Natalie Rompella

Giving (or Getting) a Gift That Gives Back

2010-05-13T09:15:00.004-05:00

Are you a parent that struggles every year with what to get your children’s teachers as an end of the year (or holiday) gift?

As a former teacher, the parents were very generous around the holidays and at the end of the year with presents of appreciation. I would actually have to make multiple trips out to my car to bring them home. Although I was very happy for such generosity, I also felt a little guilty. I often would get things I didn’t need or use and give them away. Lotions and candles are great, but you can only moisturize your hands so many times a day.

Then I got an idea. I knew parents wouldn’t stop altogether with sending a gift, so I that if they wanted to give a gift, a donation to a charity would be wonderful. I even gave suggestions of charities I liked.

On that last day of school, I still received some presents, but many of the families followed my suggestion and donated instead. Some even had their child choose a charity they thought I’d like (I’m into nature, so I received one for the Audubon Society, which was great!).

So parents, if you want to give your children’s teachers a gift they can really appreciate, consider donating. Not only does the money go to a worthy cause (instead of scenting the house with the waxy smell of sugar cookies or lavender), but it teaches your child a lesson in giving. You can also get your child involved by having them think about what charity the teacher would like (or give to a charity your child or family personally supports).

Most charities have ways to easily donate online--simply google the name of the charity. Just think—no more having to shop around for a last minute gift!

And teachers, I hope you’ll think about offering this idea to your parents. All I did was send out a note to the parents in my newsletter. I would recommend doing it about 3 weeks to a month in advance, as one year my parents had already pooled money together for something else.

Below is a list of types of charities I have suggested to my students’ parents or donated to myself. Happy giving!

American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000
Autism Speaks: http://www.autismspeaks.org/
Ronald McDonald House (offers families a place to stay while their child is being treated for a serious illness or injury in a hospital far away from their home): http://rmhc.org/
TAILS Humane Society: http://www.tailshumanesociety.org/
Critter Corral (a guinea pig rescue): http://crittercorral.org/
Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation: http://ocfoundation.org/
American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
March of Dimes: http://www.marchofdimes.com/

An Earth Day Birthday

2010-04-20T14:38:00.002-05:00

For daughter’s birthday this year, the theme is Earth Day. In the spirit of being green, I am trying to make it as eco-friendly as possible.

Step 1: Paperless invitations. Evite was a quick and easy way to send out invites to the guests with zero waste. I also didn’t have to worry about hand-writing them, mailing labels, money on stamps, licking envelopes, etc.

Step 2: Letting guests know they didn’t need to bring presents. Really, does she need any new toys? Not really. I actually prefer getting her toys at a resale shop.

Step 3: Telling guests if they do bring gifts, to wrap them in previously-used paper or gift bags. Ugghh…I get a stomache seeing the garbage bag of wrapping paper after a party. And usually it goes in the trash! Ughhh!

Step 4: Not using typical disposable plates, cups, and utensils. Here’s where I’m struggling. Because more guests are coming than I have every day plates, glasses, etc. for, I will need to use something in the realm of disposable. I went to Whole Foods and found a line of very cool plates and utensils made from takeout containers, wheat, and other plants. They are also completely biodegradable. I bought them, excited they wouldn’t end up sitting in a landfill. That is, until I remembered I don’t have a compost bin. Without one, the plates would still end up in a landfill. Back to the store I went. This time I bought cups that can be recycled and plates and utensils that can be washed in the dishwasher and reused. I will also be setting out real plates, metal utensils, and glasses for those guests that prefer to use them, such as myself.

Step 5: For party favors, I didn’t want to buy a bunch of junky toys that the kids would play with once and throw away. Instead, I bought seed packets as well as gummy worms to fit the earth theme.

So we’ll see how this Earth Day Birthday goes. If you have ideas for cutting down on party waste, leave a comment.

Going Inside A Match Made in High School

2010-03-22T09:52:00.003-05:00

Did you grow up watching Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink? Then you’ll love Kristin Walker’s debut novel, A Match Made in High School. Although it is written for young adults, I had a blast feeling like I was back in high school as I read it.

I have known Kristin for quite a few years (as well as her path to publication). After reading her novel, I really wanted to find out some of the inside details about A Match Made in High School. Kristin was kind enough to respond to my questions via email. Here is our cyber interview:

Give a one sentence summary of your book.

Seniors in high school get paired up for a course in marriage education to disastrous and hilarious results.

Who is your ideal reader?

A teenage girl. But if a teenage boy wants to read it, that’s cool. Adults, too. (I mean it’s okay for them to read it, not that they’re cool. *shudder*)

Who were you in high school?

Pretty much a dork. I think I was one of those people you don’t remember you ever went to school with. I was a cheerleader and I dated the captain of the basketball team for a while (he was new in school), and that was about the sum total of my high school social life. I occasionally was invited to parties and things. I was smart, but not exceptionally. I was insecure. But a snob, too. Good times! High school then was like high school now…a big, complicated, exciting, emotional mess.

What aspects of the main character are based on you in high school (Fiona’s dry wit, your thoughts on cheerleading, etc.)?

Well, I loved being a cheerleader, so Fiona and I differ there. But I certainly had her sarcasm and cynicism. Thank God I grew out of that. It often got me into trouble, just like it does for Fiona.

How many references to John Hughes’ movies were in your book? (I found Sixteen Candles—the scene at the end where a car moves and the guy is standing there in front of his car—your book p. 249)

YAY! I’m so glad you picked up on the car moving scene! That was my heartfelt homage to the great John Hughes. The world will miss him. I will miss him. And I’ll never get the chance to ask him why Billie Bird crouches down next to the car when they’re all getting in to go to the wedding. For years, I’ve wanted to ask him that. *sigh*

My book reflects some of The Breakfast Club, too. In both, opposites “types” are forced together and end up realizing that people aren’t always who they appear to be, or what they’ve been labeled.

Now that I think about it, there’s a bit of Samantha Baker and Andie Walsh in Fiona, some Del Griffith and Duckie Dale in Johnny, some Ferris Beuller and Steff McKee in Todd. Even some Claire Standish in Amanda. Hughes’s characters were always full and believable and lovable.

I think for me, the biggest influence from John Hughes just came from his sense of humor and comedic timing. And romantic timing, too. It seems that every time I see one of his films, I notice something new that he must have stuck in there just for viewers to stumble upon. Even though he’d stopped making films a while ago, his death made me very sad. I’m a bit of a fangirl, obviously. I could talk about him all day.

I know at one point you were ready to throw in the towel on your novel (as most authors are at some point). What got you back on track?

What makes you think that? Huh? Could it have been when I completely disintegrated in tears in front of you in a conference hotel room, perchance? Yes, I was ready not only to throw in the towel on the novel, but on writing altogether. What got me back on track was the support and encouragement of my writing friends, like you, and my family. (So thank you, dearest Nat.) I also really thought that this novel idea had a shot, despite the horrid reception the first few pages received at that conference. (Take note, fledgling writers…never, ever, EVER show anyone your first draft. EVER. That’s just my opinion, but DON’T DO IT! Trust me. You may not be as lucky as I was to have a compassionate friend there for hugs and reassurance.)

What is the biggest change you made from the original draft?

I have to say, the plot. During my first revision for Razorbill, I cut and re-wrote about a third of the book. The plot became more focused, thanks to my editor’s guidance. On the whole, my plots do tend to meander about.

What hasn’t changed that much from the original draft?

Fiona’s voice and character. She’s remained the same from the start. Same goes for Todd, Marcie, Johnny, and Amanda. All the characters, really. I just gave them slightly different things to do.

What feedback, that you’re willing to share, have you gotten on your book?

I’ve gotten a ton of positive feedback, which is great, of course. On the negative side, a lot of readers find Fiona unlikable and get sick of her. That’s understandable, since Fiona is definitely flawed. That’s one of the major transformations she undergoes—realizing that she’s partially responsible for the unraveling of her relationships. Her behavior in the beginning can easily be seen as jerky. But she does finally realize it, and changes.

Is there anything you wish you could change/add in your book (such as a character trait, a plot line, a reference to something)?

I would love to have been able to go deeper into the issue of gay marriage than I could. It’s such a weighty topic that it would’ve pulled too much focus from the main story, though. I honestly did try to address it with the parade, as well as with the Uncle Tommy subplot. Gay marriage really requires and deserves a book of its own.

I recommend A Match Made in High School. It will really take you back to those days of boys, pep rallies, and partner work.

To find out more about Kristin Walker and to order her book, visit her website at http://kristin-walker.com/.

A Writer's Getaway

2010-03-15T15:34:00.005-05:00

This past December, my husband was nice enough to give me the gift of time and privacy for my birthday by allowing me to have some uninterrupted writing time. So after spending the day packing, getting my 10-month old all set for my husband and mom to watch (including writing up directions), and cleaning the house for my mom, I was off. I drove across the Elgin border to St. Charles for a writing retreat at a hotel.

What I needed was a chance to read my work-in-progress novel without interruptions. With a baby, that’s next to impossible. Usually I read a couple of chapters and then don’t get a chance to look at it again for a couple of days. By then, it’s hard to remember little details of consistency: (What day of the week was the last chapter? Was X in this version or my last draft? Did I use Y expression already?) Staying in a hotel where I could concentrate seemed perfect.

I left on a Friday night and returned on Sunday. It was just the right amount of time to get through a middle grade novel. I would highly recommend doing this, even if you live alone. Being in a different environment can be inspiring, not to mention being excuse-free of reasons not to write (“the laundry’s piling up,” “let me just mop the floor, then, I’ll write,” “I haven’t made bread from scratch in a while,” etc.).

To save you some time, I’ve written up a list of what to bring, besides your basic packing stuff:

Writing Related

notebook paper—Be optimistic: bring lots.

a clipboard or other hard surface if you like to work on the bed instead of a desk like I do.

different colored pens—I found it useful to write all the changes I wasn’t sure I wanted to make in a different color pen. That way, if I changed my mind, I could easily find those particular changes and remove them.

Post-It notes—Good to bookmark pages when you flip back and forth between sections.

different colored highlighters—I learned a terrific exercise by attending a conference by Darcy Pattison. You shrink your manuscript to a font small enough to fit your entire manuscript onto 32 pages (play with the margins and single space). You then use different colored highlighters to highlight whatever you want to examine for flow in your novel. You then lay out your novel on the floor and can see the entire thing in one look.

laptop computer (Note: ask ahead of time whether the hotel AND YOUR SPECIFIC ROOM have wireless. My room must have been just on the cusp of wireless coverage. I got a good 30 min. of online time and that’s it. (It ended up being a good thing, as I didn’t have access to time-sucking Facebook).

keyboard, mouse, etc.—It was worth it to me to have a mouse instead of using the touchpad of the laptop. I was fine with the mini-keyboard of the laptop, but if you’re not, keep that in mind. Nothing’s worse than having time to type and being uncomfortable.

printer—Yes, you heard me correctly. I purchased a small HP printer from Walmart for $35 (color and black ink included). It was SO WORTH having with me. Sometimes I redo a page so extensively, I need to edit it a couple of times. It was helpful to be able to print it and write on a clean copy.

printer paper

flash drive—If you don’t bring a printer, you still may want to print. By bringing a flash drive, you can print in the hotel’s business center (or, you can always email yourself your manuscript and open it that way).

scissors—in case you want to cut your story apart to lay out

stapler or hole punch—I keep my novel in a binder. After I printed some new pages, I wished I was able to stick them in my binder.

synopsis—If you change your novel, you may want to update this as well

other drafts of the novel—I know I ended up referring to old copies of my novel for parts I had deleted from the most current version.

Non-writing Related

snacks—Lots. Now’s not the time to worry about calories. Okay, I’m rationalizing the fact that I brought a jumbo bag of M & Ms, Red Vines, and Sun Chips, but let’s just refer to these foods as fuel for creativity.

meal-ish Foods—I regret that I didn’t pack anything that could count as a meal. Because my hotel had a HUGE children’s chess tournament going on, the parking lot was packed. In an effort to not lose my great parking space, I refused to leave the hotel. That meant I had to eat at the restaurants at the hotel. Saturday morning, I spent $4 on a cup of Dannon yogurt and a microscopic box of Cheerios. I should have brought a couple granola bars, an apple, a box of raisins, etc.

cooler—Again, for bringing your own food. My room didn’t have a refrigerator. If it had, I could have packed my own yogurt for under a dollar (can you tell I’m still bummed my yogurt cost $2.50?)

water

hand soap—Am I the only one that can’t stand how hotels still provide a bar soap instead of having a pump by the sink? I bring my own instead of using the slimy bar. A tip for any hotel stay.

ipod and headphones, workout clothes, etc.—It was nice to take a break on the treadmill for a bit to clear my head. It also helped to work off about 4 M & Ms.

swimsuit—A hotel with a pool was a must for me. I forced myself to make it to a certain page before I could take a swim break though.

Simple & Complicated

2010-03-10T10:19:00.005-06:00

When I get stuck writing a novel, I like to turn to published middle grade novels for guidance. There is so much to examine in a book. Here are some things I’ve looked at to help my own writing:

How many characters are there in the book?
How long are the chapters?
What’s the word count for the book?
Is the problem presented in the first chapter?
What’s the average sentence length?

What I’m pondering right now is how complex to make my plot and subplot. I wanted to look at books that are at both extremes, but I would love some help finding them.

When thinking of middle grade and young adult novels, what are some examples of books with very simple plots? What are some examples of books with very complex plots? Please post in the comments section.

Sled Dogs as Teachers

2010-03-02T15:58:00.009-06:00

Teachers: need a fun topic to draw your class in? Especially during testing time?

This Friday (March 6) begins the Iditarod—one of the hardest, longest, and most well-known of the sled dog races that take place annually in the United States (there are over one hundred annual races, including ones in Arizona).

Being from Chicagoland, until recently, I had only heard the word Iditarod but knew nothing about the sport. After doing sled dog research for my book Famous Firsts (about the history of various sports in the U.S.), I was hooked (or ganglined!). I tried to learn everything I could about sled dog racing, including attending some local sled dog demos and an actual race in the Wisconsin Dells (highly recommended). There are great resources out there on the mushers and the races (but be prepared to want to mush yourself afterward).

Now, back to the teaching part. I’m personally bummed that I’m not currently teaching, as I’d love to get my class as excited about the Iditarod as I am. There are so many ways to tie sled dog racing into learning. The Iditarod’s official website has lots of resources for teachers, which I encourage you to check out: http://iditarodblogs.com/teachers/. Here are some I’ve come up with as well:

Learning about the state of Alaska, including the geography, climate, and culture

Learning about the history of sled dogs (before racing) and how dogs and sleds were used to transport people, mail, and, goods

Reading online biographies about the mushers (on the Iditarod website, they also have information on writing to mushers—another good curriculum tie)

The physics of a team of sled dogs pulling weight

Using math to figure out percentages and fractions for comparing various numbers, such as number of mushers from Alaska vs. rest of U.S.; number of mushers from U.S. vs rest of world; number of veteran vs newcomers; and number of women vs men

Creating organized data charts for information, such as dropped dogs or speed each particular musher goes to each checkpoint

History of the race

Exploring what materials would be best to stay warm out in the cold (science)

Reading about and creating a Venn diagram on different types of dogs used for sled dog racing (and it’s not just Huskies and Malamutes)

Inventing equipment for sled dog racing

Writing a short narrative from the perspective of a lead dog, a point dog, a wheel dog, and the musher

The Iditarod will also be using GPS tracking so you and your class can follow the mushers as they go along the trail. Although the race begins this Friday, you have plenty of time to get your materials together for this unit as it usually lasts ten to seventeen days.

Another excellent race to follow with your class (next year) is the Yukon Quest, which occurs each February. It is a 1,000-mile race that travels from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse in Yukon, Canada. It also has great coverage on their website, as well as through Facebook. The link for their official page is http://www.yukonquest.com/.

Here are some great resources I have read/watched:

Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod (a Discover Channel documentary) I would think kids would really enjoy this as well. However, it’s quite lengthy (I think close to 6 hours?). You could show during lunch and recess for those interested. Be sure to preview first to make sure suitable.

Cold Hands, Warm Heart: Alaskan Adventures of an Iditarod Champion by Jeff King (4 time winner of the Iditarod and 1 time winner of the Yukon Quest)

Iditarod Country: Exploring the Route of the Last Great Race by Tricia Brown (for kids)
My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen (for kids)

Dashing Through the Snow: The Story of the Junior Iditarod by Sherry Shahan

Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen

Honest Dogs: A Story of Triumph and Regret from the World’s Toughest Sled Dog Race by Brian Patrick O’Donoghue

The Iditarod Fact Book: A Complete Guide to the Last Great Race by Sue Mattson
Backstage Iditarod by June Price

Mush! A Beginner’s Manual of Sled Dog Training Edited by Charlene G. LaBelle

The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller (for kids)

Coming out this month: The Lance Mackey Story: How My Obsession with Dog Mushing Saved My Life By Lance Mackey (3 time winner of the Iditarod and 4 time winner of the Yukon Quest)

Here are the books the Iditarod recommends: http://iditarodblogs.com/teachers/iditarod-books/

Photo at top of page by Paul Retherford Photography, LLC. http://www.PaulRetherford.com

Make-Up Round Up

2010-02-23T14:03:00.002-06:00

Ladies…do you own enough old make-up to fill a landfill? I never want to throw away my old eye shadows, lipsticks, and powders in the off change they 1) come back in style 2) magically become flattering 3) don’t make me break out in hives.

Recently, during a spring cleaning phase, I decided to organize my toiletry pantry. I pulled together all the old make-up I had stored away for years and years. I had enough to beautify a small country. Unfortunately, there was a reason each project had ended up filed away. It was useless.

After slapping my own wrists for being so wasteful, I decided it was time to pitch it. Ideally, it would be reused, as, after reducing, it is the most important of the 4R’s. Luckily, I was able to give away a small portion to people I knew, but I still had a truckload of products that were too old for human application.

What to do? After searching online for how to recycle toiletries, I discovered that the company Origins will take used make-up containers (eye shadow containers, lipstick tubes, compacts, etc.). Since Origins preferred the containers to be clean, I began emptying out my eye shadows and powder trays. I must say, the lipsticks were a nightmare to clean out. After using almost an entire roll of paper towels on one lipstick, I felt it would be more ecological to just give the tube to them with the lipstick still inside.

Origins was thrilled with all my empty containers. They actually gave me a huge tub of lotion, they were so excited. It felt great to clean out my pantry and not dump everything into the garbage where hundreds of years from now they will still be discovered intact.

Although I was happy with the outcome of the situation, I did learn a good lesson: don’t buy navy eye shadow in the first place.

Here are two good links on recycling make-up and toiletries:
Origins Recycling Program: http://www.origins.com/about/index.tmpl?page=recfaq
Ideas for how to recycle toiletries: http://www.recyclethis.co.uk/search/?cx=partner-pub-8628783556283904%3A3g3qh3-7knu&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=tolietries&siteurl=www.recyclethis.co.uk%2Fabout#913
(Of special note is how one person reused the ball from deodorants to make earrings.)

Baby Green Jeans

2010-02-10T16:17:00.005-06:00

Once my daughter was born, I found the thrill of the resale shop. Who knew reusing could be so much fun? My favorite place to go is Once Upon a Child.

When I first went, I was only interested in buying clothing. I was pleasantly surprised to find all the various name brands there for less than the retail stores. However, what was also important to me was that these gently worn—or never worn—clothes weren’t ending up in a dumpster. Baby clothes get worn for only a couple months before they’re outgrown, which can be quite a waste. I know there are items in my child’s closet that never even got worn due to being out of season or got lost in the shuffle. It’s good to know someone else can get use out of them.

Next, I discovered that Once Upon a Child had a super toy selection. Most of the toys are plastic, which I was able to easily clean up. I found the coolest toys there—most were ones I hadn’t even seen at the regular stores. Again, thinking of buying new items that use all those resources and energy…and how the old ones would sit for hundreds of years in a landfill just turned my stomach. Why would I do that if I could get the same ones at a resale shop? And for less money? No contest for me.

My last discovery was that they also sold large toys (scooters, walkers, etc.) and baby furniture. Besides the fact they cost less than new items and help the environment, THEY’RE ALREADY ASSEMBLED. Enough said.

So, if you have a little one or know someone that does, consider buying from a resale shop. Save the green by being green!

The Birth of a Character

2010-02-09T09:49:00.002-06:00

A while back I mentioned what it took to switch a male character to female (David to Dana). As I ended that entry, I said how, before I could rewrite the scenes, I needed to know who Dana was.
There are many exercises for developing a character. Typical ones include answering such questions as:
What movies does your character watch?
What’s your character’s favorite color?
What could be found in your character’s backpack or purse?
What does his/her bedroom look like?
What bands/types of music does your character listen to?
Does your character have any hobbies?

(There are about a million sites with lists to help you think about your character. Here are two good ones: http://www.tarakharper.com/k_char2.htm and http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/106 )

All these questions are helpful, but I didn’t even have a clue how to answer these questions because I still couldn’t picture my character. I decided to get inspiration from the Internet.
As my character was a female sled dog racer, I typed in “junior sled dog racer” into google images. Nothing helpful. Probably for protection purposes, there weren’t many photos with children’s faces. Okay, I thought, if I couldn’t find a young sled dog racer, what other topics could I try that would serve my character’s personality (which I didn’t know much about yet)?
I knew this girl was outdoorsy and into animals…4H? I punched it in. Bingo!
I found a terrific picture of three outdoorsy girls holding a pile of weeds. As I studied the picture, two of them were potentials for being Dana. They were very different from one another—a new dilemma. I decided to rewrite my boy scene from each of the two girls’ point of view based on the way they look. One of the girls looked very outgoing and carefree (based on the fact she had no bangs, tousled hair, and a huge (metal) smile on her face. The other girl seemed serious and shy, although she may have a confidence about her when doing something she loves (this girl was thin with long bangs, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and a half-smile on her face).
After reading my two passages, I decided to go with the carefree girl—she would make for a more interesting character. What worked out well was that the serious girl would work as my main character, Ana. I now had a picture of my two characters together! Perfect!
So, with a picture of a couple of girls in a 4H garden group, I could continue writing my novel.

Help! I Have an Idea but No Paper!

2010-02-01T15:32:00.001-06:00

Writers: Have you ever had the idea for the next bestseller when there was no paper or computer in site? If you’re like me, you told yourself, “This idea is so great, I definitely won’t forget it.” Of course, five minutes later, it’s gone.

I thought I’d offer some creative ideas for holding onto your thoughts for later use.

“Help! I’m Trapped on the Highway with a Great Idea in my Head!”: I have found keeping a hand-held tape recorder on the passenger seat can really come in handy. I actually completed a whole freelance assignment on my way to Indianapolis once using it. Tip: I always date my entries. This helps 1. When I transcribe them, I have some idea of when they’re from. 2. Because I use an old-fashioned audio tape that I rewind and reuse, there are old entries that will still play after the new ones. This can get confusing. By dating the entries, I can tell when the older ones begin. If you don’t want to invest in a tape recorder, you can also call your home or cell and leave a message with the idea. Of course, regardless of how you do it, always use safe driving practices. No idea is worth injuring yourself or others.

“Help! I’m Trapped in the Car with my Napping Baby and no Paper!”: This is my newest writing challenge. If my baby falls asleep in the car during designated nap time, I let her sleep until she wakes. This often means arriving at my destination but having to sit in the parking lot for forty-five minutes to an hour. After twiddling my thumbs a few times, I learned this was a great opportunity to get some writing done or even just brainstorm. Now I don’t leave home without a chapter of my manuscript to work on and/or blank paper. (I also pack a book I’m reading as research.)

“Help! I’m Trapped in a Meeting but my Mind is Feeling Creative!” I used to get my best ideas during meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops. I used to jot them down in the margins of my meeting notes--never to be seen again. Now I try to keep a second piece of paper beneath my notes that I flip to to write my ideas/thoughts. It also looks like I’m taking wonderful notes on the speaker’s topic.

“Help! I’m Out and About and Have no Paper on Me!” This has happened to me while sitting in the bleachers of a basketball game. Women, rummage through your purse; men, try your wallet. There’s bound to be an old receipt, business card, or something similar. Otherwise, look around your location: are there any pamphlets or flyers? How about napkins? (Isn’t that what J.K. Rowling used to write Harry Potter?) You can even write on your hand if you’re desperate. If you have a smartphone, you can also call or email yourself.

“Help! I’m Trapped in the Shower with my Idea!” Sorry, no clue to help you with this one. Any suggestions?

“Help! I’m in Bed Already and too Lazy to Write Down my Idea!” Here’s where I usually try to convince myself I’ll just remember it in the morning. No way. Try keeping paper by your bedside. I have become quite good at writing in the dark. All you really need are some key words that will jog your memory later.

One last tip: If you’re with someone else in your unfortunate paperless situation, see if they’re willing to help you out. Sometimes my husband won’t remember what I told him, but will 1. remember that I told him to remember something or 2. remember one word, which is often sufficient.

If you have a handy tip, please share.

Gender Issues

2010-01-29T21:13:00.004-06:00

I haven't blogged in quite a while, so I thought I should kick off my return to blogdom with a bang: how I changed David to Dana...

While reworking my entire work-in-progress novel for a third time, I had a revelation. After getting asked over and over by my fellow critiquers if my girl main character had feelings for the boy sidekick character, David, I thought about whether this sidekick really needed to be a boy. By changing him to a girl might help some of my plot problems. I decided to go for it: David would become Dana.

At first thought, all I would need to do was a quick find/replace of the word "him" to "her," "he" to "she," etc. But, as I reread the scenes with Dana, I realized that changing a character's gender wasn't going to be that simple.

As David, the sidekick character was nonchalant, active, and outspoken. As a boy, these characteristics weren't anything that stood out. However, once the character became a girl, the traits made quite a statement about her personality. For instance, when David guzzled his milk, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. But when I changed the character to a girl (Dana), she no longer could get away with guzzling the milk without the reader drawing conclusions about what she was like.

As I shared the problem with a writing listserv I belong to, the topic caused quite a stir. Many people felt that we need more strong, tomboyish girls in children's literature. Although I agree, I also worried about creating a different stereotype. You see, this character races sled dogs. By having her be a "tomboy," I was afraid I was then giving the impression that a girl has to be masculine to be a musher. I didn't want that either. I went back and forth as to how "feminine" Dana should be. I wrote scenes both ways: with Dana as what might be considered a traditional female character and with Dana as what would be considered a tomboy. I was still torn.

I went back and forth with advantages to both traits for this character. Unfortunately, I had to decide for myself who this character was before I could begin my David to Dana transformation. Regardless to what I did, it was definitely going to be more than a matter of changing some "he's" to "she's"...

A Reunion of Pastries

2009-03-24T11:38:00.013-05:00

In February, I posted an article called “Life with Luna” on the website for the TAILS Humane Society where I adopted my dog. I was trying to track down the whereabouts of her siblings: Fritter, Crumpet, and Waffle. Yes, all breakfast foods, including our Crepe, which my husband and I renamed Luna.

I was excited to hear back from Lane, the TAILS PR committee chairperson. She found the story interesting enough to help me by contacting the other dogs’ families and letting them know of my search.

A couple days later, I received an email from a family who had adopted Waffle. Soon we were exchanging pictures of our dogs, including a great one of Waffle (now Piper Mae) in her ballerina tutu for Halloween.

Piper

Next we got word from the adopter of Crumpet, who was renamed Grommet. He was also doing well, give or take a chewed cell phone or shoe.

After learning about their new lives, I decided to organize a Pastry Reunion. I invited the other two families for a dog playdate. While the plans were being set, another family contacted me, telling me they saw my TAILS article and had adopted Croissant (now Peanut) from a PetSmart store. I didn’t even know there was a Croissant! She quickly got an invitation to the reunion.

I emailed TAILS asking how many were in the litter—obviously not the four I had originally thought. It turns out there were seven “baked goods” altogether: Fritter, Crumpet, Waffle, Crepe, Croissant, Muffin, and Pancake.

Although the reunion was only one day away at that point, I asked Lane if she could call the families of Pancake and Muffin and pass on my information. Within hours, Muffin’s mom called me. She would bring over Sadie (formerly Muffin) the following day for the party.

The next morning, Luna, my husband and I impatiently awaited the arrival of Luna’s sisters (Grommet couldn’t make it), setting up—what else—but pastries for the humans and bakery-style dog biscuits for the four-legged gals.

And what a party it was! The girls got along wonderfully with one another—chasing each other around for hours while us humans caught up on similarities and differences of the litter. It was wonderful to find out what each dog was up to and to see that they all went to good homes. More than one of us had thought about going back to TAILS and adopting a second one from the litter but found out they had all already been adopted.

After our reunion, Muffin/Sadie’s family said they were interested in a second reunion, possibly for the dogs’ June birthday (hopefully the “guys” can make, it too), and Croissant/Peanut’s family has set up a website to share photos of the reunion and home life.

Now if we can only track down Pancake and Fritter, our entourage of pastries would be complete…

A special thanks to Lane at the DeKalb TAILS Human Society for helping track down the families. You can learn more about TAILS at http://www.tailshumanesociety.org/.

Luna after the party

Through the Eyes of a Dog

2008-12-09T16:48:00.006-06:00

Casualties of Luna

As I prepare my dinner, Luna, as usual, looks on eagerly. As I'd like to think she's watching intently to be able to some day surprise me by making my chicken casserole recipe from memory, there is a chance she's hoping I drop scraps that she can snarf up. Today, she was extra fascinated with what I was throwing away in the garbage can. As I tossed a bit of enchilada away, she ran over to try to peek inside. Same with the leftover pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving. That made me think--what does she think the garbage can is for? I doubt she knows it's a bin for refuse. The following is an account of what I believe are Luna's definitions for items in my house:

Kitchen garbage can: a large serving bowl filled with a mixture of lots of tasty morsels, all mixed together. A melting pot, if you will of the day's meals. A little hard to reach the food, but in a year or so, it shouldn't be a problem.

Wooden furniture: today I learned that wood makes a great between-meal snack. After getting a nice chunk off a table, something called Bitter Apple was sprayed on it, which ended up not tasting so bad.

The words "Luna, come in the house!": this is usually said with lots of enthusiasm. I have no idea what it means, but the more I run around, the more my owners shout it out, so it must mean I'm doing something good.

Grass: An outdoor treat. I'm very good at pulling it up from the roots.

Ladybugs: Great to watch, terrific to eat.

Stuffed toys: Cotton stuffing wrapped in a tough outer coating. I have gotten good at getting to the goods inside. I'm down to ripping them open within 5 minutes.

My Newest Office Mate

2008-12-03T14:59:00.008-06:00

Presenting Luna Miel--my on-task manager.

My husband and I adopted Luna from a DeKalb shelter after seeing her picture on petfinder.com. Having a puppy in the house is like having a newborn baby. My life schedule was put on hold as I needed to be sure I was home to take Luna out every three hours and was pulled every which way as she chased any squirrel we saw on our "walk."

Luna has been a lot of fun, though. She loves to run and hop around the yard, crawl all over us, and play with her toys. She doesn't care if I wear sweatpants all day, "forget" to put on my makeup, or decide to sit at my computer eating a whole bag of candy corn.

But Luna still needs to be watched any time she's out of her kennel, which is how she got assigned the role as my on-task office manager. Often she choses to fall asleep right by my feet as I'm writing. At first this was annoying; if I got up to eat or procrastinate, she would follow me. I was forced to sit there and work if I wanted her to stay asleep and out of trouble. That's when I realized I was actually getting writing done. Regardless to whether I wanted to get up and abandon my computer, it was easier just to sit there and type.

So, two months later, I have a completed novel--a novel that had been stuck in a drawer for a couple of months before I got her. I have no choice than to thank my silly four-legged friend. So, writer friends: are you having trouble sitting down and writing? Adopt a puppy! :)

For those folks that are serious as to wanting to adopt an animal, petfinder.com is a great resource. Something I learned later, however, is that you really should talk with an expert about what kind of dog would be good with your family dynamic.

Environmental Planner: My Second Mission

2008-12-03T10:53:00.000-06:00

If you read my last entry, you'll know that I have decided to put in my two cents on how businesses can "green up" their act. My last mission was hotels. Now I'm on to restaurants.

Recently, I was eating at one of my favorite fast food chain restaurants--Chipotle (I can't resist their chips and guacamole). It made me think about how many people must frequent these places every day.

Now, Chipotle is great because their meat is hormone-free. However, they, along with all fast food chains, could use some work on the amount of waste they generate. I think the biggest way to reduce waste would be for them to ask, from the moment they say hello, or in the case of Chipotle, the moment they pull the tortilla out of the tortilla press, "Is this for here or to go?" A "For Here," should require a totally different process of set up.

First, the burrito, burger, sub, etc. would not need to be wrapped up. Instead, it could be put on a reusable plate. Second, any sides of guacamole or salsa could also be put in a little reusable cup instead of one of those plastic cups that's marked that it's recyclable but there's nowhere to recycle it in the store. Same with fries: put it in a reusable dish.

Next, the utensils. We toss so many utensils. And I'll bet sometimes you take a spoon or a knife and never even use it. (Who hasn't?) For eating in the restaurant, metal utensils should be available. (And for To Go'ers, there are those biodegradable utensils made from potatoes.)

Last, so many napkins and condiments get wasted at restaurants. Since most people won't want to get up mid-meal, they "stock up" for the family on supplies before sitting down, taking enough napkins for an army and enough ketchup and salt packets to cover twenty hot dogs and thirty bags of popcorn respectively. Once they've finished their meal, having used four napkins, only two ketchup packets and three salts, they usually toss the rest (what else could you do--take them home in your purse?). Restaurants can solve this problem by having everything on the tables: a napkin dispenser, salt and pepper shakers, and condiments. Now I'm not one for those nasty ketchup bottles; they're the best environmentally but probably not the most sanitary. So I'll let restaurants keep the little packets. Just think, though, how many wouldn't be wasted if they were in a little basket on the table? You use one. It turns out you need a second one--there it is, right there. Same with the salt and napkins.

So, as you can see, there's lots of room for improvement out there. I wonder which fast food chain will be the first to think of this.

Environmental Planner--My First Mission

2008-08-12T15:13:00.006-05:00

Now that I am no longer teaching, I thought it was time to take on a new career. I have no training or schooling, and my title is self-appointed, but I am now, unofficially, an environmental planner! My job is to inform the public (or anyone reading my blog) of ways public places can reduce their amount of wastefulness. My first assignment…hotels.

Hotels are great. They allow me to have everything I need within a ten foot radius. I can watch tv in bed and possibly reach for a cold beverage from the mini fridge a couple feet away. I recently spent the weekend at the plush four-star Hyatt in Los Angeles, making me ponder hotels environmental awareness.

I have been impressed with many hotels recent plunge into waste reduction. Within the last five years or so, hotel beds have begun sporting signs stating that, unless a note is left on the bed, the linens will not be changed. Yay! Why it took over two hundred years for American hotels to realize that bed sheets don’t need to be changed daily, I don’t know, but better late than never. Hotels are realizing that the same is true with bath towels—guests can actually reuse them!
As I was staying at a hotel this last time, I figured out some of my own hotel improvements. Here are a few.

Install more towel racks/bars. I think the reason hotel patrons don’t reuse towels in their rooms is because there’s nowhere to hang them. If a towel is still wet or I can’t figure out which one is mine sitting on the bathroom counter, I’m less likely to want to use it again. Add a couple pegs to the wall and voilà!—people will be more willing to reuse their towel.
Have dispensers in the bathtub for liquid body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. [Side note: and conditioner should be standard in hotel rooms now—who doesn’t use it?] Instead of wasting half a bar of soap each hotel visit, hotels should have liquid body wash. The best way to store it would if they attached it to the tub wall where it can be refilled by the hotel staff. Same goes for the shampoo and conditioner. I’m guessing that left behind partially-used bottles of shampoo are tossed by the staff. Even if you’re one to take your half-used miniature bottles home with you not to be wasteful, are you really in need of another one--don’t you already have a closetful?
Have liquid hand soap by the sink. I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, before liquid hand soap was a staple in American households, but now, the thought of sharing a slimy waterlogged bar makes me want to gag. And, again, either you leave your stay with leftover soap that you toss, or you run out a day early and open a fresh bar.
Hotels should continue to use glass drinking cups and ceramic mugs versus the disposable variety. Switching to the kind you can pitch was a step in the wrong direction for hotels.
Create a sign for the hotel room door reading No Cleaning Needed Today. I don’t clean my house daily—why do I need my hotel room to be? This new sign would let the hotel staff know that you won’t need their services at all that day. When you put the Privacy sign on the door to avoid the room being cleaned (which is what I do), I’m guessing they need to keep checking when they can clean your room.

Until hotels listen to me, I am taking actions into my own hands:

bringing my own hand soap for the sink
bringing my own body wash (or bar soap in a plastic container), shampoo, and conditioner for the shower
finding a spot to hang my towel, even if it’s outside on the balcony chair
using the same lousy paper cup during my stay
putting the privacy sign up my whole hotel visit so none of my linens are changed or unneeded chemicals sprayed in the bathroom

What do you do?

Join me next week, as I take on restaurants...

The Name Game--Writers' Edition

2008-08-12T09:57:00.017-05:00

From top down: Droopy Drawers, Mozzarella, Muddy Waters

I wonder what percentage of parents wait to name a baby until after they first see him or her versus deciding on a baby name before going into labor). I've heard many parents say that once they saw their baby for the first time, they could tell "she was a Sophie" or "he was a Sammy." Names make a huge difference! Think of a name you find ridiculous-sounding; now image if that had been your name your whole life. Do you think you would have lived a different life?

Characters are no different. Your readers can make some assumptions about a character from his or her name alone. If you have a serious story, chances are, you don't want to name your main character something like, say Pickle Snodgrassen, unless you're trying to lighten the mood. I wrote a whole novel based on a name I saw on a gravestone from the late 1800s.

Naming pets in novels or anthropomorphized animals in picture books can be a blast! You can either do the alliteration thing (Gary the guinea pig) or come up with something silly (Droopy Drawers). I prefer the latter. The woman that owns the rescue I got both of my guinea pigs from comes up with great ones for all the guinea pigs that come to her. Sometimes she'll name them after celebrities (Angelina and Brad), others she'll name desserts (Brownie), cheeses, or sophosticated human names (Sven). She's even adopted out two guinea pigs by the names of Wrigley and Comiskey. Check out these adoptables for their names (or to adopt!):

http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=IL98&sort=&preview=1

Now it's time to exercise. Below are descriptions of characters. Next to them, I brainstormed possible names I came up with (some make no sense, but just worked for me). Try to come up with your own names.

A lazy black cat: Flipflop, Ted, Meow

A brown and white curious puppy: Chubs, Itchy, Noodles

A white rat: Mozzarella, Gladys, Vanilla Bean

A grumpy five year old boy: Fred Finklestein

Becoming an Unsubscriber

2008-07-24T11:34:00.003-05:00

How many catalogs do you receive a week? I would guess that I get about 4 or 5. That's 4 or 5 more than I would like to! This past week, the catalogs I received were between 31 and 146 pages--the three I'm looking at right now totaled 275 glossy pages that normally would end up being flipped through while watching a sitcom with no intention of buying anything and then be tossed in the recycling bin. No more!

Today I took action. I called all three catalog companies--waiting on hold for one for 20 min. (Luckily, my phone could be put on speaker, allowing me to hang dry my clothes outside while listening to muzak. ) I told each company I no longer wanted to receive their catalog (or emails) and asked to be taken off their mailing list. J Crew still kept my account open, but removed me from their catalog list. I think that means I still can get discounts or free online shipping around the holidays.

I was curious how much paper comes from one tree. Browsing the Internet, it sounds like it takes around .6 of a tree for 10 reams of paper--that would mean one tree gives us around 8,300 sheets of paper. But think of how many people receive catalogs in the mail. I'm sure a good percentage of those catalogs aren't even read and are tossed right in the recycling bin, or (gasp) the garbage can.

I am happy to report that some catalogs, such as the above mentioned J Crew, are printed on 10% post-consumer recycled paper. That's definitely a step up, but not good enough for me. I will continue my quest at reducing the amount of catalogs I receive. As of today, I have taken care of three. Who else is willing to become an unsubscriber?

A Few of My Favorite Things

2008-07-13T09:56:00.007-05:00

It's Green Tuesday. Since I haven't written in a while, I thought I'd make up for it with a list of great environmentally-conscious products. Here are my top 10 products for helping the environment:

Crate & Barrel cloth napkins--come in a set of 12 Crayola colors: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/ SKU 214582 .
World Market recycled plastic grocery bags--huge and sturdy.
Rice Dream rice milk--a yummy alternative to cow's milk.
DVR--no more need for mountains of VHS tapes.
Method brand cleaners--both for the body and to clean with--they're biodegradable: http://www.methodhome.com/.
Seventh Generation--Found at Target and, of course, World Market, they sell cleaning and personal products. I use their dishwasher powder and laundry detergent, but they also carry household cleaners and, get this, eco-friendlier disposable diapers: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/.
Toyota Prius--I love my car--I am ecstatic that I get 43 miles per gallon.
Sappos Natural Shampoo Bar--I containerless shampoo in a bar! I got mine at a little shop in Benzonia, Michigan called Bee Dazzled.
Recycled materials made from foods--I have paper made from bananas (http://www.ecopaper.com/ they also have lemon, mango, and coffee papers) and biodegradable eating utensils made from potatoes (here's one source: http://greenearthofficesupply.stores.yahoo.net/pocuasboxof2.html)
A Fresh Squeeze--this online newsletter comes twice a week by email (free to sign up) and gives tips and info about the environment, especially pertaining to Chicago (and Seattle): http://afreshsqueeze.com/

So, that's just the tip of the iceberg of what's out there. What is your favorite green product?

A Green Wedding

2008-05-28T10:59:00.007-05:00

I know, I'm late on blogging, but I have a good reason...I got married this past Saturday! As we did our wedding planning, I looked into ways to make our wedding green. They sell invitations on recycled paper, as well as ones that contain seeds which you plant afterward. I was game, until I noticed the cost. Instead, I had to find my own ways of being green.

Although Save the Date cards, invitations, and ceremony programs with bows look great, I figured ones without could easily be thrown in the recyling bin after the event. We ended up purchasing the Save the Date cards and invitations at Office Max on plain paper with a simple design on the top. The ceremony programs were also on plain paper that I had professionally printed, but could definitely be recycled afterward. We also tried to cut down on how many copies we had printed, assuming couples would share one program.

Originally, I pictured beautiful centerpieces at our reception tables. However, I didn't want to buy a bunch of things I'd never use again and would go to waste, such as artificial flowers or twenty pillar candles. We decided to have a simple piece of cardstock with a memory of the two of us written on it at each table. These also doubled as the table name.

Last, my husband and I didn't want to give out wedding favors at the place settings that not everyone would enjoy and would end up wasted. Instead, I created a candy table. After dinner was served, a tablecloth was lifted to reveal five large glass bowls of various candies. Guests were encouraged to fill a bag with their favorite treats, including M & Ms, frosted cookies, and Laffy Taffy.

We had a blast at our wedding. And I feel good that we made an effort not to be wasteful.

The Paper Problem

2008-05-13T18:30:00.002-05:00

The school year is coming to an end. As a teacher, I watch a lot of supplies get tossed without so much as a blink from my students. One of my biggest pet peeves: those spiral-bound notebooks. I wonder what the probability is that a student will actually end the school year on the very last page in their spiral...What does happen is that students end up with a bunch of half-used spiral notebooks by the end of the year: one for math, reading, maybe social studies. So on the last day of school, the notebooks get pitched, along with about 100 sheets of unused paper.

Okay, first: waste prevention. If possible, don't use spiral notebooks. Instead, buy loose-leaf paper and use a clipboard or a binder. Not only will you have exactly the right amount of pages, but you're not wasting that piece of spirally metal. In college, using a clipboard in lectures was handy. When I got back to the dorm, I just put the notes I took in each class in the appropriate binder.

For old half-used spirals you have laying around...What I've done is actually take the time to snip away the metal spiral. I used metal cutters and removed the spiral piece. Then I used the paper in my clipboard. This avoids tearing out all the pages and having the paper bits everywhere.

Do you have a great end of the school year green tip?

Have Garbage, Will Travel (with it)

2008-04-29T10:51:00.002-05:00

Recycling can sound so easy. But what keeps people from doing it? I think it's convenience--or lack of it. Just the other day I was eating a sample at Jamba Juice that came in a tiny plastic cup. When I finished, I asked if they recycled--they didn't. Here's where I think people feel they have no choice but to toss that piece of plastic in the garbage: when there's no recycling bin in site. There is another option--take it with you. The container I had was just a tiny one intended for condiments and only had a soft pretzel in it. I easily set it on the floor of my car and drove off with it. Sounds silly? Sure, but I've done it many times. Once I'm at home, I drop my recyclable trash in my recycling bin--easy as that.

Is it always possible to recycle everything? No. If I've eaten something especially messy, I might not want to have it in my car and do end up tossing it in a garbage, but most times, it's definitely doable.

This is not only true for food containers, but papers as well: shopping lists, MapQuests, etc. So next time you're out and about and see no recycling bin in site, think about whether you can take it with you.

Hamburger, Hold Everything I Won't Eat

2008-04-15T18:21:00.003-05:00

Happy Earth day. As a teacher, I've been asked what I plan to do with my class. Although we won't ignore it, I don't consider earth day a one day a year phenomenon. That's like saying today is math day. We'll learn math today and not worry about it the rest of the year. Instead, I hope that my class has been learning how to cut down on the waste we produce and sometimes reuse it or recycle it. Here's my tip this week...

Think about a meal you often order when eating out. Imagine what your plate looks like at the end of the meal--what's still left on the plate, week after week: the tomato on your cheeseburger? the lettuce from your buffalo chicken sandwich? the tartar sauce from your fish sticks? For the most part, we know what we'll like and won't like from a restaurant, especially if you order the same dish repeatedly. How about requesting the items you know you won't eat be left off the plate?

If you're trying a new dish or restaurant, you can also ask what comes with the dish or as a garnish. Although it might take the cook an extra millisecond to read the order, really, having them hold the side of sour cream is also saving them money.

Animal Rescues

2008-04-01T21:31:00.001-05:00

How many of you watched Oprah on puppy mills this last Friday? Very sad and eye opening. As you may have gathered, I have a pet guinea pig. Did you know that in addition to shelters and rescues for dogs and cats, there are guinea pig and bunny rescues?

About five years ago I heard about Critter Corral, a local rescue for guinea pigs. This non-profit organization takes in guinea pigs people don't or can't keep and ones that have been abandoned. Believe it or not, some people think domestic animals can just be left loose in the wild. I adopted two guinea pigs from Critter Corral: Melba Toast and B.B. Joe. Melba came from owners that got rid of her because they had too many. B.B.'s family moved and didn't want to take him with them.

It is surprising how many guinea pigs don't have homes and end up in shelters. What makes me sad is that pet stores continue to buy small animals, such as guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, etc., from breeders. Unfortunately, not all of them sell and then end up at shelters (or worse). This is especially true for guinea pigs (and probably other small mammals) that are all one color (especially albinos) and ones that are older and bigger.

What can we do to make a difference? Adopt animals from shelters/rescues instead of pet stores. If pet stores aren't selling many animals, maybe they'll stop carrying them. You can also help by having your pet spade or neutered. If you're interested in seeing or having a puppy, kitten, or baby guinea pig, you'll find plenty of those at the shelter as well. Many organizations also allow you to sponsor a pet. At the Critter Corral, by giving a donation, you are sent a picture of a guinea pig you sponsor. This would be great for children who aren't ready to have a pet of their own.

A terrific animal website to peruse is petfinder.com. It allows you to search for an adoptable pet by location, animal, size of animal, etc.

DeJunktify Your Home

2008-04-01T21:19:00.002-05:00

So I just had a dentist appointment yesterday (and no cavities--yay!). As a child, at the end of your dentist appt. you get to pull something fun (but junky) from the treasure chest. As an adult, you get a bag of goodies: a toothbrush, maybe a tiny tube of toothpaste, and a thing of floss. As you leave the dentist's office (or any dr.'s office), there is also usually a little basket of free samples. How many times did you take some of the samples? How many times did you really use those samples vs. letting them rot on a shelf full of other mini toiletries? Right now I'm going to count what I can find on my shelf within one minute--be right back...

...I'm back. So, what I found were 10 toothbrushes (I might have purchased 2 or so but the rest were free) .

So this time I took a stand: as the dental hygienist began to hand me my bag of free stuff, I flipped through it and took the only thing I really saw as valuable--the floss (they have the absolute best and is pretty much the only reason I agree to have my teeth cleaned twice a year). Since I own an electric toothbrush, do I really need a regular toothbrush EVERY time I visit the dentist? That goes for free samples at "checkout time" as well. I already like the toothpaste I use--I don't need some new funky flavor to try.

By refusing free stuff, not only am I helping reduce the waste that's produced in the world, but I'm also clearing the clutter in my house. Anyone need an extra toothbrush?

The Plane as the Plot

2008-03-27T11:04:00.002-05:00

Did you realize how many different microcosms there are at the airport? Think back to your last trip and all the different situations you face at the airport. Waiting in line behind a family that is cranky, balancing a bagel on your lap as you try to butter it and your flight is called, the bathrooms.
Now imagine all the stories (or nonfiction articles) you could write based on those situations:
a child's first plane ride
how to eat healthy at the airport

Add to that any "What if..." scenarios you can and you have enough ideas for a year:
What if a dog was flying alone--as a passenger
What if you got on the wrong flight and ended up on the moon

Here's your exercise: Make a list of as many different possible stories you can think of that could happen at an airport or on an airplane. Or, if you're not in the mood for plots, make a list of as many different settings at an airport or character ideas as you can.

At the Airport

2008-03-27T10:38:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday I was unable to write as I was at the airport--and what a topic to think about environmentally...
First stop: bag check-in: When you receive your printed ticket, you receive an envelope to "store" it in. How long do you actually need to store it? Until you get on the plane. Then you toss it. My question is whether they need to give the ticket in that envelope. Think of how many they must go through in a day or even an hour! On my return flight home, I will ask not to have one.
Next stop: getting through security: With the new no-liquids-law, people are having to dump their half drunken bottles of water and brand new bottles of shampoo. Okay, it's their fault for not knowing they can't make it through security with these things, but have you seen what you're supposed to do with your containers? Throw them in the trash, liquid and all. To my knowledge, there is not an area to empty liquids and there is not a trash sorter bin for recyclable, which almost 100% of those liquid-containing containers are.
Last stop (for now): on the airplane: cups, cups, and more cups. Yes, I'm back to my lecture on plastic cups. On the airplane, you are offered a drink (about 1 sip) of pop in a cup with ice. Afterward (aka an hour after you've finished your beverage and are sitting there holding it waiting for the flight attendant to come around with a trash bag), your cup gets tossed away with a random assortment of other recyclables as well as banana peels, half eaten sandwiches, and possibly a barf bag or two. Do you think they spend the time to sort through the trash? I will ask on my flight home because, again, there are hundreds of flights a day 365 days a year. That's a lot of those little cups being flown across the world to be dumped in a landfill hundreds of miles away. What I like to do is buy my own beverage from a newspaper store at the airport (yes, it's about $4) and then I have the power both to recycle it once I reach my destination, as well as to take sips from it whenever I'm thirsty and stow it away under my seat when I'm not.
Happy flying!

All About Cups

2008-03-21T21:43:00.000-05:00

How do you like your coffee? Personally, my drink of choice is a café mocha, decaf, soy, no whip. Think of all the times you have gone to a Starbucks, Panera, Caribou Coffee, etc.: how often have them given you your hot java in a disposable cup? Out of those times, how many did you intend to have your coffee right there?

After thinking about all the cups that get tossed in the landfill daily, I began to become more proactive. When I go to a coffee house and know I plan to drink it there, I will request my beverage in a reusable mug. They do actually have mugs! Of course, they will have more work of washing the mugs, and washing takes water, but recycling takes tons of water and other resources. Better yet, I believe they will often fill your own take-and-go container. No hassle for them.

To take it a step further, I now also request a plastic (versus paper) cup for my cold drink when I go to chains like Panera and Noodles & Company. Again, if you take a look around any of these places, people are sipping away on their drinks, only to toss the paper cup in a trash can where it will sit for who knows how long. Not all places have plastic cups, as I have learned. But, regardless, I will sit, working away on my novel, while drinking a cold glass of water in a large ceramic mug.

Invasion of the Gremlin Grocery Bags

2008-03-11T09:46:00.005-05:00

Which do you think there are more of on this planet: people or plastic grocery bags? The way the baggers at my grocery store use them, I'd think the bags outweigh the people two to one.

Does anyone else absolutely hate the amount of bags used for groceries? By the time I get home and start unpacking, the bags have managed to multiply like gremlins. I know stores have a spot to return your used bags, but who ever really does it? I'm lucky if I remember to bring my shopping list with me.

So I've found a solution. Most stores are now offering reusuable heavier duty plastic bags. In my opinion, the Whole Foods ones are the best. They're made from 80% post-consumer waste and are fairly large--I believe I bought them for a dollar a piece. I keep these bags in my car since I usually go grocery shopping last minute. I throw them in my shopping cart or the underneath section and then just ask the bagger to use them instead of the gremlin ones. (It probably is good for meats to be put in old school bags, though, since sometimes the packages leak.)

Recently, I began to take my anti-gremlin bag lifestyle a step further. I found that I also hated getting plastic bags when I went to Kohls and Walmart and, well, anywhere--even my mom will give me stuff in a plastic bag when I visit her (a ploy to lower her own stash of gremlins). Now I bring my Whole Foods bags in with me to any shopping store. I'm sure the cashiers snicker as I walk away after asking for my new pair of expensive jeans to be thrown into a bag where potatoes and brown rice just were, but I can feel good about myself. And soon, hopefully, I'm not the only one.

Pet Peeves

2008-03-11T09:41:00.005-05:00

If you asked me my top ten pet peeves (at the moment), they would probably be:

the smell and sound of gum (as well as looking at chewed gum, which makes me gag)
when people don't use turn signals
when I can't find my cell phone in my purse before it goes to VM
that my computer gives me an error message whenever I go to shut down
that every TV show now incorporates a scene where one of the characters is brushing his or her teeth (I hate seeing toothpaste foam and watching people spit)
getting a bazillion plastic grocery bags when I grocery shop (see my Green Tuesday entry)
Daylight Savings Time (I'm not a morning person and, for six months, I know I'm getting up an hour earlier than I did from Oct.-March)
opening an avocado and finding it's either not ripe or spoiled
snow in March (and April, and May, for that matter)
noticing my clothes are wrinkled after I've ironed
that there are no good TV shows on on Sundays

I'm guessing you can learn a lot about me from my list. Looking back at it, I noticed I made two references to TV. Hmmm, am I an avid watcher? I think so. I also revealed my need for technology, that I'm not a morning person, and that I must be over 16, since I drive. (The only thing it doesn't include that it should have is my love of candy. Let me add a number eleven pet peeve: how unrealistic the serving size is on movie candy boxes--has anyone ever really gotten the box to last more than two servings?!)

What's on your list? Does it give a snapshot into your personality? (Send as your comment if you like)

Now it's time for an exercise: think of a character in a book you're writing. What would their top ten (or five) pet peeves be? Are there certain foods they have quirks about? What things about other people bother your character? Don't forget to think about peeves that relate to your character's age: A sixth grader will have different pet peeves than someone that is in high school. For instance, I said that people not using turn signals bothers me--that wouldn't bother a sixth grader, but their mom singing a Britney Spears song along with the car radio probably would.

Do Not Disturb--I'm Green

2008-03-04T09:35:00.005-06:00

Happy Green Tuesday! My news of my greenness comes from my weekend trip to Champaign, IL. As many of you may have noticed, hotels are beginning to green-up--displaying signs in the room that unless the sheets are stripped from the bed or the towels left in a pile on the floor, they will not be replaced. At home we don't change the sheets daily or use a new towel every time we shower--do we need to do this when we stay at hotels?

Unfortunately, the hotel where I stayed didn't display these signs in the rooms. So I asked, "Do you replace the sheets and towels daily?" The man behind the counter PROUDLY said they do. I asked "What if you don't want them changed daily?" He looked at me funny. He finally suggested I put a sign on the things I don't want changed.

As I shared this with other conference attendants, it was suggested to just put the "Do Not Disturb" sign up. Genius! Not only would the towels and sheets not be unnecessarily cleaned, but the bathroom wouldn't be cleaned either. Again, at home I don't scrub down my bathroom daily. And...with the "Do Not Disturb" sign on, I wouldn't have to straighten up my hotel room--I could be a slob and no one would know!

Curing Writer's Block

2008-03-02T19:19:00.014-06:00

Everybody gets it. It causes people to vacuum their houses or try to find the numerical value of pi. It has caused me to eat two packs of TicTacs in one sitting. But it is curable. The dreaded WRITER'S BLOCK. On Thursdays, I will dish out my medicine--a writing exercise for you to try. Maybe it will get your creative juices going. One writer once compared writing to playing a sport. There aren't too many athletes who don't stretch out or do drills before the game. Writing's no different. Your mind needs to warm up before the brilliance can begin.

Today isn't Thursday, it's Sunday, but I'm very excited about the workshop I just got back from. The speaker was the one and only Newbery-award winning Richard Peck. It was an amazing workshop that made me come back totally refreshed. It also gave me the power to think I MAY be able to cut some scenes from my latest novel.

So, this workshop was down south, way south--yes Champaign, IL. As I hid my computer in the hotel room, I wondered, what kind of conclusions does the maid service make about each of the hotel guests? They must see some weird stuff in the rooms. What do people bring with them on trips? My weirdest item, hmmm...maybe my candy bag: complete with 2 bags of Cadbury's Mini Eggs, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and Sweettarts. Otherwise, I think I was a pretty normal guest.

So here's your first writing prompt: Pretend you're a hotel maid. Describe the room of a clown (male or female). Does he hang up his clothes? What is her wardrobe like? What does his suitcase look like? Does she have only one pair of clown shoes and actually wear flipflops on her off days? Post your answers if you like.

A Green Dream

2008-03-02T19:00:00.006-06:00

Welcome to my personal attempt to green the world. After reading The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers & Thomas M. Kostigen, I realized that I could make changes in what I do to help "save the planet." Since then, I have been finding ways I can do that cut down on the amount of trash I create.

Look for my blog on helping the environment every Tuesday.