Mom and I got back to town at around 3 a.m. this morning. By 8 a.m., Pops (who had gone to bed early) rolled me out to begin the preparations for the last trip I plan to take for awhile. It took most of the day to get things ready.

It’s kind of nice to turn the business phone off, to not have the office phone ringing constantly. I am enjoying the break, but there is still so much work to do, such late hours and so much of my time spent traveling lately. I love to travel, but I’d like it more if my kids could have been released from school a bit earlier. I wanted them to experience this with me. Alex loves Colorado, as does Derrick. They will hopefully be able to come out later, but with all the other events of the summer, they may not.

Derrick has been telling me, as has Alex, all the things they are doing in school right now. The “free periods,” the playing cards in math class, the time outside (Derrick came home burned Friday, he stayed outside so much). The one thing missing? School work. For THIS my children are refused release for a family and EDUCATIONAL trip. Arruuugghh!
I’ll deal with that more later, but for now…

We are on the way. We have made a pitstop in Bowling Green to pick up a 4-wheeler to get higher up the mountain than we could on foot. My Uncle has one he’s loaning Pops. On the way, Pops and I are arguing politics, national security, our right (or lack of right) to be in the Middle East, how art should NOT (in his opinion) cross the line to political activism (unless that political opinion is one he shares, apparently) and… we are having a good time.
My husband looked exhausted when I kissed him good-bye and I’ll be missing him, Alex and Derrick terribly before I cross the state line. I just know it. But, for now, we will continue to count the things we forgot to pack and keep moving west. Until later…

Today, I’m in Asheville NC. My sister and I have taken my mother away for a couple of days. It’s a celebration. She just got her first social security check and we needed something to commemorate the occasion.

Mom has always wanted to see Biltmore, so we selected this trip. It’s a fairly stress-free drive (just over 5 hours) and we all three managed to have this three-day block free from other commitments.

My sister just completed her comprehensive exams for her master’s program, I’m preparing for the trip to Colorado and Mom is inbetween stresses with her political party work. So, we had to strike while the proverbial iron was hot.

I expected Mom would love the tour of the house, and enjoy the garden. I expected the garden would hold a special place for my sis — she’s a nature baby. I figured I’d tolerate the tour experience, but enjoy the time with them. I was wrong.

I really enjoyed the tour. The home was … well, … awesome. Imagine… a home that takes up a 4 acre footprint. With my love of “small” homes, I didn’t expect to enjoy such an enormous American palace… but I did. The architecture was pretty amazing as well. Gargoyles, details, hidden doors, and it would be impossible NOT to get lost in the place without clearly marked directions. The fresh flowers pulled from the garden, the art, the library (love the second story shelves with the circular staircase) and the painting on the ceiling imported from Italy in 13 different pieces of canvas and re-created in the “American palace” here in Ashville. Oh, and the “garden room” — I could LIVE there and be happy — forever. Of course, without the constant touring people would be better. And, if I could have the view of Biltmore, from that room, well that would be best.

I have some pictures that I’ll try to post a bit later. I borrowed my mother’s new digital camera to capture the textures. I must say that the textures impressed me most. There were grand scales and details galore — but it was the layers and layers of textures that impressed me the most.

I also really liked the Madonna room. I didn’t realize that anyone else ever collected madonnas. I love them myself. I’ll probably always love them. I don’t collect things, usually. I don’t like to have to store and care for “collections” — but some things, well I can’t help it.

I’ll write more when I can… we are off for our last day of exploration in Ashville now. And, I hope to try out the new “gallery” plug-in for the blog with the Biltmore photos.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to another day of discovering “treasures” in a new place.

There comes a time in your life where you simply give in about certain things. That time, for me, is now — and the topic is cars. I’ve decided I like walking. I like it a HELL of a lot better than the alternatives I’ve had lately.

Friday, during my conference, my husband called to tell me the car (the old one) was making this horrible noise, and that he was going to try to limp it into our family mechanic. Our mechanic is great. He’s knowledgeable, fair, honest and reasonably priced. Not a combination one normally finds in an auto mechanic. He also has a network of specialists — for mufflers, for piston work, for foreign cars, etc. He does what he does best and seeks out other specialists to work with him on his customer’s vehicles.

Unless you are a first-time reader of my blog, you KNOW I admire that — after all, it’s what I do and it’s what I preach to others.

