Kat, Plain But Definitely Not Simple

Read On! - 2010 - Book 23

2010-11-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

Christopher Rice's THE SNOW GARDEN
NOVEMBER 2010
**Currently Reading**

Read On! - 2010 - Book 22

2010-10-02T05:36:00.000-07:00

James Patterson's THE THOMAS BERRYMAN NUMBER
OCTOBER 2010
This was an early book for Patterson and while entertaining, I realized how we all get better at our work with time and experience.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 21

2010-09-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

James Patterson's PRIVATE
SEPTEMBER 2010
Quick read and very entertaining book about Private Investigation. Good always overcomes Evil, but Evil continues to show it's ugly face. I fell in love with Jack, and can't wait to read more about his mysterious life in the next books.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 20

2010-08-29T14:24:00.001-07:00

James Patterson's POSTCARD KILLERS
AUGUST 2010
I always enjoy James Patterson's stories. Interesting when you think about artist and how they portray death. This story was about artist that made death their canvas.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 19

2010-08-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

Kathryn Stockett's THE HELP
AUGUST 2010
I was quickly swept away by these characters. Based in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi during a time when possibilities for women were few but their dreams of the future were limitless.

Quote of the Day - August 7, 2010

2010-08-07T05:18:00.000-07:00

"The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better."
- Barbara Pletcher

Read On! - 2010 - Book 18

2010-08-01T17:17:00.001-07:00

Dean Koontz's FRANKENSTEIN
Lost Souls
JULY 2010
Dean, you just keep getting better and better with this Frankenstein series. Love it! Can't wait for the next one.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 17

2010-08-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler's
Crucial Conversations
JULY 2010
Tools for talking when stakes are high. I took a training class at work for this and recommend the book and CDs. It is never easy to have crucial conversations with anyone, but this book and CDs will help you identify those types of situations, will help you to stop making stories up in your head and really focus on facts.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 16

2010-08-01T17:06:00.001-07:00

Dr. Peter J.D.'Adamo's
Live Right 4 Your Type
JULY 2010
The individualized prescription for maximizing health, metabolism, and vitality in every stage of your life.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 15

2010-08-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

Dr. Peter J.D.'Adamo's
Cook Right 4 Your Type
JULY 2010
Includes more than 200 original recipes as a companion to the Eat Right 4 Your Type book. I'm currently trying some of the meal plans.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 14

2010-08-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

Dr. Peter J.D.'Adamo's
Eat Right 4 Your Type
JULY 2010
Interesting book on the individualized diet solution to staying healthy, living longer & achieving your ideal weight. I never thought about blood types before and how/when they came to be. Very interesting reading.

For My Friend Carletta Who is Surviving Cancer!

2010-06-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

COLOURED RAINBOWS

Dare to dream of coloured rainbows
and fine "castles in the air" -
and a Sun that shines so brightly
making cloudy days seem rare!

When you aim to find a purpose
then your life becomes worthwhile.
You will dazzle those about you -
when you show your own true style!

Our dreams are not for keeping -
simply borrowed for a while;
to console us in adversity
and teach us how to smile!

Dream again of coloured rainbows
and of bluebirds flying high.
You will overcome the obstacles
once you decide to try!

Read On! - 2010 - Book 13

2010-06-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Stef Penney's
The Tenderness of Wolves
JUNE/JULY 2010
** Currently Reading **

Quote of the Day - June 27, 2010

2010-06-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

"Happiness is not a reward - it is consequence. Suffering is not a punishment - it is a result. "
- Robert Green Ingersoll
Learn More About Ingersoll

Read On! - 2010 - Book 12

2010-05-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

Gin Phillips'
The Well and the Mine
MAY/JUNE 2010
Fannie Flagg was right, you will easily step into the lives of the Moore family. I remember my own 98 year old grandmother telling me how life back then (1929-30) was more simple, today was so complicated to her. When I read this story, I think of what life was like for my own grandmother and what kind of little girl she was growing up. Life was hard work, but relationships were simple, and everyone seemed to know their place.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 11

2010-05-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

James Patterson & Peter De Jonge's
Miracle on the 17th Green
MAY 2010
I'm not a golfer, I tried it once but my aunt said I hit like I was playing softball. You don't have to love golf to like this quick read. A story about settling on a job instead of following your dream. But an unfortunate life change made this character start over and do what he should have done when he was young, and that is play the game he loved so much.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 10

2010-04-11T05:03:00.000-07:00

David Allen's GETTING THINGS DONE
The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
APRIL 2010
Excerpt: It's possible for a person to have an overwhelming number of things to do and still function productively with a clear head and a positive sense of relaxed control.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 9

2010-04-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge's
WORST CASE
APRIL 2010
This is the third book I've read by Patterson & Michael Ledwidge. Mike Bennett is becoming one of my favorite characters. I did wish he and Parker would have hooked up, but keeping them apart makes for better mystery. Very enjoyable book and a fast read!

