Crazy for Words

Meetings, Meetings, Meetings...

Crazy for Words — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:33:00 GMT

Some days, all I seem to do is go from meeting to meeting. I saw this post recently, and the author, Gina Imperato (who is quoting Michael Begeman at 3M) has some really interesting points about the dreaded meeting.

I liked the section about small talk's place in meetings. I hear complaints from our Type A people who want to get in and get it done. (Whatever "it" is, and sometimes, they don't quite know.) They don't want any chatter or anything not on the agenda.

This is an interesting article. I hope you have a minute to look at it.

Happy meetings and happy Friday!

A Storm, Heatwave, and Some Crazy Conversations...

Crazy for Words — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:06:00 GMT

We had a terrible thunderstorm hit yesterday afternoon at the height of rush hour traffic. I got up this morning, and it was 72 degrees. It was amazing. I was stunned at how great it felt! We have had a streak of 15 days of triple-digit temperatures. People were getting cabin fever, and the heat was bothering everybody.

I've had some strange conversations this week. I don't know whether to blame it on the weather or the communicators. (There was a full moon last week too...)

Last week, I pulled into an honor parking lot in downtown Richmond. Parking is at a premium in some areas of town, and even if you do find a spot, there's usually a hike involved to get to your destination. I pulled in this lot, and I was thrilled that there were plenty of spaces. Before I could get out of the car to pay, a man in a golf cart knocked on my window and said, "Jehovah's Witness?" I wasn't sure what he was expecting as an answer. He filled in during the long pause where I was thinking. He let me know that there was a convention in town, and they had reserved all of the lots around the facility. At least that explained while he was asking about religion at 8:00 in the morning in a parking lot in the middle of the state capital.

Then I got a call from a co-worker last week. I picked up the phone, and he said, "Somebody said that you were top row Fed Ex." I wasn't sure if that was slang. It might have been a compliment? It took a couple of seconds for me to figure it out what he was saying. He was asking me where our seats were for the Redskins games at FedEx field. He was going to buy tickets for an exhibition game, and he wanted to know about the seats in the top tier. (For my husband's 40th birthday, I got us season tickets to the Redskins. I knew it was in the top section, but the row letter was mid-way in the alphabet, so I didn't seem that bad. When we got there, our seats were in the last row at the top under the lights. We could have waved to the blimp if it went over. The bad part was that when they turned the lights on, the moths hit us in the head. We ended up exchanging them for some in another section.)

Then I got an email from my sister and dad. She was writing to him, and it started out, "built stilts." Then it went on to talk about every day stuff. I thought she had some new euphemism or code. I wondered if she was trying to bypass some email censor by swearing in code. I kept reading. It turns out that in his email, he had given her a clue to one of his rhyming word puzzles, and she was providing the answer.

Context is everything! Have a great weekend!

The Donalds and The McLeans...Double Jeopardy

Crazy for Words — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:58:00 GMT

I heard this story about Bob and Jeanne Donald on NPR this evening. They lived in Valdez, Alaska 21 years ago. They relocated to Gulf Shores, Alabama. This reminded me of the story of the McLean family who left Manassas (where two Civil War battles were fought near the property) for Appomattox. The war followed them, and the surrender took place in their parlor
on April 9, 1865.

NPR entitled their article "Double Jeopardy." It's fitting...

More New to Me Authors...

Crazy for Words — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:47:00 GMT

I just finished the following, and I thought I'd share...

I loved Murder Boogies with Elvis by Anne George. (I have to read anything with Elvis in the title.) I loved George's two (over-40) Southern sisters. Their interactions are very funny. I was sorry to see that Ms. George passed away in 2001. I plan to read her other works. Her novel exudes charm and fun.

I also read Judy Fitzwater's Dying to Remember. It's about a thirty-something's high school reunion and some sins of the past. Her characters have interesting careers and interests.

I finished London is the Best City in America by Laura Dave. It's great chick lit. Take this one to the beach and then share it with a friend. I couldn't put it down last night. I had to finish it before going to bed. I like the dynamics between the siblings and their friends. The crazy family members that show up for the wedding weekend are very funny. I'm interested to see what else Dave has written.

Great Reference for Writers

Crazy for Words — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:42:00 GMT

I was at a conference a few years back, and a couple of the speakers referenced Noah Lukeman's The First Five Pages . I bought it and read it. It's great for highlighting the pitfalls that writers encounter. He divides the book up into three areas: Preliminary Problems, Dialogue, and The Bigger Picture. He also has great examples of the good, bad, and ugly.

