What I did two weekends ago.

A friend of mine was here on vacation a few weekends ago. The families met up and off  we went to the Orlando Science Center. Here are a few of my favorite creatures from the trip.

Mr Lizard

The Distinguished Bearded Dragon

Turtles and Alligators. Don't worry the gators were small.

The inquisitive Mr. Snake.

The Hairy Tarantula.

Music Monday! Johnny Cash.

I try to be upbeat on Monday's but a friend of mine looked at a manuscript I've got out on submission, and she said I need to dig deeper into to emotion. Immediately this song came to mind. So I give you "Hurt"

Johnny Cash - (HURT) - Click here for more blooper videos

People of Interest:: Bobby McFerrin.

Do you guys remember Bobby McFerrin? Does "Don't worry. Be happy." ring a bell? Yep that's right, that's him. But I bet you didn't know He was a vocalist and a conductor. Born to musically gifted parents he's gone on to win ten Grammy awards and given us this feel good anthem.

Truth be told I had no idea who I was going to talk about today but then I heard that song rolling through my head. Then I remembered that there was more to this man than a Robin Williams filled video and a feel good song. I remembered  Sixty Minutes (at least I think it was Sixty Minutes) doing an interview with him and being struck by his seemingly unassuming self and his awesome talent.

Sometimes we only judge artist by what the popular majority feels is a hit and the truth is there are often untold depths that haven't been showcased. So I leave you with another side to Mr. McFerrin that you may or may not have seen.

Social Media?

So I had a conversation with someone the other day about .... Social Media. Is it really social? What's appropriate? Should a facebook profile determine your eligibility for employment? these were all discussed.

So is it Social? Yes, kind of. You can sit on your couch and interact with friends and family all over the world. Is it social in the way we defined social in years past no. It's not getting out there face to face but then again when you're talking a five hour time difference or an eight hour plane ride it's social. especially when your alternative  is a letter my snail mail. (Will discuss the death of letter writing another  time)

So what's appropriate behavior for social media? Please, please don't put anything on your website, facebook page, Blog, twitter, that you wouldn't want your mother to see. If you'll be embarrassed about it don't put it out there.

Watch what you say. We all suffer from foot-in-mouth disease from time to time, but please before you hit send at least re-read what you're about to put out there for the world to see. Trust me I've done this before and when I looked back on my angry rant I wasn't happy with what I saw.

Should it determine whether or not you're eligible for employment? well here's the deal, it shouldn't be the only factor. If you are doing something that's illegal and someone (lets face if everyone has a camera nowadays) or yourself decides to post a picture then, you better know someone is going to see it. remember six degrees of separation. It's a small world and I have it on good authority that companies will google you. Chances are someone is friends with you and also knows your boss or boss to be. So play it safe ramp up those privacy settings and take down any unflattering photo's.

Music Monday! Weezer!

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you El Scorcho!

Pics from NY

I swear my weekends just booked up and I have no idea how that happened. suddenly I'm running around like a mad woman I'll be happy when feburary rolls around. My aunt confirmed that she'll be spending Christmas with us and we're happy to have have her. I can't wait, soon I get to harass her. Anyway I promised you guys that I'd post the pics from NY and here they are:

The Statue of Liberty

Jillian in Battery Park.

Jillian and I

Music Monday! Kassav!

Zouk La  Ce Sel Medicament Nou Ni



I grew up on this music, known as Zouk. This is Kassav.

Wednesday Update!

I'm back from NYC. My sister-in-law and my nephew are fine. My brother completely in love with them both and my dad now has a grandson. I'm not allowed to post pics of Braden but I will describe him as my very cute mini sumo wrestler.
 Will be back on later to update this post with pics as I'm heading out the door and realized that I hadn't set up this post and I just found my cord to my camera.

Music Monday! Kool and the gang Celebrate.

In honor of the birth my nephew, and Labor day!

People of Interest: Andrew Carnegie.

My aunt who's degree is in Human resources list this quote by Andrew Carnegie on her website :
"Take away my people, but leave my factories and soon grass will grow on the factory floors… Take away my factories, but leave my people and soon we will have new and better factories" 

Born in Scotland Andrew Carnegie was an immigrant who lived the American dream. He worked his way up from a factory worker in a bobbin factory to an industrialist. Then he became a philanthropist, giving a way most of his money.


If this man can make it in this world why can't we?

So I was listening to the radio.

First of all let me apologize for my late blog. I usually write them up the night before and schedule them but it didn't happen this time.

Like I said I was listening to the radio this sunday and heard this quote from Dwight L Moody. " Character is what you are in the dark."

That got me thinking, about writing and life. But for now on the life side I'll just say I'm taking a closer look at myself and the people around me.

On the writing side: So many times we see showing someones character as showing their personality when really that's just the window dressing. Personality is what everyone see's on the exterior. Beneath that lies the character.

Character is based on the decisions we make. Not the personality we mask it in. You know that saying "actions speak louder than words." That's character.

Character can be eroded, by lack of action, or the wrong decision. We can slowly create a villain by slowly eroding character with a series of decisions and masking them with their personality. So slowly that by the end of a book the reader is surprised and when they go back they can see it but only after we've led them to the end.

We can create a hero in the same way except his decision must be the tough ones the ones that determine his character.


So tell me, have you thought about character lately?