Welcome to the end of the week, folks. I hope it has been a good one for you. I am knee-deep in preparation for two events at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts. First is the Author Showcase coming November 12th. I will be there with 12 other Texas authors showcasing a number of books for children and adults. I am also the coordinator of the event, so lots of work there.
I am also directing the Holiday show, “Deck The Stage” using short plays written by Lindsay Price. They are so cute and we are having a lot of fun in rehearsals.
Both events are time-intensive for preparation, and I am always super busy from the first of October until Christmas. But I do enjoy both, so the work is worth it.
And now here is your Friday Meme
IN THE NEWS
The following was taken from Newsmax.com
Law enforcement officials are investigating the burning and defacing of a 111-year-old black church in Mississippi as a hate crime.
Hopewell M.B. Baptist Church in Greenville was set on fire Tuesday night, and the words “Vote Trump” spray-painted on the side of the building.
While Trump is not directly responsible for this, and his campaign condemned it, the deplorable action suggests that some of his supporters find nothing wrong with it. And Trump is responsible for the kind of rhetoric he has used throughout the campaign that appeals to some of the basest impulses in human behavior.
That is not the kind of president I want.
There is a terrific op-ed piece at the New York Times from Thomas L. Friedman that is a must-read in my book. It is a thoughtful and reasoned article with no name-calling or heated rhetoric, just some interesting facts. He wrote:
I understand why many Trump supporters have lost faith in Washington and want to just “shake things up.” When you shake things up with a studied plan and a clear idea of where you want to get to, you can open new futures. But when you shake things up, guided by one-liners and no moral compass, you can cause enormous instability and systemic vertigo.
And then went on to explain how Trump’s claims for winning back jobs and dealing with immigration just won’t work no matter how much spin he puts on it all. I do hope you will take a few minutes to hop over and read the article at the New York Times.
Since the election will be over next week, I will be soooo glad that all the political verbal sniping will also be over. I hope!
See you at the polls on Tuesday.
FRIDAY’S FUNNIES
The doctor that had been seeing an 80-year-old woman for most of her life finally retired. At her next checkup, the new doctor told her to bring a list of all the medicines that had been prescribed for her.
As the doctor was looking through these, his eyes grew wide as he realized Grandma had a prescription for birth control pills.
“Mrs. Smith, do you realize these are BIRTH CONTROL Pills?
“Yes, they help me sleep at night.”
“Mrs. Smith, I assure you there is absolutely NOTHING in these that could possibly help you sleep!”
She reached out and patted the young Doctor’s knee…”Yes, dear, I know that. But every morning,I grind one up and mix it in the glass of orange juice that my 16 year old granddaughter drinks, and believe me, it definitely helps me sleep at night.”
You gotta Love Grandmas!
Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam. The last question was: Name seven advantages of Mother’s Milk. The question was worth 70 points or none at all.
One student started his list with only a few minutes left to complete the test:
1) It is perfect formula for the child.
2) It provides immunity against several diseases.
3) It is always the right temperature.
4) It is inexpensive.
5) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa.
6) It is always available as needed.
And then the student was stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell rang indicating the end of the test, he wrote:
7) It comes in two attractive containers and it’s high enough off the ground where the cat can’t get it.
WRITING WISDOM
The following is taken from Dealing With a Slump by Dan Blank at Writer Unboxed – a great site for writing advice and inspiration.
First he shares some quotes by successful authors on the challenges and negativity they have experienced in their careers, and how that almost froze them in their tracks. The negative things that come our way – rejection, harsh criticism, disappointment, missed deadlines – almost always makes us question our validity as writers. We slump.
To get out of a slump, Dan offers these tips:
Name the problem. Say it out loud. Write it down. Scream it if you have to. Sometimes what holds us back is an unnamed problem or fear.
Create a practice of celebrating small milestones.
Someone I worked with described slumps this way: “we don’t feel our success when we are in a slump.”
Develop the habit of recognizing the small successes you have each week.Change your context. Get out of the house. Change your routine. Change how you spend lunch. Make some change that seems “impossible,” even if it is a small action such as leaving your phone at home or unplugging your internet cable.What you may find is that by challenging yourself with a small change, you may confront habits that keep you feeling in a slump.
I want to end this post with probably the best way I have found to beat a slump: perspective. To seek out the wisdom of others who have overcome incredible challenges.
As an example, Dan suggests we read a bit of the experiences Betsy Brockett has had and see what she has overcome to be a productive writer. It is well worth it to read her blog that chronicles her battle against cancer and introduces her Cured Life.