Kate Collins's Blog, page 212
November 19, 2013
An Adventure in Winter Wear
by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed
GUESS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MY PHONE
No, that is not a burglar stealing it.
That's me, showing off my new gloves.
I'm really not much of a shopper, but this year I went out to buy new winter outer wear. Scarf, headband, two pairs of gloves. These little knit ones and a more substantial pair for when it gets really cold.
It seems that technology and fashion have once again passed by when I wasn't looking.
For example, can someone explain why my scarf is round instead of having two ends. Are you laughing? You are! Am I supposed to twist it over my head like a rubber band?
If you've addressed this in the comments, thank you.
But this is the really cool new feature in winter wear for those of you who are as clueless as I am. My gloves work with a touch screen! Remember how we had to pull off our glove to answer our phones? No more. And they come in every price range, from the finest leather right down to the knits like these. In fact, I found a pair on Amazon for $1.99!
Makes me wonder what else I've been missing.
GUESS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MY PHONE
No, that is not a burglar stealing it.
That's me, showing off my new gloves.
I'm really not much of a shopper, but this year I went out to buy new winter outer wear. Scarf, headband, two pairs of gloves. These little knit ones and a more substantial pair for when it gets really cold.
It seems that technology and fashion have once again passed by when I wasn't looking.
For example, can someone explain why my scarf is round instead of having two ends. Are you laughing? You are! Am I supposed to twist it over my head like a rubber band?
If you've addressed this in the comments, thank you.
But this is the really cool new feature in winter wear for those of you who are as clueless as I am. My gloves work with a touch screen! Remember how we had to pull off our glove to answer our phones? No more. And they come in every price range, from the finest leather right down to the knits like these. In fact, I found a pair on Amazon for $1.99!
Makes me wonder what else I've been missing.
November 18, 2013
Back From the Sea----
by Maggie SeftonBack from my month of travels and visiting and cruising at last. I arrived last Friday
later in the evening because of a nearly 5-hour flight delay. I used the weekend to catch up on everything from groceries to tons of emails to paying bills to visiting my 93-year old mom at the care facility.
I had a wonderful time. :) Visiting family, doing a book signing for POISONED POLITICS at an Alexandria, VA Barnes & Noble and attending the Novelists Ink writers conference at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during the last week of October. I drove there from the river house in the Northern Neck of Virginia, near the Potomac River. An easy drive of 6 hours or so with stops. NINC is a great conference for multi-pubbed authors and is SO informative, especially concerning E-books. Your head is stuffed by the time it was over. Once back in VA, I did the normal closing up the river house routines that my friends had told me to do. They never come in the winter, only Spring/Summer/Fall.
Then, I drove up to Washington, DC Dulles airport and took an evening flight for Europe. The flight had three legs, so I didn't arrive in Rome until later in afternoon of the next day and arrived at hotel right off the Via Veneto. After a delicious dinner at a lovely cafe, Osteria Romana, I called it a day at the hotel and got a good night's sleep. The next morning after breakfast, I took a ride to the port of Civitecchia, Rome's port, and boarded the Holland America Line's ms NOORDAM. We embarked later that afternoon for a WONDERFUL 15 days at sea.
We had several day trips available in the first part of the cruise while we were still in the Mediterranean and heading into the Atlantic, and I've included some photos of 1) a picturesque village of Mijas, Spain,
2) the Pedro Domecq bodega in Cadiz, Spain where they produce fine sherries and brandies, and 3) the beautiful island of Punta Delgardo in the Azores.
My favorite part of the cruise, however, was when we headed out to sea into open water---no land in sight---for the rest of the cruise. I LOVE the sea and being on boats, ships, whatever floats. And I must have been a mariner in a past life, because I have good sea legs and don't get seasick even when there's choppy water due to weather changes, oceans swells and shifting currents. I spent every day either on deck stretched out on a chaise gazing at the water and writing or revising. Or if chilly weather or a squall blew up, I was inside in the Crow's Nest up at the top of the ship sitting comfortably & gazing at the water & working. Or. . .the myriad other spots that are available to relax and gaze all over the ship: a cozy library setting with lots of comfy armchairs and sofas, chess tables, puzzle tables, bookshelves lining the walls, computers, a cafe with specialty drinks, even a librarian. :) Or, the inviting 9th deck casual dining area lined with tables beside the walls of windows. Again---looking at the sea while writing and revising. It was heavenly. . . for me, that is. For people who were interested in doing something or learning something, there were classes, lectures, bridge and other card groups, fitness center, yoga studio, spa services, hydro-therapy pools and thermal beds (which I used every evening) even a casino which was open 24 hours. Oh, and every type of entertainment
club and bar atmosphere you desired. Something for everyone----truly. Since I was traveling solo, I met TONS of new people every day (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) since I always asked the maitre d' to seat me at a table with lots of people because I LOVE meeting new people. :) I met great people and made some friendships while aboard. Especially Canadians. Never have I seen so many Canadians in one place. Watching the Olympics doesn't count. I'll talk more next week on what I spent my time writing and revising while aboard. Meanwhile, I'm sure many of you have cruise experiences. Please share them.
