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Someone I'd Like You to Meet: Amanda from Oh Amanda
2009-11-27 10:00:00
Our Write-Away Contest guest judge this month was Amanda from Oh Amanda, a wonderful person who writes about her two children, her home, her creativity and her religion with a comfortable openness that invites you in.When I interview people sometimes I'll focus my questions on things that interest my guest and then sometimes I'll focus on things I'm thinking about myself and you can tell by a few of my questions where some of my thoughts have been lately . . . Christmas is right around the corner!Amanda, I hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!***You?ve been blogging for several years now, how do you deal with the ups and downs of blogging?I've always said I love the ebbs and flows of blogging. It's MY blog and MY life so I can kinda do with it what I want. When I'm busy, my blog reflects that. When I'm focused and inspired, my blog reflects that, too. I also think it's the ups and downs that spur me on. When I feel blaze about my blog or my readers or stats o...
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Happy Thanksgiving
2009-11-26 10:00:00
Andrew pulled this out and had us read it as a family this week. It's Washington's official declaration of the first national day of Thanksgiving from 1789 and I thought you might also enjoy it, Happy Thanksgiving.***WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requsted me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent au...

Mini Cornucopias
2009-11-25 10:00:00
These are cute little favors my mother made when I was little and they're still as fun as they were twenty years ago.Tiny little cornucopias that can be used as place settings or favors or table decorations.To shape the horn, just gently steam a sugar cone until it softens (about a minute, be careful not to burn yourself in the steam) then bend the tip up. Hold it in place until it hardens again (just a moment or two) and then fill it with treats.Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope your holiday is wonderful.Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.© 2005-2009 Scribbit, LLC all rights reserved
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The Write-Away Winner
2009-11-24 10:00:00
Thank you to Amanda at Oh Amanda for judging this month's writing contest, she's terrific and you'll get to read more about her later this week as I interview her.Thank you also to Bath and Body Works for the prize package from their new antibacterial line.But the greatest thanks to the entrants who shared their feelings on being Grateful. I hope you enjoy the entries.. . . And the winner is:The Chocolate Chip Waffle with Gratitude: Seeing ItOur judge said: "This was beautiful. As good as any novel I've ever read!"Honorable MentionsMozi Esmé with To Be Grateful for More"I think she really answered the question, if there was one. Such a great perspective."Such the Spot with Whispered Reminders"Oh, i needed this reminder today!"Glacier Racing with Thanks to Joey"They deserve this for the sheer volume written about a dog!! Plus, it was so articulate!"***Here are a list of the entries in the order they were received:1. Glacier Racing with Thanks to JoeyI'm mourning this dog more th...
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Hanging out the Herbs
2009-09-23 10:00:00
Time to dry those herbs--it's been a good summer for growing and I've got pineapple mint (which really does smell like pineapple), tarragon (LOVE that stuff) and sage hanging here.One of the kids has a friend whose mother's name is Cinnamon. Isn't that lovely? I don't even know the woman but the name says it all. If I were going to name my kids after herbs and spices then Grace would be Anise, Spencer would be Coriander, David would be Turmeric and Lillian would be Nutmeg. Of course you could always go with plain old Rosemary and Ginger I suppose but who would want to be plain?I think I'd want to be Saffron. Yes, Saffron please, from now on.***And a few other things . . .First, Stephanie from Metropolitan Mama has written an ebook, Bloggertunity: A Mom's Guide to Blogging which gives you instructions on setting up your own blog. I've met Stephanie and she's a wonderful person who gives her best to blogging so it's worth a peek to see what she has to say.Second, Susan fro...
