some intangible way of Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis.

Surprised by Oxford makes you want to stop and listen; to ask questions along with the author, the same questions she was asking. Why does God let babies die? Why do horrible things happen if there is a loving God? Why are people so evil? Why does everyone else have it all together and I can’t seem to catch up? How does Christian faith work in real life, in academia? These are questions I have asked, and some that I ask still.

Surprised by Oxford is a book written by a writer who loves the English language and shows it. She uses British terms and spelling but never without an explanation. Some other reviewers found this to be a problem, but I enjoyed experiencing Oxford life, Briticisms and all. I recently read another memoir by another literature grad student and found it so dull I could barely finish it. Surprised by Oxford

Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life

is in a different class, one that instead of dragging the reader down, lifts the reader up and inspires the reader to ask questions. If you wonder whether Jesus is for you, this is the book you should read. If you love literature, this is a book for you. If you want Jesus and literature, this is the book.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

What Makes A Book Great?

2011-08-22T08:17:00.001-04:00

First, let me talk about what makes a book bad. Bad is a broad category but I was pulled into it recently when an author I liked moved to a different publisher and then released a new book which appeared to be of a different genre than he had used previously. I was excited to read where he was headed now, but the book was disappointing. Errors kept stopping me. Missing words, wrong words, words repeated too frequently and used inappropriately. Each one brought the flow of the text to a halt and forced me to consider what happened. I decided that the move to a new publisher came with a sub-standard editor. Editors are supposed to catch those sorts of things before the book is released. Next, the book was a type of mystery. I thought I knew from the start the identity of the evil-doer, but I hoped I was wrong. We all want to be surprised. The end was a disappointment because I was right. I don’t put a lot of thought into reading fiction, so only poor writing could have caused this. Finally, I found the characters so unrealistic that I could not believe in the story. What do I mean by that? It is the author’s task to create an environment where we can believe what is happening. This author failed to do that. I really liked his last series of books, so I will not mention his name here. Everyone has a flop at some point and I hope this will be his only one.

Next, I’ll move on to books that are memorable for one or more reasons. A contemporary author who has created some of the most memorable scenes for me is Ted Dekker. No, he is not what I would consider a great writer, but there are places in his books, where I need to stop. Not because of poor word choice or bad editing, but because he has described something so transcendent that I don’t want to forget it. That makes him an author whose books I remember and refer to in years to come. Not all of his books do that for me, but certainly his Circle Trilogy did.

Black/Red/White (The Circle Trilogy 1-3)

Other authors cause me to question life as I view it. Madeleine L’Engle has singularly done that for me since childhood. Any one of her books, at some time of my life, has pushed me into places I needed to go and restored me from the depths. I have read every one of her books, many of them more than once. She is the writer whose writings I most want to emulate. My only regret is that I never met her in person.

Annie Dillard is another writer who has made a difference in my life. The first time I picked up one of her books, I could not get through it because I was stopped short by a scene she depicted. It moved me so greatly that I could not continue. In the years since that time I have tried to find that same scene and failed. Did that scene exist or did something she wrote create an image in my mind that was different from her words? I don’t know the answer. Her use of language is something I try to emulate. She paints pictures with words. It is my goal to read all of her books in my lifetime. I am grateful she hasn’t written many because her books take time to read and ponder.

Flannery O’Connor wrote letters, book reviews, short stories, and novels. I own her collected works because it includes her novels, short stories, and letters. Flannery wrote many letters by typewriter to readers and other writers and friends. She used carbon paper to keep a copy for herself. I find her letters easier to read than her novels and short stories which have given me images that cannot leave me.

What books move you?

BURIAL

2011-08-19T17:53:00.001-04:00

(a reflection on Gustav Courbet’s Burial at Onan and his exchange of romanticism for realism)

The corpse: clay-molded

tint and timbre of living being,

gaspless, tearless, hidden,

like life’s mourners stolid, lifeless

obscuring thoughts of self-demise.

The priest alone cradles hope

but repetitious, death fatigues

like the Christ of the crucifix

A cruel staccato rat-a-tat-tat

until, in our numbness,

we give up our own souls

to the pit

And one kneeling at the grave looks up.

Is that all you have:

dirt and dust and soul in the sky?

No tear for loss,

only the book and crucifix

and another who dies as we.

Even the dog looks away

but you, your darkened tones

speak your melancholy melody

Orphaned, distanced,

darkness is all you know.

Your heart bangs shut

in violent storm

Scattered shadows locked within

a heart that will not see.

A Poem Inspired by My Review of WITH

2011-08-19T10:24:00.001-04:00

Prepositional Truth

(Prepositions are insignificant words that we are unable to exorcise from the English language.)

of, in, by

What do I

desire, fear, battle

to, for, with

One who holds

complete, secure

at, down, from

spirit rub spirit

flesh press flesh

over, under, against

evil, famine, drought

sickness, ruin, death

between, above, before

time and space

expand eternity.

Of the Father,

In the Son,

By the Spirit

evermore.

With by Skye Jethani

2011-08-16T06:43:00.004-04:00

I was initially disappointed with With. At first glance it was another one of those one-word titled manuscripts that are a fluff of common facts and anecdotal yarns spun in a way to tickle the minds of those blind to the emperor’s new clothes and designed to land on the bestseller’s list. Malcolm Gladwell did it with Outliers and Blink. And now Skye Jethani, is doing it with With, taking one-word titles to a new low by using a preposition, one of the English language’s lowliest parts of speech containing only a singular meaning. If it seems as though I’m tired of one-word book titles, you have it right. However, my initial reservations were blown to pieces by the time I reached the halfway point in the book. Despite his overuse of prepositions, Jethani has crafted an expose worth reading. Jethani confronts the comfortable mindsets of believers and non-believers in Jesus, exposing those mindsets as deficient to satisfy our deepest longings and relieve our deepest fears. Drawn from his experiences as a pastor and his research into current events, Jethani points to four attitudes that deprive us of intimacy with God and fail to relieve our fears.

Jethani’s four approaches to life are named, defined, and expounded in the first five chapters using personal anecdotes, observations from his life and ministry, and quotes from contemporary literature. Life Over God, the easiest to of the concepts to understand, is life lived apart from God; God is not part of the picture of daily living. Life Under God, is the second least difficult to understand. Commonly termed “legalism”, it is the belief that adhering strictly to a set of rules will provide blessing from God.

The next two approaches hit closer to home. The person living Life From God views God as a means to an end, perhaps not overtly, but holding an interior view that God’s gifts, His blessings, are more valuable than relationship with Him. Here, Jethani discusses consumerism and its contained spiritual lie, but his most valuable illustration is the wayward son in Jesus’ parable in Luke 15. There we see the son valuing his inheritance and his way of life over relationship with his father. Indeed, don’t we all sometimes feel that our relationship with God just doesn’t cut it and we’ll go out to eat, enjoy a movie, or indulge in some other pleasure to fill the void, while feeling secure in our salvation?

Finally, Life For God, is a life lived for the mission, the life-purpose, rather than for the One who created your life. It is a life lived for the purpose and authentication provided by accomplishing the mission or goal, rather than remaining in relationship with God and letting Him provide our value. The most poignant story Jethani related in this chapter is his encounter with Christian students at a Christian college who believed that God was disappointed with them because of their struggles. They weren’t living up to God’s standards; They felt that they had failed God. As I continued to read this chapter, I suddenly felt like I had gained understanding of the preceding chapters.

Everyone, everywhere, at some time, stands with their soul’s arms and feet stuck in one or all of these non-relational positions, like a cruel game of Twister, never able to reach the goal because the goal changes with each turn of the wheel. That’s exactly what I’ve found life to be like with a God who is spirit, interpreted by imperfect humans. I’m writing here about myself and the preachers in my life, from my parents to my friends to the ones in the pulpit. What God wants is relationship and we want it too, except we get scared and fall back to our fall-back positions which end up being one or more of these mindsets, Life For God, Life From God, Life Under God, or Life Over God, where we become users of God instead of people who value God. What is the solution? How do we move from these destructive attitudes to the faith and assurance we desire?

The lastl four chapters of With tell us the value and method of living Life With God, a Life With Faith, a Life With Hope, and a Life With Love. Life With God teaches us to treasure, unite with, and experience God. How do we do this? First, we must learn to practice prayer as communion with the Father, in constant connection with Him, even if no words are exchanged. Examples from the life of Mother Theresa and Billy Graham show how they prayed in just this way.

A Life With Faith is a life without fear. It is trusting surrender to the One who holds us. Not cited in this book, the 2nd Chapter of Acts song “Nobody Can Take My Life Away” (from the album Rejoice) illustrates this for me. “Nobody can take my life away, because I gave my life to You.” It’s that simple: we surrender our lives in trust and He holds our lives securely against all forces and foes and turns a dangerous world into a safe one. Jethani presents a modern example of this: the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., whose trust in God enabled him to walk into the dark places free from fear for himself or his wife and children.

Life With Faith is extremely important because it influences our entire vision of the world around us. With sobering words, Jethani writes: “An unaltered vision of the word means most other elements of the Christian life will fail to make sense to us as well.” The Christian life as Jesus posited it will seem unrealistic, impossible, and foolish.

Why is it so difficult for self-identified Christians to believe, let alone obey, [everything that] Jesus said? Well, if they still see the world as a fundamentally dangerous place in which their well-being is in constant jeopardy, then the call to love your enemy, give freely, and not worry can only be dismissed as ludicrous.

It is only when we live with God and come to experientially know his goodness and love that the shadows break and these commands begin to make sense. If I am eternally safe in the care of my Good Shepherd, and I come to see the world as a safe place, then I am set free from my fears. I am free to give rather than hoard. I am free to enjoy each day rather than worry. I am free to forgive others rather than retaliate against them. And I am even free to love the person determined to harm me.

In Life With Hope, Jethani discusses our search for meaning and significance and how we seek to satisfy ourselves with external constructs such as our career, our family, or deriving order and meaning from religion or morality. But they all may fall like a house cards as the squalls of life blow through our lives upsetting our careful constructs. We attain meaning and significance from God, not from what we do for God.

Are you married? Then engage your marriage with God and learn to love your spouse as God has loved you. Are you single? Then be single with God and devote yourself to him. Are you a mechanic? Then commune with God in your work and repair cars as an act of devotion to him. Are you an office worker? Then welcome Christ to your desk as you serve your employer. . . In other words, the fullness of Christian life can be lived anywhere, in any circumstance, because God is with us. No condition of life is more honorable than another, because nothing God does lacks value.

Jethani gives us the moving example of the African slaves brought in chains to our country, and specifically of a slave in Maryland called “Praying Jacob.” No one had worse circumstances than the slaves, but more hope in Jesus. As Praying Jacob said to his owner, “I have two masters—Master Jesus in heaven and Master Saunders on earth. I have a soul and a body; the body belongs to you, but my soul belongs to Jesus.” Jethani advises us to encourage our hope through regular corporate worship and snatched moments during the day when we can commune with God.

Life With Love starts with love that quelled a prison riot and focuses on filling ourselves with God’s love by practicing silence and solitude that we might more fully commune with God. God’s love binds us to him in a way that lets us see Him as He is and to see ourselves as we truly are: Beloved of the Creator.

At the end of the book are two short appendices. The first, Communing With God, contains some practical exercises and references. The second contains group study questions. And finally, the notes. My constant quibble with end notes is the inability to easily find them while reading. Because they are labeled only by chapter number and not name, you must first locate the chapter you are in, find its number, then the note. How difficult would it have been to include the chapter name in the notes?

If you, like me, abhor one-word book titles, get over it and take a look at With by Skye Jethani. Ignore the prepositional title and chapters and the difficult beginning and read it to the end for a look at renewed community with God and others, renewed faith, renewed hope, and renewed love.

NOTE: the publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review. I am glad they did; I might not have read it otherwise.

With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God

Free (or almost free) Tools

2011-08-11T06:50:00.001-04:00

For your pictures: Ever take a picture and when you looked at it later, there was a fire hydrant or a satellite dish or a billboard that marred the beauty? InPaint is a small free program which lets you remove unwanted objects. I first experimented with removing a satellite dish that is on the lawn of my vacation cabin. No, I didn’t post it that way on the website, I just wanted to see if I could do it. And I could. It worked perfectly. The picture on the left is the “before” picture. The new dish is on the roof; the old one is on the ground. In the second picture, I have removed the one on the ground, because I plan to remove the actual dish in the near future.

InPaint picks color values in the area around the object you are removing and fills the space with those values. It works well where it is a simple background such as the grass and drive in this picture. It did not work as successfully to remove a large blue and white ice chest from a picture of the kitchen where very different color values surrounded the ice chest, from the white of the sunlit window to the red, orange, green curtains to the brown table and chairs to the counter in another shade of brown—you get the picture. So for simple changes, InPaint is a simple program to use and works well. For more complex changes, spending time with Photoshop is the only answer. As for me, I’ll just reshoot the picture that showed the ice chest and make sure before I do that there are no unwanted objects visible.

For education and organization: MobileNoter is a note taking app that works on IPad, IPhone, and Android devices. It will let you take written or typed notes which you can then sync to the web or to Microsoft OneNote on your computer. I use OneNote extensively for research and non-publishable writing (journaling, recipe notes, etc.) Here’s a screen shot of some of my OneNote open to my research for my novel about Elijah. It’s like a file folder full of pages that I can easily search, copy, email, sync to the web. . . you get the idea. It is what I consider the most useful Microsoft productivity program.

For efficiency: Fences is a useful and free program which separates your desktop clutter into useful categories. Here are screenshots which give you examples. The free version works fine for most people, so give it a try.

For fun and education: Stellarium is a free planetarium for your computer. You can learn more about the stars you see outside your window. If you have wanted to explore the heavens, this is a good place to start. You’ll need to take a little time to set it up after you download it, but once you do, you only need to click on it to see what’s going on in the sky near your locale.

With the exception of MobileNoter, these are all programs, I have tried and used successfully. All of them work with Windows 7, Vista, and XP; some also work with Mac. Try them out and make your computer efficient, educational, and fun.

Turn Back Time

2011-08-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

Many people believe that using the built-in system restore program in Microsoft Windows will restore their computer to an earlier time when all worked well. However, what system restore does is restore only your Windows system files. Anything else that has lost, changed, or destroyed will not be restored. Would you like a program that restores everything to a particular point in time? Did you ever permanently delete a file or email or something personal to you and right away wish you hadn’t? Have you ever done something and then wanted to go back and undo it, but you can’t? RestoreIT is a low cost program (under $40, but contact me for discounts) which takes snapshots of your computer and can restore everything on your computer to a particular date and time. Unlike the restore program built into Windows which only restores Windows’ own system files, RestoreIT restores EVERYTHING, even things you may not want restored to a previous date or time. I tested it by deleting an email, a picture I did not care about, and changing a Windows system file. I set RestoreIT to take a snapshot every 15 minutes (yes, I’m paranoid, one hour or more is fine for most people.) Later that day, I returned and used RestoreIT. It successfully restored the email, the picture I had permanently deleted, and the system file I had renamed. I checked RestoreIT for the load it placed on my system resources. It used a nominal amount of system resources and ran unnoticed in the background. WARNING: RestoreIT does not retrieve one file; it changes your whole system. So, use it with care only to remove the effects of a recent mistake.

Time Outside of Time—In White Space of Life

2011-08-04T10:11:00.001-04:00

On my walk this morning, with my IPod cranked to drown out the traffic sounds, I heard greetings in the musical pauses. Some were planned pauses when I pushed “pause” as someone approached. Others were pauses in musical phrasing or between songs. What did I hear? Nothing of substance. A “good morning” or “hello” or “hi.” But after the second one, my mind leaped (when I’m caffeinated it roams in leaps and bounds) to a correlation between musical phrasing, marginal white space, and kairos.

Are you confused yet? That’s the beauty of a disorganized mind. Utter confusion. So I’ll define by example. What do you hear/see/feel between the notes? This morning before my walk I had almost finished reading Revelation. During my walk I listened to this song (here are the words if you don’t want to listen) and it took me to that time and place described in that chapter of Revelation, even though it was not directly related, and suddenly, in the pauses, I was there with the saints and angels around the throne. Now, that isn’t usually what happens. Usually, it’s more mundane. Today was special.

When you read, what do you hear/see/feel between the lines? I judge books on how well they are written and how well they move between the lines. I recently read a book which taught me something I didn’t know before. But what was between the lines? Nada, nothing. A book that moves between the lines, strikes you at the heart level. It makes you sit up and pay attention. It plants something in your mind that will not leave you. I rarely read poetry, but the title of this poem and the words that followed struck me in this way: between the lines. Every Riven Thing. Why did it affect me this way. I think it’s because the poet put so much between the lines. This poem is not at the beginning of the book with the same name, but in the middle, just as it was an experience of the poet’s in the middle of suffering. I’m not suffering, but it affected me between the lines.

Every Riven Thing: Poems

What is in this white space of life where we live between the lines and the notes? That’s where kairos and chronos come in. These are two Greek words which help us define time. Chronos is clock time. Tick-tock, second by second, it passes through our lives. Kairos is that time outside of clock time where a minute may seem like an hour or an hour may seem like a minute. It is the aha! moment, the light in the darkness, the explosions of grace and beauty which interrupt our lives. How do you get it? You can’t. It comes unbidden, unexplained, and unexpected. Your only participation is to be aware of it and to grasp it. Not a grasp that you would use to catch a grackle, but a tender grasp that shows your awareness of the moment and your willingness to follow.

I thought about titling this “Between the Lines” but that was too visual. I thought about “In the Pauses” but that was too aural. I thought about “The Kairos and the Chronos” but that was too esoteric. Time Outside of Time more clearly defines what happens in the musical pauses or the white area of writing where our lives change just a little. It also describes Kairos, our life spaces where we become most human and most aware as we experience time outside of time.

Writing in Darkness

2011-07-29T08:47:00.001-04:00

Have you ever felt darkness descend when you were midway through a creative endeavor. One book which is helpful in understanding this is:

The Soul Tells a Story: Engaging Creativity with Spirituality in the Writing Life

This is a thick and thorough book which encompasses all aspects of creative expression but primarily focuses on writing. Each chapter contains a guide to help you integrate what is presented. I found the book to be a useful tool in reentering the creative life. Chapter 8, in particular, answered many questions I was being asked and also asking for myself. Here is my redaction of its major points along with some of my comments.

