Asrai Devin's Blog, page 11

The funniest blog today (that will exhaust you)

Someone in my extensive twitter world tweeted a link to recap of Fifty Shades of Gray. Since I refuse to pay $10 for Fan Fiction, when I can read enjoyable Dragon Age Fan Fiction for free, and I was pretty sure I would dislike this book. Though I’d probably love it as much as I hate it. Anyway, I was interested.

I noticed the title of the blog first

Sweater for days and moves like Jagger.

This is important to me because my son is OBSESSED with Moves Like Jagger. When it turns off he whines, “Mommy Jagger, Mommy, Jagger” until I change it or he forgets the song was ever on.

I love making fun of things, even things I love like Twilight. Which I wrote about sometime in the past or future. Anyway here are some of her astute comments on the first Chapter of 50 Shades of Grey.

Dear Non-American Author trying to write in Americanisms: It’s either “floor it” or “put the pedal to the metal”. And actually, no one says the latter anymore. By the way, she’s flooring it to the pedal in a Mercedes loaned to her by Kate. A Mercedes, and she’s still bitching? Her car, a quirky, old vehicle (but not a quirky, old truck) is unreliable, like a quirky, old truck. But it’s a VW Bug, so she’s definitely not Bella Swan. Still, there is something endearing about reading an non-American author trying to capture the slang of my people.

I read a book once where an British woman fell for an American guy and at some point before they fell into bed, she was taken to his house late at night or early morning because a tragedy befell her. I don’t recall. I do recall the guy saying he was going to “cook a few rashers of bacon.” I laughed my ass off and the book was ruined after that. Americans would NEVER say rasher of bacon, I really don’t even know what it means. I assumed strips. but anyway, this is why I write contemporary novels set in Canada, can’t fall out of character, can’t screw up colloquialisms.

When she shakes his hand, Ana has some kind of short circuit situation that makes her blink like a malfunctioning Furby.

After you read the first chapter (especially the part about his tie) scroll onto to Chapter 2 for the visual. Laying on the floor laughing.

I couldn’t even get through Chapter 4 in one sitting because it hurt my brain. Hopefully the smut comes soon. I need to know how epic the smut is.

Tagged: Bella Swan, Canada, Furby, Jagger, Moves Like Jagger, parodies, recaps, Twilight, United States

The DIY network

We love home renovation stuff at our house. Since we are working class, we have to buy houses and then work on them. High end buys are not in our budget, plus doing it yourself is FUN and gives a sense of pride.

So we watch a lot of HGTV and DIY Network shows about renovations.

DIY is totally misleading. There are no DIY shows on there. They are “if you agree to be on our show we will send you a contractor to help you do your house.” Also, I suspect there are many crew members who help out that we rarely or never see on these shows.

DIY Network, you need some new shows that tone down the renovations and have projects that are simpler, that the average person CAN actually do on their own renovations by following along at home. IT doesn’t have to be flashy, or fancy.

Except for Renovation Realities. This show follows home owners as they take on HUGE renovations with a shoestring budget, too little time and too little experience and often with small children they are also trying to care for. There is almost always a disaster, a screaming wife, and a husband who wants to say “fuck it all, hire someone else to take care of this.”

If you are in the US you can watch it here. In Canada the DIY Network website is bare bones, sad. And they also have Real Renos which is the total opposite of Renovation Realities. RIch people who have a bevy of people working on their houses, and a supposed general contractor, who doesn’t seem to oversee these massive projects at all. And the show is boring.

What do you think should a  channel called DIY have shows that are actually Do-It-Yourself? Or do you like seeing the huge renovations?

Tagged: Asrai Devin, bitching, Canada, complaining, DIY, Do it yourself, HGTV, ranting, rants, Real Renos

Spending plan

I love personal finance. I get a thrill from writing down expenses vs. income and making it all work. I write it all out every few months.

I hate budgeting. Do you hate budgeting? A budget is a limit on your spending. There is nothing worse than being told you can’t have something, right? Give up, blow your money on knick knacks at Ikea and fast food weekends because you forgot to think ahead.

Yeah, this was so me for years and years. I would write up a budget, my food budget was $100 a week. I would go the store and buy $120 worth of groceries. I couldn’t put something back, I needed all those items. I’d give up because my food budget was blown, my husband spent $30 on movies and the whole thing was a wash.

Except we weren’t getting ahead. We were not getting further in debt, but we weren’t saving a whole lot either.

There is a middle ground, where you can control yourself, but still feel like you get to spend (almost) whatever you want.