Someone in my critique group recommended it recently to another writer, so I picked it up again. It's well worth reading over and over. It's definitely eye-opening when you reread your own material.

Keep writing!

Listen to Faulkner...

Crazy for Words — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:17:00 GMT

The University of Virginia has put copies of lectures/programs by William Faulkner on its website. Faulkner was a writer-in-residence there in 1957 and 1958. I have always loved to hear writers talk about their work.

Times (and Terms)...They are a Changin'

Crazy for Words — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:43:00 GMT

I was staring at my computer screen this morning, and I started to think about how some of the terms we use daily have changed over the last few years.

A cursor used to be a foul-mouthed person.
A poster used to be a picture on your bedroom wall. (Mine were of Rob Lowe and the other Brat Packers.)
Rip used to be a hole in your jeans.
Burn meant that you set fire to something.
A tweet was a sound a birdie made.
A browser was someone who did a lot of window-shopping in a bricks and mortar store.
Backup was a direction.
A chip was potato, corn, chocolate, or diamond.
FAT was the opposite of thin.
Hertz was a car rental company.
Memory was a treasured thought from the past.
A button was a fastener for clothes.
A radio button was plastic, and it was a knob on an AM/FM device.
SPAM was food in a can.
TWAIN was an American writer.
A virus was something you went to the doctor for.
A worm was bait.
Windows were made of glass.

It's too hot to go outside here on the east coast. I hope you're somewhere cool. Find a good book or movie!

No More Cursive?

Crazy for Words — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:08:00 GMT

I heard a co-worker lamenting recently that her daughter's elementary school wasn't teaching cursive any more. I was stunned at first. I have horrible handwriting, so I probably should be glad that it's not one of the hot subjects any more.

This is an article from USA Today on the subject. Students have a broader curriculum now, and sometimes, the time is not there to focus on handwriting. Back in the 70s, we had a PBS show on handwriting that we watched twice a week. We had to do the exercises just like Miss Virginia on the TV. I never mastered the "color in the lines version." Some of my letters have been customized.

There aren't that many people who do speed writing or short hand any more. When I taught at a technical college in the early 90s, we were still teaching dictation and transcription. In my office, that went the way of the Dodo when PCs and email appeared on the scene.

Long hand is one of those thinks like book jackets and typewriters that's being replaced. For me (and everyone who has to read the notes that I jot, it's probably a good thing.)

Field Trip Day!

Crazy for Words — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:31:00 GMT

I always loved field trip day, so when I get to go on one as an adult, I get really excited.

I went with a group today on a tour of the Virginia Department of Forensics Science. It is an amazing place. I had no idea that that much analysis and scientific work went on in downtown Richmond. While we were there, the ballistics staff were firing guns into water tanks and at targets. We saw the toxicology and DNA areas. It was fascinating, and I got a lot of good CSI information (especially what's real and what's TV fiction).

The Department of Forensics Science is downtown in the biotech area of our state capital. Parking downtown is always a challenge. I thought I was being prepared by Googling all of the nearby lots. I pulled in one this morning, and the gentleman working the lot tapped on my window and asked if I was a Jehovah's Witness. I wondered for a couple of seconds where this was going, but he cleared up the confusion when he told me that there was a convention in town, and most of the parking lots had been reserved for convention guests. I had a brief Plan B scramble to find another lot, but it wasn't bad. That led to a nice leisurely walk through the biotech park.

(There is a group working to bring a chapter of Sisters in Crime to Central Virginia, and nine folks from this group went on today's tour. If you're interested in reading or writing mysteries/thrillers and you're near the Central Virginia area, email me, and I'll send you the contact information.)

Journaling...Dear Diary...

Crazy for Words — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:19:00 GMT

Dear Diary...

You've been with me since the third grade. We've survived biology and chemistry...and oh so much drama through the years!

I've been keeping a journal since the seventies. I've got a trunk full of them. Life and way too many other projects get in the way. Sometimes, I do journaling on my scrapbook pages. I also started journals for both of my nieces when they were born.

I was shocked recently when I opened the one on my nightstand, and I realized that I started it in 2005. It's a pretty thick book, but I've been slacking. I'm trying to be better at keeping up with it.

I found this site (Journaling Saves) when I was looking at online creativity sites. It has some neat ideas and some good writing exercises if you get stuck.

Anybody else keep a journal? An electric one?

Movie Credits and Book Jackets...

Crazy for Words — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:05:00 GMT

I caught the tail end of a story on the radio yesterday about how movie credits "aren't what they used to be." The narrator was lamenting the creative credits of days gone by. Some of them were mini-movies in their own right. I loved the one for "Grease." And I thought the ones for the old Pink Panther movies were the movie.