Next Big Thing in English: Knowing They Know That You Know

2010-04-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting article and want to share...

Read Now: Next Big Thing in English: Knowing They Know That You Know

Excerpt:
To illustrate what a growing number of literary scholars consider the most exciting area of new research, Lisa Zunshine, a professor of English at the University of Kentucky, refers to an episode from the TV series “Friends.”

(Follow closely now; this is about the science of English.) Phoebe and Rachel plot to play a joke on Monica and Chandler after they learn the two are secretly dating. The couple discover the prank and try to turn the tables, but Phoebe realizes this turnabout and once again tries to outwit them.

As Phoebe tells Rachel, “They don’t know that we know they know we know.”

Read On! - 2010 - Book 8

2010-03-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

James Patterson's I ALEX CROSS
MARCH/APRIL 2010
Hmmm.....I sense a little Fargo in here. Woman president, evil husband, wood chipper, everything you want in a James Patterson novel. Thanks for the entertainment!

Read On! - 2010 - Book 7

2010-03-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet's
WITCH & WIZARD
This was a Christmas gift from my son!
MARCH 2010
Interesting story of 2 siblings who fight the New Order to save the worlds. Yes, worlds...Underworld, Overworld, Freeland, Shadowland (don't go there unless you are just passing through to another world). Reality, nope. Entertaining, yep. To be continued...guess I have to wait to find out how they get out of the hanging.

Monologue by Matt Thomas

2010-03-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some archives from a few years ago and ran across some monologue's my son wrote in Acting 3 when he was a senior in high school. I really liked this one and wanted to share.

LOOK IN THE MIRROR
Looking in the mirror I see sadness. Eyes that were once clear are now clouded and glazed. After a few seconds, the image can no longer be seen as a image, but more like shape formations that move and dance in the dim light. A few more seconds and the shapes all merge together in a blur of color and light. The mirror holds a hypnotic quality that keeps me from looking away. For brief moments, I see sounds through ripples in the colors. Then I start to see all my emotions played out in front of me, all at once. In the midst of all this, something outside of the mirror, like a sound or noise, catches my attention. The trance is broken, lost in the endless currents of the world until the next time I decide to lose myself in the mirror.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 6

2010-03-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

THE OPEN BRAND
When Push Comes to Pull in a Web-Made World
MARCH 2010
Shows how marketing and branding are being transformed by the technology-inspired power shift from brands to consumers, and tells marketers how to embrace the future as it unfolds today.
The Open Brand was written by Kelly Mooney, President and Chief Experience Officer of Resource Interactive, and Dr. Nita Rollins, Resource Interactive's Director of Thought Leadership, as well as by dozens of Resource Interactive associates, clients and industry innovators.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 5

2010-02-07T16:05:00.001-08:00

Dean Koontz's FRANKENSTEIN
Book Three DEAD AND ALIVE
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010
Bye Bye Victor Frankenstein, Hello Clone! Thanks Dean for letting Jocko live.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 4

2010-02-07T16:03:00.002-08:00

Dean Koontz's BREATHLESS
This was a Christmas gift from my son!
FEBRUARY 2010
Dean Koontz is my all time favorite author. Although Mr. Koontz has a way with writing great characters and keeping me interested in how all the characters will intersect at some point, this was not one of my favorite books. The ending seemed a little too normal in a book filled with so much extraordinary experiences.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 3

2010-02-07T16:03:00.001-08:00

Dean Koontz's FRANKENSTEIN
Book Two CITY OF NIGHT
JANUARY 2010
I started this one immediately after Book One because I just couldn't wait to find out more. Again, love this series and was so disappointed when I finished and didn't own the 3rd book. A trip to Barnes & Noble is in near my future.