Chapter 8. The beauty and Danger of a Creative Life: Why the Wonder Brings Darkness with It

1. The Darkness that Accompanies Revelation

a. There is a shadow side to your gifts. Truth always has a cutting edge. Every revelation brings some darkness with it. It’s important that you learn how that darkness affects you.

b. Nothing can be more dark and frightening than what the soul discovers when yet another layer of the self is pulled back.

2. Do Artists Have to Suffer In Order to Produce Good Art?

a. You are bound to suffer and the only question is how to deal with it. When you create art, you are fighting spiritual battles. And as you fight spiritual battles, you may find creative gifts that you did not know you have. One nourishes the other.

b. You need creative formation: An intentional working with your creative gifts so that your entire being is nourished.

c. Some people who are brave enough and compelled enough to explore their creativity get into trouble and don’t have the help they need. Others who are spiritually centered and understand what their gifts might stir up, don’t develop their gifts because they are afraid of facing the shadows.

d. When we allow God to cradle us as we grow, we can become the creative people we were meant to be. We can follow our gifts to the center of our soul, and we can face the difficult things that wait for us there. We can navigate the darkness and we can nourish our gifts.

3. Common Sources of Darkness

a. Isolation—we need it, but it can drain us. Make a point to spend time with people who are good for you and good for your work. It may be a weekly coffee break or an afternoon walk once a month. Or you and your friend might check in by email before you start work. Think creatively. I see a counselor when needed and have another friend who I can say anything to. We can be a support for each other with emails and meetings between the time the group meets. Or if there’s something we can do on that one Saturday that will nourish us more, let me know.

b. Rejection—You will get it and it will cause you pain. Remember that the person who rejects something about your work, is not rejecting the entire work, nor is that person rejecting past or future works. You need to learn to accept that some people simply will not like what you are doing. You aren’t writing for them; You are writing for the people it helps and enlightens.

c. Energy Depletion—Writing takes a lot of energy. Many full-time writers write for only 4 hours each day. You might spend other time during the day in writing-related activities, but most don’t write for more than 4 hours. If you have another job, then you will have less energy to write. Accept that the healthy creative life takes a lot of energy and that you will need to rest. Just expect to get tired, because you are working hard. Get tired, rest, and then work some more.

d. Anxiety—Most artists greatly underestimate how much anxiety affects them. Anxiety is an important component of creativity because it provides tension and energy and sharpens your senses. Just as you should welcome healthy fear, welcome healthy anxiety. It’s an indication that some unfinished business or an unnamed fear is lurking. Figure it out. Write it out in your journal. (Mine are notes to my counselor—some I give him, some I don’t). Talk to a friend. Pray.

e. Exploration—when your work pushes boundaries and reworks standard definitions, you encounter tension and discomfort. Sometimes you just want to do something cliché and dull rather than enter the discomfort. Sometimes you’d rather not have to think and struggle. Play with exploration and learn to shift out of it. Write something simple: outline your story, write a plot synopsis, etc.

f. Occupational Wear and Tear—Your writing will wear you down like any work does. It will wear down your soul. When you feel worn, that is usually an indication that you have been working and something good should come of it. Take time to care for yourself, whatever brings you joy and energy. I hike and rest and pray and read novels and short stories and essays and go to art shows and watch movies. . . pick what makes you feel energized.

g. Increased sensitivity—You will become super-sensitive to life in order to notice what others miss and to develop what other may ignore or consider unimportant. The longer you work at your creative gifts, the more sensitive you become. This is good for you and your writing. Pay attention to the things that really disturb and bother you and allow appropriate recovery time.

4. The Balance that is Illusion

a. Balance is generally impossible. The spiritual creative life has its seasons and they are often sloppy and unpredictable.

b. Imbalance Results from Neglected Relationships. You are going to have to neglect people because writing is done in solitude. Others will neglect you, also. Don’t sweat the occasional neglect. However, when you neglect someone important consistently, you relegate an important relationship to a place of unimportance. You need to determine your commitment levels. I have 3 important commitments: My husband, my business, and my writing. Sometimes one of the gets neglected for the other, but I try to set boundaries and not make a habit of neglect. I neglected my writing for about 1.5 months due to Christmas. I could not work, spend time with my husband and get the Christmas stuff done and still write. That was OK, because I could come back to it in January. You need to figure out who you are and what is important to you and set boundaries accordingly.

c. Imbalance results from impulsive shifts. An example: If I had quit working to work full-time on my novel, that would be an impulsive shift. You need to not follow your callings haphazardly. Don’t try to do too much, too fast. Because you are changing one aspect of your life, don’t assume that the other aspects need to change also. Don’t dispose of other parts of your life because of the tension caused within yourself.

d. Balance is not necessarily safety. Sometimes you will take risks and sometimes you will play it safe. In the grand scheme of your life, if you are making wise decisions, acting out of love and vision, the balance will be there. But the balance often looks like imbalance in the day-to-day life that we live.

e. Balance is not necessarily consistency. It doesn’t mean we will be calm. When you write, you become a hero to someone and heroes deal with depression, oppression, poverty and failure.

I hope this summary has been helpful for fellow artists who must contend with and embrace their creative darkness.

What Do You Read?

2011-07-22T14:41:00.001-04:00

As a writer, I read to write, to learn, to be inspired by other writers. It is the rare author who can make me laugh or capture my emotions. Sometimes a year will pass before I find a single book that will move me. Here are a few of those that that I have read recently (in no particular order):

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

This book is filled with case studies of how individuals brought about change in business and medical environments and schools. Although it is geared toward the business reader, the principles are applicable to any situation. The authors describe how to effect change by using the symbols of an Elephant, its Rider, and their Path. I dislike using symbolism and found it easier to understand if I thought of the Elephant as emotion and intuition, the Rider as intellect and reason, and the Path as the environment. The authors challenge us to use all three areas to effect change. I found many of the illustrations helpful in understanding the psychological process, but others were too “big business,” too far outside of my personal framework, to have meaning for me. I was ready to dismiss this book as simplistic self-help after reading the first two chapters, but as the author’s rational expanded, I found myself intrigued by all the elements that played a part in change. The case studies were mostly interesting and made the book worth reading simply for the stories of institutional and personal change. The psychological references were easy to understand even for someone like me who hates psychology. And by the end, I felt inspired to write which made the book well worth the time I spent reading it.

The Mountain Between Us: A Novel

This book is another that inspired me. It was one of those I could not put down so I was reading it long after my bedtime. The end confused me, so I reread it in the morning. It still confused me in the morning, but ending aside, the book is worth reading. I don’t want to give the plot away, so this is a very general review. A man and a woman with different backgrounds and desires are stuck in a debilitating and challenging situation. Charles Martin’s writing is always good, but as excellent as in his first two books (which should have always been one):

Down Where My Love Lives: The Dead Don't Dance/Maggie (The Awakening Series 2-in-1)

As these two people work through the life and death situation in which they are placed, hope is almost lost but never fully extinguished. This is a book about hope and I hope that someone out there can explain my problem with the ending!

Next, I am reading two books on the craft of writing:

Letters to a Young Novelist

This is a year-long, chapter-a-month, project for the creative writing workshop I lead. As the title indicates, it is a book of letters covering aspects of fiction writing such as persuasion, style, narration, time, and reality. The book challenges us to think deeply about how and why we write. In the first chapter, the author uses the tapeworm to explain the need to write and he does so in such depth, that I will always associate my need to write with that worm.

The second book:

The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers

This book came from John Gardner’s college and writing conference lectures and covers the aesthetics of writing in the first part and then goes on to cover such practical areas as common errors, technique, and plotting. At the end are a few pages of exercises. I rarely exercise based on the suggestions in books, but these look as though they may be helpful. I am currently reading the first part of the book and have discovered that a thorough background in literature is imperative for complete understanding. If you haven’t yet read the classics, especially the classics of American literature, you should read those before opening this book. The author uses of both ancient and modern literature to illustrate his points from Aristotle to Dostoevsky to Sherwood Anderson and both as simple illustrations and as studies of the point being conveyed. So read your literature before reading The Art of Fiction.

I may have more to say about both of these books after I finish reading them.

Just to throw in an unusual book for me, here’s a book of poetry. I rarely read poetry and have never bought a book, but I read one poem online and I was smitten. Some of the poems disturbed me because they reflect a dark period in the poet’s life. Several of them inspired me and I cannot stop thinking about the one that motivated me to purchase the book.

Here’s a link to that poem: Every Riven Thing

Every Riven Thing: Poems

Finally, I am reading a slew of detective stories. I don’t know why, but this is the year of the detective for me. Here’s the list. Some are better than others, but they’re all good for a summer read.

Shoofly Pie & Chop Shop: 2 Bugman Novels in 1

This is a continuing series which the main character is a forensic entomologist who solves crimes based on insect evidence and has trouble relating to the human species. This series has turned me into an insect observer. The only book I didn’t like one was one in which the protagonist was forced to choose between two women. The author wrote two different endings on his website and made the readers choose. The result was revealed in the next novel. I’m all for interaction, but let the writer write a complete novel. I would have gladly accepted that the man could not make a decision at that time and that it would be resolved in a subsequent offering.

Empire of Lies (Otto Penzler Book)

This is an odd sort of detective story with a protagonist who is confused, at the very least. I found that it forced me to think about how men think and process information. However, as an action detective story, it was sorely lacking. The plot was not believable, the protagonist too introspective, and I was glad when the book ended. I read one of his other books last year and it was a gritty crime novel; This book has to be an aberration. Read his other novels, but skip this one.

Bad Things Happen

This is a fast-paced novel where the prime suspect/investigator is a literary editor who once had a different profession. In fact, everything you think is one way, turns out to be another in this novel. An easy summer read.

The Hidden Assassins

This is a true detective novel set in Spain. The chief detective is presented with a body and then a bomb goes off. How are they related? Is it a terrorist threat? Just who is the terrorist. Wilson explores with workings of the detective department as well as the politics attached to a major investigation. The book gives us an inside view to the red herrings when turn out to be actual clues to the unlikely and untouchable suspect. This is a long (464 pages) story which needs every page to cover such an intricate investigation. I loaned it to a friend and he found the Spanish environment difficult to navigate, but I had no problem with it and am eager to read the other books in the series.

That’s it for now. There are more books on my pile and I’ll blog about them later. Meanwhile, why don’t you let me know what you are reading? I’m always eager to find new books.

Digital Photography

2011-07-19T14:57:00.001-04:00

As someone with a degree in Photography and Cinema, I was leery of digital photography. The first efforts produced less than stellar quality; I was determined to wait until digital photos were close to non-digital camera and film quality. As digital cameras became affordable, I saw the product diluted; Everyone who used a digital camera believed they could be a photographer.

The problem with my thinking is that the same thing has happened with any tool that is sold inexpensively. Anyone possessing the tool believes they can use it correctly. During those times when photography was expensive, someone who wanted to be a photographer would sacrifice for the sake of their craft as I did at one time. Now the digital camera makes it all so easy. Or does it?

My first digital camera does not even deserve mention in this space. I purchased my next one on Ebay on the basis of its quality lens and multiple settings. The camera I am using today, with quality lens and multiple settings, a Nikon S5100, still causes me to miss the simplicity of my old Minolta and Nikon cameras. With those cameras, once the film was loaded and the correct lens was on, all I needed to think about was focal length, shutter speed and F-stop. Some things needed no thought. Stopping speed, use high shutter speed. Limiting depth of field, use lens wide open. And focus was simply a twist. Now, I have to choose these settings from a menu instead of simply turning dials and focus seems to be wherever the camera wants it to be. Yes, I know there’s a learning curve and I haven’t rounded it yet. I bought the Nikon to do what my Kodak wouldn’t: take macro shots. And that it does well.

When I purchased the Nikon, I had to make a choice. I chose in favor of small form, good lens, macro ability, and price. I decided to sacrifice everything else because only an SLR would really satisfy me. And that would come with a big price.

So enough about the camera. Here’s a cool tool to remove unwanted objects from your digital photos: Inpaint. Free today only (Tuesday, 7/19/2011) by clicking this link.

Have You Missed the Trees?

2011-07-17T10:51:00.001-04:00

There’s an old saying that goes something like this: You can’t see the forest for the trees. It means that you are so caught up in the details that you miss the big picture. That’s not me! I have always been a forest-type of person. When I am hiking, I tend to photograph the big scenes, the big view, the treetops. To me, if I can see the forest, the big picture, the details will take care of themselves. If I know how something works (the big picture) I can reason my way to the details of how it works. That’s what makes me a good computer troubleshooter. I know how they work, so I can easily drill down and find the problem by methodically sifting the details.

I think part of this has to do with perspective: the ability to see objects in three dimensions. I don’t have perspective (my eyes just don’t work that way), so to define an object’s movement and position, I have to compare it to other objects nearby. Hence, my forest view. I see one tree in comparison to others and my brain somehow works out which trees are closer and which are farther away. If you come to my home, you will see that almost all the art work has a heightened perspective that draws you into the distance. It’s my way of compensating for my lack of perspective.

This year, something changed. No, I haven’t gained perspective and burned my paintings, but I realized that I was missing the small things. In nature, those small things are insects and small flowers and plants. In my writing, those small things are descriptions. Perhaps, I first realized this when I noticed that I was writing plot and dialogue fairly quickly, but every time I went back to revise I was adding description. I was writing forest, but missing trees. You may not have a problem with perspective, but are you missing the details? Or have the details become so burdensome that you miss the forest? Neither position is the best. They both must operate if we want to see clearly. In future posts, I’ll be writing more about my efforts to walk the path between the forest and the trees, to balance the big picture with the details. Come with me and let’s walk together.

Vacation with an Unhappy Guest

2011-07-13T07:19:00.001-04:00

We recently took a week-long working vacation with plans to sleep in and enjoy life around the cabin while working on needed projects. Our previous vacations resulted in sleepless nights afterward because our alpha male cat, Sam, refused to let us sleep for several days after we returned home. This year we invited Sam to stay with us so we could sleep well.

Sam would not call it an invitation. He considered it an affront to his dignity and his calling. We were optimistic that time would change his attitude. After all, he liked being with us and did not like us leaving, so he would be happy to be with us. That is what we thought. But Sam had other ideas. He relentlessly voiced his opposition to the plan from the time we left to the time we arrived and after about 20 miles, to punctuate his message, he emitted a malodorous stench which filled the car and almost made us gag. We were tempted to turn back, but determined to soldier still clinging to the hope of restful sleep. On that hot, humid summer’s day, we slid down the windows and popped open the sunroof. The odor subsided but never left and every stoplight made it worse. When we were about fifteen minutes from our destination, Sam managed to open the door of his hard plastic carrier with metal bars. I reached back and blocked him into the back seat area. He crouched behind my seat and continued crying.

We couldn’t wait to get him through the cabin door and finally enjoy some needed peace. But peace was not for us. Sam huddled next to the toilet and refused to move for food, water, anything. By the end of the day, we decided to move him and carried him to the bed. But he cared nothing for our intentions and he moved to the back of the bedroom closet. We were worried about how me might exhibit his displeasure so we put the litter box and food in our bathroom, next to the closet entrance. Sam is a fastidious cat. During the night he dug and dug and dug in the litter. We kept waking up in order to coax him back to sleep. By morning, we were tired but we hauled ourselves out of bed to start our day. Sam was ready to sleep. He spent the next few days in the back of the closet and the next few nights digging in the litter, keeping us awake.

We had come on vacation to sleep and it was worse than coming home to Sam after vacation. Finally, we decided the only remedy was to keep Sam up all day so he would sleep at night. Sam is not a normal young cat. He does not play. He watches. So our time was spent observing Sam and waking him from his naps. When we successfully got him to open his eyes, we would lift him to his feet and make him walk. This was in between painting and electrical work and all the other things we had scheduled to do. One of us was stationed on Sam alert at all times. We threw balls back and forth for his amusement (and to keep him awake) and wiggled a packing strap to keep him occupied. And finally, by the end of the week, Sam almost slept through the night with only a couple of digging sessions. We had planned to put him on a diet (Sam is one fat cat), but the Sam plan turned into “let’s do whatever it takes to keep him happy and awake.”

We survived that week, completed most of our projects, and almost caught up on sleep by the end. The ride back home was the same as the trip down, without the odor. We arrived home and let Sam out of the carrier. He walked out growling. We tried to pet him and he growled some more. And that was his story for the next couple of days. He was very pleasant toward the dog and the other cats, but he growled at us. He kindly allowed us to sleep through the night at home, so we were able to capture some of the sleep we missed during vacation.was recaptured at home. But we have learned our lesson. Sam is king and you do not remove a king from his kingdom without consequences. Sam will never again be invited to vacation with us. A few sleepless days at home is a small price to pay for a full week of sleep.

The Three Rules of Writing

2011-06-23T08:02:00.001-04:00

I’m not fond of rules and regulations but they are there for a purpose. These three basic rules will help you write with confidence.

Be Honest. Bare yourself on the paper. No, don’t give me all the intimate dirty details of your past or present. What I want is your feelings, your emotions, presented as actions, in a way that makes me feel them, too. Like Eliza Doolittle, in the musical “My Fair Lady,” I say, “show me.” Let your characters experience pain and heartbreak, because I want to see how they deal with it. Let them grow on the page so I can grow along with them.
Be a Duck. Ducks sit in the stream or pond and groom or feed or sit no matter what the weather: storm or sun. Whatever you write will offend someone, if it is well written. You need to be able to sit in the stream of your work and let the shouts of acclimation and disdain roll off your back as you continue writing. I recently read two book reviews written by two different authors with very different perspectives. The book they reviewed was David Mamet’s new book based on his “conversion” from screenwriter and playwright with leftist politics, to one aligned with the political right. The first review by Christopher Hitchens leaves the reader with no doubt that the book is worthless. The second review by Andrew Klavan, is personal, thoughtful, and makes me want to read at least parts of the book. You can expect both reactions from your writing and a duck-like attitude will take you far.
Revise. No one’s first written effort is good. No matter how good it looks to you, it isn’t. Check spelling, grammar, sentence structure, transitions. If you pick a simile or metaphor that works, make sure the others you use are consistent with your character and his environment. Are you deliberately using non-standard structure, non-standard grammar, non-standard spelling? Why? In a few cases, there is good reason to break the rules. But, only if your readers can follow your line of thought. For most purposes, use correct spelling and grammar, concise sentences, and logical transitions. When you have read it over 20 or 30 times, let someone else read and edit it. I can guarantee you that they will find mistakes.

