Checkmate, Kate! The King Is Yours.

Photo by Trisha: This was the only thing about my wedding that resembled royalty

Admittedly, I love royalty. And I love weddings. So there was no getting around the fact that I was going to be up early this morning, watching the royal wedding.

I know. Some of you wiser readers are thinking it would be a better use of my time to stick my fingers in electric outlets than to watch "the wedding," but I really, really couldn't help it. Trust me. I tried.

If I had a daughter, I would be pleased with the plethora of talking points that came out of this event. Everything from Kate's unwillingness to include "obey" in her vows, to William's decision not to wear a wedding band offers ample opportunities to discuss the significance of the wedding ceremony. These events contribute to the tapestry of our society.

What's not to love?

Anyway. I discovered over at Yahoo.com, that a "Royal Wedding Yahoo! Guestbook" has been established. Yahoo is collecting marriage advice which it intends to pass along to the couple. (I'm guessing with 20 trillion billion people paying attention to their wedding, the couple is getting more advice than they want!) But it did prompt me to ask this question:

What is the best marriage advice you would offer the royal couple?

(P.S. Don't say, "Kiss her correctly on the balcony the first time and you won't have to do it again." That nugget of wisdom has my name all over it.)

Cheerio,

Something Sweet for Your Refrigerator . . . Door

Photo by digika

Dear June

I have never been very good about bringing fruits and vegetables into my home for my family to eat. This summer I have decided to pick my own produce as much as possible and wonder how you know how to care properly for the different things you pick. I have researched online several different sites and see different instructions. Is this just something you try out (like trial and error) or is this something you can share with me. How do you know what to do with your produce?

April from Minneapolis


Dear April from Minneapolis,

Instead of waxing eloquent on what you should do with your produce--(congrats, by the way for making such a great decision for your family!)--I am going to share a worksheet I received in the mail a few months ago. I hope this will be helpful as you health-ify your life.

Click on the image below to enlarge:



Tomato, tom-ah-to,

The Paperless Post

Photo by kimubert

So perhaps I am opening a can of worms today, but I am interested in discussing the advent of online invitations.

Ten years ago, I doubt online invites even existed. (Perhaps they did and I was living under a rock. Feel free to enlighten me.) But it seems--at least when it comes to my own e-mail inbox--I am receiving more of these paperless invites all the time.

And truly, I don't mind.

Maybe it's a sign of my age. Maybe it's an indication of the times in which we live. Perhaps I have a raging desire to preserve the trees. Chalk it up to whatever you like, but I think online invitations are the way to go.

Consider the following online invitation sites:

Anyvite (Import your guest list from your address book)
Atomeet (Full party planning features)
Evite (Lots of designs to choose from)
Paperless Post (Great "stationery" feel--envelopes included)
Pingg (utilizes Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, and other options)
Smilebox (includes music and photos)

Perhaps, for that little summer shindig you know you want to host, you can try the paperless post and let us know how it goes . . .

In Print: Dog Massage? Isn’t Petting Enough?

Photo by Trisha: Grandma's spastic cat

Right now, I am sitting in my grandma's living room with three of my cousins . . .

. . . (One of whom is an army wife in Korea and one of whom is a music teacher in the Philippines and one of whom is a mother in Michigan) and we are watching Grandma's spastic cat, Charlotte, try to escape out the front door while we listen to my cousin talk about her magic toilet.

(Don't ask.)

Perhaps Charlotte the cat needs a massage. Pet massages are on the rise, after all.

Check out today's In Print article from The New York Times.

The opening lines of the article, by Jennifer Bleyer, read:

RENEE LANE’S living room had been transformed into a spa. Candles twinkled on the coffee table; lavender oil scented the air; lilting guitar music played softly on the stereo. Grace, Ms. Lane’s 2-year-old caramel-colored toy poodle, leaped onto the sofa and, in response to Ms. Lane’s cooing invitation (“Want to lay down for Mama?”), got into position for her evening massage. . .

Read the article here.

Think pet massages are an unfortunate waste of money? So are magic toilets . . .

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! (x3)

Photo by Steve Snodgrass

We have a winner! We have a winner! (And other relevant news)

1. Thanks to the True Random Number Generator, (is there a False Random Number Generator?) Rebekah Kotlar is the winner of the $25 gift certificate for Tastebook.com. Rebekah, drop me your e-mail address so I can send you the relevant details. I do hope you will come back and tell us what you did with your certificate! From personal experience, I can tell you that building a Tastebook is a ton of fun!

2. Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest. Our Facebook group and daily to-do list subscriptions grew significantly. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!

(Thank you. Thank you very much.)

3. As a reminder, if you are interested in being listed on House Honcho's Readers Who Link Here, simply post the House Honcho button/link and let me know you did.

4. Along those lines, I am going to post a database of Honcho Hints on the blog when our Facebook group reaches 500. If you have not yet joined the group, I urge you to do so for the good of all.

5. One more thing. (This post is feeling a bit like an overcrowded message board.) Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8th. I would like to send one interview question to various mothers who are readers/supporters of House Honcho. If you are willing to answer one question--to be shared with readers during Mother's Day week--please let me know.

Alright. That's enough announcements for today. [Collective sigh of relief.]

Keep it simple!

Sunday Pearls: Easter

Photo by Plutor

In lieu of a detailed post about my day--(many fun posts coming this week!)--I would like to share a poem I have meditated on during these past 24 hours.

Easter

Rise, heart, thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise
Without delays,
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise
With him may'st rise:
That, as his death calcinèd thee to dust,
His life may make thee gold, and, much more, just.

Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part
With all thy art,
The cross taught all wood to resound his name
Who bore the same.
His stretchèd sinews taught all strings what key
Is best to celebrate this most high day.

Consort, both heart and lute, and twist a song
Pleasant and long;
Or, since all music is but three parts vied
And multiplied
Oh let thy blessèd Spirit bear a part,
And make up our defects with his sweet art.

--George Herbert
1593-1633

On Vapors and Beatings

Photo by tvol

Tonight my heart is full.

This morning, I learned that a sweet friend passed away after a 3-year battle with cancer. And this evening I attended the wedding rehearsal of a dear cousin who is marrying the widower of a lady who died of cancer almost 2 years ago.

That is the way of life, isn't it? We celebrate the ones we love whether they are coming or going from this earth. And we cherish the memories between the bookends.

So in lieu of any deep thinking--for I am afraid any more thinking would cause my mind to short circuit right now--I would like to share this tip, picked up from a conversation at tonight's dinner table.

From my cousin, Joanne:

If you dye Easter eggs this weekend, consider tucking the egg in a whisk before passing it off to your child to dip in the dyes. Not only is the whisk easier to handle than most cheap kit devices, but the egg can take a bit more of a (should we say it?) . . . beating.

Consider the photo above to see what I mean.

Hold your loved ones close this weekend. Life is a vapor.

Guest Post: Each Day as It Comes

Photo by janetmck

The following guest post was sent to me by a faithful, encouraging reader from Australia. (Subsequently, it is most enjoyable if you read this post with an Australian accent ...)

Beware of the BITE.

Once you are bitten by the declutter bug your entire outlook of life changes.

The 3 extra sets of used glasses are no longer needed. Instead your best and most favorite ones are used each and every time with pleasure and joy.

The 5 spare packets of pasta, 4 spare tins of sauce, and numerous packet dinner mixes that all expired and are tossed before used becomes organized, fresh and enjoyed meals that are planned and eaten because we chose to have them not just to use up the food in the pantry.

There is no need to buy that cheap top that looks like a bargain. It is said that 20% of our clothes are at work 80% of the time, so with keeping this in mind--ensure you buy the nicest top if you need a new one and make it a new favorite.

I mostly enjoy being able to have people call over and not have to do a mad dash, shutting doors, pushing things into cupboards and hoping they’ll shut to hide all …

Thanks to the House Honcho daily To Do lists, slowly--now I do mean VERY SLOWLY I am now GETTING SORTED since being bitten and you can to.


Thank you, Each Day as It Comes!

Grab a Bucket and Follow Me

Photo by Taste of Home

Today we open the Hospitality File. And man, do I have a deal for you!

As you may know--if you've followed this crazy blog for any length of time--I am a magazine connoisseur. (Is that possible? Whatever. No matter.) Very little compares to receiving a brand new magazine in the mail filled with ideas I can try in my home.

(I also love clipping the articles and tossing the magazine before it clutters my office. I am a total fan of building an actual hospitality file. Consider using scissors and filing magazine articles in a binder or folder.)

Because I work for the mother of all magazine corporations, it is my privilege to receive free magazines in the mail every month. Truly, it's like collecting money that falls right out of the sky. Imagine me, with a bucket, running around my front yard screaming, "Yippee!"

So today I'm going to share the love.

Between now and Tuesday, the following magazine subscriptions are on sale for $5 each.