Read On! - 2010 - Book 2

2010-02-07T16:02:00.001-08:00

Dean Koontz's FRANKENSTEIN
Book One PRODIGAL SON
JANUARY 2010
I love, love, love this Frankenstein book. Dean Koontz wrote a script for a sixty-minute television series pilot for USA Network, and even got director Martin Scorses on board. Then after USA Network and the producer decided to make so many changes, Dean & Marty withdrew from the pilot. Thus began this magnificent series in book form. Thank you Mr. Koontz!

Read On! - 2010 - Book 1

2010-02-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

James Patterson's "Alex Cross's TRIAL"
JANUARY 2010
I'm a big fan of the Alex Cross books, and this one took a while to get into. Because it is set back in history, it wasn't the same feeling as the other modern day books featuring Alex Cross. However, it didn't disappoint as I got into the book and was just as entertaining as his other books.

Read On! - 2010

2010-01-30T04:07:00.000-08:00

Reading is one of my favorite pastimes. It helps me relax after a long day of work, entertains me, and keeps my mind stimulated! I thought it would be interesting to post a list of books I read throughout 2010. I can't wait to see the list at the end of the year. I encourage you to read more books and keep your mind active!

Quote of the Day - Jan. 24, 2010

2010-01-24T08:39:00.001-08:00

Science must not impose any philosophy, any more than the telephone must tell us what to say.
- G. K. Chesterton

Learn more about Chesterton

Quote of the Day - Dec. 31, 2009

2009-12-31T10:09:00.001-08:00

"For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."
- T.S. Eliot "Little Gidding"

Quote of the Day - Dec. 19, 2009

2009-12-19T08:33:00.000-08:00

"Art will remain the most astonishing activity of mankind born out of struggle between wisdom and madness, between dream and reality in our mind."
- Magdalena Abakanowicz

Learn more about Magdalena

Quote of the Day - Dec. 13, 2009

2009-12-13T05:41:00.000-08:00

Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.
- Les Brown

Quote of the Day - Dec. 12, 2009

2009-12-12T04:47:00.000-08:00

If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.
- Mario Andretti

Quote of the Day - Dec. 6, 2009

2009-12-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom in a happy mind.
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Learn more about Ella

Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables for December

2009-12-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

pears
oranges
tangelos
grape fruit
tangerines
papayas
pomegranates
sweet potatoes
mushrooms
broccoli
cauliflower

Quote of the Day - Dec. 5, 2009

2009-12-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

"Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian."
- Dennis Wholey

Learn more about Dennis

Quote of the Day - Nov. 30, 2009

2009-11-30T18:21:00.000-08:00

Today was my dads birthday. I lost him 4 years ago and miss him every day. In honor of his birthday below is a poem by Emily Dickinson.

Look back on time with kindly eyes,
He doubtless did his best;
How softly sinks his trembling sun
In human nature's west!
- Emily Dickinson
Learn more about Emily Dickinson

Quote of the Day - Nov. 29, 2009

2009-11-29T05:32:00.001-08:00

In honor of my birthday, here are three quotes that I love:

The best birthdays of all are those that haven't arrived yet.
- Robert Orben
Learn more about Orben

Age is a high price to pay for maturity.
- Tom Stoppard
Learn more about Stoppard

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.
- Author Unknown

Quote of the Day - Nov. 28, 2009

2009-11-28T19:41:00.001-08:00

Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.
- James Thurber
Learn more about Thurber

Quote of the Day - Nov. 27, 2009

2009-11-28T07:42:00.001-08:00

Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness.
- Yousuf Karsh
Learn more about Yousuf

Is Job Satisfaction Really Achievable?

2009-05-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

All my life I dreamed of what I would be when I grew up. Now that I've reached middle age, I sometimes find myself having that same thought, except I am grown up. I currently have a full-time position with a company, and I also have a freelance business on the side. My lack of job satisfaction has bought added stress into my freelance work, and I'm eager to find a resolution.

Recently I started asking myself these questions.

How can I get satisfaction in my current job?
Am I in the right career for my personality?
What do I like about my current company, and it is the right fit for me?

Recently someone asked me, "if you could have the perfect job, what would that be?" I thought that was an easy question, but my mind began to wonder and I really wasn't sure.

I have worked in the internet industry now for about 12 years, and I do love the excitement of the ever changing technology and the power that the internet has on our world. But I continue to ask myself, is this the right place for me and how do I achieve job satisfaction?

I find that when I start a new job, it is so exciting. I'm learning new things, meeting new people, and I think, this is it! This is the perfect job! Then as time goes by, as the workload increases, and stress creeps in, it doesn't seem fun anymore.

