SPOILER ALERT! If you have not seen the finale of Breaking Bad, please note that this entry contains spoilers. 

So it’s all over. Walter White is dead, taken out in a blaze of glory as he took down the operation that he started. The empire is fallen. Heisenberg is no more, and his work is gone forever. 

I think Breaking Bad answered the age old question of whether the ends justify the means, and it seems that the answer is no, they don’t. The ends weren’t even what Walt planned or expected. That he would eventually die – of the cancer or from being killed in this whole operation – was never a question. I think we all knew that in the end, he would die. The question was, who else would go down with him? Plenty of people, it turned out, but it’s when it hit home with Hank that things really started to unravel in ways that couldn’t be rectified. 

There was no humor in this season. No funny moments of strange situations with drug dealers, incidents with Saul, Mike or Huell, running from police that aren’t even interested in them, Jesse digging holes in a meth head's back yard, awkward family conversations, or even the “scabby lasagna” dinner conversation that cracked me up so much with Walt, Skyler, and Jesse. It was nothing but painful consequences as this train ran away to its inevitable conclusion. Well, except for Badger and Skinny Pete with the lasar pointers on the Schwartz’s. I did find that clever and funny, albeit in a strange way.

And yet, though the conclusion was expected, there was still disappointment. Yes, I had hope that things would work out. That the bad guy’s good intentions would lead to something worth redeeming. Unfortunately, human nature followed its natural course. At least Walt was willing to admit to Skyler that he did it for himself and his own glory. I hand him huge points for finally making that admission. We heard him tell Jesse he was in the empire business. We saw his pride in killing Gus and taking the operation international with Lydia. It ceased being about securing the family’s financial situation long ago – perhaps even with the first batch. But at least he realized it. He said it made him feel alive even as death was eating away at him through the lung cancer. And so, he never apologized for it. He stood by it, until the police came charging into that lab to find him dead on the floor of what he started and finished, in a blaze of glory. Or more accurately, a blaze of bullets rigged to a garage door opener in the trunk of his car. That was a new thing, at least for me. And I have to admit that it was an amazing scene. 

So who paid for this? Everybody. Walt’s dead. He might not answer for it in a court of law, but he answered for it with his life. The family looks to be living in borderline poverty, perhaps worse off than they were before. Maybe Flinn/Walt Jr. will get that money from the Schwartz’s on his 18th birthday. Maybe he’ll believe it’s a generous donation and they’ll be alright. Or maybe he’ll see through this one last lie and reject it, just as Walt rejected the Schwartz’s offer to pay for his cancer treatment – to take the right road out of his situation instead to cooking meth – and in similar pride, the ball will continue to roll for them. The family Walt wanted to help is worse off than ever; and really they are the only ones left, besides Saul, who’s in Nebraska, and Jesse going who knows where. So many people died to protect this and for what – nothing. Most of the money is going to be confiscated by the police. Walt decided in the end to not take the money that Todd’s uncle took from him, but instead to end it for once and for all. That was perhaps the best choice he made. He was never sorry for what he did, but at least he cleaned up the mess the best way he knew how. 

That was another moment that got me. Walt saved Jesse, then asked Jesse to kill him. I really didn’t know what he would do, but I saw in that moment, when Jesse dropped the gun and said “do it yourself,” that he grew up. In the worst way possible, he grew up, and that perhaps is the only good that came out of this whole fiasco. He’s the one with a chance at a life. The question is, will the scars of this 2 year journey (for them on the show) hold him back, or propel him forward? I certainly hope it’s the latter. He’s the only one with hope for a better life ahead. I’d like to think that all of this, all the deaths, all the pain, all the hurt, led to this one good thing – of saving him, even as it ruined so many others. It would make this journey of destruction worth it on a small level. Because there’s no big picture where this leads to any good. 

So take a lesson from this series. The ends don’t justify the means. Doing wrong never leads to right. It may seem to work out for a while, but it’s a lie. The deception will run out and all that’s left are consequences, and they usually you the worst, but others as well. We might not be comfortable with the ugly in life, but it’s there and facing it is better than turning a blind eye. We see now what it means to make right choices, and the devastating consequences the wrong ones can have on so many people. That web kept growing. It was unbelievable in the end. 

Thank you, Vince Gilligan, for taking us on this amazing journey. You are brilliant and there’s no doubt that this show was groundbreaking in so many ways. We witnessed television history last night, and I’m proud to have been a part of it. Even as a viewer munching on Jiffy Pop and sitting in my recliner saying “Oh my God! Did you see that?” and tweeting my amazement at the journey that was Walter White. And thanks to AMC for bringing this marvelous creation to viewers. It was a great, edge of your seat ride, from start to finish. You never let us down. Yes, it was rough around the edges, but so is real life. I loved this show and, like so many others, will surly miss it. I hear there’s a new spinoff series in the works titled “Better Call Saul.” So who knows? Saul might reappear from Nebraska to bring us more adventures. We shall see. 

