Back away from the laptop

I had one of those lightbulb moments yesterday afternoon!

I had taken a copy of my latest writing assignment to work hoping that I would have an opportunity at lunch time to do some editing. I had been struggling with the ending for a couple of days and especially needed some inspiration in that area.

So, after heating up my standard cardboard lunch (aka lean cuisine) I settled down with a pencil and began to go through it. As I read through it making changes here and there, I realized that reading it on a piece of paper was different than reading it on a computer screen. Somehow, my mind seems to process it differently. The coup de grace was the inspiration that hit me in the side of the head in the form of a great conclusion!

Sometimes I get so obsessed about finishing a task, that I forget about the value of stepping away for a while in order to gain fresh perspective. I've had to learn this lesson many times, and it appears that I will continue to revisit this one for a while longer.

Playing hooky

It's 6:13 am on Friday morning. Normally I would be at work by now (or on my way if I had stopped for a Starbucks). Today I'm sitting at home getting caught up with everyone's blogs.

I'm going for some blood work this morning (gulp...the dreaded cholesterol test!) and so I'm just hanging out until the office opens at 7:00. In the past when I've done this, I've brought work home the night before that I could do first thing in the morning. My plan this time was to do some final revisions on the assignment for my writing class that I have to turn in tonight.

This morning, as I sat down at my computer, I made a conscious decision to play hooky from responsibility and spend some time catching up with my blogging friends. I'm fifty now. I can play hooky if I want!!

Happy Friday everyone!

Blog award

I received a blog award from Angie over at Gumbo Writer. Thanks Angie!

Premio-Dardas: "This award 'acknowledges the values that every Blogger displays in their effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values with each message they write. Awards like this have been created with the intention of promoting community among Bloggers. It's a way to show appreciation and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web."

The rules of the road are as follows:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted it to you, along with his/her blog link.

2. Pass the award to (15) other blogs that you feel are worthy of this recognition. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen as recipients.

I'm not sure I can do this part, because I think most of my bloggy buddies already have received this award, but I'll do my best to find some worthy recipients later today.

I'm off running this morning...have a great day everyone!

Fifty!

Today I am fifty! I am thrilled to meet this milestone head on!

I thought I'd start out this new year with five things that are fabulous about being fifty!

1. Retirement looms close enough to see on the horizon
2. Grandchildren
3. Seeing our children grown into happy healthy productive members of society
4. Now I can act goofy and people excuse me for it! (there's a new "Grandma Dance" that happens in our home once in a while that you wouldn't believe!)
5. Did I mention Grandchildren?

Out of touch

It had to happen eventually. I was hoping that it would be a few years down the road, but it happened yesterday. My official induction into the "Out of Touch" club.

I've been struggling with the speed (or lack thereof) of my laptop lately and finally sent an email to my son (the techno wizard) asking what I could do to kick her up a notch. Well, he responded with a link to a product advising me to print the page and take it into any techie store and they would be able to give me what I needed.

Yesterday after church, my husband and I dutifully took the piece of paper into Best Buy. After wandering around in a daze in the computer department, hubby finally asked for help, and we were directed to the Geek Squad at the front of the store. (honest, that's what they're called!)

I handed the young fellow my piece of paper saying "I need one of those" not having the faintest idea what one of those really was. I was doing fine until he asked me a question! A question?! Please!

I responded in the way I've heard old ladies respond in the past. "I don't know, my son just told me to get it.".

Welcome to the club, Linda.