So I ask myself, "How do I restore meaning to my current job and feel that excitement after the newness wears off?"

Daily stress can cause lack of job satisfaction and lack of job satisfaction can cause stress. So how do I figure out why I'm not happy in my current job?

Here are a few things that have caused me stress and lack of job satisfaction:

- Poor communication from those in charge
- Conflicts with co-workers and lack of resolution
- Increased work loads, that require extreme overtime hours
- Having little say in decisions that affect my position
- Lack of planning and process
- Lack of rewards

To begin the process of figuring out how to maintain job satisfaction, I know there are certain things I need to keep more balanced.

- All work and no play makes Jake a dull boy. This phrase is very true and I need to bring more of a balance between my work responsibilities and my personal life. Everyone needs time for relationships, sleep, health, and hobbies.

- Attitude. When stress creeps into a my life, my attitude usually shifts. Trying to stay positive and keep an optimistic point of view can make you more productive and less stressed.

- Volunteering. Even though I have very little extra time, I volunteer. Do something to help your community. It feels good to give of yourself.

I'd love to know what you do to maintain job satisfaction.

Facts to get through this Economic Crisis!

2009-03-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

Did you know?

If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, you are spending approximately $98.51 a month, and a total of $1,182.09 per year. Good time to stop smoking, you will have better health and more money.

An average 12 oz. cup of coffee from Starbucks costs $1.40 (does not include lattes or mochas), and a total of $506.80 a year for one cup a day. If I brew coffee at home, an average cup costs $.54 for a total of $195.48, for a savings of $311.32.

A few tips that I like to live by....

1. Never go to the grocery store hungry. You will buy way too much food and items you don't need or want.

2. Avoid the urge to make an impulse purchase, put the item back and wait a month or two, usually after time passes, you no longer want the item.

3. Take advantage of your company's 401(k) or IRA match. No other time in your life will someone give you free money. Take it!

4. Use your local library for books, movies and CDs. Garage sales are another means to get cheap stuff that is in great shape. Paying full price is a waste of money.

5. Get a membership to your local Sam's club and buy paper towels, toilet paper, and trash bags in bulk. You will buy less often and save money.

6. Pack your lunch, it is a healthier choice and can save you hundreds of dollars.

7. Ask for water when you dine out. The price of soda and alcoholic beverages can add so much onto your bill.

8. Avoid buying things that are individually wrapped which will sometimes double the price of the item.

9. Try to use all the groceries you purchase and find a recipe online for using leftovers.

10. Drive your car longer. Cars are not considered investments so if you keep your vehicle up with routine maintenance, it will last longer and save you on monthly car payments.

The Power of Simple Things:Top Five Things that Fill Me with Awe

2008-07-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

1. The beautiful blooms that open after a nice summer rain. After a rain, my flowers have a beauty that is very different than when I water them. Nature has a way of supplying life with something more significant.

2. Good people - no strings attached. As I go through life, I find that I am filled with so much joy from the good people around me. I often meet new people who are decent and kind and have a unique quality of good in them.

3. The rise and fall of the ocean. There is something magical that comes from the waves of tides. On Sanibel Island in Florida I walk on the beach with water rushing in and sand between my toes and a peace overtakes me. I could stay here in this moment forever!

4. Family - blood IS thicker than water. When I was young, I didn't realize the commitment my family had to me and I left them in my dust as I went out to explore the world. Even with imperfections, to know that they are always there is so profound.

5. Touch - an instinctive human need. There is something very therapeutic about physical touch. I have a new nephew and all I want to do when I'm around him is hold him in my arms. A loving touch is known to reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones. As a result, the immune system works better and people stay healthier.

Do you need a good photographer?

2008-05-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons a person may need a photographer. With today's technology, and the point and shoot digital cameras that will do just about anything you want and the iPhone, which I personally own, taking photos have become so easy and allow individuals to capture parts of their life that they want to remember forever.

But, if you need professional photography, that goes way beyond your capabilities, I have the perfect company. Meet Cory Piehowicz and Rainer Zeihm of Hello PZ. They have amazing talent and are great to work with. I recently had the opportunity to spend several days with them on a photo shoot and they are a delight to work with. I received the most amazing photos and will definitely work with them again in the future.

What Do Blue Skies and BabiesHave in Common?