That’s all today. Take care and have a great week. 

Bye!


  

When it comes to luck, I seem to get an avalanche because it all hits me at one time. When it's good luck, that's okay. But when it's bad luck, it's rather aggravating. And you've probably guessed that for the past months, it seems I've been on a roll of bad luck. Illness, injury, accidents, things breaking or going wrong, a constant barrage of bad luck. On the one hand, it's minor irritations that are usually handled quickly. But those add up, and pretty soon the minor irritants lead to a major breakdown.

Yes, it happened last week - but the irritations haven't. Just when I thought okay, maybe it's leveling out, I get up this morning to another accident. I broke a dental device that I need to keep the extensive dental work I had when I was younger "in place." I  had a lot of dental problems as a kid and in my early teens. They're resolved, thankfully, but proper maintenance is key to making sure they don't come back. So now, I'm fixing to head to the dentist to get it fixed. He said it sounds like it's not really major. It's happened before, and he was able to fix it, so he believes this won't be a big deal. But it's a kink in my day, my schedule, and  my life. And maybe it is some luck here, because I'm supposed to be at a conference in Minneapolis right now, but I'm not because of conflicts at work (that are also in the resolution process, but alas, didn't happen in time for me to make this trip). At least I'm home and can get this resolved now.

Some people go through times like this and say "what have I done to deserve this?" or "God must be mad at me." Nonsense. I say "wow, I must really be pissing the devil off for him to be after me like this, and God must be protecting me by limiting the scope." The Bible said time and chance happen to us all - it's just happening to me a lot right now. And I recently read the Book of Job. It's not God's fault that life sucks sometimes. That's the imperfect nature of the world that sin brought in. But that's a discussion for another time. Suffice it to say, I'm hanging in there and refusing to be discouraged. I had a bit of a breakdown last week and I'm not interested in another one, thank you very much. 

I'll tell you this: there's no way I'm following people's advice and buying a lottery ticket. They say I'm due good luck and should play it. Heck no! I'm afraid that if I win, I'll die the next day. Or be horribly injured. Or get a terminal disease. The way things are going, I'd be lucky if I didn't win because winning would tempt the devil, fate, or whatever into hitting me with it's best shot. No thanks! Best to leave it alone and not bring gambling into the mix. You buy the lottery ticket and good luck. I don't see that working out for me at all. I'll take a more low key approach and keep working each day. That's always worked to lead to better times, so why stop? Maybe the release of Splinter in a little over a month will turn the tide to better luck, better days, and better ways.

I'm hoping. For now, I'm thankful the scope is limited to minor irritations and I'm hanging in there.

I best be off. Take care. Have a happy Friday tomorrow and a good weekend.

Bye!

I spent a good deal of yesterday afternoon restoring my phone after getting the iOS7 update. Apparently, something went wrong when I updated it, and the phone typed very slow. Rick suggested restoring it and reinstalling the system, which took a while, but worked. And now that it's working right, I'm still adjusting. It's different, but I'm willing to see how well this works. I do like the "look" of it better, but getting to know the functions are another story. I'm sure it will probably work out fine.

You know me - I'm willing to give change a chance. It is, after all, the path to progress. There are some times, however, when I wondered whether our steps forward were actually taking us in the direction we want to go. Not many,  mind you. Only a few. In fact, I can only think of 3 times when I thought the steps forward were a bad idea:

1. Smartphones are getting bigger. I thought the point of a cell phone was compact convenience of use. As it is, my iPhone 4S will barely fit in the pockets of most of my pants, and there's no way the more updated models would. Screens are getting bigger, and it seems that would make it more awkward to carry and handle. Pretty soon, they'll be as big as tablets, and then how's that going to work for those of us that don't like belt clips? I don't know about this one. I know I'll eventually have to upgrade, but I certainly hope they slim down the size before that day comes. Otherwise, I'm holding on to what I have until it dies.

2. Houses don't have laundry rooms any more. Sometime in the late 80's and early 90's, house designers decided that hallways and laundry rooms were a waste of space. They  elected to make the "living areas" (dens, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc) larger, shorten halls, and have a "utility closet" instead of a laundry room or mud room. On the hallway issue, I agree - that's a complete waste of space. But the utility closet is something I think was a bad idea, and it's from experience in not one but 2 houses. Both in my parents house (built in 1989) and ours (built in 2007), that "utility closet" creates what I refer to as a "barricade of doors." What I mean is that the closets are usually shoved in spaces like entry ways or back pantries, around other doors and cabinets. If you're doing laundry and you need to go in one of those cabinets or rooms, you literally get trapped in a maze of open doors and can't move unless you close a door. It's definitely an accessibility problem. And while I understand the "out of sight, out of mind" problem with laundry rooms and washers in garages and basements (the concept that you're more likely to forget you're doing laundry if the washing/drying area is isolated), at least you don't have the problem of the washer or dryer doing the jig and making a racket on a large load of laundry while you're trying to watch your favorite TV show and drowning out the TV. I don't get it. Why could they fit a laundry room in my parents old house, or our old house, which was 1200 square feet, but in houses that are nearly twice that size - nope, just can't work that out.

