Escapism

There's a lot to be said for lack of focus. Or maybe it's just me. Today, I'm so unfocused that it's distressing––I have too many things to do to feel this scattered. I'm terribly happy about the fact that I have a full list of assignments, but none of them seems to be taking any particular shape at the moment. I'd call it writer's block, but can I call it that if I'm actually writing right now? Hmmmm...interesting thought. 

As I sit here in my home-office away from my home-office, I'm chugging coffee, trying to warm up both my brain cells as well as the body that holds that brain––non-functioning though it might be at the moment. For some reason, every public place in the free world seems to feel the need to run their A/C at maximum, never once considering that their patrons might actually welcome the idea of tolerable thermostat settings. Some of us actually think better when we're not tying to thaw out, but I guess maybe we don't count. We're the minority, perhaps, but still.

But I digress. This was not actually what I intended to be writing about for today's post, but sometimes things have a mind of their own, don't they? The mind runs away with itself, taking the fingers with it and whipping across the keys to compose something entirely unintentional. Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes a bad one. Whatever the case, it is an unescapable part of reality.

Speaking of escape...I am now the proud owner of a Ford Escape. In all the torrential rain activity that plagued my sector of the map last week, my car was part of the toll. And while the thought of being able to get a different car in place of my Suzuki was an appealing one, the way that it happened wasn't quite ideal. Normally, the purchase of a new car is a planned one, not an emergency one. But God was certainly watching over me as I made my search, and everything went much more smoothly than I could have imagined. It was an amazing blessing, a silver lining at the edge of the rain clouds. Fittingly enough, the Escape is the color of a storm cloud––a rolling reminder that life is full of storms, but faith will see you through them. You only have to believe and pray. And remember to be thankful for the miracles God can work, even in the middle of all the storms.

Mug Shot

As a self-employed freelance writer, I'm tight on time; tight on budget; tight on space; and maybe just a little bit tightly-wound. Okay, a lot tightly-wound. I make coffee nervous. Which is why the idea of giving the coffee a bit of a vacation and using that mug to all its potential is so intriguing––who knew that, when it comes down to dinner, the mugs have it made? Take a flip through Camilla Sausbury's new cookbook 250 Best Meals in A Mug: Delicious Homemade Microwave Meals in Minutes, and you might just rediscover your love for this under-valued member of your kitchen. It's packed full of fun, easy recipes for one––all developed to be made and served in a coffee mug. There are gumbos and chowders, casseroles, and even cakes. Break out (but don't break) the mug and fire up the microwave, this cookbook has dinnertime handled (literally). For more info on the book, visit www.robertrose.ca
 

Course Correction...for Love?

You know, I never thought I'd have to pick up another "dating" advice book and have it actually be applicable to my life––after all, I do recall walking down the aisle in a pouffy white dress and saying vows. But here I am, single again. So I guess, on principal, if I decided to hit the stacks in pursuit of some dating advice, then it wouldn't be skeevy. In fact, with my track record, it might be a wise move. Something about the guys I've dated (and was married to) has been off––sometimes obviously, sometimes not so obviously.

Which is precisely what Dawn Maslar addresses in her book, From Heartbreak to Heart's Desire: Developing a Healthy GPS (Guy Picking System).  The book walks you through not only the types of guys you might tend to be"picking," but also what's shaped you and affected why you might be so prone to picking them. It's witty, it's insightful, and it's scientifically based. Best of all, it offers great advice on the ways that you can more finely hone your ability to spot men of quality and how to become more in-tune with your own needs as you learn to better value yourself. For more info, visit 
www.dawnmaslar.com

When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like a Gluten-Free Pie

As seems to run true to form, I have been woefully neglectful in blogging, having been swamped by a monstrous amount of work and too little time taken out to do anything but.  Which means that almost two weeks has ticked by since my last entry. Tax day has, mercifully, come and gone––which means that's one less thing breathing down my neck and giving me the beady eye. Fortunately, I paid (literally) due diligence in getting estimated tax payments to Uncle Sam last year and escaped the rude awakening that sometimes comes at the end of the year when you find that you owe the IRS for your lack of prudence. 