2008-02-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

Shawn Corry, Baby Planner, Consulting & Design and my new client! If you have ever had a baby, you know the stress of becoming a parent. It is the most wonderful time of your life and the most stressful at the same time. I remember when I had my son I didn't know what I was doing, I lived away from my family and I was so worried that I would do everything wrong. It would have been nice to have had a little help. Shawn has started a new company called Blue Skye Baby, which provides many of the resources related to planning for the arrival of baby and beyond so that this time of your life can be less stressful and more enjoyable!

Whether you need assistance with your baby registry, nursery design, baby shower, house cleaning, a personal chef, meal delivery, or a personal trainer to get you back in shape, Shawn has all the right resources. She is an amazing person, and is ready to help make this the most wonderful experience of your life.

My Client Goes To "Hollywood"

2008-02-01T21:45:00.000-08:00

Laura Hamrick, of Westerville, Ohio invented OnTray™, a container that attaches to a shopping cart and can hold such things as snacks for your children, a calculator and your coupons. Laura's product will be provided to the Oscar nominees in their gift baskets. I feel so honored to have Laura as a client and to be her friend.

Read Press Release "ONTRAY™ GOES HOLLYWOOD".

You can purchase the OnTray's for $6.99 on her website www.ontray2go.com or if you like to see the product before purchasing you can visit Hey Diddle Diddle in Westerville, Ohio and Irwin's Hallmark in Gahanna, Ohio. Laura also has many other retailers throughout the United States and even Limoges, France.

Way to go Laura, I'm so proud of you!

Is It Really Just Business?

2008-02-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

When I was working hard at advancing my career I constantly used the phrase, "it's business, not personal", and "I'm here to work, not make friends". It's sad I know, but at the time I really believed that. My expectations were so high for myself and I expected others to follow that same strict guideline. Now that I'm older and I have softened up a bit, I realize how personal business really is. When a person works 80 hours a week to produce great work for their client(s) and they put their heart and soul into it, that goes way beyond just being about business.

I find as I get older that I want to be friends with all my clients. I want it to be more personal. I really just want to give my clients the knowledge that I have learned throughout my work experience so they can help themselves and not be taken advantage of and hopefully meet their business goals.

I still have very high expectations of myself and I accept that others don't work the same way as I do. I learned that each person has a different work method and I now respect that. In the end, we all achieve the same goal, we just get there from a different direction.

So to all those people who I may have pushed to hard, or complained because I didn't think you were working fast enough, I apologize! If I knew you now, I would want to be your friend, and it would be way more than business!

I Just Want to Connect!

2008-01-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

I've had some interesting conversations with my friends lately about the grocery store! I recently moved to a new area of town and people are just not friendly at the grocery store. I am disappointed that no one talks while they shop. I'm thinking that I have moved to a snobby community, then I talk to my friends and they are wondering why I want to talk to people at the grocery store. Is this something that people generally do not want to do? Is focusing on your grocery list that important that you can't connect with someone in the aisle? I guess each time I leave my house, I'm on a mission to find someone that I've never met, someone with an interesting story, someone that I can connect with. Isn't life about people, or has it become more about the groceries?

Now, I have to tell you the story about the man I met at the grocery. The only person in 3 months that has talked to me during my shopping. I was just getting over a cold and still coughing like crazy when I entered the soup aisle. There stood a tall, slender, older gentleman wearing a Navy ball cap and he looked at me and said "you better stop that smoking or it will kill you!" Ha! I've been waiting 3 months to talk to someone, make my connection at the grocery store, and this was the beginning of my first conversation. I was so excited that someone spoke to me, that I smiled and said, "I don't smoke and never have". Then I said, "well, wait, I did smoke one cigarette in 8th grade with a couple of girlfriends behind the church house that was located across from the middle school and I choked and coughed until I was sick and I never smoked again". He said, "did you get in trouble?". Now we were off and running. I finally made a connection. So, as the story goes, he was the nicest man and a rebel at that. He told me of his life in Wyoming, how he never follows the rules. He cracked me up when he said, "you know those forms that say don't sign below this line, well, I sign below the line just to spite". He made my day and I hope I made his. He looked to be in his 80's maybe, and I wondered if he lived alone. Maybe his grocery store escapade may be the one time that he gets out and connects with people. I'm so glad I met this man, I never asked him his name, I actually didn't even think to. I just felt like we were old friends catching up.

So whether you like to talk to people at the grocery or not, try and connect with someone today!