Now that you know the three rules, what happens if you violate them? Violate Rule 1 and no one will care about your writing. Your characters will be cardboard cut-outs, two dimensional representations, shadows of reality. If you violate Rule 2, you will soon stop writing because you can’t stand up to the hurtful comments or you will be so enamored with the positive reviews, that you will never grow as a writer. Finally, if you violate Rule Number 3, no one will read your writing. If it requires too much effort to follow your inconsistent usage of grammar, sentence structure, spelling, it will not be worth the reader’s time. So be honest, act like a duck, and revise, revise, revise and you will soon have writing that is worth reading.

Renovating the Vacation House—Part 2

2011-06-07T11:02:00.001-04:00

The second secret of renovation. Unplanned events will ruin your budget. It was around this time that what the inspector didn’t inspect or tell me about rose up to bite me. I arrived one day in that rainy spring, drove onto the driveway, opened the gate, and discovered sinkholes in the gravel drive above the creek. Large sink holes. Big enough for a person to drop through into the black void below. I examined them. If I was careful, maybe I could drive the car across and miss the holes. I put my foot next to one. It held. I looked down and my mind turned it into a black hole sucking in anything that touched its edge. But I could see the creek next to the drive and knew it was maybe 6 feet down. This was not a celestial vortex, merely a sink hole.

I contemplated backing my car and making a run for it. I’ve seen cop shows where, during the high speed chase, one car jumps over a large obstacle in the road. Surely with sufficient momentum I could jump the holes. Then I thought about what was even more likely to happen to me. Insufficient momentum would leave my car stuck in the holes 67 miles from home. I envisioned the wrecker pulling my car out with broken tie rod ends or some other major problem. And even if I did somehow make it across the creek, would that crossing enlarge the sinkholes and leave me trapped on the other side? And if they didn’t enlarge, would my car get stuck on the way out when I was tired with night approaching? And what would my husband say? I was afraid he would say that the whole thing had been a mistake. So I left my car at the end of the drive and, in multiple trips, carried my paint cans and lamps on foot up to the cabin for my day’s work.

When I left that day, I stopped at Shelley’s Nursery, a local nursery and landscape business and asked if they could repair the culvert damage. They could and would but they couldn’t get to it until summer when the creek was down to a manageable level and it would cost more than any single item or job I had planned. There was nothing else to do. I put my contractor on hold, put large deliveries on hold, and I tore things apart and ripped out carpet and painted and installed a security system and took care of all of the small things I could. I carried lamps and tables up the hill and carried trash back down. At least I had one working toilet and one working sink (not in the same room as the toilet) and a refrigerator and microwave. It was late July before the culvert was repaired and September before my contractor could get in and finish. I did tell my husband about the culvert the first time he saw the place in November. “How much did it cost?” he asked. “You don’t want to know,” I said. And he said nothing in response so I knew he really did not want to know.

That was the standard for all our renovation conversations. I would tell him about some problem and he would ask, “how much did it cost?” I would say, “you don’t want to know.” And there it would end.

Again, in September I experienced “first picked bad contractor” rule all over again. My personal warning is that when I start “helping” the contractor by telling them things they ought to already know, I have picked a bad one. I have one other indicator. When the contractor tells me he doesn’t like what he’s doing, I know there is a problem. If I had more sense, perhaps I would have fired the contractor right away for knowing less than I do and hating what he was doing. But somehow compassion (if that’s what it was) won out and I let the contractor continue even after I discovered that he couldn’t figure out how to attach a drain pipe, didn’t know that bathroom circuit breakers aren’t rated for enough amps to run power tools, couldn’t correctly identify hot and cold water lines, didn’t know how to control drywall dust, failed to answer phone calls, told me he hates working inside, and then walks off with the keys never to be seen again or heard from again.

My second contractor was competent albeit a little forgetful. But’s that’s OK because he laid the laminate floor competently, fixed my electrical problems and told me he wouldn’t do something I asked because it was unsafe and would lead to long-term problems. He was clean, competent and told me more than I needed to know. This is a contactor I can trust. And because he lives in the neighborhood, he tells me things about the area that I would not have learned otherwise. I expect to be able to provide him with many projects over the years to come.

Did you think I was finished with renovations when the floors were in and everything worked? I don’t think renovations ever cease! The word renovation means renew. So from the basics to make the cabin habitable to those less basic things which make it comfortable, they all bring newness to it. I try to make it better than new. This year the floors, next year the roof, and who knows what might be in store for the future!

The Act of Writing

2011-06-02T08:00:00.001-04:00

The act of writing is not a one act play. It is not a three-act play. Rather, it is act upon act upon act. In this article I am going to discuss my writing tools, method, and strategy. While writers differ in how they work, some of the processes are the same. Take from mine what will benefit you. What I have written here applies to everything I write: poetry, short story, essay, novel, but I am writing from the viewpoint of the novelist.

I use Microsoft Word as my primary writing tool. Some writers start with an outline: I use another method. On a clean page, I put in a couple of page breaks and start the work by writing a plot summary below the page breaks that will get me to a certain point in the novel where I still know where the plot is. (For writings shorter than a novel, I skip the plot summary and go right to the first draft). I am not a writer who knows the entire plot. The plot comes to me as I write and think and imagine. The summary might take me to the end or, more likely, only plot the next the next few moves my characters will take. In my historical novel, I know the major scenes and the end. My plot summary takes me to and through the next major scenes. As I have ideas, I insert them where they would fall in the plot line. Sometimes I recognize that a plot can go a different direction and I put in possibilities. I use the term “paragraph” loosely. Below is the current plot summary for my novel. As you can see it contains disjointed sentences, misspellings, and is non-grammatical.

After king, Eli and Talib escape to Gilead. Talib leaves Eli at the stream to find work and food nearby. He contacts his family and his brothers do not like what he has become. His mother supports him and gives him food and finds him a farm job with her brother, Eli dreams about Amanda and worries as the stream becomes more and more shallow. He calls on Yahweh. Ravens—eli knows what they eat and his stomach and heart rebel. Yahweh reinforces that the Ravens are to feed him like the quail. This goes on for about 1.5 years. Talib brings him messages and news from Jonathan. Later they are forced to leave Gilead and go to Zareph where they stay with a widow with a son. Yahweh tells Eli to provide for the widow. “You have seen my provision. Now do it for another.” The widow gives him her dead husband’s clothes and makes him a new prophet’s cloak. He and Talib find jobs on a farm. Talib later marries the widow although she is older. The son follows Eli to his next place. Or the son gets mad at Eli and Talib.

When I finish that section of the novel, I delete its plot summary. And plot summaries are subject to change. I’m several chapters into the first sentence of the plot summary above, but I am not sure how much of the rest will find a place in the novel. A new character inserted herself a few chapters ago, and may change the direction. I have a plot summary for my next novel which covers only the opening, because I simply don’t know where it is going yet. But to bring us back to the first draft, with summary in front of me, I sit at the computer and start writing. I write action, dialogue, anything that comes to mind. I don’t worry too much about style or grammar, although I do write in mostly grammatically correct complete sentences and paragraphs and put a chapter where I think it needs one. When I come to a point where I need to research something, I sometimes make a note in the document (NOTE) to remind me to research it later or, more frequently, I stop writing and start researching.

My primary research tools are books and publications, and the internet. Much of my research springs from the plot summary. I research places, buildings, people’s names, geography, weather, culture, anything that the novel might need. In the plot summary above, place names will be researched as will ravens, drought, and farming. Some things are so minor that they are lightly researched only to give me the ability to describe them. Others require much research as an integral part of the story. Research for my current novel includes the Bible, a Bible commentary, a couple of books on archaeology, current guidebooks, timelines, and maps. I copy some of the most pertinent information and save it in a file on my desktop that contains the novel I am working on; any printed matter goes into a file near my desk for future reference. The internet provides me with maps and pictures of the places in my novel as well as current archeological photographs, and information such as the research I did on horses. Since I am writing at a web-enabled computer, I use Google maps and pictures and Bing maps and archaeological society web sites and museum sites. I research vacation areas and read personal blogs because they list some of the features of the land and describe it in a personal manner. I keep links to all of these sites in a folder on my desktop with the manuscript. I subscribe to archaeology blogs and save the emails in a mail folder with the most useful ones flagged. I use OneNote to save all the other web information. Does it sound like I am saving things in multiple places? You are correct, but I can link them all with OneNote (except the paper copies and books). I have a tab in OneNote for the book and pages with information on People, Places, Timeline, Geography, etc. I have separate pages for geographic areas and cities that my characters inhabit or visit. I do as much research as I need, so that I can close my eyes and hear and see the place where my characters live.

After I have written the first draft of part of the novel, whether it be a few chapters or much more, when I get stuck with the writing, I go back and fill in gaps. I reread it from the beginning or from another point. What information will readers need? Find it and write it. What have I written that only I will find interesting? Out it goes. I rework sentences and paragraphs to make them more readable. I analyze dialogue to determine whether it fits the character. This is the time when it goes from a first draft to a tenth draft. (Not a literal 10 drafts—these drafts are as many as you need). I check words with Word’s built-in thesaurus and dictionary and when that isn’t enough, go to the web to search out meaning and definition, and use the site Visual Thesaurus. Every time I rewrite--and ten rewrites is not an overstatement--I cut, change language, fix grammar, add description. And every time I do this, I add errors which I correct on subsequent rewrites. This is the work of creating a writing. A Victorian historian once said that the effortless written document comes at the pain of great effort. And it is in the act of writing with great effort that we produce something that is of value to the reader.

Writing exposes my greatest weaknesses and it will expose yours, also. When you feel emotional pain that touches your weak spot, that is the place in your writing where you need to push through. Or maybe after the first couple of small pushes (drafts), you need to pull back, leave your writing, do something that restores you, then return and push through again. It almost sounds like birthing a baby and that is exactly what it is. By the tenth time, it does get easier. Rewriting also exposes my lack of attention to detail. Every rewrite contains more words as I insert details to bring depth and color to my writing. This is where I try to remember my five senses. What does it feel like, sound like, look like, taste like, smell like? This is where I can write creatively as my imagination searches for ways to describe something. Creativity springs from describing sounds, tastes, smells, and what something feels like when your character touches it. It’s easy to describe something you see; writing is, after all, a visual medium. Take time to describe the other sensory stimuli. I have found that the best way to hone this sense is to write a short story or to consider each chapter as a short story. Does every word have meaning? Is every word the correct word? There are generally sufficient words in the English language to convey any meaning, but when those words fail, become inventive. Coin a phrase or create a combination word, hyphenated or not, to convey a sensory experience to your reader.

On the purely practical side, Microsoft Word has some features that make my work easier. Word’s spell check, grammar checking, and word count, are the ones I use the most. I make spelling and grammar errors; Everyone does. Word does. But Word’s spelling and grammar check makes me stop and think. Is Word correct, or am I, or is the correct sentence somewhere else. I may leave it as written, correct it as Word indicates, or completely rework the sentence. But whatever I do, I do it with thought and consideration, and frequently end up rewriting sentences and paragraphs.

As I write I also use Word’s Find to search for “chapter.” I have a horrible time keeping chapter numbers in order and Word will list them for me. I also use the search feature and my own reading to correct the overuse of words. I recently read a novel where the author used the word “sludge” to describe the traffic in a large city. That might have been fine once, but he used it over and over again. I think it popped out at me the first time, because it jarred me in an unpleasant way and I felt that he could have found a better word. When your readers are distracted this way, the reading experience is interrupted and you lose some of the impact of your written work. When you find yourself misusing or overusing a word or phrase, Find helps you identify it so you can rewrite and make your work stronger. It also teaches you to avoid your pet words and to locate good substitutes.

Word count is another useful tool, located on the lower left of a Word document, which allows me to highlight a section and know the word count and to keep running track of the word count as I work. For short stories, the word count should be 5000 or fewer. If you are submitting to a contest or magazine, they will tell you their expected word count which usually is 3000 words for a short story. Novels are generally in the 60,00- to 100,000 word range, especially if it is your first novel. Right now, I have about 90,000 words and I am at what I consider the half-way point. That means that this novel will either be cut (and I have already thought of sections to cut), or I will do as some writers do and stretch it into a series. For a first time author, you need to stay close to what an agent expects, so word count lets you know where you are and where you need to be. Here’s more information on word count.

What it all comes down to is: write and write and write some more, and then revise, revise, revise, revise, until you are sick of it. When you can’t stand to look at it any longer, put it aside and come back to it later. When you are sure that you have it the way you want it, give it others to read, and get ready to revise some more. Word allows you to send a pdf file to your readers which they can read on their computers, their Kindle, or print and read. Have your reviewers mark what they like, what they don’t like, and spelling and grammatical errors. Ask for notes. What interrupts the flow of the reading? What description bothers them? What do they need described more fully? Did they enjoy something? Hate something? If possible, sit down with your readers and ask them questions. Then rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. You are writing your book for readers, so take their comments seriously. Then put it aside. Read it again. Rewrite, if necessary, then send it off to your agent. Now you can take a vacation, clear your mind and, then start your next novel.

Nursery Web Spider

2011-05-31T07:54:00.001-04:00

If you’ve never known one, you could easily rearrange the words with sufficient meaning. Web Spider Nursery and Spider Web Nursery give you a hint. Web Nursery Spider is almost meaningless. What am I talking about? Pictured below is a shot of the female Nursery Web Spider carrying her egg sac.

The Nursery Web Spider carries the eggs using her mouth and two extra appendages (called “pedipalps”)until they are almost ready to hatch. Then she weaves a web of silk, attaches it to leaves, and deposits the egg sac within. She stands guard until the eggs hatch. If you get close enough (I’m not sure I want to!) you may be able to identify the Nursery Web Spider by its eyes. Like most other spiders it has eight eyes. The Nursery Web Spider eyes are arranged in two rows of 4 and the eyes in the top row may be slightly farther apart than those in the bottom row. Frankly, looking at spider eyes on the web makes me shudder, so I’ll leave closer identification to you!

City Life vs. Country Life

2011-05-31T07:24:00.001-04:00

Some readers will accuse me of painting a caricature in this column. I agree. The opinions I have formed are based on my interactions with a small number of people. However, all of my life interactions are usually with a small number of people, so this may not be merely a caricature. You decide.

Caricature 1: City life is fast paced and danger lurks around every corner.

I first recognized this as a college student from Columbus when I travelled to New York City. My New York host instructed me strongly, “don’t look anyone in the eye and don’t talk to anyone.” I tried to comply, but as I stood on Fifth Avenue and watched people rush by, I wondered where they were all going and why they were in such a great hurry. You can’t discern people’s reasons without looking into their eyes at some point. Violating my host’s instructions bore no consequences. I observed, people hurried by, and life went on. That is, until my second violation.

Later that day, I rested on a bench in one of the city’s many parks to observe my surroundings. People raced down the sidewalk to their destination and a few took a shortcut through the park. Other people, arrayed in colorful garments, habited the park benches. They were lounging or sleeping as though the park was their living room, and it was afternoon nap time. I had never seen anything like this and I pulled out my camera to take a picture. That’s when the city reared its ugly head. Some of the loungers yelled that I was a spy for the CIA. I shook my head to deny it but there was no dissuading the shouters. I recognized the irrationality of this accusation because the CIA was empowered only to act outside of the USA, but I did not believe these people would listen to a reasonable argument. I envisioned being mobbed on my first day in New York. My host would not be pleased. I hugged my belongings, my bag and my camera, close to me and considered my options. There were about seven loungers and newly awakened sleepers and only one of me and not one of the passers-by was paying any attention. I imagined the vagrants rising from their benches to surround and attack me. Moving cautiously, I rose and strode toward the stream of fast walkers on the nearby sidewalk. Before I reached them, I glanced over my shoulder to see if the bench-sitters were following, but they must have been content to scare that naive college girl. I entered the stream and moved on, wiser in the ways of the city.

Caricature 2--Country life is slow and everyone wants to be your friend.

In the last year I have discovered that country people like to stop and talk. Relationship takes priority over business, or perhaps alongside business. I hired someone to mow my tall grass. When he had finished, he came to the door for payment. Or so I thought. I opened the door and held out the cash. He ignored the money in my hand, walked into the house, plopped down into the comfortable chair next to the sofa where my husband was adjusting the television, and began to talk. We spoke about life and work and politics and his business and whatever came to mind. He did take the cash when he left, but relationship preceded business. And it has been that way for most of the people I meet. When I drop into a nearby retail garden center, the owners and workers stop to talk to me about subjects that interest them and ones that interest me. I enjoy the conversation but feel guilty for interrupting their work; It doesn’t seem to bother them. I assuage my guilt by purchasing things I may not need.

Early this spring, I stopped by the garden center to ask a question, and the owners took me on a tour of their new “green” greenhouse, the cistern for recycling water, and new benches from The Netherlands. If I walked into a city nursery or greenhouse under construction I would be told to leave, not given a tour. This is as much of a shock as I experienced in New York, but a pleasant shock. And more shocks keep coming. Country business people don’t worry about contracts; It’s all done on a handshake. That’s somewhat disquieting to me with my background in law and certainty. And forget about quick service. In the city, it’s all about speed and convenience. “Same Day Service.” “Open 24 Hours.” In the country, I hear “maybe in two or three weeks” or “when the creek level drops.” Most stores are closed Sundays. There’s something refreshing about knowing that whoever you hire is not rushing to get the next dollar.

What do you think? Have I portrayed these caricatures rightly? Which life do you live?

Rainy Days

2011-05-26T07:32:00.001-04:00

I live for rainy days. Other people think I’m crazy. “Isn’t it a beautiful day!” They say on those bright sunny days that make me want to cover my eyes against the glare and retreat to some dark cave. “What’s beautiful about it?” I want to say, but don’t. No one else loves rainy days like I do and why should I cast my dark shadows on their pleasure?

Why do I like rainy days? Have you ever smelled a wet dog? Rainy days give me the perfect excuse not to walk my dog. I use those hours I snatch on the rainy day to think, pray, concentrate, read, and write. Time to be. And so much better than wet dog odor.

Why do I like rainy days? The roar of city traffic is muted by rain. Spring, summer, and fall rains make me feel like I am no longer in the city, but in the woods where I prefer to be. The patter of raindrops hitting the green leaves, and the drip, drip, drip, from the gutters are more pleasurable sounds than automobile engines. Even the sound of a splash as I walk through a puddle is lovely sound. E.e. cummings had it right when he called it “puddle-wonderful.”