Taste of Home (Real food from real home cooks)
Healthy Cooking (All flavor, no guilt)
Simple & Delicious (Quick cooking with everyday ingredients)
Every Day with Rachael Ray (Great food and good fun)

No, these magazines do not belong to my place of employment. So I am not collecting kickbacks or padding my pension. I am just passing along an opportunity to get a little bit more out of life ... and broaden your hospitality file while you're at it.

Enjoy!

Paint by Mortgage

Photo by adzookie.com

Interested in having your mortgage paid in full for the next year? The answer could be as simple as painting your house.

According to a recent article on CNNMoney.com, the startup advertising firm Adzookie struck advertising gold when it decided to turn homes into giant billboards.

No doubt cheaper than the cost of renting billboards in high-traffic areas, the company says it will pay the home mortgage every month that a home remains painted (as seen in the photo above).

For Adzookie and homeowners experiencing mortgage crises, this arrangement could be a win/win. But before you run to the website to apply, consider this report from CNNMoney.com:

Adzookie launched the offer on its website Tuesday -- and by late afternoon, the company had already received more than 1,000 applications, according to Adzookie CEO Romeo Mendoza. One even came from a church.

(Renters need not apply.)

In other news, welcome to the hundreds who have stumbled on househoncho.com via our current contest. The flood of private messages and positive responses has been overwhelming. Feel free to join the conversation, add your two cents to the blog, or even contact Adzookie and let us know how it goes . . .

Love What You Have; Keep What You Need

Photo by Trisha

There are 2 items in my house that, if you didn't know better, you might think were slightly out of place. Yet, these 2 items are beyond valuable to me.

Though I don't consider myself the Simon Cowell or Donald Trump of home goods, I do have fairly specific taste. (Think books and pottery and red.) So you can imagine my surprise when I opened a gift last Christmas and found these 2 ceramic cats amongst the tissue paper.

It took .02 second to realize the gifts were second-hand.

A quick glance inside the shallow porcelein figures (these dearies hold plants--catnip, perhaps?) and I saw that there was a bit of dirt still left behind by the previous owner. Yet, in the same .02 second, I loved these little critters and would have kept them over a block of gold if I had been given the choice.

Let me explain.

Seven years ago this past Friday, I lost a dear friend to cancer. She was someone I wanted to emulate. Her home, her marriage, her personality--for years, I've tried in vain to be like Kathy Ehresman. I miss her more than words can tell.

Make no mistake. I hate clutter. In general, I don't collect figurines. But when her husband gave me these 2 little cats--straight from the home of this lady I miss every day--it took me no time at all to realize that some things really don't have a price tag.

It takes the discerning home manager to distinguish between what clutters the home and what warms it. Stick these babies on a bookshelf--between the pottery and something red--and you realize very quickly that they fit in pretty well.

To Do This Week: Build a House

Photo by watchsmart

And now, a word of encouragement to post on the refrigerator door . . .

"Our houses need not resemble a page from House Beautiful magazine. Regardless of their size and style or our financial status, our homes can exude warmth and provide refreshment for all who walk through their doors. They should be pleasant havens for our husbands and children, sanctuaries where we offer care and hospitality to other Christians, and gateways from which we extend the gospel to family, friends, and neighbors. So I have made this my prayer: 'Lord, help me to build the kind of home where all who enter find it impossible to keep from thinking of God'."

--Carolyn Mahaney in Feminine Appeal, page 114

Don't forget to enter our contest! Have a great week!--

CONTEST: Facebook for Tastebook

Photo by tastebook.com

It's Friday night. Let's ANNOUNCE A CONTEST!

Who doesn't appreciate a bit of a celebration now and then? So let's get this party started . . .

Over on the Facebook page, you will notice that--as of right now--our group is 366 members strong. This is barely a fraction of the people who visit the blog daily and/or receive the to-do list.

So this contest is all about rewarding those who are showing support.

One week from today--Friday, April 22, at midnight, I will draw one winner who will receive a $25 gift certificate for Tastebook.com.

There are 3 ways to get your name in the hat.

1. Go to the House Honcho Facebook group and "share." (There is a button on the left-hand side of the Facebook page that serves this very purpose!)

2. Join the House Honcho Facebook group. (At 500 members, I will be adding a page to the blog with all of the Honcho Hints we've collected with each new member.)

3. Mention House Honcho in a Facebook status. (This week, I will share some of the clever status updates I heard about during this contest last year. Funny stuff.)

