Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 11-16-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Wanted: new Energy Fairies for Suzanne and book club reader Misty Eubank.

Job requirements: full time, ready to work 24/7 and just in case, built-in emergency back up batteries. Must love multi-tasking, skipping meals, little time for exercise, or lounging in a chair with your feet up, and be willing to work over time on holidays--sort of a work-till-you drop commitment. A cheery disposition is a must, no complaining, no sick days allowed, and absolutely no long bubble baths--only showers--they're quicker.

Okay, so the Want Ad may be wishful thinking, but Misty and I really do need a little help.

"Dear Suzanne, I must admit I was so surprised when I read your column today [about how an acupuncturist is helping you with anxiety]. You never appear to be anxious in your columns and I confess that in the past, I have been envious of your seeming ability to juggle cooking, gardening, writing, grandkids, husband, etc. effortlessly. I am a woman about the same age as you and I CANNOT DO ALL OF THAT!!!! The energy fairy has left the building. So while I am sympathetic to your anxiety, at the same time I am somewhat reassured that you are not 'Super Woman' and neither am I. Thanks for sharing this story. I needed to hear it. Now if I could just find a good acupuncturist."

...Misty Eubank

(Suzanne replies)

Dear Misty,

Sounds like you have trouble with your energy fairy, too. Isn't it frustrating? I know the feeling. Frequently Ms. Energy Fairy and I need to have a little heart-to-heart about why she isn't holding up her responsibilities. As far as I'm concerned it's Ms. Energy Fairy's job to be charged and ready to roll on a moment's notice. Just because I've dealt with a stressful problem earlier in the day and I'm feeling emotionally drained, she better find a way to make sure I'm perky, perky, perky all day long. We each have a job to do. Mine is to see how many activities I can stuff into one day, Ms. Energy Fancy-pants is suppose to make sure I have enough energy to do them. "No excuses," I tell her. Make friends with the Energizer Bunny, offer to do his laundry, or give him a foot rub--his feet must be killing him by the end of the day. I don't care what it takes, my Energy Fairy better be charged and ready for whatever and whenever I want to do something. Yet, I assure you she isn't, but we can still dream, can't we?

If your Energy Fairy has been letting you down, here's a great book I discovered, The Power of Pause: Becoming More by Doing Less by Terry Hershey. I love the book, it's on my holiday list to buy for friends and I have 12 copies to give away to readers. To enter the drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ygs9mxw

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: Barbara Pope, Cezanne's Quarry; Graham Garrison, Hero's Tribute; Shannon Van Roekel, Desert Fire; Jean Davies Okimoto, The Love Ceiling; and Tim Downs, Ends of the Earth. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Under The Sea-Wind by Rachel Carson. To comment on the book and get some holiday recipes from Suzanne, go to: http://tinyurl.com/NovClassics

Dear Reader Column 11-05-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Anxious, anxious, when I'm feeling anxious, I pinch my ears. I've been seeing an acupuncturist lately to help calm my anxiety level. I seem to be the perfect acupuncturist patient--ping, ping, immediately after the needles are inserted a warm and fuzzy current flows through my body. Thirty minutes later when the doctor returns to remove the pins, she has to wake me up because I'm sleeping.
Anxiety put to rest.

But I can't lie on the acupuncturist's table 24/7 until my body learns how to monitor my anxiety level on its own. That's why there's acupuncture "to go!" Stick it in your ear--literally. Five little silver balls, covered with flesh colored tape, placed in each of my ears so if I'm feeling anxious, I pinch my ears and instantly I get a dose of calm. With my long hair hanging down over my ears, only my acupuncturist knows for sure!

But maybe I should've explained to the people around me at the supermarket the other day. Shoppers were staring at me, and rightfully so, because I did look a little weird pushing my cart with one hand and pinching my ears with the other. Grocery shopping used to be a pleasurable, anxiety-free stroll. Walking up and down the aisles visualizing the wonderful dinner I'd cook when I got home, but not anymore.

Now shopping is work. Comparing prices and ounces. You'd think the big economy size of pork n' beans would be the best deal, but it's not. Two smaller cans give you more and cost less. Then there's the hassle of forgetting what I came to the store to buy. The list of ingredients for my Hot n' Sour soup is still at home on the counter, right where I left it. (The cell phone salesperson was right, I should have bought the phone that connects to the Internet, then I could just log on and look up the recipe. But then again, I'd be paying three times more a month for my phone service and wouldn't that cancel out any savings from comparison price shopping?)

Anxious, anxious, I'll talk to you tomorrow, I need to start pinching my ears!

