Category Archives: Advice
Indulging
A few days ago I was feeling sad. There was no particular source of my sadness – no single or series of events to make me unhappy or bring the tears to my eyes. Just that general overall feeling of Sadness. I probably could not explain it if I had to, and I probably don’t …
Abandon Ship!
In my first novel, JUST WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED, the main character, Cynthia, is considering making a momentous change in her life. She’s frightened of course, and she turns to her sister, Angela, for advice. Angela responds with a question: “Why do you think there were so many empty lifeboats on the Titanic?” she asked. …
Losing My Temper
I don’t handle criticism well. I can pretend to shrug it off, but truthfully, it’s hard. It’s hard to have someone say you’re wrong. It’s harder for someone to say you’re dumb. And it is downright scary for someone to say vicious, even threatening, things about you. Two years ago, I tweeted often about my …
Advice From My Best Friend – Part 3
OMG – Theo’s daily Twitter advice continues to grow more popular! Two months ago, I said that Theo is more popular than I am. Well. He just took over my Twitter feed. As of yesterday, my Twitter is no longer called Not Quite Old. It is now officially Theo-sophy I am determined, …
Love Your Stuff
Recently I wrote that I love my things, but my things don’t love me back. (The Things I Love) And I do love my stuff. But I often find myself minimizing my stuff. You know, pretending that I don’t care about it or that I only bought it because it was on sale – the …
Working Just Enough
Years ago I went out to San Diego to attend a wedding. I had never been to California before. I think now – at the place I am in my life right now – I would fit in quite well. But thirty-five years ago, it was quite a shock. Because I met people who were …
The Things I Love
Years ago, when I was just starting my working career, I rented a tiny apartment from a very nice older couple. These folks, Mr. and Mrs. Manchester, were really old. I mean, they must have been the age that my husband and I are now. But of course, that made them very old indeed to …
Not Giving Up
Earlier this week, my husband and I stopped for ice cream, which was practically mandatory as it was ‘buy one, get one half price’ day at Carvel. We don’t usually take full advantage of BOGO day, which I think annoys my husband because the offer is for sundaes, but I would rather just have a …
Alternate Endings
Do you ever wish that the writer of the book you just read or the movie you saw would have consulted you before she decided on that particular ending? I do. Sometimes it is simply historical reality that makes people or characters act the way they act. But I see so many occasions where there …
