Miami in summer?!?

Family business offered me another opportunity to test out my skills at 'working on the road.' I want my business to be portable, but that takes practice, foresight, and creativity.

I was surprised at the number of unsecured wireless networks my laptop identified in the area where we stayed. Do you know who's accessing your network?

On this trip I found I worked best in the local café that offered a free wifi hotspot. The folks at Solero on S. Miami at 10th Street were gracious and welcoming. The café con leche was great, the sandwiches excellent, the atmosphere comfortable. I felt a part of the Miami scene and still got a good deal accomplished.

I printed the few materials I had to have in hard copy by emailing them to local family and picking them up at lunch or dinner. It took a bit more planning, but it worked.

Not everyone would find working in such a public spot energizing. I did and that was a blessing. The change of scenery refreshed my psyche. All that Spanish made me feel I had traveled to another country. New ideas flowed.

I think I'll keep practicing. Working on the road is great fun. Even in Miami in summer.

Gen X & Gen Y Profiles

Whether or not you're interested in marketing, you may find this article profiling Gen X [27-39]and Gen Y [14-26] folks intriquing. Jane Buckingham, author of "The Modern Girl's Guide to Life," and a Gen Xer, paints an interesting picture.

Of their noted slacker image, Buckingham explained that Gen Xers "went through their midlife crises 25 years too early."

Now that they are emerging from those midlife crises, they are remarkably susceptible to marketing that "helps them figure out what is happiness..."

Take a look at the article. Does this fit your experience with Gen X & Y?

Take a Breather

I finished the last grant in the current queue - finally no deadline hanging over my head. I love the work, but the pressure of drop-dead deadlines takes a toll when you roll from one to the next. It's nice to take a breather.

And, my in-box brought great news. The NY Center received the award for the YABC and Learning-to-Work Center for Staten Island. It's a joint project with the Department of Education. They worked hard on the proposal (and I wrote the application) -- it's a contract worth $1.8M, so they're very pleased.

This break gave me a day to work on my own site. Finally. Take a look.

WordToys - making life easier

About a month ago I installed WordToys.

If you're like me, your life is entwined with WORD. It's as essential as a pen and pad. But sometimes very frustrating.

WordToys offers a raft of enhancements --some I've been dreaming about (makes a copy to another disk at the same time it saves to file), but some I never even imagined. Like, saving all my open documents to one work space and reopening them all exactly as they were.

If you want an easier life, try it out. I'm still discovering the benefits.

DMNews.com | News | Article

DMNews.com | News | Article

So age doesn't matter. Time does. And Americans work more - and have less free time - than folks in every country but South Korea.

This marketing analysis from Visa USA offers an interesting perspective on what's important to their market.

Wood Stove Ghost Photo

Wood Stove Ghost Photo

Our friend Donald sent us this 'ghost stove' picture and the story behind it. Take a look. It's pretty interesting.

Antique Wood Stoves - WOW!

I worked on the antique wood stove page this weekend. Boy, these old stoves are beauties. Cast iron stoves that look like Victorian wedding cakes and Gothic churches. Ceramic tile towers in use for centuries. I looked at sites from all over the world.

Even if you aren't interested in wood stoves, you might want to take a look.

Image Change

I promised myself I'd do something on my own website this weekend - enough of this under construction. Make something happen. It's far easier to work on someone else's material than my own. Ditto for marketing.

Well, let me know what you think. It feels a bit calmer.

The Skinny on Wood Stoves

No progress on my own web site, but I've been writing the copy for several others. Take a look at one. Here's Glenn's site on wood stoves- www.the-skinny-on-wood-stoves.com

He's building an informational site about wood stoves. We've been doing a lot of research on them for our own use but found the information was scattered hither and yon. They say find a vacuum and fill it - so we did.

Great Surfing

This month I learned about Robert Fenton, a 19th century photographer, listened to some Gerry Mulligan jazz, and contrasted that with some 17th century lute compositions and the art of Gerard ter Borch. Phew, I love this culture stuff! And then, all that science!

You might enjoy visiting the sites listed on the ed.gov listserv, too. It comes about once a month with an assortment of links to online resources sponsored by various government agencies and institutions. The Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, National Geological Survey, and the National Gallery to name a few. Arts, sciences, and social studies (want to know about the history of voting machines or listen to a lecture by Stephen Ambrose?). It’s great that the magic of the Internet now makes all those Washington resources available to us all.

Their instructions to subscribe:
To subscribe to EDInfo, address an email message to: listserv@listserv.ed.gov Then write SUBSCRIBE EDINFO YOURFIRSTNAME YOURLASTNAME in the message, (if you have a signature block, please turn it off) Then send it!

(The link in the title takes you to their archives.)

Re: [HVWBOA] Made my day, my week...it's great

Ruth-

Thank you for the tool. I just downloaded it and did a search on my pc. This tool works wonders and I see how it can save time.

