One of the most fun things is to get a box of books in the mail. From the covers to the pages, I love getting books.
These days, it takes a long time to get stuff shipped–since the shipping sources have been affected, as well as the supply lines. Order what you want and have the patience to wait. The people working to get it to you are battling a lot of negativity and unhappiness from the scarcity of several things as well.
Make sure you thank your delivery drivers–and wave when they drive by. It’s a good way to bridge the gap of social distancing!
I was out walking Guinness the Therapy Dog and waited for the Fed Ex truck to pass by before we crossed a side street. It wasn’t a big deal for me or Guinness, but it meant a lot to the driver and he called out a thank you. It was nice to show caring in such a simple way.
Tell me your ideas for bridging the social distancing gap! Sonja
It’s Throwback Thursday and I’m looking back at my first book series: The Fairies of Carlow.
These middle-grade books have chapters and are based on a fairy kingdom. They come from Ireland and now are in the United States. With magic, they find their way through their teen years. Not only do they grapple with the angst that accompanies that time, but the Red Caps are causing trouble.
These wicked creatures bring chaos and fear to the kingdom and cause trouble throughout the series.
Each book stands alone, but you get to revisit the characters from previous books and can see what they’ve been up to since their story was told in their book.
One of the benefits of staying home these days is the ability to read more. Ebooks are always available while print books may take a while to ship, depending on where they are coming from and how well the shipping lines are doing to your town.
Personally, I love ebooks and carry my Kindle around in my purse. That way, when I’m stuck in a line I can take out my book instead of standing around getting bored or irritated.
Bonus: all of my books are available as ebooks!!! Just for you! Sonja
Why is April 1st the day to pull pranks? This worldwide ‘holiday’ is enjoyed by individuals and corporate entities alike. You can find news sources, magazines, and newspapers publishing prank stories.
The Netherlands attribute the day to a victory over Spain in 1572. And the British origin goes way back to 1698 when people were tricked to “see the Lions washed” at the Tower of London.
In some countries, particularly those associated with the United Kingdom, the jokes end at noon.
Since ‘laughter is the best medicine’ and a good laugh can boost your health, it’s a good time to laugh at yourself and those around you.
Just make sure the joke is funny to everyone. Sonja
There are a lot of things about this pandemic that can make you sad. Now’s the time to look for what makes you happy. For me, it’s spending a lot of time with my dogs.
Guinness the Therapy Dog usually lays nearby while I work on my laptop at the dining table.
Lucy the Anxious One is typically in her crate that is within arm’s reach.
So, looking for the silver lining of sheltering-in-place or self-isolation is that I get to spend time with my dogs and my family-maybe not in that order. Family first! And I get to binge my favorite shows while I work. Yay!
It can be difficult to focus on the good and not on the bad, but it’s worth the effort.
I am a small business. So small, in fact, that I am the only person. Writing can be a lonely business. When I lean against the virtual water cooler to gossip, I talk to my dogs, including Guinness the Therapy Dog. They listen but don’t have any gossip of their own.
On the plus side, I am always the employee of the month!
I generally sit at the dining table to write. It is my designated writing space and gives me full access to my dogs, my tea, and my DVD player. I think my time in the newsroom made it necessary to have noise when I write. I usually stream Netflix or Amazon Prime or have one of my many movies playing. I don’t watch much, just hear the dialogue. Generally, I don’t even listen very closely, I just seem to need the noise.
Why don’t I listen to music?
It’s too distracting! Who’d have thought?
As I said, I think it goes back to my days in broadcasting when three or four police and fire scanners were blaring behind me, reporters were scanning their video or talking, and there was general ‘stuff’ going on around me.
Editing is a different story, and I need quiet. But during the initial creation (the icky first draft), I need the background noise.
What exactly is Earth Hour? It’s a grassroots movement (one of the largest in the world) that began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. It is observed every year on the last Saturday of March and encourages people to switch off their lights at 5:30 CT.
This is hoped to focus the attention of the people and their governments on the environment.
When Earth Hour was begun by the World Wildlife Federation, it was meant to show support for our planet. Since then, the movement has morphed to include the environment, including nature and biodiversity.
Support our planet and switch off your lights. Sonja