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are four that deserve your attention: Debbie Macomber, One Simple Act--Discovering the Power of Generosity; Nicole Seitz, Saving Cicadas; Richard Zwolinski, LMHC, CASAC, Therapy Revolution; and Helen Benedict, The Edge of Eden. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader
And check out KidsBuzz too! http://authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz/

Dear Reader Column 11-03-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

The daily column brings a little slice of life from readers.

From my Chinny-chin-chin Email Bag:

"Suzanne, you must make a close friend pact. I have done this with a very close girlfriend of mine. I believe my family would allow a full beard to grow under my chin and take pictures and make jokes! But my girlfriend and I have sworn on our long friendship that we will show up and take care of the chinny-chin-chin issue. Oh I feel so serious about this issue that I now have a pair of tweezers in my nightstand, in my purse, in the little decorative box near my spot in the family room and yes in the console in my car! (We were once on a long distance car trip when the enemy began to invade and wave boldly.)

My mother did this for my grandmother and I have vowed to do it for her...but I have sons! They have no understanding of the war! Maybe one day I'll have a daughter in law and she will become the tweezers bearer. In the meantime, my girlfriend is my most trusted comrade. Thank you for always making me smile and sometimes laugh."--Toni Worlitz

"Dear Suzanne, thank you for yesterday's column regarding living wills. The past two weeks I have been visiting my dearest friend at the hospital where her husband lies motionless and in varying degrees of consciousness. She is struggling with the hardest decision we face when our spouse or loved one is so ill. They do not have living wills. But even in her sadness she reminded me as she always does that I should not let her facial hairs grow long when she reaches this stage in life. I guess this is one of those universal traits in women. Next visit I will share your story with her. Thanks for sharing it with us."--Barbara K.

"Suzanne, that was an interesting tidbit about hair on the chin. And the sidebar on your son's determination to hang on with a cigarette lighter and riding around in a car was great. To plug or not to plug, such a question, ha!"--Fred L. Black

*If you missed Monday's column, you'll find it at: http://tinyurl.com/ykyvswj

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Andrew Gross then read about great thrillers from: Kylie Brant, Michelle Gagnon, CJ Lyons, Wrath James White, Michael Beres, Karl Alexander, Anthony Flacco, Don Bruns, Jordan Dane, Libby Fischer Hellmann, and Donald J. Bingle. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

Dear Reader Column 11-02-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Years ago my husband and I each drew up a will, including a living will. Most people's living will outlines their wishes regarding life prolonging medical treatments. Mine does, too. If there's "no-hope, no-hope," feel free to pull the plug. Quite the opposite of our grown son's wishes, in his own words, "Don't pull the plug! I don't care if you have to plug me into the cigarette lighter and drive around with me in the front seat of the car. Find a way to keep me going!" But come to think of it, he might be out of luck now. Do they even put cigarette lighters in cars anymore? I guess we could hook him up to the IPod plug-in, or the phone charger and hope the car battery never goes dead.

I've added a personal grooming advanced directive to my own living will. Mind you, I'm not overly fastidious when it comes to grooming, but I've left strict instructions for my husband and grown children. If my mind should deteriorate and I end up sitting in a wheelchair parked in the hallway of a nursing home, with a crocheted lap pad resting over my knees, there better not be strands of curled hair dangling down from underneath my chin. Chinny-chin hair! It's one of my pet peeves. Don't people look in the mirror? Well, okay I admit they are fast growing. When I went to bed the other night, it was all-clear underneath my chin, but when I woke up there was a single dangling strand of hair waving at me. Get out the wax! Call the esthetician! Yes, I've left no wiggle-room in my living will, pull 'em out with your own teeth if you have to, but get rid of those chinny-chin hairs!

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are four that deserve your attention: Debbie Macomber, One Simple Act--Discovering the Power of Generosity; Nicole Seitz, Saving Cicadas; Richard Zwolinski, LMHC, CASAC, Therapy Revolution; and Helen Benedict, The Edge of Eden. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-28-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

If I'd just been under the weather for a week during my recent three week staycation it wouldn't have interfered so much with my plans. But my vacation illness included a good old-fashioned cold sore on the left side of my lower lip, and a string of healthy fever blisters running down from my nose, to the top of my lip on the right side of my face. At least things were balanced!