November 16, 2013
Monday Morning Limericks
By Kate CollinsThere I was, all poised to spend my entire Sunday afternoon catching up on the pages that I should have written a month ago, when a severe storm hit and knocked out the electricity. After watching the winter cover being ripped off the wrought iron table in my courtyard, and my patio furniture being tossed about, I tried to divert my attention from the fierce winds and pelting rain by catching up on my book club selection, another thing on which I’m behind.
After two hours of that, I mopped the floor, paid bills, signed the covers on the advanced copies of THROW IN THE TROWEL, got them ready for mailing, and then looked around for something else that needed to be done.
Oh, right. My blog for Monday. But with the computer down, all I could do was fume – and I couldn’t even fume over a cup of soothing chamomile tea. But even fuming got old after awhile, so I decided to do something constructive – make fun of my situation.
So for your Monday morning reading pleasure, here are the results:
There once was a writer of coziesWhose sleuth, a florist, made pozies.When the power went outThe writer, without doubt,Was cold all the way to her toesies.
No coffee, no tea, no powerMakes this writer just a bit sour.There’s a murderer to be caughtAnd justice to be broughtAnd all I can do is glower.
I hope that brightened your Monday. What do you do when your power goes out?
Green is a Challenge
by Leann
This time I am not talking about the colors on the walls of the house we are building, I am writing about the journey. Houston, Texas, though I have many fond memories of life there, is a very polluted city. I have asthma and chemical sensitivities so it was not a good place for me. But when I
was younger (we moved there when I was 25) I knew nothing about pollution and the environment. Over the years I have had a very personal lesson in how much that can affect someone. I have MCS (multiple chemical sensitivies).
The air here in South Carolina is so fresh and the sky on sunny days is the bluest of blues. I love that. So when we started designing our home, I wanted it to be as "green" as possible. I have learned much about volatile organic compounds (VOCs), about formaldehyde, even about which fabrics have a
hydrocarbon based formula. For instance, polyester is a hydrocarbon. When I wear anything polyester, I get headaches and feel just awful. Acrylic, on the other hand, is not a hydrocarbon. I have no problem. The worst offender is Lycra, Again, a hydrocarbon synthetic and it's in EVERYTHING. Not only do I read food labels now, I read clothing labels.
But I digress. Building a house that is as "green" as we can afford (and believe me "green" is expensive) has been a challenge. Take insulation. The "pink stuff" that is so cheap now reads on the label that is formaldehyde-free. Great, right? What they do not say on the label is that the resins and binders in the pink stuff is NOT free of VOCs. We spent a lot of money on insulation that is no-VOC (it's made from sugar). But that leads to all kinds of decisions on venting and not venting and HVAC. These are things I never knew anything about. I do now.
The latest problem is the 14 interior doors. They aren't expensive, which
was a nice surprise, and the brochure we were given by the two places we were getting bids from talked all about how their hollow core doors (made of a BIG NAME BRAND composite that starts with "M") are all low VOC and formaldehyde free. Turned out the brochure wasn't exactly what these places order for you. One supplier told us outright we were getting the "green" doors and one supplier listened to me and called the manufacturer to make sure that's what we were getting. The answer wasn't what we wanted to hear. The doors they supply are NOT the no VOC as advertised in the brochure. You have to ASK for them. They are special order. And they take longer to get. So, we thought we had time with the trim people already starting their work. But now we will be behind because we did order the "green" doors and they take two weeks. They have to MAKE THEM. We, of course, went with the supplier who took the time to call himself to check. The other supplier, who was 99% sure we were getting "green" doors made the call to the manufacturer only after
we insisted he call. Well, he was 100% wrong.