Each time you do one of these things, respond to this post with the name you want entered in the hat and how many entries you've earned. You are eligible for an entry every time to do one of the above.

Need a little incentive? Check out tastebook.com. There's no better cookbook printer on the planet.

Let the contest begin.

Dear June: Divorce Wars

Photo by p r o m i s e

Dear June

Have you seen the new show, "Divorce Wars"? It's a new documentary that goes behind the scenes in high-profile divorces. I watched it the other night and knew that I wanted to get your opinion on it. I remember the things you had to say about the show "Sister Wives" and how it lended fresh perspective to something I knew in my gut wasn't right.

Sincerely, a daily reader


Dear Daily Reader,

Until you sent me this question earlier this week, I had not even heard of this new show (which aired on CNBC March 29th). I did watch it (compliments of Hulu), and, as you suggested, the program goes behind the scenes to reveal the problems that unfold in high net worth divorces.

In two specific instances, I found myself on the verge of laughing (if, in fact, there is anything acceptable to laugh about regarding divorce).

First, the premise of the show was clear: Your marriage will fail. It's a matter of time. You're an idiot if you don't plan an exit strategy.

Second, one of the women who was interviewed on the show received (among other things) $80,000 a month in alimony and child support. (Yes. Every. Month.) In what I perceived to be a sort of shocking disatisfaction, this woman claimed (on her personal blog) that the money is for the benefit of the kids.

Alright. Because I try to keep my posts shorter than War and Peace, I will give an abbreviated response.

1. The show got one part of the marriage strategy right, in my opinion. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. BUT. Planning to fail isn't good planning. If you really believe the Titanic is going to sink, why board the vessel at all?

2. It's a shame of the worst kind that marriages are less about commitment than they are about anything else. On this show, I heard less about failed relationships than I did failed financial investments. And I would guess the real mourning happened over the latter.

3. Kids don't need $80,000 a month to live good lives. Period.

In other news, I would love to do a study on whether kids grow up to make better life choices with or without access to untold millions.

Sad on so many levels.

To: The Reluctant Entertainer

Photo by Jo Naylor

Tonight I'm going to keep this simple. Below are 10 hospitality tips that I have collected over the years from people who know a whole lot more than I.

1. Stick to easy recipes on nights when you have guests in your home. (The crock pot is your friend!)

2. Consider playing quiet music. (This cuts down on awkward silence.)

3. Let people bring something if they ask. (Save on cost and prep time.)

4. Nervous about preparing a full meal? Invite guests for dessert and coffee.

5. Make sure there is an extra roll of toilet paper in the bathroom. (Enough said?)

6. Find a way that each member of the family can participate in the preparation. (Don't go it alone!)

7. Ask guests about allergies or preferences ahead of time. (Think pets or nuts. Or both.)

8. If you're nervous about the timing of everything, put out a small appetizer (think crackers or fruit or pretzels) and guests will assume any delay is intentional.

9. Create a high-level agenda for the evening. (Write it down if you feel inclined.)

10. Keep in mind the reason you are inviting people to your house.

I still have miles to go as it pertains to hospitality, but I consistently remind myself of this: Even if the evening doesn't go as planned, I can always fail better next time . . .

Where the Heart Is

Photo by California Cthulhu (Will Hart)

I really do believe we could solve at least some of the economic crisis with 2 words: Go home.

Consider an article printed in The New York Times last week entitled,
In South Delhi, a Home for Three Generations. From the article:

Multigenerational households were once quite common in India, but the tradition has faded somewhat among the upper class as the country has modernized, especially in families concerned about the messy squabbles that might arise over varying lifestyles.

And there you have it: multigenerational households.

Now, before you go looking for tomatoes to throw my way, consider the following issues in light of living with the entire family: retirement costs would be simpler, childcare would be provided, unemployment wouldn't necessarily threaten the loss of a home or livelihood, household tasks would be divided over more people . . .

The list could go on.

Someone send a memo to the President. Perhaps the solution to our budget crisis is as simple as returning to our roots.

(Anyone have a better idea?)

Breathing Room

Photo by suzettesuzette

So it really only occurred to me today . . . We will spend close to 1/3 of our lives in a bedroom.

So I might have been slow to figure that out, but you know how scientists are always saying "25% of your life will be spent looking at grass" or "18.2% of your life will be spent blinking," blah, blah, blah?

I am not a numbers girl. What can I say? Why use numbers over words? Most of that info goes in one ear and out the other.