3. "Basic" cars that are as tripped out at the Starship Enterprise - and cost about as much too. It's literally impossible to get a car for under $20,000 any more unless you buy a clunker that will be in the shop and still cost you as much as a car payment every month. That's just ridiculous. I can understand needing built in GPS, satellite radio, and all the bells and whistles if you drive a lot, but if you're like me and your daily commute doesn't even take you out of the county, then it's not worth it. Why on earth do basic cars need all of THAT, and why is it not possible to get something for under 20K that's less than 5 years old? Go ahead, tell me I don't get it. You're darn right about that. It's not worth dropping that kind of money on something I'm in for around 30-35 minutes a day. And yet, I must if I want it to be dependable to get me the 2 miles up and down the Interstate that I need every day, because we have absolutely no public transit where I live. 

Maybe I don't get it, as I said. I don't know. These are just a few things that I feel that "progress" have made more complicated than they need to be. 

That's all today. I hope you have a good week. 

Bye! 

My previous entry brings about another interesting point to ponder: When the going gets tough, how do you cope? Somebody on social media asked the question last week: how do you cope when faced with disappointment? She was doing research for a writing project and was interested to see how people deal with this issue. I replied quite honestly: prayer, and two shots of whiskey. Divide and conquer. I lift it up for spiritual help, and then reboot my brain. That’s what the 2 shots of whiskey do. They break the single-minded focus on the problem and forces me to focus on “right now” and reboot my personal system. But only try that at home. And frankly, I’m not sure that’s a reasonable cure for everybody. It could, in fact, be a very bad idea for a great many people.

The truth is that it was a simplified response anyway. Prayer and meditation on what’s right and asking for spiritual guidance are, of course, what we’re supposed to do. But answers rarely come immediately, and so you are usually forced to wait, to adapt, to adjust, to acclimate to things before the horizon clears enough to know what comes next. Working out these “boogums” (as I like to call them) is usually where my writing comes in. Weaving fictional stories around similar questions, situations, and issues helps me to look at things from a wider perspective. When you create the world, then you must look at it from the viewpoint of every character, and not just one. This usually gives rise to a clarity and perspective on my own life that I wouldn’t find trapped alone in my own mind. This is why I often tell people that I believe having a hobby is imperative. Engaging in something you enjoy for no reason other than recreation widens your lens and helps you see the world (and situations) in a better light. 

So maybe a more accurate response to that inquiry would have been prayer (to lift it up), 2 shots of whiskey (to ‘reboot my brain’) and writing (to reset my brain and see the world clearer). Or maybe the writing is really the reboot, because that's where the view of the bigger picture comes into focus. Somewhat, anyway.

We all face times – and sometimes, even entire seasons of life – where people, things or circumstances gang up on us and pummel us to death. How do you cope with it? Do you turn to your faith? Do you get angry? Upset? Depressed? Do you withdraw from the world? Do you find another place to immerse yourself where you can find comfort? We all have a natural response to trials, and I believe it’s beneficial to notice what it is and how you cope. People will tell you there are right and wrong ways to deal with things, but I think that most things fall into shades of grey. I believe the most important question isn’t so much right or wrong as it is, what’s most effective and beneficial to navigating this time or season in your life? What’s right varies from person to person and situation to situation. You need to know what speaks best to your soul and guides you in the best direction this one time. 

More good and significant ponderings to set you off on your weekend. I hope these past 2 entries have been helpful in steering you to thinking about how life’s trials affect you, and how you respond. 

Have a Happy Friday and a great weekend. 

Bye!

Is the world worth saving? Take a look around.

It's no secret that Rick and I have been rather frustrated for the past week. People haven't been at their best, and we've done a lot of consulting with our inner circle in navigating through it. As I was taking my walk today, I found myself pondering the question that was the catalyst for Splinter over 3 years ago: Is the world worth saving? Take a look around. For every beautiful thing you see, there's an ugly counterpart in the shadows. And sometimes those shadows take over. Difficult people and tough times can make you feel isolated, but the truth is that it's something we all go through, and we all have times when we think: to hell with it all. Let it burn. I went through an entire season of life like that, which gave rise to this book. I spent six months figuring out how to kill the world and everybody in it - and pondering whether it was worth saving at any cost. And if you find that disturbing, remember that a publisher picked up this book, so obviously I'm not alone in these ponderings. In fact, I believe they're universal questions.