There aren't a lot of things you can do when you are clearly a "marked" person. Even after I wasn't contagious my vacation activities were limited. I couldn't even enjoy simple pleasures like baking cookies and giving them away to strangers, or friends. "Here I baked today and I thought you might enjoy these cookies. Oh, that 2-inch scab thingy on my face underneath my nose, nothing to worry about. I assure you I'm not contagious--anymore. Well, I guess unless one of those little devils breaks open...but let's not even go there. My doctor gave me the 'all clear' yesterday. And anyway the cookie dough is sterilized--baked at 375 degrees for 12 minutes or until golden brown--so you have nothing to fear. Just because my doctor turned down the bag of cookies I offered him, that doesn't mean a thing, he's trying to lose weight. But just in case you're having trouble working up an appetite, here's a bottle of hand sanitizer to go along with the cookies."

When you live with "thingys" on your face for days, they start to feel familiar, kind of like one of the family. Now I understand a little better why the last time I visited Uncle George and Aunt Alice (who I hadn't seen in over a year) after hellos and hugs, and the coffee was poured, the conversation moved on to Uncle George's latest surgery. "I'm feeling pretty good now, but boy you should see the scar they left when they took the vein out of my leg." And without a second thought he's standing up, unzipping his pants, sliding them down so everyone can get a good look, "It's healed pretty good, don't you think?"

Well, I'd do a little show and tell, before-and-after, but take my word for it--I'm all healed now. So with that in mind, let me announce this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie contest. My oven's preheated and I'm mixing the batter. Do you dare to go where others are squeamish?

To enter this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway, and to see past satisfied and "healthy" cookie winners, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cookie091809.html

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week, picture books, middle-grade and teen novels about dinosaurs, expressing anger, gorilla suits, and true love from: Laura Rennert, Buying, Training & Caring for Your Dinosaur; Gail Silver, Anh's Anger; Amy Gordon, The Gorillas of Gill Park; and Nancy Werlin, Impossible. To find out more from the authors go to: http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

 

Dear Reader Column 10-27-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Three weeks of vacation was way too long for me. Next year I'll make it two. But thank heavens I'd booked a long stretch of time this year, because I spent half of my vacation with a bug. I think I acquired the daycare bug. No need to place blame, I just always like to try to figure out the "why" behind something. Why did I seem to feel better after a couple of days and then get re-infected? Because I'm a grandma softy. When my grandson, called and asked, "Grandma can I come over to your house?" Of course I melted and said yes. What grandma wouldn't? Who cares if he's wheezing and sneezing and other kids at his school are out sick? A grandma's love can conquer everything--except the flu!

So I haven't been able to do everything on my vacation list yet. I'm still planning on setting up my card table on the corner of Main Street, with a sign "Writer looking for stories." I put that idea on hold because I felt it would be socially unacceptable to ask someone for a story and give them the flu in return!

I'm happy to report I'm fully recovered, so don't shy away from entering today's giveaway. If you're a winner, I'll only be sending you the souvenir, not the flu. I have 44 items to share with you from my stay-at-home vacation. My grandson's favorite "Let's Go Fishin' Game," books, colored bubbles, purple Christmas lights (the same kind that are in my yard) retro aprons, and tins of papers tags that help keep me organized. To enter the Vacation Giveaway, go to:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/giveaway102309.html

** Authorbuzz had a whoops yesterday, the authors and giveaways they advertised were not on the page. Everything is working today so be sure to visit the site. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

 

Dear Reader Column 10-23-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Today is my last day of vacation, I'll be back on Monday, and book club reader and author Dianne Ochiltree is filling in for me today. Dianne has been a 'Dear Reader' book club subscriber since early 2006. She is giving away an autographed copy of her picture book, Pillow Pup which had as its inspiration, the same family pet featured in her guest column. Dianne would love to hear from you, and when you send her an email you'll be entered in the drawing for a copy of her book. Send your email to: DianneOchiltree@ochiltreebooks.com and put 'Dear Reader Giveaway' on the subject line.--Suzanne Beecher

From author Dianne Ochiltree...

Like most puppies, our family dog was supposed to be a pet "for the kids." I'd never had a dog as a kid myself, but suspected it was something two growing boys should have. My husband had grown up with dogs and knew precisely how valuable a childhood experience caring for a puppy can be. He wanted to pass along the same kind of fond memories and valuable life lessons to his own sons. So that is why, one early spring day over 11 years ago, a yellow Labrador retriever puppy walked into our lives and hearts.

As you may already have guessed, the kids' new puppy quickly became Mom's 'new best friend.' After years of obedience classes, I want to say that this now-very-large (and well-mannered) adult dog at my feet proved to be an excellent student...and teacher.