What do you think about all this? Have you ever been promised one thing and are given something "similar" but not what you wanted? I can only say I am glad that we are the kind of people who always do the research--especially because my health has already been affected by what we didn't know way back when. Better living through chemistry isn't always true.
This time I am not talking about the colors on the walls of the house we are building, I am writing about the journey. Houston, Texas, though I have many fond memories of life there, is a very polluted city. I have asthma and chemical sensitivities so it was not a good place for me. But when I
was younger (we moved there when I was 25) I knew nothing about pollution and the environment. Over the years I have had a very personal lesson in how much that can affect someone. I have MCS (multiple chemical sensitivies).The air here in South Carolina is so fresh and the sky on sunny days is the bluest of blues. I love that. So when we started designing our home, I wanted it to be as "green" as possible. I have learned much about volatile organic compounds (VOCs), about formaldehyde, even about which fabrics have a
hydrocarbon based formula. For instance, polyester is a hydrocarbon. When I wear anything polyester, I get headaches and feel just awful. Acrylic, on the other hand, is not a hydrocarbon. I have no problem. The worst offender is Lycra, Again, a hydrocarbon synthetic and it's in EVERYTHING. Not only do I read food labels now, I read clothing labels.But I digress. Building a house that is as "green" as we can afford (and believe me "green" is expensive) has been a challenge. Take insulation. The "pink stuff" that is so cheap now reads on the label that is formaldehyde-free. Great, right? What they do not say on the label is that the resins and binders in the pink stuff is NOT free of VOCs. We spent a lot of money on insulation that is no-VOC (it's made from sugar). But that leads to all kinds of decisions on venting and not venting and HVAC. These are things I never knew anything about. I do now.
The latest problem is the 14 interior doors. They aren't expensive, which
was a nice surprise, and the brochure we were given by the two places we were getting bids from talked all about how their hollow core doors (made of a BIG NAME BRAND composite that starts with "M") are all low VOC and formaldehyde free. Turned out the brochure wasn't exactly what these places order for you. One supplier told us outright we were getting the "green" doors and one supplier listened to me and called the manufacturer to make sure that's what we were getting. The answer wasn't what we wanted to hear. The doors they supply are NOT the no VOC as advertised in the brochure. You have to ASK for them. They are special order. And they take longer to get. So, we thought we had time with the trim people already starting their work. But now we will be behind because we did order the "green" doors and they take two weeks. They have to MAKE THEM. We, of course, went with the supplier who took the time to call himself to check. The other supplier, who was 99% sure we were getting "green" doors made the call to the manufacturer only after we insisted he call. Well, he was 100% wrong.
What do you think about all this? Have you ever been promised one thing and are given something "similar" but not what you wanted? I can only say I am glad that we are the kind of people who always do the research--especially because my health has already been affected by what we didn't know way back when. Better living through chemistry isn't always true.
November 15, 2013
The Hair Experiment
By Heather
**Warning ... totally girly post ahead **
Okay, so after my last (so-so) hair appointment in June, I decided two things. One was to grow my hair out (again), because for some reason my stylist added layers when I hadn't asked for them. It had taken FOREVER to get my hair all one length so I was not happy when I realized what she’d done. It didn't look bad, it just wasn't what I’d wanted. The second was that after looking at the painful cost of professional hair coloring I'd see if I could tolerate my grays (Mr. W says they're “silver” – he’s kind like that) and attempt the whole “grow old gracefully” thing.
So my hair – and the grays – have been growing out since then. Five months.
At first it wasn't so bad. Then it was tolerable. Then the grays started sticking straight out of my head, taunting me (nah, nah, boo boo), the buggers. Suddenly I began thinking about buying some Clairol but was too afraid I’d mess it up and turn my hair orange and it would all fall out. I sucked it up. Then my bangs started driving me nuts (the urge to cut them myself...so strong, but I fought it off). Then this week... I woke up Monday morning, looked in the mirror, saw the mocking grays, the out-of-control bangs and immediately ran to the phone to call for a hair cut and color appointment. I'd had enough.
Maybe I’ll try the growing old gracefully thing again later. When I’m older. Much older.
How about you? Do you color? And if you've grown out your silvers, how long does it take for them to look “normal” and not like you haven’t gotten your hair done in a while???