It's not flattering, but it's true. In fact, I think it's perfectly natural to question whether it's all worth it. From a Judeo-Christian perspective, we know that Christ died to save people, but in the end, the world will burn. The Bible is explicitly clear that people will be saved, but a New Heaven and a New Earth will come after the current one is destroyed - and destroyed magnicifiantly, according to the study our Sunday School class is doing on the Book of Revelation. And if you aren't the religious type, then consider this: the sun will go nova one day. It will flame up, consume the planet, and die itself. Whether you're a person of faith or not, it's all going down one day. So is it worth it to put up with the irritations and aggrivations to help and preserve it? 

It's a natural question, and I believe there's no right answer because the answer will shift according to our perspective. People will aggravate you. It's going to happen. It's true that people can change, but that's not the question - it's will they change, and too often the answer is no. Often enough that we come to the point of giving up on them. And you can forgive them, but still give up on them. People can wear you out. I can testify to that, and often. I read something last week that said evil exist because people exist, and since God doesn't want to eliminate free will then he'd have to eliminate humanity to get rid of evil - and He loves us too much to do that. I know many arguments could be posed on this issue alone, but suffice it to say I mention it to testify to a simple fact: People suck. Every one of us. Even the person of faith struggles with the ebb and flow of good and bad in the soul, and we don't always win the battles. When does it come to a point where we give up and say that's it, I can't take it any more and I have no hope of positive change - and walk away? I think my latest novel, Move, addressed the issue of whether people are worth saving and when you get to the point of giving up well.

Things and circumstances can also aggravate you, too. Sometimes people cause the situations and sometimes it's what I like to refer to as the "random crap of life." Bad things happen. It rains on the just and the unjust alike, as The Bible says, and we have to deal with it. Even our best efforts can fail and things can go bad, or wrong, or completely to hell. It's the imperfect nature of the universe showing itself, and it can do that magnicifantly too. We get tired of going around the same mountains, of struggling with the same problems, of butting our heads and kicking and screaming against the old thing on a different day and wondering what the point is, and why we can't overcome it or find victory for once and for all? It's easy to say, to hell with it, things won't change. Sure, the law of undulation makes this impossible. Life is a series of ups and downs. Much like the ebb and flow of the soul, so do the circumstances of life. Will things go up? Absolutely yes, but they'll also go back down. Nothing ever stays the same. It's  natural to wish the highs were longer seasons and the lows and building times were shorter seasons but alas, it's often the other way around. Reaping a harvest takes time, and sometimes we get so frustrated with the working/waiting cycle that we wonder if it's all worth it, if it's sure to fade away eventually.

I've been accused of being too "post modern" in my thinking on these things, but I'm not backing down because I feel this is truth. It's natural to have doubts about ourselves, other people, and the world we live in. To deny that is to deceive ourselves, and I feel it's better to face it. I think that Splinter faces these issues head on by showing you one woman's journey through faith, doubt, and back to belief in a new set of convictions.

Are people worth saving? It's been done, but how far does your belief go? Check out Move and think over your own convictions.

Is the world worth saving? Take a look around, and join the debate when Splinter is released on November 1st.

That's all today. Have a great rest of the week.

Bye!

In this final installment of "must read" books, I'd like to offer suggestions that have helped me in my own writing and publishing experiences. There are a lot of books out there to tell you how to write better and get published, and a lot of the information is redundant. Save yourself some time and start with these suggestions to give you the basics that you need to get going:

Writing: Grammar, Usage, and Style (Jean Eggenschwiler, M.A. and Emily Dotson Biggs). The first and foremost thing you must know as a writer is proper grammar and spelling. If your writing is mechanically correct, you don't stand a chance. I know that reading should be about the overall enjoyment of the story, but improper use of the English language mars even the best of prose. This quick guide is a great refresher on the basics that will tighten up your writing and keep the "grammar police" quiet.

The First Five Pages - A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile (Noah Lukeman). This is the best treasure I picked out of the Barnes & Noble discount bin ever. Written by a literary agent, Lukeman tells you what it takes to write a manuscript that hooks readers from the start and won't let them go until they finish the manuscript. No, it won't guarantee that you capture a publisher or agent, but it will greatly increase your chances of being read and getting your foot in the door. It's good, sound, solid advice that will improve your storytelling exponentially.

The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published (Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry). Skip the other "how to get published" guides and get this one, because it has all you need. They tell you This book is a treasure trove of information on the publishing process and even includes the field of e-publishing, which is growing (and you would be wise to get up on) and using social media. It's a comprehensive guide that gives you all of the information you need on the publishing process, publicity, marketing, and book sales. In fact, I credit this book with helping me break into e-publishing. It's that good.

The Author's Guide to Building an Online Platform - Leveraging the Internet to Sell More Books (Stephanie Chandler). And I credit this book with helping me to build my online presence for my writing. This short guide gives you great pointers for getting set up online to sell more books and finding opportunities to promote yourself. It's valuable advice, because more books are sold online than in stores, and the Internet is always open, so it can always be working for you.  