Along with the sounds, the view changes in rain. I leaned long ago in a photography class that light has color temperatures (measured in degrees Kelvin for the person who discovered this phenomenon). These temperatures are a measure of the amount of heat applied to the perfect black radiator which absorbs all color. As the temperature is raised or lowered that black object radiates back different colors of light. Changes in color temperature make some colors “pop”. For example, the color temperature of sunlight is around 5500 degrees Kelvin. At that color temperature, to our eyes, everything looks normal. But lower that temperature to about 3200 degrees (incandescent light) and objects and people appear yellow, not necessarily to our eyes which tend to adjust for changes in light and color, but a camera will will convey the warmer tint unless you white balance or use a flash to simulate sunlight. During rain, the daylight color temperature rises from the 5500 degree sunlit temperature to 6000-10,000 degrees where colors have a cooler, bluish tint. “Cooler” is the operative word for me. I love cool colors and overcast skies and rain give those to me. That’s why greens appear greener on those overcast rainy days.

Why do I live for rainy days? Free time to accomplish great things, quieter sounds and cooler colors that suit me, and most of all, to have a change from the bright hot loooong days of summer when so much is expected of me. So take some time to listen to the drips and drops, relax in the greens and blues, and take time to reflect. Maybe someday one of you will join me in relishing the rainy day and together we can say aloud to the sun-lovers “What’s beautiful about your sunny day?”

Risk-Taking: Do It Anyway

2011-05-25T08:02:00.001-04:00

Do you live safe or do you take risks? Do you try to keep others in your care safe or do you allow them to take risks? Life is all about risk. No, not the kind of risk where you jump out of an airplane without checking your parachute or the kind of risk that has you climbing Mt. Everest or bungee jumping off the Verrazano Bridge. I’m speaking about everyday risks, risks that only you can determine. Do you give money to the beggar at the corner? Do you risk it being misspent? Do you order the largest burger? Do you risk your health? What about your job? Do take a risk by suggesting actions to those above you? What about your money? What type of risks do you take with it?

I define risk as not maintaining a status quo. The status quo despises risk-taking. Indeed, it despises any change, something like the sloth which can hang from the same tree for years, moving so slowly that it needs little food. Risk is the food of life. Risk is doing what is right, not disregarding the consequences, but fully aware of the consequences and doing it anyway. Martina McBride’s song “Anyway” resonates with me. Do it anyway.

When the recession hit, I had to cut expenses. Typically businesses cut employees and advertising. I increased my spending. What did I cut? A yearly payment to Microsoft that’s about equal to one month of advertising expenses. I also cut my usual new technology splurges. Most businesses hold their money tightly in the face of decreasing income; I borrowed money to invest in foreclosed real estate. Am I a fool? To some people. To others, I am a risk taker, taking a risk to invest some funds in a depressed community where the real estate is located and from which I may never see a profit. Do it anyway.

There are a few pieces of wisdom I hold onto. First, when there’s something I don’t want to do, I remember what a wise counselor told me, “Would it hurt you to do that?” Then I ask myself, how much would it hurt me? Maybe it won’t hurt at all. Especially if it’s just a small risk of time or money. Do it anyway. Second, I ask myself if it is sin. If God has said “no” it’s not a risk; it’s a stupid, foolish action. Finally, I hold onto the fact that I can’t often know the outcome of my risk-taking decisions. Am I helping someone who didn’t deserve to be helped? I can’t make that determination. Only God can. Am I wasting my money? Only God knows. Not knowing all potential outcomes frees me to make risky decisions. I do it anyway.

Risk involves trust. After making a considered decision, you must trust that the decision is correct. And no, even as a person who follows Jesus and stays closely connected to God through his Spirit, it seems like half the time I have no clue whether I am doing is the right thing or if I have totally messed up. But I do it anyway. And that’s what makes me a risk taker. Have you thought about being a risk taker? What would it take to move you in that direction? As you finish reading this, consider what sort of risk you might normally avoid. Then do it anyway!

And if you’d like to read a book that helped me consider my risk taking, read The Crime of Living Cautiously by Luci Shaw.

Renovating the Vacation House—Part 1

2011-05-23T08:46:00.001-04:00

I purchased a FNMA foreclosure which needed some work, but I had a plan. Everyone tells you to leave an extra 10-20% for contingencies, but I decided I would just over-estimate my expenses and that would cover contingencies. I’ll let you in on the first of three secrets.

You already know I research everything. Even with all my research, the first contractor I choose is invariably the least competent one. It doesn’t matter how many or how good the references are, or how long they have been in business, or how great their website is. For me, the first is the worst. Suffice it to say that I started out by hiring a probably wonderful builder, but a bad building inspector. I knew it when he showed up with no ladder or tools and was not dressed to crawl into the crawl space. He told me a least one thing I didn’t know, so I counted it as a successful experience at the time. I wasn’t worried because I was already in contract, so no matter what the inspector found, I would move forward.

My husband was worried about my security and friends of ours near Laurelville had been visited by burglars until they installed a gate, so my first step was to install a farm gate at the road. I found the gate at a local store and they gave me the name of someone who could install it, but that person never returned my calls (contractor #1). I found another contractor and he successfully installed it.

A gate needs a lock and my search for the toughest lock led me to one with a strange sounding name. New York Fahgettaboudit. This is a lock used to secure motorcycles and bicycles in New York City, so it would be fine for my country gate. It uses a type of lock technology that makes it virtually impossible to pick or fabricate a duplicate key. These locks are known as rotating disk locks and when the key is inserted and turned, disks, like tumblers in a safe lock, rotate to the desired position.

With the gate in place and locked, it was time to start working on the inside. Everything had been painted horrible colors (pink, bright blue) and all other surfaces were pink wallboard patterned with tiny flowers. The kitchen countertop was white and stained. I primered everything and painted the walls in forest shades and painted the counter in wheat. (Note: this was a paint and leave immediately situation—counter paint smells horrid). I don’t purchase paint like others do. I purchase mis-tints at greatly reduced prices ($5 to $10), then mix them to get my desired shade, not always with the best results. I painted the two largest rooms twice, just to get the correct color—one that was pleasant to look at. And when I ran out of my special mix in the middle of painting a room, I discovered how hard it is to match my mixes. When I mix paints, I mix glosses and flats and semi-glosses and different paint brands. When you have paint matched at the store, they ask you what brand it is. Different brands must have different characteristics. I created a challenge for the paint department with my custom mixes. It took them several tries and they never did get the exact color, but it was close enough. I am not a good painter and it took about a year to finish the last bit of wall.

After I’d paint a room I would start ripping out the carpet. This is smart because you can use the carpet as a drop cloth. Unfortunately for the floors, ripping out carpet was quicker than painting on the first two rooms, so I decided to rip first and paint later. Unfortunate because when we painted, we spilled and entire tray of primer on the bare subfloor in the main room which I had wanted to stain. (I say we, because I had acquired a younger, stronger, helper. Oh, well, Plan B.

Who installs carpet and then builds walls over it? In one room, that is how the carpet was secured. Staples, tack strips, and fastened beneath the wall. The carpets were cheap and ugly and I had no intention of using carpet anywhere. I used a linoleum cutter to rip carpet and pad to manageable size. We used brute force to pull it from beneath the walls. You can still see the shoe prints where we braced against the wall to pull it out. Then I used a pry bar to pull nails and tacking strips and a scissors to trim what remained under the wall. I did this in the three largest rooms and it took a long time and much effort. I had to cut the carpet pieces small enough to fit in my compact car, so I could haul them home and dispose of them. For a number of months, I worked with rolled up carpet in a queue, waiting to be driven home and trashed.

My gate installation contractor was ready to start on the bathrooms. He would be replacing subfloor, installing a shower, and replacing two vanities. I had hoped to use a prefabricated shower from Lowes, but the salesman pointed out to me that it would not fit through the doorway. So I bought shower walls and base and fixtures, a refrigerator, and bathroom vanities and sinks, all of which Lowes delivered for my contractor’s use.

Stay tuned for the next installment where I discuss my second secret and how I worked around the disaster that lay ahead.

Backup Options

2011-05-16T11:06:00.001-04:00

Backup. Backup. Backup. If you have important data on your computer (and who doesn’t?) you must backup. There are several ways to backup your data. The easiest is online using Carbonite or Acronis, or Norton 360. Both of these programs will automatically backup your data to an off-site server location. It’s easy and once setup you need do nothing. The downside is that if you need to restore the data due to a hard drive crash or for some other reason, it is extremely slow. A normal amount of data may take 12 hours or more to restore. In addition, off-site does not mean always accessible as a small error by an Amazon employee proved recently. An employee error during a normal process brought businesses to a halt as their data became inaccessible.

A slightly less simple alternative is to backup to an external hard drive. External hard drives are available at office supply and electronics stores and generally run in the $70 range and up. Although many of them come with backup software, the software is only accessible from the external hard drive and if that software becomes corrupt there may be no way to fix it and no way to retrieve your backup. So, again I recommend Acronis or Norton 360 to perform the backup, because you can set them to backup to the external drive automatically. Once set,they will perform incremental backups. And because they are installed on your computer, as long as you have a computer available you can reinstall and retrieve your backup. Another note: You should remove your hard drive to an offsite location on a regular basis or whenever your office or home will be unattended.

Some people have only a few files they want to back up and they want high portability for those files. For them a flash drive is the best option. Small and durable it can fit in a pocket, on a key ring, or anywhere else you might put it. Cheaper flash drives require you to copy the files manually to the drive which is more difficult than using an automatic system. The U3 operating system which is sold on some higher-priced flash drives allows you to run backup programs from the flash drive. One manufacturer, SanDisk, sells drives with backup software, and they are the brand I use and recommend. This type of backup is most suitable for documents because documents take up far less space than pictures, videos, or music, and fit well on these miniature drives.

What do I use? I use Norton 360 and Acronis to backup to an external hard drive with redundant disks. I keep important information on a flash drive. And I have another computer on which I load data that is essential to my life. Few need the amount of backup I use, but you do need something. If you are not currently backing up your data, please consider doing so immediately.

When Do You Need to Call For Help?

2011-05-16T10:34:00.001-04:00

Just like any appliance, a computer can become finicky with age. At some point, you will ask yourself “Do I need a new one or should I have the present one repaired?” One way to avoid this question is a monthly, quarterly or yearly checkup. A monthly checkup is recommended if you are dependent on proper computer function in a high-paced workplace. A quarterly checkup is recommended if your workplace computer needs are slower paced. And finally, a yearly checkup is recommended if you are a home user.

What does a checkup include? During a normal one-hour checkup (longer if problems are found), we examine your computer to ensure that all software applications are up to date. These include Windows, office programs, Java, Adobe, your internet security, your web browser, and other miscellaneous programs. Out of date programs can slow your computer and create security problems. We also check your computer’s memory to ensure that you have sufficient to see you through the foreseeable future and we check hard drive space for the same reason. Finally, if we suspect hard drive problems, we examine the drive itself using software tools.

After our checkup we will present you with our findings and make recommendations based on your situation. When we ask you questions, it is because we try to determine if you are a person who leans toward the next new thing or whether you prefer to make things last as long as possible, or whether you fall somewhere between those two extremes. We have entered situations where the person was ready to purchase a new computer no matter what we found, other situations where the person wanted the computer fixed despite the fact that a new computer might have been less expensive. Whatever options we present, we cannot foresee the future and no one can tell you how long any part of your computer may last.

So, whether it’s monthly, quarterly, or yearly, make your computer decisions wisely, based on sound information. And if you’re behind on your checkup, give us a call now at 614-329-6671.

Adventures in Buying a Vacation Home

2011-05-16T07:16:00.001-04:00

The first step to owning a vacation home starts with research. Research to see what’s available. Research to find more or less desirable areas. Research, research, research. I love research and learning new things and exploring ideas and alternatives. I spent about 3 years doing research for this cabin, research that ultimately led me to refine my search. I researched the state of Ohio using aerial maps and driving here and there, and subsequently restricted my search to areas in southern Ohio because there are many more public lands to enjoy. I looked for something small, within 1 hour 30 minutes to Columbus, priced at $50,000 or less (we did not want to incur debt), hilly wooded acreage, close to a lake for swimming, easy access to major highways, proximity to grocery and other amenities of a city, and close to hiking trails and lakes. I looked at Hocking, Athens, Vinton, Fairfield, Ross, Pike, and Highland counties. I frequently searched online at Trulia, FNMA, HUD, and others. I checked out sheriff’s sale lists and individual local realtor sites and auction sites like Williams & Williams, Bid4Assets, and Ohiorealestateauctions.com.

My husband and I physically viewed some properties from a too small cabin on too little land too far away to a cabin with a huge commercial light mounted next to the front door, bars on the doors and windows and half underground, leaking and moldy. We saw land that was too far away and too expensive and land that was in a good location but with poor roads, neighbors, and utilities. My dream continually returned me to the website of a one-room streamside cabin where I imagined myself writing and reading and lounging by the side of the stream, but that cabin was overpriced, far away, with no utilities and my practical side kicked in and finally turned me away from that one. I often despaired at finding my dream. When I did find well-priced land with utilities and buildings, they were useless buildings that would need to be removed (a Quonset hut and a leaky, tiny, no longer mobile (on blocks) mobile home. I watched a couple of auctions and wondered at people who paid top dollar at auction for properties needing extensive structural repair.

I had included raw land in my search and considered the idea of building later because land is more affordable, but, because building is very expensive, my search eventually narrowed to include only properties that already had a building. In addition to the structure, water and septic can be a problem. Water wells are hit and miss in hilly areas. Even though there is sufficient rain, much of the rainfall runs off the hills into streams and rivers and very little soaks into the ground. Unlike the 30-foot well at my primary residence, where the ground is flat and permeable, and which yields a strong flow of good quality water, wells in hilly areas are at least 100 feet deep or deeper, with poor water quality and weak flow. The hilly terrain also causes a problem for septic systems. The soil in these areas tends to be impermeable clay and rock, so it is often difficult to get a septic system approved. I wanted someone else to have already dealt with the septic and water for anything I purchased. In addition, I found it to be far less work and expense to purchase something that is already constructed, rather than to build new.

I finally found what I was looking for, or close to it. And while I couldn’t find everything on my list, I did find wooded hilly land, a building the right size, in my price range, with septic and water, close to the Buckeye Trail, across from state forest land, close to a major highway and city amenities. This was a Fannie Mae financed house which gave me some comfort because FNMA has standards for houses which it finances.

I did not know how greatly Fannie Mae’s foreclosure process differed from other foreclosures and differed from purchasing from any other seller, but I soon learned. FNMA requires all houses to go to bid and these bids must be submitted to FNMA by FNMA approved realtors. You cannot submit a bid to FNMA unless you show the realtor proof of your ability to pay the amount bid, such as bank statements or a pre-approved loan. These are blind bids; you do know know how much the other potential buyers are bidding. I decided to bid full price. The realtor suggested I could go lower, but did tell me there were other parties bidding. A full price offer was a reasonable amount to pay, so I submitted the bid and expected a response within 24 hours as is normal in other transactions.

I soon discovered that FNMA looks at each bid submitted each day or over a period of days and chooses the one that will give FNMA the greater net proceeds. In most real estate purchase transactions the purchaser makes an offer that is a contract. Not FNMA. It was several days before I received word that FNMA had accepted my bid, but I did not receive FNMA’s contract until much later and I asked that it be faxed to my real estate attorney for a quick review. Most residential real estate purchase contracts are a page or two. My attorney called me after receiving the contract and that’s when I found out FNMA’s contract contained thirteen pages. My attorney was pressed for time, so he addressed his concerns with me, and I addressed mine with him as I drove I drove to Chillicothe to give the realtor my deposit and submit the contract.

I felt almost sure about this purchase, but it was a sufficiently large expenditure to drain our savings, my husband was not completely happy about it, and I wanted to be as absolutely sure as I could that this was a right thing to do. FNMA, being a large government agency, does not negotiate changes to their contract. Nevertheless, there were parts of the contract made me uncomfortable so I made changes before I submitted the contract to FNMA. I do not believe in trying to put God in a situation where it seems like I am forcing him to act. After all, who can control God? It seems presumptive to even think about trying to force his hand. But this one time, I asked him to let FNMA do what they always do and not accept my changes if he wanted me to back off from the cabin. I told him that if FNMA rejected the contract, I would not move forward and that would be the end of it. I fully expected that to be the end of it because I know government agencies are adverse to change. And it wasn’t like mine was the only bid; the next closest bid was only $100 less than mine.

It took days for a response from FNMA. Days when I wrestled with what the loss of a dream would mean. Days when I felt alternately calm then sad at the loss I was sure to experience. And yet it felt good. It felt right. I have often jumped into situations which may not have been the best choice. There are people in my life today who believe that some of my current decisions are wrong. Sometimes it’s difficult to know who to listen to. Voices from good friends can give opposing advice. Even God doesn’t usually tell me what is right. There are clear principals and guidelines found in the Bible, but they may not cover every situation. Sometimes the Spirit nudges me in a certain direction. But usually I make a decision with no clear guidance, only desperate prayer that what I am doing is right. I think that’s what makes me a risk-taker and business owner and it may inform some of my other decisions.

How do you decide who to marry? Sure, you have your list and you have your feelings, but what if the person who matches your list and shares your feelings says no? How do you decide what car to buy? You have a list and you have a price, but what if the car that matches your list and price turns out to be a lemon? How about your house? Which is most important: location, style, fixtures, price? And when you finally do choose, is it really the right one?

This brings up the subject of cognitive dissonance. It’s a psych-based marketing term that means when you make a decision to acquire something costly and actually do acquire it, you have feelings of doubt that you did the right thing. We all have those feelings when we make a large purchase and auto companies, electronics companies and other high-ticket manufacturers do not spend their advertising dollars merely to sell us their product. No! Watch a commercial for the brand you own. Does it make you feel better about purchasing it? Of course it does. The advertisers market to you before the sale and diminish cognitive dissonance after the sale, so we will feel good about the product we have purchased. Think about that the next time you see a television or YouTube commercial or see an ad on the web or in a publication. We also try to diminish our own cognitive dissonance by extolling the virtues of our purchase.

Enough of this digression. I’m sure you are wondering what happened to the FNMA contract and my changes.

I’ll tell you in the next installment.

