The Bucket List

Loi Kroh Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand

The most mystical road in the world.

I've already walked it in my dreams, but would love to experience it in person.

The other day I saw an advertisement for a movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman's latest movie, entitled: "The Bucket List". Apparently, each of them are ill and want to experience adventures before they "Kick the Bucket". Hence, "The Bucket List."

It got me to thinking about my own Bucket List. I haven't really made one, but I have thoughts and ideas tucked away of things I would love to do and accomplish. So, without further adieu:

My Bucket List

1. Win the Pulitzer Prize for Best Fiction

for "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road"


2. Write a One Woman Show for Broadway
Subject is in my mind, but yet to put pen to paper.

3. Create an Invention, Patent it and Sell it.

In progress (beginning stages)

4. Play in the World Poker Tour

In progress (beginning stages)

5. Travel to Thailand to actually walk Loi Kroh Road

We'll see, not sure I could fly for that long.

6. Create a Creative Writing Camp for Kids

Would love to take those "odd ducks" and have them realize how unique they are.

7. Have "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road" made into a film.

Anyone know how to contact Sir Anthony Hopkins?

8. Learn how to fly an airplane

I think that would be so cool!

9. Be Invited to Oprah's show to discuss "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road"

C'mon, you knew that was coming didn't you?

10. Tour Ernest Hemingway's home in Key West, Florida.
I want to see his 6 toed cats too!

11. Last but certainly not least, Before I die, I want to belly laugh.

Really laugh where the tears come and you are holding your stomach.

I want to appreciate the greatest of gifts as well as the smallest.

Lesbian Killers

The other evening, my partner and I had just finished a job for a client and we both hadn't eaten all day. Needless to say, we were starved and since we were out, we decided to get some dinner.

We found a restaurant that we both liked and decided to have dinner. We bellied up to the bar and ordered an appetizer and had a couple of drinks. The bar area was packed, mostly with young professionals after attending their office Christmas parties. So you could say....uh.....they were a tad tipsy.

As my partner and I were talking, I heard a fellow behind me say rather loudly, "I'm a Lesbian killer". I turned around and gave him an irritated look and he changed the subject with his companions. The minute I turned around, he started again, "I'm a Lesbian killer".

I looked at my partner, shook my head and wondered to myself: Do we really live in the year 2007, almost 2008 and have to contend with people that are ignorant and dare I say afraid of differentness? I guess it will always be that way.

So, instead of making a big deal of it, I turned around and continued talking to my partner who I adore and love to talk to. We giggled, laughed and talked about our day. And, suddenly, I wasn't so aware of when the boob behind me was "threatening" that he was a Lesbian killer.

Actually, I began to feel sorry for him. He must feel awfully insecure both as a person and as a man. No one should feel that way.

Not even a "Lesbian Killer."

More Musings Later....you can count on it.

The Time is NOW

2007 is coming to a close, and 2008 will be here before we can turn around good.

'Tis the season to get our "Chi" in order!

Let me ask you some questions...

• Are you living the best life you can live?


• Are you fulfilled?


• Are you prosperous in every way, not just financial?


• Are you able to do what you love?


• Are you inspired and interested?


• Do you feel peaceful?

If you answered NO to at least 1 of these questions, then my recommendation to you is to do yourself a favor and buy "The Secret". (Then you can buy "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road", sorry, shameless plug).


For those who are interested in preparing for the new year by focusing on spiritual guidance, this post is for you! Enjoy!!

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Would you like a little Psychic Guidance?

meet George Anderson

Lisa Williams (my favorite at the moment)


John Edward - International Psychic Medium - Welcome to the only official website worldwide.

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How about Help with interpreting dreams?

Dream Symbols from the Edgar Cayce readings.

Dream Intuitive

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Find your purpose with Numerology

Monthly Numerology and Archive of Past Months : Shirley MacLaine

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Find out "The Secret"

The Secret :: Official Web Site of The Secret Movie :: Law of Attraction

TUTs Adventurers Club: Totally Unique Store

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Need a Barnes & Noble Day?
Buy ANYTHING By:

Edgar Cayce, The Sleeping Prophet

Wayne Dyer

Shirley MacLaine

Kalil Gibron

Lisa Williams
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Want to rent a funny, yet spiritually tinged movie?

"Defending Your Life" - Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep and a guest appearance by Shirley MacLaine.

One of my favorite all time movies!

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MEDITATE

Finally, make a point to meditate every day. No outlandish bells or whistles required. Simply sit in a room where it is quiet and peaceful. Close your eyes and practice deep breathing and relaxing your body. Do not think about any one thing. Clear your head. You may want to listen to some soothing music or just sit in silence. It is entirely up to you.

10 minutes of meditation will take years off your life. Try it.



Oh yeah, Happy 2008 Everyone!

Rest in Peace, Dan Fogelberg

For those who haven't heard...Dan Fogelberg passed away from Cancer at 6am this morning. He died with his wife, Jean by his side at home in Maine. He was 56 years old.

He leaves behind a wealth of songs and artistry. For me? I was slow to warm up to his music, but I remember when I did get hooked. The songs were "Stars" and "To the Morning."

Dan also used to lived in Kingston Springs, Tennessee which is about 30 minutes outside Nashville. Hearing stories around town of when he lived here made him feel like a neighbor even if he didn't live next door to me. I'll miss Dan. Thanks for the music and lyrics.

To The Morning

by Dan Fogelberg

Watching the sun...watching it come Watching it come up over the rooftops

Cloudy and warm...maybe a storm You can never quite tell from the morning

(Chorus)

And it's going to be a day There is really no way to say no to the morning

Yes it's going to be a day There is really nothing left to say but come on morning

Waiting for mail Maybe a tale from an old friend or even a lover Sometimes there's none

But we have fun thinking of all who might have written

(Chorus)

And maybe there are seasons And maybe they change

And maybe to love is not so strange

The sounds of the day Now they hurry away Now they are gone until tomorrow

When day will break and you will wake And you will rake your hands across your eyes and realize

That it's going to be a day There is really no way to say no to the morning

Yes it's going to be a day

There is really nothing left to say but come on morning

And maybe there are seasons and maybe they change

And maybe to love is not so strange

Dan Fogelberg

1951 - 2007

Come on Mornin, indeed....Rest in Peace.

Southernisms - Part II

By popular demand, I am offering some Southernisms for some Holiday Cheer!

Ann Richard-ism: "Poor George, He was born with a silver foot in his mouth"

Translation: None Needed. He's an idiot.

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Southernism: "I'm going to have a Come To Jesus meeting with Ralph"

Translation: I'm going to have a heart to heart conversation with Ralph.

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Southernism: "If you don't shut up, I'll shoot and take you from a rooster to a hen with one shot! And, don't think I can't do it!" Dolly Parton

Translation: If you refuse to be quiet, I'll shoot you in a strategic area that will cause you to speak in a high voice for life. And don't think I can't do it.
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Statement: "I feel sure I got the job"

Southernism Response: "There's many a slip between the cup and the lip."

Translation: You can't be certain until an offer is made.

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Southernism: "We're in a mell of a hess"

Translation: I don't wish to curse, but I intend to say, "We're in a Hell of a Mess".

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Southernism: The printer is printing documents wampy- jawed.

Translation: The printer is printing documents in a crooked fashion

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Southernism: "Wash up as far as possible, wash as far down as possible, then be sure to wash possible."

Translation: Take a shower or bath and be sure to wash your groin area.

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Southernism: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"

Translation: It's best to secure a sure thing rather than rely on a possibility.

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Mamaw-ism: "A problem is like white meat. The more you chew on it, the bigger it gets."

Translation: The more you think about your problems, the more it will consume all of your thoughts.

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Southernism: "I'm so hungry, my stomach's touchin' my backbone"

Translation: I'm very hungry, I haven't eaten anything all day.

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Mamaw-ism: "I see said the blind man to his deaf and dumb dog"

Translation: The statement you made doesn't make any sense.

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Southernism: "Opinions are like belly buttons, everyone's got one."

Translation: Everyone is going to have an opinion.

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Mom-ism: "I could squeeze a nickel so hard, I could make the buffalo take a crap."

Translation: I'm very frugal with money.

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Southernism: "That boy's not right. He's one fry short of a happy meal"

Translation: That boy doesn't seem to have all his mental facilities.

Who Would YOU Invite to Dinner?

I've had people in the past ask me this question: "If you could invite anyone, living or dead to a dinner party, who would it be? I thought it was an interesting question and gave me cause to reflect and you know writers love that sort of thing.

So, I decided to give me list of "Who I would invite to my dinner party, living or dead" By the way, no fair on listing God, Jesus etc. We're talking PEOPLE, ok?

My Dinner Party List

1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Maya Angelou
3. Laura Ingalls Wilder
4. Ann Richards
5. Whoopi Goldberg
6. Lisa Williams, (psychic)
7. Shirley MacLaine
8. Ernest Hemingway
9. Ellen Degeneres
10. Bette Midler

Attire: Your most comfortable pajamas because we will have a sleep over afterward. (I'm going to make wearing your pj's in public popular. If Hugh Hefner can do it, so can I)

Why did I choose these guests?
Oprah Winfrey - She is a teacher to many and I would love to learn
Maya Angelou - She is the one who mentored Oprah...When she speaks, people should shut up and listen.
Laura Ingalls Wilder - I would love to ask her questions about her childhood. What she thinks of her popular childrens books
Ann Richards - I LOVE this woman. I want to be Ann Richards when I grow up.
Whoopi Goldberg - A wise woman with alot of truth. Not to mention she is hysterical
Lisa Williams - I would have alot of questions for her. She is the most amazing psychic I've ever seen. That and she is just so darn pleasant!
Shirley MacLaine - The big hitter of metaphysical teachings. She is very smart.
Ernest Hemingway - I would like to ask him about his life in Key West, what drove him, what he thought about his writing and how he got into the "writing zone".
Ellen Degeneres - When we have crammed our heads full of wisdom, we can take a dance break! That and I think Ellen is a geniunely good person and is funny as hell.
Bette Midler - The most outrageous performer...truly a yen and yang personality. I would love to get to know her better.

More Musings Later-

I've Been Tagged!

Mindy Schwartz tagged me and everyone that is "tagged" has to answer these 5 questions and tag 5 more people. Let's see what lurks in my psyche, shall we?

1. How long have you been blogging?
I believe it was the beginning of 2006....I remember I was blogging my "countdown" of when I could leave Corporate America. Ahhhhh, the stench of Corporate America is forever seared in my brain.



2. What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?
The beginning of my FULL TIME writing career is what inspired me to start blogging.

One of my mentors is Paula McNeal. She truly showed me that NOTHING is impossible. If you can think it or dream it, then you can GO AFTER YOUR DREAM. Thank you, Paula.





Foster Winans-Ghostwriter, Editor, Lecturer

The fellow to the right is Foster Winans. He is the first well-known journalist to correspond with me and offer to look at my work. And WHOA did he look at my work. He ripped me to shreds, but he did it honestly and with integrity. It doesn't get any better than that.

Here are some snippets of emails he left me (not to mention he even called me on the phone, which almost left me speechless.)

Email Correspondence after sending my work to him:

"I scanned through everything and see that you have a broad range of interests and accumulated knowledge... I am a cruel and heartless editor who has had almost forty years of mistakes behind him, so I consider it my obligation to be honest. That's all it is, honesty. And the crankiness of age. I encourage you to challenge yourself more as a writer, and to be much more careful as a proof-reader...

There is too much starch and not enough protein in your writing. Even someone who is an expert on a subject needs to cite examples, details, stats, anything, to support their argument, to show they know the subject.Your nonfiction work lacks anchor points, and in their absence tries too hard to sound important. You are telling when you should be showing... You sound like a smart person who has an interest in growing. So I repeat–challenge yourself...

I will leave you with my standard homily: it's never a question of "Is it (or am I) any good?" The question should always be, "Is it the best I can make it and, if not, how can I make it better?" Keep plugging away, don't give up!"

Regards, Foster

3. Are you trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?

Do what for fun??? LOL! Making money is the way to have fun online!





4. What 3 things do you struggle with online?

1. First and foremost, spending too much time on answering or looking at emails. Most of the time I have to MAKE myself get completely offline when I work on a client's project.
2. Secondly, TIME to explore and do everything I should do in a day. It's as if the days fly by...I always wish I had more time to work online.
3. Thirdly, PASSWORDS to everything and anything! I hate it! My memory is shot, and I have to write down or keep old emails of logins and passwords to blogs, and everything else online.
   

5. What 3 things do you love about being online?

1. I LOVE learning new things and finding little treasures along the way as I surf the net.
2. I love the fact that information is at my fingertips.
3. I love corresponding with friends and family instantaneously via instant messaging. I really enjoy getting emails from my friend, Alan in Beijing, China....it boggles my mind when we "instant chat".

I also love doing these little surveys!

Watch your email.....I'm getting ready to tag!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

The Girl Next Door is PSYCHIC

I don't know about you, but I have discovered a new psychic that is quickly becoming more well-known than John Edwards. And, much more likeable too!

Her name is Lisa Williams and she is a spiky-haired, British young woman with a striking resemblance to Liza Minnelli that happens to be psychic. She is amazingly accurate as well as open and friendly to people. The thing that irritated me most was that Edward's machine gun, rapid-fire speech had me straining to keep up with his descriptions and insight. Williams' speech is pleasant and she seems to care quite alot about people and helping them cope with loved ones living on the other side.

I watched Larry King this last week and he had motor mouth Edwards, Lisa Williams and author, actress Shirley MacLaine. I say, let Edwards take up announcing horse races and spend the entire hour on Williams and MacLaine. The two women had so much insight to offer that I found myself transfixed from start to finish. I'm an admirer of Shirley MacLaine for many years as she is quite brilliant as an author and researcher not to mention a master as an actress. Anyone remember her role in "Defending your Life?" her playful approach to poking fun at herself is what I enjoy most about her.

That, and when a guest was confident his theory of energy and time relativity was accurate and Stephen Hawking's theories weren't. MacLaine's subtle roll of the eyes was priceless.

Alot of people like to play "Who Would" with each other. As in "Who would you like to have dinner with most?" or "Who would you like to have for a sleepover?"

Thinking back to my girlhood days, I would most like to have Lisa Williams over for a slumber party. I bet she would have more to offer than trying to levitate the other girls in the party or telling a scary story with the lights out and a flashlight on under her chin.

More Musings Later- OOOOoooommmmmmmmmmm

Just a "Friendly" little Poker Game

Every once in awhile, I like to go to this pub I know of where they play poker in the backroom.

It's a beer only joint and the people are really nice. Now, as you can imagine, the place has been around forever and the clientelle are an older group of folks, which suits me fine. Well, this last Saturday night, I dragged my partner to this game. She called a friend and they drank beer and watched tv in the bar area while I got my fix of Texas Hold'em.

So, I see the small group of men moving into the backroom. They are lighting up their cigars and cigarettes and counting chips as I move in with them. The men have accepted that I am a bit "different" then the rest of the gals that frequent this place and in their best 'don't ask, don't tell' liberalism, we all get along just fine.

So, I belly up to the poker table and begin playing. I was having an awesome night. People were starting to pour in to the room to watch us play. I eliminated several regulars by catching an incredible River card. Moans and groans are heard loudly as I scrape the mounded chips in the middle of the table toward me.

Now let me set the scene: Most of the regulars can't remember my name, so my nickname is "Baby Girl". I always silently chuckle at that term, cause I am anything but.

Well the oldtimer I was playing wanted to win. BAD. He kept offering me some money to stop playing poker and let him win. Nope, I wanted to play a complete game.

Then it happened. It's as quiet as library when the flop comes down. He looks at me and says, "I bet 2000 chips". He stares at me to show he's all business.

I pause and the oldtimer says, "Baby Girl is about to fold!" and he hoots and has already spent his winnings.

"All in," I replied quietly.

He stops in mid-crow and stares at me. the Turn and the River are flipped over and I throw down my hand.

The whole room hollered and whooped it up cause "Baby Girl" beat the oldtimer. The oldtimer has a hard time accepting this and is even calling me by my real name. That's not a good sign, calling me Taryn.

So, after alot of talking, alot of handshakes. I went into the bar and sat next to oldtimer. He wouldn't look at me. I asked the bartender, "Buy him one on me, ok?". He grits his teeth and nods his thanks.

I sat there for a few more moments and knew my winning wasn't worth this. I knew I could do it and I did. So I took out my winnings of my pocket and pushed it toward him. He looked at me dumbfounded and said, "What?"

"Take what you believe is fair." He looked at me for a long time and reached for my money. He thumbed through it and split it 5o/50. I nodded and he was happy. "Thanks for the beer, Baby Girl".

With all my differentness and all his conservative beliefs, this much I learned about poker that night:

"You got to know when to fold'em, and know when to pick your battles".





More Musings Later-

Bill O'Reilly, looking out for us?

Why is it that television hosts, authors, political strategists and the like feel the need to "look after America?"

Bill O'Reilly even wrote a book stating that he was looking after us. Excuse me, but I have a brain and use it on a regular basis. Just because Mr. O'Reilly has certain ideas and beliefs doesn't make them correct. They are opinions which is his right, in America. It doesn't mean he is the voice of reason, intellect or even sanity.

He behaves much in the same fashion as a 12 year old boy these days. Good Lord, he even sent his producer and cameraman down to a Barnes & Noble book signing to disrupt Rosie O'Donnell's booksigning of "Celebrity Detox"

Hey Bill, you want Rosie on the show, try asking her on. If she says "NO", then ACCEPT IT.

You see, if people looked a little deeper, they might be inclined to see that it's not about "Looking after us", it's really about "Looking after Bill". Is it rating sweeps already??

Get over yourself.

More Musings Later-

As the Tennessee Titans Turn....

Yes, I am a HUGE Tennessee Titan fan. But lately, it seems that this football team is becoming a soap opera. What do you mean, you ask?

Pacman Jones - He's bad news. He can't even get a wrestling gig. Why in the hell hasn't Bud Adams cut this guy loose? I say cut our losses and move on. Coach Fisher keeps saying it, but as long as he is listed on the roster, he will be the proverbial ball and chain.

Pacman "Liability" Jones

Last Year's Titans - They were so pitiful it was sad. Then the heavens parted and a certain quarterback by the name of Vince Young took the reins and invigorated an offense that was all but flatlining.

Vince Young - This guy is incredibly talented. He is winning all these awards as a rookie and deservedly so.

Vince Young - This guy is incredibly talented and KNOWS IT. That can be big trouble. Maybe we're a little gun-shy (no pun intended) from the Pacman years, but when I watched CBS's 60 minutes feature on Vince, I became a little anxious. It made me know that Coach Fisher has his hands full. Containing a young quarterback, bringing him along slowly and firmly letting him know he is not above anyone else on the team.

Coach Fisher - His job is tougher than anyone knows. He has to put up with the press in Nashville...not to mention NFL press, he has to put up with Bud Adams, Pacman Jones questions, Vince Young's ego, and the multitudes of other issues that all NFL headcoaches deal with.

Coach Jeff Fisher

I don't know....I still love my TN Titans but I'll feel better when Vince matures a bit and is one less thing for the fans to worry about. I think we got spoiled to Steve McNair. I know I did.

Here's hoping #10 can be more like #9.

Steve McNair after a game with Vince Young

Ann Coulter Plunges to all New L-O-W

The transcripts of Donny Deutch's conversation with Ann Coulter takes on an all time new low. Decide for yourself if Ann Coulter is an idiot or if her thoughts that the "Jews need to 'perfect' themselves into Christians is anti-Semitic.

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Ann Coulter Plunges to an All New L-O-W

Just when I think the woman can't spew any further vitriolic rhetoric, she proves me wrong. I am absolutely speechless.

Just so you can ascertain your own opinion, I am posting her entire diatribe. I warn you, this is not for the faint of heart. Read at your own risk of becoming as jaded toward politics as I am.

Ann Coulter on CNBC Show: Jews Need 'Perfecting' By E&P Staff Published: October 11, 2007 12:15 AM ET updated 1:30 PM ET
NEW YORK Appearing on Donny Deutsch's CNBC show, "The Big Idea," on Monday night, columnist/author Ann Coulter suggested that the U.S. would be a better place if there weren't any Jewish people and that they needed to "perfect" themselves into -- Christians.

It led Deutsch to suggest that surely she couldn't mean that, and when she insisted she did, he said this sounded "anti-Semitic."Asked by Deutsch whether she wanted to be like "the head of Iran" and "wipe Israel off the Earth," Coulter stated: "No, we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say. ... That's what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament."

Deutsch told E&P's sibling magazine, Adweek, today, "I was offended. And then, and this was interesting, she started to back off and seemed a little upset."

Asked to gauge her reaction, Deutsch said, "I think she got frightened that maybe she had crossed a line, that this was maybe a faux pas of great proportions. I mean, did it show ignorance? Anti-Semitism? It wasn't just one of those silly things."A transcript, provided by Media Matters, follows.

*DEUTSCH: Christian -- so we should be Christian? It would be better if we were all Christian?

COULTER: Yes.

DEUTSCH: We should all be Christian?

COULTER: Yes. Would you like to come to church with me, Donny?

DEUTSCH: So I should not be a Jew, I should be a Christian, and this would be a better place?

COULTER: Well, you could be a practicing Jew, but you're not.

DEUTSCH: I actually am. That's not true. I really am. But -- so we would be better if we were - if people -- if there were no Jews, no Buddhists --

COULTER: Whenever I'm harangued by --

DEUTSCH: -- in this country? You can't believe that.

COULTER: -- you know, liberals on diversity --

DEUTSCH: Here you go again.

COULTER: No, it's true. I give all of these speeches at megachurches across America, and the one thing that's really striking about it is how utterly, completely diverse they are, and completely unself-consciously. You walk past a mixed-race couple in New York, and it's like they have a chip on their shoulder. They're just waiting for somebody to say something, as if anybody would. And --

DEUTSCH: I don't agree with that. I don't agree with that at all. Maybe you have the chip looking at them. I see a lot of interracial couples, and I don't see any more or less chips there either way. That's erroneous.

COULTER: No. In fact, there was an entire Seinfeld episode about Elaine and her boyfriend dating because they wanted to be a mixed-race couple, so you're lying.

DEUTSCH: Oh, because of some Seinfeld episode? OK.

COULTER: But yeah, I think that's reflective of what's going on in the culture, but it is completely striking that at these huge megachurches -- the idea that, you know, the more Christian you are, the less tolerant you would be is preposterous.

DEUTSCH: That isn't what I said, but you said I should not -- we should just throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians, then, or --

COULTER: Yeah.

DEUTSCH: Really?

COULTER: Well, it's a lot easier. It's kind of a fast track.

DEUTSCH: Really?

COULTER: Yeah. You have to obey.

DEUTSCH: You can't possibly believe that.

COULTER: Yes.

DEUTSCH: You can't possibly -- you're too educated, you can't -- you're like my friend in --

COULTER: Do you know what Christianity is? We believe your religion, but you have to obey.

DEUTSCH: No, no, no, but I mean --

COULTER: We have the fast-track program.

DEUTSCH: Why don't I put you with the head of Iran? I mean, come on. You can't believe that.

COULTER: The head of Iran is not a Christian.

DEUTSCH: No, but in fact, "Let's wipe Israel" --

COULTER: I don't know if you've been paying attention.

DEUTSCH: "Let's wipe Israel off the earth." I mean, what, no Jews?

COULTER: No, we think -- we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say.

DEUTSCH: Wow, you didn't really say that, did you?

COULTER: Yes. That is what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament, but ours is more like Federal Express. You have to obey laws. We know we're all sinners --

DEUTSCH: In my old days, I would have argued -- when you say something absurd like that, there's no --

COULTER: What's absurd?

DEUTSCH: Jews are going to be perfected. I'm going to go off and try to perfect myself --

COULTER: Well, that's what the New Testament says.

DEUTSCH: Ann Coulter, author of If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans, and if Ann Coulter had any brains, she would not say Jews need to be perfected. I'm offended by that personally. And we'll have more Big Idea when we come back. [...]

DEUTSCH: Welcome back to The Big Idea. During the break, Ann said she wanted to explain her last comment. So I'm going to give her a chance. So you don't think that was offensive?

COULTER: No. I'm sorry. It is not intended to be. I don't think you should take it that way, but that is what Christians consider themselves: perfected Jews. We believe the Old Testament. As you know from the Old Testament, God was constantly getting fed up with humans for not being able to, you know, live up to all the laws. What Christians believe -- this is just a statement of what the New Testament is -- is that that's why Christ came and died for our sins. Christians believe the Old Testament. You don't believe our testament.

DEUTSCH: You said -- your exact words were, "Jews need to be perfected." Those are the words out of your mouth.

COULTER: No, I'm saying that's what a Christian is.

DEUTSCH: But that's what you said -- don't you see how hateful, how anti-Semitic --

COULTER: No!

DEUTSCH: How do you not see? You're an educated woman. How do you not see that?

COULTER: That isn't hateful at all.

DEUTSCH: But that's even a scarier thought.

***********************************************************************

I think Donny Deutsch "Gets it".

More Musings Later-

Suze Orman - Livin' in a Van Down by the River!

You heard me. Suze Orman, financial guru and multi-millionaire television host actually used to live in a VW van in her younger years.

No, she didn't live down by the river, that is actually my homage to Chris Farley's hilarious skit about the motivational speaker gone wrong. Anyway, I caught a PBS show where Orman was discussing her meager beginnings and I was just amazed. I would have thought that she went to an Ivy league college and walk all the usual steps to becoming wealthy. Not so. If this gal can do it, we all can. And, she'll tell you that, too. That's one of the reasons I like her so much. She is a bit strange in her communication style, but that is her quirky way.

It turns out that when she was in her 20's, she was a Californian trying to find herself. She didn't have any money and she borrowed enough money from her brother to buy a beat up, VW van and she drove it to San Francisco. She became a waitress at a breakfast diner and lived in her van.

Chris Farley doing his skit as Matt Foley, "Living in a Van Down By the River"

After living life this way for quite some time, she began quizzing one of her regular customers about business and how to make money. Her regular gave her some money to invest in the stock market and he instructed her to have a broker from a well-known brokerage company assist her. That is exactly what she did and became fascinated with the industry. She lost all the money that her regular gave her because the broker invested her money in funds she knew nothing about and didn't take the time to explain the risks involved and so forth.

To him, she was just another "little lady" trying to make a buck or two. Well, she decided to break the "Good ole boy" barrier and apply for a job with this same brokerage. After much determination and selling herself to the interviewer, she was hired and began learning all she could about investments. She learned she could sue the brokerage for not investing her funds based upon her knowledge level at the time. So, she sued her employer WHILE she worked for them.

She won millions of dollars in a lawsuit. She paid her regular back for loaning the money and the rest is history.

One interesting story from a "little lady living in a van down by the river".

More Musings Later-

So What do you make of Iran's President coming to New York?

I don't know...sometimes I scratch my head and think to myself, "What in the world are these people thinking?"

Sure, I'm all for inviting speakers with different points of view to speak in our country. It's one of the things that make our country so great. BUT....c'mon, we're not asking an economist to come to New York and make a speech.

We're talking about the President of IRAN. And, while I understood and related to the gentleman who introduced the President, I cringed because the guest was able to put himself in a favorable light by reminding an American of allowing other views to speak before condeming them.

I cringed and it made me mad. Here we were...holding our collective breath in one of our treasured cities who has taken a beating from terrorists in the past. And, in my opinion, we were taking a real chance on his visiting New York City. But, our democracy is just that. It's not always easy to be an American. We have to listen to all voices and not just a few, and when the voice is drenched in lies and half-truths, you have to trust that people will listen carefully.

It's not always easy to trust, is it?

More Musings Later-

If I Did It, by OJ Simpson

If I Did It...

I wouldn't smirk for my mug shot

I wouldn't sign autographs before and after my court arraignment

I wouldn't write a book detailing the gruesome details of how I murdered my ex-wife and her friend.

I wouldn't be able to look my children in the face after what I had done.

I wouldn't do television appearances to "clear my good name".

I wouldn't break into a hotel room with my friends armed with guns demanding my memorabilia.

I wouldn't involve myself in another relationship. Especially with a woman that favors my previous murder victim.

I would request to stay in jail instead of posting bail.

I would want to die from the guilt and pain I've caused so many others.

But that's me.

Closing Thought: Leave the "IF" out of it. He did it and the blood he spilled will forever stain his hands and his soul.

More Musings Later-

Check out my Commercial!

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My company is offering a new type of service for those aspiring to be the next JK Rowling or John Grisham!

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• Ghostwrite your novel
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• What about someone who will create a blog for you?
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Toss the worries and frustration aside. I can do this for you!

Want to see some samples of my work?

Take a look at the last book I co-wrote with Alan Solomon:

Writing (or co-writing in this instance) of the Book

Submission to Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

Amazon.com: The Mango Tree Cafe', Loi Kroh Road: Books: Alan Solomon,Taryn Sim

Barnes & Noble.com - Books: The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road, by Alan Solomo

Setting up a Blog for the Book

The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road

Press Release

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Book Trailer

YouTube - "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road" - Book Trailer

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You'll be glad you did.

More Musings Later-

I've discovered a new toy for my Rants!

The new toy I speak of is called www.Onmylist.com . It is great! I have made a few list already, one about writing...as I have included here:Authors that Frustrate/Piss me off and some are in other categories.

By the way, a word about JK Rowling: She wrote the Harry Potter books and made a fortune. She is now writing a thriller. People are having a fit about it. "Why is she writing a thriller?"

Answer? Cause she wants to. Something tells me the woman loves to write and is sick of writing children's books. Give her a break will ya?

I don't think any author worth their salt writes for the love of money. I think they write because they love it.

I know that even if I won the lottery, I'd still write. But, that's me.

More Musings Later-

Grief is all in a Day's Work for writer, Linda Della Donna

There are literally hundreds of thousands of millions of writers out there in internet land. Some are very well-known and some aren't.

Linda Della Donna will soon be on everyone's radar. She is one of the few writers that deals with the emotional issue of grief and is quite skilled at it, unfortunately. Della Donna lost her husband to cancer some 3 years ago and in an effort crawl out of a depression so deep, she had to write her way out. She wrote about her feelings, her loss, her frustration, anger and took solace in time she spent with herself.

Out of that heartbreaking loss came "Griefcase" a safe place for widows to convene and share their feelings and heartache while they heal. From the tablet of a legal pad is now bounding a full fledged website that will offer message boards, practical information for the newly widowed or grieving, a blog, e-books and more.

I nominated her for CNN's Hero of the Day. I don't know if Anderson Cooper will be knocking upon her door for an interview, but hell, I think he should.

Read what she's all about and you'll be making a point of reading Griefcase too.

www.Griefcase.blogspot.com

More Musings Later-

Magazine Revamp! and other News

Okay, I have to say this to get it off my chest. As you all know (or maybe you don't) I just recently self-published "The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road" with Alan Solomon.

I have marketed this freaking book until I'm blue in the face! I contact the Nashville Scene and they tell me (very nicely I have to say) that "although my book is being considered for a Pulitzer and is being shown in Beijing, China at the Intl Book Fair and is competing for Best Fiction at USABookNews.com, they can't do an interview with me because it's a self-published novel..."

HUH???? You mean to tell me, that if my book wins the Pulitzer Prize, I can't get you to interview me because I'm self-published???? YEP. that's the long and the short of it.

HOW STUPID IS THAT???? I don't blame the nice lady that conveyed the news, I blame the owner of the Scene! Good Lord! I'm sorry, but that seems a bit, well....snobbish. There, I said it.

Does anyone think this is a crazy idea? If you do, email the Nashville Scene at http://www.nashvillescene.com/Information/contact_us/index.php and address to "Publisher of the Nashville Scene."

************************

On a lighter note, seems the startup of "Ideas, Goals and Dreams" is changing around the premier issue. See what you think:

Talking to School Kids?

Yep, I'm currently exploring the idea of talking to kids...about what? About writing and about freelancing. God, I wish someone had done that when I was growing up. I had no idea that a life that I'm living now was possible back then.


But then again, I wonder if I would appreciate my writing career as much as I do today. Let's face it, being a refugee from Corporate America makes you grateful for being able to breathe. I don't know...I just think that kids need to see that there are ways of being successful that don't necessarily fit in a cookie cutter profile.


I mean after all, here I am. A published author who writes for a living. Am I rich? Financially, Hardly. Am I wealthy with knowledge and experience? You bet. Do I wear pin stripes each day to work? Well, maybe pin striped pajamas or sweats.

Life can be messy. Kids need to know that writing and other types of freelancing professions that aren't "typical" are possible. It's just a thought...but then again, I get paid to write those thoughts down.

More Musings Later-

Ideas, Goals & Dreams - A Startup in Every Sense of the Word.

Some time ago, I responded to a Craig's List ad to write articles for a magazine startup. I sent a couple of samples and they were met with real enthusiasm by the owner of this new magazine. Let's face it, my writing career can be summed up by this magazine's title. I love it when you find organizations, people, jobs, projects and the like that perfectly compliment your beliefs!

Check out the magazine...it will be online soon and I will place a link to it when I get the url. Oh, and there is even a picture of some writer in the top left corner with a silly smirk on her face! After that, it will be distributed locally in San Francisco, California and then globally. Thinking of advertising or investing in it? Let me know and I will put you in contact with the owner.

Sometimes Life is one big synergy event!



More Musings Later-

Good Morning From America, Robin!

Last week, Robin Roberts announced that she has breast cancer. I was stunned. She is seemingly the picture of health and the disease doesn't even run in her family. That is scary stuff right there.

What makes it even scarier is that a normal mammogram didn't catch it. She had additional tests because she felt a lump. What is she didn't feel it? What if she didn't do an exam on herself? Cancer is an angry disease and can spread like wildfire. It is SO fortunate that she caught it in the early stages.

According to ABC News, she had successful breast surgery and is recouperating at home. Okay everybody (myself included) GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM AND DO A SELF EXAM REGULARLY!

Message to Robin Roberts: Get Well, Girl. I want to see your smiling face on Good Morning America SOON. By the way, I said a prayer for ya. From your pal that you don't even know.

More Musings Later-

Nancy Grace, You Gotta Love Her

Not too long ago, my partner and I tuned in to watch Nancy Grace. She is becoming a regular on our short list of "must watch".

The normally feisty Southern pistol of an attorney was instead subdued, humble and sweet. What happened? I wondered aloud. I love to watch her tear into her interviews because if her subjects smell like a rat, she'll sniff it out for sure. She's a real advocate for the victim and I LOVE that about her.

But that night she is announcing that she got married in April and is now 4 months pregnant with twins, God bless her! She was tearfully thrilled and expressed her thanks to her viewers, friends and her new hubby, David. She went on to say that she didn't think she would ever find love again after her fiance was murdered nearly 20 years ago. Life has a way of making things wrong become right again.

So, happy pregnancy Nancy. Don't stop being the little pit bull that we know and love. But I gotta tell ya, you melted America's collective heart when you announced your great news.

Congrats to Nancy and David (or Mr. Nancy!!) LOL

More Musings Later-

Oh My God, I'm Tired...

Well, it's done. "The Mango Tree Cafe', Loi Kroh Road" is published and ready for purchase. Between the formatting, proofing, correspondence and discussion on the book cover with the designer (also in China) and the back and forth between Alan in Beijing and here, I'm pooped.

But, the book is going to be shown in Beijing, China at a book fair for book sellers. I fed-exed the book to New York on Thursday and ordered addtional copies for myself. Alan wants to order 2000 copies to sell locally and wants me to sign them before shipping off to Asia.

I've enrolled us in the Amazon "peek inside the pages" program and have been updating Barnes & Noble and other retailers with the book info.

Sheesh....I'm so behind, but it's a good tired. You know what I mean?

Oh, I would be remiss if I didn't offer you a chance to purchase here as well. Surely, you didn't think this would be a simple post!

Click HERE to purchase.

More Musings Later-

Why is ro so watchable?

Whenever I have just a few minutes and need to take a break, I head over to (you guessed it if you read my blogs with any regularity) r blog

I watch her latest video rants about Bush (and wholeheartedly agree with her) and then read the latest questions from her audience and her ee cummings style responses.

I don't know why she is so watchable, but she is. She's headed to P-Town on her "r" Cruise for gay/lesbian families. By the way, people from all walks of life welcome as long as they are gay friendly. My guess is that you will see quite a few lesbians and gay men with their families in tow.

Good for her. Say what you will, but "r" does good work. Not even the Donald could fault her for that.

More Musings Later-

The Mango Tree Cafe, Loi Kroh Road Book Trailer is on YouTube!

Get Ready, This is the MOTHER of ALL Rants

Ann Coulter. It's enough to make me shudder with disgust just at the mention of her name. I sincerely wonder if the woman has any responsibility or brains in her head.

Don't get me wrong, she is a master at marketing herself and the Moral Majority's agenda by submerging herself into a vitriolic diatribe against liberals. For some reason, she has a burr in her bonnet with regard to Senator John Edwards.

The very idea that an author and commentator on television and radio can feel free to attack the parents who lost their first born son in a tragic accident, laugh at a woman battling cancer that is asking her to stop the attacks and discuss the issues at hand AND for God's sakes...calling Edwards a FAGGOT.

The interesting thing is that I watched Coulter carefully when Mrs. Edwards called her while she was on Chris Mathews' Hardball program. She laughed arrogantly and was slightly caught off guard on how to handle this request. Suddenly a voice in the background shouts, "Why didn't Senator Edwards call instead?". Her response? "Yeah, why didn't Senator Edwards call?" Is this the type of intelligent debating she is capable of ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ws_bXU6Rjk

Could it be that Ann Coulter is all mouth and no substance? I am not so troubled by Coulter as I am the people that follow her. To all those who refuse to think for themselves and insist on jumping on the bandwagon of "Rush is Right, G Gordon Liddy,and Pat Robertsons".

Think about it, the intellectually lazy follows a pill popper, a convicted felon, and a radical religious zealot who is obviously not too tightly wrapped.


Unforunately, Coulter won't shut her mouth until the microphones, cameras and interviews cease. So, I believe that we are in for alot more of Ann Coulter.

Incidentally, the Moral Majority is NEITHER.
Many Many more Musings later-

The Power of "r"

Ever since Rosie O'Donnell left The View, it hasn't been the same. The banter and discussion has been boring at best (yawn). And, the smug look on Elisabeth Hasselbeck's face each morning is becoming a permanent fixture.



With each guest host, you can practically see Barbara Walters silently pray that "this is the one, Lord, let this be the one". But to no avail, another boring guest or one that screams for the sake of screaming.



All the while, O'Donnell sits quietly in the background blogging to her legion of fans and answering questions. It was only after one fan asked if she would do The Price is Right that she strayed from her normally quick responses in ee cummings style. "YES I WOULD DO IT!" she replied.



The kicker? The press is watching her blog as if it is Reuters' corporate headquarters.





I guess that's the power of "r".

More Musings Later-

I TOLD you HR Employees are Mean, I should know, I used to be one.

For those living outside the Tennessee area, a story ran on the news last night where a woman was in tears because she wanted to donate a kidney to a family member who will die without the donation.



It appears that she is a perfect match according to her cousin's doctors and she began taking the steps to prepare. One of those steps is stepping inside that almighty Human Resources office at work to apply for short term disability. The HR executive flatly refused her request and likened her need for leave to that of "getting a breast augmentation". What the HR person failed or fails to realize is that this is not cosmetic surgery, and it is medically necessary in order to save another life. So, the company is refusing to hold her position for her once she is able to return to work.



The woman offering her kidney has 2 children and cannot risk her job coupled with the fact that she works in a rural area where the employment opportunities are limited at best. As the news reporter showed the arm of the man needing the kidney, his mangled veins in his arm caused the viewers to squirm.



The company stood behind the HR decision but my questions are the following: Does this company meet the criteria for FMLA? Does the company have written policy regarding acceptable leaves of absences?

Maybe if that company hired this writer to compose current, well thought out policy and procedures, this situation wouldn't be on the news.



But then again, HR People are Mean.



More Musings Later-

Welcome to Corporate America Office Politics, Rosie

Yep, I have seen the same scenario played out a millions times.

If you haven't been under a rock lately, I'm sure you have heard or saw the live argument between Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on ABC's "The View".

Just in case you are dusting off the moss from being under that proverbial rock, Rosie O'Donnell made a statement in the past that was misconstrued or mangled in the press. In essence, she was asking Hasselbeck to put herself in the Iraqi people's shoes for a moment and see if she didn't feel that the U.S. attacked Iraq unjustly.

Granted, this is a VERY touchy subject, but one worth exploring. The press along with Fox News and Bill O'Reilly had a field day with the comment as they smugly reported that O'Donnell thought our troops were "terrorists". Nothing could be further from the truth.

Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck

After all of the bru-ha-ha, O'Donnell wondered aloud why Hasselbeck, her co-worker and supposed friend didn't defend her statement on the show. Hasselbeck in all her Republican glory smelled the blood and went for the kill. She stated that O'Donnell should defend her own statements.

O'Donnell took a deep breath and asked one more time. "Do you think that I think the U.S. troops are terrorists?" A yes or no question to be sure.

Hasselbeck continued ranting with O'Donnell ranting back and the simple answer she was seeking became a string of shouted words which equated to YES.

In Corporate America, Barbara Walters is the Supervisor. Rosie and Elisabeth are the coworkers. Rosie doesn't fit in with the rest of the group and feels like the outcast even moreso due to her views. Elisabeth gets the sympathy and Rosie exits.

The same scenario happened to me too, Rosie. Welcome to Corporate America Office Politics.
The only difference between Rosie and me? Several million dollars.





More Musings Later-

Musings about Musings From A Writer

I've looked at alot of other writers' blogs and they are strict to form: they are chock full of writing tips, advice, job leads and 'how to's.

While these writer sites are incredibly helpful and informative, I often wonder why the writers of these sites don't post more personal opinionated pieces. Isn't that what being a writer is all about? Sure, the form and rules of writing are important, but what about the observation of every day life?

I'm a bit behind in my "musings", Lord, has anyone seen "The View" lately? Yikes. Just in that one show lies a plethora of issues and opinions and rants.

Then there is my favorite (and I am being very sarcastic) Rush Limbaugh. My nickname for him is "Hush Bimbo" but that's for another post.

C'mon writers...RANT!

More musings later-

Miss Snark, The Crap-O-Meter and Killer Yap

This morning I logged on to all my usual blogs and checked them out. Reading for any comments posted or new items of interest. One of my favorites to read is Miss Snark, The Literary Agent.

As I click to enter her site, the title screams "Miss Snark is Retiring". What??? After blogging and offering practical and yes, blunt criticism for those brave enough to have her review their work...she is hanging up her keyboard.

People have tried to expose who the blogger actually is, but to me, intrigue plus invaluable advice equals a someone that will be sorely missed.

Miss Snark, I hardly knew thee.

More Musings Later-

Along the Road

Sometimes when I am going through alot of "stuff" personally, this song comes to mind. Every word is a pearl of truth. To all of you that may be going through some rough times as well-

Joy at the start
Fear in the journey
Joy in the coming home
A part of the heart
Gets lost in the learning
Somewhere along the road.
Along the road
Your path may wander
A pilgrim's faith may fail
Absence makes the heart grow stronger
Darkness obscures the trail.
Cursing the quest
Courting disaster
Measureless nights forebode
Moments of rest
Glimpses of laughter
Are treasured along the road.
Along the road
Your steps may tumble
Your thoughts may start to stray
But through it all a heart held humble
Levels and lights your way.
Joy at the start
Fear in the journey
Joy in the coming home
A part of the heart
Gets lost in the learning
Somewhere along the road
Somewhere along the road
Somewhere along the road.

Lyrics and Music: Dan Fogelberg

Cash, Money, Bahts, Bongos, Bread, Dollars

I have found out without a doubt what I dislike about freelancing.....there isn't much to hate, mind you, but I have to say that trying to collect money for services rendered really sucks.

Most of my clients are very prompt with payment and I just love'em for that. But there are some that are either very slow on paying or just don't pay at all. One fellow I coached recently just flat out stiffed me. That infuriates me. If he were to call me and say, "Hey, going through a rough financial time, but I can pay you in a month." Then, I can accept that. Hey, life happens sometimes, right?

But to ignore me and cause me to look at the next client with doubt? I really hate that. My advice to these slackers?

PAY UP AND THEN SHUT UP.

More Musings Later-

Quips from other Writers - Enjoy!

I am here to advise you that I have survived a laptop virus, idiotic computer techs and the overall helpless feeling one has when their computer is unavailable to them.

So, I thought instead of bitching about my computer problems of last week, I would instead offer some ditties from other writers about the art of writing. Enjoy!

There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.
~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.
~Ray Bradbury

So often is the virgin sheet of paper more real than what one has to say, and so often one regrets having marred it.
~Harold Acton, Memoirs of an Aesthete, 1948

The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.
~Anaïs Nin

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.
~E.L. Doctorow

A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket.
~Charles Peguy

And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
~Sylvia Plath

I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of hunger for life that gnaws in us all.
~Richard Wright, American Hunger, 1977

I try to leave out the parts that people skip.
~Elmore Leonard

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. ~Toni Morrison

What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers.
~Logan Pearsall Smith, "All Trivia," Afterthoughts, 1931

The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium.
~Norbet Platt

It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment? For the moment passes, it is forgotten; the mood is gone; life itself is gone. That is where the writer scores over his fellows: he catches the changes of his mind on the hop.
~Vita Sackville-

WestWriting became such a process of discovery that I couldn't wait to get to work in the morning: I wanted to know what I was going to say.
~Sharon O'Brien

Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very;" your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
~Mark Twain

I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.
~James Michener

The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say.
~Mark Twain

The wastebasket is a writer's best friend.
~Isaac Bashevis Singer

Don't be too harsh to these poems until they're typed. I always think typescript lends some sort of certainty: at least, if the things are bad then, they appear to be bad with conviction.
~Dylan Thomas, letter to Vernon Watkins, March 1938

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.
~William Wordsworth

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.
~Mark Twain

I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.
~James Michener

To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music the words make. ~Truman Capote, McCall's, November 1967

It seems to me that those songs that have been any good, I have nothing much to do with the writing of them. The words have just crawled down my sleeve and come out on the page.
~Joan Baez

Have you Noticed?

that writers are making the news?

Remember when a young teenager suffering with ADD/ADHD lost his way from his group on a camping trip? They were camping in the mountains where the evenings and nights got pretty cold. Well, the teenager remembered a book he had read recently where the fictional character also lost his way in the woods and followed the same survival techniques as the book's character. Amazingly, the teenager was found a few days cold and hungry, but very much alive.

Then unfortunately, the mentally ill killer from VA Tech was plastered all over the news as his former professors revealed that he took creative writing classes. His writing was so violent and angry that his teachers had geniune concerns for not only their safety, but his own. Sadly, we all know the results.

There is power in the written word. I hope one day, we can all write with care and responsibility.

More Musings Later-

Great Writing Allows You To See

I've had quite a few people ask me "What does it take to be a great writer?" There are all types of answers depending on the style of writing and so forth.



But for me? Great writing allows you to see. My favorite type of writing and reading for that matter, is storytelling or fictional writing. I've read some books and by some well-known authors (or their prospective ghostwriters I suppose) that were...well...not so memorable. Do you ever find yourself reading a chapter and then suddenly realizing, "What is going on in this chapter? Who is this character again? Why are they acting a certain way?".


When that happens to me, 2 words inevitably come to me. Famous author or not. BAD WRITING.


If I'm reading about a character, I want to know what they look like, what they are thinking, if they have crooked teeth, bad skin, a stutter or any other distintive trait. I want to SEE them in my mind. I want to know this person like the back of my hand.


If this character is so largely forgettable in a book, then why introduce them? My favorite example of this is John Grisham's "The Firm". When I was reading about Mitch (the main character). I instantly got a picture of a clean-cut version of Tom Cruise. And, when I read about his adventures, I could SEE Tom Cruise in my mind's eye.

By the same token, the reason I am such an OPPONENT of Laura Ingalls Wilder's TV version of her wonderful books is mostly because of the "Pa Ingalls" character. When I read her books, I SAW Pa. I knew that his hair was straight, course and thick. He had a matching beard. His hands were calloused as a result of his hard work. He was well-liked in the town and provided for his family. He was not necessarily handsome, but he was like any other homesteader in early American times.


He was NOT the curly headed, handsome, clean shaven actor in the series. And, Laura Ingalls' character wasn't the actress I saw either. I knew that when Hollywood tired of the actual events that happened in the book they would embellish. And, boy did they. The Ingalls adopted a boy so they could have that all-important son, Mary married a blind teacher, Pa never aged but Ma did and so on.

From L - R Standing: Carrie, Laura, Grace
From L - R Seated: Mary, Pa, Ma Ingalls

None of that ever happened in the book. Mary never married, Pa and Ma aged at the same rate, Laura's 2 sisters (Carrie and Grace) died fairly young, and the only boy the Ingalls had was stillborn. Those are the facts.


I know these things because Great Writing Allows You To See.


More Musings Later-

B.B. King, Drumsticks and Coyote Ugly!

Yes kids, I made it through another wild birthday! This one was number 45. And, I had the best time and managed to set downtown Nashville on it's proverbial ear.

We decided to do the "safe and responsible" thing by taking a bus downtown and then cab it back afterwards, cause you KNOW I'm drinking. So, we are sitting shoulder to shoulder on the bus and finally step out when we get to Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. I, of course had to go in, tip the band and request a Roger Miller tune. (My favorite). "Which one?" he asks me....I don't care, "Dang Me, King of the Road, whatever floats your boat!

Then we go to Coyote Ugly - We make our way to the bar where the bartendresses and patrons are dancing on the bar, and I politely bow out (my balance ain't the best...I have P Diddy, you know). But we are enjoying the view from the ground just the same!

Then we toodle down to B.B. King's club and we're having a conversation with the bartender about the opening of the club in Nashville. He tells us, "Yeah, we even have the drumsticks from his drummer when B.B.'s band was playing." He shows us the splintered worn sticks and being a former percussionist, I light up like a Christmas tree. My partner mentions it's my birthday and the bartender takes them out of the case and hands them to me.

"Enjoy!"

I look at the sticks in my hands and feel the old familiar feelings again. They feel good and they feel "right" in my hands. The sticks were pretty banged up and almost broken in two, which tells me the drummer had a great time playing and that the music was hot.

They're sitting on my fireplace mantle, because I sit near there when I write. And, if my laptop was to be compared to the sticks....my laptop would be smoking and almost broken in half.

Because I am having a great time and the books I'm working on are GREAT.

More Musings Later-

I No Lady, I Taryn!

Aaahhh, out of the mouth of babes. Actually, I was about 3 years old when I made that declaration. I remember I was at the store with my father when we bumped into a friend of his. He cooed to me, "And who is this little lady?"

Hence, my response.

After all these years, I still chuckle over that statement because it is SO me. Not that I behave less desireable than a lady....I'm just a feminist lady and apparantly, since the age of 3!

It's amazing that we can have a true sense of self at such a young age. That simple statement taught me alot about myself. I've learned that I am individualistic, hard headed, and full of piss and vinegar with a tad of sarcastic humor.

That strength in my statement has carried me down a life journey that has been enthralling, devastating, exciting and difficult. But, it carried me nonetheless.

Happy Birthday Kiddo-

More Musings Later

A River Runs Through It...

I had forgotten just how much I loved the movie, "A River Runs Through It," until I saw it on a movie channel recently. As I listened to the narration and dialogue, it occurred to me that this film was written with the heart of a poet.

Each word and phrase was carefully crafted to evoke emotions and imagery of a wistful childhood that most of us can relate to.

Especially those of us who have siblings who we feel are more special than we are.

You can only ache for Norman as he wants to help his younger brother, but in the end, realizes he can't force his help.

He sees the same scenario replayed in his girlfriend's family when her problematic older brother is still able to keep the family wrapped around his unlikeable finger.

Somehow, as imperfect as they are, they are perfect to their families.

Throughout the movie, Norman recounts his life in Montana and the one true love that he and his brother and father share: fly fishing in the river. To him, his life evolves while his brother's life stagnates...And A River Runs Through It.

To this day, waters haunt me.

What exceptional writing.

More Musings Later-

Love this Life- Ode to Crowded House

For those of you that are fans of the band Crowded House, you will recall that tune on one of their CD's entitled "Love this Life". It's one of those songs that you listen to and the more you listen, the more you "get it".

The gist of the meaning is this: There may be "junk" in your life or past (isn't there always?) but regardless...there are blessings in each person's life. Love your life, because it's what YOU created and it's a gift.

Too philosophical? Okay, revised meaning: Get over yourself and appreciate what you have!


Thanks Neil Finn, you're one helluva writer.
More Musings Later-

Pacman is a PUNK

I'll be the first to tell you, I am a HUGE Tennessee Titan fan. I was in heaven last year when we benched our putrid QB and let Vince Young play.

Man, all was right with my football world...Henry Travis was playing great, week in and week out. Vince was well, FREAKLISHLY great. And, Pacman was finally starting to make big plays. That is, when he wasn't in jail or spitting in women's faces at nightclubs.

This guy has so much talent and he chooses, yes CHOOSES to throw it away. He makes too much money and is too priviledged.

Now, he has gone too far. He caused a bouncer in Las Vegas to be paralyzed below the waist. Now the NFL is saying to suspend him for a year.

SUSPEND HIM? Why in the hell would they suspend him? I say FIRE HIM AND FORBID HIM TO RE-ENTER THE NFL PERIOD!

Oh, and Pacman? I think they should take your $54 Million dollar package and give it to your victim in Vegas so that it will pay for his rehab and put his wife through school. That's the reason why he took that job in the first place, after all.

Albert Haynesworth gave the Titans their first black eye, and now you have blackened the other. Not to mention how the top brass treated McNair during his contract talks. I've learned one important thing in all of this: The NFL is a business. Just as calculating and nasty as Corporate America. God Help us All.

More Musings later-