Writer's Market (Robert Lee Brewer). This annual guide is a master list of all book publishers and tells you everything you need to know about them: what they publish, how to submit, where to find them, and their requirements and guidelines. Of course, you still need to check the websites, as this information can change (and publishers frequently open and close to submissions), but this is a great index. If you find this master guide too overwhelming, you can also buy shorter versions that are broken down by specific genres. For example, I write fiction, so I find the Novel & Short Story Market Guide most helpful. The guides are updated annually and they also have a companion website to keep up with updated throughout the year (if you have a subscription). But the book alone is very helpful and can save you hours of research in finding places to submit your work.

In addition to these books, I'd also suggest that you read a book on how to write in the area that you specialize in. For example, if you write novels, then find a guide on writing better novels. If you prefer short stories or poetry, look for a guide on writing better short stories or poetry. There are many out there and a good reference guide on how to structure your writing for the particular type that you prefer helps greatly in creating a great story and becoming a better writer.

So there you have it - my "must read list." I hope you've enjoyed this short series of blog entries on what I think are "must haves" for your library.

Take care all, and have a great week.

Bye!

You’ll be pleased to know that part 2 of my recommended reading list
for everybody is easier than the last installment. These books will still
provoke thought, but they’re more contemporary than the last edition. So without
further ado, let’s proceed with the “Shift Your Paradigm” list of reading that I
believe should be required for everybody. 

How to Forgive … When You Don’t Feel Like It (June Hunt). I’m going to make you squirm by calling it straight – we all know people that use forgiveness as nothing more than a tool. Jesus told us that we’re to forgive “seventy times seven,” and there are people that milk it to the utmost. Come on, admit it – you know at least one person in your life whose smiles, apologies, and sweet talk are nothing more than masks and vocabulary, and they twist this verse to justify continuing the game. Forgiveness is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the Christian faith, and Hunt does a great job explaining what forgiveness does and does not mean, on the true meaning of the verse, and on how to establish boundaries and apply it in dealing with people, situations, and circumstances that need to be brought under control – or perhaps even cut off at the source. 

Battlefield of the Mind (Joyce Meyer). Did you know that you can control your thoughts, and doing so can change your life? It’s true. The devil’s favorite tool to defeating you is the way you think by striking you with fear and feelings that you believe you can’t control. Well, it’s not true. You can – and should – take dominion over your thoughts, and this book is an excellent guide on how to break strongholds on the things that take most people captive. Be forewarned: changing the way you think is one of the hardest challenges you face, but it’s possible. In fact is the only way to achieve a life of peace, joy and victory. So if you want to win the battle against everything that defeats you and holds you back, then start by reading this book and being mindful of your own mind. 

Living Above the Level of Mediocrity (Charles Swindoll). For every overachiever out there conquering the world, I’d hazard to guess that there are three more people that are stuck in a rut. Why? Because we live in an epidemic of laziness and self doubt that has us believing that we can never become more than we are unless we “catch a break.” This is absolute crap. All human beings have a divine purpose, and there’s no excuse for not living a life of abundance and purpose. Swindoll’s book gives excellent advice on how to rise above the fear holding you back, establish self discipline, and overcome laziness and complacency to find the boldness to do the hard work necessary to achieve all that you were meant to accomplish in life. 

How To Win Friends & Influence People (Dale Carnegie). Stop right now and tell me one thing that the person in the cubical next to you enjoys doing in their spare time. Can you do it? Most people can’t, and I believe it’s why we have so many problems getting things done. As the pace of our culture speeds up and we become more results driven, we’re losing the personal connections that are conductive to building good relationships, and it’s showing in a degradation of our society. Carnegie’s timeless advice on how to build trusting relationships and showing interest in others and their needs is the key to building bridges that strengthen everything in life. If everybody in a supervisory position were required to read and implement the principles in this book, I’m willing to bet that the entire U.S. workforce and economy would be much better than it is today. But the good news is that it can be implemented at any level, so give it a read. Even making your corner of the world a more pleasant place to live and work can make a huge difference. 

1984 (George Orwell). And finally, a warning to where it’s going to head if the country and the world keep going in the direction they are and not heeding the advice in these readings. As life gets more challenging and people become more isolated, those in control grip tighter. Call it fiction with a purpose as popular culture is increasingly pointing out parallels of Orwell’s grim future coming to pass in our present. Are we heading that way? Perhaps we should take a look at the past so we’ll see warnings to guide our future. 

There you have it – the last of my 10 must reads for everybody. But never fear, because I have one more special installment, and it’s just for writers. There are so many guides on how to write better and get published, and much of the information is redundant. In my next entry, I’ll give you a list of the best books and guides I’ve found so far to help you write better, get published, publicize your work, and get established as an independent author. 