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Crossing to Safety
2009-09-22 10:00:00
My favorite writer of all time is Wallace Stegner (I apologize to those of you who have heard me carry on about him before but the man's a genius) and while I've read this particular novel before I figured it was time for a re-read. The best books always bear repeating.What makes this novel so good? You mean besides the prose so smooth you feel as if you're floating down a river with the sun shining down? Or the characters drawn so masterfully you can hear the distinctions in their dialog? Or the themes that, while eternal, are so modern, thoughtful and resonant that you find yourself nodding your head as you read?Stegner grew up in Saskatchewan but lived in various places in the central United States (Salt Lake City, for example) and the land plays a central role in his stories. He also follows the themes of family and marriage, love and unity, pride and failure in a way that convinces me he's the greatest contemporary writer of all time. I'd stretch it to say greatest writer ...
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When Is a Pony Ride Not a Pony Ride?
2009-09-21 10:00:00
Saturday I had my day all planned out: cleaning, ironing, a basketball game, exercising, washing cars but then I got an invitation and all that work stuff was thrown out the window (including, incidentally, writing a post for Monday).Anchorage sits on an arrow of land pointing west into Cook Inlet. If you drive along the inlet and head north you'll arrive at the towns of Wasilla and Palmer (Wasilla of course being the home of our most famous moose-shooting-Carhart-wearing-snowmachin ing politician, Miss Sarah Palin and her media-lovin' family). That whole area to the north of Anchorage once you get across the bridge is called the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, or Mat-Su for short and it's one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Growing in population that is, the land itself is pretty much staying the same size as it's been for quite a while now. Just in case I wasn't clear on that point.Because the valley is slightly inland it sees more extreme temperatures than we get in Anch...
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Root Beer Cake
2009-09-20 10:00:00
Now I have to give you the full disclosure here: this isn't my recipe. If you haven't heard me say this before, most recipes I post are recipes I've seen other places but have tweaked them here or there to suit my fancy (I love saying the word fancy. As in "fancy that" or "I'd fancy some root beer cake." I suppose deep down I wish I were British) but before I get too sidetracked over vocabulary what I was saying was that most recipes, while not entirely original, are changed here and there.And then there are those that are completely original (which I'll usually brag about) and then there are some that I've had in my files so long I couldn't possibly remember who the original source was.However, this one fits none of the above. Instead, I found it at Joy the Baker's place and I'd feel funny about sharing it except that it seems she herself was passing it along from the book she references so I don't feel the need to get too worked up over sourcing on this one. And I promis...
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Beau-Coup Giveaway
2009-09-19 10:00:00
Take a good look at the picture here--then tell me if it's not too cute!They're little baby bottles that are votive candles and are made to be cute little baby shower favors or decorations. Straight from a site called Beau -Coup that specializes in such cute little items.Because if you're expecting a bundle of joy you need something appropriate cute for the occasion, right?Egg timers (do you get the pun?), heart-shaped measuring spoons, baby petit fours, custom fortune cookies, anything you could want for celebrating you'll find there.And thanks to the kindness of Beau-Coup they're offering this weekend's winner a $50 gift certificate to the store so you can pick your favorites for yourself. Enter below and good luck!Merci Beau-Coup!Here's how to win:Before 12 am Monday morning go to the giveaway entry form on this page and enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town i...

More Video Reviews
2009-09-17 10:00:00
Now that the summer is over we've all gone back to work. We haven't watched much television or many movies for a couple months now--these are saved up from over the summer--so I don't know that there will be any more of these lists coming out soon but this ought to keep you busy for a bit.1. DoubtI have this theory that the best movies are often plays first--at least among many of my favorites this is true and I think it's because with a play you're confined by the set, costume changes and restrictions of the theater. You instead focus on tight dialogue, character development and subplot over special effects and dazzling the eye (unless of course you're Andrew Lloyd Weber). It's obvious that Doubt fits perfectly in with my theory and it's everything you'd expect from powerhouses such as Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.The premise is that a jaded nun suspects the priest of improper relations with one of the students at the school he oversees and it takes place in the...
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My Crocheted Jacket (That's Not Really Crocheted)
2009-09-16 10:00:00
I'm rather proud of this one--I was in Walmart a couple months ago and they had this terrific fabric in the discount bin for $1.50 a yard. It looks like cream crocheted material and I thought it was sooo cute. I didn't really know what to do with it at first but then I remembered an old pattern I had in my pattern stash.So for a grand total of $1.50 I made this . . .My favorite part is the way I can wear it with my great-grandmother's gold pin. See the "C" for Clara?Anyway, I guess the moral of the story is there's no telling what you can find in the discount bins.Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.© 2005-2009 Scribbit, LLC all rights reserved
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Deep Water
2009-09-15 10:00:00
We checked a movie out of the library a couple weeks ago and finally got around to watching it this weekend and I thought it was definitely worthy of mention.If you ever saw Touching the Void (another documentary I'd recommend, it's the amazing story of a pair of mountain climbers who have an adventure in the Andes that you will not believe) you'd be interested in Deep Water which tells another true story that is as inspirational and fascinating but in quite a different and more unusual way.In 1968 the Sunday Times Golden Globe, a British newspaper, sponsored a race to circumnavigate the world in a sailboat without stopping. This had nearly been accomplished but with with a stop in Sydney, Australia. This time it was to be done without touching land and it was open to anyone with a boat and a year of free time to dedicate. About ten sailors signed up to try for the 5,000-pound prize money.Donald Crowhurst, happily married and with four children, was a businessman who sold sailin...

Teens Are NOT That Bad
2009-09-14 10:00:00
Before I had children I heard people joke about having teenagers. Like how it was more fun getting a root canal without anesthetic--that kind of thing--but honestly? It kind of surprised me because while I don't recall the teen years being the most enjoyable part of my own life it seemed as if my parents had survived, sanity in tact and none the worse. Though you may not want to quote me on that.When our first child, Grace, was born one of the first times I took her out as an infant fresh from the hospital Andrew and I were at a store when a woman stopped to look at our new baby. She gushed and fussed over our beautiful daughter then looked at us full in the face and in complete seriousness said, "Enjoy her now. This is the best that it's going to be."I stared at the woman, open-mouthed. I couldn't believe she'd say that and then felt horribly sorry for anyone who had had such experiences with their children to allow them to make such a statement.Of course I could be kidding my...
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Cranberry-Glazed Turkey Rolls
2009-09-13 10:00:00
I've been holding onto this recipe until the weather was more apropo and now that we've got a zip to the air I think it's time.It's got all the benefits of a Thanksgiving dinner without the work and calories--or the pumpkin pie, that's extra. You've got to come up with that one on your own.It uses turkey cutlets which are nice and lean and they are stuffed with prepared stuffing mix then topped with a cranberry sauce. All very quick.1 tablespoon butter1/2 cup diced peeled apple1/3 cup chopped onion1 garlic clover, minced3/4 cup chicken broth1/4 teaspoon dried sage1 cup dry seasoned stuffing mix8 turkey cutlets1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper1 cup canned whole berry cranberry sauce1/4 cup orange juiceSaute apple, onion and garlic in butter over medium heat until onions are soft. Add broth and sage and bring to a boil. Stir in stuffing and remove from heat.Place each cutlet between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound to 1/4-inch thickness. Spread 1/4 cup stu...
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FLOR Carpeting Giveaway
2009-09-12 10:00:00
Okay this was a new thing for me but after trying it out I'm pretty excited.You've probably heard of FLOR modular carpeting, right? It's a company that makes carpeted tiles that you can fit together to make easy-to-install carpeting, either as a wall-to-wall option or as an area rug.I'd seen them before and wondered how they worked so when FLOR approached me about trying a sample for myself I jumped at the chance.See the faux boix pattern to the right here? That's from the new Martha Stewart collection and that's the one I selected to go under our dining room table and I LOVE it. The floor tiles have this non-skid backing and you just lay them out as tightly as you can and adhere these stickers at the points where the tiles meet to hold it together. Instant rug.I can see a couple really great things about this (besides the fact that we now have toasty warm feet while we're eating dinner). Even though the squares are treated with stain resistor if you should happen to get a ...
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Ten Specific Ways to Cut Your Food Budget
2009-09-10 10:00:00
Since I've started posting about how we're working to save money and live more frugally (i.e. scrape by without a paycheck) I've had quite a few people ask me how I have cut our food budget.Now I hesitate to talk hard numbers--not only does it seem a little low-class, it's hard to make a valid comparison from one area of the country to the next--but I've gone from spending $230-250 per week for a family of six (gasp) to $100 per week. Of course we had to sell two of the children . . .Kidding. But though the prices in your area may vary the principles of cutting back are the same. Maybe these will give you a few ideas of your own. If you have a trick that has worked for you by all means let me know, I'm very open to new ideas right now.1. Get rid of those warehouse memberships. I've written an entire post on the subject of Costco memberships which I will not rehash here except to say that I have found that I spend GOBS less money if I avoid Costco and the like.Yes they have...
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Okay Tell Me You Don't Laugh At This Too
2009-09-09 10:00:00
Every once in a while I'll find something that tickles like this one. But not often.But if that doesn't make you laugh then check out Leslie's post titled (and I love this):Almost As Funny As The Woman Who Asked Me What Sock Monkeys Are Made Of, Then Said, ?Shut Up!? When I told Her, ?Socks.?Or Amber's post: Bladdering on--Mass Destruction by Night. It'll make you check your faucets.Or possibly this Oregon Trail skit. It gets me every time.Any of them will do nicely.***Congratulations to Shelly, Janet, Holly and another as yet unnamed winner for winning this weekend's Shutterfly Giveaway. Start making those books!Sponsored by Wedding Paper Divas for wedding invitations.© 2005-2009 Scribbit, LLC all rights reserved

How to Make Homemade Fruit Leather
2009-09-08 10:00:00
Quite a few years ago in a fit of domesticity I learned how to can fruit. Apricots and cherries were my weapons of choice but it wasn't really that cost-effective. We don't get the stuff fresh off the tree here and the shipping costs make it expensive enough that you don't necessarily save that much money by canning your own fruit but that's another post for another day.The point is, I had about 50 jars of fruit and while we ate some of it, I found that my children weren't that big on canned cherries and apricots. Andrew didn't care for them and they sat in my cupboard gathering dust but too precious to throw out.By now the fruit was getting old and past its prime but still . . . throwing it out didn't seem the right thing to do.Instead I pureed it and made it into fruit leather. It really couldn't be easier. Once you have the puree you can either make it in your oven or in a dehydrator (we happen to have a dehydrator left over from a time when Andrew thought he wanted to...
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Happy Labor Day
2009-09-07 17:58:00
I'll be back after the Labor Day weekend. I'll be busy . . . uh . . . laboring?© 2005-2009 Scribbit, LLC all rights reserved
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Spring Rolls
2009-09-06 10:00:00
I apologize for the picture here, it isn't quite what it should be but I think it was a case of dinner being flung to the table with plates flying like frisbees and somewhere in there I snapped off a shot of the spring rolls.They go perfectly with the wonton soup recipe I posted a couple of weeks ago and what I particularly like about fresh spring rolls is that they're really just little salads wrapped in a noodle.And as with salads you can customize them to fit your tastes and be creative in all sorts of interesting directions. I myself don't like mint in my rolls so I never put it in but you can not only pig out on mint if you choose but you could add anything you'd want to put in a regular salad: boiled egg, cheese, ham, bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, diced tomatoes, whatever.1 package of rice wrappers3 cups of torn lettuce1/2 cup diced green onions1/4 chopped cilantro1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper1/2 cup julienne cucumber2 cups cooked, rinsed bean threadsshrimp (optional)sa...
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Shutterfly Photo Book Giveaway
2009-09-05 10:00:00
One of the greatest things I've seen the internet produce is those online photo books that you can create using your own digital pictures. To me, being able to upload your photographs then arrange them with backgrounds and text, click a button and have a real, honest-to-goodness, hardcover book arriving at your doorstep, bound and beautiful is one of the greatest uses of the web.I've seen other photo book sites before, they're multiplying daily, but after using the Shutterfly site I have to admit it's the best of the best.They have a step-by-step tutorial on how to create one of their books.Shutterfly doesn't have the bugs I've seen at other places, making uploading slow and difficult.Customer service is great.You can share your uploaded photos online without even having to create a book.You can create cards, stationery and other things besides books with your photos.You get free shipping with an order of $25 and 20% off a second photo book, which seems to be standard procedur...
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Andrew Quote of the Day
2009-09-04 16:11:00
You know, you think that at some point the well is going to run dry for odd things happening around here.But then I look at my husband and realize I'll have material forever.While finishing up his lunch a few days ago he looks rather introspectively at me and says, "You know . . . I used to throw out the noodle juice at the bottom of my Cup o' Noodles.""Really?" I said."Yea, but now I don't," he said in his proud voice, "I drink it."Heh, everyone's doing their part for the conservation effort it seems. I'm proud of you, Honey.Sponsored by Coldwater Creek--Redo your fall wardrobe and save 25% off of your order of $100 by entering the code GLM2286 at checkout!© 2005-2009 Scribbit, LLC all rights reserved
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I'm a Ball of Worry
2009-09-03 10:00:00
Several times a week Andrew and I take a walk through the neighborhood and usually end up at the track for a jog. It gives us time to talk about our day, unwind a bit and feel as if we're accomplishing something.But last night I was telling him how it seems that I'm just filled with anxieties lately. I know that's probably a big "D'uh!" considering our situation right now but still . . . it seems I'm just one big ball of worry. So in true blog-as-therapy fashion I'm lying (laying? I can never remember which it is . . . that old "chickens lay" thing never helps me one bit) back on the couch and dumping out my worries on the floor. Feel free to sift around through the pile and take whatever interests you. I certainly don't want them anymore.1. What if this new business doesn't work out?Of course this is the premier worry on our minds. I've heard that "Edison went through 10,354,987 different tries before he invented the light bulb" thing ad nauseum and it's made an impressio...
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The Geese . . . Are Gone
2009-09-02 10:00:00
You'd better watch me or I'm going to get all mushy-sentimental here. Fall has always been my favorite season, probably because of the excitement and change it signals while making me enjoy those last remnants of good weather we get before cold sets in.But I can say this year that I'm very disappointed. Andrew and I have been doing that whole barefoot running thing faithfully now for weeks (did I mention that I've been running two miles without stopping??? This is big, very big, for me. I've never run that far in my entire life) but this week we went up to the track, ready to remove our shoes and get all barefooty when we came over the hill and saw . . . geese.Dang it.Each spring the Canada geese arrive to build their nests and raise their young, they disappear for the summer, and then in fall they stock up on food and fly south. You find them everywhere around town wherever there is a spot of grass, chowing down before the big trip, and let me tell you they leave one heck of a...
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Fall in Alaska
2009-09-01 10:00:00
This is what I'm seeing right now on this dark and stormy day--see those leaves? See them? Yes, they're turning brown. You also see my phlox to the left there, which always is the last thing blooming in my garden but the crab apple trees are dropping their leaves and the birch are turning yellow (though some of that is from the infestation of leaf miner beetles all over town).I'm staying inside, baking banana muffins. Partially to be a good mom and partially to cover the smell of halibut leftover from last night's dinner. I hate it when dinner smells linger too long. Especially the fishy ones.I'll leave you with a few fun things--first, here's a great article from the Wall Street Journal about the future of the novel. I found it interesting, good for some speculation.Second, here's the trailer for the new movie The Men Who Stare at Goats. I have no idea what it's going to be rated but it looks like a movie I would love. George Clooney can be the funniest thing when given the...
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Is It Cold in Here or Is It Just Me?
