Hazel Thornton's Blog, page 2

Inspiring Prison Programs

This is a portion of the mural at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility. It is part of Lyle’s Green Space project, with Erik participating as lead painter.

Now that Erik and Lyle Menendez are eligible for parole — Menendez Miracle #6 — it no longer seems pointless to think about what they might do when they get out of prison.

Rehabilitation

The brothers have said that they’d like to continue the work they started in prison.

From Lyle’s resentencing statement:

I have worked hard to be a better person. I have taken on roles in inmate government, learning to help others solve problems, and in doing so, I began to develop greater self-worth and compassion. I have participated in self-help groups…built strong, healthy relationships with correctional staff, therapists and fellow inmates. I have learned to access professionals for support…I have learned to process anger instead of burying it…I have learned to ask for help when I need it.

If afforded an opportunity for another chapter of life beyond the prison walls, I plan to continue working with the sex abuse survivor community to spread awareness. I also plan to continue to serve the incarcerated population through community building to change the culture of corrections.

From Erik’s resentencing statement:

I was given the opportunity to serve others. I began caring for the elderly, the disabled, and the terminally ill. It may seem small, but that act of service changed everything for me. I mattered to others. I had purpose. I created the Life Care & Hospice program, and through that work, I discovered a new way of seeing life. I started focusing on living with purpose. I began to understand what it means to form a real connection — even in here. To be part of a community. To show up as a husband and a father, even from behind these walls. I began getting involved in self-help programs. I started educating myself, and then I began leading and encouraging others.

It’s this same sort of self-improvement and rehabilitation that Lyle and Erik hope to continue engendering in other inmates through special programs. The fact that they were mentoring other inmates while they, until now, had no hope of parole for themselves, speaks volumes about their characters.

 

Why Special Inmate Programs?

Erik Menendez created this logo for the Helping Without Prejudice Foundation.

I’ve learned that while the United States has 5% of the world’s population, it has 25% of its prisoners. The cost to taxpayers is $80 billion per year. The recidivism, or relapse, rate is 75%.

Meanwhile, the prison system in Norway has a recidivism rate of only 20%. This is inspiring and is known to have inspired the Menendez brothers, too.

Here’s a quote from the Halden Prison video I’ve linked to in the next section of this post:

It’s basically inserting humanity into the prison system…The punishment should be loss of freedom, not loss of dignity.

At the end of the day this is not just good for the prisoners and the prison, but society as a whole… the hope is to prepare inmates for life after they get out. Moving away from managing prisoners to creating good neighbors.

 

Prison Documentary Rabbit Hole

I’ve watched several documentaries recently about programs designed to humanize and rehabilitate inmates. In addition to benefitting the prisoners themselves, the programs have a positive impact on the prison system, the inmates’ families, and the nearby communities who either directly, or indirectly, benefit from the improved condition of inmates who are released.

Documentaries I’ve seen: Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism — Hulu trailer on YouTube — Dogs are trained by Guide Dogs of America and inmates at Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility where Lyle and Erik are living.The Quilters — Netflix trailer on YouTube — Inmates make quilts for local foster children.EP 1 | PRISON CAT, GALILEO | THE CATS THAT RULE THE WORLD | SHEBA® — YouTube (20 min.) — A program in which inmates partner with the Humane Society to care for cats and get them adopted.Women inmates find hope with safe choir — YouTube (6 min. news segment)World’s Most Luxurious Prison | Halden Prison: Vacation For Murderers? — YouTube (45 min.) — I watched this one because Lyle and Erik have talked about being inspired by the Norwegian prison system.Related:Sing Sing — HBO Max trailer on YouTube — A film about the true story of a group of incarcerated men at ‘Sing Sing’ prison who participate in a theater program.Seeds of Change — PBS trailer on film’s website — An organic farmer in Maine sets out to transform the prison food system. (Since I haven’t seen it, it could be more about the farmer than the prisoners, but either way, I like the title.)6 Inspirational Prison Reform Documentaries You Need to Watch (article with embedded videos) — I saw the first one a while back and recommend it.Six Norwegian Prisons 1850 to 2020 (website) — Ideas, Spaces, Experiences

 

Musical Interlude:

Neema – Narok Prison Choir (song)

Zimbabwe Prison Choir (song)

X-Raided – Sins of the Father (official lyric video)

(keep reading for more on X-Raided)

What I’d Like to See

Better get used to 54- and 57-year-old Erik and Lyle Menendez, because they are one step closer to freedom!

These documentaries and websites are great, and many of them are only 20-30 min long. But they’re spread out all over the streaming platforms. And I’d like to see more.

What I propose (not that I have the connections to make it happen) is a series that brings them all together in one place, including some of the films that have already been made and adding as many new ones as are worthwhile and feasible. Here are my suggestions for new episodes of this fantasy series:

Erik Menendez’s programs established under the Helping Without Prejudice Foundation: Life Care & Hospice, Insight Meditation, VIVE (Victim Impact and Victim Empathy), and 12-Step Recovery with Insight Meditation.Lyle Menendez’s Green Space project: Rehabilitation Through Beautification: The Green Space Project (Lyle Menendez founder, Erik Menendez lead mural painter). Short video clip: How Lyle Menendez Wants to Totally REIMAGINE Correctional Facilities. This clip is from a very worthwhile 2 Angry Men podcast episode featuring both brothers who called in from prison. (P.S. The “2 Angry Men” are hosts Harvey Levin and Mark Geragos, not Lyle and Erik.)An episode about rapper Anerae Brown (X-Raided), including the recording studio he created at Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility, where he was incarcerated and became friends with Lyle and Erik. He credits them with mentoring him and helping him to get paroled after 26 years in prison. Watch this Surviving the Survivor podcast episode with guests Robert Rand and Anerae, who arrives @37 minutes in but is worth the wait.)Echo Yard, a special section of the Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility that allowed Lyle and Erik to create programs to help rehabilitate themselves and their fellow prisoners. (Article about Echo Yard)Additional episodes about other prisons and programs that benefit local communities.

 

What’s more inspirational than someone who has turned their life around?

And the people who help make that happen?

 

Have you seen any of these documentaries?

Which others have you seen and recommend?

What episodes or programs would you like to see?

Please share with us in the comments below!

______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Book:  Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror Book:  What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Book:  Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2025 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

The post Inspiring Prison Programs appeared first on Hazel Thornton.

Mosquitoes: A Chatty G Consultation

Aedes aegypti

 

In my last post — Think of ChatGPT as a friend — I mentioned having consulted with ChatGPT (aka Chatty G) about mosquitoes:

Chances are that mosquitoes are more of an issue for me than they are for you. For one thing, my blood type is O negative, which has been shown to attract more mosquitoes than other blood types. Second, we have a new stealth breed of mosquitoes here in New Mexico — tiny, silent, goes for the ankles, invades homes (well, my home, anyway). Third, I have lymphedema, and scratching mosquito bites can quickly lead to infection.

Out of the plethora of ChatGPT uses, the main point of this new post is to share a relatable example of a chat with those who haven’t tried it. Of all the things it can help with, why not something mundane that’s “bugging” you? There really is nothing you can’t ask Chatty G about. Just remember to check sources, verify facts, and use common sense to evaluate responses, the same way you would if running something by a knowledgeable friend.

I have rearranged the discussion slightly, and divided it into main topics, but otherwise, all of the formatting is ChatGPT’s — numbered lists, bolding, etc.

NOTE:

If this seems like an overwhelming amount of detail,

rest assured that you can ask Chatty G to simplify or summarize its responses. 

Contents:Mosquito bite remediesHow to avoid being bittenBlood TypesNew “stealth mosquito” here in New MexicoWindow Screens

 

Mosquito bite remedies

You said:

How many mosquito bite remedies do you know?

ChatGPT said:

Plenty! Here’s a list of common and effective mosquito bite remedies — both home and over-the-counter — grouped by type:

Home RemediesIce Pack – Reduces swelling and numbs the itch.Aloe Vera – Soothes the skin and promotes healing.Honey – Has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.Baking Soda Paste – Neutralizes pH and relieves itching.Apple Cider Vinegar – Antiseptic and itch relief.Lemon or Lime Juice – Antimicrobial, but be cautious with sun exposure.Toothpaste (especially with menthol) – Cools and numbs the bite.Oatmeal Paste or Bath – Calms irritation and inflammation.Tea Bags (especially green or chamomile) – Anti-inflammatory properties.Witch Hazel – Natural astringent and anti-itch.Essential Oils (like tea tree, lavender, or peppermint) – Antiseptic and soothing (must be diluted).Banana Peel – Folk remedy; some find it soothing.Onion or Garlic Juice – Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.Over-the-Counter RemediesHydrocortisone Cream – Reduces inflammation and itching.Antihistamine Creams (e.g., diphenhydramine) – Blocks the itch response.Calamine Lotion – Soothes itching and dries out the bite.Topical Analgesics (e.g., lidocaine, benzocaine) – Numb the area.Oral Antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl, Claritin) – Help with severe reactions or many bites.After Bite Pens (ammonia-based) – Instant itch relief.Anti-itch Gels with menthol or camphor – Cooling relief.

So that’s at least 20 solid remedies, depending on what you have on hand. Want me to narrow these down to the fastest-working or most natural ones?

You said:

That’s a good list! Do you know about the hot spoon method?

ChatGPT said:

Yes — the hot spoon method is a clever home remedy!

How it works:

You heat a metal spoon under hot water (not scalding, just hot enough to tolerate), then press the back of the spoon gently against the mosquito bite for about 30 seconds.

Why it works:

Mosquito saliva contains proteins that cause the immune response (itching, swelling, etc.). Applying heat can:

Denature those proteins, reducing the reaction.Stimulate nerves around the bite, which can temporarily override the itch signal.

Caution:

Don’t use water so hot that it burns you.Not recommended for broken skin, kids with sensitive skin, or people with heat sensitivity.