Needless to say, it was a bit of a shock when I did the math. Yep. The scientists are right. Since we're encouraged to spend 8 hours sleeping every day, it adds up. With the exception of mothers (who likely spend only 1/4 of ther lives in their own rooms) most of us will be spending a lot of time in those four walls.

So why not make the bedroom the very best it can be?

1. Put the TV in another room! (Or toss it completely.)
2. Keep dirty clothes at bay.
3. Shut the closet door.
4. Bust the clutter like a devil busts dirt.
5. Improve the scent.
6. Paint the walls a soothing color. (White is not soothing.)
7. Avoid over-accessorizing.
8. Clear the floor.
9. Put all paper out of sight.
10. Go easy on the number of furniture pieces.

Keep it simple.

Take a Seat or Select a Saddle

Photo by slgckgc

My windows are open, a nice breeze is blowing through the kitchen, and I have cowboy cookies in the oven.

(At the request of a reader, I have included the recipe at the bottom of this post.)

If you were here tonight, I would invite you to sit at my kitchen table and tell me what you are learning. There is little that excites me more than hearing that my friends are experiencing personal growth.

Isn't that what friendship is all about?--Iron sharpons iron, after all.

This weekend, a friend of mine said something that has stayed with me. It was a particularly poignant thought as it came at precisely the moment I needed to hear it.

The lovely Gina Holmes (whose novels you absolutely need to read!) said the following:

"Some days the old me wants to say, it's on! But the new me gently whispers, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Such a simple thought, yet oh so challenging.

Cowboy Cookies:
2¼ C butter Crisco
2¼ C sugar
2¼ C brown sugar
5 eggs 2 tsp vanilla
4½ C flour
2¼ tsp baking soda
1⅛ tsp salt
1½ tsp baking powder
4½ C oatmeal
1 package chocolate chips

Mix 1st 9 ingredients with mixer.
Add oatmeal and chocolate chips, a little at a time.
350 degrees: 12 minutes
Share with friends. (There will be lots to share!)

Gift Idea: Your Kitchen Table

Photo by Trisha: This is the book I gave my sister

Today, on Favorite Things Friday, I would like to tell you about my favorite cookbook and recipe site.

(I am having company tonight, so you can understand why recipes are currently on my mind. We're having breakfast for dinner, FYI.)

When my sister-in-law joined the family, I wanted to buy her the perfect gift. Understand that I admired this girl long before she met my brother. And I was elated that she was going to become a part of my family forever.

I searched for the gift that would say as much. No piece of jewelry, no item off of her registry, and no giftcard would do.

And then I discovered tastebook.com.

Known as the "iTunes for recipes," this site allowed me to create the perfect gift. I was able to upload the family favorites--along with the little jokes and anecdotes that have been kept in the family for decades--and when it was printed, it was a classy, colorful book for her kitchen shelf.

But there's more. I love this website because it allows me to enter and store my recipes online. Friends and I have swapped recipes via this website for years.

Tonight I'm using a recipe that I passed on to my sister-in-law. Nearly 4 years after my sister-in-law joined the family, she's a fabulous cook and a permanent fixture in my life.

Though I am sure it has nothing to do with me, I like to think she knew from the beginning that she was a part of this family.

And there's the timer . . .

Dear June: On Fads and Tacky Cars

Photo by becksshaw

Dear June

What changes are going on now that require us to take a fresh look at how we run our homes? I worry that trends will change the way homemakers are viewed.

--Marilyn Mackey, Ontario


Dear Marilyn from Ontario,

First of all, I need you to know that I know the national anthem of Canada. It bears no significance on this conversation, but I've known it since eighth grade. And now that I have told you, I feel validated for all these years of knowing and loving it.

So thank you.

The thing to understand about trends is that they are simply the loudest opinions.

There are strong groups that support home managers. There are strong groups that disparage home managers. It will likely always be that way, though the specific statistics may waffle in various generations.

(To those who discount the benefits of a home manager, I say psssht. I don't like the color yellow or the Subaru Baja. Who cares?)

As for the trends we need to concern ourselves with, I believe that entertainment, social, media, and religious fads will always pose the largest threats to our homes. As fads are really only popularity inspired by peer pressure, they really have all the nutrition of cardboard when it comes to the health of our family.

Bottom line: It doesn't matter what people think. But then again, we've spent our whole lives trying to convince ourselves of that truism . . . eh?

Happy Holiday!

Photo by Horia Varlan

When it comes to important holidays, there are a handful I take very seriously.