This made me think about what else was being replaced by new technology or cultural preferences. What about book jackets and fancy end pages? Electronic books make them obsolete. I don't have an eReader yet. Do they still have good cover art? I like reading the author biographies, synopses, and quotes from other authors. Do you miss the feel of traditional books? Our library has just started to provide temporary downloads. I can't decide if I'm ready to venture into that realm yet.

Virtual Staging...

Crazy for Words — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:59:00 GMT

This is a cool website with some interesting technology. I saw a demonstration about it on the news last night. Obeo is a site that offers electronic staging for homes. Even if you're not a realtor, it's interesting. For a fee, you can download room photos, and you can overlay furniture and accessories to demonstrate what the room would look like with different styles. There's a video on the home page that has a demonstration.

If you're a realtor, it's another way to show your empty listings.

Some Good News...

Crazy for Words — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:04:00 GMT

We used to watch the evening news while we were preparing or eating dinner. In the last year or so, we were saturated with so many horrible stories that we started taping comedy shows to watch instead. I was pleasantly surprised by the paper this morning. It had some really good news that was nice for a change.

The paper ran a story about four sisters (all mid-twenties or under) who were in danger of losing their home. Their father killed their mother. And the girls are struggling to figure out what to do after losing both parents. After the story ran, they've had an outpouring of offers to help in a variety of ways. It's nice to know that the I live in a community that pulls together to help those in need.

Then there was an article about a pizza delivery guy in Colorado (George Linn). He knocked on a door to deliver the pizza, and the husband was going into cardiac arrest. Mr. Linn was an ex-medic who just recently returned from Iraq, and he performed CPR until other paramedics arrived.

And last but not least, there was an article about Ohio postman, Keith McVey, who over the years has helped to save three people on his route. Just recently, he performed CPR for a unconscious man on the sidewalk.

These are the heros. They're the quiet folks who're just doing their jobs, but they make a difference! And I think they're inspirational!

Movie Roles - Written for a Specific Gender

Crazy for Words — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:43:00 GMT

On the way home this evening, I was listening to NPR's "All Things Considered." There was a story about movie roles that were written for a specific gender, but in the end were played by someone of the other gender. Most were male roles switched to a female. I can't imagine "Alien" without Sigourney Weaver as the lead.

Blogger Alyssa Rosenberg points out that roles that are switched from female to male are usually smaller. (And the characters were usually lawyers...There's a thesis in there somewhere.) I also thought her comment about the settings was important. The female leads are in charge, but they are in small, confined spaces. Check out her pop culture blog.

Funny Real Estate Ads...

Crazy for Words — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:15:00 GMT

This is a link to Ellen's page. She's got an album of funny real estate ads and pictures.

Stuck in the Middle

Crazy for Words — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:36:00 GMT

I used the be the youngest in my work groups. In the late 90s, I was surrounded by Baby Boomer co-workers. I blinked and time zipped by, and now, I'm sandwiched between the Boomers and the Millennials. And their work and lifestyles are very different (even from my own GenX ones). Not everyone in each group fits nicely or neatly into the labeled wrappers. I'm a Gen-Xer, but during most of my working life, I've been mentored or supervised by Boomers, so I've taken on some of their characteristics. (Work starts at 8:30 AM, and I want to see you at your desk. How could you possible get work done at Starbucks?). I have two folks that I work closely with who are GenX by age, but they relate better to the techno-savvy Millennials. (I can't believe you turn off your cell phone! I can't believe that you don't text.)

Technology and times have changed. (They change frequently. It's not going to wait for you to catch up. And not all change is bad. I don't ever want to type footnotes on a typewriter again. I don't ever want to use footnotes or a typewriter for that matter.) All of the generations are going to have to be aware of each other if we're going to be productive.

Here are some of my observations about generational behavior (conscious or unconscious) that causes conflicts with the other groups. Some of these are work-related, and other are strictly social.

1. I attended a special meeting for 300+ people that started promptly at 9:00 AM. It had been on everyone's calendar for weeks, and everyone received a reminder the day before. Between 9:15 and 9:20, at least ten folks strolled in and proceeded to disrupt as they moved to seats in the middle of long rows. (Granted, the early birds should move to the middle, but they didn't.) The same thing always happens at church, movies, and concerts. If you have to be late (real emergencies only), don't make it noticeable that you're late for corporate events. Stand in the back or look for a seat near the end of an aisle.