With that said, I was pulling out of the parking garage late Friday evening, after all the conference stuff was over — I was headed home. Except, when I turned the wheel to straighten up and drive out… there was this horrible *POP-BOOM* and then the engine smoked and I couldn’t steer. After about 30 minutes of wrestling, I did manage to get it back into the original parking slot so it wasn’t blocking the entire parking garage path to the upper and lower floors. (more…)

Let’s see, I’m on a public library computer (because I don’t want to wait to blog, and because I don’t want to take the time to go set up a personal connection to blog). Besides, I’m starving and the 15-minute limit on a terminal, will probably be my personal limit before I run find an eatery.

The conference… Amazing. That’s it. Wordy me diminished to a singular, overused word. The coordination was not perfect, there were snags and issues here and there, as there are with most events. It wasn’t the orchestration that was “all that” — it was the people.

I have come to a few conclusions (and even more questions) as a result of this weekend’s experiences.

• There is an issue between my art and my social responsibility that I’ve always battled with — where I should expend my time — that really isn’t a question. Activism is the heart of Art. Period. To battle one is to battle the other. So, I surrender to this fact and now must just determine how to more carefully and more pointedly pick my personal/social/artistic battles. Nuff said.
• I needed to move to the farm to find myself. With that done, I now need to find a nurturing community of artists and creative “free” spirits, if I plan to advance my craft. So, maybe the reservations I’ve had about the potential move to Lexington… are just another step that’s needed — something that, once again, I failed to see but the universe deciphered FOR me. My husband says such statements are me “making lemonade” again — a character flaw he actually admires.
• Angry female poetry has serious merits. In my college days, I dismissed young, angry women. My mother’s desire to keep things orderly and nice and socially acceptable just floated to the surface of me and coagulated there. Firm, unbending. Now, I marvel at the ENERGY of these young artists and I wonder how long it will be until they can focus their angst, their passions, their art. And, I wonder if I’d been a bit more radical, a bit more angry — if I’d have found my direction sometime before my fourth decade on this earth. Things that make you go “Hmmmmm….” And, BTW, angry young male poetry is pretty impressive, albeit a bit shocking at times too — and I admire the *ahem* nads of the few gentlemen that stepped up and attended, and shared and offered glimpses of their own soul.
• When things appear to be going in the crapper… sometimes that means you are on the right path. Just because the registration wasn’t under my name, the classes I wanted were “pre-reservation” classes, and they were sorry but the “Architecture of a Novel” class was (and has been) full for forever…. they are terribly sorry that I didn’t get my reservation materials until Monday, despite the fact that the reservation was made for me back in January, and there is simply NOTHING they can do about it… isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Not when boardmember, “Heather” managed to squeak me into the Poetry masterclass. Now, she’d gone to so much effort, (above and beyond) to address my concerns… and she even gave me her OWN slot in this class… I didn’t have the heart to allow my lip to curl up in disgust. I didn’t have the lack of heart to tell her… “ME? in the POETRY class? Oh…. MY…. God… No way… I won’t do it. I’m not a poet… I can’t DO poetry…” etc. Instead, I said, “Oh thank you, but I couldn’t possibly take YOUR slot.” And she insisted, and I thought, “Great, now I’m stuck. Haruuummmpphhh!”
• Poetry and poetry groups — an amazing way to investigate the art of writing from a completely new perspective for a prose writer. Again, the universe gave me what I was too stupid to know that I needed — a surrounding and invitation to join an impressively welcoming, ingeniously talented group of women and even a couple men from all backgrounds, of all ages. I’m blessed.

More later, but for now, my time on the terminal is up and I’m starving and I’ll have to spell check this baby later…

I’ve been planning to attend this event for several years… ok, probably approaching (or exceeding) a decade now. But April is always so busy and there’s always a reason why I can’t… it’s always time or money, isn’t it? Back when I had the time, I didn’t have the money. Now that I have the money, it’s hard to make the time — until this year. For my birthday, my parents, sister (and her hubby) gave me a full pass to the Women Writers Conference in Lexington, Kentucky. It’s hard to say no when it’s a gift… so I get to enjoy the conference — guilt-free! :O)

The event begins this afternoon and runs through Sunday. I’ll blog about it a bit, if I’m not too exhausted after each day. I expect it to be rather draining and (hopefully) inspiring. Of course, this will rekindle the fire to write fiction that I’ve just recently managed to calm. Funny how those things happen, isn’t it? Like karma sending me signs, methinks.