Jolie Sealy
Empire Business Solutions

Made my day, my week...it's great

Hi,

Here’s something that might help you as much as it helps me.

Google Desktop Search – HOOORAAAY!   I downloaded this free tool on Saturday and am thrilled with the amount of time and frustration it’s saved me.  Key a word or two and within seconds Google Desktop retrieves every file containing those words from email, chat, visited websites, and hard drive – all those Word documents and PDFs.

I work hard at staying organized, but I inevitably find I’ve forgotten that I filed something under some cute name I was sure I’d remember. And now I haven’t a clue. The search feature in Windows is truly a waste.  But now – relief.

To reach the page where you can read about it and download the tool, go here: http://desktop.google.com/    Downloading is quick and painless.  It sure made my day.  In fact, it’s made my week. -- Ruth

 

 

Great election sites

I’ve been pretty disgusted with the campaigns this year.  I’ve concluded that neither candidate deserves much respect for the way they twist and skew information.  Instead of listening to them, I’v come to rely on two websites that provide great information… www.factcheck.org and www.opensecrets.org  The first investigates and reports on the truth about each candidates claims.  The second – follow the money.  They provide an amazing amount of easy to follow information about campaign contributions.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
-- Ruth Wahtera
Need help finding the right words?
(845) 339-6568    (718) 928-6648
wahtera@adhoccopy.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Amazing Desktop

You look at your desktop day-in and day-out. I don't pay it much attention. I've always opted for a calm, bland, no-thinking, no-search alternative.

Well, I suddenly have new wallpaper on my desktop and it takes my breath away. It's an image called 'All is Well' by Deanna Hancock. The image is nothing more than an open book, some eyeglasses and the most incredible inter-play of detail and light. It's a pleasure to behold.

I found Deanna's piece in the user gallery at http://www.digitalblasphemy.com . Ryan Bliss showcases his work on this (his) site and there's wonderful stuff here. I expect that in a week or two I'll be ready to try one of Ryan's many wonderful images.

The site has both free and subscription options (I've only seen the free stuff). It's worth a few minutes of your browsing time.

By the way, I found this site through This is True - an entertaining free e-newsletter that always leaves me shaking my head. You can preview it or subscribe at http://www.thisistrue.com

Powered by Constant Contact

I added a link to Constant Contact today. Yes, it's in my own self-interest. I get $2 every time someone tries them out, and a bit more if they actually open an account. I'll never get rich, but , I'd like to learn something about affiliate programs. Since I've been recommending Constant Contact to people anyway, what better place to start?

So, yes, this is an advertisement for them. It's a great service if you're planning to publish an e-newsletter. They take care of all those tedious things like the correct formats for AOL, managing bounces, keeping track of the regulations -- everything but the writing and pictures. And that's why you have me.

Well, we're not a package deal. You can use them without me to do your writing. But, you'll be happier if you use us both. Think about it. A nifty e-newsletter keeping your message in front of your audience. With no pain.

Just call me, 845-339-6568, or email me at wahtera@adhoccopy.com

Crucial Conversations

This week, I picked up a book called Crucial Conversations – Tools for talking when stakes are high – authors: Patterson, Grenny, McMillan. & Switzler. It speaks directly to how we (and organizations) can make it safe to have, and be honest in, crucial conversations.

The book provides a framework and, best of all, specific tools. Their website, www.crucialconversations.com , has discussion guides, role playing scripts, audio tapes...a plethora of resources. It’s all very well done, and it's based on many years of research and workshops teaching the tools.

I'm personally and professionally excited about the potential impact of this book for my life. What could be better than improving the quality of our dialogue -- especially when the topic is one that gets the adrenalin flowing, the blood boiling, and the blood pressure escalating!

Expressing my gratitude

Here's a web site that may enrich your life. I've been passing it on to all my friends and family. www.gratefulness.org I especially like lighting a candle. Pausing to reflect on what I'm grateful for brings me a sense of peace. Visit the site. See what appeals to you.

The new year is well underway. Time flies by. I'm blessed to have work that I enjoy and good friends to share the holidays. Now, if I can just get back on a healthy diet -- break that sugar addiction that re-emerged with a vengence. But what's worse than a blog that rattles on about me.

Let it snow...

Spent part of the day shoveling and part working on the time management workshop for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Winter is well underway. This is our second big storm.

I've done so much work on the workshop that I'm considering turning it into an e-book. And/or marketing the workshop. Years of researching and trying out ideas, looking for the best approach. Interested?

Oh, BRAVO! I finally figured it out! Guess I can call it a night now.

I never was successful on Thanksgiving. I finally gave up and went to dinner. It's taken a week for me to regain my courage to try again. Maybe it's not courage...patience, determination, time and energy.