2. When you're invited to a team meeting (no matter how boring), you are there to observe and contribute. Show up prepared. Have something to take notes with (phone, iPad, or old school paper and pen). Don't text, check your messages, or Tweet. If you have an emergency call, step outside to take it (without disrupting the meeting).

3. If you happen to arrive late for a meeting, don't expect the group to rehash what they've already covered. Catch up on your own time.

4. If you know in advance that you have to arrive late or leave early, let the facilitator or host know.

5. If you've been invited to something, and you can't attend, let the host know. If you said that you're attending, do. Don't just not show up because something better came along. RSVP means to let the inviter know if you're attending or not. If you don't respond, don't just show up. Also, if you alone were invited, don't show up with your six friends or kids. People have to plan room accommodations and food. Recently, my niece was invited to another child's birthday party. Fifteen friends had been invited, and most said they were coming. My niece was the only child who showed. If you have an emergency, call or email. How would you feel if only one person showed up at your party?

6. If you're in a public place, silence your phone.

7. If you have a personal cell phone at work, find out what the company policy is. Occasionaly, there are calls that you have to take. Just remember, that it is noticed when you're always in the hall on a personal call or texting to friends.

8. Be prepared for meetings. Look at your calendar ahead of time and know what's coming up. Make sure that you have documents or information needed. If you have to provide updates, be prepared.

9. Communicate with your coworkers. You're not always in the same building (or these days, not even the same hemisphere). If I don't hear from you, and I'm waiting for you to complete a task, I don't know if you're out sick, didn't do it, or are still working on it. If you hit snags, communicate so that schedules can be changed or issues escalated. Emails or texts are often misinterpreted, and it makes the situation worse. Many times, I've had to work with other co-workers to resolve an issue, and it all started because one sent an email and didn't get a response. It's not a game of tag. If you need something, you need to follow up (may be in more ways than just email). And if you're doing something for someone, you need to keep them updated on the progress (or lack of progress).

10. If you text frequently and are used to the jargon, don't assume everyone is. Abbreviations and slang are fine for some settings, but not for others. If your reader doesn't know what you're saying, you didn't communicate well. (We have Boomers who have to Google text-speak because they have no idea what's being said.) Know your audience and know what type is appropriate for what task.

Let me know your thoughts on generational stuff. Is it apparent in your work place? Have a great weekend!

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

Crazy for Words — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:10:00 GMT

This week, I finished Allison Hoover Bartlett's The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession.

It's a good non-fiction work about a rare book thief, John Gilkey, and a book dealer/sleuth, Ken Sanders. The story includes the crimes, the fascination with rare books, and the eventual capture of the criminal.

Bartlett's details about rare books, collectors, and the publishing industry are enlightening. I learned a lot about first editions (and what aren't first editions). Much of what's purported to be authentic isn't. She also explains many of the techniques that have been used throughout the years to fake rare books.

She does a thorough job describing key book thieves throughout the centuries. She also sprinkles in anecdotes about how pages of books were used in the early days. Some were pulled from rare editions for writing notes or to wrap food in because of the scarcity of paper.

My favorites were the book warnings (or curses) that she includes:

"From him that stealeth, or borroweth and returneth not, this book from its owner...Let him be struck with palsy & all his members blasted...Let bookworms gnaw his entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not, & when at last he goeth to his final punishment, let the flames of Hell consume him forever."
~ Anathema in a medieval manuscript from the Monastery of San Pedro in Barcelona

"This book belongs to none but me
For there's my name inside to see.
To steal this book, if you should try,
It's by the throat that you'll hang high.
And ravens then will gather 'bout
To find your eyes and pull them out,
And when you're screaming
"Oh, Oh, Oh!"
Remember, you deserved this woe.

~ Warning written by a medieval German scribe

An American Lit Major's Dream...Great Gatsby Video Game

Crazy for Words — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:22:00 GMT

I saw this on GalleyCat . It's an American Lit major's dream. Finally a video game for us! A Great Gatsby game! How fun! Enjoy your weekend!

To Kill a Mockingbird - 50th Anniversary

Crazy for Words — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:04:00 GMT

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird was published 50 years ago. This is one of my all-time favorites. I can't tell you how many times I have read it, and I take something different away each time.

This site has a great listing of all the celebrations and events to commemorate the occasion! Book lovers, check out the contest tab.

New Stamps of Cartoon Characters...

Crazy for Words — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:27:00 GMT

The US Post Office released a new series of stamps based on comic strip characters. You can see them at World Stamp News. I miss Calvin and Hobbes!