Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 10-07-04

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Dear Reader,

I'm big on making lists. I feel so good when I can draw a line through another completed task. Way to go, Suzanne! But sometimes a list works against me because it's not as simple as drawing a line through an item, especially if it's a list of problems and it's three in the morning. Last night was one of those nights.

I woke up at three, started thinking about all the things that have been bugging me, and I put them on a list. Bad idea, because every hour--on the hour--I felt the need to take roll call, just to make sure that all of my problems stayed fresh in my mind until morning.

"May I have your attention please. When I call your name, acknowledge, by giving me another kick in the gut. Because I certainly don't want to get any sleep tonight."

And of course, I didn't.

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

[email protected]
www.DearReader.com

Dear Reader Column 10-6-04

Join my email book club. Over 250,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Tomorrow I leave on a long four-day weekend. I'm supposed to be finishing one last column before I go, but oh, my, it's difficult to keep my mind on my work. I'm winding down and I fear that it may be too late to reverse the condition. I've already mentally checked out of my work mode. I'm a bit surprised that it's so easy for me to detach this quickly.

I'm usually very serious and intense about my work deadlines. But no doubt about it, at some point in the last hour, I've simply flicked the light switch--my creativity isn't within reach. Instead of writing funny lines, I'm daydreaming about all the good stuff I'll give myself permission to do and to eat--guilt free--because I'm on hiatus.

Picture this: me sitting in a lounge chair, snoozing. No schedule, no cell phone, my only responsibility is to be the best "lazy-
lounger" I can be. I'm up for the challenge!

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

[email protected]
www.DearReader.com

Dear Reader Column 10-05-04

Join my email book club. Over 250,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I go for a walk every day. I don't take a lunch, so my afternoon stroll is the break in my work day. My office is close to almost everything, so there are a lot of walking routes that I could take, but my favorite one always leads me to Louise's Paperie Store, off of Main Street downtown.

Louise's is owned by Linda. I've forgotten the story about how Linda named her shop Louise's, but it doesn't matter. She'll answer to either. I think I called her Louise for about two months, before I finally caught on to my mistake.

"I'm a shop girl," Linda will tell you and she's always grinning when she says it. For sure, it's a match made in heaven. Akin to Floyd's Barber Shop on the "Andy Griffith" show, everyone knows everyone. Or if you didn't when you came in, you will by the time you leave. It's not unusual to see Linda sitting with a customer/friend in the chairs by the front window. "Hi, Suzanne, meet my friend, Alice."

Hugs, cookies, (I bake chocolate chip and bring them along with me sometimes), posters on the window reminding us to go to the downtown Friday Night Walk next week, it's the community meeting place.

When Linda asks you what you've been up to, she's sincere about it.
She wants to know the good with the bad. And if you make yourself scarce, "Shop Girl" will email and check in with you, like she did with me this morning. "Suzanne, I haven't seen you for over a week now. I need a visit. See you soon."

I think it's time to go for a walk.

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

[email protected]
www.DearReader.com

Dear Reader Column 10-4-04

Join my email book club. Over 250,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Readers are always shocked when I give them a call. I live online and every now and then I'm itching to hear the voice that goes with the email I'm reading on my screen. So if there's phone number, sometimes I dial it.

Well, the other day I was the surprised "reader". My column for the day was about my missing watch--the one that I'd purchased at Nordstroms in the Mall of America, when I was in Minneapolis on business.

Sheri, a book club reader, emailed telling me that although she lived 100 miles away from the Mall of America, she would be there this very afternoon. Could she look for a replacement watch for me?
"I'll take any excuse to stroll into Nordstroms," she said, "any excuse at all! Just let me know. I'll be online until 1 p.m., then you could reach me on my cell phone." And she gave me her number.

I didn't call Sheri, but I did email back saying that if she found herself in front of the jewelry counter in Nordstroms, yes, I'd be curious if they still had my watch.

Later that afternoon, Sheri called me. "Guess where I am?" she asked. She'd surveyed the watch counter, and described to me--in detail--every watch that had an orange band. We came to the conclusion that mine wasn't there. But she had a suggestion. "From what I've read about you in your column, there's only one watch here that I think you might like. And it's on sale." My kind of woman.

I decided not to make a purchase. I'm still holding out, trusting that my watch will show up any day now. But it sure was a delight to "meet" Sheri--a reader, a friend and my own personal shopper.

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

[email protected]
www.DearReader.com

Dear Reader Column 10-01-04

Join my email book club. Over 250,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

It's such a fine day. I'm listening to the song, Walking on Sunshine, a great beat to the music, the windows are open, and the breeze is blowin' right through. The papers on my desk are blowing too--right on to the floor, but it's worth it. I'll pick them up later, which is a great feat of willpower for me. Because usually when I see something, I feel the need to attend to it right away, or it just might drive me crazy. My rationalization is that if I don't take care of it pronto that I might completely forget, which okay, is partially true. But really I think I'm a bit too compulsive sometimes. But not today.

Normally I don't enjoy being in the middle of a mess, but today, papers strewn all over the floor, the fresh air--the mess surrounding me is kind of freeing. I feel alive and I'm walking on sunshine and don't it feel good? You bet!

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

[email protected]
www.DearReader.com

P.S. To sample this week's bonus book, How to Remodel a Man, and to enter our contest go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/alt/reman1.html