Credit/Debit Holds and Missing Money
Posted by: dareesinsights on: January 20, 2010
I’ve got a new article posted on the Dollar Stretcher website this week about traveling without credit cards!
I Still Want a Baby Laptop
Posted by: dareesinsights on: January 9, 2010
- In: contests
- 40 Comments
I have a couple of friends who have what I refer to as “baby laptops.” I know–it’s a far cry from the correct term, netbook, but that’s just my way.
I want one. I need one. I was hoping a special someone could get me one as a lovely birthday gift in November, but I didn’t have a special someone (not that week–he bailed before my big day). Christmas came and went, too.
I got an email on Christmas Eve about the Mom Bloggers Club sweepstakes where you could win an HP Mini 110-1100 with Windows 7 Home Premium. All you have to do is blog about what you would do with it. I know how I would use the baby laptop.
I’m on the cusp of officially launching my writing and speaking website, Delivering A Rich, Empowering Experience so marketing my services and getting my name out there is a priority for me. I’d use the HP Mini to keep abreast of my subscriptions for freelancing jobs and capture leads, follow up with experts I need to interview, update my editorial calendar, check on writing contests, and schedule my non-work activities such as my daughter’s social life (she’s 6, lol), church activities, Toastmasters events, and speaking engagements.
I traveled a lot in the latter half of 2009, and I always brought my laptop with me. My only requirements of a hotel are a decent bed and free wi-fi so I can use my laptop to access mapquest and local information as well as manage my writing projects and use IM, Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch. I usually have a layover when I fly, and I use that waiting time to type up story ideas, watch videos, and read PDFs of newsletters and ebooks I’ve downloaded. The problem is, my laptop belongs to my company (I’m still employed as well as freelancing), and it’s pretty heavy even if I switch shoulders carrying it around on travel days. The HP Mini is just over 3 pounds–music to my ears.
The baby laptop would be really convenient to have while I’m out and about every day. As a writer, I record my thoughts, inspirations, and notes in a legal-size notebook that I try to remember to take with me everywhere I go. With the HP Mini, I could type up ideas whenever the mod strikes, and not have to worry about keeping track of papers lying all over my desk and floor, nor would I have to sort them later. (Now where were my notes on such-and-such? It was right here a second ago…) I sing in the choir at church, but sometimes we learn new song lyrics “on the fly.” Typing the words to a song on the HP Mini while I’m listening to it would be much faster and more efficient than writing them longhand.
I would use my baby laptop in the house as well. I keep my company laptop and PC upstairs, while my bedroom and living room are downstairs, so having the lightweight HP Mini would save me more than a few steps.
Do you have a netbook? How does it help you organize your life? If you don’t have one, could you see yourself simplifying your life by owning one? Mom Blogger’s Club will randomly give away three (3) HP Mini 110-1100 by Studio Tord Boontje PCs to readers who leave a comments on various entrants’ blog posts, so leave a comment here!
Getting Around To It (This Isn’t Writer’s Block)
Posted by: dareesinsights on: January 3, 2010
The last modification date of the files is mid-August. September and October rolled by before I finally decided to print out what I had for my manuscript in mid-November. I had been writing articles, working my 2 ½ jobs, and traveling to speak. That was my excuse for the delay in doing my first full self-edit of my manuscript. I can’t afford to hand it to a professional editor without taking a look first.
But I didn’t want to look. I was like a person in deep credit card debt who tries to avoid their problem by not opening their bills. If I didn’t see it, it wasn’t there.
So in mid-November, I printed out each of my chapter files from Word, 3-hole punched them, and cleared out a 3” wide binder with old notes from a PR class I took in grad school. I carefully placed each chapter in the binder in order with dividers. This was my new book binder. This is part of the story I would tell when people interviewed me about my finished book.
I placed the binder on my dining room table in plain sight, and headed off to a Toastmasters conference. The first session I attended was about self-publishing. Do you have a book inside of you? YES! But it’s on my table now—it’s almost finished!
I told the presenter that I considered myself an aspiring author because although I had just printed out my book, it wasn’t finished. He begged to differ. He said if I wanted to, I could go to Kinko’s and slap a cover on it, and since the book IS written, I am an author. I mulled it over. Note to self—I’m not finished. I need an editor/book doctor, cover, ISBN…
Two days later, I returned from the conference. The binder was still there, untouched. That following week I opened it and put some notes in it from one of the 30+ writing books I borrowed from the public library. I interviewed renowned authors about THEIR books. And the binder sat. And sat.
Toastmasters Eastern VA Division Contest
Posted by: dareesinsights on: November 15, 2009
“Thou shalt not conclude a speech with ‘Thank you’ ”
“When homeless people stop their ranting to look at YOU, then you know you’re crazy.”
“Whichever football team is not having such a great season can always take comfort in playing against The Redskins.”
No folks, it’s not stand-up comedy. It’s not Shakespeare. It’s not Broadway either. These quips came from performances at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk on the morning of November 7, 2009.
That was the day that the Toastmasters of Virginia’s Eastern Division took over.
Toastmasters periodically holds speech contests as an interesting component to their educational program. The contest creates community awareness of the Toastmasters program, and gives all who attend the opportunity to learn by observing other speakers.
Trips: I’m Used to Going it Alone
Posted by: dareesinsights on: October 15, 2009
I haven’t blogged much lately because I’ve been traveling so much, and submitting everything I write to publications. Today I just got back from Newark, I was in Houston speaking at the Blacke Student Summit 2 weeks ago, and before that? Well, that was actually a pleasure trip to Las Vegas, and as usual, I was alone–but not lonely.