Luna Moth

2011-05-12T09:49:00.000-04:00

This Luna moth surprised me outside the door of my cabin yesterday afternoon. I left the porch light on and it must have been attracted to the relative brightness on that sunny day. Luna moths lay their eggs in leaf litter under trees (a reason not to rake leaves) or on the underside of low growing leaves. They emerge from their cocoon and wait a couple of hours for their wings to harden before flying off. Their usual life span is seven days, during which they must emerge, harden their wings, mate and lay eggs for future caterpillars. They are in the same family as the silk moths and, while their cocoon is silky, there are so few Luna caterpillars that it is both impractical and unwise to harvest their cocoons for silk.

I am thankful for the variety of trees and plants around the cabin which give me the opportunity to see beautiful creatures that cities have cast out.

Luna Moth

2011-05-12T08:04:00.000-04:00

This Luna moth surprised me outside the door of my cabin yesterday afternoon. I left the porch light on and it must have been attracted to the relative brightness on that sunny day. Luna moths lay their eggs in leaf litter under trees (a reason not to rake leaves) or on the underside of low growing leaves. They emerge from their cocoon and wait a couple of hours for their leaves to harden before flying off. Their usual life span is seven days, during which they must emerge, harden their wings, mate and lay eggs for future caterpillars. They are in the same family as the silk moths and, while their cocoon is silky, there are so few Luna caterpillars that it is both impractical and unwise to harvest their cocoons for silk.

I am thankful for the variety of trees and plants around the cabin which give me the opportunity to see beautiful creatures that cities have cast out.

Why Did I Buy A Cabin?

2011-05-04T13:24:00.001-04:00

I believe this is a question that circles the penumbra of the minds of people who know me. My husband still thinks me crazy (Am I crazy because I think many people think I’m crazy?) for spending every bit I earn and then some. I’m not always good at articulating all my reasons and I’m not sure I have the complete answer but here goes!

I have always felt compelled to give to poorer areas. However, I have little income and some years ago my husband who rarely tells me not to do something, put the stop to my plan to give an extra 5-10% each year until I reached a 90% give rate with our income. So I dropped back to 10-15% and looked for other ways to contribute.

Studies have shown that 80% of funds spent in a community directly benefit the people in that community. So, the amount that I spend on the cabin, for the utilities, the appliances, the contractors, the furnishings, the security system, the landscape, and everything else benefit Chillicothe and Waverly and Ross and Pike counties and the people who live there.

Think about it. When you pay money to a retailer, some of what you pay goes to taxes which benefit the city/village and county, some to employ people who now can spend money at retailers which benefits the city/village, the county, and more people. And when you pay money to a local contractor, they usually spend it in the area in which they live. So when I pay the plumbers and other contractors, I know where that money will likely stay: in Pike and Ross counties.

There’s another reason I wanted a cabin. For a several years we vacationed at a state park cabin. I enjoyed the scenery, the trails, the lake, but the bed was very uncomfortable and the second bedroom had space only for bunk beds so our married friends would have difficulty staying with us. The first two years we slept on the floor on an air mattress because the bed was so uncomfortable. With the light from the sidewalk shining in and the sounds of cars coming and going in the parking lot and people walking outside our door and past our cabin, it was difficult to sleep which is one of my primary goals for a vacation.

The final year we stayed at the state park, we removed the mattress, leaned it against the bedroom wall and put our air mattress on the bed. That year, the people in the next cabin, whose deck was directly across from our bedroom window, brought their radio outside and and sang along loudly and out of tune as we tried to sleep. In the evenings before bedtime, I would gaze at the walls of the cabin and dream of repainting and adding artwork. A cabin we owned would compensates for the defects of the state park cabin. Two full bedrooms with the same mattresses we use at home, no cars pulling in, no one walking by at night, no one singing out of tune, We can sleep and dream.

Finally, I don’t like to pay taxes. We are in a low tax bracket but I would would still prefer to send as little money as possible to our wasteful out-of-control government. I asked an accountant how I could lessen our taxes. The only viable solution was to purchase a building and move my business there or start another business. I did not want a building for my business and one business takes most of my time; another business was out of the question. But what about a vacation rental? I love real estate and I could have a vacation place to enjoy for a couple of weeks each year and rent it in the interim. That’s a business that would provide personal benefits and still give me a tax deduction. How has it worked out, you ask? The first year has been difficult and costly, but we did get a small tax refund for the first time in years. Never an organizer or a bookkeeper, the cabin had added more organization and bookkeeping to my life. But it’s also a joy. There’s work now but later I can hike and write and most of our pre-vacation planning is gone. We don’t have to plan ahead for aone or two day vacation and if I ever get to take an entire week, there’s very little planning involved. And for right now, I enjoy the quiet every time I am there to work.

Should you buy a vacation rental second home? Stay tuned and I’ll tell you more to help you make that decision.

Uncertainty—by Diana Harkness

2011-04-30T21:27:00.001-04:00

UNCERTAINTY

The Principal of Indeterminacy

The Principal of Uncertainty

We cannot know the outcome;

Hope or chaos in the cosmos.

If a butterfly dies

It shakes the world.

I smashed a bee under my foot

Did the world move?

Heisenberg knew.

When he located the particle

It changed speed.

When he measured its speed

It changed position.

We brush against each other.

Our words touch and flit.

You change my position;

And I change yours.

You change my direction.

You change my speed.

And every word from every source

And every note

Of music

And birdsong

And frog song

And wind and wave song

Touch upon touch,

Word upon word

Imperceptible changes

Until we are truly

Dancing in rhythm,

To the song of the Ages.

Christmas by Diana Harkness

2011-04-30T21:25:00.001-04:00

CHRISTMAS

Papier-mâché lamb so sweet

Cuddles with cow and ass and boar.

A child’s hand with warm regard

Places the lamb in excelsior.

While angels slice through glassy haze

Trailing shadowed threads of gloom,

Hurling barbs of soot and ash

Bearing neither light nor tune

To suffering children.

And the weak,

Who seeming strong,

Take up the task of tuneless song,

Those weak who visioned gentler times

Leave all comfort, sweetness, light

For those to come, who now are here;

Whose eyes are blind to angels’ flight.

Who listen not for angels’ tread,

Nor hear the words that might inspire

Nor dream the dreams that push ahead.

The curtain shreds in silent scream

A mother’s heart is rent asunder.

Jingle, jingle, all the way

Let’s celebrate this Christmas wonder.

WHO ARE WE?—A Poem

2011-04-30T17:29:00.001-04:00

Who Are We?

I wrote a poem, I said,

and a story, too.

He rose up.

I am a mechanic.

What do I have to do

with poems and stories?

I am a mechanic.

What does that mean?

Is that what he thinks?

What do I say?

How do I tell him?

I woke him that night

You are not just a mechanic

I said.

You are lover planner politician

You are listener cat-holder dog-man.

You are the body I love to touch,

the one I want to sleep with,

who I love to wake up to.

Is that enough

for this silent man

who argues over

government and windmills

and taxes and corruption

and guns and cabins?

And I am the one with words

who cannot find the right ones

for him.

Word Creation

2011-04-28T12:14:00.001-04:00

It's not just the mangled English of sloppy street language that creates new words. Poets and other writers do it. Just think of the word "puddle-wonderful” from the poem by e.e. cummings "In Just Spring”. Puddle-wonderful creates a “synergy” (from two Greek words meaning “works together”) that paints a picture greater than either word used with the other.

How about the word “proglem” which I used in my technology blog. Proglem could be used to describe a problem with computer programs and it was an inadvertent but not inappropriate coinage. But does proglem describe those problems better or more precisely? That is always the question. Does the coined word give us a new perspective on the world? Does it create a picture which is greater than the sum of the parts? Is it more precise?

I recently read an essay by one of my favorite authors (Eugene H. Peterson). His doctor told him about the word “iatrogenic”: an illness contracted in the process of being treated for something else. In his case, it was knee surgery from which he contracted a staph infection. However, thinking about that word which is a combination of two Greek words, “iatrose” meaning healer and “genic” meaning origin, he coined the word “eusebigenic”, eusebeia meaning “righteous” and genic meaning “origin” to describe an illness in the church originating from self-righteous people which churches tend to create. But enough of the Greek. The French have also coined words such as parapluie—para meaing “for” and pluie meaning “rain”—their word for umbrella.

Returning to English, how about “putrus”. What does that mean to you? I placed it in a poem to try to describe the oozing putrid stuff of spring that I see on my walks. I didn’t think it worked and replaced it with putrid. Some new words, like Eugene Peterson’s eusebigenic are not meant to last past the opening of the chapter in his book. Others like puddle-wonderful have lasted decades for me. Consider the words you hear and read. Are they old or recently created. Do they work? Will they stay with you for a long time. Have you or anyone close to you coined words that are now part of your vocabulary?

And just for your further education, this process is called neologism (neo meaning “new”, logos “word” and “ism” turns the others into a noun). Lewis Carroll in his poem “Jabberwocky” coined so many words that you’ll need to read the poem to find them all. Many authors have coined or generated words directly or from their characters or titles. Here are just a few. William Gibson “cyberspace” from his novel Neuromancer. “Quixotic” from Miguel Cervante’s character Don Quixote. “Catch-22” from Joseph Heller’s novel of the same name.

Let me know of any new words you find intriguing or useful.

Food for Thought: Consider The Bagel

2011-04-28T12:13:00.001-04:00

How do you think about food? Perhaps I should ask, do you ponder or consider your food? It is important to ponder at great depth the wonderful gift of food. My favorite food is the New York Bagel. I get mine at Block’s Bagels in Columbus Ohio and it is my customary breakfast (bagel toasted with cream cheese) and a food I could eat any time. What makes this bagel my perennial favorite and preferred food?

Unlike the grocery store’s so-called bagels or the bagels found at other bakeries, this perfect bagel starts with yeast and flour like any other bread product, but it is created not made. Expert hands form the dough into springy cylinders then curve the cylinder into a circle and secure the ends. The bagel is a bread which meets itself at its ends, so in a philosophical sense it has no beginning and no end; there is only the center, which, in a bagel, is empty. Enough of philosophy. . . After creation, the bagels rise. The bagel is left in a warm environment to rise to the perfect height and size and then, at that precise moment, the bagel and its brothers are pushed into a large vat of boiling water. This gives the bagel its hard outer shell and its soft, chewy inside. In this way the bagel is much like life: we are created, life’s pressures and heat give us a hard outer shell, able to withstand anything, but if we are cared for by our Creator we remain soft on the inside. But back to the bagel.

After boiling for a couple of minutes, the bagel is removed from the water and baked until perfect with an outer layer that is springy when fresh from the oven, but then hardens to give you the taste sensation of a crunch leading to chewy. When you cut this bagel open you will see a perfect mixture of holes and gluten. The bagel itself is not perfectly uniform—no! Save that kind of uniform “perfection” for the tasteless, textureless, mass produced, unboiled bagels.

I once tried making the New York bagel and neither my husband nor I have ever forgotten the experience. My first problem (replicating perfection is always a problem) was that they filled the kitchen. Do you know how much room it takes to make one recipe of bagels and let them rise on baking trays in the kitchen? I didn’t, but I soon found out. I didn’t have sufficient trays; I had to borrow some and there were trays on every flat surface: on the sink basins, the stove burners, the microwave, the refrigerator, and on every inch of counter space. I watched and waited but they didn’t rise much, so I decided to move to the next step: boiling.

I did not then, nor do I now, own a large vat and even if I had one, I had no way to heat it. So I filled a 3 quart spaghetti pan with water, brought it to a boil on the stove, and put in the bagels 3 or 4 at a time. Meanwhile, the bagels still in waiting, were forced to sit too long and were drying—drying out, desiccating, parching. I hoped the water bath would rehydrate them as well as raise them, but while they came out of it moist, they retained the same shape and form, albeit a little puffier.

After the water bath they needed to go in the oven, and I encountered another obstacle. I had used all my baking trays to hold the rising bagels. So I pulled out dinner plates on which to rest the boiled bagels while their brothers were boiling or in waiting. With nowhere to put the plates I held them in my hand and squeezed them between resting trays. When I finally had a tray free, I moved the bagels from the plates to the tray and into the oven. They hadn’t risen sufficiently in the water bath; I hoped they would rise in the oven. When I checked on the first batch they were still the same size. I was tempted to chuck the rest of the bagels in the trash but I am not a quitter. So I continued the assembly process: boil, set on a plate, boil, set on a plate, and when the baking sheet was finally empty, move the bagels from the plates to the baking sheet and into the oven to bake.

The end result was not pretty. Small hard baked bagels eventually filled the kitchen. They had a good scent so I tried a few but they tasted like they looked: tiny, hard, and inedible. I did what any self-respecting baker would do and into the freezer they went. They languished there until many years later we moved out of that house and the distressed freezer-odored bags of tiny bagels finally convinced me to discard them.

I learned a lesson that bagel-baking day: Some things in life are better left to experts. Today, I purchase my bagels (pumpernickel for me, blueberry or chocolate chip for my husband) by the dozens at Block’s, each one wonderful in itself, and if I arrive at the store at the right time I can see them taken from the water bath and put into the ovens, plump and perfect.

Next time you see or eat something you really love, consider it in depth. How has it affected you? What have you learned? When I toast my bagel (which takes it beyond perfection) the crunch increases and a delicate brown blush covers the cut side. If I hadn’t learned about the bagel I would not have taken such pleasure in its beauty and texture. So, with every favorite food, indeed everything, thank God for his provision—after all you did nothing to deserve this—and hold an attitude of gratitude for every moment of pleasure he has provided.

Now just a note: Even perfect bagels if kept too long at room temperature can spoil. Mold grows easily on flour and moisture. You really need to freeze them to keep the fresh. However, if I keep them too long without freezing them, I have learned that mold will not hurt you. I cut off the green mold and wipe off the white mold. But if you find any mold distasteful, here’s how to resurrect moldy bagels: wash them. Because they have a hard outer skin, you can rinse them in water and wash off the mold. Then put them in the oven on normal heat and watch them. The purpose is to dry them thoroughly, not bake them, so when they are one shade darker, remove them and let them cool completely. Then, place them in freezer bags and put them in the freezer which I should have done in the first place.

Do I Want An Ipad?

2011-04-27T07:23:00.001-04:00

Most of you who know have asked already know that I do NOT want an Ipad because it omits features which are critical to my work. (USB ports, long battery life, and OneNote). But what about the rest of you. Can you work with an Ipad?

The Ipad is so popular that many computer users are willing to do almost anything to make it work for them. If you are set on using an Ipad, here are some apps that will make it more functional. Before you download any app you need to know how much space it requires because space is limited on the Ipad. If you do a quick search you will find many Ipad owners searching for ways to increase available storage space. Please note that I have not actually used any of these apps; All the information comes from other sources.

Let’s jump right in. For pdf documents (Adobe Reader format) Goodreader is the program to use. This app is cheap ($4.99) and small (12.5 MB). It will allow you to annotate pdf documents, so if you like to add notes and comments, highlights and underlines, this might be the app for you.

If you want to work with Word and Excel files, there are several apps which I am listing in order of size. Each one links to the product’s website where you can learn more.

Office2HD—Allows you to perform basic tasks with all current versions of Word and Excel documents. 5.1MB, $7.99
Documents to Go—Probably the most full-featured of these programs. The company also developed this app for Android, Blackberry, and Palm. 9.3MB, $9.99 for for the standard version, $14.99 for the premium version (allows you to edit PowerPoint presentations)
Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite—Allows you to edit Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. The largest of all these apps at 20.9MB, it currently costs $14.99.

What if you don’t want to work through an app? What if you could use your Ipad to access and work on your office computer. You can with Logmein Ignition. Logmein Ignition uses your internet connection to create a secure tunnel to your office computer. This allows you to use any programs on your computer such as Microsoft Office, your web browser (to get around the Ipad’s Flash media limitations), and other programs you need. It won’t be as fast or smooth as sitting directly in front of your office computer, but it will allow you to perform work you may not be able to do otherwise. Coming in at 9.9MB, it costs $29.99.

Now that I’ve given you all the workarounds for what I consider a less than functional piece of equipment, what’s the alternative? Use a notebook/laptop computer running Windows or wait for a good Windows-based tablet. My first tablet ran on Windows XP and had an attached keyboard. It is still in use today (by someone else) and until I find a tablet that has what I consider critical tools, OneNote, multiple USB ports, and long battery life (>4 hours), I will not be moving to a tablet. So Apple, Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Viewsonic and others, take note of what the working public wants!

Resurrection and Holiday Guests

2011-04-27T07:00:00.001-04:00

Every Christmas and Easter we have guests. Why? The simple answer: it’s more fun with lots of people! We have international guests mostly referred to us by International Friendships. We’ve had students from Nepal, Kenya, Taiwan, Malaysia, and China. We also have friends who are working professionals from India who join us from time to time and other friends who are from Hungary.

Many of the international students know nothing about Easter and Christmas. Growing up always knowing, makes it more difficult to explain to others. A couple of years ago, I stumbled on the The Jesus Storybook Bible. This beautifully written and illustrated book tells stories from the Bible with carefully chosen words and simple artwork. A couple of years ago I gave a digital edition to a woman from Taiwan and her children. This Easter I gave a selection from the book, the part about Jesus’ death and resurrection, to a man from China and his daughter. (Note: for adults I recommend The Case for the Resurrection: A First Century Reporter Probes History’s Pivotal Event.)

For me to explain Jesus’ resurrection, means that I have to travel back to his death, and then further back to his life, and birth and the evidence for him from the beginning of creation. That’s a long path to travel anytime and especially over lunch when I’m already exhausted from all the cooking and prep work. And then there’s the believability factor. How do you tell someone who has never considered it that to trust your life to Jesus means that you will be raised from the dead just as he was? How do you even explain resurrection when Jesus own friends couldn’t believe their eyes? And how do you explain that when you trust him, he sends his Spirit to live in you and keep you connected to him? Who would believe that?

I think back to those days when Jesus was walking around Israel. There had been one other temporary resurrection. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead for some time, but who else was present? Only a few people in that small town. And there’s no further mention of Lazarus except in one of Jesus’s stories—but in that story Lazarus is just a bit player. There are no tales of Lazarus’ exploits after his resurrection; No evidence that he showed superior wisdom or knowledge of the secrets of the after-life. For that matter, there were no stories of him before his death. He appears to be a non-entity. And, of course, that was a temporary resurrection. Lazarus would have died a normal death later in his life just as most all of us do.

