How I got hooked on giving blood

I gave blood again yesterday. Dang, it felt good.

Nope, I don’t like getting stuck with a needle. I’m not nuts. But I am hooked on donating….

Job Patrols at Family Reunions

Terre Woodward, my genius friend, is having about 40 people to her house next weekend for a family reunion. I told her she’s a better woman than I am. I burned out from having family reunions at my house. Too much cleaning. Now we rent a little park building.

Terre liked my Family Reunion Bingo blog, and she gave me a great idea after I told her that the older I get, the tireder I am after a reunion. Terre’s family divides the labor. Workers receive honorary titles and wear nametags to bugle their importance. Terre’s workers include:

-   Garbage liaison (pronounced with a French accent, like gar-BAJE)

- Coffee boss

- Mosquito whisperer

- Snack patrol

- Beer tender

Terre’s family members enjoy a big potluck meal, as mine do. Like us, they don’t worry about assigning dishes. As Terre says, “If there are six pots of baked beans… YUM!” However, she noted that individuals tend to bring the same (favorite) dishes every year. Same goes in my family.

I like the idea of family members taking titles. Maybe I’ll set out job nametags next year so folks can pick ‘em up and work the chore they choose. Perhaps I should add "Shoulder massager for all grandparents."

‘Stedda Bacon Recipe – for BLTs and ?

Today I had lunch with Terre, my friend who is a genius at invention. She invented basket containers on strollers before you could buy strollers with containers for stuff. Today, as we all know, strollers hold a lot more than just babies.

At lunch, Terre told me about her invention for a BLT without the B. It makes the use of toasted sesame seeds. Like many inventions, this one was tripped over by accident. Terre was just trying to toast sesame seeds one day when she discovered that they taste like BACON! So if you love BLTs like I do but want something insteada’ the bacon, try this:

Dog Woman available in paperback!

I'm thrilled to announce that my first novel, Dog Woman, is available in paperback. The price through Amazon.com is $9.97. I can offer a discount to book clubs, teachers, friends and family - $8.00, Wisconsin sales tax included; shipping is extra. Those who prefer electronic reading can get an even better deal through Kindle and Nook - $2.99.

Dog Woman takes place in 1989 and tells about George, a lonely 11-year-old boy who befriends an artistic recluse who changes his life. It’s ultimately an uplifting tale that shows how good can grow out of tragedy.

If you remember being a kid... if you love animals… if you like venturing a peek into the lives of folks who don’t quite “fit in”… if you enjoy seeing the underdog prevail… you’ll like Dog Woman.

The book is inspired by the life of a woman I wrote about for the Menomonee Falls News in 1990. For 20 years, I couldn't get her story out of  my head. Finally I had to write it down in more than a newspaper article. I felt somehow that I owed it to her. Readers familiar with Greater Milwaukee will recognize many places and references.

I wrote the book for adults, but it’s also appropriate for young readers (middle school age and older), with engaging looks at bullies, grieving, baseball, the power of the individual and the magic of friendship.

The head of a writer

After 32 years in a writers’ critique group and nearly 20 years teaching creative writing at Waukesha County Technical College in Wisconsin, I’ve grown to appreciate the writer’s mind. The writer’s mind is different from the non-writer’s mind. It doesn’t matter if we’re writing fiction, poetry, or nonfiction. We have to get it right. I mean just right. This leads to some pretty hilarious discussions.

Kick-Cancer Smoothies

I could never hop on the smoothie fad. Why would anyone want to blend fruit? As a fruit addict, I’d rather just pop it into my boca straight up.

Naked Lady Parties

My daughter-in-law, Katie, goes to naked lady parties.