Ok, you have been in real estate long enough to have endured a few listings that you would
rather NOT have landed. Let’s call them ugly ducklings, shall we? Now, how do you market them? Here’s how you can invite people to recognize their potential and help the homebuyer see them as a swan! In the same way we make lemonade when life deals lemons, you can find something good about any property – no matter how flat it may seem at first glance.

It’s not just tiny homes or homes “out-of-step” with the neighborhood that need special care. In fact, I’ve helped market multi-million dollar listings with bedrooms that left me astounded.

“THAT is the master bedroom? The bedroom in my first apartment was nicer!” My solution? I don’t mention the master bedroom. Instead, I highlight the triple-sized whirlpool with adjustable jet streams in the master bathroom with the marble steps and the heated towel racks. Accentuate the positive and simply ignore the negative.

In smaller, less dramatic homes, you may need to create positives by altering your potential buyer’s perspective. You may not have the luxury of ignoring difficult features. And, it’s not a matter of sticking the term “handyman’s dream” or “fixer-upper” on it and calling the marketing plan complete. Nor, is it convincing the seller to list it below market value, so you have a chance of turning it over quickly.

Remember, every home has something charming about it. It’s your job to find that “something” and frame it attractively for display through your marketing approach. Here are a few tips to do just that:
(more…)

I’m anxiously awaiting a bit more information about the upcoming iPod phone. I love my Treo 650 — and the new iPod phone would have to offer me alot to make me switch… but maybe it will. If it carries the kind of HD space of my current iPod (60 gigs) and offers video like my current iPod does, and can surf the web like my Treo does, and offers email capability that’s compatible with my mobile habits — and incorporates the new VOIP technology for cell phones… I’m gonna give it a whirl.
If you would like to see a blog with a bit of info (including a photo) on the new iPhone that’s projected…. visit here.

Other reports:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/31/apple_iphone_speculation/
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/23/apple_ipod_phone_benq/

I talked with my children about school last night. My son, now 16, attends Russell County High School. This is CATs testing week. So, you may wonder, what’s “testing week” really like? Apparently, the kids work 90 minutes per day. The rest of the time there is drawing for prizes, they watch television and DVD movies, go outside and “hang out” and get extra bonus points (up to 60) to add to their class scores for showing up for school and appearing to attempt to do well on the tests (this involves not staring into space or filing in ‘just anything’ to hurry up and be finished with the exams). How’s that for rewarding? And how effective is CATS testing? Not very. Of course, many of us have suspected as much all along. You can’t teach to the test, unless you are first teaching. Right? Testing…

It’s enough to make me just beam with pride. This is to go on for two weeks. They are doing NOTHING in classes. There is no homework. There is, however, a free-flowing supply of sugary treats being passed out and those obnoxious vending machines that are supposed to stay turned OFF during the school day are back to being plugged in constantly. It’s not enough to teach to the tests, it’s not enough to deny children educational opportunities in order to collect a paycheck for them.

Equally impressive is the job that our state government is doing for our children’s long-term future. How forward-thinking of them to sell out our children for political gain now. It makes me so proud. Maniacally proud. That’s what it means when you see red, right? Overwhelming pride? (more…)

For those who are concerned about junk food in schools, you may be interested in the following legislation: (more…)

Ahh, just got off the phone with a client. He says it’s “friggin tax day.” And here I thought I was the only one so enamored today! Wayne held my hand while I compiled all the papers and printed off what we needed and scanned in what we were sending off. He helped me DO the taxes this weekend, and managed to keep a pleasant demeanor as I cursed and made huge sweeping (negative) statements about everything under the sun.

I really rolled in the negativity. Writing out those checks was excruciating. My client told me he never actually signs the checks, he has someone else do it. Somehow, I don’t think that would have made it any easier. I do, however, think that next year I may get someone else to do my taxes. I’ve always done my own taxes. Always. But, in the vein of finding more happiness and less angst in my life… maybe it’s time to make a change.

Now, to do a bit of client work before taking my daughter to get her first cavity filled. It’s hard being 8 and having to skip all sweets until a tooth is filled, but those are the rules here. (It’s particularly hard when the appointment can’t be made until AFTER the sweet-laden Easter baskets are received.) Natural consequences are tough stuff, eh?