So here we stand, more than two thousand years later. People live, die, are buried or cremated, and that’s the end. Or is it? Do we hold in our minds and culture the same impossibility of resurrection that they held in the first century? Are we the same people they were? It’s true we have modern scientific methods for sustaining life and nanotechnology and cryogenics and other stuff of science fiction. And we can accomplish more faster with all our technology. But all the science and technology won’t make anyone live forever. So, what about resurrection? Yes, resurrection is difficult to believe, but it’s equally as difficult to believe that the end is the end. Relationships, dreams and hopes to which we have given our lives, our wealth, and our time and which should never be broken, are irrevocably severed at death, if there is no resurrection.

If resurrection was a thing of science, I would have my friend Kevin resurrected. He and I were close friends during high school and spent hours talking long-distance during college. He took a wrong turn and ended up dead at 35. The hopelessness at his memorial service is branded on my memory. Never have I wanted so badly to see his face, to hear him laugh, to once again discuss life with him. I would have him resurrected not only for me, but to give him the the opportunity to correct his mistakes and be a productive member of society. Kevin’s life choices were of the sort that may have hurt only a few people. Friends of dictators and despots and murderers of body and soul, such as Hitler and Mengele and Idi Amin, might also want their friends resurrected. Should science give them that opportunity?

If resurrection was a thing of hope, I would have my cousin’s son resurrected. He died of an accident in college, never to fulfill his potential. He might have been a great chef owning restaurants in several cities. But we’ll never know. He left a pain in my cousin's heart that will never leave. There are many people for whom hope might desire their resurrection.

So how does this work? If left up to us, the people who would be resurrected would be the same evil or good or partly evil or good people that we have now. I have a friend who spoke to Kevin on his deathbed and even then he was not willing to change his life. When Jesus was raised from the dead, he promised that all who became his, gave their lives to him, and let him put his Spirit in them, would be resurrected one day. Everyone God resurrects will be good.

Imagine, if you can, a world. . . no let’s bring it closer. . . a city or a family where everyone was as righteous as Jesus. I can’t do it. There is no way to imagine something like that. Let’s try something else. Imagine the best moments of your life: a beautiful sunset with your spouse, a day at the park with your children. Imagine the best sight: a smile and combine it with the best sound: a laugh, a shout of joy. Imagine that you loved your work. All of it. Imagine that everyone else loved their work, too. Imagine that you were devoted to your husband or wife or son or daughter with a devotion that never wavered, never failed them. Imagine that you lived your life continually under God’s love and you loved him in return, constantly without wavering. This, my friend, must be the stuff of resurrection.

So choose. Will you live a life without the possibility of resurrection in the belief that the end is the end? Finito. Kaput. Or will you listen to your inner urgings and acknowledge that resurrection is desirable and possible and look to Jesus for the way to accomplish it. Yes, it’s a total commitment, but one with long-term benefits. And look at the result. Community with God now. Life with Jesus’ Spirit now. And friendship with other followers of Jesus. Not to mention unexpected tastes of the resurrected life from time to time. And then, one day in the future, bodily resurrection and an endless life no one can truly imagine, with death-shattered hopes, dreams, and relationships irrevocably restored.

Firefox prevails!

2011-03-24T07:36:00.001-04:00

This is an early review. Firefox version 4 was just released and as with some previous versions outstrips the competition. It’s fast, recognizes and accepts most add-ins, has no problem with Flash or Adobe Reader and works splendidly on every website I have accessed. . . which is to say that it works better than Internet Explorer 8 or 9 or even Google Chrome. Tabs are cleaner and you can select to keep some tabs open--tabs that you access on a regular basis, like email, news, Ebay or other sites. Tabs can be grouped so if you’re shopping or researching you can keep similar tabs together however this requires some fine tuning and did not work well for me.

I checked the new version on popular websites. Local and national newspapers look fantastic, Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace open quickly and display properly. Even my cabin site which failed to display properly in Internet Explorer 9, works wonderfully in Firefox version 4 as does my main computer site. In fact, these pages all function faster and better than they did in any previous browsers.

Now for the add-ons (extensions). Off all the add-ons I had installed, the only two which were NOT compatible with Firefox Version 4, were the Norton Toolbar (not important: the Norton security features continue to work) and the Logmein extension (not essential, the main program continues to work).

Some later news on Internet Explorer. As much as I applaud Microsoft’s attempts to create a better browser. I still prefer Firefox. Some of my clients have had problems printing in Internet Explorer 9, and many experienced a failure to complete the install. For quick and easy internet, quick and easy install, Firefox version 4 is my choice.

What else is new? Adobe Reader X and Norton 360 v.5

2011-03-16T12:04:00.001-04:00

Adobe has done it again. Released a new Reader as a separate download without providing it by update. Why do they continue to do this? I don’t know. But to get Adobe Reader X (or 10) you will need to download it. You can click here to download it. Its installer runs in your browser, so if the installer is not already installed you will have to assent to its installation. Once that is finished and your browser has restarted, it will allow you to install Adobe Reader X. After that, you merely have to wait until it’s finished.

Norton 360 has a new edition, also, and it will not update itself. You can obtain the new version here. Click on Start Download on the top right of the web page. Install is straightforward and your computer will need to be rebooted. Nothing needs to be changed after it is installed.

Internet Explorer—Brand New

2011-03-16T11:51:00.001-04:00

Internet Explorer 9 has just been released for Windows 7 users. Sorry, but everyone else can stop reading now. Internet Explorer 9 comes in two varieties: one for 32-bit operating systems and one for 64-bit operating systems. How do you know which you have? Click on Control Panel, System & Security, System, then look at System Type on the window in front of you. It will tell you whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit system. Download and installation was very fast, but you must reboot your computer to use it. First use is very fast, also and Internet Explorer 9 informs you if any addons are slowing it down and gives you the option to disable them. You should not disable Adobe Reader or Adobe Flash, Microsoft Office and any addons for your internet security product. However, if you disable an add-on but need it later, it’s a simple matter to reenable it. Where can you download Internet Explorer 9? Anywhere you see Internet Explorer 9 in this email.

Security. How does Internet Explorer 9 help keep you secure. When you click on a website link you want to know that it will take you where you think you are going. Internet Explorer 9 gives you information on web links whenever you move your cursor over one. The information is displayed on the lower left side of your browser window. This lets you examine it. If you are clicking on a link to your bank, it should obviously have your bank’s name in the link. If you are clicking on a link to Amazon, that name should be in the display. Please note that I and others use third party referrers which route your link through a third party site. For instance it may say kqyfzj.com or jdoqocy.com. The third party sites are used to track usage of my website. They are not dangerous. Nothing on any of my websites (http://helpwithmycomputer.net or http://sciotocabin.com or any other website I use carries any danger. If, however, you worry about where the link might take you, type into your address bar where you want to go and don’t use the link.

The Look. Internet Explorer 9 is streamlined. See the picture below. You can see that the top is streamlined with just forward and back buttons on the left. On the right, are home, favorites, tools. Everything you don’t see is found under tools. The only thing you will see on the bottom are downloads when you are downloading. And speaking of downloads, they are easier to use than ever. If there is anything else you would like to know about Internet Explorer 9, please contact me.

Free Office Program

2011-02-02T11:46:00.001-05:00

LibreOffice builds on OpenOffice, which I have recommended to some of you in the past. Once again, the major functional difference between these products and Microsoft Office is Microsoft Office’s personal information manager, Outlook. If you need email and calendar and notes and tasks and contacts on your computer, you need Outlook. Outlook alone costs about $150. If you can survive without Outlook (I can’t), then LibreOffice is for you.

It improves on the functions of OpenOffice by recognizing and allowing you to edit more formats and even lets you edit Adobe Acrobat (pdf) documents, although this function is not as easy as editing a regular text document. I first tried to stretch its boundaries by opening a large and roughly formatted document that I had written in Word 2010. This is my novel and it’s about half finished. It has headers, double-spacing, embedded pictures, and different justifications within a page. It’s about 50,000 words, 180 pages, and it is formatted and saved in Microsoft Open Document format. The book imported properly except the first part, maybe a third of the pages were single-spaced.

I next tried opening several types of pdf documents. I tried a text document (my novel) and maps and brochures from various sources. The text document worked well, however editing is much slower than editing a standard text document. The brochures could only be edited as they were created: as picture and text boxes. This was difficult and very time consuming and I would recommend using LibreOffice only for very minor edits.

Book of the Year

2011-01-18T09:24:00.001-05:00

It’s possibly premature to announce my book of the year in January, but this book was published in 2009. I recently read it and could not put it down. (OK, I had to put it down a few times to cry or think). The book covers her past and present all at the same time and you think it would be confusing, but it’s not. It asks the question, what if you life was on course with no hesitation and God calls you to do something else? What does God’s call look like? How do you relate to Him? If you liked The Shack, this is so much better, they are not even in the same class. I read one of the author’s other novels and immediately gave it away because I didn’t like it. This, however, is well written, poignant and if it has any failing, it’s the end where she rapidly covers years that we might wish took another half book. Even with that fault, if it is one, I recommend this book to everyone who wants to follow God.

The Passion of Mary-Margaret

HOW TO RESTORE INTERNET

2010-05-28T06:58:00.001-04:00

How to Restore Internet
A few simple steps

When you lose internet, the world stops. Well, not really, but your access to it might. Here's what you can do to recover.

Unplug your modem and your router (if you have one). Modems and routers can be out of sync with each other and the internet.
Restore power to the modem. The allows it to sync with the internet. When the lights are on and steady (a couple of minutes) then you can. . .
Restore power to the router. This allows it to get settings and give information to the router. If you still don't have internet after this,
Open Internet Explorer 8. (This will work only in IE8). Let it try to access the internet. If it cannot, it will give you the option to Diagnose and Repair. This often succeeds and restores your internet.
If these steps fail, call 614-329-6671 and we will figure out your problem. Sometimes security is configured improperly, a windows file is missing, or some other configuration has changed. We can diagnose and restore internet so you can again connect with the world.

WINDOWS 7 REVEALED

2010-05-28T06:56:00.001-04:00

Windows 7 Revealed
What you should know

The biggest complaint about Windows 7 is that you cannot install it as an upgrade to Windows XP. Some Windows XP computers can run Windows 7 if it is installed as a clean install, but the truth is that many do not meet Windows 7 hardware requirements, such as a discrete video card. So, if Windows XP is working for you, stay with it. If it's not working. Then you may be able to install Windows 7, but not without backing up your personal data and reinstalling all sofware you might use.

Another problem with moving to Windows 7 is that your printer or scanner may not be able to come along. Many printer manufacturers had to change their software to work with Vista, and now, with the economic downturn, they may not have the resources to do the same for Windows 7. They might prefer just to sell you a new printer. Major manufacturers will list on their website whether your printer or scanner is supported. If it is not, then it is highly unlikely that it will ever work with Windows 7.

But what's the good news? The good news is that old program that would not work in Vista, just might work in Windows 7. Also, also if you tend to misplace files (don't we all?) Windows 7 makes them easy to find.

Passwords, passwords, passwords

2010-03-18T14:07:00.005-04:00

Here’s what you can do to make it simple.

Where you are giving out personal information, credit card information, birth date, and the like, use a complex password of 8 or more letters and numbers and other characters. Pick a line you have memorized and use the first letters of each word. For example: Whose woods these are I think I know. This password would be WwtaItIk. Then to make it complex, exchange 1 or more letters with numbers. I will make the a into 5. Now it is Wwt5ItIk. Finally add a non-numerical character (something above the number keys on you keyboard. I will change the 2nd W to a %. My final password is W%t5ItIk. This will work well for secure sites where you give out personal information. (Note: This is not my password for any site.)

For sites that are not important but you need a password to login, use a simple word that you can easily remember, such as “elephant” or “garbage” or raucous or anything like that. It can be a noun, adjective, or adverb, or even a verb. Just make it something you can easily remember. And never use consecutive strings of numbers or letters for any password.

Now these will not be the most secure way for you to work, but for those of you who have trouble remembering, this is an easier way to use passwords: 1 complex password for secure sites; 1 simple password for sites you don’t care about.

Update Your Norton 360

2010-03-18T14:07:00.003-04:00

Symantec recently released a major update for Norton 360. If you haven’t done so already, click on this link to upgrade. Then click on Start Download. Follow the instructions, the computer will need to shut down and restart to finish the update. This sometimes takes longer than expected so be patient. And don’t worry, all of your settings are saved and it works so much better than version 3!

Educate You

2010-03-18T14:07:00.001-04:00

We all need to know more. Here is a listing for a class my friend is teaching at the Vineyard Community Center, 6000 Cooper Rd., Westervile, OH 43081. Other classes are also available, at this website.

Basic Computer Understanding

This program is the first place to start to learn about computers. This course pre-supposes NO computer knowledge. You will learn the basic pieces of the computer, what each part does and where all those wires go! We will spend some time discussing basic computer techniques such as “select”, “copy to clipboard”, and pasting. We will briefly discuss word processing, spreadsheets and email. You may purchase a textbook (optional) for the class, “Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics”, (4th Edition), by Michael Miller (paperback) before the class begins. Please pre-register as class size is limited. For more information about this class, contact Dave Holland.

Instructor: Dave Holland
Email: class@sparrowhawkcon...
Ages: 18 & Up
Activity #: SP-6489
Date(s): 4/10/2010 - 5/29/2010
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Days: Saturdays
Fee: None
Location: CC.204B
Max: 18

And if you are interested, I am leading a monthly Creative Writing Workshop. Here are the details:

Creative Writing Workshop

3rd Saturdays

For adults, ages 18 and up. This is a monthly workshop for the beginning writer as well as long-time writers. To encourage creative writers and build creative writing skills. We will meet in room CC.203A in the Vineyard Community Center on the 3rd Saturday of each month (except holiday weekends) from 9-11am to share what we have learned about writing that might help others in the group. We will start by using the book, "Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies", by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, discussing one chapter each month. In addition, each participant will bring a written paragraph, essay, short story, or poem (not to exceed 3 pages or 750 words) to be shared with and critiqued by the group. There is no cost for this program. There is an approximate $12 cost for the book which should be purchased before the first class begins. No need to pre-register. Just come!

Instructor: Diana Harkness
Email: diana@helpwithmycomp...
Date(s): 4/17/2010 - 8/21/2010
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Days: 3rd Saturdays of each month
Fee: None
Location: CC.203A
Phone #: 614.329.6671

Free Music and Videos?

2010-02-16T09:32:00.001-05:00

Every month we have to reload computers with all of their software (a time consuming and expensive operation) due to viruses, spyware, and other malicious programs (“malware”) that have infected computers through "free music" and “free videos” which often come through programs called peer-to-peer file sharing programs. "Limewire" is one of the most popular. Even if you have a good anti-virus program, loading a file sharing program on your computer is like locking your front door and then leaving your back door wide open. if you find that someone in your household has more music or videos than their budget would allow, check for file-sharing software like Limewire, Bearshare, Bittorrent, Azureus, The Pirate Bay, Frostfire, and others.

Music belongs to all who are responsible for creating it: lyricists, composers, publishers, arrangers, musicians, etc. They hold the right to make copies of the music and violating their copyright may subject you to as much as a $5,000 judgment per song. The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) has further information on its website which I highly recommend reading.

In addition, to the legal problem, the “free” songs acquired this way may contain viruses and other malware that will require reloading your computer. One study showed that approximately 30% of randomly downloaded songs from Limewire contained malware. Some of this malware can copy your files and send them to an unknown location. Do you really want to take that chance?

So what should you do? If art and honesty are important to you, use legitimate pay-for-use websites to acquire music and videos. Some of these are Amazon, Lala, Itunes, Rhapsody, Napster, Emusic. All of these except Itunes allow you to legally download songs which will play on any music player. Lala lets you listen to an entire song or album once for free so you can determine if you like it. I use Amazon and Lala. You can check out any of these websites without paying a cent. Most songs will be in the $1 range, some higher, most lower. If you are paying pennies per song, you are not using a legitimate website and the artists are receiving no money.

Wifi Do’s and Don’ts

2010-02-16T09:31:00.001-05:00

When using public Wi-Fi (McDonalds, Panera, Easton, airports, etc.) do not sit with your back to other people. They can look over your shoulder and watch what you enter on your computer. Sit with your back to the wall or in an area with a lot of open space around you and always be aware of movement around you.
Always have a good firewall on your computer and, if asked by a program on your computer, keep the computer in the Public or Internet Zone. Also, make sure that your internet security product is up-to-date, and yes I still recommend Norton 360.
Use a different browser on your computer for public areas. This can keep any malicious software from accessing information stored by your normal browser. For example if you usually use Internet Explorer, use Firefox. If you usually use Firefox, use Google Chrome.
Shut down your computer completely when leaving. This keeps some malicious software from infecting home or work networks when you connect again.
And for your home Wi-Fi, I recommend Linksys products because even if you install them yourself, they step you through what needs to be done for a secure home network. I have found other brands to be unsecure after a user install.

Amazon Kindle Review

2010-02-16T09:30:00.001-05:00

I took the plunge and am using a Kindle. Why the Kindle over other ebook readers? Because I don’t always read mainstream books and Kindle booksAmazon has the greatest number of books in ebook format. I chose the DX model rather than the smaller less-expensive version. Why? Because I anticipate using it frequently and it means less space used by keyboard and more by the reading material and size was not an issue to me since I rarely use a purse. Using it for about two weeks, I know that battery life is about 2 weeks as claimed, with wireless turned off. I have found that I am underlining and marking pages more than I ever did in a paper book. (Maybe because I know I’m not going to pass the book on to someone else.) The Kindle is easy to use. Even the non-geek among us can use it to read. I like that it saves where I left off reading and lets me switch from book to book. I don’t like that some diagrams don’t display properly—either something’s missing or they are too difficult to read. Admittedly the one I sampled (yes, you can sample books before buying) have been from older books. Perhaps they will be updated to allow the diagram to be enlarged. Some in newer books can be enlarged. I like how easy it is to delete books. I thought it was heavy to hold in bed until I started reading a paper book. The paper book with light was weighing too heavily on my hand also. The light I am using is the Mighty Bright and it lights well and evenly both on books and the Kindle. My main reason for getting the Kindle? I have clients using it and I needed to know it inside and out so I could answer questions. Of course, I also find it reducing the plethora of paperbacks that end up all around the house!

