Funnier Speeches

Click image to go to the siteIf you're ever in need of humor for a speech or presentation, you simply MUST contact FunnierSpeeches.com. I met co-founder Ron Culberson years ago at an Erma Bombeck humor writers contest. We e-mailed a bit then lost touch. About three years ago I was an instructor at a National Speakers Association weekend retreat and ran into Ron, a member (with their highest designation of CSP) attending the retreat. We knew we knew each other but couldn't place how. It took us almost 30 minutes to come up with it. But since then, we've stayed in close touch, editing one another's work.

Thank God I got in on the ground floor. Ron is heading for the big time with his speech writing but has been kind enough to grandfather me in. Never turn away a funny writer willing to read and comment on your work! Some of the funnier lines in my articles (I'll never tell which ones--NEVER!) were written by Ron. I like to think I've helped him a time or two as well, but as I'm having him critique my latest book manuscript, he's definitely putting in more hours than me.

Just FYI, there is a fascinating sub-culture of writers helping writers, all done behind-the-scenes. I know I've got my "set" group of 6-8 people I can turn to for help, and they in turn can rely on me. For all it's competitiveness, I've found the writing sphere filled more often than not with talented, generous individuals willing to share their gifts.

Ron is at the top of the list. Funny and nice. What are the chances there would be two of us in the  world?

Winning the Lotto

What would you do with the money if you won the lotto? This was the question posed by someone on Saturday in our group of runners. We were munching on bagels and sipping hot coffee after a particularly chilly run. I don't play the lotto but the question still intrigued me. What would I do?

 It took me a few minutes to come up with an answer. "Build the animal shelter in Rockingham County," is the first thing that came to mind. And build it right - full spay/neuter clinic, huge dog runs, cat room with toys, window, sun and climbing spaces. Free clinic, meet and greet room for potential adoptees to bond with pets... I could go on.

After that I came up with pay for college for all nieces and nephews, hire a personal trainer (every runner in the group came up with that one), and do a few upgrades to the house. But I was pleased at how I struggled to find an answer. There's isn't much I would actually change in my life. I wouldn't move, wouldn't stop writing, wouldn't suddenly abandon this life for a new one. That tells me I'm on track with where I need to be. 

As we discussed it, everyone said that while they might leave their current job, they wouldn't want to sit around and do nothing. Instead, they would look for work or volunteer positions that fulfilled them - work that made them feel they were making a difference.

This confirms my belief that no one really wants a free ride in life. We all want to feel useful and productive. Laying in bed for 18 hours a day isn't anyone's dream. Meaningful work, interactions with people, and the opportunity to explore and engage in whatever tasks or activities make us happy--that's what people want in life.

My wish is that we all don't have to wait for the lotto to go after it. What is your "dream life?" What one thing can you do today to bring you closer to living it? If you feel like sharing your answers, I'd love to read them.

Dena

Tied to the Computer

photo courtesy of freefoto.comThe other day in yoga my instructor commented that she'd finally had a chance to check her e-mail. "It's been almost 3 weeks!" she said with a "what-can-you-do" smile. "I just haven't had a chance to get to the computer."

The very idea of not sitting down in front of my computer for anything over a 12-hour time period sends cold chills down my spine. Yet I'm envious of those who don't feel the need to spend their lives tethered to a small, transportable box. I would like to lessen the pull my laptop has on my life. My need to be constantly checking, updating, sending is a creature of my own making, yet one I have no idea how to banish. 

I'm a bit concerned over how ties to the Internet affect our brains. I've read articles that say for all our multi-tasking skills, our society actually has far fewer focusing skills than generations past. If it can't be dealt with in under a minute, we have a hard time wrapping our brains around it. 

I grew alarmed last night when in the middle of watching a movie I had the sudden urge to go check my e-mail. No real reason. It was 9 o'clock at night, I wasn't expecting an e-mail on any certain topic, but I literally had to make myself stay in my seat and not go into my office "just to see" what might have arrived. 

Houston, we have a problem. 

Personally, I think I check e-mail so often from a fear of "getting behind." I'd rather see what pops up that I can deal with now versus having my workday potentially crowded with a number of small details I could have attended to last night or over the weekend. But this is backwards logic. If I set aside certain hours in a week where I deal with, for example, e-mails and "to-do's" for the Animal Protection Society, I'd be more centered and, I'm convinced, more productive, than dealing with each and every little e-mail as it comes in.

Same thing with all the alerts and blog posts and newsletters I receive. I read these out of a sense of duty more than interest. But how often do I use the material? Not too often. Yet I fear if I delete them the next e-zine will contain that one big idea I've been looking for. 

As a nation, I think we're looking to simplify and I feel the same pull in my life. I don't expect to ever go 3 weeks without a computer, but I'd like to flip the switch at the end of the day and be done with it. 

Blair and I have done very well with our TV cutting goal. Perhaps a little less computer time is next?

Busy Friday

It's almost 8 AM and I need to be out the door in under 15 minutes. Heading into Greensboro today for a L-O-N-G, but fun, day. 

I'm teaching a class on Networking to job searchers this morning at the Women's Resource Center. That's followed by a flurry of errands that MUST include an allergy shot, then lunch with friends. After that I hope to plant myself somewhere for at least 3 hours worth of work. Then off to a friend's book signing and then dinner with writer friends to critique a member's manuscript. Home before 10 (I hope) and up early tomorrow for a 15-mile run. 

Not complaining. Actually loving it. Today is a good mix of people, activity, down town and, my favorite, food. 

It's a miracle I make it out the door for these 12-hour days. I've got a stack of "must remember to bring" stuff piled on the front chair that includes a Richmond marathon CD for a friend, recipes for another friend, manuscript in a box with my notes for critique, checkbook, library books to be returned, book to be mailed, class manual, work folders, ... I look like a bag-lady and I swear I'm but a short step away from ditching my briefcase and just dumping everything in a Hefty tall kitchen trash bag, tossing it over my shoulder and moving out.

Speaking of which, time for me to hussle out of here. Have a great Friday!