**Warning ... totally girly post ahead **
Okay, so after my last (so-so) hair appointment in June, I decided two things. One was to grow my hair out (again), because for some reason my stylist added layers when I hadn't asked for them. It had taken FOREVER to get my hair all one length so I was not happy when I realized what she’d done. It didn't look bad, it just wasn't what I’d wanted. The second was that after looking at the painful cost of professional hair coloring I'd see if I could tolerate my grays (Mr. W says they're “silver” – he’s kind like that) and attempt the whole “grow old gracefully” thing.So my hair – and the grays – have been growing out since then. Five months.
At first it wasn't so bad. Then it was tolerable. Then the grays started sticking straight out of my head, taunting me (nah, nah, boo boo), the buggers. Suddenly I began thinking about buying some Clairol but was too afraid I’d mess it up and turn my hair orange and it would all fall out. I sucked it up. Then my bangs started driving me nuts (the urge to cut them myself...so strong, but I fought it off). Then this week... I woke up Monday morning, looked in the mirror, saw the mocking grays, the out-of-control bangs and immediately ran to the phone to call for a hair cut and color appointment. I'd had enough.Maybe I’ll try the growing old gracefully thing again later. When I’m older. Much older.
How about you? Do you color? And if you've grown out your silvers, how long does it take for them to look “normal” and not like you haven’t gotten your hair done in a while???
The November 2013 Report
* * * * * * * * * *Welcome to Dru's Cozy Report: November 2013. This month we have one new and two recurring series for your reading pleasure.
Charms and Chocolate Chips by Bailey Cates is the third book in the "Magical Bakery" mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, November 2013
Fans of Katie Lightfoot will enjoy this latest adventure where the action is fast-paced and the mystery will have you rooting for Katie and her friends as they try to thwart out evil amongst their community. The whimsicality in this lighthearted drama is both entertaining and appealing as the story captivated me from beginning to end. It was fun seeing the old gang and I was pleased with the character development of Katie and her friends. A visitor from Katie’s past added a surprise and welcome element to this delightfully charming tale. Boasting good conversations, a great cast of characters and a comfortable atmosphere, the author did a good job in delivering a well-written whodunit in this endearing series. I look forward to the next book with Katie and her circle of friends.A HALF-BAKED HEX
Between brewing magically spiced treats at Honeybee Bakery and volunteering with a local conservation group, Katie Lightfoot barely has time to see her firefighter boyfriend, Declan McCarthy, much less delve further into her destiny as a witch. But avoiding her fate won’t be as easy as whipping up a new recipe—especially when Katie finds herself once again mixed up in murder.
When a fellow volunteer for the conservation group is found dead, Katie’s mystical senses tell her that there’s more to the death than meets the eye. Her suspicions are confirmed when members of her coven are targeted next. Katie will have to embrace her powers quickly...or she may find herself chewed up and spit out by some serious black magic.
Visit Bailey at www.baileycates.com
FTC Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy of this book, in hopes I would review it.
All Fudged Up by Nancy Coco is the first book in the new "Candy-Coated" mystery series. Publisher: Kensington, November 2013
This is a good read. Allie returns to continue running the family business which is marred when she discovered the body in her utility closet. Becoming the prime suspect, Allie begins to look for a killer while trying to save her family’s name and reputation. This was very enjoyable with a comfortable tone and an easy flowing storyline. Allie is a lovable protagonist surrounded by an eclectic cast of characters that support her in this delightfully charming whodunit that includes delectable fudge recipes. The author did a great job in keeping the mystery fresh and fulfilling with plenty of suspects and it was fun to watch it all play out in a great location. I love Allie’s interactions with the various people on the island and the dialogue was both witty and entertaining. This is a great debut series and I can’t wait for more sweet adventures with Allie and her friends.Welcome to the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop--where life is sweet, revenge is sweeter, and murder is here to to stay.
You Can't Fudge An Alibi
Allie McMurphy is up to her neck in renovations at the grand old hotel that's been in her family for generations. With its quaint Victorian charm--and world-famous fudge shop--the place is one of Mackinac Island's most beloved landmarks.
Sure, every family has a skeleton or two in the closet. But Allie didn't expect to find an actual corpse inside hers, especially one Joe Jessup, who had a long-running feud with her dear departed grandfather. Which makes Allie the number-one suspect.