Common Problems and Solutions

2010-01-20T15:01:00.003-05:00

Your CD or DVD doesn’t work. Check My Computer to see if it shows up there. If it doesn’t, there are several possible reasons. It may have failed, it may have become disconnected, or Windows may not recognize it. Failure is not uncommon. All electronics fail from time to time. It is extremely rare for a cable to become disconnected. The most common problem I have seen in Windows XP and now in Vista is a Windows registry setting that has become corrupt. This requires a registry fix which is like operating on the brains of Windows. So if this happens to you, please contact us for the fix.
Your wireless connection is no longer connecting. This can happen for a number of reasons. A motor (in a refrigerator or furnace) can run on a different frequency and disrupt the wireless signal. Fix the refrigerator, furnace, change the location of your computer, or upgrade your router to one that operates on a different frequency. A neighbor’s wireless signal may be operating on the same frequency and overpowering yours. You may need to change your frequency or upgrade your router. On some occasions, the router’s firmware (the program inside the router) needs to be updated to fix the problem, and sometimes the computer software needs to be updated.
Your printer is not working. Sometimes a document will not be able to print, but the printer does not know what to do, so too many documents build up in the print queue and nothing prints. If this is the problem, you can click on the printer icon on the right side of your taskbar and delete all items waiting to be printed. If there is a long list, it could take some time and it would be wise to reboot your computer afterward. If this is not the problem, go to Control Panel, Printers, and see if your printer is listed. If it is, make sure it is the default printer. If you have more than one instance of your printer listed, there is a problem. One of those printers will work and the other(s) will not. Call us and we’ll be able to find the working one and delete any others. For some printers, updated software may need to be installed. This is especially true if it has been several years since the printer was installed. And there are other printer problems too numerous to mention which cannot be dealt with in this space.

Thinking about Heat?

2010-01-20T15:01:00.001-05:00

What temperature is best for your computer? Most people have an idea of what temperature suits them and that is a good temperature for your computer also.
What happens if your computer is too cold? If the temperature falls below 50 degrees, the mechanical items (like your hard drive) will have difficulty moving and your computer will seem sluggish.
What happens if your computer gets too hot? This won’t happen in Ohio (or Florida) unless you keep it in a small enclosed space without good airflow. Your computer’
s electronics are made to operate at high temperatures and the fans in the case provide adequate airflow. If your processor gets too hot, that is if it loses connection to its heatsink or fan or if the fan stops working, the processor will shut down the computer within a minute or 2, maybe more quickly. That is built-in protection to keep the processor from overheating. It is not always easy to replace a fan and heatsink. It depends on how the manufacturer attached it to the computer and the type of processor you have. But if your computer starts and then almost immediately turns off, that overheated processor is likely the problem.

And just a note: A client ordered a new computer from Dell and now finds she doesn’t need it. So if you’re in the market for a new basic computer with a 3-year warranty, contact me.

Remote Support

2010-01-20T14:59:00.001-05:00

Did you know the we offer remote support? This is a win-win solution in most cases. It allows us to work remotely on your computer, saving us travel time, fuel, and wear on our vehicles. In return, we charge in 15 minute increments, often saving you money. My remote support program is called TeamViewer QuickSupport. It creates a temporary secure connection between your computer and ours. When we have finished our work, the connection ends and cannot be reconnected by anyone. You can access the link from the website or here is the direct link to the program: Teamviewer. You might want to download it in advance and save it on your desktop so you already have it when you call us for help. Then you will just need to click on it to run it.

In some cases we may, with your permission, install the Teamviewer Host program on your computer. This allows us to connect remotely to your computer without any action on your part so we can work on your computer when you are not available. If you would like this installed, you need to ask us when we are present with your computer.

Some have asked about the Pay Now button on the website. This is for new clients. If you are an existing client, we will email you a bill that you can pay by check or credit card covering the actual time (in 15-minute increments) Please note, however, that both of these internet support programs work through the internet and will not work unless you have internet access.

Discussing things that matter

2010-01-13T08:04:00.001-05:00

I would like a way to easily post things that matter to me. Facebook and is good for a sound bite, a linked video or website or pictures; a blog is good for paragraphs. I think in paragraphs. So where do you put things that really matter? Facebook postings disappear quickly. Blog postings stick around forever. Facebook is really, really easy. Blogging takes time and energy. Most of the stuff on Facebook is trivial; some posts less than trivial. What’s a good place to discuss what really matters?

A SIDE NOTE: Why can’t adults just grow up and stop playing games? And if they can’t, why do they have to clutter my Facebook page with games?)

Time is valuable and I don’t want to waste it on the trivial. I try to read books that matter. I try to think about things that matter. I want to discuss what matters and not waste my time on other things. What do you think? Do you have a good forum for what matters?

2 Things I like

2010-01-12T09:32:00.001-05:00

From the note on Rev. 3:15 in the Net Bible: Laodicea was near 2 other towns, each of which had a unique water source. To the north was Hierapolis which had a natural hot spring, often used for medicinal purposes. To the east was Colossae which had cold, pure waters. In contrast to these towns, Laodicea had no permanent supply of good water. Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful, but it would arrive lukewarm. The metaphor in the text is not meant to relate spiritual fervor to temperature. This would mean that Laodicea would be commended for being spiritually cold, but it is unlikely that Jesus would commend this. Instead, the metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing spiritual healing (being hot) or spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them. It is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness.
From Luther’s commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians. Chapter 1, verse 3. The greeting of the Apostle is refreshing. Grace remits sin, and peace quiets the conscience. Sin and conscience torment us, but Christ has overcome these fiends now and forever.

Remembering and Forgetting

2009-12-04T08:06:00.001-05:00

I’m reading a very good book that I picked up a couple of years ago but just couldn’t read at the time. I’ll post a link to it later. But here’s a quote that caught me. It describing why we forget and how beneficial it is. The first was written by Karl Barth;the second by Volf:

And we are enabled [by God] to [forget]. If it were otherwise, we should be in a terrible plight. We should never be able to bear the sight of our own being in time.

If we were to remember the wrongs we have committed, we may not be able to live with ourselves, especially if we remembered them not as perceived by our own vision occluded by self-exculpations but with the clarity of divine sight.

Cat needs home

2009-12-02T13:24:00.001-05:00

Our 2.5 year old cat Fuzzy needs to be in a single pet (or 1 dog) home. She doesn’t get along with our old cat. She is a beautiful, soft, long-haired tabby and loves to play.

Here are pictures: (It’s hard to get her to sit still)

As you can see, she doesn’t like to be held for any length of time!

AT&T Tilt for Sale

2009-10-21T10:48:00.001-04:00

AT&T Tilt for Sale
Get it quickly before it's gone!

As some of you may know I upgrade my phone, laptop, etc, about every 2 years. This year, I'm doing it earlier for the phone because I wasn't using all of its features and I wanted something smaller. Here are some pictures. Here's a review. (But mine looks different because I have upgraded it) But let me tell you what I like and disliked about it. First, it is large enough to read easily and use easily. I don't want to have to squint or use a magnifying glass! It can send and receive email and browse the web with an accompanying data plan from AT&T. The manufacturer (HTC) supports it and has a great reputation. It has very good AT&T reception and sounds very good on calls and works well with my Bluetooth headset (not included). It syncs well with Outlook under Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. There are many free downloads for it, games or whatever you want to do. I can include some of mine, if you wish. And the keyboard is great for people who text (not me--that's the one thing I didn't like about it)! I'm offering you, my clients first chance to own it before I post it on Craigslist or Ebay. It comes fully upgraded to Windows Mobile 6.5 (just like my new phone), my Boxwave leather case, extra stylus, charger and I have always had a protective cover on the screen and keyboard. (I just took the cover off so you can have a clean screen).

They are going on Ebay for well over $100, but for my clients you can have it for $100. It will be an easy upgrade for anyone using AT&T. You can just remove your SIM card from your current phone and start using it right away. Please respond quickly--it won't last long!

Is Windows 7 worth the upgrade price?

2009-10-21T10:46:00.003-04:00

Windows 7, will be released to the public tomorrow, and is definitely worth the upgrade price. I have been using the full release version for a couple of months and have found it very good. It recognizes hardware that you may connect to your computer and installs it without any interaction on your part. I have found this to be true for even multi-function printers! And it found a TV tuner card that I had forgotten I had in my Vista computer (Vista didn't' know I had it either) and installed it perfectly. Programs that did not work in Windows Vista, but worked in Windows XP, now work in Windows 7. And it is faster, more secure, and uses fewer system resources than Vista.

If you have Vista you can upgrade to a similar version of Windows 7. If you have Windows XP, it requires a clean install--you cannot install an upgrade version and it and will not save any of your programs, data, or settings.

So, even if Vista is working well for you right now, I would encourage you to consider upgrading to take advantage of Windows 7's ease of use and new features.

Internet Security or Antivirus? Which is best?

2009-10-21T10:46:00.001-04:00

Many people ask me this question. Anti-virus products cost less than internet security products, so can you get by with just an antivirus? The answer depends on you. Do you have a DSL (SBC or AT&T) or cable (Time Warner, Roadrunner, Insight) connection? Do you click on links when you are searching the web? If you can say "yes" to both of these, you need an Internet Security Product. Why? It all comes down to the difference.

Anti-virus products, in general, guard you from viruses and spyware and they do this by matching a suspected virus or spyware item to a "signature" for that particular virus or spyware. Internet security products also look at the "signature," but they do more. They will monitor the actions of files and programs to see if they act like viruses and spyware. They will also add a toolbar to your web browser for safer surfing and may monitor websites for danger so you will know before you click. The one I recommend, Norton 360, also provides a robust firewall, hard drive cleanup and defragmentation, as well as a backup program.

So, while you may pay twice for a yearly subscription to an internet security product, you are getting four, or five, or even six times the benefit.

Windows Mobile 6.5, AT&T Pure dropped calls

2009-10-21T10:40:00.001-04:00

I have been using my AT&T Pure for a couple of weeks. It has consistently dropped calls. I spent half a day online with AT&T and HTC (the manufacturer of the phone) to try to solve the problem. Nothing worked. I finally found a program that lets me change the phone signal from 3G to Edge (2G). It worked great and no dropped calls and much better signal strength. Now why couldn’t AT&T and HTC just tell me about that?

The program is Comm Manager 8 and it must be run from your phone. It installs a switch in the Wireless Manager which allows you to switch off 3G. AT&T’s 2G (EDGE) is very stable and strong here in Columbus, Ohio.

Exposing How Rogue Antivirus Sites Snag Victims

2009-09-25T11:57:00.001-04:00

Exposing How Rogue Antivirus Sites Snag Victims

Posted using ShareThis

When is an anti-virus not an anti-virus?

2009-08-19T08:58:00.001-04:00

This is the question. If something labels itself an anti-virus, is it? What do you do when you are on the internet and a window pops up telling you that you have many viruses? Here is what you need to know. I have previously described the effect of viruses and spyware. If you are not experiencing those problems, you probably do not have any viruses.

If that pop-up tells you that you have many viruses, it is lying. The purpose of that lie is to get you to spend money and purchase a useless program in order to remove those viruses or spyware. These programs may have names like Antispyware 2009, Antivirus 2009, Personal Antivirus, and the like. But whatever name is used, programs of this type are known as fraudulent or rogue programs as opposed to legitimate programs which you can trust.

How do you know if you have one of them? Warnings of infections and an antivirus or antispyware program which cannot be removed normally. They are not easy to remove and your best chance is to disconnect that computer from the internet and call us.

Viruses—What do they actually do?

2009-08-19T08:45:00.001-04:00

Here are what they may do.

Block access to legitimate websites or your homepage. If you find that you cannot access Microsoft.com, Redcross.org, or your homepage and other valid websites, you may have a virus.
Delete Windows files. This means that Windows will not work properly and it may mean that even if we remove the virus, Windows will not work properly and may need to be reinstalled.
Steal your identity. A virus may install a keylogger that tracks what you type and can therefore steal information like your name, address, your user name and passwords for websites, your email address, and any other information you may type.
Download and install spyware and viruses. Think 1 virus is bad? What if that virus installs 20 more?

Of course, you can prevent all this by having a good security system on your computer. We recommend Norton 360.

How to contact us.

2009-08-19T08:35:00.001-04:00

I do not check my office number frequently, so please do not use it. Messages on it occasionally get lost. The very best way to contact me is to call my cell 329-6671 or email me. If you want to contact Jeff, you can email him or call him at 787-0184. If you want to contact Suzanne, you can call her at 657-0552 or email her. And of course you can always go to the website and contact us from there. At times, when I am unavailable, Jeff will answer my phone or when Jeff is unavailable, and I will answer his phone. However, you should always be able to reach one of us during normal business hours. And we will return your call as soon as we can.

So make note of these numbers and use them!

Out of Center?

2009-07-27T08:17:00.001-04:00

CENTERING ON GOD

From Eugene Peterson’s book Reversed Thunder.

. . . [E]very casual or pompous way station at which people seek easy and instant centering [is a delusion]. People who do not worship live in a vast shopping mall where they go from shop to shop, expending enormous sums of energy and making endless trips to meet first this need and then that appetite, this whim and tat fancy. Life lurches from one partial satisfaction to another, interrupted by ditches of disappointment. Motion is fueled by the successive illusions that purchasing this wardrobe, driving that car, eating this meal, drinking that beverage will center life and give it coherence.

Facebook Tips

2009-07-18T09:27:00.001-04:00

Much of this information was contributed by Jeff Lutz. You can learn more about him here. (You'll have to scroll down the page).

Facebook has been growing by leaps and bounds because it's an easy way to find old friends and stay connected with current ones. I have a Facebook page where you can connect with me. But should YOU use Facebook? Think first about your job. People have been fired or not hired based on what employers learned from their Facebook account.

But if you decide to get a Facebook account, here are some tips to increase your safety:

During account setup Facebook asks you for your email password so it can automatically find your friends. While this may save you some time, it gives Facebook access to everything in your email: contacts, letters, attachments, etc. Facebook does give you the option to skip this step. I recommend you skip it or wait until it finds your friends and then change the password on your email account so Facebook no longer has access.
Don't enter any more personal information than you feel comfortable sharing with the world. After you do this, go to Settings, Privacy and restrict this information to your friends, only. If you have teenagers or younger children using Facebook, monitor their information. Predators have used age, name of school, and other personal information to contact children. Keep your children safe by being their Facebook friend and frequently monitoring what they have posted, the messages they have sent and received, and who their friends are. Remind them that their true friends already know this information.
Finally, Re-check your privacy settings (Settings, Privacy) to make sure that no one has access to information you would not want them seeing.
If you would like more information or help review your settings or your child's settings, call or email. Click and send an email to Diana or Jeff. Or call us at 329-6671.

Windows 7 Update

2009-07-18T09:26:00.001-04:00

Microsoft's announced release date for Windows 7 is Oct. 22, which means it might be on shelves by Nov. If you are buying a new computer now, go to the manufacturer's website and search for Windows 7. They should have a place for you to sign up to receive a free or greatly reduced upgrade to Windows 7. Here is where new Dell owners can register. People running business editions of Vista can only upgrade to business editions of Windows 7. People running Home Basic or Premium can upgrade to Windows 7 in the same version. f you are running Vista Ultimate, you can upgrade only to Windows 7 Ultimate. I do recommend that anyone running Vista who is having any problems, upgrade to Windows 7, All Vista computers should be able to run Windows 7, but if you want to kn ow for sure, click here to download Microsoft's tool.

You can click here to see the difference between the versions.

Then decide if Windows 7 is something you will want. If you would like more information, please contact me.

Internet Explorer 8 vs. Firefox 3.5

2009-07-18T09:24:00.001-04:00

Internet Explorer 8 has answered some of the short-comings of Internet Explorer 7. Internet Explorer now has tabbed browsing, private browsing, easy links to Microsoft products and more security. Firefox 3.5 has tabbed browsing, private browsing, and lots and lots of add-ons (extensions) that enable you to connect with almost anything or do anything or see anything. . . you get the picture. It also has more security. What I have found in Internet Explorer 8, however, is that it has so much security that some things don't work or don't display properly. [For the few of my clients using a dial-up connection, I would advise using Google Chrome because of its speed.]

Tips for Firefox users:

My favorite Add-On is Adblock Plus. It blocks ads on most web pages. And makes it easy to unblock those you want.
Check to see that you have the most current version: Go to Help, then About and check that you have version 3.5. If you don't, click here to get it.
Finally, an extension called Microsoft .Net Framework Assistant 1.0 may have been installed. Go to Tools, Add-Ons, Extensions, and disable this feature because it presents a possible security problem. (You will not be able to uninstall it, but it can be disabled.)

Snipe Hunting

2009-07-16T07:46:00.001-04:00

I was thinking about snipe hunting that I participated in as a teenager. I never did find one, but here is information about one I might have found if I had quietly looked in the right place. North American Snipe. And if you look at the video you’ll notice that no one with a video camera has seen one either.

A Little Fun

2009-06-30T07:50:00.001-04:00

There's plenty on the internet to give you a few laughs when you need it? Warning: there is nothing bad in these videos but I wouldn't want to scare young children or give them nightmares, so view them first before showing them to young children.

Outsourcing: always a sore subject, here are 2 videos that shed a different light on it.

First, Outsourcing work.

Second, Outsourcing childcare.

Using your talents, gifts, and possessions to create unusual art.

And finally, a most useful product introduction (but don't watch while eating!)

Windows 7—Availability and Cost

2009-06-30T07:49:00.001-04:00

According to my best sources, Windows 7 may be released by late September, early October, or at least in time for the Christmas season (although rumors have it that October 22 is the date). CAN you upgrade? You can upgrade if you are running Windows Vista. By this I mean that if you are running Windows Vista, you should be able to install Windows 7 as an upgrade and retain your programs, hardware installs and data--but this will also depend on the manufacturer of your software and hardware. If you are running Windows XP, you may be able to install Windows 7, but only as a clean install. You would then have to reload all your software, install your hardware, and replace your data. Click here to down Microsoft's tool to see if your computer can run Windows 7.

There are several versions available for pre-order at a reduced price. You can click here to see the difference between the versions.

Click here to check out the pre-order reduced pricing. Then decide if Windows 7 is something you will want. If you would like more information, please contact me.

And if you are buying a new computer, buy it from a source that will offer you a free or low cost upgrade. Beginning June 26, 2009, Microsoft has made the free or low cost upgrade available through major retailers like Dell.

Feedback, Why Do It?

2009-06-30T07:47:00.001-04:00

How do we use feedback?

Feedback is vital to any business or person. When interacting with you and working on your computers it is essential. The need for feedback starts on first contact when we try to discern the nature of your problem. We need to know what happened before your problem started. Did you install a new printer, phone or other hardware? Did you install some software? Did you click on a certain web page or link? Did you experience a power outage? Did you install an update? Or did it just happen out of the blue? The answers to these questions can help us determine the action to take and the approximate amount of time it might take us to solve the problem. However, this is not an exact science and a certain amount of guesswork still takes place!