Enter the spending plan.  Take your income and subtract your fixed expenses: housing, vehicles, insurance. All that boring stuff that makes your world go around. We can’t do much about those.

Then you have your variables, the things you can control. You can spend $100 on data a month or you can get a barebones phone and have 50 minutes and 50 text messages a month. (We have the latter, but that’s me if your priority is internet anywhere, get the coolest phone on the planet and the highest plan available and go for it. Just realize the trade off is, you will have to cut back else where. Oh …).  You can also choose to eat out five times a week, or you can meal plan for the next 30 days and keep to a strict schedule. Again, it’s up to you.

If you are visual person, it might be more interesting for you to get some play money and a big sheet of paper (or you can use some masking tape to divide up your table). Divide the paper into all the categories you need. Food, gasoline for your vehicles, phone and internet, satellite TV, energy for your housing. Whatever it is you pay monthly.

If you are like me, you’ll have your categories in a spreadsheet or on paper and plug the numbers in and see what you can come up with. You will have your priorities. Maybe you like to spend on your children and you’ll throw a bit of extra money that category. Don’t forget a free spend allowance for everyone ADULTS included.

Once you’ve decided what exciting things you’ll spend your money on, write up a good copy. I suggest a weekly or every 2 weeks budget. I keep mine inside  a cabinet in a sheet protector taped to the inside.

here’s ours for a week:

Food $150

gas $50

My allowance $40

Husband’s allowance $20 (he has a fixed budget for cigarettes which is 5 times my allowance. Told him he needs to quit!!)

Clothing $20

Entertainment $20 (this is mostly for eating out)

and so on. I do mine in increments of $20 because I get my cash from the ATM.

Then you have an envelope for each category. Or you can have a jar. And you divide up the money, put it in a spot where no one will steal it out from you. And when an expense comes up, you have the cash. Right now, I am saving up for a vase for a spot in my kitchen that is empty. Since my house budget is only $20 a week, I have to save up a couple of weeks worth of money before I can buy one. That is totally fine, because I haven’t found one that screams at me yet.

This exercise is especially good if you have some extra money coming in. Decide before it gets into your sizzlin’ bank account what  you will do with the money. It’s like expecting a gift, because you know what it’s going to do for you already.

Have you avoided a budget because it’s limiting? Or have you gotten a strict budget set up that you follow to the penny?

How do you implement it?

decide what you are going to spend your money on, including what you are saving money for. and then spend it!

 

Tagged: Asrai Devin, Automated teller machine, Budget, Expense, Food, Home, Ikea, money, Personal Finance, spending plan

Interspiration #4282012

Well, I don’t know if I’ll get an interspiration out next week. My MIL will be here for 4 days, so I am doubting I will get a lot done except shopping with her and my sister-in-law and cooking. We only got 5 days notice.

How @SusieLindau became a mass murderer. http://susielindau.com/2012/04/23/how-i-became-a-mass-murderer/

Late night #Row80 Checkin http://wp.me/p5HGG-M8

Finding meaning in the mess via @ColeenPatrick http://bit.ly/I3PD4X

Social networks as represented by drugs. http://bit.ly/IhU9NO

Consumers upset and confused over ebook prices via@PassiveVoiceBlg http://bit.ly/I5fjzL Good comments on this one.

Make a mint tin garden. http://bit.ly/Ik3eGG Too cute

Trees http://wp.me/s5HGG-trees

My brain is singing and dancing tonight. Sandra Boynton and Scissor Sisters. good times inside my head.—
Asrai Devin (@asrai) April 24, 2012

Getting the title right. http://bit.ly/IxzfsV

Positive doesn’t mean perfect http://bit.ly/IxzQuO

A debate about nothing. Can there be nothing? http://bit.ly/IxB0GG

Nothing wrong with standing your ground after you’ve set a boundary.http://bit.ly/IxBVa1

What is underneath your definition of success? http://huff.to/JRnWe7

Does anyone else have an issue with repeat reviews on Smashwords? I have 3 of the same review for several works.—
Asrai Devin (@asrai) April 24, 2012

NICE! RT @Kymele: Something the amazing Lena Corazon posted during the #row80 sprint…. *swoons* http://bit.ly/J7MU7F<

Are people meaner online? http://bit.ly/I98gCH Some people are. In general, no.

Remembering how lucky we are to be here. http://bit.ly/HGXKmL

My name is Asrai and I am an imposter. http://bit.ly/IxQMkV I just did some of these an hour ago when some freinds asked what I wrote.