That’s all today. I hope you have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a great weekend. 

Bye!

One thing I pondered over during my covalence from the wasp sting are books I’ve read that challenged my thinking. I believe there are some books that every person should read, at least once in their life, because they have the potential to shift our paradigm on how we see life and the world. 

There are many books on this list, so in order to keep my entries to a reasonable length; I’ll break it up over three entries. I’ll also include links to Amazon so you can check these out for yourself. Be forewarned – this isn’t “light reading,” but that’s the whole purpose – these books engage your whole mind and challenge you to think. I’ll begin the list by digging to the deepest levels of all – faith and eternity. 

The Bible. There are many great devotionals that give you meditations on verses and sections of the Bible, and even more guides that give you intensive studies of books and subjects covered in The Bible, but have you ever actually read it from start to finish? If you’re a Christian, it’s important that you know the Bible in order to apply it to your life properly – plus, a read through gives you not only the information, but the history of Christian faith. It’s amazing what you see reading it through from start to finish. There are many versions and reading plans, many geared toward a 1 year reading plan (because that breaks it up into readings of about 15 minutes per day). Find a good study Bible in a translation that you can easily understand, and make scripture reading a part of your daily routine. (I’ve linked to the New Revised Version because that’s my favorite). 

The Other Bible. I’ve been told by many people that I shouldn’t have touched this one with a ten foot pole, and no doubt I’ll come under fire for suggesting it. This book includes The Apocrypha, The Gnostic Gospels, and The Dead Sea Scrolls – basically, the stuff that didn’t make the “cut” at the Council of Nicaea for The Bible that we know and love. I don’t suggest it for “new believers,” but I think it’s a good idea for people of established faith to get an idea of the thoughts and ideas that shaped our faith and what early believers were seeing and reading. I’ll admit that The Gnostic Gospels are all kinds of crazy to me, but I don’t regret reading it because guess what – those beliefs are still alive today, albeit not widespread. (And I did wind out using some of this for Splinter). Are they true? Are they not? I think it’s obvious why they didn’t make the cut, but I think it’s also good to learn how our faith has developed since the days of Christ. If your faith is solid, then you have nothing to fear because there’s nothing in there that should jerk the rug out from under you. So give it a read – if you dare. 

The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatoria, and Paradiso) by Dante Aligheri. Tour hell, purgatory, and Heaven with Dante on Good Friday in the year 1300. This trilogy is definitely one that will shift your paradigm on the concept of eternity. On the one hand it’s not for the faint of heart. On the other hand, I believe everybody should dare to read it to understand that there are worlds beyond the one we see, and they aren’t anything like what we know. Its not easy reading, but it’s worth it. And bear in mind that Dante wrote this based on a real “vision” that he had. There’s speculation that he was in an altered state when writing it, but so was Edgar Allen Poe when he did a good bit of his writing, and we still hail it as literature. Plus, if you read the Books of Enoch and some of the revelations in The Other Bible, you’ll find interesting parallels between the texts. It makes you wonder whether it’s fiction, or something more. 

The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis. It’s a more up to date, easier to understand  view on the after life. Take a tour of purgatory with Lewis after his fictional fall from a chair to see a glimpse of “the other side” and see what it takes to navigate purgatory to catch the bus to Heaven – or miss is and wind out  - exactly where? An interesting read, easier than Dante but still makes great points, and not too long, either. 

The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis. I absolutely love this book because you get a glimpse of Christian faith from “the other side.” Demons tell of the trials and tribulations of winning souls to hell and what it takes to damn a soul. It’s enlightening with humor in some places and things that will absolutely jolt you in others. Sometimes you can learn a lot from looking through the dark side of the mirror. Another one that ponders – is it fiction, or something more?

 Next time, I’ll move to living and social issues. Here’s a sneak peek at what else is on the list:

How to Forgive – When You Don’t Feel Like It (June Hunt)

Battlefield of the Mind (Joyce Meyer)

Rising Above the Level of Mediocrity (Charles Swindoll)

How to Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie) 

1984 (George Orwell)

Part 3 will be just for you writers.  I’m working on a list of reference books that will help you write better and get published. Stay tuned!

That’s all for today. Tune in next time for the social issues edition. And have a great week.

Bye!


 

Hi folks, sorry for the lack of a late week entry last week. I got stung by a wasp Thursday after work and had a "large scale reaction" to the bite. It's not a full allergic reaction, but rather an "over-reaction" to the sting. I went to the doctor Friday morning and he said that sometimes your body will have a big histamine reaction to a bug bite. They usually start to decrease in 36-48 hours and clear up completely in a week. He gave me a steriod and extra antihistimines to "kick start" my body into the healing phase. So far, so good, but he did recommend going light on the typing over the weekend. Hence, my second entry for last week didn't happen.

