Can you write a short story?

I mean a REALLY short story.

Through many years of writing in a business environment, I developed my style based on three C’s: complete, comprehensive, concise. Right now I am focusing on concise.

Mark Twain once apologized for sending a long letter, saying he would have written a shorter letter but did not have the time.

It takes thought to tell a story in few words instead of many, and it takes practice to do it well. Can you tell a story in a single sentence? Some try, and some are pretty good. See if you can write a sentence that paints a picture to your mind. Good luck!

1. He met me at the door and told me with his eyes I would hold my fluffy white, purring cat again only in my memory.

2. On my first neighborhood walk in my Amigo scooter, my hair rustled in the fresh spring air and I knew that, even paralyzed, there is still joy in my life.

3. Two children were walking into the school room when he hit her, then sat two seats away, looking down at his lap knowing the raven-haired girl would be a good bride for him.

Happy Birthday, Lynn

My college roommate, beautiful, talented Lynn.

Happy Birthday!

Remember when we shared an apartment with Debra and Mary Beth?

Patriot Day

President Bush proclaimed September 14, 2001, as the National Day of Prayor and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks. Congress designated observance on the actual anniversary of the attacks. The name said it all, but it was too much -- it was more popularly known as September 11 or simply 9/11 -- so it is to be Patriot Day.

Don't confuse it with Patriots' Day commemorating the Battle of Lexinton and observed in April in New England. There was a Revolutionary War battle on September 11, but that was in 1777.

Regardless of the possible confusion between Patriot Day and Patriots' Day, it is difficult not to remember the day America was attacked.

technorati tags: patriotday, patriotsday, remembrance, wtc, terroristattacks

It's a Wonderful Life

A Wonderful Life? Sometimes it is difficult to remember that life is so wonderful, like when you don't get that promotion, or when your car begins to rattle, or when you stub your toe. Doesn't feel so wonderful then.

Tonight I watched AFI's 100 Years 100 Cheers program on Bravo TV. The American Film Institute reviewed their list of the most inspiring movies and I found myself smiling through much of the three hour program. I tuned in late so I missed the first 20 on the list, but there were plenty of good ones in the remaining 80 topped by Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life. Among the film clips were comments by film artists telling the audience what is inspiring in each chosen film.

What lesson did we learn? It Is a wonderful life. These films inspire us to take a positive perspective, to stand up for what is right even if we stand alone, to realize every life is significant, to keep working through trying times, to respect people, to believe, to -- well I cannot go through all 80 films. They were inspiring.

The American Film Institue recognizes and celebrates excellence in film, television, and digital media. Check out the list of inspirational films before you check out your next video. You may decide it really is a wonderful life.

technorati tags: films, cinema, inspirationalfilms, bravotv, itsawonderfullife

What to Wear -- What to Wear

For years women depended on the big fashion houses to dictate the styles and department stores followed their lead. But in the same way that blogs are adding a new dimension to disseminating the news, they are adding to women's fashion options.

A photo blogger sees an interesting outfit, snaps a picture and shares it with the blog-reading public. Candid shots displayed on the runway of blogs are usa new perspective on what is "in."

Justin Shubow has written an article about this phenomenom while highlighting some really good street-fashion blogs from around the world, including Go Fug Yourself critiquing celebrities with a minimum of tact.

Look at some of these sites and make a shopping list. Be sure to note what NOT to buy. And be sure to dress ready for the camera. You never know what fashion-street photo blogger might be waiting out there.

technorati tags: fashion, photoblog, streetfashion

Labor Day

In 1894 President Grover Cleveland signed a law proclaimingLabor Day a holiday.

Labor Day celebrates organized labor, or unions -- the working man and woman who cannot stand alone negotiating with the big industrialist. Unions had an official day, but it still wasn't an easy ride. It has been a long road, and labor's story may not be finished yet.

I have never been in a union, but I know something about them because I have worked in the travel and hopitality industry. However, before that my first deep impression came from The Jungle -- not an easy read, but an eye-opener.


Why do we need unions anyway? Many individual workers toiled in poverty, in unfair and unreasonable working conditions, with few or no options to improve their lives. Or their families' lives, or neighbors' or fellow workers' lives, or even those around the world. Remember Lech Waleska? Poland is celebrating the 26th anniversary of Solidarity.

technorati tags: laborday, laborunion, solidarity, thejungle, uptonsinclair

Nellie Died

Her death was reported in relation to the Kennedy assassination. She was the last survivor who rode in the limousine when John F. Kennedy was shot.

But she was more than a limousine passenger. Nellie Connally was Texas' First Lady from 1963 to 1969. She was in the public eye when her husband served as Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of the Treaury and later made a run for President. She was a breast cancer survivor and she worked tirelessly for fundraising for charity including diabetes.

To get an idea of Nellie Connally's grace and courage, watch her interview with Ernie Manouse reliving that day in Dallas. I would have liked a different topic so we could remember her as the woman she was instead of just the last survivor of that fateful limousine ride. She was there, but she was more than a passenger in history, and she died Friday.

Rest in Peace, Nellie Connally.

Women's Rights and Turkey

We watched the Discovery Channel's show about the Ottoman Empire, but I thought the most interesting part was actually the end of the empire.

After a 3-year revolution, Mustafa Kemal founded the Turkish Republic. He was given the surname Ataturk, meaning the father of the Turks. Even though Turkey is largely Islamic, it was founded as a modern democracy, based on a secular system rather than religious law.

But here's what really impressed me. Ataturk liberated women by giving them political and social rights, including the right to vote and to be elected. This was in the early 20's -- and remember the United States granted women the vote in 1920 only after a long and difficult struggle.

Read more about this forward-looking father of the Turks.

technorati tags: womensrights, ataturk, turkey, womenvote