One of our favorite 'classrooms' is the hiking trail that we share each morning. Here, my Big Yellow Dog has given me countless lessons in joy over the years as we walked the woods silently together, her wagging tail up and her wriggling nose down. She delighted in galloping ahead of me, then circling behind me before dropping to a trot at my side, all the while savoring the unique sights, scents, and sounds the world was offering to her that day. More than any other creature on earth, dogs know the beauty of living in the present. Anyone who has had a dog in his or her life surely knows it, too.

These days, our walks in the woods are of the kinder and gentler sort. We now take shortcuts to avoid climbs too steep for her now-ailing hips. Our daily circuits are half what they were in her prime--now only thirty minutes or so--and yet, her discovery of the day's gifts bring just as much joy as it always has. My Big Yellow Dog unfailingly hits the trail with the unbridled enthusiasm of youth. Once on the path, she teaches another valuable lesson: the fine art of growing old.

Sometimes she needs to crawl over a fallen log instead of leaping over it. No complaints. She does it--gracefully or not--and goes on her merry way.

Sometimes she brings me a stick to toss, and she has to hobble to fetch it instead of running for it. No whining. She delivers it--eventually--with her usual gusto.

Sometimes her rear legs go out from under her. She just pulls herself up. No big deal.

As my Big Yellow Dog rounds the corner into old age, she is still joyfully living in the moment, whatever that moment might be. She's teaching me that as your body ages, your spirit can stay as young as a pup's--as long as you stay on the trail, and sniff out the joy.

Thanks for listening, and thanks for reading my good friend, Suzanne. It's true that it's so good to read with friends!

You can reach Dianne at: DianneOchiltree@ochiltreebooks.com

Dianne Ochiltree is a nationally-recognized author of books for the very young. Her latest picture book, Lull-A-Bye, Little One, was a featured title in the 'Imagination Library,' the Dollywood Foundation's childhood literacy program, in 2007 and 2008.

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Jeffery Deaver then read about great thrillers from: Jaime Rush, Matt Hilton, Bev Vincent, Tom Piccirilli, Laura Childs, Stephen Jay Schwartz, Piet Steyn, Darrel Bain & Stephanie Osborn, Jason Pinter, John Lutz and Gregory Lamberson. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

Dear Reader Column 10-13-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Today's column was written by Linda Panczner, one of the runner-up winners in the Write a Dear Reader Contest!

"Write what you know," is the age old advice and Linda knows about walking and observing people. Every day she walks from twenty minutes to an hour and a half depending upon the inspiration she finds, and she teaches English Literature at the University of Toledo. Too bad Linda doesn't live closer to me because we had a delightful conversation on the phone, and I think we could be great walking buddies, too.

Congratulations, Linda. Thanks for filling in for me today.
--Suzanne Beecher

One of my neighbors is lost. John's partner of 26 years moved out, and he's left teetering without an anchor. He forgot how to stand without leaning. I asked him to join me in my early morning walk. Like a toddler on unsteady legs, he stumbles alongside me struggling for a pace and lifestyle unfamiliar to him. I walk straight and energetically, but then I've been doing this for years: walking and living alone. In fact, I think he joined me not for the exercise but to seek advice for a quick and easy way to survive unexpected isolation. What should I tell him? That there is a huge difference between "alone" and "lonely" and some people have to experience the void of loneliness in order to appreciate the distinction? Lonely is only a state of mind; we can be lonely within a crowd, while being alone can be a rewarding journey into solitary refinement.

True, some jaunts are more enjoyable with others, such as sharing reactions to a movie or a culinary treat. But going it alone is not punishment; in fact, I'll advise John to enjoy the opportunity while he can. I'll tell him about my mother who chooses the challenges of living alone because the tradeoff, her independence, is more important. We point out that living in a retirement center would provide opportunities to mingle with her peers and fill her calendar with social activities not accessible to her now. But she relishes having a choice, while it is still hers, to walk a path of freedom she didn't feel the need to explore when her husband was alive.

For, John, no matter how many examples I provide, he has to hear the companionable silence of aloneness, when it's quiet enough to listen without distractions to inner voices that lead to personal enlightenment. Right now, he's wavering on an edge, wondering if he can handle being on his own, while also considering a search for a new soul-mate. He wants me to steer him in a direction, but he has to pilot his own choice of journey.

I like when my walks merge with others, so John is welcome to walk beside me, his cautious baby steps down an uncertain trail, while I trek the familiar, comfortable, even nurturing trail of aloneness.

Linda Panczner

Dear Reader Column 09-30-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

If you have a question, send it my way and I'll give it a try.