Do you get the feeling that he was told about 50 Shades of Gray 2 minutes before he went on camera? http://eonli.ne/IbDnkC

writing more damn fine words http://wp.me/p5HGG-My

Wait and see what shakes out. RT @janellemadigan: What’s your take? DOJ suit and Amazon e-book prices http://cnnmon.ie/JOL41avia @CNNMoney<

State of the Web spring 2012 http://bit.ly/K6WOHB Gotta keep on top of these things.

This is my fave day. Day 5 of Creative Genius Challenge with@DanielleLaPorte http://huff.to/IQOMnc

#WW @KarensRomance @LornaSuzuki @LenaCorazon @SusieLindau @KristyKJames @JayrodPG for being awesome writers and great to connect with!!—
Asrai Devin (@asrai) April 25, 2012

This is too much work for me. How to write your book with Scrivener and Evernote. http://bit.ly/ImYSuk I have yet to find a plotting method

106 powerful quotes to inspire your writing.

This was tweeted yesterday as I munched on lunch. a cookie. I might need a post on healthy snacks. @AugstMcLaughlin

Character studies http://bit.ly/ImZH6s

Mason Jar Salad. I’m the only one here who eats salad so it always goes bad this might work via @Jenn_L_Oliver http://bit.ly/ImZOyP

50 Shades recap and Ian Somerholder wants to be Chrsitian Gray *gag* http://bit.ly/IFj0Ku The recap will make you snort your beverage Warned

So bad it’s good. http://bit.ly/KfC3df For me Twilight and Transporter movies.

That’s my spot! Is there app for Killer Geese? http://bit.ly/InNQeTfrom @jenmariepowell Geese are evil, stay as far away as possible.

from @thecreativepenn http://bit.ly/IDDSnl Traditional and self-publishing are not mutually exclusive

How true. Kris Rusch: One phone call from our knees.http://bit.ly/KbPYkD

Very interesting. The evolution of giving birth. and interviews with a labor and delivery nurse from in the 1960′s.

Oh this is adorable. Facebook embed link. http://on.fb.me/I2HfRi<

Snow/sleeting outside so sunshine boy and I are watching dog and baby vidoes on youtube. http://youtu.be/Nyk1HXvCNks

On love “I’m cynical about love”. http://bit.ly/JKSWiI Thoughts? (my thoughts: she’s putting too much pressure on a feeling and not enjoying the moment).

How to piss your readers off: make fun of another blogger who you disagree with. Sounding like a 8 year old bully is good blogging right? gr—
Asrai Devin (@asrai) April 27, 2012

saw the sign that he really loved me. He looked at me right through the TV. http://bit.ly/JM7oXB via @coleenpatrick Oh the boys I have loved.

have to make this! DIY fabric tape!! http://bit.ly/I3T5LZ My daughter says, of course you do.

3.5 steps to lasting personal change via @LouiseBehielhttp://bit.ly/JM8hiN Taking notes on that.

Book spine poems. http://bit.ly/InXdv6 via @JulieFHedlun

If you don't want anyone to find out, don't do it.—
Sean Platt (@SeanPlatt) April 27, 2012

Have a career plan as a writer http://bit.ly/I9p4va

Fan fic of fan fiction http://wp.me/p5HGG-Mh

1,000 best romance novels of all time. http://bit.ly/Ia00SH Not a big fan of classics or lists of subjective taste. Thoughts?

Never underestimate joy. http://bit.ly/Ia084F I went through feeling this way a couple months ago.

The antidote to consumerism is art! http://bit.ly/IpcoEj I’m a big fan of organized clutter, like overflowing bookshelves or cupboards, it’s more real to me, more lived in.

Going pro as a writer? http://bit.ly/IoiBiJ

marble countertop alternatives. http://bit.ly/IeYHUI Saw a couple do a concrete countertop on their own. So doing THAT.

Fan fic of fan fiction

So, it’s fairly well known that Fifty Shades of Gray was fan fiction of Twilight.

Long ago when Twilight reached the peak of it’s popularity, I was turned to a hilarious recap of Twilight by a former Mormon. And this blogger was certain that Edward was based on everything taught about Joseph Smith.

Every time SMeyers would write about Edward, I would just boggle. She was drawing from everything we Mormons were taught about Good Ol’ Joe – he was handsome, shockingly so, he could draw you in with just his presence, let alone when he spoke, down to his freaking nose and hair color. HI THERE CREEPY AUTHOR WANTING TO BONE YOUR PROPHET. (I have no problem with bible slash, etc. Just… I don’t think she knows she’s doing it.)