I’m attaching an article I wrote on the way back from Vegas (this is the short version) from a paper local.
I got some nice emails from people saying that they admired my bravery and willingness to do such a thing. After all, I took a 5-hr plane ride across the country with just one bag of luggage and a camera, and spent a week hanging out.
Have you traveled a long distance before, just for fun, alone?
Replay of Becoming a Positive Woman: A TeleWomenar
Posted by: dareesinsights on: September 1, 2009
Listen to the replay from August 31, 2009, where I talked with speaker, author, and personal safety coach Kelly Rudolph about some of the personal growth topics that I’ve written about on this blog:
- Identifying and Dealing with Toxic People (protect yourself and learn how to let go)
- Overcoming Offense (transform hurt and anger into triumph)
- Watching Your Words (words can wound or heal, learn which ones to use)
This was my first teleseminar. Please give me your feedback and suggestions. Thanks!
S/He is Not You
Posted by: dareesinsights on: August 18, 2009
Sometimes we can look at another person and imagine that our lives would be easier, happier, or worry-free if we could trade places with them. Life can be so overwhelming sometimes. We want something we don’t have, until we get it, and then realize that’s not “it.” And then we want something else.
- More or less responsibility at work/home.
- Shorter/longer/thicker/thinner/straighter/curlier hair.
- Lose or gain weight.
- More or less space in the house.
- To be single if you’re married, or married (or in a relationship) if you’re single.
- More money (or is it mo’ money mo’ problems)?
Did You Hear What You Said?
Posted by: dareesinsights on: August 7, 2009
The Vtech camera is a cute low-tech toy that takes digital pictures, plays games, and records voice. It’s one my daughter’s favorite toys (thanks Auntie Daj!) and one of the features she uses the most is the voice recording and playback. She can spend hours on end recording herself saying any silly thing and then she plays it back. She likes to record herself singing, saying a short phrase, or talking for a minute or more. Sometimes she records conversations she has with me or others. I don’t always know when she is recording, but I can hear it loud and clear when she plays it back.
As adults, we definitely hear each other. “I KNOW she didn’t just say that?” or “He said….” are common phrases we use. But what if someone followed you around for just a day recording everything you said out loud, and then played it back for you? How would you feel about the things you talk about in the average, typical day? Would you be surprised at how you sound to yourself? Would you be embarrassed or ashamed if others heard you? Would you be proud? Or would you just not care one way or the other? I would ask, what if someone could hear your thoughts, but that’s another blog for another day…
It’s funny that one of my greatest strengths, something that gives myself and others great inspiration and pleasure (speaking) is linked to one of my weaknesses—saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, or saying too much, or spewing venom with my words when I get angry. (Yes, I used the word spewing. Do you like it? I’m just being honest.) My mouth often doesn’t catch up with my mind, and lets out information or thoughts that should not be uttered. But like the Bible says in the book of James, the same mouth can bring both blessing and cursing, but it should not be so (see James 3:9-12)! I’ve gotten into a lot of trouble over the years with my mouth—just ask one of my siblings or my ex-husband. Thank God they have forgiven me and can see past it. Not everyone can, and I don’t always get a second chance.
Someone is always listening, even if it is just God. Just God? Guess what—He always hears us, even if we’re alone or we’re not talking to Him. It’s easy to forget. Hopefully this article is a gentle reminder.
Religion or Relationship?
Posted by: dareesinsights on: August 7, 2009
For the longest time I was busy. Too busy to finish the things that I started. My desk is chronically covered with papers, notes, receipts, magazine clippings, coupons, to-dos, mail, and other things for me to “get around to.” So in the middle of working through whatever task I’m involved in, there’s nothing like a child to come and disrupt your train of thought with such pressing matters as:
“Mommy, my doll’s car door broke and I can’t get it back on.”
“Can you help me put on my doll’s new dress?”
“Can I go to ____________’s house? PLEEEEEEASE?
“LOOK! LOOK! Hurry, you gotta see this _________ on TV quick! I want it!”
What my daughter feels she needs at moments like these is my undivided attention. What I feel I need at these moments is uninterrupted quiet time to read or concentrate on what I’m doing (yeah right!). But which is more important? The things she wants to tell me or show me are important to her, and the task I’m attending to is important to me.
Something I recently learned and internalized is how to balance rules with relationship. Once I started being a little more patient, learning to stop what I’m doing (even if just briefly) at a good stopping point where I can later continue where I left off, to give her more time. It’s usually not much to me, but it means a lot to her. Once I started giving her more attention, even if it’s just for a hug or a high-five, I noticed that she has been acting out less. There’s been less talking back, less disobedience, and no tantrums to speak of! No child is a perfect angel, but I when I stopped treating her requests like inconvenient chores (which some of them still are, but I act differently now), I stopped having to correct or discipline her as much.
Now what does any of this have to do with religion? I’m getting there.
Exactly As I Am
Posted by: dareesinsights on: August 1, 2009
“True self-esteem is realizing that you were valuable because you were born. No matter where you come from, what color your skin is, what people say about your family or what mean things people may have done to you, because you were born you are important and you matter.” – Oprah Winfrey
When I heard Shaun Robinson utter just the first sentence of Oprah’s quote on the Steve Harvey Morning Show in June, I knew I had to get my hands on her book, “Exactly As I Am.” As a grown woman, I see how the issues of self-esteem, self-acceptance, the pressure to have sex, and questions about my identity still play out from time to time. It was no different for me back in the day, growing up in the 80’s and 90’s. Robinson’s book is written for today’s girls and young women, but it would have been just as relevant to me in 1989 as it is now in 2009.
What Do You Think?