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, If I can manage my time and concentrate when I need to, I will have the keys to the universe. But it's the time management--I am always surprised by the tasks that get forgotten or underestimated. Any recommendations for printed guides to better time management? Thank you."--Mike Grambo

(Suzanne responds:)

Dear Mike,

Thanks for your email. It's arrived at a very interesting time, because I'm in the middle of a two week time management experiment. I don't know how it happened, but a couple of weeks ago I realized I was feeling stressed and exhausted every day. There weren't enough hours in my day to get everything done, and on top of that I was forgetting some tasks. I didn't experience any real disasters, because eventually I'd remember, but just in the nick of time. I pride myself in being a detailed person, so it was a low blow to my confidence.

At first I told myself, "If you'd just quit wasting time Suzanne, and get these tasks done quicker, you wouldn't have a problem." But when I reviewed my schedule I didn't find any wasted time. So what's a girl to do? I decided to give up. Instead of trying to move faster, I decided to slow down. My solution didn't seem logical, but the approach that I'd been taking certainly wasn't working. And the joy I normally feel from my work had disappeared.

I didn't draft a Suzanne Slow Down Plan. Instead, now every morning, when I get up the first thing I do is reaffirm to myself that I'm traveling in the slow lane today. When I feel stressed, instead of digging in faster and deeper, I get up from my desk and take a break. I walk around the block, blow bubbles, look at pictures of my grandchildren, whatever feels good at the moment.

I'm one week into my experiment, and to my surprise slowing down hasn't hurt my productivity, instead it has actually increased it. The joy has returned to my work and I feel more creative.

So, that's my time management story. I have no idea if anything I've shared will be of value to you--everyone has to figure out what's best for themselves--but at least you got a little break when you took the time to read my story.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warm regards from a slow-going Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week brings new authors and longtime favorites, all wonderful teen books to enjoy (and possibly win) from: Katherine Gilbert Murdock, Front and Center; Mitali Perkins, Secret Keeper; Tanya Lee Stone, Almost Astronauts; and Mary Pearson, The Miles Between. Go to: http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley. To comment on the book and enter the Penguin Classics Drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/SeptClassics

 

Dear Reader Column 09-28-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

No one teaches you the correct posture and as far as I know there isn't an instruction manual that prepares you ahead of time for the event. It just happens. You're on your own and you have to roll with it, or in this case, go with the flow.

My stomach had been doing a dance for over an hour; one-step, two-step, pivot and get ready for the big...slide. It was that looming slide that was making me nervous. So I decided to try Mom's prescription for anything that ailed me when I was a kid. "Ignore it, or walk it off Suzanne, because you're going to school!"

I tried my best for an hour to ignore it, which didn't work, so I headed for the dock. The plan was to walk down by the water, sit in the sun a few minutes, take some relaxing deep breaths and then maybe my stomach would relax, too. But only two blocks away from my house, I did an abrupt about face, "Hurry, hurry, Suzanne, just put one foot in front of the other and you'll make it back home...hopefully in time!"

Is there an art to throwing up? Yes, I realize there are other word choices, but the Thesaurus offered: disgorge, heave, spew, and retch, which didn't really seem to properly describe the experience. After all, you are throwing (something) heave, ho, and it is coming up, (and sometimes out the other end, too,) but that's another column for another day.

I suppose the truth is it doesn't require any real talent to throw up, but it does take a bit of talent to throw up on everything you're wearing, shirt, shorts, even your shoes, the bathroom rug, and the surrounding floor. What a mess! It had been years, who knew you needed to practice? I thought throwing up was kind of like riding a bike.

Standing in the midst of the mess, I could have been delirious, but I swear I heard a bell. Round two! But there was no time for the corner man to fix me up, "Keep your left up Suzanne. Brace yourself on the top of the toilet tank and while you're at it, grab hold of those loose strands of hair hanging down. They're getting in your line of fire."

A person really ought to get more advanced warning for this sort of life event. I didn't even have time to change. I take pride in my appearance and if somebody would have given me at least a five minute warning bell, I could have pulled up a chair, strategically positioned myself in front of the porcelain opponent, pulled my hair back with a headband and changed into an old wash-and-wear, yet fashionable T-shirt and matching shorts.

Mother also said, "Practice makes perfect Suzanne." But I think I'd rather practice the piano instead.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Debbie Macomber, The Perfect Christmas; Kathryn Fox, Bloodborn; Nevada Barr, 13 1/2; Debbie Macomber, The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater...That Grandma Knit; Douglas Clegg, Isis. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley. To comment on the book and enter the Penguin Classics Drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/SeptClassics