So if Twilight really is fan fic of the Mormon Religion, what exactly does that make Fifty Shades of Gray?

And for a hilarious read through of the above blog post by Sage of QN, one of my favorite podcasts click here. http://quirkynomads.com/2008/12/26/the-secrets-of-the-sparkle/

Either way you look at it, sometimes poking fun at things is great fun. I love Twilight, I love everything about it, especially what makes it so bad. It’s just so great.

Tagged: Arts, Asrai Devin, Fanfiction, Joseph Smith, Mormon, religion, Twilight, Twilight fan Fiction

writing more damn fine words

It’s the same old story. I’ve loved writing since I was a child. I’ve loved story telling before I could even write, I would tape myself during the afternoons when my mom napped with my little brother. Parenting aside, writing is a necessity in my life.  It is the way I give back to myself, and the way I connect to the world at large. A day without writing doesn’t feel like a complete day.

I planned to get to bed on time tonight, but as I climbed into bed my laptop called to me. I had to put some words where there were none before. I had to order them so they told a story that no one had heard before. A story that might excite some people, it might bore others, whatever the readers feel I hope it will inspire some emotion.

But, you cannot inspire a reader with emotion if your writing is not polished. I can tell a good story, but the lack of polish to it scares people away. And my lack of confidence in my own writing makes me hesitant to even show anyone my work, even though I have hit that “self-publish button”. It was premature, I have learned a lot in the past 6 months of writing. This course would be like time travelling forward to meet the writer I long to become.

I am attempting to clear the clutter in my life, and I thought about selling some items that would bring a small amount of cash into the household. As my husband is the only one working while I stay at home with our children, any extra cash helps. But preparing and marketing these items for purchase would take a significant amount of time out of my life. Time that could be better spent reading up on craft, or writing. The return on investment for time spent writing will hopefully pay off and I can support the family and free up my husband to return to school.

Better writing skills would give me the confidence to approach people with my freelance writing ideas. It would allow me to start my own business and work for myself, and be at home with my children. I would start small and work my way up, as the children grow and gain independence, I can show them Mom has the ability to follow her dreams.

Working for myself is in my blood. My dad owned his own auto body shop for about 20 years. He’s never been a rich man, but he enjoyed his work and we never wanted for anything growing up. I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps and open up shop. The more I look into it, the more freelancing seems like the best idea, writing comes naturally, but I don’t think my writing is at the professional level.

Better writing skills would improve my fiction and allow me to charge more for the stories I have for sale on Kindle. It has been a while since I published anything new, and I have learned much in the time I first hit “publish” and the present moment. I realized that I wasn’t really ready to hit that publish button quite yet. While I can tell a dream up a good story, the actual telling of the story could be better, the mechanics, the descriptions.

Better writing skills would help me find my voice. Readers who have been following this blog since last November about, when i took a course on blogging for writers from Kristen Lamb, have watched me struggle with writing on various topics. I’ve jumped around a lot, trying to find what works for me and what doesn’t. And so far I have found a lot of what doesn’t work.

Better skills at writing copy would make my book blurbs better. In fiction selling, writing a good blurb, with a hook and enough plot to intrigue the reader, is what sells books.

Reading the description of the Damn Fine Words course, it reminds me of admonishment to practice your craft to obtain precision. But practicing with guidance will get you no results, you can write for 10,000 hours but if no one gives you feedback, it doesn’t matter how much time you put in, you’ll never gain precision. I read a lot of books on the craft of writing, and take courses when I can.

Finally, the scholarship will save me $1599 and many months of saving, letting me start my writing business that much sooner. Becuase to obtain my goals, my dreams, this course would sky rocket my skills as writer forward. And with my meager flexible income, it will take me a considerable amount of time to save up money for the next course. And that is time wasted, time I could be spending growing my new business.

For my readers, this is my entry into the Damn Fine Words writing contest, where 2 lucky people will be gain free access to James Chartrand’s Damn Fine Words 10 week writing course. I want in so badly I can taste it. James Chartrand is owner of Men with Pens blog.

If you are interested in the contest you can check it out on the Men with Pens blog. Or if you are just interested in the course it’s at http://damnfinewords.com

Now I’m going to follow the last of the steps. Publish article, leave comment at men with pens with link and then pat myself on the back. And then go to bed, far later than planned, but with some writing under my belt. It’s going to be a long wait until the winners are notified. I shall be on edge the rest of the month. Thanks James Chartrand. I remain hopeful.

