Red Sox Angst.

Ouch!  Swept by the Yankees!  My gloom is there for those to see.  It could be worse.  I just wrote about my friend Joyce.  She was a Cubs fan.  Now THAT is dedication.

Tenth Anniversary of a Death.

    You must think, Dear Reader, I am writing about Princess Diana.  She was a great kind lady and beloved by many, but you know all that.

On September 21st, I will have a personal tenth anniversary of her death.  She was famous to those who knew her.

I was only lucky enough to be her friend for ten years before she died.

Her name was Joyce Gilbert.  She ran the bookmobile service at the Porter County Public Library in Valparaiso, Indiana (30 miles Southeast of the Loop in Chicago).

I met her in April, 1987 at a bookmobile conference in Columbus, Ohio.  We became friends and wrote and called each other regularly.

She did wonderful deeds for her family friends church and community.  The last year of her life I knew she was sick.  She had been enjoying her retirement and traveling.

I never met Princess Diana though she touched the world.  Joyce Gilbert touched all she met.  I can imagine her in heaven shaking her fist at me for doing something dumb.

I miss being able to make her laugh.

Yerbie Vs. the Arizona Animal Kingdom.

    Poor Yerbie, flies wasps, grasshoppers.  It is tough protecting the property from these critters.  His human (me) has to be most grateful or he mopes and cries.  It is a sad sight to see my little buddy cry.

The person Yerbie is named after is back in the country from Kazakhstan.

I have to go to bed soon.  Five A.M. and feeding time for the human and the cat come all too soon.

To My Reader in Brentford, U.K.

    I keep seeing hits on my website from Brentford, U.K.  Well thank you for dropping in often.

I have always been a bit of an Anglophile.  Monty Python just seemed so funny.  We have the show on Public Broadcasting Masterpiece Theater.  I remember the First Churchills and Upstairs Downstairs.

Now, I live in a place whose climate is about as far away from that of the U.K. as a climate could be.  I don’t think you will find Gila Monsters in London, except at the London Zoo.

I just wanted to let you know I appreciate you checking in and I will do this with more of the people who visit.

Mike

Writing by Refugees.

    Today, my friend Anastase and I went to meet with three Sudanese refugees, who were given my name.

There have been books written by “Lost Boys” before, therefore I found a different angle to explain to people in the West why we should care and about overcoming adversity.  That is really the story they have to tell.

We met in Zemam’s the Ethiopian restaurant in Tucson.  Now, my fingers smell of Injera (the Ethiopian Bread you used to scoop up your food and as a plate) and spices.  My cat, Yerbie seems to like the spices.

Growing up you are taught do not play with your food.  In Zemams, you can as long as it eventually winds up in your mouth.

The refugee book writing project will be ongoing.

For My Canadian Friends.

    I have traveled to Canada frequently; mostly for Toastmasters events.  I look forward to finally being able to visit Canada west of Toronto.

A childhood friend just moved to Toronto, because she met a Canadian man who she plans to marry.  I am happy for her.

Canada is a great country.  Anytime I travel abroad, I try and do a lot less talking and a lot more listening.  Especially in Canada.  Why?  We Yanks tend not to pay attention to them.  We sometimes forget they are there.  That is hardly nice to do to friends and neighbors.  For that is what they are.

I remember in 1980 at the heart of the hostage crisis in Iran, how the Canadian Ambassador to Iran Kenneth Taylor smuggled six Americans out.  Signs all over said “Thank You, Canada.”  That should always be kept in mind.

In my present job, I have become friendly with some Canadians on the phone.  I always try and hear their point of view.  For they are our loyal friends and we should pay attention.

Helping Refugees Write Their Stories.

    I was asked by a Sudanese refugee, one of the Lost Boys to help him write his story.  I am meeting with them next Sunday and plan to bring my friend Anastase along.  He is a refugee from Rwanda, and wants to write his own story eventually.

Another case of, you never know where the path will lead.  Do not be scared and follow.

Public Speaking for Shy Writers

    You are kidding, right?  I am a writer, not a speaker.  Why do I have to speak?

I built this workshop because you are now published however, you want people to purchase your book, am I correct?

Well, you are going to have to do some publicity my friend.  Therefore, you will have to do some speaking to that end!

I have given this workshop a couple of times and help writers with improving their speaking skills.  I was a speaker before I was a writer.

Yerbie Goes for a Walk

    It was on a leash.  He was unamused @ not being allowed to wander.  I guess I am supposed to be sympathetic, but I am finding it difficult.

What Sports SHOULD Teach.

    I had softball practice and a scrimmage game against another group.  They walked all over us, and while losing is no fun, there will be other days.

This is some of what I think playing sports should teach.

1. Teamwork!  In softball, certain things have to work in sync.  When you are in the field, you need to know how many outs, who is on base and where to throw.  Your teammates have to help you out, yelling which base to throw to if need be.
2. Sportsmanship!  One of the folks on our team would not shake hands with the other team.  That is not right.  This is softball, not war.

Too many people do not learn the lessons.  The Little Leaguer with the interfering parent.  It is SUPPOSED to be a GAME!!  Let the kids have some fun.  They are not major leaguers.  They are not being paid.  Let them enjoy!  Parents need to (en)courage not (dis)courage.  Yes, the courage word.  Use it correctly in context.