These unexpected setbacks do happen, and we have to learn how to deal with them. I'm grateful it happened after I got the proofs of Splinter done, and after all of the birthday/Labor Day activities had passed and the house cleaning was done. It wasn't too disruptive, although it was a little frustrating to be pretty much "stuck" and not able to do as much. Rick has really stuck by my side these past few days, and I sure do appreciate it. He's been worried, but the improvement today is significant so I hope he'll relax some. I'm going to try to get back to doing some chores and errands today. I might be slower than usual, but I do believe it's time to get this arm back in action (the sting's on the lower part of my left arm). I'll be okay. Plus, the doctor only gave me off work on Friday (I do hate that I didn't make it in at all that day, but with all of the swelling in that arm, there was no way I could go to work and type, which is about 99% of my job). So I do need to get up and moving again.

How do you cope with unexpected setbacks? Do you get frustrated at "falling behind," or do you do your best to cope and take advantage of some time off? I was frustrated at first (of course), but I have to admit that it was good to slow down for a couple of days. I feel rested and better (except for some side effects of all of my medication, but I'm coping with that okay). And it was good to spend some extra time with Rick and the birds at home. I'm always on the go, so it was very nice to slow down for a while.

Okay, my arm is complaining, so I best sign off. Take care and have a good start to the new week.

Bye!

It was recently suggested that I should occasionally blog about tips and tricks to help people out with their lives. I’ve seen this advice before, but it’s usually geared toward non-fiction writers. Frankly, I didn’t think that my readers would be very interested in this kind of thing, as the purpose of this blog is to show how my reality feeds my writing. But what the heck, I thought. Maybe there’s something I’ve discovered along the way that would be helpful to people.

 One thing I’ve frequently been complimented on is time management skills. I was fortunate to receive good training on this my first semester in college, and now that I’m juggling a full time job and a building writing career, it’s invaluable. So today, I’d like to share some time saver tricks I’ve learned over the years. Hopefully, this will allow you to spend less time doing what must be done and more time doing what you want to do. 

Tip #1 -  Schedule similar tasks together. This is also called “block scheduling,” and it’s the habit that saves me the most time of all. In fact, when done properly, I believe this is what the term “multi-tasking” refers to. Group tasks together that require similar resources to complete. For example, at work I’ll work on Board meeting items, and then I’ll work on outstanding disciplinary issues, because they frequently cross over into Board items. Once I get the paper off my desk, I’ll check email and telephone messages for other items related to this and respond to them before moving on to the next group of tasks. Or at home, I’ll clean bird cages on nights when Rick cooks and I clean the kitchen, because I’ll have all of the cleaning stuff out already, and be ready to sweep the floor and take out one big bag of trash when I get both done.  And doing all of your “going” together (running errands away from home) not only saves you time by visiting every place you need to go in an area, but it saves gas in making one trip to do it all. 

Tip #2 – Map your week. Every Sunday night, I do an exercise I call “mapping my week.” I look at my schedule for the next week and plan what I’ll wear to work each day, what meals I plan to cook on my nights to cook, and when I can do chores, errands, or work on my writing. Some people think this is “anal,” but the truth is that it’s extremely helpful because you avoid unpleasant surprises, like finding out that the shirt you want to wear today is dirty because you wore it to church Sunday and you haven’t done laundry yet this week. Plus, you can work flexibility into your “mapping.” For example, let’s say you schedule laundry for Tuesday and cage cleaning for Wednesday, but find out that garbage pick up is a day early this week. No problem - you can switch your Tuesday and Wednesday chores, and it still works out. Mapping your week isn’t so much about when it gets done as it is about planning how to get it done. It divides things that need your attention over the next 6 days evenly so you can be sure you have what you need to get the tasks done, and prevents you from stressing out or wearing out by week’s end. And by the way: don’t forget to schedule some “down time” in your weekly mapping too.  


Tip #3 – Utilize your lunch hour. It might not seem like much, but that’s 5 hours over a week. I’ve taken my laptop to the office with me to work on my writing, taken my tennis shoes to the office to take my walk around the complex, run errands, and caught up on personal calls and/or emails during those hours – and that’s time I didn’t have to spend doing it before or after work. And when it comes to writing, consider this: on a typical work night, I can get in 2 hours of work without clashing with housework or other chores and/or errands. So taking my laptop to work on 2 days gives me an extra night’s worth of work during the week. That’s one night I can spend with Rick and the birds. So brown bag your lunch and use those 60 minutes to knock some things off the “to do” list. 

Tip #4 – Use your calendar and reminder apps. They don’t call them smart phones because they’re smarter than you – they call them smart phones because they make you look smarter. Even basic cell phones come with a calendar feature, so learn how to use it and put in appointments and events with reminders long enough ahead of time to get a good start on preparing for what you need to do, or to remind you of repeating tasks. And be sure to check these features often. Let technology help you!
 
