Test Your Gullibility

I am going to repress my urge to give a history lesson on the origins of April Fools Day. I am a history buff and do like to get to the bottom of things. In light of the "light heartiness" of this holiday, (it used to be celebrated as New Years Day")...Oh, I said I wouldn't do this.

However, I didn't say I wouldn't give a test. Test your gullibility with the April Fools Quiz. I got nine out of 16 questions correct. Not very good but pretty typical since I used to be known as "Guppy".

Click here for the Quiz

You might get a kick out of reading the 100 top April Fool hoaxes at http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/P10/

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Make New Friends with Trackback

This is my cat Orangey. She has kept me company many hours while I compose blogs and she is an excellent tracker. Ask any mouse around. Oh, that's right, there aren't any.

Unlike Orangey, most of the time I do more backtracking than trackbacking.


Since I began blogging, I have added approximately 15 blogs to my favorites column. I check these blogs on a mostly daily basis.

On top of that I have added about 16 links to a variety of articles with helpful hints from experienced professionals on writing and blogging.

Within all those links there will invariably be more links to research and digest. Deeper and deeper I go. What’s a girl to do?

My brain freezes and I get overwhelmed. I wail “Iwillneverbeabletodothis!! Iwillneverbeabletodothis!!!!" Then I exhale a long and weary sigh.

There is one word that keeps popping up in regards to linking and blog posts. That is trackback. I Googled it but it confused me more than helping. Then I went to Liz Strauss at Successful Bloggers and read her post on “What New Friends Have You Met and How Have You Made Life Easy for Them?” which prompted me to get brave and ask the question "What the heck is a trackback?"

She not only answered me but also sent me links to access some tools. I’m so thankful to have found such a wonderful community of caring people.

EDIT NOTE: AUTHOR ADDING CONTENT MARCH 30

Here are the Links Liz Strauss sent me. I am sure someone may have asked "Where are the links?" :)
Trackback Links here

Who uses trackback? What is a ping? I imagine I will, in time, become more familiar with blogging terminology, but until then I will take baby steps.

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1,000 Posts and Still Counting

How awesome! Phil Gerbyshak just celebrated his 1,000th post on his Make it Great blog.

Congratulations Phil!!!

AND there is more. I was the 1,000th postee! Hooray!! To celebrate that honor, Phil is sending me the very FIRST second edition of his book 10 Ways to Make it Great! for FREE!

Hop over and visit Make It Great. You will have a lot of fun and get to see Phil's smiling face. Hear, hear to the next 1,000th post.

Phil is a real contest guru. Read about his contest Create some Buzz, win a book to win a copy of Ron McDaniels book Buzzoodle . I know the contest is over but this just shows Phil's dedication to helping others and making it fun.

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What's On Your Desk?

This is the shelf ABOVE my desk because the water bottle would not fit ON my desk.

Today over at The Golden Pencil, author, Anne Wayman wrote about how she worked better when her desk was tidy. This topic motivated me to analyze what I keep on my desk. It's probably safe to say that I won't be needing that spool of Christmas ribbon sitting on the corner.

I am moving my office out of the garage, and am a little obsessed (Yes, I've been promoted to the big house) with organizing files, moving supplies, assembling office furniture (which will be in a later post). I started a new business so I deserve a new office, besides, this way the kids can't move back in.

Anne commented that a tidy, organized desk contributes to her motivation to expand her writing business and is a win-win situation by any standards. This really resonated with me.

However, some people work better in confusion and clutter rather than neatness. What works best for you? I know I am calmer when everything in my office is put away and organized.

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Does Your Blog Sizzle?

The subject of writer’s block has been bantered around a lot and there is even debate as to whether it even exists. I am not going to say one way or the other but occasionally I need a jump start. Thanks to Anne Wayman at the Golden Pencil for listing those 101 Great Posting Ideas that will Make Your Blog Sizzle from Philip Liu who writes the I Help you Blog blog. With a list like that you are sure to have a great supply of jump starters.

Then a few days ago Liz Strauss invited Joe Hauckes over to speak at the SOBCon Virtual Conference March 12 Joe wrote about Why Navigation is Important to You and Your Readers.