Tagged: freelance writing, lack of confidence, Literature, writing, writing ideas

Trees

I was sitting on our deck not too long ago watching the kids play in the backyard. There was no winter storm that day (as I write this, there is one happening right now). I was staring at the big tree in the corner of the yard.

From 2012-03-19

You can see where the branches have been cut off. On most of the cut off branches, a new branch has started growing. A big Fuck You from the tree for those who tried in the past to control the tree.  Trees cannot be controlled, they will remain after we have moved on to other houses and to other worlds.

Really, trees are awesome. First they are the epitome of rooted in the ground, but reaching for the sky.

Trees, while rooted firmly, for the most part are very yielding to nature. Their branches bend when wind passes through them and unless under heavy duress, they do not break.

Tees are giving. They give us shade, they give us oxygen, they give us wood, they give us places to climb and explore and places to build tree houses. They give us inspiration.

Trees are cyclical, but without dying out. Much like women bleed without dying every month, trees lose their leaves without dying in the fall, they spend the winter in sleep, resting until Spring when they can explode with colour and leaves and  some sort of fruit or seed bearing item.

Trees are patient. If you look at tree rings they are so tightly compacted that their growth each year is minimal, yet they do it without tiring, without complaining, just slowly plodding along toward their goals. They accept winter as inevitable and shed their leaves, and take their rest.

Are there any more reasons you can think of about why trees are so awesome?

Tagged: Asrai Devin, awesome, awesome trees, Tree, trees

Late night #Row80 Checkin

It’s been a weekend. Friday it was cold. Saturday we sat at karate tournament half the day, daughter was hugely disappointed in herself, and we came home. Today cleaned some of the yard, got in a small fight with hubby and put myself through an emotional wringer until I realized I was playing out old patterns.

1. Write 750 words,5 days a week.

I’m pretty sure I’m meeting that. I have an dystopia type work I’m doing, which I love, but I’m being very deliberate with the plot, and I have to figure a character out before I can move ahead. He was falsely accused of a crime, and I don’t know what crime or what the real story is, and also what he’s good at.

2. Blog twice a week. I haven’t been lining these up very well, I need to give that priority for a few days. Between my oft mentioned Holly Lisle class, my life and my fiction efforts, I don’t have a lot of time.

3. Get outside with the children and hit the park at least once a week.

I think we went to the park on Tuesday during karate. Where we live the playgrounds suck. We have on playground that is only suitable for ages 7 and up. Every slide is up a ladder and across a climbing thing, that little kids can’t do. That’s the closest one and our school is only 2 blocks away but again, not for a 2 year old. Down by karate, there is an awesome park for preschool children, so I’ve been taking my son there now that’s it is warm out. We also played in the yard most of the day today. I wrote some while we were out there, and I cleaned some (until someone stole my leaf bags while I napped).

It was an okay week. I need to do some stretching and get a massage, because I’m holding a bunch of emotional stuff in my muscles and it’s making me miserable. It’s been over a month since my cousin passed away in the accident, chargers were laid this week.

All in all, I still need some time to recover from being with people Friday and Saturday. My introversion has been catered to, too much.

Interspiration #4212012

Today my daughter is competing in a karate tournament. I have no idea what to expect from this tournament. But hoping it goes well.

@KristyKJames: Slow, Deep Breaths…. http://wp.me/p1LbTM-mS

Facebook pros. http://bit.ly/IBUCIZ via @barrycrowther

13 overlooked branding opportunities for life coaches.http://bit.ly/HVXLEG As a romance writer I am an imaginary relationship coach. Hypothetical relationship coach?

Creativity is a verb and other insights from Milton Glaser.http://bit.ly/Jhaogc via @the99percent

8 insights from inventors under 30. http://bit.ly/Jh8jB3

This may be a random thought http://wp.me/p5HGG-LO

Make your own recycled weed block. http://bit.ly/Jh7V5s

Need an endless stream of blog ideas? http://bit.ly/JoMhKG

 Wanna be my new shiny thing? Or just feed my narcissism by reading my about page? http://bit.ly/Jl3ZPd I ramble on about myself.

Yum. RT  @ adamlevine : My day job. http://lockerz.com/s/202304623

Crazy IS the New Normal http://goo.gl/C21QM via  @ elenaaitken
Let’s see some righteous Gray Wardening. http://bit.ly/Jg8h7F
@ DanielleLaPorte  firing up creative geniuses on the Huffington Post for 30 days!!