Next, when we are with you and your computer we need to know any other questions or issues you may have. That way we can complete the job in fewer trips and make more efficient use of our time and yours. Also, talking to you in person is usually a more accurate form of communication, although it may not be if we are stressed or tired!

Finally, we need feedback when we are finished. No, you don't have to send a card or tip us, but we always appreciate a smile. We know we have done our best and we like to know that you know also. And for those of you who are Angie's List members, and who haven't posted feedback or haven't done it recently. Please do. Here's a link to do it now. Please note that called-in feedback to Angie's List does not create a detailed useful report on the web page. So, please post it on the web! I need it especially because once in awhile (recently, in fact) people who never see me, post a negative review. And I do put feedback on my own website, so if you want it posted there, just send it to me in an email or use the Contact page on the website to send it.

Who are we?

2009-05-19T07:20:00.001-04:00

When you contact us about your computer what do we do?

We provide you with security. We can examine your computer and tell you with a reasonable certainty that with all the concerns in your life, your computer need not be one of them! We check to make sure your software, including your operating system, is up to date and that internet connections are secure.
We provide better communication and organization. A computer is primarily a communications tool and a data organization tool. Most people use it to communicate through email and web postings and to organize their written communications to family, friends, and professionals in their lives. We make sure that all things work together well and help you easily locate what you need to ease communication.
We provide value. Not only can we make your computer function better, we can help you relate to your computer better. This is the most difficult part of what we do because while computers are built for the general masses, every person and business has specific needs and does things in a specific way. We try to listen to your specific needs and make things work the way you need them to work. But, if you don't think you are getting your point across, tell us. Maybe tell us two or three times until we get it. We can then recommend a workaround or the best free or low cost ways for you to do what you want to do.

Who should update to Windows 7?

2009-05-19T07:18:00.001-04:00

The pre-release Windows 7 was made available for the first time time this month. And people have asked me, "Should I upgrade to Windows 7?" Here is my response: If you have Windows XP, probably not, unless your computer was manufactured in the last year or two and you know that it could run Windows Vista (this will depend on the software you need to run as well as the hardware in your computer). I know that most Netbooks sold with XP will run Windows 7. I am running it on mine. I also know that computers running Vista will run Windows 7, so if you have Vista and would like more features, more compatibility, less memory usage, and a more stable operating system--everything that Vista could have been, then you will want to upgrade to Windows 7. If you are buying a new computer, ask the manufacturer (Dell, HP, or other) if they will throw in Windows 7 when it is released.

Repair or Replace?

2009-05-19T07:16:00.001-04:00

How do you decide whether to repair or replace your computer. The general rule for appliances is that if it costs more than 2/3 of the cost to purchase a new one, you should purchase new. How do you figure the cost of the new computer? You must figure the cost from the seller (I am using an example of a Dell with features similar to my own older computer) Dell is selling this computer for about $700. You must also figure the cost to backup your personal data and install it properly on the new computer. This could be in the $100-$150 range or higher depending on the amount of data and where it is located. So, let's now call it an $800 dollar computer. There is also the cost of installing your own software, security software, setting up email, adjusting preferences, etc. Let's just add on another $100 for that. These are just estimates after all! So the actual cost of the computer is $900 and 2/3 of that would be $600. So you could spend up to $600 on that old desktop computer before it might be time to replace it with a new one. You also might look at it another way: what is my old computer worth? Old computers aren't worth much to anyone else, but to you they are worth what it would cost you to replace it.

Now there are exceptions to every rule. It often does not make economic sense to spend $600 because you might be replacing all the major parts and still have 1 or 2 parts which might fail imminently So let's drop the cost to $300. That would be 1/3 the cost of the new computer. For perhaps $300 (I am including parts and labor in these estimates), you could have your hard drive replaced and everything reloaded and reset. For perhaps $150 or less, you could have your power supply replaced, or your video card. For $100 or less you might be able to add more memory. You get the idea: Spend more than $300 on that old computer and it might be a waste of money when the next thing fails.

When we recommend a new computer, we are doing a quick economic analysis of your old computer. The same sort of analysis that I performed in the paragraph above. We also consider other reasons to replace a computer, which have little to do with economics. The first reason is that your computer may not be able to be upgraded because of limitations built into the computer. Many low-end computers have a memory limitation. In that case, there is nothing to do but buy a new one. The other instance is where software or hardware that you need will not work or not work well with your old computer because of its limitations. This happens most frequently because of a global hardware change such as when computers changed from parallel ports to USB, or because of an underpowered processor (some programs will not work with low-end processors).

If the repair or replace dilemma still puzzles you, please contact me and I can give you an analysis based on your situation.

Microsoft Virtual PC

2009-04-16T17:37:00.001-04:00

What you can do with an old operating system and old programs.

A virtual PC is one that does not really exist. Of course you have a box with a computer in it but it is running Windows Vista or Windows 7, or even Windows XP. Now, if you want to run a program that only works in Windows XP or Windows 98, what do you do? Windows Vista and 7 have compatibility modes that work well, but not for every program. So you need to run that program in a Virtual PC that runs Windows XP (or even Windows 98 or 2000). To do this you need sufficient memory to run the older operating system on top of what you need to run your own computer. You also need sufficient hard drive space to allocate to the Virtual PC. You will need a legitimate copy of the older operating system and Microsoft Virtual PC, which is free for the download.

I am running a softball league program (with very good tech support) that was released in 2004 in Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 running Windows XP. I set up everything I would need to do the league schedules: a legitimate copy of Windows XP, Office 2007, the scheduler program, Firefox web browser, and Windows Live Writer to post the schedules to the blog site.

This is a safe way to run or test any program because your own computer's operating system remains untouched no matter what happens in the Virtual PC.

Windows 7 Experience--Update

2009-04-16T17:32:00.001-04:00

The best application for better serving you!
In my continuing test of Windows 7 Beta, I have come across the most useful application to date. It is currently called Record Steps to Reproduce a Problem and is found under Troubleshooting. However, the name and location could change by the time Windows 7 is released. When this program is run it presents a simple red record button which, when pressed, records every step you take on a computer. When you have finished you stop recording and it prompts you to save a file. You can then email the small, compressed file to me and I will be able to see every step you took that is creating a problem for you, along with screen shots. This is very useful for you and me, but just think of the other applications!

You might ask me how to do something and rather than explaining I can record the steps and email them to you. In fact there may be a number of uses I can't even imagine. So if you have any ideas, please send them to me. Or comment below.

Economic Climate Ideas?

2009-04-16T17:29:00.001-04:00

What businesses should survive.
I recently read a review of a book about Marco Polo and the Polo Trading Company. The review pointed out that a business can remain profitable despite what the government does. The criteria for remaining profitable are these:

Provide what people want. I hope you all want friendly, personal, reliable, honest, computer service. And that's what I provide. No sales or gimmicks. Just good service.
Offer true value. That's why we DON'T charge you $99/hour. After paying expenses at the hourly rate I charge, I can make more than the federal poverty guidelines. And that's all I need.
Offer exceptional service. I hope the service we provide would be the rule, rather than the exception, however I have been the victim of poor service that that I would consider no service at all, but often seems to be the rule for some businesses, so maybe my service is the exception!
Have a good reputation--always my goal!

Internet Explorer 8 problems

2009-03-26T13:37:00.001-04:00

IE 8 is a great fix for Internet Explorer, but it keep certain other programs from working properly. Two that I know about are Best Case bankruptcy software and Turbo Tax online.

How Would You Live Without A Computer?

2009-03-06T07:50:00.001-05:00

Our microwave oven quit last week. No, it's not a computer, but I had to heat water on the stove and defrosting things was just impossible. I felt like I had stepped backward in time to a time I could not even remember where everything happened more slowly. Even the cabin where we vacationed the last couple of years had a microwave! I did not want to live (not literally!) without it.

I started thinking, how would we live without computers and internet. Would we do our accounting by hand? Hire accountants? Would we call or write to friends instead of emailing, using Facebook or Myspace, or texting? Would we be willing to wait for snail mail or for the friend to be free before we would expect a response? Would we hire a realtor for our house search, or actually drive around looking instead of looking online? What else would we do without computers? Any ideas?

Just looking at what we might do, I realize that we may have lost some important things. It takes time and thought to write a letter. It takes time and thought to do our accounting or taxes by hand. It takes time and thought to dialogue with a realtor or an accountant. Have we stopped thinking? We have certainly stopped using time to think.

What are some of the things you and I don't do because it takes time? I have a book of short poems that I cannot finish because poetry cannot be read quickly--you have to stop and think. Who can still sit (or sit still) through a 3-hour movie (like Gone with the Wind)? What are we missing by not taking time? By using computers?

Netbooks

2009-02-24T15:59:00.001-05:00

What do you do with your computer?

Do you need a powerful computer?
Email and Web Browsing
Most of the people I work with, businesses and gamers excepted, use their computers only for internet, email, pictures, music, and a few other non-processor intensive programs. For email, I recommend Windows Live Mail unless you have Outlook 2007 on your computer. Or you can use webmail, such as gmail. For Internet, there are 3 competing browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google Chrome. I recommend Firefox for everyone except people using older (but still XP) and slower computers. Then Google Chrome might work best.

Netbook, Laptop, Desktop
Do you need more than a netbook?
In the past, most people had desktop computers. Why? They were (and are) significantly cheaper than laptops and much cheaper and easier to repair. But now, the netbook has entered the market, a small-form laptop under $400. Other than price and size, a netbook is not as heavy duty as a laptop and probably not worth repairing or updating other than adding a new hard drive or memory. It also has no DVD drive. You might even consider it a disposable computer. You won't be happy running a processor intensive program like photoshop on it, but if you only want to touch up red-eye or crop a picture or a half-dozen other things, you can do it with Splashup Light. It's free and very easy on any computer. It works well on a netbook. So if you want something inexpensive, small, light and sufficient for ordinary computing needs, look into a netbook.

Buying a Netbook.
MSI Wind
Before I purchased a Netbook I researched all of them. The one I purchased was the MSI Wind. I purchased that one for several reasons: MSI products have always worked well for me, the Wind received respectable ratings from sites I trust, and it came in black. The most important reason I bought it was the screen size: 10 inches. Most netbooks have 8 inch screens. I think bigger is usually better especially when you're heading toward smaller. The downside, to make the small form computer, some of the keys are smaller and the touchpad is awkward to use. My solution: a Bluetooth Mouse. The netbook I purchased came with Windows XP, but I put Windows Vista on it with no problem and am also running The next version of Windows, Windows 7 (beta) with even fewer problems. This netbook works very nicely for my needs and may also be sufficient for yours.

If you would like more information about other netbooks or anything else discussed in this newsletter, check out the links, email me, or call me.

The Kindle 2 and my Philosophy of Book Management

2009-02-10T07:54:00.001-05:00

I previously blogged about Amazon's Kindle. I love to read and think it's an amazing device. And now, it has gotten better. I'll tell you about some of the good things, but I have to note that it alone costs twice what I would spend on books in a year and those Kindle books can't be passed around. My philosophy of book management is to read a book. Then, if that book is extraordinary and wonderful, I will keep it and pass it along to others to read. If it is an ordinary good read, I will still pass it along. And if it is bad, I will dispose of it.

The new Kindle is thinner than most cell phones, has a battery that only needs to be charged once a week with continuous use, and can hold about 1500 books. It's about the size of a paper back and can be read 1-handed. The text size can be changed to suite you and books usually cost about $9.99. That's no deal because the actual book would cost about 20 cents more. Newspapers are different prices. And the new Kindle has text to speech. I don't know how that works, but it might be good for someone with limited vision.

If I used the Kindle, I would not be able to pass along my books, but I would be able to read more easily in bed. If I used the Kindle, I would not be able to pass along my books, but I could still tell others about them. If I used the Kindle, I would not be able to read some authors I like simply because they're not popular enough to be released in Kindle format. (eg. Mark Steele's books Flashbang: How I Got Over Myself and Half-Life Die Already: How I Died and Lived To Tell About It--a couple of book that always make me laugh)

So, if you're a person that likes to ready anywhere, everywhere, the Kindle might be for you. And if you want text to speech or larger print, the Kindle might be for you. But for me, I'll just stick to paper for now.

Diminishing Networks and What to do About It

2009-02-06T10:06:00.001-05:00

I spoke with a client this week who need to remove people from her address list because they had died. She spoke about her network becoming smaller and smaller. If you look at a teenager or young adult's social network (such as Facebook or MySpace), it may number in the 100's. If you look at a 50 something person's it may number in the 20's or 30's at best (unless they have a lot of work contacts there). And if you look at a person in their 80's there may be no social networking site at all, but just a paper address book that keeps diminishing.

And if it's a 50 something person, they can't claim network diminishment because of death of friends. So what is it? I think as we become older, we retain the friends that we can communicate with frequently and whose life experiences we have shared. As a young adult, everything and anything and anyone is a possible friend. And time expands to fit in almost all we want to do. As an older adult, time is less expansive, fewer things seem possible, and life becomes so difficult that the easy relationships are the ones we lean toward.

What's the answer for the older adult? Find a younger adult and make an effort. Even if you didn't have any older adult friends when you were a young adult, you can still be an older adult friend to a current young adult. No, it won't be easy with the younger adult juggling school, work, or children. And it won't be easy building any shared experiences. But it still may be worth the try. There are a couple of younger women I would like to know better. Now, whether they want to know me better is another matter!

And for younger adults. . . if you want to be helpful, take the initiative. Contact an older adult and offer friendship. . . even if you can't afford lunch--the older adult will be willing to do free things or even pay for lunch.

What do you think? Have any ideas? Please comment.

Jonah poems

2009-02-05T09:36:00.001-05:00

I am currently reading the book

You! Jonah!: Thomas John Carlisle: Books

ASIN: B001CJQS5Y

by Thomas John Carlisle, published in 1968, a collection of poems about Jonah.

Here are 2 of the shorter ones:

NEGOTIATION WITH A HIGHER POWER

I will demonstrate

my immediate

obedience

providing You comply

with my demand

for a more satisfying

assignment.

COMING AND GOING

The word came

And he went

In the other direction.

God said: Cry

tears of compassion

tears of repentance;

cry against

the reek of unrighteousness;

cry for

the right turn

the contrite spirit.

And Jonah rose

And fled

In tearless

silence.

Favorite Christmas Recipe: Mashed Potatoes and Carrots

2009-02-05T09:26:00.001-05:00

I made this for the first time at Christmas and I like it far better than regular mashed potatoes. I tripled the recipe which was far too much. I will make it just as it is for next year.

Ingredients

4 cups carrots, in 1/4 inch slices (about 1 lbs)
1 lb potato (I used red skin and left the skins on)
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup onion, minced (about 2 small)
3/4 cup water, hot
1-1 1/4 cup milk, hot
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 pinch cayenne
1 pinch nutmeg
2-3 ounces bacon, diced, fried crisp (optional)

Directions

1
Heat oil in a medium-sized pot with a tight fitting lid over medium high heat. Add onions and carrots and fry until onion is transparent, about 2 minutes.
2
Add water, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes.
3
In the meantime peel potatoes and cut into 1 inch dice. Add to carrots,cover, bring to a boil again and cook over low heat for 30 minutes until vegetables are completely soft and almost all liquid has evaporated.
4
If there is some water, cook it off uncovered over high heat, shaking pot to avoid sticking.
5
Mash vegetables with a masher. I leave them lumpy for better texture.
6
Add milk gradually, beating with a whisk until desired consistency. Depending on the starch in potatoes this might require about 1-1 1/4 cups milk.
7
Add butter, salt, cayenne and nutmeg to taste.
8
If using fried bacon bits, mix one half into vegetables and sprinkle other half on top

New Reviews--Sansa View, Music sources

2009-02-05T07:45:00.001-05:00

I have been using the Sansa View for several months now. I bought a stand-alone mp3 player because my PDA just wasn't convenient for playing music. Why didn't I buy an iPod? They are expensive, need to use iTunes and not exactly what I wanted. My tech philosophy is to use whatever is most popular because that is what my clients will be using and it's helpful to me to know the technology inside out. But an iPod was just too expensive for that.

I purchased the Sansa View 16GB refurbished for about $70--the iPod would have been more than twice that. I can use the Sansa View with Windows Media Player or any other music player. I tend to use Windows Music Player for its ease of use and simple layout. I am using MediaMonkey to set up playlists and sync because it makes it easy to do so on the Sansa View. I buy my music from Amazon because the mp3's are easy to download, go right into my Windows Media Player library, are DRM free, and are competitively priced. I don't use iTunes because of its proprietary format. And artists that I really like, I buy on CD.

The Sansa View is easy to use. What I like--it saves the last thing I was listening to so I can go right back to it. It's easy to pause, skip, play by feel in my coat pocket. It works with a standard headphone jack so I can plug it right into my car. It is thin and the battery lasts for 8 hours or more of playing. And Sansa is popular enough that there are boards devoted to it. So, for me, it's the best of all music players until the next best one comes along.

This made me laugh!

2009-02-04T21:48:00.001-05:00

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

What does God require this Christmas?

2008-12-18T07:11:00.001-05:00

What does God require this Christmas? (Micah 6:8 (The Message))

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,

And don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously.

Ways to do that this Christmas season.

Visit Operation Buckeye to send gifts to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Check out Heifer International to send a gift that keeps on giving to a poor family.
To provide clean water, donate to Thirst Relief.
Donate to local food pantries which are being hit hard by local job losses.
Help children who are forced to be soldiers at InvisibleChildren.
Computer recyclers don't always recycle computers properly. Learn more from this 60 Minutes report. My consultant and I try to recycle by rebuilding and giving away the the poor in our community.
Help people in Africa suffering with AIDS at Hearthecry.
Help people in debt in Asia, Africa, and Latin America at Jubileeusa
Help stop child exploitation and sex slavery. Visit Love 146 and find out more.

These are only a few ways you can help. But you can make a difference 1 person at a time. And you can do what is fair, just, and compassionate for your neighbor.

Best Christmas Music 2008

2008-12-15T08:10:00.001-05:00

I have been searching for the best and here it is. Buy the entire CD. Wonderful arrangements--something I can listen to over and over again! Sarah Groves--O Holy Night

Or if you just want to download the mp3's, here's the link ( you can also preview the songs here: