THE CAT’S MEOW
FOR WRITERS & READERS EZINE®
Issue
23, Vol. 06
©
OCTOBER 10, 2006
Published,
written and edited by Rosanne Catalano, (a.k.a. R.C.Kayla)
Publisher,
Editor-in-Chief and published Writer / Author
Home of The Cat’s Meow for Writers &
Readers Ezine® and
Rosanne Catalano’s Author Website
– www.rosannecatalano.net
Ezine: ISSN:
2237-65
Associate
Editor: Nancy Currie
Editorial
Production Assistant, Technical Writer and Webmaster / Web Designer
PLEASE NOTE: Our subscriber
list is NOT made available to others, including companies. We value every
subscriber and respect your privacy. We are also NOT responsible for web site
links that do not work unless they have been inserted into mine or the editor’s
columns; then we are responsible, we apologize and will correct it as soon as
possible…
However, please notify us
at The Publisher’s Box™ if any
links are not working or are the wrong links. Thank you!
IN THIS ISSUE:
NEW! BEST POEM OF THE MONTH CORNER
NEW! BIRTHDAY WISHES CORNER!
PUBLISHER’S CORNER – ROSANNE CATALANO (a.k.a. R.C.KAYLA)
EDITOR’S CORNER –
OFF THE PRESS!
(Author Book Releases, Publishing News,
Reading Group News
& Calls for Submissions from Publishers)
COFFEE HOUSE 4
POETS & WITERS
(Every Month Published Artistic Talent – New and
Established!)
“They Were Dogs I tell you!” a
story article
By ROSANNE CATALANO, a.k.a. R.C.Kayla
“As I Walked By,” “How Can I Say Goodbye?” and “Autumn Dance,” story articles
By CAROL ROACH
“On Call – Part 5,” serialized short story, “Roses for Her Baby,” a short
story,
and “October’s Bright Blue Weather,” a
poem
By SANDRA LEE HOYNACKI
“A Gathering of Love,” “Cat
Lover,” story articles,
and “Perfection,” a poem
By SHARLETT F. HUNT
“The Newlyweds,” a flash fiction story
By DON CRAWFORD
“ Looking Out My Window,” “Innocent Child,” and “Hand Me Down,” poems
By MARIA T. BARONE
FEATURE ARTICLE
By ALEXANDRA K. BROWN, “Run Your Business From Home? Here’s 10 Ways
to Be More Productive”
ARTICLES
By
NICOLA KENNEDY, “Enjoy Trick-Or-Treating
With These 5 Easy To Remember Halloween Safety Tips”
By
KAREN FRITSCHER-PORTER, “Home Safety and
Home Security Tips for Homeowners at Halloween”
BY JENNA GLATZER, “The Ten-Minute Attitude Adjuster” and “Five Magic Phrases: Tips for Negotiating Like A Pro”
By
CLAUDE BOURGOIN, “When Is the Best Time
to Post Your Items on eAuctions?
By
SCOTT LINDSAY, “Site Promotion Tools:
Press Release”
By
MICHELE GRAHAM, “How to Advertise Your
Small Business” and “Time Management
in Daily Living”
By
JENNIFER MC CLEARY, “How to Have
Pregnancy without the Pounds”
By
ALFA MERCADO, “Definitive Pregnancy Guide
on Dealing with the Third Trimester of Pregnancy”
By
PATSY HAMILTON, “The Search for a Diet to
Rebuild Immune System Strength”
By
ANNA G. B. NIRVA, “The ‘u’ in Humane is
You: Five Things You Can Do to Help Companion Animals in Distress”
By
BOB ANDERSON, “Pet Health: Recommended
Pet Vaccination Schedule”
By HESHAM A. HASSABALLA, “Are Muslims Fighting the Good Fight?”
NEW! BEST POEM OF THE MONTH CORNER
Innocent Child
By Maria T.
Barone
Copyright © 2006 Maria T. Barone
I am only a child as innocent as can be,
Why I ask myself did this happen to me.
A man I trusted, respected and all,
Yet I didn’t want to go but he still calls.
He came toward me and took my little hand
Don’t be afraid he is such a nice man
He weighs me to see how big I did get,
I sense something wrong like I was his pet.
He touched me in all the wrong places I
knew
I felt so uncomfortable, my face turned red
& blue
I tried to get away from him, but nothing
worked
When he was finished, I felt like a jerk…
This has been going on for so many years,
I am so disgusted I just shed more tears.
__
in our Coffee House 4 Poets & Writers Corner!
NEW! BIRTHDAY WISHES CORNER!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! TO:
John
Umland, October 17th, 1961
May your birthday wishes come true!
To see your
birthday wishes here,
email us with your name (first & last) and birthday (year is optional)!
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
Rosanne Catalano – www.rosannecatalano.net
A year ago this month, my beloved dad was called home to be
with our Father in heaven. Originally, I wasn’t going to write a column due to
my ongoing grief. But then
I realized that my dad would have wanted me to continue working… so to honor
his life, I have decided to pen a little something here. The first year after
the loss of a loved one is extremely tough to get through [as I explained in
the August 10th issue] and even surprised me how deep my grief is for my dad
and stepdad…
As we grow older,
we don’t need our parents as much as when we were kids but the LOVE we (and
they) have for one another never dies. Their ultimate goal as parents is to
teach us right from wrong and how to be self-sufficient, independent adults. My
dad (and stepdad) did an exceptional job with teaching and showing us just this!
Although my dad couldn’t always be there for us due to my parent’s divorce over
30 years ago, whenever I phoned him up he always made the time to speak with me
no matter what. That’s a loving father. Same went for my stepdad; he always
made the time to speak with me when I needed to speak with him. And on those
occasions, my stepdad and dad gave me their words of wisdom to take with me
forever more… two very different men, but the same in their values and morals.
And they both taught us right. To truly honor them, I continue my life’s work
and passion, writing & publishing! They were both so proud…
On another note, I have published a cute story I wrote titled “They Were Dogs I tell you!” about my Tiger and Cordy whom I don’t often
write about, yet I love our fur-babies dearly. It can be read in our Coffee House 4 Poets & Writers Corner!
CONGRATULATIONS TO MARIA T. BARONE for her excellent poem “Innocent Child” being chosen as Best
Poem of the Month! Be sure
to read more of her poetry – “Looking Out
My Window” and “Hand Me Down”
[with more coming in November’s issue!] – in our Coffee House 4 Poets & Writer’s
Corner!
Please WELCOME our editor, Nancy
Currie, and our wonderful authors; some new, some
established who have written poems, short stories and helpful informative
articles for you. If you are moved by what they have written, please do let
them know by email. [Most email addresses are listed in our author’s bios.]
See you next month … till then, enjoy my story, the
changing of the season and, for those who celebrate it, have a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Copyright © October 10, 2006 by Rosanne Catalano
http://thecatsmeowforwritersreaders.blogspot.com
http://www.rosannecatalano.net
Magazine dedicated to:
My dad, Carman Peter Catalano (d.
October 13, 2005)
My stepdad, Harold Clinton Welch
(d. August 2, 2005)
…Forever in our hearts
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
EDITOR’S CORNER
Nancy Currie – webwriterworx.50webs.com/
The Editor’s Corner will return next month.
Copyright © October
10, 2006 by Nancy Currie
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
OFF THE PRESS!
ANNOUNCING THE DEBUT OF A NEW CHRISTIAN LITERARY MAGAZINE; NOT YOUR
‘TYPICAL’ CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE!
Wynterblue Thunder Publications is honored to announce Wt~ In Spirit, a new bi-monthly (hard copy) Christian literary magazine! Wt~ In Spirit has readership and contributors from Christian communities around the world.
Content includes the following:
Stories & Poetry
First person, and
fictional accounts, of how the Lord has touched the everyday lives of our
readers.
Pray for Me
Prayer requests from our
readership.
Down to Earth
Paula Booher will be contributing a truly inspirational column about
how simple it really is to keep our Lord in our hearts and minds – no matter
what is going on around us.
Tapestry of the Word
Carol Roach, an accomplished author and publisher, will fill this
column with interviews, contest winners’ poetry and short stories, special
prayer requests, editorials and love from her daily newsletter, Storytime
Tapestry.
Letter from the Editor
Karin Lacroix
Letters to the Editor
Provided by you, our
readership!
*Other
Columnists include:
Scripture
Understood
Rosanne Catalano,
an accomplished author and
publisher of a progressive online-magazine, will fill this column with
understanding of God’s Word for our readership. She has studied the Bible as
literature and has knowledge of God’s Word though her studies.
Youth
Columnist
Trisha Martin, a
published author, will fill this column with her wisdom for guiding our youth
through her life experience, lovingly raising her four children.
* We are still looking for the following:
*A Sermon Columnist
Your Yearly Subscription includes:
6 Issues of Wt~ In Spirit
Supplements
Upon occasion, Wt~ In Spirit will include supplements to the magazine
which will contain short story or poetry collections of literary excellence.
1 Calendar
Your beautiful yearly calendar will be
included with your December-January issue of Wt~ In Spirit and will include editorials from each of
the above named columnists. This calendar will list submission deadlines for
the magazine and writing contests as well.
Wt~ Commitment to Launch
In order for the magazine to pay for itself
(physical costs: format, printing, mailing) and to successfully launch it, and
because this is a totally not-for-profit venture, a minimum of 300 subscribers
is needed.
At this time, Wt~In Spirit is simply creating a Commitment List. If you would like to be a part of our readership
please RSVP with your commitment for a subscription to:
Subject line: In Spirit
Please include your mailing address and
indicate if you are requesting a gift subscription for someone other than
yourself.
Submission Guidelines:
If you are an author and wish
to submit poetry, short stories or first-hand experiences which you wish to be
included in the first or subsequent issues, please copy and paste them into the
body of the email and send to:
Subject Line: In Spirit Submission
Remember, Wt~ does not open email attachments unless specifically requested. As well,
please note that Wt~ will
not accept for print any submissions which are not Christian based and do not
ultimately praise our Creator! If you have or know of a Christian based
website, be sure to include the link. If you become a contributor to this
magazine and have written a book and would like to promote it to our
readership, please include the title and where our readers may purchase a copy.
Due to the space within the magazine set aside for prayer requests, all prayer
requests will be accepted on a first-come basis.
You will not be billed for your subscription until the minimum readership has
been obtained! If we do not obtain enough commitments, you will be notified by
email. The sooner we reach our goal, the sooner Wt~ In Spirit can be launched. We are looking forward to
a Christmas launch!
This is the perfect Christmas Gift
for friends, family and neighbors; Christian based group homes and/or
organizations; churches; hospitals and doctor’s waiting rooms.
Wt~ In Spirit 1 Year Subscription… $54.99 US
Wt~ In Spirit 2
Year Subscription… $94.99
US
Thank
you for your consideration,
Karin
Lacroix (a.k.a.
Editor
of Wynterblue
Thunder Publications
___
“Absolutely the
Last Resort” a Novel by Rose Anna Schoene
Up in the Catskills of New York
State, high in the mountains, the lush green terrain is dotted with
family-owned and operated Inns and Resorts. Naively, Gina, a precocious young
widow and her, shy by nature but now driven, brother, Johnny, purchase a
boarding house and become part of this deceivingly peaceful scene. They face
both trials and tribulations while coping with arson, incest, treachery and
deceit; but, with the help of their loving family, they forge ahead, in their
own tenacious way, turning Happy Haven into a thriving resort. Angie, their
eager to please sister, Sam/Poppa, their gregarious, flirtatious and
entertaining father, and sweet Margie/Momma, their helpful and loving mother,
are all along for the ride. You come to see their loves, hopes, dreams,
disappointments and frustrations in achieving their goals as Gina becomes
enmeshed in a disastrous marriage and Johnny succumbs to the charms of a
beautiful singer with a haunted past. Ironically, this novel is laced with
winsome humor. Many times the resort guests would laugh and tell Gina she
should write a book about the place. Gina would respond and say, “I could write
a book about this place!” ABSOLUTELY THE LAST RESORT is that book!
The
author Rose Anna Schoene is a native New Yorker who made her writing debut with Absolutely the Last Resort, a charming and nostalgic family-oriented book, which fictionalizes
many of the author’s personal experiences owning a Resort in the Catskills for
30 years. This book reflects just one aspect of the author’s life and creative
talents and introduces us to her artistic and comedic nature.
She has a writing style that is
both entertaining and uplifting which reflects Rose Anna’s true writing
persona, yet proves the versatility of her literary scope with her second
novel, WHERE ARE YOU?, which offers a serious and dramatic storyline and will be available soon
through Seaburn Press Book Publishing…
Her book publisher, Seaburn
Press, says more copies of “Absolutely the Last Resort” can be ordered
by going to http://associates.amazon.com/rosancataandth-20, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.seaburn.com, or you can order by using the
direct link at: Amazon.com:
Absolutely the Last Resort: Books.
Seaburn Press,
ISBN: 1592320600; $14.95.
__
TRISHA
MARTIN’S “My Naked Mind: An Intimate Collection of
Poetry”
AT
AMAZON.COM AND PUBLISH AMERICA.COM!
“The words contained within the
pages of Trisha
Martin’s
book are filled with compelling, deep, emotional and inspirational poems that
readers should be able to identify with. Each poem is written with clarity as
the author pours her heart and soul into her writing. If you're a poetry lover
who likes reading personal works of others, this book of poetry is a
must-read!”
“My
Naked Mind: An Intimate Collection of Poetry” by Trisha Martin, a published
author, is available to purchase on www.amazon.com and www.publishamerica.com.
Trisha Martin’s future writing
plans include several more collections of poetry before she starts publishing
her works of fiction.
A Reader’s Review of “My
Naked Mind: An Intimate Collection of Poetry”:
“I have never read poetry so
vividly written, taking me on a continuous journey from emotion to emotion!”
To
order, visit Barnes & Noble.com, Amazon.com or PublishAmerica.com on the
web at http://www.amazon.com and www.publishamerica.com.
ISBN: 1413744540
Publication date: April 2005
Price: $14.95
Format: Paperback, 84 pp.
__
SPECIAL NOTICE
FROM CAROL ROACH,
THE PUBLISHER OF
STORYTIME TAPESTRY NEWSLETTER!
Do you have a story to tell, do you want to speak what is in your heart? Have you risen above great odds, or had a funny life experience? Can you teach us a new skill or lift our spirits with your stories about life and all its wonders? Or, do you prefer to read about the personal experiences of others? If so, this is the site for you.
Storytime Tapestry is a free daily newsletter devoted to spreading cultural awareness throughout the world simply by having people share what is in their hearts.
To join please contact Carol Roach: winterose@videotron.ca or use the email link: http://subs.zinester.com/98907
Carol Roach, M.Ed, B.A
winterose@videotron.ca
Publisher: Storytime Tapestry
http://subs.zinester.com/98907
Author: Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey
www.publishamerica.com, www.amazon.com and other online bookstores, or you can order it at your local
bookstore.
__
CONTEMPORARY INSTRUCTIONAL CONCEPTS
PUBLISHERS HAS ANNOUNCED:
The availability
of two new alternative paperbacks, “The
President’s Parasite and Other Stories” and “Iron Maiden, an Alternate History;” both by author Jim Musgrave,
are books that will satisfy those readers looking for originality in plot and
character development.
You can read more about these titles, by author and owner
of “Contemporary Instructional Concepts” Jim Musgrave, at the publisher’s web
site: http://www.contempinstruct.com/contemp.htm, or
email the author at jimmusgrave@cox.net.
__
Kaleidoscope Magazine Call for Submissions!
Kaleidoscope
Magazine semiannually publishes articles,
fiction, poetry, personal essays, reviews, and art (including cartoons and
photographs) that explore various aspects of disability. We are currently
seeking submissions for the upcoming issues of Kaleidoscope:
"Life Stories"
Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2007
Publication: July 15, 2007
Kaleidoscope
Magazine will also accept fiction and poetry on a variety of
disability-related subjects for both issues. Guidelines for submission
are available at http://www.udsakron.org/kaleidoscope.htm.
Kaleidoscope Magazine: Exploring the Experience of Disability
through Literature and the Fine Arts published
semiannually by United Disability Services in
__
Storytime Tapestry Newsletter
The newsletter devoted to spreading love and
cultural awareness around the world.
SPECIAL PROJECT ON BEHALF OF
STORYTIME TAPESTRYAND VANCE AGEE, AUTHOR!
Vance Agee, writer and author,
husband, teacher, and devout Christian, has entertained us at Storytime
Tapestry since the beginning of the
newsletter. Vance has written a wonderful book, a collection of about 150 of
his original stories and poems, some of which have been featured in Storytime
Tapestry newsletter.
He has graciously offered his book
as a fundraiser for Storytime Tapestry and it is available to you, at the
special price of $8.00 (American); please include shipping and handling
(approx $4.00). The suggested retail
price is $19.95 before shipping costs. Vance is offering this book at wholesale
price.
This is your opportunity to buy for
yourself, family, friends, or launch your own fundraiser for your church or
other community organizations. You will be helping out Storytime Tapestry, and
your own special needs group as well.
But the ministry does not end
there; Vance has his own special cause. You’ll be helping to pay for a
double-lung transplant (see introduction below), a project to which Vance is
very committed.
Tell me, fundraiser for Storytime
Tapestry, perhaps your own church or school fundraiser, partial proceeds for a
lung transplant, not to mention that you will be supporting our very precious
Vance Agee as a writer and friend, is there a better way to honor God and his
ministry?
Email me at winterose@videotron.ca with your order. Spread the word, spread the love!
Carol Roach, publisher and author (Storytime Tapestry Newsletter, 2003; Picking
Up the Pieces: A Woman’s Journey, 2003).
__
INTRODUCTION
BY VANCE AGEE, AUTHOR:
[ This introduction was also published by The Eagles Garden, Publishing Ministry – Deborah Lynn Haley, www.theeaglesgarden.com, Edited
by: President of The Eagles Garden, Gerald Neal Henderson, and Written by: Vance
Agee ].
You just picked up this little book. Well, that’s
obvious, at least to the people around you.
The question now is:
How long will you page through it and will you keep it?
Much of the earnings from the sale
of my book will be given to a benefit fund for a wife and mom of three, who must
have a double-lung transplant! If you
buy this book, you will help one of the many needs around us.
The best other incentive which I
can offer you is that the book is not about someone rich and famous, but
someone like YOU and ME; someone who grew up in a very modest or even poor
home, but with a rich emotional, intellectual and character world; a world in
which many family members could have walked right out of a Dickens’ novel; the
world of a little boy with a great mind and spirit but very humble surroundings.
Would you like to share all that and allow it to blend with your own life?
(Hard to relate to rich and famous, even when you are rich and famous!). If you do, you may email me at vgagee@adelphia.net and we can talk. I’ll do my best
to get back to you. But please include your email address, as this is the
fastest way in which I can reply to you.
That is what this is all about: Where Our Spirits Meet!
About what
do I write?
About being a very young child
(maybe 2 at the youngest!), about my mom and dad, about my grandma and grandpa,
my goldfish, my first love at six, my favorite holidays, my sad times and the
few happy times, about the mystery of the seasons, about my toy pets, school
and church, later about junior high and high school, about college, and a
little about the disappointments of later times. And about life in general. And
time. And God.
Will you join me hand in hand or at least alongside
one another?
Standing there, you are again at a crossroads
of life. My goal is to be a help and a friend to you, in dark and light, in
hope and despair, in dealing with both the good and the bad ghosts of
life. Allow our spirits to meet…
Vance Agee, author (Where Our Spirits Meet, 2006).
* Please
email Carol Roach at winterose@videotron.ca to order
Vance Agee’s book, only $12.00 with shipping & handling!
__
BARBARA DEMING’S
LATEST BOOK, “Growing up Barefoot in the
South (Essays by a Southern Writer)”
NOW AT BARNES &
NOBLE & AMAZON.COM, OR RECEIVE AN AUTHOGRAPHED COPY FROM THE AUTHOR!
She says
about her book: “Those of you who know me well understand that this is a book
dear to my heart. I always say that I am a Southerner first and an American
second--those Southern roots go way, way back and are very deep despite the
fact that I now live in California--well, at least it's Southern California.
This book will carry you back to a time and place when life was simple, to
small towns where the only rule of law was that everyone knew what you were
doing--just the place for a tomboy who loved to get into mischief as well as
climb mulberry trees to write. Take a trip back to those ‘good old days’
where love for family, country and church were the values learned.”
Her book is
available at: http://www.amazon.com and http://www.barnesandnoble.com or you can obtain an autographed copy from
the author at tejasbabs@aol.com.
Barbara Deming, author (The Quilt Maker,
2003).
__
Mahogany Writings announces that “Caught in the Middle” by Cassandra Daniels is now available to purchase online through Lulu Press, Inc. Caught in the Middle is a novel that will reveal the greedy side that you didn't know you had. Caught in the Middle allows you to take risks and explore the bad side with the help of Lulu Press, Inc., (www.lulu.com), the world's fastest-growing provider of print-on-demand books.
Caught in the Middle is about 21 year-old Lena Harper. She's an independent college student but her career of choice is being an escort. Her love of money drives and excites her and up to now, she hadn't had any problems with her lifestyle. She meets Rasheed Graham, an urban photographer and they become a couple. She never tells him about her job because she feels she can balance the two. One of her loves flips the script and has her feel like she's ‘caught in the middle’.
Cassandra Daniels wrote Caught in the Middle for the female college students who feel like money is everything and they have to do anything to get it. This book affects a woman who feels like she's caught in the middle between money and a man, family or friends. Caught in the Middle is available for purchase at www.lulu.com, in a marketplace filled with other matchless and wonderful surprises.
Caught in the Middle, illustrated as "it's hotter than a sunny day" will penetrate the reader's playful side. Caught in the Middle is sure to bring a sense of sensuality and unbiased feeling to all who read it. It falls outside of the box for the standards of a romance novel. Love is beautiful, but also ugly, hurtful, and controlling. Caught in the Middle showcases all of that.
"To me, Caught in the Middle has a very interesting concept and it had me always wondering what was going to happen next. It had real-life situations throughout this story." For more details, contact Cassandra Daniels at (317) 345-7683 or email her at maxwell56@hotmail.com. To purchase her book, go to www.lulu.com or www.mahoganywritings.com.
Cassandra Daniels, author (Caught in the Middle, 2006)Mahogany Writings(317) 345-7683maxwell56@hotmail.comwww.mahoganywritings.com
__
BRADY MAGAZINE
HAS LAUNCHED THE ULTIMATE SYNDICATION SERVICE FOR WRITING-RELATED WEBSITES:
The
online publication’s writing news, calls for submissions, and contest listings
are now available for other writing-related web sites to post free of charge!
Launched
as a way to help impact the lives of writers by providing networking opportunities,
Brady Magazine’s web site content is available in three separate feeds; simply cut
and paste the JavaScript onto your writing web site and their information will
become yours. Feed content will automatically be updated on a regular basis as
Brady Magazine’s site updates are completed.
“I
don’t feel there is such a thing as competition between writing web sites,
since we all have the same goal in mind,” states Krissy Brady, owner of Brady Magazine. “What I am looking to do
is reach a wider audience, and what better way to do so than to network with
web sites that have the same passion for the industry that I do?”
The syndication feeds are available by visiting http://www.bradymagazine.com/content.html, and
cutting and pasting the corresponding JavaScript onto your web site. Once Brady Magazine’s feeds have been added
to your site, contact Krissy and she will gladly exchange links with your web
site. For more information, or for interview requests: Brady
Magazine, c/o Krissy Brady, Editor,
__
FROM DR. TONY FIORE, THE ANGER COACH!
Stop Your Anger, in partnership with
Century Anger Management, is proud to announce two new home-study products to
help you manage anger – or help you to help others manage anger!
HOME-STUDY
PROGRAM FOR CONSUMERS:
===================================
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MORE INFORMATION AND ORDER AT: http://tinyurl.com/zax2c
=================================================================================================
HOME-STUDY CERTIFICATION TRAINING FOR
PROFESSIONALS:
This program is for professionals who want
to be certified as anger management professionals. Program consists of a DVD of
our live training material, a client workbook, a training supplement book,
forms, and a certificate for 8 hours Level 1 training. Four hours of additional
supervision training (Level 2) at no extra cost.
Details
and purchase at:
http://www.centuryangermanagement.com
Dr. Tony Fiore, the Anger Coach
http://www.centuryangermanagement.com
__
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS –
STORIES STILL NEEDED FOR “MIDICI
FICTION, POTPOURRI BOOK #1”!
We still need more short stories for “Book #1” so we have decided to extend
the Submission Deadline and Publication Date in order to allow more people to
send in a story to us at: www.midicibooks.net or www.midicibooks.com
If you know of anyone who writes – business
contacts, family members or friends – please let them know that there is still
plenty of time before “Book #1” is
published!
We will let everyone know the Final
Deadline as soon as it is decided, and this partly depends on how quickly
additional short stories flow in. We will also alter the Deadline on our
website as soon as the new date is known.
Another
advantage of extending the submission deadline and publication date is that it
allows us to investigate ways in which we can further reduce Shipping Costs for
Book #1; the shipping costs associated with getting the books
out to everyone who orders the book!
We at Midici Books will let everyone know
as soon as possible the Final Submission Deadline (for submitting stories) and
Final Publication Date of “Midici
Fiction, Potpourri Book #1”… Stay tuned for further details.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
COFFEE HOUSE 4 POETS & WRITERS CORNER
(Every
Month Publishing Artistic Talent – New and Established)!
They Were Dogs I tell you!
By
Rosanne Catalano (a.k.a. R.C.Kayla)
Copyright © 2006 Rosanne Catalano (a.k.a.
R.C.Kayla)
Tiger
and Cordy are two incredibly amazing felines. I’ll tell you why I say this.
Besides their normal cat-sonality they have the characteristics of canines. And
this is no fairy tale. They share our headquarters or should I say that we share a home with them would be more
like it! Since my husband and I weren’t blessed with human children they’re our
children. I know this sounds unbelievable, but one day I will have the pictures
to prove these quirky doggie-characteristics of my two fur-babies.
If
they will ever let me take a picture of them, only ‘their daddy’ can do that! If
I even bring a camera close to them they turn their heads the other way so mommy
won’t get that photo of them in action! All photos of Tiger and Cordy must be
taken by my hubby otherwise they won’t pose and all you ever see is the back of
their heads, or a side view. Tiger, our nine-year-old fur-baby eats and plays
like a dog, no joke. If it wasn’t for my hubby and I only feeding our babies
twice a day, Tiger would most likely eat himself to death, as dogs are wont to
do! When my hubby used to buy gum balls for our Gumball machine, he would throw
those gum balls to Tiger whereby Tiger would jump up into the air to catch them
square in his paw or mouth. And boy did
he catch them just as good as a baseball catcher would a ball! Since my hubby’s
heart attack we no longer fill the Gumball Machine… poor Tiger now gets his
exercise by chasing after our younger baby Cordy. Tiger has been catching
things like a dog since he was six-weeks-old and freshly adopted from the North
Shore Animal League on
Cordy,
our four-year-old fur-baby literally drinks water out of our toilet bowl downstairs.
One day I had my camera at the ready while Cordy was doing this but as soon as
he heard a ‘click’ he turned his head away, literally making a photo of him
drinking from the bowl unusable. Surprisingly though, this is a new doggie-characteristic
of Cordy. It has only shown up since we moved into our one-family home; before
then, when we were living in an apartment building, for some reason Cordy never
drank from the toilet bowl in that apartment!
But I’m getting ahead of myself here; our Cordy was a stray born in the
courtyard of that apartment building. One day when he was six-months-old he
just followed me into our one-bedroom apartment. He proceeded to make himself
quite comfortable on the couch lying next to his new mommy, and never left
(which I didn’t want him to)! Cordy got
to know us very well before he followed me; we used to go outside to the courtyard
to smoke our cigarettes. And a lot of stray cats would gather in this yard
because they knew ‘the ladies’ who fed them every morning and night, I was one
of those ‘ladies.’ And unlike Tiger, we unofficially adopted Cordy.
Another
doggie-characteristic that both Cordy and Tiger have is they roll onto their
backs while hubby, or I, tickle and pet their bellies! And just like dogs,
Tiger and Cordy lay at my feet while I’m working in my home-office. Cordy will
jump into my lap (poor thing just loves sleeping on mommy’s lap!), but when I
start moving around or type like a speed demon he looks up at me as if to say,
“why are you moving, mommy?” then
jumps off and lays at my feet next to Tiger once again. Yep they both keep
their mommy company while she works at her publishing & writing. Of course after a while they begin to get
extremely jealous that mommy’s attention is diverted. So they start acting up by
jumping on & off my lap again, meowing like crazy, etc; activities that
distract their mommy. But I do
understand my babies’ need for attention. That’s why I make sure to quit work
at a reasonable hour so I can play with them.
I’m
not giving up catching both of them during these doggie-occurrences! I’ve just got to make sure there are
batteries in the digital camera when that day comes : )
Copyright © 2006 Rosanne Catalano (a.k.a.
R.C.Kayla).
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Although
the author, Rosanne Catalano (a.k.a.
R.C.Kayla), is Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of this online-magazine, she continues to write her
nonfiction/fiction short stories, articles and poetry. The Cat’s Meow for
Writers & Readers Ezine, now known as an Online Progressive Magazine, was
created by Rosanne to complement her author web site after much publication
success in print and online. She also wanted her magazine to get important,
helpful information to people who may not have this info at their fingertips,
and to give her fellow writers a chance to go on to greater publication success
by having their work showcased in her online-magazine (a.k.a. an ezine). Her ezine recently received a “Bronze Award”;
Rosanne has received a “Golden Pencil Award” for her short stories, poetry and
articles. Check out more of her published work at: http://www.rosannecatalano.net/links.htm. She can also be
reached via email at ctrosanne@aol.com.
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As I Walked By
By
Carol Roach
Copyright © September 2006 Carol Roach
I walked by
Dusk had already set in on the streets of
I continued my walk up the hill and saw more deposits of flowers in front
of the two separate sets of cast iron gates. Each inch of the campus stood out
as a bold reminder of the horrible day that wrecked the lives of so many
students. Sept 13, 2006, was the day that took the life of 18 year old
Anastasia De Sousa, a beautiful young woman and business student who dreams and
aspirations were cut short in the vary prime of her life.
As I neared the final corner of the campus on my way to the synagogue, I
stopped to talk to a middle-aged man and his young daughter who had parked
their car to deposit flowers at the site. I pointed him in the direction of the
vigil and they thanked me for it. No more words were exchanged. The city is
still very much in shock.
The families of
all the victims who were shot by a madman are in shock but they are also angry.
There is a public outcry now in
What makes a person like Kimveer Gill into a murderer? What would send
him over the edge? The neighbours reported that Kimveer was a loner. Even the
parents of Kimveer could not answer that question. They too were shocked that
he would do such a thing. They told the police that he lived in secrecy and
they had no knowledge of his private life.
Yet much of who
Kimveer Gill really was could be viewed on his blog on the website
vampirefreaks.com. Here we have a portrait of a young man obsessed with
firearms. He posted photos of himself wearing a black trench coat and wheeling
guns and knives. The blog also includes a photo of a tombstone with his name
printed on it. Below it, the phrase reads: "Lived fast died young. Left a
mangled corpse." http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060914/gill_profile_060914/20060914/
Through his
journal entries, “Gill reveals himself as a lonely, troubled person with a
hatred of society and authority figures like police, principals and teachers.
He blames jocks for high school bullying.” http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060914/gill_profile_060914/20060914/
Many
Psychologists maintain that more should be done to help these individuals
alienated from society before such crimes happen. Former
On the other hand, Jethro Berelson, owner of
vampirefreaks.com urges the public not to condemn Goth culture because of this
incident. He feels that most members of his website are friendly and nice and
do not commit crimes. He admits that he is urgings site members to report
suspicious behaviour and it is difficult for him to moderate everything; “there
are just too many blogs.” He ended by telling The Canadian Press “"It's
not like we can moderate everything. And even if he is holding a gun in a
picture, that's not necessarily a crime."
I find another interesting point in all this is that Kimveer Gill did not
attend
My walk ended as I entered the doors of the synagogue. My thoughts
returned to my immediate surroundings. I sat down, lowered my head and prayed
some more.
Copyright © September, 2006 Carol Roach.
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How Can I Say Goodbye?
By
Carol Roach
Copyright © January 2006 Carol Roach
Normally I do not have difficulty writing, but how does one write about a dying sister? Does one start from the beginning or does one jump in and say goodbye?
We were three sisters; I was the oldest, Linda the middle sister,
and Debbie the youngest. We grew up in separate homes as I’ve stated before. I
stayed with my dad and grandmother, Linda was living with an elderly couple and
Debbie with another family outside of
I did not have much contact with either sister until the elderly gentleman Linda was living with passed away and the wife was too old to take care of a nine-year-old by herself. Their daughter sent Linda back to my mom without blinking an eye. My mom then had to care for a child for the very first time. Linda and I saw each other every time I visited with them. Prior to Linda’s arrival, I did not much care for visiting with my mom; it was rather boring, but after Linda got there at least I had someone of my own age to hang with. I still did not feel like I was a part of this newly created family. Linda soon became the favourite daughter and I felt like an outsider in my mother’s home.
I remember seeing Debbie once when she was about 6-years-old. She showed me her two dolls; she named them after her sisters. She didn’t know that the biggest doll should have been called Carol, and the smaller one Linda. Nobody ever told her the difference. Perhaps the family did not know. Being a child myself at the time, not yet nine-years-old, I was very insulted by this grave mistake. I don’t ever remember wanting to visit this wayward sister again.
Later the decision to see my sister again was taken away from me.
The family she was living with left the
In 1980 my beloved grandmother passed away and my world was turned upside down. I also divorced my husband that year as well. It just happened to be the year my mother found my sister Debbie, now all grown up. My mom had placed an ad in the paper, and a friend of my sister’s saw it and told her about it. Debbie called the house, only now she was not Debbie Buckingham anymore; she was Joyce (her middle name) Tremblay, (the name of the family she grew up with). She had three children of her own; the oldest was already 12-years-old.
My mom was so excited while telling me the good news. I knew I should have felt such joy. Here was my sister; the one I had thought was lost forever. Instead I just felt nothing at all. All I saw was a total stranger, where was the common bond, the familial ties?
My sister had many problems. She was just sixteen when she had her first child. The father was her high school teacher who left the scene when he found out she was pregnant. All three children had different fathers and she was living with the father of her youngest child. I shook my head in disgust.
“I cannot judge my daughter,” my mother firmly said, “I did the very same thing.”
My sister Linda and my mom went out of their way to make her feel at home. Since their home was not mine, I did not even try. Over time, we got to talk and I found out that Joyce and I had the same insecurities about the family. Why wouldn’t she, she was also coming from the outside looking in? Worst than I, she was doing it as an adult. I had finally connected with my sister. I had found the common bond.
Unfortunately my new found feelings came to an abrupt halt. Joyce had an argument with my mom and threw our conversations in her face. My mom was upset and my sister Linda was angry with me. Linda was adamant that I had no right talking to Joyce in that fashion. Our heart-to-hearts were taken as a direct attack and lack of respect for my Mother. In a way they were, but the situation was not of our doing; it was the situation my mother had created for three practically orphaned little girls. Linda reminded me that I should be looking at who my mother was today. I should not be looking at her mistakes from the past.
My mother did not have an easy life either and she did the best she could. Linda reminded me of the good things my mom had done for me since I got married and had a child of my own. And then I felt guilty. In my zest to bond with Joyce, I had forgotten to take my mother’s feelings into consideration. I had not yet resolved my issues with my mom at that point; resolution was to come much later. Yet I felt it best that Joyce and I did not have anymore heart-to-hearts. I guess she must have felt the same way because when we spoke together from that point onward, it was basically small talk.
From the beginning it was apparent that Joyce did not live the perfect life no more than I did. She had issues, her kids had issues, and as far as my mom was concerned no one could do anything as well as Linda. No one had perfect kids like Linda either.
In 1991 at the ripe old age of 21, Patrick, Joyce’s oldest son, committed suicide. My sister fell apart. She attempted suicide twice. Finally it was my faithful sister Linda who had a serious talk with Joyce like me and Joyce had so many years before.
It took awhile but Joyce was finally getting back to some semblance of normalcy, at least what would be normal for her after the death of her firstborn. She was looking forward to seeing her younger children married and parenting. She wanted lots of grandchildren.
However life can be so ironic at times. Joyce had lost a son through suicide then she herself made two failed attempts. She had survived these crises only to find out that she now had bone cancer. Aggressive treatment was necessary. She was put on chemotherapy; the cancer went into remission.
She was on the list for a bone marrow transplant five years after being diagnosed and then her health took a turn for the worst. She suffered a stroke. At this point she was taken off the list. The doctors felt that the transplant would not do any good in this advanced stage of cancer and they preferred to save the treatment for someone who was not so critically ill.
My sister suffered in silence. She rarely spoke about her condition and tried to take one day at a time. For the past five years my sister has been in and out of the hospital on death’s doorstep each time. Each day we expected to get the call that she passed on. Again, this was not meant to be.
In October my sister returned to the hospital, this time she was diagnosed with throat cancer and this time she told the family this was indeed it for her. The doctors were not certain that at this advanced stage, if an operation would help. My sister agreed to the operation but signed a Living Will. The doctors were ordered not to resuscitate should she die on the table.
They finally performed the operation two weeks ago. The result was not good. She had another stroke; this time leaving her completely paralyzed on one side. She could not see or hear on that side. She had a tracheotomy and she could not eat or speak. They are not certain what she understands at this point.
Were the doctors right in performing the operation? Her physician explained that if they had taken all the cancer out he would have taken an entire side of her face. Were they using her for research at this late state in the game? I will always wonder.
My mother told me not to go to the hospital at this point. She knows how terribly it affects me. My sister weighs about 78 pounds and looks like a living skeleton. My mother says it is best to remember her as she was.
How can I not remember? How will I ever forget I did not make the effort to accept her in life when I had the chance? How could I forget I was so wrapped up in my own silly issues those early years that I could not see the pain she carried within her? How can I even begin to call myself her sister? How can I say goodbye?
She had fought the good fight and she can fight no more. My sister was not afraid of death, she welcomed it. It is time for her pain to end. But will mine?
Copyright
© January, 2006 Carol Roach.
__
Autumn Dance
By
Carol Roach
Copyright © 2006 Carol Roach
I am not a person who enjoys extreme weather. I live in
I am tired, I feel heavy, I feel depleted; I am thirsty. I never feel comfortable. I walk from the air conditioning building that houses my workplace; an ice palace of sorts, to the sweltering heat of the city outdoors. The shock to my system is dramatic. I feel like I am stepping into a blazing inferno, a little taste of hell. How could nature be so wonderful and yet so cruel?
The summer drags on as I thirst for my favourite season. I yearn for autumn; its cool, refreshing breezes invigorates my soul.
I am completely filled when I taste the flavours of the season. I delight in the dance of the autumn leaves swirling in the wind, rising from the ground in a mini tornado of vibrant colour: red, orange, yellow, green. It is the dance of the sugar plum fairies spreading their mystical delight.
I laugh as I watch the performance of the leaves. I see the dance of nature's lovers chasing one another until they are caught; if they are caught. It reminds me of the mating dance of honey bees. I can hear their buzzing, their sound of love, as I watch in delight. I never tire of the performance in front of me.
Out of the corner of my eye I see a squirrel scamper up the tree to his nesting place. He knows the dance of the autumn leaves foretell how winter will soon be upon us.
The world continues around me; just another day like any other, but for me the world does not stand still. I am mesmerized by the dance of the leaves. I watch in the background like a mother watching her young children play. I am reminded that Mother Nature and Father Time are in the background of this little scenario. They too are watching their offspring play for the last time. Soon the dead of winter will bring on their deep restful sleep.
I feel the love that surrounds me. I taste the sweet surrender of the season as it bows out gracefully, yet mischievously, as my children, my leaves, set the mood for the new snowy world to come. I stand in the background. I am the mournful parent watching her children grow and move on to lives of their own.
I will miss my children; the leaves. I will miss their frolicking in the invigorating, robust autumn breeze. I can already taste my salty bittersweet tears.
And then it happens. I am hit with a beautiful red leaf which gently slaps my face as it ascends to the top of my head; its final resting place.
I don't shake off my little leaf, I wear it with pride. For it is nature's way of saying I am one of her own. I am her child. I am part of the little dance of the leaves. I am part of the melody of nature, the song of the seasons.
And when I taste her charms I am refreshed. I am filled with wonder. My thirst for the beauty of autumn is quenched and I am completely satisfied. I shall thirst no more.
Copyright
© 2006 Carol Roach.
__
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Native of Montreal, Quebec,
Carol Roach is a graduate of Concordia and
If you are interested in other
stories feel free to join her newsletter: Storytime Tapestry at: http://subs.zinester.com/98907 , or email her
directly at winterose@videotron.ca and she will gladly accommodate you. Carol
enjoys email and responds to every inquiry.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
On Call – Part 5
By
Sandra Lee Hoynacki
Copyright © 2006 Sandra Lee Hoynacki
Kathy and I had finished our cases today. All three operating rooms had been full of donors. Dr. Kenalog had sent her in with the new doctor. His name was Dr. Evans, and he was Chloe’s dad. I had worked with Dr. Kenalog, and we retrieved kidneys, lymph tissue, and skin. I had wondered why he sent me out of the room after the labeling of the organs but I didn’t question him. The tone of his voice today told me I shouldn’t.
Sheriff Watson had come in the side entrance as I was going out of the operating room. I knew he was there to pick up the tissue collections. He was a major player in ’The Group.’ I was not sure of his role in this, but I knew he was the key to many locked doors…too many people, places, and things.
We rode down the elevator, and Kathy didn’t say a word. She was looking extremely pale. I decided not to question her while in the confines of the hospital. We rode in silence as others got on and made small talk about their patients. It was shift change, and people were coming and going in a rush.
We hurried to my car. We had ridden together since Kathy had spent the night with me.
“Jenny, look,
Dr. Evans is still here – look, there is his car, the Hummer with the
I quickly got in, and we both looked around the lot as I slowly backed out.
“Kathy, what’s wrong? You look as pale as a ghost. What happened in there today with that new doc?”
“Weird stuff Jenny, crazy, weird stuff!”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, first of all, the back table was not set at all. The body was a young man in his thirties. He was admitted for minor surgery. I swear to you, Jenny that he was breathing. I saw his chest rise and fall, and they said I was imagining things. His death was diagnosed as having thrown a clot and now, being brain dead, Jenny, he was even hooked up to the IV, and – I just think I…”
“Kathy, what did Dr. Evans say about all of this?”
“He just kept telling me that I was wrong and that I needed to go down and get the supplies from CSR.”
“Well, did you?”
“Yes, I did---what the --- are you crazy? Do you think I would just stand there and tell him, “No, because I want to see what the --- ya’ll are doing to this man that’s still alive!?”
“Kathy, you are nuts. I mean you have really flipped your lid! What did he make you get? I mean what were you doing to the man?”
“He made me get another neuro set up and head tongs.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know, Jenny. I don’t know. It’s all too weird and I am scared to death. They said they were keeping him hydrated until something about some papers and his wife. I don’t know, they ran me out I told you.”
“You sound like --- just never mind. I think you have lost your perspective now! You need a break. How could you not even have a clue as to what is going on in that room? Where was the body when you went back in there?”
“I didn’t go back in there. He called down and had CSR send it up. He said he would get it and for me to go on home. I didn’t do a thing today except go to CSR. I think---well---I think he wanted me to be there as a witness or ---I don’t know, just a ---.”
We drove in silence the remainder of the way to the apartment. I knew in my mind that she was right, and something didn’t add up. Maybe he wanted her there as an alibi for whatever. That way, he couldn’t be blamed for anything in the future. It was obvious that if she were there, she couldn’t say he did anything wrong because she didn’t witness anything wrong. I felt that at this point, Kathy was maybe in more trouble than I was. I hoped that I was wrong, but at any rate, I wouldn’t say a thing to her as she was already a basket case.
As we neared the apartment, we saw the lights of what appeared to be ambulances or fire trucks in the park across the street. The streets were crowded with people crying and running in all directions. The police had roped off the sidewalk and street in front of my apartment, and there was no way we could get in my parking space. We parked about a block away and headed to the roped-off area. The fact that we had on nursing uniforms would allow us to be of assistance if needed, and we could find out what was wrong.
“Kathy, keep your eyes open and follow me. Maybe we can see what is going on and help someone, too.”
“Jenny, you know I will help anyone, but what can we do if the paramedics have it? I mean, they aren’t going to let us in, and we’ll never know what---.”
“Well, now, if it isn’t Miss Jenny and Miss Kathy! How are you two young girls doing on this hot night?”
“Uh…Sheriff Watson, we just left the hospital and were headed to my apartment. I live---.”
“Girly, I know where you live. That’s the business of the Sheriff’s office and the Sheriff. I know ‘all’ about you and Miss Kathy here. Now, you girls can run on to your apartment, and I will get clearance for you.”
“Well, Sheriff, we thought that we would help out with whatever is going on here and---“
“Well, now, that is right kind of you ladies but it’s under control, and we have everything just about ready to move now. You ladies go on in, and I’ll get your clearance.”
“Yes sir, Sheriff. We thank you, and we’ll go on into my apartment. We are tired and have had a very long day.”
“Let’s go, Kathy! We’ll just make a snack, and you can spend the night again.”
“Jenny, are you sure? I mean I have been here for a day or so, and I know you like your space, and---oh, Jenny, what are we going to do? I am so afraid and scared and --- can’t we just move to another town or something?”
“No Kathy, we have discussed this numerous times, and we are not running. We have done nothing. Now, let’s go in and make some tea.”
We walked to the apartment in silence.
“You get into something comfortable and we’ll turn the news on to see what is happening in the park. It was obvious the Sheriff was not going to tell us. The TV will, right?”
“Yes, I suppose so. I’m not so sure that I even want to know. Do you?”
“Well, yes I do. For Pete’s sake, it is just across the street, and we need to know.
We sat down and turned on the TV just in time to hear nothing… the TV news anchor was finishing up with, “At this time, we don’t know the reason for the death. We will notify the next of kin before identity can be made to the public. That is the news for this evening.”
“Jenny, we missed it. We missed the whole report and now another dead body…in the park…right here at your apartment. Aren’t you scared?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I am. I am going to get my gun permit and keep it at my bedside. This dare has turned deadly for both of us, Kathy! Do you have a gun?”
“No, and I don’t even know how to shoot one!”
“Well, you’re going to learn. Now, tomorrow we will go and get you a small caliber hand gun, and you can get the permit to carry it. Now that’s settled.”
“Alright, alright. I will.”
“Now, stay here until you get your gun and we can just share the expenses. We’ll feel safer, too.”
“Okay, Jenny, you are right. I am scared and I really don’t want to be alone. I’ll go tomorrow after work and get enough clothes for a few weeks. We’ll just pick up a few items at a time until we see how things are going.”
“Okay, let’s boogie to bed. We have an early day tomorrow and it’s probably going to be hectic. Who knows? Set your clock and get me up. Mine is caput.”
“Night, Jenny.”
“Night, Kathy.”
Jenny headed to the bedroom and noticed the flashing lights of the ambulance and the police cars still swirling below as though to shout out a silent warning to them. The shadows danced on the ceiling, tantalizing with every sweep. Jenny felt mesmerized and held captive in the power of it all. A sudden rap at the door caused her to jump and scream.
“What is wrong with you?! Why did you scream? Is someone---is?”
“What is it, Kathy? You scared the --- what do you want?”
“Well you said to set the freaking clock, and there ain’t a darn clock in there. Don’t get huffy with me.”
“Next time you ought to---”
“Ought to what?”
“Nothing, Kathy. Here, take the clock and go to bed.”
Kathy shut the door quietly, and went to her room as I climbed into bed. I lay there in the dark as the lights continued to play on the ceiling. It was not a playground of dreams that a person wanted to dwell on. My eyes became heavy as I fell into a deep sleep.
“Jenny, get up! Hurry! I overslept. The clock went off and I didn’t wake up.”
“Okay, Kathy. Alright, I hear ya! Stop hollering.”
Climbing out of bed, I staggered to the bathroom, hoping that Kathy had turned on the coffee pot. The shower felt soothing and relaxing, but being late, I couldn’t afford the luxury. I quickly finished my shower and dressed as the smell of the fresh-brewed coffee drifted into my nostrils. I walked into the kitchen and poured a cup of hot steaming coffee. The window seemed to draw me like a moth to a flame. I stared at the park; it seemed so normal and peaceful. It looked like a place of serenity. It didn’t look like the death scene of last night.
“What are you looking at? What’s wrong now?”
“Oh good morning, Kathy. Nothing. I was looking at the park and the normalcy of it all. It’s so hard to think of the dead body last night. It’s so hard to pretend that everything is good when it’s like going on the fast track to death.”
“Are you going to get ready to go or just stand at the window all day?”
“It won’t take me long, Kathy. Jus a few secs and I will be ready.”
I finished dressing hurriedly, and both of us grabbed our purses on the way out the door. It was a short drive to the hospital. Since we didn’t really want to go, the drive seemed to go too fast. We parked the car just in time to see Chloe coming toward us just across the parking lot.
“Hi Jenny and Kathy. Are ya’ll ready for a big day at work? Boy, what a day we have lined up. Why, Daddy said it was bustling these days. You know that young guy had to be kept on hydration therapy, and they had to send him in a special room for a particular procedure and ---Oh, I forgot Kathy, you were with Daddy and had to go to CSR. Well, let’s hurry, girls. We have a busy day, I think.”
We looked after her as she walked on ahead of us in a very big hurry.
“Jenny, what was that all about?”
“How should I know? Let’s go and not worry about it. I’m sure we will know plenty soon enough.”
We walked into the hospital, and the elevator was opening as we hurried to get on. It was full, as usual, and we rose in silence. We reached the OR and got off in time to see a man in white scrubs pushing a gurney into the empty room beside the OR. No one had gone in that deserted room since the murder that had taken place in there by a doctor. He got strung out on drugs and became a maniac late at night while on duty for another operating room doctor. The talk was that he had taken a mallet and beat a patient to deal while doing surgery. He was hallucinating. It was not a thing that the hospital personnel discussed. It was so bazaar to think of, even now. I wondered why the body was taken in there, but I was not about to ask a soul. I looked at Kathy, and she looked at me, and we said nothing as we went to look at the assignment sheet which hung beside the lounge. I saw that Kathy was in with Dr. Kenalog and me today. Chloe was in with her dad and a name that neither of us knew. We headed in to get scrubbed up and ready.
We walked in just in time to see the doctor inject the patient with the antibiotic that is given to prevent infections in the body of the donor’s organs and the receiver. That usually indicated that at some point someone expected a disease of some type or knew of a disease and was bypassing the protocol of not taking any infected tissue. Neither Kathy nor I said a word. We were too deep into the group, now, and were sorely afraid. We took our places beside the table, and were told to prep the skin and the whole outside of the body. We looked at each other and wondered, as there had never been total organ retrieval before, and we weren’t sure of what to do.
“Okay, girls, the family has signed the proper paperwork for all of the organs, and we will start with getting the skin prepped and as sterile as possible. We will remove it first, and then move to all usable organs to include the hands and so forth, right down to the fingernails. And, oh, the head is to go as well. We will take the eyes last. Now, get the prep kit and the betadine heavy for the skin. Let’s go now. We have about one hour and a half for this case.”
We finished the case and took the eyes last. The doctor wanted the head left intact, so we were to place the head on ice. A separate container for that was set up and the label was not on it. I mentioned that to him, and he gave me a stern look. He then told Kathy to leave. The case was over. He didn’t answer me, and I knew to shut my mouth at that point. The head was placed in the container, and Dr. Kenalog handles it. He excused me to go, and I left. I was just in time to see the lights on in the closed-off room next door. I saw Kathy standing there looking at the room as well, and we both knew we needed to get out as fast as possible, but we knew we must take a quick peek in the door. The windows had been blocked with plywood. There was no way to see in there.
I knew that neither she nor I had any reason to poke our noses into this, but I knew we would.
“Kathy, you keep a look out, and I will see if anyone is in there. If not, then you and I will look around. Just watch for a second. Go back over to the doors and watch the doctors for me in the first two rooms. The other rooms are dark now, so hurry!”
She hurried to the doors where the retrieval procedures were going on, and I inched my way quickly to the covered door. I could hear what appeared to be someone talking. I eased the door open just far enough to see the two white-gowned figures standing over a body on the table. They kept talking in low voices so I knew they didn’t see me, nor hear me, but I knew that we couldn’t get in there as long as they were there. I watched until one of them turned to the side table and reached for an object in a sterile container. It was not very big, and I could not make out what it was. I continued to watch as the other gowned figure made what appeared to be a small incision in the head. Both figures leaned over the table and were working very diligently on the head of the corpse. The body appeared to be hooked to an IV with possibly normal saline or a similar fluid. I inched the door open a little more and peered in.
“Jenny!”
“What the— you scared the—“
“Jenny we’ve got to hurry. Both of the rooms are closing up their cases and the doctors will be out. Let’s get out of here now. Hurry let’s go!”
“Shh, be quiet—hush or you’ll get us killed right now!”
“Well come on or I’ll leave you right now. I am going. I am not staying.”
“Alright then, give me time to ease this door shut.”
“Well now. What do we have here? Peeping toms, are we?”
Turning around we stood face to face with Doctor Kenalog and Doctor Evans as both of them looked at us with eyes that pierced us like a stiletto.
“We heard noises and we thought that something was wrong, and--- and-- this room
is closed and we just---just--- we are leaving now, sir.”
“I think you girls better get on about your business and go home before you make
things impossible for us all—if you know what I mean! Now I suggest that you ladies keep your noses to yourself from now on.”
“Yes sir, Doctor, we’ll head home now-- and—and -- we didn’t even see anything in the room—well I mean there were two men and they were –uh they- we are going sir. We will see you tomorrow sir.”
“Kathy lets go.”
“I’m ready Jenny! I told you and you just----I’m mad that you just kept—“
“Shut up Kathy. I know what I did and we can’t just stand around here and let these strange things go on. We’ll play dumb, and act really dumb, from now on until we get this settled and the police are alerted. The problem is we don’t know who, in the police department, is and isn’t in on this thing.”
We walked to the nurses’ lounge and changed from our scrubs quickly, wanting to get out of there as fast as possible. We were scared for sure. The news had never said a thing about the death in the park or this man in the closed-off room. The room had been shut off so long now that no one even knew or if they did it was not talked of and now suddenly? My thoughts were scattered in all directions.
We rode down the elevator in silence, both in our own world of fear. Where would this abyss take us? I wondered if Kathy felt like I did and thought like I did. Would we be the next victims? I didn’t know what to do now. Danger had taken its seat beside us both…
Copyright © August 2006 by Sandra Lee
Hoynacki.
__
Roses for Her Baby
By
Sandra Lee Hoynacki
Copyright © 2006 Sandra Lee Hoynacki
It
was a frigid day; the clouds had smothered the very essence of her being. She
felt as if the shadows were being plucked from the dingy corners and woven in
her head as sheets of dread, all mocking and calling his name. The day hadn’t
been a good one, and the loss had really sent her crashing. She had known him
all her life. She had loved him, the all of it.
Why
had he not called her, or at least left her a note? She felt the icy chills run
down her spine as each bolt of electricity danced on the wires of her soul, as
though performing the latest dance craze. The suffering she had felt the last
month had been unbearable and seemed to puddle at her feet.
What
would tomorrow bring? What did she care? Nothing seemed to matter anymore. It
had been a long time since she felt this way and she didn’t like it. She got
dressed in her black dress and put a black hat on. She took one look in the
mirror and walked out into a blustery day. The snow was piled high on the
sidewalk reminding her of mounds of cotton, which now felt smothering to her. She
carefully climbed in the car and drove the fifty miles. The radio hummed a sad
tune to the mocking of her feelings. She parked her car and reached in the back
seat to gather them up tenderly in her arms. She opened the door and carried
them to the site where she would sing her song one more time. She could hear
him whisper, “Joanna, sing for me my pretty one.” She lowered herself down in
the snow and sang as she had never sung before, while placing the roses on the
cold stone. She gently brushed away the tears from her cheeks and touched the
moistness of them to his headstone. “Here, my baby, are your roses. Soon you
will hand me the note.”
Struggling
to stand on her feet, the breeze rustled in the trees just as she stood up and
the snow began to fall harder. She made her way back to the car and turned the
motor on. She sat there ever so quietly as the radio played the old song “I
Will Always Love You.” With her head resting on the car’s headrest and paper
and pen in her hand, she went to sleep…and the fumes no longer bothered her.
She had taken her last bouquet of roses to her baby.
Copyright © 2006 Sandra Lee Hoynacki.
__
October’s Bright Blue
Weather
By
Sandra Lee Hoynacki
Copyright © 2006 Sandra Lee Hoynacki
Oh
the sun, the sky and days of June
Fields
of flowers that wave together
Ye
rival not the smiling moon
Of
October’s bright blue weather
When
gentians roll their fringes tight
To
save them for the morning
And
chestnuts fall from satin burrs
Without
a sound or warning
When
on the ground red apples lie
In
piles like jewels shining
And
redder still on storm walls high
The
leaves of woodbine twining
When
all the lovely wayside things
With
white winged seeds are sowing
The
fertile earth in pregnancy brings
Yon
hidden life still growing
When
springs run low amid the rocks
The
idle garden waning
The
bright green leaves will bow in shock
From
winter’s cold refraining
Oh
sun and skies, and flowers of June
Bestow
of your boast together
Forget
not her August moon
And
October’s bright blue weather
__
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The
author, Sandra Lee Hoynacki, lives in “the hurricane state” with her second
husband, who, along with her four grown children and two grandchildren, is her
very life! She is a retired nurse, who retired from the nursing profession to
take care of her elderly mother, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease but still
finds the time to write. Because as she has said: “I love writing, and hope to
write for many years to come!” This very
busy published author also attended The Institute of Children’s Literature
at night and is a graduate. To read more of Sandra’s poetry, please visit her
web site at www.PoetryPoem.com/poetic2050,
where she recently won twice for Best
Poet for her poems titled “Dedicated
to My Mother This Day” and “The
Proposal.” And in our July 10th, 2006 ezine she won Best
Poem of the Month for her poem “The City Slickers.” Sandra can also be reached via email at sandylh@cox.net.
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A Gathering of Love
By Sharlett F. Hunt
Copyright © June 18, 2006
Sharlett F. Hunt
Dysfunctional doesn't seem to come close to describing my biological family. If we were a T.V. sitcom, I am sure it would go off the charts.
Although there has been a lot of sadness and heartache in our family, most of it is always carefully hidden on holidays. It is Father's Day today and a day to honor and respect a man who has lived eighty nine years. He has been “Dad” to many who were born his children and to those who were not, makes no difference to him. He loves us all anyway.
It all started the day before when my older sister, Barbara, called and asked if I wanted to go to my dad's for a Father's Day cookout. She and I had been on the outs, again, and had just started really speaking to each other. I had no knowledge of this cookout beforehand and had my own plan to just go down and visit him, but I agreed that it would be nice to go with her.
I called my dad who was busy preparing for his big day. He had cleaned his house and gone to the grocery store and bought hamburger, hot dogs and chicken wings, which he intended to grill with no help from us. Keeping in mind his age, I laughed, knowing he could do just about anything he wanted to. He doesn't even own a rocking chair and thinks he is 49, not 89.
If God created a more special man, I never met him. Though my dad has only been in my life for the past 25 years or so; a lot more than when I was younger, he has definitely been a true father to me. He even managed to love me when I didn't love myself. I lived with him during some troubling times in my early forties and put him through sheer Hell, but he bounced back and never said he didn't love me.
Daddy lives in
South Florida about an hour from my sister
My brother Nelson and his wife were next to come up. He has had so many health problems lately and I am told he is getting worse. I hide the tears for a young man who was at one time a football star quarterback, now a sixty four year old semi-invalid. He is blind and has had several strokes. I know this hurts my dad as this is his oldest son.
Next is Becky, a sister who is three years younger than me. She and I were very close as children, then we were separated when I was twelve and she and my two younger half sisters went on to be adopted by others but we are still their family. She and I had not spoken for years due to some crazy misunderstanding we had. She brought along one of her adopted daughters and while talking to Becky, the years just simply faded into nothingness and we were the same old sisters we always were.
Then came Beverly, whom I talk to frequently. She is the youngest of the sisters. She has turned into such a doll, with three grown daughters and one little girl that she adopted in tow. She was my baby when we were children, the one I looked after mostly. She's still my baby and I smile as I think with pride that she is still a lot like me.
We have one more, Darlene, who is having some of the same problems I had to go through in order to learn to live again. She didn't come; maybe because some of us, like me, saw her the last time when she was a tiny baby with big blue eyes and coal black curls and it hurts too much to see her now.
As we all gathered our chairs around in a circle outside and talked, I got a feeling of love like none I’ve had in many years or maybe never. My dad, who is getting older, but oh so wise for thinking of having this get together on his day.
At the end of this special day, I say goodbye to all but it was to each and every one that I added an “I love you” attached with my goodbyes. I know this will not be the end but the beginning of newfound relationships for this dysfunctional family.
Copyright © June 18, 2006 Sharlett F. Hunt.
__
Cat Lover
By Sharlett F. Hunt
Copyright © June 18, 2006
Sharlett F. Hunt
I have never been a cat lover. I had a little kitten just once when I was about eight years old. I remember that it was so black and shiny. It’s coat so smooth and soft to the touch. When I would hold and pet the little bundle, it would purr so and I felt the feeling of love. My foster mom who was allergic to cats took it away and I never saw it again. After that I was never really interested in the furry little creatures.
Though I have always loved all animals, a cat was something I never really thought I wanted as a pet. I admired cats belonging to my friends as they interrupted our conversation by jumping up right into my lap, wanting to join in and get some attention. This usually worked as the owner would have to come over and remove it from my lap, and give it some consoling words so obviously adoring of the varmint. Not for me.
One day a couple of years ago, a friend brought me a little kitten and left it. We had talked about her cat having kittens, but I had never quite decided if I actually wanted one. But here it was. I had no choice but to care for it.
Precious was a little Hemingway, tortoise colored cat, about three weeks old when I got her. She was so tiny and helpless, I thought.
The first thing I had to do of course was decide was I giving her a bath or not? I noticed she had fleas so that was a problem I would solve. I didn’t know that it is not easy to give a cat a bath!
I ran a small amount of lukewarm water in the tub and the little thing was curious. I gently sat her down in the water and she was fine until I tried to rinse the soap off. She became a tiny little tiger; all claws and teeth! I looked like I had been in a war zone for weeks!
I noticed right away that my home was no longer mine; I just lived here with apparently no great use except to open cat food cans and the door. It completely became Queen Precious’s domain.
Cats and doors. What is it with cats and a door being shut? Precious either wants in or out often. If a door is closed, she thinks it should be open. And since I don’t believe in de clawing her, she is a hunter, I let her do what comes naturally. She’s killed many snakes and rats here where we live. She is so gentle and pretty, it’s hard to imagine that her instinct is to kill. I guess I can see why some people have a fear of cats. Many are allergic, I guess, and fear being scratched.
I knew I was hooked when I started seeking out the pet section in any store I entered. I bought different collars for her. That one didn’t look good on her so I would buy another. They have so many cute cat toys, some with catnip so I usually would get a few of those each time I went shopping. I want to buy her some clothes too, but I think she might protest.
I started experimenting with cat food. I wanted her to eat healthy. So I bought cat food with vitamins. It would have to be thrown out because she wouldn’t eat it, the remainder to be given to a friend’s cat who, I might add, wasn’t as finicky.
My dad has cats and suggested I try Meow Mix dry food. Precious liked it and has eaten it ever since, though sometimes I think she might be bored and want to try some fancy pouches. She used to eat the Meow Mix pouches but, one day, took a dislike to them and that was that. Cats are like women with changing their minds.
I can’t say enough about my cat! She is brilliant! She walks me to the mailbox at the end of the road and follows me most everywhere, like the faithful, loyal friend she is. She understands some words and will “sit” when she feels like it.
Don’t underestimate the common cat. They are just one little bundle of love! I know this little creature has taught me lessons about love that I really needed to learn. Like how to love unconditionally. If you have ever smelled a full litter box, I am sure you know what I mean.
Copyright © 2006 Sharlett
F. Hunt.
__
Perfection
By Sharlett F. Hunt
Copyright © June 18, 2006
Sharlett F. Hunt
Nobody told me I was perfect
If so I can’t imagine why
Maybe I missed it in translation
Or perhaps it was lost in a sigh
I strive to be an example
As humans are always allowed
Sometimes it seems so impersonal
I always get lost in a crowd
Useless, oh no, I must object
When feelings like this may arise
Emotions run rampant, I need a hug
With so many tears in my eyes
I can’t seem to do the impossible
In this I am perfectly sure
Just hoping one day for an answer
Knowing love just might be the cure
So what is perfection, really?
Is it simply in my eyes alone?
Or deep in the eyes of the beholder
Whose love for another has grown?
__
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Sharlett F. Hunt, is a Vietnam Veteran who lives in
sunny
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
The Newlyweds
By Don Crawford
Copyright © 2006 Don
Crawford
Grover Blatts was on his lunch hour. He had crossed over the archway
and quickly downed a Gyro sandwich at the New Greek Café. He strolled back
across the arch and was standing in the shade outside the Pima County
Courthouse where he worked. Grover Blatts was a marriage and divorce counselor.
He had been on the job now for over seven years and had counseled perhaps eight
thousand couples. Couples from every station and walk of life, including
ex-priests, Chinese immigrants new in the United States, FBI agents and Police
and
Sheriff’s Deputies, authoritarian judges, recalcitrant lovers, cheating
spouses, old widows and widowers from the local Community Center and even the
hard of hearing, who had to have an interpreter in the room.
He had just lit his second cigarette since lunch and had a foot resting atop
one of the wide, concrete blocks at the top of the stairway when he heard the shouting
and yelling coming from a group emerging out the Courthouse door. It was a
wedding couple and their entourage. The handsome, youthful groom was dressed in
a cowboy suit with shiny alligator boots and a big white cowboy hat, which he
was waving over his head like he was riding a steer at a Rodeo. She was wearing
a pale purple chiffon outfit with a little lacy hat atop her short hair. She
had a pretty face but Grover thought she was wearing too much red lipstick.
Both their faces were glowing in the shaded sunlight. The people surrounding
them were throwing rice and yelping, “Now ya got her man, ya know what to do!” shouted
a crew cut youngster no more than sixteen, probably a brother to one of the
newly weds. The air currents in that particular area could be strong at
times and a strong burst of warm air lifted the bride’s short skirt, revealing
the usual garter riding high on her thigh. Leaning against her husband, she quickly
pulled it off and threw it up over her head, giggling all the while. A gangly
young man in a dark suit reached up and grabbed it in mid air. The groom hugged
her closer to him as if he was afraid the currents would blow her away.
It was just an impulse, he guessed. He had no other way of explaining it. But
just as the couple stopped to kiss at Grover’s elbow, he quickly pulled out of
his shirt pocket one of his business cards and shoved it in the face of the
groom. The groom, ending the kiss, turned his cheek in Grover’s direction, took
the card and glanced at it.
“What the, hey, man, we just got married. What is this?” His face grew hard and
he frowned at Grover. “What are you trying to do, ruin our marriage before it
has even begun?”
“Just for your future use, young man, that’s all. One day you may need my
services. I just thought I would give you a head’s up so you would know where
to come when it happens.”
“Look, you, I see you are a counselor but what makes you think our marriage will ever be in need of your services? Man, we love each other!” He tried to laugh now and he hugged his wife closer to him. He wanted to regain the festive mood which was momentarily disrupted by Grover’s offer. The bride glared at Grover, having read the card in her new husband’s hand. “You may think you know about soured marriages but what do you really know about true love? The types of people you probably see are those who have failed in their love. That will never happen to us. Can’t you see how happy we are, or are you so jaded you can’t see true happiness when it’s standing right next to you?” she gloated, pleased with her remarks, and pressed against her husband. “Come on honey, let’s get away from this doomsday soothsayer!”
~~~
“Yes, this is Grover Blatts” he said, picking up the telephone on his large mahogany desk, “how may I be of service?”
“You probably don’t remember us, it has been over six months ago,”
the sobbing female voice said, “but we’re the couple you gave the card to on
the steps outside the Courthouse the day we were married? We were wondering if
we could come see you. You see, we
are having some problems and probably could . . .”
__
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Don Crawford, received his Masters Degree from the
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Looking Out My Window
By Maria T. Barone
Copyright © 2006 Maria T. Barone
As I look out my window with a tear in my eye
My head moves upward, staring right at the sky
It is so dark; there are no stars in sight,
Not even a glimmer of some sort of light.
As I look out my window with a tear in my eye
I wonder why I can’t seem to cry
I feel all my pain so deep down inside
It’s a terrible feeling I tell you no lie.
As I look out my window with thoughts in my head,
I say to myself, “I am not yet dead”
The pain that I feel so deep down inside
Is a sign that I feel, which means I’m alive!
Now I look out my window
With no tear in my eye
I move my head upward straight to the sky
There is neither more darkness nor grey up above
I see a bright light with stars full of love.
__
Hand Me Down
By Maria T. Barone
Copyright © 1978 Maria T.
Barone
Sometimes I feel like an old hand me down
I’ve been with lots of men and really hit
the town
When will I be the lucky one to fall into
someone’s arms?
And be the woman with all his charms
Lord, oh Lord, my heart is one of gold,
Why do they see me as self-centered and so bold?
All I want is to make a good wife,
And fulfill this void within my life.
__
Innocent Child
By Maria T. Barone
Copyright © 2006 Maria T. Barone
I am only a child as innocent as can be,
Why I ask myself did this happen to me.
A man I trusted, respected and all,
Yet I didn’t want to go but he still calls.
He came toward me and took my little hand
Don’t be afraid he is such a nice man
He weighs me to see how big I did get,
I sense something wrong like I was his pet
He touched me in all the wrong places I
knew
I felt so uncomfortable, my face turned red
& blue
I tried to get away from him, but nothing
worked
When he was finished, I felt like a jerk
This has been going on for so many years,
I am so disgusted I just shed more tears.
__
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Maria T. Barone, is a Eucharist Minister for the Roman
Catholic Church and owner of Lexi’s Cleaning & Personal Care Agency. She
has been writing poetry since she was ten years old; writing “Hand Me Down” when she was twenty years
old, the others most recently. Maria can be reached via email at LEXIVAL2@aol.com or by phoning “Lexi’s Cleaning & Personal Care
Agency” at 347-387-6979.
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Run Your Business From Home?
Here’s 10 Ways to Be More Productive
By
Copyright © 2006 Alexandria K. Brown, a.k.a.“The
E-zine Queen”
Ah,
working at home sweet home… Visions of leisurely days, conference calls in
comfy sweatpants, increased productivity with fewer interruptions. But the
distinctions between work life and home life soon blur. You really should throw
some laundry in the wash before you write that proposal. You have an hour
before a meeting: Should you balance
your books or clean the kitchen? And remember to call that client back right
after you empty the cat box.
Welcome
to the real world of the home office:
unforeseen distractions, a lack of structured time, and sometimes a
perceived loss of identity. But don’t give up the dream just yet! By putting into
place a few simple ideas, you can reap more of the rewards of staying
home-bound. Based on my experiences and those of my clients, here are 10 simple
ways to help you stay on track.
1. Separate Your Space.
Keep
a separate, distinct work area in your home. Very important. (This is
especially difficult if you’re living and working in a shoebox apartment, like
I was when I started my business in
2. Structure Your Time.
As
your business and personal time mesh, it’s more important than ever to
structure your day. For example, if you regularly take a walk or go to the gym,
try to do it every day at the same time. Value that personal appointment with
yourself – even when you’re very busy. It will actually help you keep your
business on track! I like to get up early and work until 1 pm, I take a few
hours off to enjoy lunch and go to the gym or jog on the beach. Then I’m back at
my desk at 5:00 until who knows when!
3. Outsource All You Can.
When
I began my business, I made the mistake of doing all my own administrative
work. Whenever you start thinking, “Well I can just do that myself,” STOP.
Streamline your business, making everything as automatic as possible. Use
outside services to stay focused on your *real work.* Get accounts with an
overnight delivery service, messenger service, errand service, bookkeeper, etc.
Save your time and energy for your brilliant ideas! (Learn more about hiring a
virtual assistant [VA] at www.ezinequeen.com/assistanttele.htm)
4. Use Technology to Your Advantage.
In-person
meetings are very valuable when appropriate, but schedule them sparingly. Try
to do most of your business via phone, fax, and e-mail using the best equipment
you can afford. For most of us, when we’re out of the office, we’re not
bringing in the bacon! So it’s important that you can communicate flawlessly
from where you are. PLEASE do us all a favor and get separate lines/services
for your phone, fax, and Internet! No
one likes getting a busy signal or having to call first before faxing.
5. Group Your Errands.
Try
to group your meetings and errands together to minimize your out-of-office
time. Make a list in the morning of all the outside tasks you need done for the
day, and attempt to complete them in one fell swoop. Even better, do what I
used to do and designate just one day a week as your “blitz” day for errands and
meetings. Plus, then you only need to get dressed up one day a week! : )
(Nowadays I use an errand service to run around for me.)
6. Stay Focused.
Make
your workspace off-limits to other roommates or family members when you’re
working. For you animal lovers, this may go for pets as well. (My cat Francine
gets extremely jealous when I’m not giving her complete attention!) Keep all personal paperwork such as bills,
magazines, and to-do lists out of sight, so they won’t distract you from your
work projects.
7. Beware of Yappers.
Many
of your friends and family will be immediately delighted when they learn that
you’re now home-officing. They picture you lounging on the couch, eating potato
chips, and waiting for their calls. When they call you simply to chat, politely
remind them that you’re working, and ask them if you can call them back after
your day is over. It may take them a while, but they’ll eventually get the
idea.
8. Work With Your Moods.
Keep
track of your moods and productivity compared with the time of day. For
example, if you find you’re more alert in the morning, use this time to make
important calls and do your creative work. Take advantage of your natural
cycles. If you feel better after an afternoon nap, go for it! (I’m a BIG
proponent of the catnap. In fact, I may start a support group.)
9. Suit Yourself.
To
bring out your best work, make your environment perfect for YOU. How do you
work best? With plenty of breaks, or with no interruptions? In silence, or with
some light music in the background? On a cushy couch and coffee table, or at a
business desk in an ergonomic chair? (My friends thought I was nuts when I
spent $750 on my Herman Miller Aeron chair, but they quickly understood why I
did once they sat in it! It will last forever and my spine thanks me every
day.)
10. Break for People.
Feeling
sluggish, lonely, or moody? Arrange for at least one social break during the
week. Schedule breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even just coffee with a client,
vendor, or friend. Join a business networking group, or sign-up for social
activities such as dance class or recreational sports league. Don’t go into
hermit mode – it can be self-destructive!
Copyright © 2006 Alexandria K. Brown.
__
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The
author, Alexandria K. Brown, a.k.a. “The
E-zine Queen,” publishes the award-winning ‘Straight Shooter Marketing’ weekly
ezine with 20,000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump-start your marketing,
make more money and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips
now at www.EzineQueen.com
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ARTICLES
Enjoy Trick-Or-Treating With These 5 Easy
To Remember Halloween Safety Tips
By Nicola Kennedy
Copyright © 2006 Nicola
Kennedy
When it comes to Halloween, most kids think of the fun, the candy and the dressing up. What they don’t think about is the dark and the danger that can be a part of Halloween night. Here are some common sense safety tips to keep you and your children safe this coming Halloween:
Always carry a flashlight! – This is especially important if you are going trick-or-treating in an area without streetlights. Uneven pavement along the side of the road, holes in the turf along the edge of the street, and any kind of debris in your walking path can cause a serious fall. Not only will a flashlight help you find your way, but it will alert drivers of your location like a beacon.
Wear reflective tape! – It may not be the most stylish, but reflective tape is one of the best and easiest ways to make you noticeable to drivers. You can get it in several different colors, so you can blend it in with your clothing or costume as best you can. You can place it around the entire outline of your trick-or-treat bag, as well, for that extra added visibility.
Make sure to stay in a group! – Certainly don’t send your children out by themselves, but also plan on going in a group with other parents and their kids. The larger the group, the more unlikely it will be that you find yourself and your kids in trouble.
Visit homes of people you know! – Although this may mean a trip in the car instead of walking this Halloween, it is safer to stick with those people you know and trust when accepting candy. Most people are friendly and trustworthy, but if you don’t know them you don’t know that for sure. It is best to know, especially if your kids will be eating what is given to them.
Look for organized gatherings – When you want to keep your kids safe and within a confined area, look for organized gatherings celebrating Halloween instead of going out. You won’t have to worry about cars, you won’t have to worry about bullies, and you really won’t have to worry about the candy and goodies your child is getting.
These are just a few of the ways you can keep your children safe this Halloween. Contact your local police department or go on safety websites for a more complete list that you and your children can follow.
Copyright © 2006 Nicola
Kennedy.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Nicola Kennedy, is a nationally known freelance writer and Owner of Best-Halloween.com who always enjoys Halloween parties with her family. Visit her Halloween website for tips and information about kid’s Halloween costume ideas at http://Childrens-Halloween-Costumes.Best-Halloween.com
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Home Safety and Home Security Tips
For Homeowners at Halloween
By Karen Fritscher-Porter
Copyright © 2006 Karen Fritscher-Porter
Safety in the home at Halloween calls for some special care since holidays often present atypical circumstances to year-round living. Here are several home safety and home security tips for you to heed at home at Halloween. Share these Halloween safety tips with your children too.
Clear debris and items like garden hoses from your yard, driveway and walkway to create a clear, safe walking path to your door. You don't want anyone to accidentally injure himself (or sue you later).
Secure loose items you want to keep like bikes. While you should secure these anyway year-round, you wouldn't want to lose these items to theft on Halloween. And you wouldn't want someone to come back later to collect these items because they notice you don't secure them.
Test your outside porch lights to make sure they work. Add lighting as necessary to create a path for trick or treaters to see clearly when walking to your door. A well-lit clear path also should keep these visitors from tripping and trudging through your flower beds and other garden areas. Plus a working outside light helps you to see who is at your door.
If you decorate with candles, place them in spots in your home or outside where pets and people won't brush against them. You don't want pets, people or your home to catch on fire.
If you have a skittish dog or cat, put him in another room with a television on low to keep him from getting spooked every time your doorbell rings. Also, you don't want the dog snapping at or scaring trick-or-treaters (no matter how well-trained or nice YOU think your pet is). And cats have been known to hiss and scratch when frightened by strangers. So don't allow your pets to answer the door with you. That includes your pet birds, which not only scare non-bird lovers but could fly the coop due to all the chaos it's not used to being around.
Don't feel you have to answer the door after the typical trick-or-treater rush is over. Many people open their doors freely on Halloween because they expect to see trick or treaters. Once the rush dies down, you may want to turn off your outside light to indicate you're done answering the door for the night.
Do not allow any child or adult to come into your home. Hand treats out with the door propped open or on your porch. If an adult or child says they'd like to come inside to use your phone for an emergency, do not allow these strangers to enter your home. If you feel its necessary you can offer to make a phone call to the number they give you while they wait outside on your doorstep. Lock your door when you leave them there to enter another portion of your home. If someone asks to use your bathroom, give them directions to the nearest public restroom.
You do not want strangers following you into your home for any reason---no matter how nice, big, little, desperate or stressed they seem. Likewise, the average person who doesn't know you does not want to come into your home anyway since you are a stranger to him too. So if a stranger is asking for access to your home, be wary and do not accommodate them. If they are trick-or-treaters from the neighborhood (as they should be technically), they can return to their own home for these needs.
Practice these home and Halloween safety tips every year and teach them to your children. Home security is an important topic year-round, but holidays present special holiday safety circumstances.
Copyright © 2006 Karen
Fritscher-Porter.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Karen Fritscher-Porter, is a nationally known freelance writer who also publishes http://www.easy-home-security.com --- an informational website where you can read more about holiday safety and home safety tips. Plus learn about where to buy products that aid safety in the home!
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The Ten-Minute Attitude Adjuster
By Jenna Glatzer
Copyright © 2006 Jenna
Glatzer
You make breakfast. You get the kids ready. You hop in a shower. You take them to school. You go grocery shopping. You run sixteen errands before they come home, at which time you take them to soccer practice, dance class, and a friend’s birthday party. You make dinner, and clean the house afterward. You check their homework and tuck them in bed. And by the time you’re done with all this, pretty much all you want to do is to crawl into bed and sleep for the next twelve hours, but you can’t, because tomorrow morning you have to do it all again! Sound about right?
YOU’RE ON HYPERDRIVE
The problem with being a person-who-does-it-all is that there’s such little time to stop and assess whether you’re actually doing anything enjoyable for yourself. Yes, just for yourself. Not for your spouse, your kids, your in-laws, or the neighbors. You probably spend the little down-time you have just vegging out with the TV, a book, or in a bath, but none of those things are creatively fulfilling.
You probably have half a dozen goals that you’ve put off for “someday,” like writing that novel you just know you could write, or getting back to painting again. But when you look at them as a whole, they just sound like big, monstrous undertakings that you couldn’t possibly have time to complete. And that leaves you feeling stretched out, unsatisfied, and maybe even a little resentful of your family.
TEN MINUTES A DAY
That’s why, instead of deciding, “I’m going to write a novel today,” you have to instead decide, “I’m going to spend ten minutes today creating something and enjoying myself.” That’s all. No pressure, and no guilt needed, because it’s only ten minutes.
During those ten minutes, you get to be the captain of your ship and do whatever it is that will please you most at that very moment. You do not have to work toward any specific goal, nor do you need to write down a plan or a schedule. You might use those ten minutes toward any creative or business endeavor of your choosing, but it must be something you’re doing strictly for your own satisfaction. No baking brownies for the kids’ bake sale or straightening up your office. This is time to reflect on and create your own joy.
NO INTERRUPTIONS
It’s important that your family respect your ten-minute oasis. You may develop a special sign that it’s “creativity time” and there are to be no interruptions. Some people put a little sign on the doorknob, others set a timer to beep at the end, so their children will know when it’s okay to talk to them again. Writer Katy Terrega puts on headsets when she wants her children to know it’s mom’s special writing time. There’s nothing actually playing in the headsets, mind you, but that’s her little secret. The kids assume she can’t hear them, so they don’t talk to her while she’s wearing them.
MORE THAN JUST RELAXATION
Sure, writing a novel might be great, but maybe what you really need today is just to close yourself into the bathroom, slather moisturizer all over your body, give yourself a face mask, and just sit back and listen to that old CD you love. That’s fine, as long as it’s not every day.
If that’s how you’re using your ten minutes every day, then all you’re doing is relaxing, not creating your own satisfaction. Relaxing is important, too, of course, so do both! Ten minutes for relaxing, and ten minutes for creating. Come on, you’re worth at least 20 minutes a day.
HOW TO DECIDE
The concept of taking time for yourself may be so foreign that you’ve forgotten what kinds of things you enjoy. Your own happiness is so entwined with the happiness of your family that you start to think the things that they enjoy must be the things you enjoy too.
But think back to your own childhood and early adult years. What was it that you loved to do best? How about fingerpainting? No, I’m not kidding. Have yourself a little time warp and play with play-dough, make paper mache, or draw something with markers.
You might also: record yourself singing, learn how to sew, design your own web page, make yourself some jewelry with beads you bought at a craft store…
CREATING IS ADDICTIVE
As you start enjoying this creative time more and more, you may find that you’re ready to take another step. Instead of cleaning out the refrigerator today, go out and take a ceramics class, or visit the scrapbooking store and look through examples and find out how to get started.
As you become less harried and more satisfied with your own life, you may find that you’re an even better spouse and parent than you ever were before you started these “selfish” ten-minute breaks. Those who are creatively fulfilled have more to give to their families. You might even find that your self-esteem soars when you have “projects” of your very own to show off.
Take the time to embrace the creator within you, and see what a brighter outlook awaits you.
Copyright © 2006 Jenna
Glatzer.
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Five Magic Phrases: Tips for Negotiating Like a Pro
By Jenna Glatzer
Copyright © 2006 Jenna
Glatzer
Those who are new to freelancing are often too afraid to ask for more than a client offers. Thrilled to be making any money at all, new freelancers typically agree to whatever figure is proposed. I was no exception to this rule, but once I’d built up my credits, I realized clients weren’t about to offer me a raise if I continued to play the role of doormat.
Once a freelancer has some experience, the bottom line becomes more important. “Trivial issues” like prompt and appropriate payment start to matter when you depend on your home-business income to pay the bills.
Until you’ve tried negotiating, you may not realize how much you’ve been undercut. A client’s first offer is rarely the maximum amount he or she can actually afford to pay you; as is human nature, most will try to get good work at the lowest possible cost. Your job is to convince those clients that paying you a little extra for your piece will be worth it.
How?
The answer may be simpler than you ever imagined: you just have to ask. In over four years as a full-time writer, I’ve gotten exactly what I asked for in every case except one—and even in that case, I was able to get the editor to spring for a 10% increase. In other words, every single time I got up the nerve to negotiate, I wound up with a bigger paycheck.
Remember that everything within a contract is fair grounds for negotiation; your goal should be to negotiate the highest fee, payable quickly after you complete the work, and terms that stipulate extra payment if extra work is required. You can also strike barter deals for the advertisement for your business, discounts on the client’s products, etc.
It’s always slightly uncomfortable for a freelancer to ask for more than a client wishes to spend. But, with a few key phrases under your belt, you, too, can significantly increase your income.
The Magic Phrases
1. “That sounds a little low.”
A timeless classic. This follows a golden rule: keep it simple. No matter what figure is proposed, just state those five words and then shut your mouth. Since no one can stand uncomfortable silences, your tight lips will force the client to say something in response. Either he or she will make a new offer, ask you what you need, or tell you that’s the best they can do. If it’s the latter, employ one of the next phrases.
2. “To make it worth my time, I would need…”
This one lets you take control of the situation. If you’ve already figured out approximately how much time and effort this job will require, you should be able to determine how much you expect to be paid for it. Make sure that you’ve done some research and that your figure is in the realm of what that particular market typically pays. (Asking for a figure that’s 20% more than their average payment for a job of your scope is reasonable; asking for 200% more is not.) Don’t bother mincing your words; just state your figure and let the client decide whether or not to meet your demands.
3. “Considering the amount of (research, time, material) required, can we agree to…”
You can end this open-ended statement with a higher fee, less rights, or other “barters.” If a client has asked for a Work-For-Hire contract for a creative work, use this as a bartering chip. Mention that you can only agree to this type of contract if they’ll raise the fee; otherwise you’ll accept the fee for non-exclusive rights only. You may also barter for free advertising space, links to your website, etc.
4. “I’m expecting more for this work.”
Another simple statement that forces the ball back to the client’s proverbial court. Again, follow this one with silence, and allow the client to come up with a new figure. This statement introduces the possibility that you could decide to sell your work elsewhere if the client doesn’t meet your requirements.
5. “Can we work on that?”
For pop psychology fans, this one brings the client onto your “team.” By using the word “we,” you’ve asked for the client to partner with you in coming up with more acceptable terms. This question opens the door to a variety of improvements; you may choose to talk about fees, rights, deadlines, packaging extra services, etc.
Whichever phrases you use, keep in mind that your tone and professionalism will matter. You must convey the impression that you are self-confident and aware of the value of your work. And, with a few successful negotiations to your credit, you may be able to stop acting and start believing.
Copyright © 2006 Jenna
Glatzer.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Jenna Glatzer, is the Editor-in-Chief of AbsoluteWrite.com, a popular and free online magazine for writers. She is also the
bestselling author of “OUTWITTING
WRITER’S BLOCK AND OTHER PROBLEMS OF THE PEN,” which is recommended by “The
Writer” magazine and “Writer’s Digest Book Club,” and has received terrific
reviews from writers. Check it out, along with Jenna’s other books, at http://www.absolutewrite.com/jenna/books.htm
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When Is the Best Time to Post Your Items on eAuctions?
By Claude Bourgoin
Copyright © 2006Claude
Bourgoin
When marketing your items on any online auction, this requires you to take several factors into consideration. To ensure success of your auction, the key is to maximize the amount of bidders available at closing time. Most of the bidding on any auction will occur in the first 24 hours and on the last day with the bulk of the serious bidding happening within the last 5 minutes!
When listing your item, keep in mind who your target buyer is and when most of them are online. A successful auction occurs when two or more buyers fight over your item, and this price war may not occur at 3:00 in the morning! So when listing your item, it’s best to keep in mind who your target buyer is, where they are located, and when are most of them online looking for what you’re offering them.
Sales of completed items are great for clues. Each type of item you plan to list should reveal definite patterns from past sales. For example, hardware and tools may get more male bidders who are looking on Saturday morning or afternoon, and Yugioh cards may get more attention from kids’ right after school, etc.
Also, you may not want to have items close on Thanksgiving afternoon when most of the country is sitting down to a great meal – or in the evening on the day of a Presidential election. Contrary to this logic, Christmas morning may be a good time to have items close because many people don’t have family with whom to share their day or they are not of a Christian faith. Those people would see this as a great time to sneak in a few bids. Other people may go shopping on Christmas afternoon to try to buy what they didn’t receive for a gift!
Don’t conflict with major events that may affect your target market online presence. For example, during a NASCAR televised race is not a good time to end if you’re selling NASCAR paraphernalia since your potential buyers most likely won’t be online, so your auction may not be successful at this time. Now say you listed your auction item to end one hour before or one hour after the televised race; what would have been an unsuccessful auction could turn out to be a winning one.
There are also many other factors to consider. The seasonality of certain products will affect the outcome of your auction. Say you’re selling bicycle equipment and accessories in the winter or ski equipment in the summer, you’re not going to enjoy the success you would have had you taken into consideration the seasonality of these items. Note that it is best to post seasonal items just before their respective season begins, since that is when you will find the greatest amount of motivated bidders available.
So when marketing your item, take into consideration your timing and more importantly put yourself in your potential buyer’s shoes. If you do this effectively, then you will always enjoy a more positive experience and will enjoy the selling process much more, not to mention you may make more money from your sales!
Copyright © 2006 Claude
Bourgoin.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Claude Bourgoin, is a contributing published Author for Mightybids.com. He can be reached at auction tips for more information on selling your items on eAuctions.
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Site Promotion Tools: The Press Release
By Scott Lindsay
Copyright © 2006 Scott
Lindsay
One of the most powerful site promotion tools is the press release. A quality press release submitted to the right news distribution portal will definitely bring important revenue if its content is of interest, qualitative and actual (yes, that’s what press releases are for!).
News distribution portals and services are used by thousands of journalists all around the world. If your press release has it all, you’ll probably see it published in thousands of other locations: online or offline. All in all: a good press release will attract immediate attention to your business and website. Unlike articles, that bring you visitors a long time after their first release, press releases have a shorter life. That’s why it is so important to write them well.
A well-written online press release has another important advantage: it will increase the number of one way links to your website, thus your search engine ranking. So, although the traffic boost will not last long, you gain by having your press release archived in an online searchable database.
Write Well
Editors will not just publish anything. Your press release needs to respect a few important guidelines.
1. The layout is very important. Your first paragraph should always answer the following five questions: “who?”, “what?”, “when?”, “where?”, “why?”. Limit your press release to one or two pages and always end your press release with a conclusion.
2. Always write the content from the view of the public. Highlight customer benefits, not your own. Know your audience and “think” like your audience.
3. Always use proper grammar and spelling. Avoid other silly mistakes such as wrong date, misspelled words, etc.
4. Last but not least, always sign your press release and provide contact information. There is no such thing as an anonymous press release.
Your press release has to be newsworthy. What you might consider great may have little or no importance for your readers. A press release is not a sales brochure, it’s an announcement. It publicizes an event, a new, extraordinary product or a service. It does not repeat the contents of your website and it does not tell stories that have been told before.
Submit Well
Once you have a quality press release you need a quality submission service to reach a broad audience. You need to know that you’ll get what you are paying for. PR Newswire is great, reliable and has great coverage. Their fees are fair and accessible. Since this is not an article advertising PR Newswire, I’ll include other options too: Eworldwire, PR Web, Submit Express and so on. Just type “press release submission” in any search engine and you’ll find plenty of press release submission services, some of them even free.
You should really take care how you write your press release, especially when you pay for submission. For best results, I suggest you hire a professional writer. Note that the press submission services listed above do provide press release writing services also. But: don’t pay for a press release writing service UNLESS your press release is newsworthy for your potential clients.
Copyright © 2006 Scott
Lindsay.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Scott Lindsay, is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects. HighPowerSites is the easiest do-it-yourself website builder on the web. No programming or design skills required. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes with HighPowerSites.com at http://www.highpowersites.com
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How to Advertise Your Small Business
By Michele Graham
Copyright © 2006 Michele
Graham
Once you are a small business owner, you will need to determine the best way to advertise your business to get your name out in the world and let everyone know you are open for business.
There are quite a few free advertising methods. Superpages.com allows you to add your listing at no charge, plus you can add as much information as you want to promote your business.
Building even a small, one page website can help promote your business. There are numerous search engines that you can add your URL to once your website is complete, which will get your name out into the world. Website hosters can help you with your site, offering pre-made templates to walk you through your creation. Http://www.godaddy.com is one of the easiest and least expensive to use.
If you are trying to attract local business, mail outs such as post cards can actually be relatively inexpensive and effective. You can go to http://www.vistaprint.com and order as few as 50 postcards or brochures at an extremely affordable price. Mail outs should go out at least once a month for 3-6 months to the same potential customers. Using a company such as http://www.vistaprint.com allows you to change your information each month to make your ad more interesting and can actually get your customers looking forward to each new ad.
Tri-fold brochures are another way to get all of your information and business description to your potential customers. Again, these are easy to design and using the same company as described previously, affordable.
There are numerous free classifieds on the internet that can help promote your business as well. Watch for the ones that charge anything though! Once they have your credit card information, it is next to impossible to stop the debits to your card unless you cancel the card. I’ve been trying to cancel http://www.ineedhits.com for months with no luck!
Once you have established a customer base, you may think about ordering give-aways from places like http://www.bigpromotions.net. Mugs, calendars and post-notes are a way to keep your business name around in your customer’s office or place of business. Prices for give-aways can range from 25 cents to $3.00, depending on your budget.
Whatever method you decide on to use, you need to advertise in some manner to get your small business up and running. Experiment and see what works for you.
Copyright © 2006 Michele
Graham.
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Time Management in Daily Living
By Michele Graham
Copyright © 2006 Michele
Graham
In today’s world, we all are rushing from project to project with little time left in the day for much more than collapsing at the end of the day. The job doesn’t matter. Whether you are a homemaker or an executive, makes no difference. We all have a daily agenda that has challenges and deadlines that must be met.
Time management is essential to getting through the day and accomplishing our goals. If you are a homemaker and/or stay-at-home mom, you must manage your time in order to get everything accomplished for your family. Your challenge to get your family off to their own places, grocery shopping, trips to the dry cleaners, house keeping, laundry, meal preparation, and time for yourself, probably rounds out your day.
As an executive, you may have meetings, conference calls, paper work and employee management. Sometimes your day may extend into the evening hours, taking away time from your family. Managing your daily time is most important in your life to create a balance between work and play. Whether you are male or female, the grind of your job sometimes can take its toll on your family life.
Whatever you do in your day to day operations, you need to create an even balance. You may be of the persona that has to make lists or you may be the type of person that keeps up with all of your projects in your head. Whichever method describes you, you need to prioritize. Now I realize that not all of us can always be on time or accomplish every project planned in our day, but the challenge is there to do it!
If your job requires you to contact new clients on a daily basis, set aside a time everyday to do just that. Whether it is for an hour or two hours, pick the best time of the day to do this, for instance, between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm, remain undisturbed to contact your new prospects. Use your earlier hours to organize and complete any projects left over from the previous day. Use your afternoons to work on existing projects. Take at least thirty minutes during your day for a break, to meditate, close your eyes and relax to regenerate your energy.
As a homemaker, your rigid schedule is actually harder to maintain than the outside executive. Your schedule actually revolves around everyone else’s schedule. You are expected not only to perform your daily duties but you are also expected to be available “on call” by your family as well. Try planning your projects by the week instead of on a daily basis to ensure that you get everything accomplished including saving time for yourself. Your personal time may include lunch with a friend or an hour working out, or a tennis or painting lesson. Whatever you enjoy for yourself needs to be added into your agenda.
Time management is different for all of us, but essential to our overall well being. Plan your own time management program and just remember top make time for yourself as well.
Copyright © 2006 Michele
Graham.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Michele Graham, is CEO and owner of Professional Healthcare Management. She has 41 years experience in the healthcare industry and writes about business issues in all businesses, along with the healthcare field as well.
Michele can be reached at: http://www.phmnetwork.com, http://www.healthcarenewsonline.com and http://phmnetwork.blogspot.com
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How to Have Pregnancy without the Pounds
By Jennifer McCleary
Copyright © 2006 Jennifer
McCleary
It has finally happened! You’re pregnant. You and your husband are so excited to be welcoming a new addition to your family. You are overjoyed, glowing, excited, fat, unattractive, and uncomfortable. Wait a minute; did I say fat, unattractive, and uncomfortable?
The sad truth is that many pregnant women do feel this way. People will tell you that pregnancy makes you feel beautiful and that there is nothing more becoming than a woman with child. But quite frankly, that might not be the way you are feeling! You are hot, having ridiculous cravings, your nauseous, your equilibrium is out of whack, and you’re carrying twenty extra pounds all in your stomach.
All of a sudden, an area that you have been trying to make flat for your entire life is as round as a basketball and there is nothing you can do about it, or is there? Is it possible to feel fit and attractive during your pregnancy? The answer is yes! You can have pregnancy without pounds. Follow these tips and you will survive pregnancy and even feel like a hot mama while doing it!
First of all, don’t use pregnancy as an excuse to overeat. Many women will see pregnancy as their chance to pig out for nine months, and then can’t figure out why or how they gained an extra 20 or more pounds in the process.
Get with your doctor and figure out how many calories a day you will need, and then make sure that you are getting healthy, nutritious, and low-fat foods to fulfill your caloric need. By eating empty calories from foods such as chips, candy, and ice cream, you are not only putting yourself at risk for weight gain, you are also not giving your baby the nutrients that they need. So start off being a good mom and give yourself, and your baby, healthy, nutritious foods. You will stay in shape and you’ll have a healthy and happy baby.
The next step is to exercise. Just because you are pregnant does not mean that you are confined to your couch with a Golden Girls marathon and a super-size bag of Cheetos. Get out there, walk, run, take Pilates classes, swim, even weight lift. Always check with your doctor before starting a routine. There are many exercises that you can do to have a healthy pregnancy! It is proven that women who continue their workout routine during pregnancy not only have an easier pregnancy but also have an easier delivery, and are quicker at returning to their pre-pregnancy shape.
There are all sorts of things that you can do to have a great pregnancy without pounds. You can feel attractive, strong, and even comfortable during your pregnancy.
Copyright © 2006 Jennifer
McCleary.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Jennifer McCleary, is a full-time teacher and a registered nutritionist. She has dedicated her life to health and fitness. If you would like to learn more about getting the body you’ve always dreamed of, visit http://www.we-review-for-you.com/pregnancy.html, or http://www.we-review-for-you.com/fitnessandexercise.html. Also check out her other articles at http://www.we-review-for-you.com/articles.html.
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Definitive Pregnancy Guide on Dealing with
The Third Trimester of Pregnancy
By Alfa Mercado
Copyright © 2006 Alfa
Mercado
After weeks of counting, it finally comes to that crucial third trimester of your pregnancy. Like you, the primary concern of pregnant women during this period is premature birth. Medical experts said that beginning at 28 weeks, a fetus can survive outside the mother’s womb should the lungs not be developed enough. However, premature birth, which is less than 37 weeks, poses a myriad of complications both to the mother and child. It could lead to miscarriage, chronic illness and fetal fracture among others.
The following are some useful tips to deal with your third trimester pregnancy:
1. Always consult your doctor. Prenatal check-ups are a must! Your doctor will suggest the frequency of the visit depending on laboratory results and you and your baby’s condition. Your doctor will guide you also on what to expect as “that time” draws near. Ask about false labor, cramps and morning sickness. Yes, there are some who still experience morning sickness during this period.
2. Go on a diet. Seek your doctor’s advice on the right regimen for you. Avoid sweet and salty foods. A wise mom would say that you should make the baby eat more food outside from your womb rather than inside. It is more painful to have to go through labor when the right time comes. Having the right diet has its perks. You don’t want the baby to come out more than 9 lbs!
3. Exercise. Just because you are pregnant doesn’t mean you are excused from it. Exercise reduces pain and discomfort which is heightened during the third trimester. Aside from light exercises, others do yoga. Try to look for the plan you’re most comfortable with so you can reduce those cramps, lower back pains and heavy thighs. But don’t overdo exercise as it may lead to premature birth or miscarriage. Seek a professional coach or your doctor.
4. Make a birth plan. In life, we should always plan for the inevitable. Make sure you’ve got everything covered. Make drills with your husband or anyone involved so that the people around you will remember the details from distant memory. To-do lists are sometimes torn apart or cannot be found during emergencies. It is crucial during this period to post the hotline numbers of your doctor and/or hospital for ambulance. Keep a bag ready at this point. You don’t want your husband to pack your bag at the very last minute. The last thing you need is a pair of thong underwear! If you live a far distance from the hospital make sure your car, from this point on, has a steady supply of gasoline at any time of the day.
5. Join a club or clinic. Pregnancy is supposed to be a joyful feeling. However, there are pregnant women who experience mild to significant symptoms of depression. Seek a club or clinic nearest you so you can relate to other pregnant women. Share thoughts and tips on how to deal with pregnancy and what to expect; especially if it’s your first time. Make it a fun and learning session by bringing your husband or family members with you. You can also look for an online forum where you can freely discuss what you feel and learn from other expectant moms like you. If doing these doesn’t help, seek a therapist who can help you.
6. Live a healthy lifestyle. Drug abuse is a definite no-no. Furthermore, studies show that about 25% of pregnant women are abused physically or emotionally leading to premature births or, worse, miscarriage. Women should seek help from friends or relatives if they are being abused and should avoid physical abuse at all costs. There are various groups or affiliations across the nation who can help you deal with women abuse. Or you can call National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
You say to yourself, “I live a healthy and positive lifestyle. Nothing could possibly go wrong.”
Think again.
It’s 8 am in the office and the start of your third trimester. You’re still working, busy transitioning your work load to a co-worker or boss, and seemed to have forgotten you’re having a baby in a few months’ time or anytime now. You’re still busy working like there’s no tomorrow.
Take a pause and rethink your priorities.
Stress from work could also lead to unwanted results and affect, if not hinder, the development of your baby. You and your baby need rest so sleep with the right amount of time. Avoid destructive emotional stress. Pregnancy is a delicate time and should be cherished.
Remember, you’ve patiently counted for the days, the weeks, and the months just to see and hold your baby in your arms.
Copyright © August 22, 2006
Alfa Mercado.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Alfa Mercado, is a Web content Writer who feels she
acquired a bachelor’s degree in Biology for nothing. She writes articles for
the 100’s of websites of Internet marketers who are usually too busy with their
families or other online businesses…and she writes 3 blogs of her own – Alfa’s Photoblog, Apple Door Says No to Bundy Clocks, and Modern Pinay Blog. If you are interested in working with her,
either as a co-writer or as a client (want some search engine and definitely
reader-friendly articles?), sending her an email will prove to be very helpful
(alfamercado@gmail.com). For more up-to-date
pregnancy information, go to http://www.PregnancyClue.com
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The Search for a Diet to Rebuild Immune System Strength
By Patsy Hamilton
Copyright © 2006Patsy
Searching for a diet to rebuild immune system strength can be frustrating, because recommendations vary. A number of books have been written about foods which strengthen the immune system. The Chinese diet to boost the immune system includes a chicken soup tonic that contains chicken, deng shen, broomrape, and sliced ginger. Prevention magazine recommends beef, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, tea and yogurt. Other experts recommend avoiding beef and eating a diet rich in vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts and cauliflower, because of the enzymes they contain. Any of these could be an effective diet to rebuild immune system strength. The primary goal should be overall good nutrition.
There are a number of vitamins, minerals, plant components and herbs that are beneficial to the immune system. Researching what foods strengthen the immune system can be complicated, because certain vitamins work best when taken with other vitamins. For instance, vitamin C, probably the most commonly recommended vitamin for infection resistance, works best when taken with calcium and magnesium. Calcium, among the other vital roles it plays in the body, helps the cells absorb vitamin C and other nutrients more efficiently. Magnesium plays the same role and is also essential for proper function of the muscles and nerves. So, an effective diet to rebuild immune system strength must include foods that contain vitamin C, magnesium and calcium, or a combination of foods that contain these important nutrients.
To further complicate the search for what foods strengthen the immune system, calcium and magnesium, which are necessary for the proper absorption of vitamin C, work best when taken with iron, manganese and vitamin D. The body cannot absorb calcium if vitamin D is not present, which is why milk is fortified with vitamin D. In addition, a lack of vitamin A in the diet can lead to frequent infections and vitamin A works best when taken with zinc, calcium, B-complex, and vitamins C, D and E. It seems nearly impossible to come up with a diet to rebuild immune system strength that takes all of these things into consideration. Some people rely on a daily multi-vitamin to lay down a basis for overall good nutrition and as insurance on the days when the foods we eat are not the best. But all multi-vitamins are not the same! The best advice is to look for a good one from a reputable company. Dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), except when it comes to what claims a manufacturer can and cannot make. But there are other self-regulating trade organizations that many of the better manufacturers belong to. This may not be your discount drug store vitamins, but they may be worth a few dollars more.
Even if you take multi-vitamins, efforts to incorporate a diet to rebuild immune system strength into your lifestyle is still a good idea. Scientific research about what foods strengthen the immune system indicates that mushrooms are a good choice. Edible mushrooms are a valuable source of biologically active compounds called beta glucans. Numerous studies have shown that beta glucans stimulate the immune system, providing protection from colds, influenza and infections, as well as AIDS by inhibiting viral replication. If you prefer not to eat mushrooms, beta glucans are found in numerous plant foods, including oats, barley and yeast.
What foods strengthen the immune system? Seafood and fish are good choices, because they are good sources of calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron and vitamins A, C, D, E and B complex. Seafood and fish are also the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to be beneficial in preventing heart disease, cancer and arthritis. Omega-3 supplementation can improve overall mental function and reduce symptoms of depression. Dietary experts recommend two servings of salmon per week or four servings of tuna, not only to be included in a diet to rebuild immune system strength, but also to provide adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.
In general, eating a well balanced diet to rebuild immune system strength is a good idea. Investigating what foods strengthen the immune system is a worthwhile effort. In addition, there are numerous herbs which can be beneficial. To learn more about these and for general information about viruses, colds and influenza visit the Immune System Booster Guide.
Copyright © 2006 Patsy
Hamilton.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Patsy Hamilton, has more than 20 years experience in health care, and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide on the web. Visit her at: http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com
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The “u” in Humane is You: Five Things You Can Do to Help
Companion Animals in Distress
By Anna G. B. Nirva
Copyright © 2006 Anna G. B.
Nirva
Chances are that when you look around your home, you see one or more four-legged creatures gazing patiently back at you: dogs and cats. Recent pet industry statistics show that over 63% of American homes keep pets, and that over 40% of pet-owners think of their pets as highly-valued members of their family. People of all ages, colors, religions, and political persuasions share a profound and fulfilling love for pets. This devotion lightens the dark reality of a nation and world where animal cruelty is rampant.
In
What can one person do?
You can make a difference in your corner of the world—never doubt it! Remember that all changes in the world originally started with one person. Take these five (5) simple guidelines to heart.
1. Be a faithful and loving parent to your own “fur family.” You have more influence than you know. Your high standards for pet care will influence your friends and family to be better pet “parents,” too. Spay or neuter your pets, train your young pets well, and care tenderly for your elderly pets. It’s not always easy or inexpensive, but it’s always the right thing to do.
2. Train yourself to be a better Good Samaritan for pets by being more alert to pet suffering. Remember, you might be the only lifeline for that injured or neglected pet! Watch, listen, and call. Carry a completed free wallet card from www.sunbearsquad.org at all times, so important phone numbers are handy (make extras for friends and family members). A caller can be anonymous and the call only takes a few minutes. When in doubt, let a professional decide—but do call.
3. Share a small portion of your pocketbook with your nearest humane society or rescue organization. Consider giving small gifts regularly, such as $5 every month. You’ll feel the love every time you lick the envelope. This therapy helps to relieve some worries about homeless pets in your area.
4. Avoid all fur-trimmed products, no matter how small. Fur farmers in some parts of the world skin animals alive to maintain fur quality and many of these animals are actually dogs and cats; their fur is later intentionally mislabeled as other fur to bypass American fur import restrictions. Don’t put dollars in their pockets!
5. Purchase personal care products that are not tested on animals. Read labels! Make it your policy. It might cost a bit more, but you won’t be putting your money in the hands of research laboratories that use dogs, cats and other animals to test products. Many dogs and cats in laboratories are suspected of being stolen from homes and sold to research facilities. If a pet of yours has disappeared under mysterious circumstances, you’ll understand why this industry practice must be stopped.
Help relieve animal suffering consistently as you travel through your busy days, and the essence of loving kindness will shine in your heart. The “u” in humane also means uplift.
Copyright © 2006 Anna G. B.
Nirva.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author, Anna G. B. Nirva, is the Founder of Sunbear Squad, Inc., a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging and supporting Good Samaritan behaviors to help companion animals in need. Visit her at: http://www.sunbearsquad.org for tools, knowledge, and inspiration targeted to individuals and groups.
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Pet Health – Recommended Pet Vaccination Schedule
By Bob Anderson
Copyright © 2006 Bob
Anderson
Vaccinations are important even for indoor pets. Some diseases are airborne or can be acquired by contact with fecal matter that might be brought into your house on your street shoes. Diseases that affect pets are present in the environment, and some diseases can spread to humans.
Any animal that goes outdoors should be vaccinated annually for rabies. This includes ferrets and bunnies. If you have a small house dog, or your dog is at low risk for contracting Leptospirosis, your vet may determine that this vaccination is not necessary. Also, aged animals should only be vaccinated on the recommendation of your vet.
Vaccinations protect your beloved pets from painful and often fatal diseases. They help ensure a long and happy life for your pet, with many hours of enjoyment for you with your animal companion. The cost of vaccinations is very small, compared to the cost of treating a disease or of losing your pet altogether. Many communities have vaccination clinics where you can get free rabies vaccines for example. Check with your local animal shelter or veterinarian to find out when a free vaccination clinic is scheduled.
Your pet’s age, health, lifestyle, environment, and geographic location can all affect the vaccination schedule. Ask your veterinarian about the most appropriate vaccines for your pet.
Vaccination Schedule
Cat
Vaccine: Panleukopenia, Herpesvirus and calicivirus (combined)
When: As early as 6 weeks, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until at least 12 weeks of age
Booster: Every 3 years
Cat
Vaccine: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
When: Begin at 4 months old, repeat in 2-4 weeks
Booster: Every year
Cat