The Power of Introverts via the Huffington Post. http://huff.to/HPHO5s

@ elizabethscraig  is excited about what new technology, new opportunities in publishing. me too!!

“I did her too.” LOVE you Isabella.Dragon Age 2 video.http://bit.ly/HPoEtI


 You Are a Child of the Universe”: Max Ehrmann’s “Desiderata via @ LenaCorazon  Awesome, awesome, awesome. But probably would have been better with a link.  http://lenacorazon.com/2012/04/16/you-are-a-child-of-the-universe-max-ehrmanns-desiderata/

Elves on Immortal Monday via  @ DebraKristi  http://bit.ly/HPowuf

Open source permaculture. http://bit.ly/HJgK2P COOL!!

Following  @ louisebehiel  in her series on children from troubled familes. 3 more characteristics And I see myself again.http://bit.ly/HJgEs9

What if you only did what was easy? http://bit.ly/HJgilj

What The Voice can teach us about critiquing. via @AngelaRWallace

Don’t write fluff. How to write content people read. http://bit.ly/HJgsZW
twitter conversations with Zoe Winters http://wp.me/p5HGG-LB
Free blogging lessons from the pros. (Tip 1: read blogs with a critical eye). http://bit.ly/HJfY64
Indecisive? Some tips for clearing your head and making a decision.http://bit.ly/HDUQzn
Prosperity is not all about money. (but there is that too).http://bit.ly/J5gEmt

RT  @ jhansenwrites : Thank You,  # IRS , for Coming After Me ~ Fantastic story about  # taxes  (Yes, really.) http://goo.gl/zD3YG via @ PiperBayard


I know we all need more blogging tips. Digitial writers guide to blogging. Free on Amazon. http://amzn.to/HP2D1v  # Wana1011 # myWana   # Row80  (this may have ended, I don’t know)

How to visualize for better results. http://bit.ly/J5cYkF

The courage to try something new from @ColeenPatrick http://bit.ly/IRAGSf

Take responsiblity. http://bit.ly/GGMOtk

Say something new darn it! http://bit.ly/HYuhD3

Read faster and understand more. Blogger on a quest to read 1000 books in a year. http://bit.ly/IRBIOf I’m pretty fast but not that fast.

I am not perfect via @alicamj http://bit.ly/IQ1AKk

Things @RhianBowley has done since realizing she could finish her novel in a week. http://bit.ly/IRB7fm

http://bit.ly/93Z78v need to be accountable for a goal? Want to join me in goal setting? I don’t anything set yet, I am too tired to think.

A penny for your thoughts? http://bit.ly/HBFxXM

Creativity and Tyler Durden (Fight Club). Great post via@barrycrowther

How to Frost Cupcakes like a Pro. http://bit.ly/IS9Xce I really just want someone to do this for me.

An ode to Fringe’s wardrobe department via @RhianBowleyhttp://bit.ly/HZkGAz

Author branding tool: the Icon. http://bit.ly/I4m2Yq

Your financial health is dependent on you. http://bit.ly/HZk6T7
Fancy striped icecubes. So neat. http://bit.ly/IcUr8H
Jeans have conquered the world. http://bit.ly/IcUfWZ
A to-do suggestion for your blog this weekend. Set safe, secure user roles.
What’s next for NASA? http://bit.ly/HVU1ph via  @ LynetteMBurrows
More than being smart or lucky. http://bit.ly/HVUec4
What is twitter anyway? Another answer. http://bit.ly/IszN3O
I had several funny Twitter statuses from this week I planned to post through the links, but they wouldn’t embed. I’ve done it before with the same method, but they refused to work. If anyone has tips for me or a link with how to, please leave me a comment. I’m beyond frustrated with that.


If you don’t follow me you can find me on twitter at http://twitter.com/asrai
I also have a very nice girl’s night with 3 of my high school friends, some of whom I haven’t seen in nearly 10 years. So that was fun, but my husband was annoyed because my son won’t go to sleep without his “nums” (nursing) and is pressing me to wean. I think I will agree to break the nurse to sleep association, but not wean all together.


Hope everyone had a good week. Thanks for all the comments, RTs and conversations.

Tagged: Coaching, Desiderata, Facebook, Huffington Post, Max Ehrmann, Milton Glaser, Twitter

I know that you want to be …

Canadian please.

This has to be the most watched video in our house. I don’t know what’ s more awesome than 2 young Canadians who wrote and made this video in 2 or 3 days.

Oh, I know what is more awesome, being Canadian.

Tagged: Asrai Devin, Canada, Canadian, Canadian dollar, People, United States, youtube