This is just two examples of how much information and sharing are going on all over the blogsophere. I have something with a different twist. I am sure there are books lying around your desk right now. Pick one up and turn to…let’s say…page 123. Go to the third paragraph and read. What does it say? What is the name of the book and Author?

I just reached up and grabbed a book I’ve had for quite a few months. The name of the book is “Warlord, No better friend, No worse enemy". Author is Ilario Pantano (with Malcom McConnell). The third paragraph says:

“Then I pulled on the fully modified Kevlar vest, loaded with my ammo and gear. Heavy. It would be hard to run far wearing all this. Even with the insulated roof, the GP tent was hot and I was sweating from the effort. And this was only the end of March. What would July and August be like?”

Did your paragraph make you want to get back to reading or did it spur new ideas?

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P.S. No fair to search for a favorite book. Just grab the first one you see.... I'm watching.

Go Underground With Shakerleg

Thanks to Liz Strauss at Successful Blogger and Director Thomas R. Clifford for this video of Shakerleg, the Underground Street Performer. This guy loves what he does. I sense a natural performer who shares his love of his craft. This is exactly what writers do as well. We share our thoughts and a part of our soul.

I am loving this blogging community I have fallen into.

What is it about the rhythmic sound of a drum that begins way down deep in your belly and transforms your entire soul as your body sways and gyrates in motion? Is it our primeval heritage? Listen to the drums. They tell the story.

The first time I witnessed a Cherokee Indian Rain Dance, I almost went into a trance. Not to mention I am proudly one-eighth Cherokee.

Anyway, enjoy the video. Personally, I want more of it. Thank you again Thomas R. Clifford and Liz Strauss.

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Four Legs And An Interview

I have learned that it is always wise to interview a potential client before you hire them. Anne Wayman over at The Golden Pencil commented on how to handle interviews with clients on March 19. I used Rocky's experience to demonstrate that this theory is good in all areas of our lives.

This is my dog Rocky. Legally his name is Rocky II and he is two years old. My husband and I adopted him from a rescue shelter when he was about four months old.

The shelter told us he was a cross between a Labrador Retriever and an Akita. I love the looks of an Akita and almost looked for one, but I settled for half of an Akita.

If you can see half of an Akita in that face then your eyes are better than mine. I must admit I have never had a Labrador Retriever either. Well, I have discovered that Rocky is neither one. There must have been a third party around when he was conceived.

As expected, Rocky immediately bonded with my husband and I and my toddler grandchildren. However, Rocky decided that his bonding duties ended with us. Rocky is afraid of people. It was evident that Rocky was in sore need of some type of training.

I interviewed a trainer from Bark Busters, a dog training franchise. The local franchise in our area advertised they employed an advanced training method which guaranteed the successful training of any breed of dog or they would give you a free session.

When the trainer arrived to demonstrate his advanced dog training method, I thought it was unusal that the trainer began to growl (explaining to me he was speaking Rocky's language). He threw a short piece of link chain on the floor near Rocky with a loud hacking, ack, ack, gutteral sound, akin to clearing your throat before you spit. I began to have second thoughts.

This interview wasn't going too well since Rocky had by that time retreated to his crate. After 30 minutes of coaxing and pleading, the trainer conceded that he and Rocky had obvioulsy got off on the wrong foot. Rocky had a definite advantage with four feet. The idea was for the trainer to leave the house and come back in to start all over.

The minute the trainer went out the door, I noticed his briefcase still sitting next to the chair directly in front of Rocky's crate. I was not the only one in the room who noticed this.

In comes the trainer. Rocky feels secure in his crate and the trainer feels secure in peering into the crate until the growl (Rocky's, not the trainer's). The trainer never did offer me a free training session. I guess he was too much in a hurry to leave.

I love Rocky and his four legs help keep me in shape when we walk to the park and I can feel confident that he will not try to attack anyone.

Is it your practice to interview potential clients? Or do you think they should interview you? I guess it works both ways.

(Disclaimer. I am sure Bark Busters is a fine business. It just was not a fit for me and Rocky)

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