Still, aside from that daunting task of first preparing my piles of papers for the tax guy to sort out with me, I seem to have had a never-ending list of assignments and various other tasks that have pushed my workdays to their limits and shot through the hours of my days. Which, serendipitously, brings me to a perfect jumping off point to tell you, my faithful readers, about something designed to make the mealtimes of such over-scheduled days as mine a little easier and more convenient––even if you're one of the many who have re-worked their diets to become gluten-free. 

It stands to reason that, when you're considering foods that would first among those to be banished from gluten-free kitchens, pizza would top the list. Fortunately for all the pie-lovers out there, Freschetta Pizza has developed their Gluten Free Thin and Crispy Crust Pizzas, a tasty new line of thin crust pizzas made sans gluten. Perfectly ooey-gooey and cheesy, the 4 Cheese Medley flavor is so good you'll never notice what's missing; and the crust is light, airy, and crispy––which means it fully delivers on both taste and texture. Piled with a premium blend of cheeses including mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, and Asiago, the 4 Cheese Medley is great for any cheese-head; and the Signature Pepperoni Pizza loads it up with bold and meaty pepperoni. It's a slice of gluten-free heaven. (www.freschetta.com)

Selfie-ish

I recently read an article that said the 2013 Oxford Dictionary word of the year was "selfie." Interestingly enough, it seems to say something about the zeitgeist, as we become a culture increasingly obsessed with being our own publicists. Even those among us who really don't have anything momentous to report seem to be pinging Instagram and Twitter with selfies that put us on full display. 
     
Maybe I should modify the pronoun of "us" to one which excludes me, as I've never had the desire to put my pic out there. In fact, I usually have to be threatened under penalty of death to let anyone take my picture; and I absolutely abhor the results of pretty much every picture I've ever had to take of myself. Unlike all the seasoned selfie snappers out there, I haven't perfected the art of the pose. I always come out looking less-than-glam, but that could simply be due to the fact that I'm not photogenic.
Whatever the case, my own camera blunders are not the point.

The point is that the article, in that one simple declaration, highlighted a very sad fact about the way people think. The importance they place on their own desire for recognition. A selfie is––in many cases––a shameless display of selfishness. It's the assumption that every little thing you do must be documented and seen. It's the desire to make others notice you and envy you.

Granted, there are certainly times when pictures are appropriate; but the onslaught of random shots pinging through the air at every moment, unseen in their journey to social media sites, is generally unnecessary. 

Maybe we should stop taking time to snap so many selfies and look around to see what other people are doing. To see what they need. And maybe, just maybe, there will actually be a camera-worthy moment in there. Create a memory, rather than a perfect pose. 

Things will be a lot more real, and a lot less selfish.

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away

I don't generally read sci-fi novels; but when when I ran across this one, I have to admit, my curiosity was definitely piqued. I mean, come on––the whole idea of this story is that people live on different planets where everyone eats strange foods that don't really have any kind of caloric impact, and gravity is a moot point. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill jaunt through outer-space and an off-the-wall bit of humor penned by a creatively-minded professor who obviously thinks outside the box, Chocolate Chocolate Moons is great for anyone who wants a break from reality and loves some sci-fi fun with a mysterious twist or two thrown in. Round out your reading list and satisfy your sweet tooth with this debut book from Jackie Kingon. Visit http://www.jackiekingon.com/ 

Sweating It

Anyone who really knows me knows that I love to read and that I'm a gym rat. All of which means I've read my fair share of books and been in my fair share of gyms. In fact, I do more than my fair share of reading while I'm in the gym, with my nose buried in pages and pages of words––which might be precisely why I might not be completely aware of my surroundings...And, according to Max Hawthorne, whose resume boasts more than 20 years of experience working in the health club industry, there are plenty of things to be aware of. In his book, Memoirs of a Gym Rat, Hawthorne candidly shares some horror and humor about all the things that may be going on behind the scenes at your gym. Every page is packed with odd stories and insights into the seemingly simple culture of the health club and fitness center industry; and by the time you're done reading, you just might find yourself thinking twice about how you conduct your workout...and where. Written with a great sense of humor and the perfect blend of information and observation, Hawthorne manages to get his point across in a book that makes reading about gyms interesting and funny, rather than dry and matter-of-fact. A great read! For more info, visit http://www.MemoirsOfaGymRat.com/