Random things

Becca tagged me to write six random things about myself. I get to tag six others when I'm done, so this sounds like fun.

Here are the rules:-

- Link to the person that tagged you
- Post the rules on your blog
- Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
- Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
- Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

Food and texture
I can't eat food that has certain texture. Even if it tastes really good, my stomach turns at dim sum, dumplings, ravioli and other such comestibles.

Colour makes me happy
I love colour. Mediterranean blue, pumpkin orange, fuchsia, blue-based reds...

I can't stand having to do something
Drives me nuts. Even if it's a good thing. I want to do what I want when I want and hate that work gets in the way of this. This is why I so look forward to retirement. I'm willing to put up with a lot of grey and wrinkled skin to have freedom. This is also why I don't want pets. Once the kids are gone I'm ditching responsibility totally... or almost totally.

My daughter and I have found the key
It happened in an instant in late November. She spoke a simple truth and I listened... really listened... and we connected. For the first time. It feels so good to be this way. Completely life changing.

Becca
Becca is my best friend and lives on the other side of the universe and I miss her.

Jewelry
Show me something that sparkles and I'm a happy camper. It doesn't have to be expensive, I'm happy with semi-precious stones in silver. Size does matter; big is good.

Shopping
I'm not a shopper. I don't hang out in malls. I don't window shop. When I need stuff, I buy tons and then retreat. I do enjoy buying stuff for the house that makes me laugh like the metal sheep that sits out in my garden.

I am tagging:

Richard
Kristina
Stephen
Tena
Maya
Ami

Have fun!
Colleen

Help: Writing creative nonfiction

Hello my fellow bloggers!

I am teaching a PR class this year and have a group who are struggling with writing. Their creative nonfiction is particularly disorganized and unfocused.

Does anyone have any tips or can you direct me to any resources I can use to help them out?

(Richard: This is your forte... any suggestions?)

Thanks in advance!
Colleen

The Top 10 Reasons Why David Letterman Should Visition Nova Scotia

I'm no fan of our premier, Rodney MacDonald, but I did enjoy this top 10 list pulled together by the premier and the folks at Communications Nova Scotia (I assume) in response to Ellen Page's appearance on Letterman this week.

Have a look. Our fiddle-playing, ex-teaching, premier says he laughed all the way through it and his delight shows.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=-yABU4S40N8

Enjoy!
C

The Looming Towers

I've just finished reading The Looming Towers: al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright. It's a well-written book that provides a first-rate example of what great narrative non-fiction is. It took five years to research and write and won the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction along with numerous other awards. (The list of persons interviewed by the author alone run to seven pages.)

I am overwhelmed by the stupidity that allowed the tragedy of 9/11 to happen. And tragedy it was, in the literary sense of the word. Poor interpretations of intelligence laws, petty characters, and cultural ignorance led to a preventable disaster. Given events since 2001, it is fine irony indeed that the current American president downgraded fighting terrorism in his list of priorities following his inauguration.

I wonder what new hell our actions are creating and whether the same inter-departmental walls that allowed 9/11 to occur still stand. Sadly, I bet they do.

I recommend this book.

I hope I stop seeing falling bodies in my dreams soon.

Colleen