For me, days like Christmas, Easter, July 4th, and Thanksgiving are at the top of my list. (Unique, I know.) But here is another holiday that could easily climb in the ranks.

Thanks to a handful of readers who gave me the heads up:

April 7th is National No Housework Day.

No kidding! A simple Google search turned up 9,190,000 results to prove the point. And so I encourage you to follow my lead. Tomorrow I will not dust. I will not polish, pluck, or plunder. I will spend time with my family. I will take inventory of the things that matter most.

What will YOU do?

Forget the Facelift

Photo by LOLren

Ever wondered what a bad mood is good for? Tonight, in our In Print post, I offer a benefit for your consideration.

Earlier this week I received an e-mail from a reader who thanked me for sending the daily to-do list. In her note, she went out of her way to stress that she isn't a bad home manager, she's just a forgetful one.

(Which, FYI, the only thing you prove by signing up for the daily e-mail is that you are efficient. No judging happens on my part. But that's an entirely different matter.)

Today I am confident that Haley M. from Texas is a cheerful person.

See, according to msnbc, a cheery mood makes you more forgetful. Meaning--inductive reasoning permitted--that our memory is better served by a bad mood.

Perhaps it's a good idea to stub your toe or lock yourself out of your car before taking that test or giving that presentation.

According to the aforementioned article by Linda Carroll, "The solution is simple. If you know that your memory isn’t going to be as reliable when you’re in a good mood, you can take steps to counter that effect, like writing down people’s phone numbers or consciously associating something important with a new acquaintance’s name."

. . . or signing up for House Honcho's simple, daily to-do list.

Just saying.

The Strength of Three

Photo by HarshLight

I have 3 items of business to bring to your attention. (Three is quickly becoming a trend on Monday nights.)

1. CourtneyB is the winner of The Daniel Fast Made Delicious. In response to the question of how she celebrates spring, Courtney said she does so, ". . . with CHANGE and PROGRESS! Spring brings back the motivation that I've been lacking all winter. Reminding myself daily to 'Just be faithful today' ... keeps me from getting overwhelmed."

Lovely answer, Courtney! (Now keep me from getting overwhelmed by sending me your contact info ASAP so I can send you your new cookbook!)

2. You will notice a new tab at the top of the page. I am now pleased to link to those who link to House Honcho. Consider it a mom-to-mom sale. Minus the moms. Plus the blogs.

3. My heart is a million miles away tonight. (Well, technically 8,557 miles.) We received word that our adoption case has the potential of being reviewed tonight (while we're sleeping) by the overseas child adoption board. Should our case be reviewed, we can finally discuss travel.

Tonight, in my tidied living room, I met with my brother, sister-in-law, and husband. Huddled together and connected by compassion for our little brown-eyed buddy, we prayed that our 749 days of waiting is almost finished.

We're ready to bring him home.

Goodnight--

A Job Worth Dying For

Photo by misteraitch

Very few jobs are worth life or death.

Over the weekend, I was intrigued by a story coming out of Japan in which nuclear workers who are struggling to prevent a massive meltdown have come to terms with the fact that they will likely die from radiation sickness as a result of their efforts.

What struck me as particularly unusual was the calm resignation of these workers that death is likely imminent.

(I've had co-workers who complain about the spread of the flu or the contagious nature of a colleague on the other side of the cubicle.)

The mother of one of the workers, speaking to Fox on the condition of anonymity said, "My son and his colleagues have discussed it at length and they have committed themselves to die if necessary to save the nation."

There are few jobs worth dying for. There are few jobs worth living for.

What are you doing? And why?

What am I doing and why?

Book It!

Photos by Trisha: the book of me

It's Friday night, and I'm here with another favorite.

As you know (if you've followed this blog for any length of time), I love journals. I love journals like cats like mice . . . or pregnant women like ice cream . . . or men like remote controls.

It's something I have zero control over. It's nature and nurture rolled into one.

But this is where you come in. Growing up, my mom kept a journal in which she recorded short, pithy insights about my brother and me. She had one journal for me (see the dusty, blue book above) and one for my brother. The entries are all short (think 50 words or less), and they are dated.

I am thankful she did this. Reading through the book is a great (albeit embarrassing at times) experience. I can read about situations involving loved ones who are gone. I can laugh at ridiculous things I said or did. I can verify with the accuracy of a neurosurgeon when I knew I was going to be a writer (4 and 7/8 years old).

I intend to keep a journal like this for my son.

Whether or not you are "a writer" consider keeping one of these books for you and yours. You'll be glad you did.

Happy Friday.