2009-08-31 10:00:00
This past week I was talking with my favorite blogging buddy, Susan from Food Blogga (who incidentally, is an amazing cook and a truly wonderful person, her blog is a must-read) and we were discussing with a bit of confusion and "how-did-this-happen?" the ways that blogging has changed.I know that makes us sound like a couple of old ladies, with our surgical stockings, shawls and pill boxes, sitting on the front porch and croaking about the good ol' days but it really has changed, even in just the past year. I've heard what's happening being discussed in various places with complaints about lower traffic and fewer links and there are a few ideas about why but the only thing that seems to be agreed upon is that the blogging world is different than what it was only a mere 365 days ago.Has the blog world become diluted?What I mean by this is that are there now so many blogs out there that no one has time to read them? It seems to me that people are more guarded with adding a new bl...
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Avocado Salad
2009-08-30 10:00:00
I'm slowly converting my family to avocados. They have a natural suspicion of green food and it's taken a while to convince them that avocados are their friends but I think I'm slowly getting the edge on them.They all liked this Tex-Mex concoction but then what's not to like about cilantro, lime, chicken and avocado? It's the dream team of salads.2 chicken breasts, boned and skinned3 tablespoons olive oil1 package taco seasoning mix6 cups torn red and green leaf lettuce4 green onions, sliced1 green bell pepper, diced1/4 cup cilantro, chopped2 roma tomatoes, diced1 avocado, sliced1 lime, slicedFor dressing:1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil1/4 cup red wine vinegar3 tablespoons chopped cilantro2 tablespoons fresh lime juice1 tablespoon sugar1 teaspoon chili powder1 teaspoon ground cumin1/4 teaspoon salt1 tablespoon minced garlicSlice chicken into thin strips then saute in olive oil in a cast iron pan on high heat to sear and brown nicely. While cooking, sprinkle the taco seasoning...
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Coldwater Creek Giveaway
2009-08-29 10:00:00
Getting ready for fall yet? We've had a bit of rain that has me thinking the colder weather is coming. If you happen to have any cash left over from all that back-to-school shopping and are thinking about your own wardrobe then you should give Coldwater Creek a peek.I've got a $50 gift card for one lucky winner but this weekend everyone wins because if you type in the code GLM2286 at checkout you can get $25 off your order of $100 through September 15th.I'd like these boots please.Here's how to win:Before 12 am Monday morning go to the giveaway entry form on this page and enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town in next Tuesday's post. See the bottom of the entry form for more details.This giveaway is open to all readers.© 2005-2009 Scribbit, LLC all rights reserved

Fast Track to Success
2009-08-28 10:00:00
Our doorbell just rang and when I went to answer it there were two young people, a girl and a boy around 17 or 18 years old, bouncing slightly on the balls of their feet and dresed in rather tight jeans. They made a remark or two about how odd our house was (because apparently I wanted to know their opinion) then launched into a sales pitch loaded with over-the-top pseudo confidence and slick, pre-packaged jokes designed to "loosen me up."I've had this happen before and I knew exactly what they were doing. They were selling something, and the routines always start with an introduction to some group they're a part of (usually one I've never heard of) followed by how they're supposed to go around and "talk" to people for practice in some communication skill they're trying to develop.Now I'm a pretty reasonable--some might even go so far as to say nice--person. But I'm not stupid. They were selling something and the only thing that kept me at the door was the entertainment of ...
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How to Tighten One's Belt
2009-08-27 10:00:00
Nice picture, huh? What a beauty!To follow up on the news around here, I've been telling you how Andrew has started his own company, Vellum, after losing his job a month ago and things actually are going fairly well. After a couple weeks of heavy sweating he got the new business set up then most recently he has had a potential client come his way. I know it's just one and nothing is final but given the circumstances it has been a time of great rejoicing around here and it gives us hope that we can survive this.But . . . (and this is a big but) as the many of you who attested in the comments, starting up a business is lots of work and even if this particular job goes through that's just one hurdle of many. You're never really sure where things will go from day to day as you try to establish yourself.We figure this could be scary for the next six months, maybe a year and even if everything goes as well as we could hope we're still looking at several years--maybe five--before th...
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