It’s basically a DIY version of those heated itch-relief devices (like Bite Away or Therapik), and a lot of people swear by it.

Want to try it, or should I tell you about those devices too?

You said:

I’ve tried the spoon method, but I haven’t tried the heated itch relief devices you mentioned.

ChatGPT said:

Nice — since you’ve already tried the spoon method, you’ll probably really appreciate the heated itch relief devices. They’re kind of like the high-tech version of the same idea but more precise and safer.

Popular Heated Itch Relief Devices:Bite AwayGerman-made, FDA-cleared device.Heats up to ~124°F (51°C) and applies heat for 3–6 seconds.Battery-powered and super portable.Works for mosquito bites, bee stings, and even some itchy allergic reactions.People report almost immediate itch relief.TherapikSimilar idea but looks more like a little flashlight.You hold it on the bite for ~30 seconds.Uses a focused beam of heat, powered by a 9V battery.

Why they’re great:

No chemicals, creams, or mess.Work fast (some people feel relief in seconds).Great for people who get lots of bites or want a reusable solution.

The idea is the same: heat denatures the proteins injected by the mosquito, which short-circuits the body’s inflammatory response.

They’re a bit of an upfront investment ($20–$40 usually), but if you’re mosquito-prone or spend time outdoors, they can be a game-changer.

Want help comparing a few or finding the best-reviewed one?

NOTE:

I’ve tried almost all of these things and more in the name of research and self-preservation.

Many of them work, more or less, or in combination, and it depends on the person.

But I’d rather not get bit in the first place.

It didn’t mention the Bug Bite Thing.

I have just ordered myself a Bite Away to try!

P.S. I don’t always answer Chatty G’s last question before moving on to a new one.

 

How to avoid being bitten

You said:

How many methods can you list for avoiding mosquito bites?

ChatGPT said:

Oh, I’ve got a whole arsenal of mosquito-avoidance tactics — some classic, some clever. Here’s a big list broken into categories for clarity:

Topical Repellents

DEET-based repellents – Long-lasting and effective.Picaridin (e.g., Sawyer, Natrapel) – Less greasy and odorless.Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus – Plant-based but strong (CDC-recommended).IR3535 – Found in Avon Skin So Soft products.Permethrin-treated clothing – For serious protection.

Natural/DIY Repellents

Essential oil blends (citronella, lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus).Neem oil – Has mosquito-repelling properties.Vanilla extract + essential oils – Homemade repellent.Apple cider vinegar + water spray – Folk remedy.Garlic consumption – Mild deterrent effect through skin emission (debatable, but popular).

Clothing & Accessories

Long sleeves and pants – Physical barrier.Light-colored clothing – Mosquitoes are drawn to dark colors.Mosquito-repellent wristbands – Mixed effectiveness, but better than nothing.Mosquito netting – For beds, hammocks, or strollers.Hats with mesh face covers – Great for hiking or camping.

Environmental Control

Remove standing water – Buckets, flowerpots, birdbaths, etc.Use citronella candles or torches – Masks attractants.Burn mosquito coils – Repels via smoke and chemicals.Install window/door screens – Physical barrier indoors.Use fans – Mosquitoes aren’t strong fliers.Grow mosquito-repelling plants – Like basil, lavender, marigold, lemongrass.

Tech & Gadgets

Bug zappers – Controversial (attract more bugs than they kill), but some swear by them.UV light traps – Can be effective indoors.CO₂ traps – Mimic human breath to lure and kill.Ultrasonic repellers – Mixed reviews; not scientifically solid, but some people try them.Thermacell devices – Portable, heat-activated repellent zones.Mosquito-killing lanterns – Dual-purpose gear for camping/backyards.

Timing & Behavior

Avoid dawn and dusk – Peak mosquito hours.Stay indoors during wet, humid times – Mosquito prime time.Don’t wear scented lotions or perfumes – Attracts mosquitoes.Shower after sweating – Reduces body odor and CO₂ emissions.Sleep under nets or in screened areas – Especially in tropical regions.

So that’s 30+ methods right there — and if you’re layering several, you’re in mosquito-proof mode. Want a shortlist of the most effective combos or natural-only options? 

You said:

Yes, which ones are the most effective?

ChatGPT said:

Perfect — here’s a shortlist of the most effective ways to avoid mosquito bites, based on science and real-world results. These are the ones that actually work and are worth relying on, especially in high-risk areas:

Top 5 Most Effective Methods (Proven by Science)DEET-based repellentsGold standard.Effective for hours even in high mosquito density.Works on skin and clothing.Picaridin (20%) or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (30%)Great DEET alternatives.Picaridin: odorless, non-greasy.Lemon Eucalyptus: plant-based and CDC-recommended.Permethrin-treated clothingYou don’t apply it to your skin — treat your clothes, shoes, hats, etc.Kills mosquitoes on contact.Especially useful in hiking, camping, and tropical zones.Mosquito netting (especially bed nets with insecticide)Critical in areas with malaria or dense mosquito populations.Simple but incredibly effective while sleeping.Environmental control (eliminating standing water)Stops them from breeding in the first place.One of the most long-term effective methods for your home or yard.

Bonus Power Move: Thermacell Devices

Heat-activated and create a ~15-ft protection zone.Awesome for patios, camping, or outdoor work.Nearly scentless and doesn’t require applying anything to your skin.

Best Combo for Maximum Protection:

Apply Picaridin or DEET on skin.Wear permethrin-treated clothing.Use a Thermacell or mosquito net for stationary protection.Eliminate standing water around your home.

Want me to build a “best protection kit” based on where you live or what kind of activities you’re doing (like camping vs. backyard chill)?

NOTE:

Again, I’ve tried many of these methods with varying degrees of success. 

I forgot to ask about the burning ground coffee method.

T here are probably others I’ve tried as well and am forgetting to mention.

 

Blood Types

You said:

Do you know if there’s any truth to the theory that type O blood attracts mosquitoes?

ChatGPT said:

Yes — there’s actually some scientific support for the idea that blood type affects mosquito attraction, and type O blood does seem to attract mosquitoes more than other types.

What the research says:

A 2004 study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that mosquitoes landed on people with type O blood nearly twice as often as those with type A.The same study also noted that about 85% of people secrete a chemical signal through their skin that indicates their blood type — and mosquitoes can detect it.So if you’re a “secretor” with type O blood, you’re especially appealing to them.

Order of attractiveness (generally):

Type O – Most attractiveType B – Mid-rangeType A – Least attractive

But that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Mosquitoes are attracted by a combo of:

Carbon dioxide (your breath)Body heatSweat and skin bacteriaMovementScent (like lactic acid or even perfumes)

So even if you’re type A, if you’re sweaty, moving around, and breathing heavily — you’re still on the menu.

Want to know if you’re a “secretor,” or curious how that ties into other mosquito-attracting traits?

You said:

Yes, what is a secretor?

ChatGPT said:

Great question — it sounds like some sci-fi genetics term, but it’s real and kind of fascinating.

What is a “secretor”?

A secretor is someone who secretes their blood type antigens (A, B, AB, or O) into bodily fluids like:

SalivaMucusSweatTearsEven digestive juices

So, even if a mosquito doesn’t get to your blood immediately, it can “smell” or sense your blood type from those fluids on your skin — especially sweat.

How common is it?

About 80–85% of people are secretors.The rest (15–20%) are non-secretors, meaning their blood type antigens aren’t present in their body fluids, only in their actual blood.

Why it matters (especially for mosquitoes):

If you’re a secretor with type O blood, you’re likely extra appealing to mosquitoes because:

Your blood type antigens are present on your skin.Those antigens help mosquitoes zero in on their preferred targets.

It’s like you’re giving off a mosquito-friendly scent signature without even realizing it.

Can you find out if you’re a secretor?

Yes — there are tests for it:

Some DNA testing kits (like 23andMe) include this info.There are also specific saliva tests that look for blood type antigens.

Let me know if you want a link to a home test or how to DIY it — it’s kind of niche but fun to explore.

You said:

Which type of blood attracts the most mosquitoes? O negative, or O positive?

ChatGPT said:

Excellent question — and here’s where it gets interesting:

Mosquitoes seem to be drawn to type O blood, but…

They don’t distinguish between O-positive and O-negative, at least not in any studies we currently have.

Why?

Mosquitoes are attracted to blood group antigens (like A, B, or the lack thereof in type O) and chemical signals secreted by the skin — not the Rh factor (which is the + or – in your blood type).The Rh factor (positive or negative) doesn’t affect your scent or skin secretions in any way mosquitoes can detect.

So between:

O-positiveO-negative

There’s no known difference in mosquito attraction — both are equally tasty to them.

If you’re type O and a secretor, your chances of being a mosquito magnet are pretty high, regardless of the Rh factor.

Want to dive into what else can boost or reduce your appeal to mosquitoes (like specific body chemistry or diet myths)?

 

New “stealth mosquito” here in New Mexico

NOTE:

When I say “new” I mean its only been in New Mexico for a few years.

And “stealth mosquito” is my term for it.

You said:

Here in New Mexico we have a new type of mosquito that I’ve forgotten the name of. It is tiny, silent, and goes for the ankles. Do you know what it’s called?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, the mosquito you’re describing is likely the Aedes aegypti, commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito. This species has recently become established in Albuquerque and other parts of New Mexico. City of Albuquerque

Key Characteristics of Aedes aegypti:Appearance: Small, black mosquitoes with distinctive white markings on their legs and a lyre-shaped pattern of silver scales on the upper surface of their thorax.Behavior:Biting Habits: They are known as “ankle biters” because they often bite around the ankles and elbows. City of Albuquerque+3PCE Homepage | PCE+3San Gabriel Valley MVCD+3Activity Period: Unlike many other mosquito species that are most active during dawn and dusk, Aedes aegypti are active during the daytime, especially a couple of hours after sunrise and a few hours before sunset. The Paper.+2Source New Mexico+2City of Albuquerque+2Stealthiness: They are stealthy mosquitoes that feed by approaching from behind and targeting ankles and elbows. The Paper.+2City of Albuquerque+2PCE Homepage | PCE+2Habitat and Breeding:Proximity to Humans: These mosquitoes prefer to live near people, as humans are their primary blood source, and are commonly found inside homes. City of Albuquerque+1PCE Homepage | PCE+1Breeding Sites: They are container breeders, requiring only a small amount of water for larval development. Common breeding sites include rain barrels, bird baths, plant saucers, buckets, and other containers that can hold water. City of Albuquerque

Health Concerns:

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are capable of transmitting several viruses, including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. However, as of now, none of these diseases are known to occur in New Mexico. PCE Homepage | PCE+4Source New Mexico+4City of Albuquerque+4City of Albuquerque

Prevention Tips:

Personal Protection: Wear long sleeves and pants, apply insect repellent containing DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and ensure window and door screens are intact to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. City of AlbuquerqueEliminate Breeding Sites: Regularly inspect your property for standing water and remove it. This includes emptying and scrubbing containers like buckets, plant saucers, and bird baths at least once a week to destroy any eggs. City of Albuquerque

By understanding the behavior and habitat of Aedes aegypti, you can take effective measures to reduce their presence and minimize the risk of bites. Source New Mexico+1Wikipedia+1

You said:

How common is the Aedes Aegypti mosquito in the United States? In which states can it be found?

ChatGPT said:

Aedes aegypti, commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito, is prevalent in various regions across the United States, primarily in the southern and southeastern areas.

Current Distribution:

Southern and Southeastern States:High concentrations of Ae. aegypti are found in states such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina.These regions offer warm and humid climates, ideal for the mosquito’s breeding and survival.Western States:The mosquito has expanded its range into parts of the western United States, including California and Arizona. wrbu.si.eduNortheastern Reach:Ae. aegypti has been detected as far north as New York, New Hampshire, and Indiana, though these occurrences are less common. CDC+2Oxford Academic+2EHP Publishing+2

Factors Influencing Distribution:

Climate Conditions:EHP Publishing+2Nature+2wrbu.si.edu+2The mosquito thrives in tropical and subtropical climates. However, warming temperatures have facilitated its spread into more temperate regions.Urbanization:Time+1Nature+1Ae. aegypti is highly adapted to urban environments, often breeding in artificial containers like buckets, tires, and flowerpots found in residential areas.

Health Implications:

Aedes aegypti is a primary vector for viruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. The expansion of its range heightens the risk of these diseases in newly affected areas. CDC

Preventive Measures:

Eliminate Standing Water: Regularly remove water from containers to reduce breeding sites.Use Insect Repellents: Apply repellents containing DEET or picaridin when outdoors.Install Window Screens: Ensure windows and doors have screens to prevent mosquito entry.

Understanding the distribution and behavior of Aedes aegypti is crucial for implementing effective control strategies and minimizing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

NOTE: 

After each section I was offered more resources than I have included in this post.

 

Window Screens

You said:

Do you know if regular window screens will prevent that new small type of mosquito from entering the house?

ChatGPT said:

Great question — and an important one with Aedes aegypti on the rise.

Short answer:

Yes, regular window screens can help, but only if they’re in perfect condition — no holes, no gaps, and with mesh small enough to stop tiny insects like Aedes aegypti.

Details:

Aedes aegypti are smaller than most mosquitoes — about 3–4 mm long.Standard window screen mesh (usually 18×16 mesh, meaning 18 strands per inch in one direction and 16 in the other) will block most mosquitoes, including Aedes aegypti.But because they’re stealthy and small, even tiny tears, bent frames, or gaps around windows can let them in.

Tips to make screens mosquito-proof:

Inspect regularly for holes or wear — even pinholes can let them through.Use tighter mesh (like 20×20 or no-see-um mesh) for extra protection.These are finer and still allow airflow.“No-see-um mesh” is often used in areas with tiny biting flies and works great for Aedes aegypti.Seal gaps around window frames with weather stripping or caulk.Keep windows closed at dawn and dusk, or when lights are on inside at night — it reduces attractants.

Want help finding where to buy no-see-um mesh or how to DIY screen upgrades for your home?

You said:

Yes, please.

ChatGPT said:

Upgrading your window screens to no-see-um mesh is an effective way to keep out tiny insects like the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Here’s how you can do it:

Sourcing No-See-Um Mesh Screen Material:

No-see-um mesh has a tighter weave (typically 20×20 strands per inch) designed to block smaller insects. Here are some options:

Phifer No-See-Um Fiberglass Screen Mesh: Available in various sizes, such as 36 inches x 25 feet and 48 inches x 25 feet. These can be found at retailers like Home Depot. Amazon+2The Home Depot+2The Home Depot+2Online Retailers: Platforms like Amazon offer no-see-um mesh rolls in different dimensions to suit your needs. Amazon DIY Window Screen Replacement Steps:

Replacing your window screens is a manageable DIY project. Here’s a general guide:

Remove the Old Screen: Carefully take out the screen frame from your window. Use a flathead screwdriver to pry out the old spline (the rubber cord holding the screen in place) and remove the damaged screen. DIY Playbook+1YouTube+1The Home Depot+3adfors.com+3Lowe’s+3Measure and Cut the New Screen: Lay the no-see-um mesh over the frame, ensuring it overlaps the frame’s edges by about 1 inch on all sides. Cut the mesh to size, leaving excess to ensure a tight fit. The Home DepotInstall the New Screen: Position the mesh over the frame. Using a spline roller tool, press the spline over the mesh into the frame’s groove, starting from one corner and working your way around. Ensure the mesh remains taut to prevent wrinkles. DIY Playbook+2The Home Depot+2adfors.com+2adfors.comTrim Excess Mesh: After securing the spline, use a utility knife to trim any excess mesh from the edges for a clean finish. Additional Tips:Tools Needed: Ensure you have a spline roller, utility knife, scissors, and possibly a flathead screwdriver. Some kits may include these tools.Lowe’s+2The Home Depot+2DIY Playbook+2Pre-Framed Screen Kits: If your frames are damaged or you’re looking for convenience, consider purchasing pre-framed screen kits that you can assemble and install. Reddit

For a visual walkthrough, here’s a helpful video guide:

LINK TO HELPFUL YOU TUBE VIDEO:

(It was embedded in the original chat.)

Replacing a Window Screen 5-Steps

You said:

Do you know which company is in Albuquerque will re-screen windows and use the 20 x 20 mesh?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, in Albuquerque, several companies offer window re-screening services and can install 20×20 mesh to enhance protection against smaller insects like Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Here are some local options:

NOTE:

At this point it showed me a local map of companies that do window screening.

It chose one in particular that “offers different mesh materials” but I suspect they all do, 

and that this was just the only one that included those words in their website copy.

None of them talked specifically about mosquitoes.

Recommendations:

Contact the companies directly: Discuss your specific needs, such as the installation of 20×20 mesh, to ensure they can accommodate your request.Inquire about mesh options: Confirm that the 20×20 mesh is available and suitable for your window frames.

By reaching out to these local businesses, you can enhance your home’s defense against mosquitoes and other small insects.

NOTE:

After each section, ChatGPT offered a chance to rate its reply:

The icons represent: Copy; Good response; Bad response; Read aloud; Edit in canvas;

Switch model (I have not tried any of the other models)

 

What relatable thing have you chatted with ChatGPT about?

Were you satisfied with the chat?

What might you ask it about next time?

Please share with us in the comments!

______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Book:  Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror Book:  What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Book:  Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post!  Click here  to ask about other uses.Copyright 2025 by Hazel Thornton,  Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

The post Mosquitoes: A Chatty G Consultation appeared first on Hazel Thornton.

Think of ChatGPT as a friend

As interested as I am in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and as pervasive as it is becoming in our daily lives, I seem to only manage one blog post per year about it. Suffice it to say that a lot can, and does, happen in a year! So, consider this your annual update.

Progress!

Click image to read “An Interview with ChatGPT” (2023)

For example, some of you will remember what ChatGPT had to say, in my post, An “Interview” with ChatGPT (April 2023), under “Reality Check”, about the books I have written. It named three books with entirely plausible-sounding but utterly fabricated titles. Not only had I not written them, but no one else had either!

At that time ChatGPT had no direct access to the internet and its knowledge cutoff date was September 2021. This time, however, it gave me the correct titles of my three books PLUS clickable links to their pages on Amazon and Goodreads!

Why am I writing about AI?

I’m no AI expert. My goal in writing about it is not to convince you to use it. I just want to demystify it a bit and let you know how I’ve been using it. One of my organizing colleagues, Jamie Steele, a productivity coach at Tidy Your Time, LLC, refers to ChatGPT as “Chatty G” which I think is adorable. It also dovetails with a thought I’ve had that might help you, too, when you are using it: Think of ChatGPT as a friend. (Keep reading to see why.)

Contents:AI affects us allThink of ChatGPT as a friendSome of the ways I’ve used ChatGPT latelyPersonal MemoriesGenealogyMosquitoesWritingMedicalVoice ModeCAUTION: Things to watch out forSynopses, Sources, and HallucinationsEnergy consumptionPrivacyAI affects us all

Examples of AI in Everyday Life. I know you can’t read this. Click the image to see the search results and links to more info.

AI is kind of like politics: It affects your life whether or not you are interested or pay attention to it. Here are some Examples of AI in Everyday Life (Click the link or the image to see the larger, clickable search results)

In The AI Gold Rush (May 2024) I mentioned that there were now thousands of new AI applications. They mainly fall into the two following categories:

Predictive AI such as Google and Netflix searchesGenerative AI such as chatbots, image creation, research and writing tools

It’s more complicated than that, of course, but notice that chatbots (like ChatGPT) are not the same as search engines. They are Large Language Models (LLMs) with increasing access to the internet, but they do not replace search engines. If you want to know something factual, especially if it happened yesterday, it’s best to Google it. There are many different chatbots available, as discussed in this representative article: The best AI chatbots in 2025 (Miguel Rebelo for Zapier, March 4, 2025)

Click image to read “The AI Gold Rush” (2024)

If you aren’t sure which one to pick, there’s no reason not to try them all. Most offer a free version and a paid version with extra features. Some allow a certain amount of usage per day and that provides a built-in opportunity to try another one (if you really have that many questions or uses for it). You can even install Chrome’s Multi AI Sidebar to make it easy.

For purposes of this blog post, though, I’m sticking with free ChatGPT 4o. I think my head might explode if I branch out much further!

Think of ChatGPT as a friend

What do I mean by that? Well, I take everything Chatty G says with a grain of salt, just like I would if I were discussing a problem with a friend. Friends are (often) not doctors or lawyers or historians. Friends can make mistakes. But that doesn’t mean it’s worthless to ask a friend for advice or run something by them. Some friends are more knowledgeable than others, and sometimes they confirm things you already think, or steer you away from faulty thinking, and add some insight you’ve never considered. They can help you organize your thoughts, or your data.

I have heard that some people use chatbots as therapists of sorts. I mean, Chatty G is not a licensed healthcare professional, but it’s a good sounding board. If it’s not a life-or-death issue, why not run it by Chatty G? It might even advise you to seek the help of a therapist!

 

Some of the ways I’ve used ChatGPT lately:Personal Memories

No amount of Googling was helping me find the name of the festival I used to play in each year as a piano student in 1970s Boise, Idaho. It didn’t really help that I was calling it a “competition” because it wasn’t, really. There were judges and ratings, but there were as many high (or low) ratings as there were students who deserved them. One of my memories was that I earned six Superiors in consecutive years and was therefore awarded two “Gold Superiors” (one for each set of three years). Well, they’re apparently called “Gold Cups” these days (trophies instead of certificates), and after I provided a few more details ChatGPT figured it out. (I was going to share the entire chat, but the link isn’t “sticking” for some reason. Contact me if you are curious about how the conversation unfolded, and what the festival was like.)

Genealogy

AI is used for all sorts of genealogy tasks, like record transcription, image enhancement, and language translation. All of the big platforms like Ancestry, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage are constantly leapfrogging each other in terms of tools and capabilities. I’m still following the Facebook group called “Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence (AI)” where even the genealogy experts are still experimenting and sharing both their successes and their failures. Most of them have either developed, or will soon, their own instructional videos, blog posts, and classes related to AI usage.

I used Stephen Little’s prompt (“Fun Prompt Friday!” posted on Feb 28, 2025) to create a “Parke County, Indiana Locality Guide”. Having gathered most of the sources myself over the years I can report that it did a pretty good job!

I also fed ChatGPT a family history I once wrote to see what it might notice about it. I asked questions like this:

Are there any conclusions you can make that are not already stated in the article?Do you have any suggested resources for further research into the lives of these families?

I can’t say I’ve broken my brick wall on that branch of my family yet, but ChatGPT did give me some historical context and other things to think about and try!

In An “Interview” with ChatGPT (April 2023), under “Should we fear AI?”, I wrote about AI-generated images. Take a look at this video to learn more about how AI can affect our use of historical photos: Fact or Fiction? Comparing Photo Tools with ChatGPT. (I will admit to only having watched the first 6-1/2 minutes of it. So you have my permission to stop at that point, too.)

Mosquitoes

Chances are that mosquitoes are more of an issue for me than they are for you. For one thing, my blood type is O negative, which has been shown to attract more mosquitoes than other blood types. Second, we have a new stealth breed of mosquitoes here in New Mexico — tiny, silent, goes for the ankles, invades homes (well, my home, anyway). Third, I have lymphedema, and scratching mosquito bites can quickly lead to infection.

I had quite the chat with Chatty G about mosquitoes, remedies, and prevention methods. (Not sure why the link doesn’t “stick”, so contact me if you’d like to see the chat in its entirety. I may even write a whole new blog post about mosquitoes next.)

Writing

I have yet to really use AI for writing. But I know a lot of writers with questions about AI. I never even used grammar- or spell-checkers until they became default features of word processing programs such as Co-Pilot for Word. I have, however, like most writers who have ever lived, used a human editor, a thesaurus, and other such writing tools. I also Google words to make sure they mean what I think they mean, and topics to learn more about them.

But I do want to share that there are uses for AI that won’t get your term paper sniffed out by AI detectors or your book rejected by Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). The KDP link describes the difference between material that is AI-generated (requires disclosure) and AI-assisted (does not require disclosure).

Surprisingly, I found this post by Open AI, the creator of ChatGPT — Writing with AI: Five ways professional writers are leveraging ChatGPT — to be more helpful than self-serving. Among other things, it says, “Writers are using ChatGPT as a sounding board, story consultant, research assistant, and editor—to talk out ideas, find the right word, clarify their thinking, and get feedback on structure and flow.” Another good one along these lines is this: Does Using Grammarly Make My Content get Detected as AI-Generated? The Results Are In (Jonathan Gillham for Originality.ai, October 24, 2024)  Spoiler alert: It depends.

One thing to watch for in reading articles these days is whole chunks of text, or distinctive phrases, that are repeated. Bad editing? Or AI? Sometimes it’s both.

Medical

In my experience doctors often fail to sufficiently warn patients of drug interactions and ways to make them more or less effective. Or, even if they do, it’s easy for a patient (OK, for me) to forget. And, if it’s a medication you’ve taken for years, you may not think to ask a pharmacist about it and may still not know (or have forgotten) it needs to be taken on an empty stomach, or that you should avoid dairy, or citrus, or sunlight, or whatever, while you are taking it. Google has a lot of helpful info on drugs but sometimes it’s hard to assemble it all in a meaningful manner.

I had a couple of new medications that I wanted to ask ChatGPT about. I think I’ll keep this chat to myself, but the bottom line was that I did change my medication schedule as a result, but not precisely the way ChatGPT outlined it for me.

Voice Mode

The other day I was trying to work with Ziggy, my cat, in my arms. So I clicked the microphone on, thinking it was a dictation feature like I have in Word. I was expecting to see my spoken words typed out, and for Chatty G to type an answer in return. But no. Instead, I was offered several different Chat personas, with assigned names and unique voices. I chose one and asked “her” something about Social Security (without mentioning my actual SSN, of course). I noticed that chat got auto-labeled “Email clarification request” (which is not wrong, but which wasn’t helpful in searching for it later, whereupon I edited the chat name to something more meaningful). I noticed there were two voice-looking modes and asked her:

Q: “What is the difference between dictation and voice mode?”

A: “Dictation mode is usually for converting spoken words into text, like when you’re using speech-to-text. Voice mode, on the other hand, involves interacting with a device or software through spoken commands, like having a conversation.”

OK, got it! No wonder people like chatting with Chatty G!

The lesson here is that anything you want to know about ChatGPT, you might as well ask ChatGPT about directly, like I did in An “Interview” with ChatGPT (April 2023)

 

CAUTION: Things to watch out forSynopses, Sources, and Hallucinations

As far as AI has advanced in the generative arena, one must still exercise caution. For example, the AI-generated synopsis you can now often find at the top of many Google search results can be very handy. And it can be wrong. Worse, it can be so mostly-right that you might miss a crucial detail that is false.

If, during your private tête-à-tête, Chatty G offers up source  links, click them to see if they are good. Check everything that is supposedly factual. Experiment with topics you are familiar with so you can learn to spot errors.

The term for ChatGPT making stuff up is “hallucinating”. Some have suggested that “confabulation” is a more accurate term, but hallucination is the term that’s being used currently.

Energy consumption

There are many articles by now about how inefficient AI tools are in terms of energy consumption. Compared to what, though? Many of the articles that look promising to me are behind annoying paywalls. I did find one that says that a ChatGPT question uses 10X more energy than a Google search. That sounds like a lot, but I’ve seen enough Chats to know that initial and subsequent prompts vary widely in their scope (and surely in their energy consumption). So we may be comparing apples to oranges. Other articles say ChatGPT is not bad for the environment compared to other types of energy-intensive activities. And most agree we need more transparency in the industry.

At some point I think it will be clearer how much of an environmental stand it would be to eschew AI usage. And I think there are still plenty of times when a Google (or similar) search is best. But there are also times when the answer is elusive and only a good Chat will suffice.

Privacy

Here is an example of one of the many articles behind paywalls with an irresistible headline: The Five Things You Shouldn’t Tell ChatGPT (Nicole Nguyen for Wall Street Journal, March 30, 2025). Subtitle: “Don’t let your mystery rash become AI training fodder—or turn up in a data breach.” Let me guess — you also should not upload your Social Security number or other identifying information into a ChatGPT. Also, as with any online platform, you should check your settings. All of them. And if you update your computer, or ChatGPT gets updated, you should check your settings again.

 

How are you using AI?

Do you have a favorite chatbot?

What concerns you the most about AI?

What do you enjoy the most about AI?

Please share with us in the comments!

______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Book:  Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror Book:  What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Book:  Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post!  Click here  to ask about other uses.Copyright 2025 by Hazel Thornton,  Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

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Menendez Miracle #6

 

 

I have written previously about the first five Menendez Miracles.

And I have written more recently about the roller coaster of Menendez legal ups and downs in this frequently-updated post: If I Could Hold a Press Conference.

And now we have Menendez Miracle #6:Parole Hearing Scheduled

Last week, after yet another lengthy, unnecessary, prejudicial, and error-filled press conference by DA Hochman, Governor Newsom announced that he has set a hearing date for the brothers before the parole board. He had already ordered a risk assessment to assist him in considering clemency, which would also be part of a parole process should they be resentenced.

Clemency hearing date for Menendez brothers set by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (USA Today)

For two people who were sentenced to life in prison WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY of parole, and who have not (yet) been resentenced, I’d say a parole board hearing for Erik and Lyle is a miracle, wouldn’t you?

The date to pencil in on your calendar is June 13. And the resentencing hearing (a separate still-viable path to freedom in the hands of Judge Jesic) is currently (re-)scheduled for April 17-18.

Are you a Menendez supporter?

If you are, great! Please leave a comment, scroll down to see what you can do to help, and spread the word by sharing this blog post with others you think may be interested.

However, if you aren’t a supporter, please refrain from commenting. I’ve endured enough criticism in the past 3 decades to last me a lifetime, thank you very much!

If you’re just not sure, you’re definitely not alone! I didn’t know, what to think either, until I spent 7 months as a first-trial Menendez juror (1 month jury selection + 5 months trial + 1 month deliberations). My book, and this flow chart, will help you decide.

What’s YOUR verdict? CLICK the image to view, download, and print the full-sized (free) PDF chart. SHARE it with both supporters and doubters. Order your copy of my book here: Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror

What can you do to help?SIGN the petition (I only share family-approved petitions.) Justiceforerikandlyle.org (For more information, or if you experience difficulties, contact info@justiceforerikandlyle.org.)WATCH the latest update from Crime Analyst (YouTube, 21 min.) Menendez Brothers: Why DA Hochman Is Wrong & Newsom’s Intervention Changes Everything CONTACT Governor Newsom to express your support for the brothers. https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/ SHARE this post, the featured charts, and whatever else you find helpful on my website. https://www.org4life.com/menendez-juror REMEMBER: This is a marathon, not a sprint.The story’s not over!

I created this Venn diagram in 2016, when interest in the case started picking up again on the 20th anniversary of the murder convictions. This was before I knew there would be SEVERAL miracles paving the very long path to the BIG one. CLICK the image to view, download, and print the full-sized PDF chart. SHARE it with other supporters!

The next Menendez Miracle? — The Release

Erik and Lyle walking free after 35+ years? Why not?

No matter how many pieces are in place now, it will still take a miracle.

But, as we’ve seen, miracles do happen!

Resources The Menendez Murders Flow Chart  What’s YOUR verdict? Enough is Enough: The Menendez Tapestry 4-min video Hazel’s Top Menendez Media Picks Books, Documentaries, Dramatizations, Podcasts, Websites Complete First Trial Courtroom Videos Watch for yourself on CourtTV.com.(The corrupt second trial was not televised.) Menendez Juror Website  More resources, News, FAQ, etc.______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Book:  Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror Book:  What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Book:  Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post!  Click here  to ask about other uses.Copyright 2025 by Hazel Thornton,  Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

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We’re All Related (and why it matters)

Click image to learn more and register for RootsTech.

It’s ti-i-me!

Time for RootsTech, that is (March 6-8, 2025), and time for my favorite feature, Relatives at RootsTech.

The largest annual genealogy conference in the world is a hybrid event. If you register for the FREE virtual portion of the conference you will get a different experience, of course, than if you go in person. But there are benefits in registering, even if you are only semi-interested, and even if you can’t attend on those dates. Like what? Like access to recorded educational sessions from previous years, and access to Relatives at RootsTech.

What is “Relatives at RootsTech”?

It’s a tool that shows how you are related to others who are also registered for the conference. The first time I saw that I was related to tens of thousands of other conference goers I thought, “Well, that can’t be right.” But when I realized how many people attend RootsTech, and how many have common ancestors with me on the order of 10 generations back, and thought about how many descendants those ancestors must have by now, my doubts vanished.

Why do I like Relatives at RootsTech so much?It reminds me that everyone is related. While I may not be related to YOU, I very well also might be!It’s fun to be able say you’re related to a client, or friend, or colleague, and also to know exactly HOW you’re related.It can benefit your research and enrich your life to connect with a distant cousin who is researching common ancestors.Did I mention it’s free?Can I trust Relatives at RootsTech?

No. It’s not a matter of trust!

This link isn’t working and I don’t know why. Just register for RootsTech and you’ll see Relatives at RootsTech!

FamilySearch is a crowd-sourced world tree, so it’s subject to errors introduced by users who are not experienced genealogists. But it also includes a plethora of free resources and many wonderfully-documented ancestor profiles. The Relatives at RootsTech tool provides the path by which you are supposedly connected, based on input from you and other researchers. It’s up to each of us to analyze the information we encounter, and to make corrections (or to at least initiate discussions with other researchers) if we are in possession of more, or better, evidence.

How to use Relatives at RootsTech:First, register for RootsTech. There is no cost for the virtual part of the conference, but you will need to create an also-free FamilySearch account to get started.Look for the Relatives at RootsTech feature during the month before and the month after the conference.If you don’t see that you are related to anyone, add a couple more generations to your tree (first yourself, then your parents, then your grandparents, and so on) until it connects with the larger world tree.If you don’t see that you are related to anyone you know, ask someone you do know to also register for the conference so you can see if, and how, you are related.If you are related, but it’s 10 generations back and not all of the names look familiar, use the provided path as clues. Document each step along the way on both sides before resting assured it is a legitimate path to a common ancestor. I’ve had some good luck with the paths I’ve been presented, but I am always wary of each step (branch, leaf) until I see (or find) sufficient documentation for each one. I don’t want to end up climbing someone else’s family tree!If you don’t have time to do the research now, take a screenshot to refer to later.What if Relatives at RootsTech isn’t available?

The reason Relatives at RootsTech is exciting is because it’s not available all year round. It’s only available the month before, and the month after the conference. This is the only time you can find out how you’re related to living persons, since living persons are not searchable on FamilySearch (or other genealogy platforms) for privacy’s sake.

What is available all year, though, is a page called Famous Relatives. In the same way you saw (and proved) you were related to a friend, acquaintance, or distant cousin, you can see (and prove) whether or not you are related to a famous person in one of the following categories: Leaders, Inventors and Scientists, Entertainers and Artists, Trailblazers, and Athletes.

So, even if you aren’t related to ME, you are almost certainly related to somebody famous.

Why Does it Matter?

Is it important to have famous ancestors? No, of course not! It’s mostly just fun.

As I wrote in my introduction to the Albuquerque Genealogical Society, whose board of directors I joined last month, “Most of my ancestors immigrated to America from the British Isles in the 1600s. The most intriguing ones (so far) include Quakers, loyalists, slaveholders, and that one 3rd great-grandfather who went to the gold rush and was never heard from again.”

Most of my ancestors were unsung pioneers and farmers (plus a few drunks and rent-jumpers). Some I’ve traced back 12 generations, while others left so few records of themselves that I’m stuck only a few generations back in time searching for them.

I think it’s important in these divisive political times to focus on what we all have in common, not what separates us.

If we go back far enough, we are all descended from so many ancestors that finding common ground is inevitable. If I find that I am descended from royalty, or related to famous people, the point is not that I’m special. The point is that we are ALL special. Even those ancestors who left few records are special. People who think they aren’t related to royalty, just don’t know yet that they’re descended from both royalty and their servants. And, if you live in the United States, and you aren’t a Native American, you are an immigrant no matter how long ago your family came here.

Related blog posts and Resources: How and when to find a common ancestorv (I solved a family mystery and determined my relationship to a historical figure by finding our common ancestor. And you can too!) What the heck is a second cousin once removed? (Even genealogists need charts to figure out cousin relationships.) Black Lives Matter in Genealogy Too (Aka Slaveholders in the Family) Are we all descended from royalty? (Spoiler alert: Most of us are distantly related to rulers such as Charlemagne, Genghis Kahn, and other historical figures with an abundance of descendants.) Witches in the Family (Included here for the sections called “How do I know we’re really related, though?”, “Do the math”, and “My ancestors are all immigrants, and yours probably are too”.) Genealogy Resource Roundup (These are the resources I use most often.)

Are you registered for RootsTech?

Are WE related? Who else are you related to?

Please leave a comment below!

______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Book: Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror Book: What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Book: Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2025 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

 

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How Christmas turned into a Virtual Winter Retreat

I usually spend Christmas with Jane, my best-friend-since-we-were-14. Usually, she flies from Boise (where we grew up) to my house in Albuquerque. (My brother and aunt live here too, and she calls us her Christmas family.) Sometimes when I tell people she is coming they say, “Do you have anything special planned?” And I reply, “I just told you. Jane is coming!” No, we don’t usually have much else planned. We are too busy watching TV, eating, and talking.

↑ ↑ This is us, pre- and post-COVID, when we inadvertently switched hairstyles.

But things change, and sometimes things happen. This year, when we agreed she wasn’t coming (for reasons that are not important here) I said, “But we can still have a fun week spending Christmas together virtually.” How? Well, it’s not like we’ve never watched TV together at the same time before, while texting our comments back and forth during the show.

Then I added, “What if we added a productivity component and made it into a Virtual Winter Retreat?” Jane was enthusiastically like-minded, and so we did.

Our agenda was pretty loose, but I’ve found that a little structure can go a long way.

Each morning

Whatever time we got around to it, we shared our goals for the day. We agreed on categories and aimed for one thing (completion or progress) in each category, per day. If we had time for more, and felt like it, we did more. Some days lots more.

Our categories, including a sample day, were:

Adulting (anything we find boring but still needs to be done)Me: Review budget and expensesJane: Renew auto registrationHealth (including, but certainly not limited to, physical activity)Me: PT exercisesJane: PickleballShort-term project (something with an internal or external deadline)Me: Write January newsletterJane: Take donations to GoodwillLong-term project (something on which we want to make a little regular progress)Me: Genealogy researchJane: Clean up yard

We are both writers, so we both routinely have some short- and long-term writing goals. Check out Jane’s Wikipedia page! And if you aren’t already familiar, check out my books.

BTW, my own personal categories during the year are usually Home, Work, Self, and Others, as described in this blog post: The Chinese Menu Time Management Technique. During Virtual Winter Retreat I realized I needed to revise my goals and activities if I want to keep those same categories during retirement. And one day I worked on that. But your categories might be different, and the ones we elected to use during our retreat suited us both at the time.

Each afternoon

At 4 pm we convened for the following agenda:

Compare notes on what we accomplished that day. No need to dwell on what we did not accomplish.Our lists course-corrected naturally as we went along. And we weren’t working on things that required in-depth coaching.Watch up to 4 episodes of a TV show we’d picked together.We chose A Discovery of Witches on Netflix (and we finished, and enjoyed, all 3 seasons), but it could have been anything. A few previous favorites have been Deadwood, The L Word, Shameless, and Alone.Eat dinner.Sometimes we coordinated what we were eating, and sometimes we didn’t. For example, one night we both made snack boards and another night we both ordered Thai.

↑ ↑ My snack board incorporated a mini gouda wheel and mini Triscuits in the foreground. Jane’s design echoes the snowflakes on the tablecloth. (Or wrapping paper, or whatever that is — I was focused on the food and forgot to ask!)

After a week of this (Christmas Day to New Year’s Eve) we agreed we had both been productive and had fun, too!

It was a good way to end one year and set ourselves up for success in the next.

I suggested a Virtual Birthday Retreat, around the time of our late spring/early summer birthdays, and would be willing to do it quarterly. (Maybe not a whole week each time.) But Jane wants to do it more often and is welcome to do so with other friends, in whatever format suits them.

Jane’s thoughts:

It has been a great retreat. I am proud of what I got done and thankful to your support in every way. Also, several of my friends immediately said, “I want to do that!” I am boot camping with one and will be having a weekend retreat with another next month.

Ideas for creating your own Virtual Retreat:Call it whatever you want: Retreat; Boot Camp; etc. Words matter. They set the tone for what you want to accomplish and how you want to feel. A Boot Camp is generally stricter and has more well-defined goals than a Retreat.Invite whomever you want, or create a Solo event, ala this Literature and Latte blog post: How to Create Your Own Solo Writing Retreat. (Thanks to Julie Bestry for sharing this link with me and our other NAPO writing friends!)Make the focus whatever you want: Getting lots of little (but important) stuff done? Making progress on a big project? Pampering yourself and catching up with friends?Make it however long you want. 1 day minimum, but a week (like we did) is stretching it for most people and situations.Communication is key. Choose a platform for sharing your ideas and comparing goals/progress. Text -OR- Email -OR- Messenger. (OR phone -OR- Zoom -OR- etc.) It will drive everyone crazy, and be ineffective, to have the messages spread over multiple platforms.Decide how much money, if any, you want to spend. Will there be food? Will you try to coordinate it?Even if your retreat is business-oriented, and even if you are doing it solo, be sure and build in some fun. It doesn’t have to be TV! (Not that there’s anything wrong with a little Guilt-Free TV.)About participating in others’ virtual retreats

I have a couple of annual virtual events coming up that I did not plan. (I am just a participant.) The ones I am thinking of are the very public RootsTech genealogy conference and a private group Writing Retreat. They will be very different from each other, but they have one thing in common: I will enjoy them more, and get more out of them, if I give them my full attention.

How do I do that?

I reserve the days on my calendar and do not schedule other things on those days.I plan to be in a quiet, comfortable location for Zooming. (In my case I’ll just be home, on my laptop, at my desk.)I make sure I have easy or already-prepared meals on hand.

This allows me to enjoy the events as stress-free as possible.

 

Have you done something like this, or think you might?

Please share with us in the comments below!

______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2025 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

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Celebrating 20 Years

Please join me in celebrating 20 years of membership in the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. NAPO has been the foundation of my professional life and business. I’m retired now, but I’m still an emeritus member. For 17 of those years I helped clients to declutter, simplify, organize, and refresh their homes, offices, schedules, and lives. Some of them I helped to discover their ancestral roots and tell their family stories, too!

Thank you all

First, I want to thank you all — friends, family, colleagues, clients (especially clients), business networking contacts, joint venture partners, assistants, newsletter subscribers, flow chart users, blog and book readers, and social media followers — for joining me on my solopreneur roller coaster ride! I am so grateful for your business, your friendship, and your support.

Milestones

2004 – Discovered NAPO and attended my first NAPO-LA regional conference (as a non-member) in February. Started doing free “needs assessments” for my friends, with the intent of becoming a professional organizer in my retirement…which was not at all imminent at the time…or so I thought.

2004 – “Surplussed” (laid off) by the phone company in December, after 21-1/2 years. NOT retired. NO benefits. Immediately joined NAPO. (Read more of my story here: Born to Organize.)

2004 logo

2019 new logo — NAPO has grown and changed too!

2005 – Founded my company, Organized for Life. Created my first website. (Click here for a blast from the Wayback machine.) Started monthly newsletter, Org4life News. Volunteered briefly as NAPO-LA’s Chapter Librarian.

2005

2005 – Attended the NAPO2005 conference in San Diego.

2005 – Moved to Albuquerque in July and co-founded Professional Organizers of New Mexico with six local colleagues.

2007 – Earned IRIS certification in Home Staging and Interior Redesign by taking Sandy Dixon’s week-long hands-on intensive course in beautiful Evergreen, Colorado.

2007 – Attended the NAPO2007 conference in Minneapolis and was inspired to create a new logo and tag line. (Read more of the story: The egret represents freedom from clutter)

BEFORE: My first business card was corporate-looking and boring. Also, it seems my newsletter was only published quarterly at that time.

AFTER: The egret taking flight logo and tag line encourage you to rise above your clutter and find the freedom of getting Organized for Life.

December 2009 = End of Year 5

2010 – Accepted into NAPO’s Golden Circle of members with 5+ years.

old logo

2010 – Created the Original Clutter Flow Chart to help you declutter when I’m not right there by your side!

Click here to help yourself to a complimentary copy of the ORIGINAL Clutter Flow Chart!

2011 – Attended the NAPO2011 conference in San Diego.

2011 – Started offering Custom-Branded Clutter Flow Charts to other professional organizers for use with their own clients, presentations, and marketing prospects.

2011 – Compiled the previous year’s weekly Facebook time tips into an indexed and cross-referenced e-book, It’s About Time: 52 tips to help you take control of your time and your life! (no longer available)

2011 – Coordinated a team of local volunteers for an episode of A&E Hoarders. (View our behind-the-scenes photo album.)

2012 – Attended the NAPO2012 conference in Baltimore.

2012 – Upgraded to a new, combined website and blog. (Read Web Designer Janet Barclay’s story: Another Professional Organizer Chooses WordPress for her Website )

2013 – Attended the NAPO2013 conference in New Orleans.

2013 – Joined the NAPO Virtual Chapter and served as their Secretary for a year.

2013 – Combined 15 flow charts (plus articles, worksheets, resources and instructions) into a new e-workbook: Go With The Flow! The Clutter-Clearing Tool Kit for an Organized Life.   

Click here to help yourself to a complimentary copy of the ORIGINAL Clutter Flow Chart!

2013 – Introduced Resource Roundups for DIY Organizing.

2014 – Attended the NAPO2014 conference in Scottsdale, and participated on the Ask the Organizers Golden Circle Panel.

That’s me on the far right.

2014 – Earned Superstar Blogger status in the Professional Organizers Blog Carnival. (

2014 – Joined the NAPO Authorship and Publishing SIG (Special Interest Group).

December 2014 = End of Year 10

.   .   

2015 – Attended the NAPO2015 conference in Los Angeles, at which I was recognized as a POINT Platinum MVP and recruited as a POINT Committee volunteer. (POINT is a message board for NAPO members.)

2015 – Joined APPO (which eventually became The Photo Managers) and became a Certified Photo Organizer, which rekindled my longtime interest in genealogy.

Old APPO logo

New TPM logo

2015 –  Added Virtual Organizing Services to my repertoire.

Logo from Sheila Delson’s Virtual Organizing Training Program

2016 – Began offering Family History Research Services.

2016-2017 – Cue cliche record scratch sound. My past collided with my present when reporters started calling again to interview me about my experience as a juror on the first Menendez brothers murder trial in 1993-4. My book, Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror was republished and I traveled to Los Angeles several times for interviews and to work with Robert Rand, the journalist whose book was the basis for the NBC 8-part series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders. (More about this on MenendezJuror.com. See also The Menendez Boxes Project photo album. The Juror helps the Journalist get organized!)

2017 – Presented “Networking for Introverts” at the NAPO2017 conference in Pittsburgh.

2017 – Was honored to receive the prestigious President’s Award at the NAPO2017 conference in Pittsburgh.

2017 – Started blogging about my Mom’s Boxes.

2018 – Attended the NAPO2018 conference in Chicago, and APPOCON2018 in Raleigh.

2018 – Achieved Megastar Blogger status in the Professional Organizers Blog Carnival.

2019 – Earned the 4th of 4 available (at the time) NAPO Certificate Badges (Residential Organizing, Life Transitions, Workplace Productivity, Household Management).2019 – Achieved Top 100 Organizing Blogs status. (My usual middle-of-the-pack position varies over time, but I just noticed I’m #14 in 2024!)

2019 – Joined the Association of Professional Genealogists and co-founded the Genealogy Organizers Facebook group.

2019 – Attended the APPO (now TPM) conference, and Southwest Writers conference, both right here in Albuquerque.

December 2019 = End of Year 15

.   . 

2020 — Once again, cue cliche record scratch sound. COVID-19 changed some things for all of us, and everything for some of us. For starters, I was all set to be a co-presenter in a session called “Yikes, I’m 60ish! What are my options?” (still available to NAPO members) at the NAPO2020 conference in Orlando. Instead, that conference was cancelled and we had to wait for the 2021 virtual conference to make our presentation. This year also marked the end of my 5-year volunteer role on the POINT committee.

2020 — Sadly, lost my feline office manager and constant companion of many years. The End of an Era: RIP George

2021 — Published my book, What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy, in which my organizing and downsizing experience dovetails with my interest in photo management and genealogy.

2022 — Joined the NAPO emeritus program, and helped to create similar programs for PONM and TPM retired members who want to stay involved with, and contribute to, their professional communities.

2022-3 — Presented several programs to various NAPO chapters, TPM (The Photo Managers), and AGS (Albuquerque Genealogical Society) based on my book What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy.

2023 — Reformatted and added content to my previous collection of charts and published my book, Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook

Click here to help yourself to a complimentary copy of the ORIGINAL Clutter Flow Chart!

2023 — Started posting High Five Friday weekly posts on Facebook.

2024 — The increased public and legal attention to the Menendez brothers murder case this year meant more interviews for me. I don’t often blog about this, but I do have a Menendez blog category and a Menendez Juror section of my website.

December 2024 = End of Year 20

    .

 

Not listed:Clients organizedCarloads of donations to GoodwillCarloads of books to Friends of the LibraryClasses attendedBooks readPresentations givenHours donatedAdditional volunteer jobsGuest blog posts writtenNetworking accomplishedFriendships forgedWhat’s next for Org4life?

Albuquerque Genealogical Society

That’s a good question!

Well, there’s nothing next for my business, Organized for Life.

And this is probably my last professional milestone blog post, too.

But there’s surely lots in store for me.

I will continue being involved in NAPO, PONM, and TPM until it’s no longer fun. (I’m currently the most active in the NAPO Authorship and Publishing SIG.)

And I’ve agreed to take on a new role, at least for a year: Vice President of the Albuquerque Genealogical Society.

I will keep my website and publish new blog posts when I have something to say, and, for now, I still have my monthly newsletter to write. As I say in Org4life News: I’m retired from my second career as a professional organizer. But I’m still here to help, even if it means making referrals to my trusted colleagues for services I no longer provide.

Stay tuned, and we’ll both see what happens.

Thank you all for a wonderful 20 years!

Your comments are welcome below.

 

______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

The post Celebrating 20 Years appeared first on Hazel Thornton.

Clearing Social Media Clutter

Things are changing in the social media world. Not just recently, but constantly and relentlessly. And I’m drowning in social media clutter.

Should I add new accounts? Delete old ones? Continue ignoring the ones I’m not using? Arrgh! It’s a problem for me, but also one that’s easy to procrastinate solving because social media accounts don’t occupy physical space. They don’t even consume digital storage space unless, of course, you are creating images and videos for posting. Then it can add up fast.

NOTE: If you don’t have as many accounts as I do, count yourself lucky. If you have no trouble deciding which platforms to use, and are not overwhelmed by them, feel free to skip this post! Meanwhile, I’ve had a number of acquaintances express a desire to read such a post. Here you go!

Social Media Discomfort

I think everyone experiences social media discomfort, even if it’s only a momentary frustration with how something didn’t post the way you expected it would, or failed to reach your intended audience. And everyone’s got a different level of tolerance. Some get frustrated and leave a platform altogether because:

They can’t keep up with changes in features and algorithms.There are too many settings to manage.They don’t know how to curate their feeds to their liking.They’re unsure how to handle “friends” who are argumentative or who post too much.They are reluctant to learn anything new.I’m sure there are additional reasons.S= Sort

I wasn’t even sure where to start. Finally, it occurred to me to apply some good old-fashioned organizing principles to the problem. Why not use the S.P.A.C.E. method that served me so well during my professional organizing career?

First I gathered all my accounts together in one list — I took inventory. Sorting normally means putting like items together to see how many you have and which of those you want to keep. Sorting social media into categories is tricky because some of the platforms provide mixed and cross-over services.

Here are some examples:

Business v. Personal — Business is business. Personal can include hobbies and interests. As a first-trial juror, the Menendez brothers murder case is more than a hobby for me, but it’s not something I want to talk about 24/7, either.Media types — Some platforms are image-based (Instagram). Others are video-centric (YouTube, TikTok), or feature short form written content (Twitter). Where it gets tricky is if a platform (Facebook) allows a combination of media types and sharing from other sources, but their algorithm constantly changes, prioritizing one over another without saying that’s what they’re doing now.Platform owners and interoperability — For example, Mark Zuckerburg owns the Metaverse, which includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads. Reels posted on Instagram can be automatically (or manually) posted to Stories on Facebook, which can be super handy, or super annoying depending on how you look at it. (I did not include Messenger in my inventory because it’s a communication tool more like texting or emailing than it is like social media.) And sometimes politics is a factor. Enough said.Target audience — The people you want to reach, and your reasons for wanting to reach them, may have changed over time. Or, the people you used to reach may have moved to another platform by now.Taking inventory:Facebook — personal profile (Hazel Thornton)Facebook — business page (Organized for Life and Beyond)Ex-Twitter — @org4lifeEx-Twitter — @menendezjurorInstagram — @hazelthornton2022Instagram — @menendezjurorInstagram — @clutterflowchartsInstagram — @photostorylegacyThreads — @hazelthornton2022Threads — @menendezjurorMastodon — @Hazel@newsie.socialPinterest — @hazel_thorntonYouTube — Hazel ThorntonLinkedIn — Hazel ThorntonTikTok — @hazelthornton2022TikTok — @menendezjuror

Sixteen. Whew! No wonder I’m overwhelmed!

Why so many?

Because…

They’re fun to use and they all do different things and reach different audiences.I used to advise others on which platforms might suit them best, including the option of not using any of them if they weren’t clear on their goals. So I needed to have tried them.Unless I wanted to discuss the Menendez case 24/7 on every platform, I needed separate accounts for them.It’s easy to add platforms because they don’t take up physical space.Why not keep them all?

Because…

My needs have changed. For example, I am no longer running an organizing business, or a genealogy business. I do, however, still have books to sell.Each platform changes constantly in terms of algorithm, settings, etc. It’s hard to keep up with the changes that allow one to effectively use each platform, and even harder when there are so many platforms.Portions of my audience(s) — friends, family, clients, colleagues, followers, resources — have moved to different platforms and/or become frustrated with all the changes and simply stopped using their accounts.Even though electronic activities don’t take up physical space, they do consume time and energy, which occupy mental space!P=Purge

For each account I asked myself: Am I actually using it? Have my needs changed? Has my audience changed? Is it still fun?

Facebook — personal profile (Hazel Thornton)

This is where I feel most “at home”. I’m sad that so many of my friends have left. And I’m frustrated about the decreased “reach” of my posts, but not frustrated enough to leave. KEEP

Facebook — business page (Organized for Life and Beyond)

I’ve kept this page, since retiring from my business a few years ago, as a place to post organizing content. It’s also a way to continue to make the things available that I’ve posted previously. But I don’t think the effort is worthwhile anymore. I can still post about organizing (maybe not so much) on my personal page. DELETE.

Ex-Twitter — @org4life

Twitter, as you may have heard, got ugly the instant Elon Musk bought it. And I don’t just mean it got conservative. I mean that merely opening it up is sometimes like walking into a cafeteria foodfight full of people you don’t know and don’t want to know. I kept hoping he would get bored with his new toy and sell it to someone else, but no. I mostly only use it these days to share other organizers’ blog posts. I’ll find another way. DELETE

Ex-Twitter — @menendezjuror

This is where a lot of Menendez supporters still are, and I am one of their sources of information. KEEP

Instagram — @hazelthornton2022

You can see by the date (2022) that I haven’t had this account forever. I had plans to use it, but never implemented them. Plus, this is the account that for some reason is a target for being cloned. Ugh! DELETE

Instagram — @menendezjuror

This is where a lot of Menendez supporters still are, and I am one of their sources of information. KEEP

Instagram — @clutterflowcharts

I had plans for this account, related to my book Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook, but never followed through. DELETE

Instagram — @photostorylegacy

I had plans for this account, related to my book What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy, but never followed through. DELETE

Threads — @hazelthornton2022

I signed up but never really used this platform. It was created by Meta as a Twitter alternative, but I’m leaning towards Bluesky for that. DELETE

Threads — @menendezjuror

I signed up but never really used this platform. It was created by Meta as a Twitter alternative, but I’m leaning towards Bluesky for that. DELETE

Mastodon — @Hazel@newsie.social

I never made it past signing up because it seemed too complicated. Also I’m not hearing anyone talk about it anymore, so I’m not tempted anymore. DELETE

Pinterest — @hazel_thornton

I used this for a while, years ago. It was fun! It was a mix of personal and business for me, but my boards are so outdated that I hope no one sees them. DELETE

YouTube — Hazel Thornton

I continue to add a variety of videos to my channel and people continue to find them there. KEEP

LinkedIn — Hazel Thornton

I rarely use this other than to make sure my profile is up to date. There are lots of folks I’m connected to there and nowhere else, and once in a while someone worthwhile contacts me there. KEEP

TikTok — @hazelthornton2022

I use it every day, mostly for browsing. Not for being followed, or for posting. Also for commenting on posts as “Hazel Thornton”. KEEP

TikTok — @menendezjuror

I posted a bunch of videos a year or so ago that I still want people to be able to find. I use this account to comment on Menendez posts as “Menendez Juror”, and for re-posting other Menendez stuff to my Menendez followers. KEEP

DELETING = 9  

KEEPING = 7

A=Assign a Home & C=Containerize

OK, S.P.A.C.E. may not have been the best model for this project, but it did help me focus and pare down!

When it comes to social media clutter, each account becomes a “home” and a “container” for certain activities, as previously discussed for each account in the Purge section.

E=Equalize

An organizing principle that fits well into this category is the one in, one out rule. It helps to keep your mental space allotted to social media from overflowing. Historically, I have only added platforms. I haven’t deleted any, which is how I ended up with social media clutter!

Since I am deleting so many accounts, I feel there is room to try a new one:

Bluesky — @hazelthornton.bsky.social

I am envisioning this as a Menendez-free zone (except, of course, for the title of one of my three books, Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror). I haven’t posted yet, but I’ve established a profile and connected with some friends. It really does seem like early Twitter. So far, so good!

Next Steps:

I feel better having made some decisions. But I still have work to do!

Delete the identified accounts. That means looking up how to deactivate each of them, not just deleting the apps on my phone and not using them anymore.Consider leaving forwarding messages (in the form of pinned posts) on certain accounts. Schedule a date to go back and actually deactivate and delete those accounts.If it turns out not to be possible to delete one account without adversely affecting another, it’s OK to let it sit there. In which case, I’ll pin a forwarding message, as opposed to simply letting it look abandoned.If I try to selectively download account data, and it turns out to not be possible, don’t worry about it. Just delete. I don’t need all that history.Don’t forget to change the social sharing buttons on my website!.

Do you have social media clutter?

What do you plan to do about it?

Please share with us in the comments below!

 

______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

The post Clearing Social Media Clutter appeared first on Hazel Thornton.

On Writing a First Draft

I’m not writing much these days. A regular monthly newsletter and an occasional blog post. Social media posts. Emails. That’s about it for now.

I’m also not participating in NaNoWriMo, but that’s what I always think of in November. And that’s what inspired me to write this post. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it’s not too late to sign up or create your own self-styled program. PRO TIP: It doesn’t have to be a novel! And it doesn’t have to be November!

All writers start with a first draft. Getting started can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips for you.

The sandbox analogy

I might as well start with my favorite tip about first drafts, which will also explain the sandcastle image:

When writing a first draft, I have to remind myself constantly that I’m only shoveling sand into a box so later I can build castles.

— Shannon Hale

To me, that says it all. A box full of sand doesn’t look like much. But without it, you can’t build a beautiful sand castle!

My own advice about first drafts

When it comes to writing stories about your photos and your family history — even if you don’t consider yourself to be a “real” writer — here’s a quote from my book What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy:

It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, let’s just assume right now that your stories won’t be perfect. But they will be a start. You don’t even have to know what you’re going to eventually do with them to get started. Just remind yourself you don’t have to show anyone if you don’t want to. Think of whatever you create as a first draft. (Even “real” writers start with first drafts!) If you don’t get it out of your head, and into a first draft, then there will be nothing for you (or others) to improve upon, right? And the stories will be lost.

— Hazel Thornton

If you are a perfectionistic writer — and who isn’t? — my blog post Letting Go of Perfectionism as a Writer addresses the following topics:

What if there’s a typo, or a grammatical error?LOL — I just noticed an error in this section of the blog post! I’m going to leave it there for you to find because I think it’s amusingly ironic that in three years I’ve never noticed, and no one’s ever pointed it out to me. Wait — yep, the error also appears in the Nonfiction Authors Association guest post version! Which goes to show that the world does not end if you make a mistake.What if my writing isn’t clear, or my tips motivational?What if all my concepts are not original and unique?What if I missed something?What if, what if, what if…..?Shitty first drafts

Many writers use the phrase shitty first drafts, coined by author Anne Lamott. But some take exception to the language and the concept, like Lev Raphael in his post Anne Lamott Is Dead Wrong About First Drafts–And That’s Not All. Whatever.

Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something — anything — down on paper. A friend of mine says that the first draft is the down draft — you just get it down. The second draft is the up draft — you fix it up. You try to say what you have to say more accurately. And the third draft is the dental draft, where you check every tooth, to see if is loose or cramped or decayed, or even, God help us, healthy.

— Anne Lamott

Click here to watch (or just listen to) a 7:33 min YouTube reading (by someone else) of an excerpt — the shitty first drafts chapter — from Lamott’s classic book on writing, Bird by Bird.

Writing a first draft is very much like watching a polaroid develop. You can’t — and, in fact you’re not supposed to — know exactly what the picture is going to look like until it has finished developing.

— Anne Lamott

Tips from some of my writing colleagues

I give myself the freedom and permission with first drafts to be very drafty with lots of holes so my creativity has space to fill them in later.

— Christy Lynch

First drafts are all about perseverance and finishing. It’s getting the ideas out of your head, discovering your story, until it comes into existence. THEN you’re able to edit (and edit!) until you can share it with others. But it all starts with a first draft.

— Deborah Kawashima

Y’know the knock knock joke about the interrupting cow?

Knock Knock. Who’s there? The interrupting cow. The interrup… Moooooooooo!

That’s what I think about when approaching first drafts. My temptation to edit is so high that I constantly interrupt my creative approach. I have to remind myself that you can’t edit a blank page, and you can’t let the interrupting cow editor make you stray from your path. When I catch myself editing before I actually write, I tell myself, “Mooooooooo” to get back on track.

— Julie Bestry

So, what comes next?

What comes after your first draft, but before handing your manuscript off to a professional editor for copy or line editing? Self-editing, of course. Here’s a tool to help you, written by another writing colleague, book coach Shawndra Holmberg:

Your First Draft is Complete, Now What?: Before you edit, check for these common errors.

 

Do you have a book in you? Or a blog post? Or a family/photo story?

Have you written your first draft?

What do think is holding you back?

Please share with us in the comments below!

______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

The post On Writing a First Draft appeared first on Hazel Thornton.

Menendez: If I Could Hold a Press Conference

Image from the 2024 Netflix documentary “The Menendez Brothers”. (Full disclosure: I’m in it.)

I wish I could hold a press conference like Los Angeles District Attorney Gascón does when he’s overwhelmed with inquiries about the Menendez case. I’ve received more media requests in the past 30 days than I have in the previous 30 years! I’ve responded to many of them, but for now I have retreated into my introverted comfort zone to write out my thoughts. It’s hard going from no one wanting to know what I think to everyone wanting to know what I think!

If I could, here’s what I would say:

Who am I?

For those who don’t know me, I was Juror #9 on the first Erik Menendez jury. There was a separate jury for his brother Lyle, and they both ended in mistrials. Our jury was split directly along gender lines, with six women voting for manslaughter and six men voting for murder. Lyle’s jury was differently, but similarly, split. I describe deliberations at length in my book Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror.

What’s going on?

After nearly 35 years behind bars, serving a life sentence WITHOUT the possibility of parole, the brothers now have a chance of being paroled after all. The DA, in his October 24 press conference, announced his recommendation that they be resentenced according to modern guidelines.

What is my reaction to the DA’s announcement?Resentencing

I expected the DA to recommended resentencing, and he did. That’s better than recommending against it! I still hope for resentencing over a new trial, which would be costly, painful, and nearly impossible 30 years later.

Verdict

I was disappointed, though, that he doubled down on murder being the correct verdict. He admitted that the final decision had not been made until just before the press conference. I still believe it should have been manslaughter and it sounds to me like he personally agrees. I believe keeping the murder verdict in place was to appease those who could nix the resentencing. Kind of like when legislators add riders to a bill and you either have to veto the whole bill or accept the riders.

Politics

So it was a political decision, but maybe not in the way people think. Gascón is behind in the polls and some say it’s a Hail Mary pass to try to win the impending DA election. The brothers have a lot more public support these days than ever before, but there are still plenty of folks — including those inside the DA office — who think they should rot in jail. I’m no mind reader, or politician, but I think Gascón is trying to do the right thing while he can before he loses the power to do so.

The original murder convictions, after all, were also politically motivated in that the DA office was on a high-profile “losing streak”, feeling the pressure to convict, and “needing a win”. I disagree that the prosecution ever proved that the killings were “clearly planned”. Most of their evidence involved circumstances with more than one possible explanation. It was the prosecution’s burden, after all, to prove the elements of murder, not the defense’s burden to prove abuse. Half of both juries had reasonable doubt in the first trial, where we heard ALL of the evidence. The second trial was engineered by the judge and the DA to guarantee murder convictions, in part by withholding much of the defense evidence from the jury.

Possible New Sentence

The new sentence, for the murder of two people — if the judge agrees — is 50 years to life WITH the possibility of parole. Which is better than the brothers’ current sentence of life WITHOUT the possibility of parole, but certainly not as good as manslaughter and being released immediately with time served.

The brothers are what has become known today as “youthful offenders” who committed their crime under the age of 26. Therefore they, having served nearly 35 years— if the judge agrees —will be immediately eligible for parole, which is a whole process unto itself.

Possible Parole

Erik and Lyle are considered to be excellent candidates for parole. Their remarkable “paths toward rehabilitation” and contributions to their prison community, despite never having had hope of their own parole until now, are detailed in this 57 page sentencing memo dated October 24, 2024. But it’s another hoop to jump through, and who knows what else could happen, or when.

I agree with p. 48. that, “a sentence of life without parole is no longer in the interest of justice,” and that, “Erik and Lyle Menendez’ positive transformation, as well as their ability to find meaning and purpose from their current confinement illustrate just how much circumstances have changed since they were sentenced to Life Without Parole.”

Message to Supporters

Don’t lose heart! All the pieces are in place for a Menendez Miracle. It’s taking longer than we hoped for, but miracles do happen! (The Menendez Miracles)

I am hearing that the judge has the power to reduce the verdict and sentence to manslaughter and time served, and if that is true, please let it be so.

Although society has matured, along with Erik and Lyle themselves, many are still stuck in the mindset and prosecution-biased information rut of the 1990’s. All we can do is to continue educating ourselves and spreading the truth to others so that when Erik and Lyle are finally freed, the world will appreciate and be kind to them.

ResourcesThe Menendez Murders Flow Chart What’s your verdict?Enough is Enough: The Menendez Tapestry4-min videoHazel’s Top Menendez Media PicksBooks, Documentaries, Dramatizations, Podcasts, WebsitesComplete First Trial Courtroom VideosWatch for yourself on CourtTV.com.(The corrupt second trial was not televised.)Menendez Juror Website More resources______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.
Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond

 ______________________________________________________________________________

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