Personally, I think I’ll go buy a half a pound of organic dark chocolate and several bottles of imported spring water to celebrate the completion of the taxes. Of course, it would help if I had some of the money I just sent off to the government. Sigh.

Hope everyone is having a great day today… and getting refunds instead of paying Uncle Sam.

Life has been so hectic lately, it’s hard to FIND the roses, much less stop for a little sniff. But, I think I’ve decided that life will only slow down when I force that to happen. I’ve also decided that it has very little to do with outside forces and events, and much to do with my own decisions and choices. So, I’m deciding to slow down a bit. Yeah, yeah, I know… I’ve said it before. Only time will prove my earnestness this time…

But this week, I got a new lease on life with my health — and a clean bill from my doctor following a year of less than glowing health. I’m in the middle of figuring out how to pay a whopping tax bill (because I buried myself in work as my health went south, but didn’t put money back for taxes — foolish, foolish…) and I watched my best friend make arrangements to bury her tiny great niece — who was not even three months old.

I continue to watch her sacrifice her life and her happiness and her mental well-being to take care of everyone else. She worries over things that don’t belong to her. She’s a saint, but her life is slipping through her fingers and she’s not even aware of it. And when I try to talk to her about it, she turns the tables. She says I have no room to talk — that I can’t learn to “just be” either — and that I’m always planning and doing and dragging others along. She says she agrees with me, and that she will stop being who she is, when I stop being who I am. I disagree… this is WHAT I am, not WHO I am. And it’s time for a change… (more…)

Palm is offering the Treo 650 at a lower price and throwing in some accessories to sweeten the pot (for a limited time only). So, if you are weighing out “Do I want a Treo 700 or do I want a Treo 650?” this might help to make that difficult decision. On a personal note, the charger offered as the freebie is the one I use every day (and the best one on the market, IMHO, because it has the built-in charger for the extra battery). They also throw in some extra screen savers (always nice) and a case (but not one I’d use for my own Treo, because there’s no protection to the screen) and a car charger (I use my own Boxwave version — the VersaCharger — constantly, but this one from Palm would be nice also — especially as a free bonus).

For more information, visit Palm and get all the details.

You know, I love my iPod, but I’m spending WAY too much money on TV episodes that I can’t live without. And now, according to a news release dated today, the shows I love the most, the ones I am willing to fork over $1.99 for on iTunes… are going to be free online by this summer — maybe even by next month!

This is one way to give the people what they want, IMHO, and still get the advertising dollars — since the shows themselves can be fast forwarded, thrown into rewind mode and viewed at any time, but the commercials cannot be skipped. I abhor commercials (it’s one of the main reasons I’ve refused to have cable in my home for the past… oh… 14 years or so), but I’m not sure I’ll feel that way if I can do something else during a commercial break (like check my email) and enjoy my favorite shows for free online. ‘Course, I still can’t take them with me on the iPod unless I pay… but still…

Maybe this means I’ll buy that HUGE monitor that’s hooked into my computer and set it up in the living room sometime later this year. I’ve been wanting a good excuse to do that anyway. After all, my family never watches TV– cable, dish or public access. We do, however have several hundred DVDs and we enjoy our iPod Content. So having a computer-based entertainment center in the living area would actually make good sense. Now maybe I’ll have that “virtual” window with a nature scene screensaver on a monitor with a basic black frame hanging on the wall like I’ve always wanted.

You know, it bugs me for living areas to be “focused” on a television screen. Always has, always will. That’s probably why the idea of a TV that hangs on the wall and looks more like a painting has always appealed to me. Now, a monitor goes that one better, and getting my favorite shows without the cost… anytime I want them… without paying for cable and subjecting my kids to the crap on most of the airwaves and cable programming… well, that might be pretty sweet.

I’ll have to look into this a bit later… for now, I’ll refrain from any more “series season passes” on iTunes, while I sort it all out. :O)

Read the news release for yourself.

The good folks at TreoCentral are offering visitors a chance to compete for a free palm — if you are brave enough to wax poetic in 50 words or less about why Palm is near and dear to your heart. This celebration of Palm’s 10th anniversary will end on April 5th… so hurry…

Visit the contest site to offer your own rendition and take a chance on being the winner. Best of luck!