Can she sniff out the culprit before another victim checks in?
Visit Nancy at www.nancyjparra.com
FTC Disclosure - I bought this book.
Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay is the fourth book in the "Library Lover's" mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, November 2013
I had such a good time reading this light and airy whodunit. This fast-paced drama immediately pulled me into the strong storyline and kept me hunkered down until the last sentence was read. The mystery kept me going and it was enjoyable to see it all come to fruition when the killer's identity was revealed. Lindsey is a great character and I especially love her interaction with her friends and foes in Briar Creek. The author did a good job in wrapping this delightfully charming drama in a way that I'm eager for the next book in the series.William Shakespeare is credited with inventing how many words?*
Answering Shakespeare trivia comes with the job description for library director Lindsey Norris. But when the Briar Creek Community Theater mounts their newest production of the Bard, she has no intention of leaving the stacks for the stage. Unfortunately a villain is waiting in the wings.
Former Broadway actress Violet La Rue is holding auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream—and everyone from the sour spinster librarian Ms. Cole to Lindsey’s youthful library pages are trying out for parts. Brought in to play the mischievous Puck is the flirtatious professional actor Robbie Vine, who seems to have eyes for Lindsey. Before her blush has faded, the Bard’s dream turns into a nightmare—when one of the cast is poisoned. Now Lindsey and her crafternooners must take center stage to unmask the culprit before the final curtain call.
*Over 17,000
Visit Jenn at www.jennmckinlay.com
FTC Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy of this book, in hopes I would review it.
And check out these other November releases:
November 13, 2013
Murder and Mayhem in Muskego
by Julie
I was fortunate to have been invited to be part of Murder and Mayhem in Muskego this past weekend. I'd been there twice before, and it is - truly - one of the finest mystery events out there. Held at the Muskego (Wisconsin) Public Library, it's a one-day conference with a pre-event party the night before - also at the library.
The Muskego Library is a wonderful place. Airy, spacious, and its people are warm and friendly. I participated in two panels. The first, "Liar, Liar," asked volunteers from the audience to guess what our "truth" was. Panel members were Dana Cameron, Sean Doolittle, Chris F. Holm, and Marcia Clark (prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial).
Weeks before, we'd provided little-known tidbits about ourselves to our awesome moderator, Jen Forbus (who hosts the fabulous blog Jen's Book Thoughts <-- check it out!). Jen then skewed some of our truths so that only one was absolutely correct. Gotta say, we had a lot of fun explaining ourselves. Jen's blog is one of the best review blogs out there. Don't miss it.
On our "Sink the Pink" panel (all Saturday panel titles were based on AC/DC songs) our moderator, Katrina Niidas Holm (reviewer extraordinaire at The Maine Suspect) decided that anything goes. This time, my fellow panelists included Greg Hurwitz, Daniel B. O'Shea, Joelle Charbonneau, and Tom Schreck.
Kat was amazing. I can't remember ever being on a panel where the moderator designed so many specific questions targeted to each of the panelists, individually. Instead of going down the line for each question, with each of us adding our two cents to a single topic, Kat posed questions about our books, our lives, our processes. Individually. Wow. Totally fun.
Notice, I'm wearing pink in that one. And Kat's questions were printed on pink paper.
If you're in the Wisconsin area, or Minnesota, or Northern Illinois, you may want to keep this conference in mind. It's usually held the first weekend in November, and it's always a wonderful experience.
Keep on top of plans by liking their Facebook page: Murder and Mayhem in Muskego.
You'll be glad you did!
I was fortunate to have been invited to be part of Murder and Mayhem in Muskego this past weekend. I'd been there twice before, and it is - truly - one of the finest mystery events out there. Held at the Muskego (Wisconsin) Public Library, it's a one-day conference with a pre-event party the night before - also at the library.The Muskego Library is a wonderful place. Airy, spacious, and its people are warm and friendly. I participated in two panels. The first, "Liar, Liar," asked volunteers from the audience to guess what our "truth" was. Panel members were Dana Cameron, Sean Doolittle, Chris F. Holm, and Marcia Clark (prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial).
Weeks before, we'd provided little-known tidbits about ourselves to our awesome moderator, Jen Forbus (who hosts the fabulous blog Jen's Book Thoughts <-- check it out!). Jen then skewed some of our truths so that only one was absolutely correct. Gotta say, we had a lot of fun explaining ourselves. Jen's blog is one of the best review blogs out there. Don't miss it.On our "Sink the Pink" panel (all Saturday panel titles were based on AC/DC songs) our moderator, Katrina Niidas Holm (reviewer extraordinaire at The Maine Suspect) decided that anything goes. This time, my fellow panelists included Greg Hurwitz, Daniel B. O'Shea, Joelle Charbonneau, and Tom Schreck.
Kat was amazing. I can't remember ever being on a panel where the moderator designed so many specific questions targeted to each of the panelists, individually. Instead of going down the line for each question, with each of us adding our two cents to a single topic, Kat posed questions about our books, our lives, our processes. Individually. Wow. Totally fun.Notice, I'm wearing pink in that one. And Kat's questions were printed on pink paper.
If you're in the Wisconsin area, or Minnesota, or Northern Illinois, you may want to keep this conference in mind. It's usually held the first weekend in November, and it's always a wonderful experience.
Keep on top of plans by liking their Facebook page: Murder and Mayhem in Muskego.
You'll be glad you did!
November 12, 2013
Stuck in Bed With Time to Think About Gratitude
by Hannah Reed/Deb Baker
One of the Cozy Chicks, Kate, got me thinking with her post on teaching children gratitude.
I'm a really positive person almost all the time. Except like now. When I'm on day two of all the classic flu symptoms - sweating hot one minute, Artic cold the next, pounding headache, lurching stomach. I might not be in this position in the first place, if I hadn't procrastinated on that flu shot. Go get yours!!
When life throws curve balls, it's easy to fall into despair and self-pity. But since this is November, and we are coming into a season of reflection, I'm going to think positive right this minute (even if it kills me).
So....to show my gratitude, in Story Fischer's favorite way, with bullet points, here is my list:
(BTW, pre-orders for Beewitched are on kindle sale at $5.99!)
I am grateful for:
being home with this rather than on the roadmodern day meds to reduce symptomsthe inventor of chicken soup. Thank you, thank you, thank youa good book, which I haven't been able to read, but snuggling with it is nicea comfortable bed in a room of my ownfriends and family to check on me, making me feel specialthe hot shower I'll get to take when this breaksSee? There is actually some good in with the bad.
On that note.
Whatever your day has in store for you, take a moment or two to remember the little things. They are there, right in front of us. We only have to look.
One of the Cozy Chicks, Kate, got me thinking with her post on teaching children gratitude. I'm a really positive person almost all the time. Except like now. When I'm on day two of all the classic flu symptoms - sweating hot one minute, Artic cold the next, pounding headache, lurching stomach. I might not be in this position in the first place, if I hadn't procrastinated on that flu shot. Go get yours!!
When life throws curve balls, it's easy to fall into despair and self-pity. But since this is November, and we are coming into a season of reflection, I'm going to think positive right this minute (even if it kills me).
So....to show my gratitude, in Story Fischer's favorite way, with bullet points, here is my list:
(BTW, pre-orders for Beewitched are on kindle sale at $5.99!)
I am grateful for:
being home with this rather than on the roadmodern day meds to reduce symptomsthe inventor of chicken soup. Thank you, thank you, thank youa good book, which I haven't been able to read, but snuggling with it is nicea comfortable bed in a room of my ownfriends and family to check on me, making me feel specialthe hot shower I'll get to take when this breaksSee? There is actually some good in with the bad.
On that note.
Whatever your day has in store for you, take a moment or two to remember the little things. They are there, right in front of us. We only have to look.
November 11, 2013
At the Movies
by Maggie Sefton
I haven't commented on movies for a while, so I hope I don't forget any of the ones I've seen in these last three months:
2 GUNS-----Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg make great partners in this "buddies work together to catch/kill the Bad Guys." It's an action-filled flic yet there's a a good plot line which has some twists to it which keep you engaged---as well as the buddies. :)
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS---Taut, action-packed, and totally believable. This is an account of an actual pirate capture of an American container-filled freighter. Tom Hanks does an excellent job in the role.
RED 2---Excellent. Funny, witty, and great to see these actors romp through this.
WE'RE THE MILLERS---There're a lot of funny lines in this movie, but the plot line definitely wanders all over the place. Still, I enjoyed it.
GRAVITY---I'm afraid to see this movie since I have an astronaut daughter. :) I really don't like the image of her floating off into space. But, it's supposed to be solved in the movie, so I'll probably relent and see it. On the small screen, though.
Have you seen any of these movies?
I haven't commented on movies for a while, so I hope I don't forget any of the ones I've seen in these last three months:
2 GUNS-----Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg make great partners in this "buddies work together to catch/kill the Bad Guys." It's an action-filled flic yet there's a a good plot line which has some twists to it which keep you engaged---as well as the buddies. :)
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS---Taut, action-packed, and totally believable. This is an account of an actual pirate capture of an American container-filled freighter. Tom Hanks does an excellent job in the role.
RED 2---Excellent. Funny, witty, and great to see these actors romp through this.
WE'RE THE MILLERS---There're a lot of funny lines in this movie, but the plot line definitely wanders all over the place. Still, I enjoyed it.
GRAVITY---I'm afraid to see this movie since I have an astronaut daughter. :) I really don't like the image of her floating off into space. But, it's supposed to be solved in the movie, so I'll probably relent and see it. On the small screen, though.
Have you seen any of these movies?
November 10, 2013
TEACHING KIDS GRATITUDE
by Kate Collins
I read an article in my local newspaper this week that really caught my attention. The gist is that if you want your children to grow up to be loving, humble, caring, pleasant adults, they have to learn gratitude.
I’ll bet you know kids who could use a huge lesson in that, don’t you? They’re the ones with a sense of entitlement that makes them spoiled, inconsiderate snobs. And often their parents are shaking their heads in bewilderment, wondering where they went wrong.
Here are ways to make sure your kids don’t end up that way.
1. Say please and thank you to your kids as often as possible. Kids are natural mimics. They get it.
2. Teach them early to write thank you notes. I’m sure you’ve been on both ends at some point. It’s not until you give someone a special gift and don’t hear a word back that you realize the importance of saying thanks. So instill this in them while they’re young.
3. Make verbal statement about things you appreciate, even small things like “I’m so glad the rain held off until we got home.” “I really appreciate your help on this.” It helps them understand the concept of appreciation.
4. Start a family gratitude journal. Make it be a nightly routine. One thing that everyone is grateful for that day. Maybe you’ll only do it for a week, or maybe it’ll become something they look forward to. In any case, it will teach them to look at life through different lenses.
5. Do a service project together. Buy Thanksgiving food for the local food pantry or gifts for the angel tree together. It will teach kids that the world exists outside themselves, and they’ll appreciate what they have by understanding what others don’t.
Personally, I’ve started saying out loud things I’m grateful for each day. It makes me appreciate small things that would have otherwise gone unnoticed, and then I truly feel blessed.
Today, I’m grateful for everyone reading this blog. What’s the first thing on your list?
I read an article in my local newspaper this week that really caught my attention. The gist is that if you want your children to grow up to be loving, humble, caring, pleasant adults, they have to learn gratitude.
I’ll bet you know kids who could use a huge lesson in that, don’t you? They’re the ones with a sense of entitlement that makes them spoiled, inconsiderate snobs. And often their parents are shaking their heads in bewilderment, wondering where they went wrong.
Here are ways to make sure your kids don’t end up that way.
1. Say please and thank you to your kids as often as possible. Kids are natural mimics. They get it.
2. Teach them early to write thank you notes. I’m sure you’ve been on both ends at some point. It’s not until you give someone a special gift and don’t hear a word back that you realize the importance of saying thanks. So instill this in them while they’re young.
3. Make verbal statement about things you appreciate, even small things like “I’m so glad the rain held off until we got home.” “I really appreciate your help on this.” It helps them understand the concept of appreciation.
4. Start a family gratitude journal. Make it be a nightly routine. One thing that everyone is grateful for that day. Maybe you’ll only do it for a week, or maybe it’ll become something they look forward to. In any case, it will teach them to look at life through different lenses.
5. Do a service project together. Buy Thanksgiving food for the local food pantry or gifts for the angel tree together. It will teach kids that the world exists outside themselves, and they’ll appreciate what they have by understanding what others don’t.
Personally, I’ve started saying out loud things I’m grateful for each day. It makes me appreciate small things that would have otherwise gone unnoticed, and then I truly feel blessed.
Today, I’m grateful for everyone reading this blog. What’s the first thing on your list?