Tip #5 – Work your assigned hours. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but I’ve known people that reasoned that they could take an extra long lunch and work a bit later, or come in on Saturday, or take work home and do it Sunday afternoon. While that might be necessary every once in a while, I’d caution against making it a habit because it turns into a time waster and lends to disorganization. Work loads are supposed to be assigned based on core work hours, so work the hours you’re assigned and you’ll be more productive. Think about it: you aren’t likely to get a response from somebody if you leave them a phone or email message after hours or on the weekend – and what if they “put you on the back burner” and you need quick follow up? Or the system is down because they’re doing maintenance during that time, and it never delivers? Or you need to check with a colleague on something, and you don’t have their cell phone number (and would they answer a work related call on a weekend if you did have it)? Deferring your work has the potential to increase your workload by adding steps. So work your assigned hours and save your personal time for you, your home, and your family. 

Tip #6 – Maintain your health. I know a lot of people that postpone going to the doctor until “their schedule settles,” or won’t get medicine because they’re waiting for payday. This is a dangerous game. Your health is the foundation of everything, and you can’t perform your best if you’re sick or injured. Take care of yourself and make time to go to the doctor. Take your medication every day. If you have trouble paying for it, talk to your doctor about affordable options. If getting by the pharmacy is a pain (as it can be), sign up for a mail order pharmacy that you can order medicine through with a few clicks and have it delivered to your door. Make time to take care of your health. Because without proper self care, you aren’t going to effectively manage anything in life. 

Tip #7 – Don’t skimp on sleep. I know we’ve all pulled “all nighters” or late nights to get things done, but the older you get, the more of a detrimental effect this has on you. It’s not a habit to get into. Map out your week so you can “wind down” in time to rest for at least 30 – 60 minutes before bedtime and get 8 hours of sleep each night. Don’t even try to work every minute of every day. You aren’t as productive if you’re tired and making mistakes, so stop before you wear out. 

Tip #8 – Delegate. I know a lot of people roll their eyes at this, but I’ve learned why leaders do this through months of staff shortages. Nobody can do it all, nor should they try. Utilize other peoples’ talents and engage them in cooperative efforts to keep things going. Let people know what you need before the buck stops with you, and consider “hiring out” on occasion. I know money is tight in this economy, but sometimes time is more valuable than money and it’s worth spending a few dollars to get a helping hand. We occasionally call a lawn service that works for many families in our area to cut our grass when we’ve been sick or overscheduled. I also hired a  graphic artist to do a cover for Move, and asked her if she’s mind being “on call” form me for future self-published projects. Both do great work, are dependable, and are reasonably prices so their services are a true blessing to me when the going gets hectic. 

Tip #9 – Keep at least 1 “quick meal” on hand at your home. We all have those days that are unexpectedly busy, and find the unpleasant surprise that, on top of struggling to 5:00, we have to put a meal on the table. Or how about the email or text from the spouse saying “working late, be home whenever?” This can make fixing dinner a challenge, and make picking up fast food awfully tempting. I suggest keeping at least one or two “quick meals” in your house that you can make with as little time and effort as possible. Heat and serve pizzas are the most obvious solution to this problem, but there are other options like sloppy joes, soups, salads, or those Stouffers meals that you can microwave in 18-20 minutes. And if you know you have a tough day coming up, consider a crock pot meal that you can put in the pot before work and have done when you walk in the door.  

Tip #10 – Keep your house, office, and car organized. This might take a one time investment of time, but it’s well worth it. Digging around to look for things wastes more time that you realize, and you can save precious minutes if you know where to find what you need when you need it. That being said, the level of organization you choose to have is up to you, as long as you can find things quickly and with little effort. Filing cabinets or piles of paper on the floor? Or get rid of the paper and go digital? It’s up to you, as long as you know where it is. 

Tip #11 – Arrange your schedule to line up with your priorities. We all have a tendency to take on too much, and it’s beneficial to take stock of life every now and then to ask what fits and what doesn’t. Sometimes, this may require giving up some things that we like in order to make room for things that we like better or that line up more with our priorities. For example, I had to give up volunteer work at my church when my job because more demanding and my writing started to build and require more time. It wasn’t an easy choice to make, but my life filled up and I couldn’t dedicate the time and attention to it that I had before things changed in these two areas. I also had to limit my cross stitching to small projects during “slower” seasons with my writing, but  I know I’ll have to “shelve” this hobby when Splinter is released in November to make time for the promotional work I’ll need to do. There’s only so much time in a day and we only have so much energy, and sometimes that requires that we make hard decisions. Fortunately, life is ever changing, and there’s always the possibility that a season will come when there’s time for volunteering and cross stitching again. 

I hope these tips are helpful in getting your own time management system established, or perhaps working better than the one you have. Of course, feel free to comment with any other tips that you’ve discovered to save precious minutes in each and every day. 

That’s all today. Have a great week. 

Bye!