Kinky Boots!

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Ann Roth

Recently, I went to this show. I was eager to see it, but not sure what to expect. Would I be let down? Disappointed?

Not a chance. Kinky Boots is based loosely on a true story, or so say the PR folks. True or not, this is a can-do, be yourself tale about accepting who you are and changing the world, just a little.

This is a feel-good musical–toe-tapping music, terrific dancing, a story that made me laugh and now and then, shed a tear. The tremendous enthusiasm and energy from a talented cast was contagious, and I came away smiling.

You can’t ask for more than that. If you ever get a chance to see it, do. 🙂

Until Friday, and wishing you unexpected energy and happiness,

Ann

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Fun and Games…

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Ann Roth

Do you play those online games that seem to be going around (especially on Facebook)? I do! I’m not sure why I enjoy them so much. The lists of sometimes lame questions, the multiple choice answers that don’t come near what I would answer if I could… They certainly aren’t accurate.

And yet, I have played dozens of these things. What color hair should I have? According to the quiz, platinum blonde. Which character in Downton Abbey am I? According to the quiz, Anna Smith, head housemaid. What’s my old person name? Myrtle. And on and on. Silly, you’re thinking. I agree. But fun. Even laughable. I guess that’s why I continue to play.

If you play, too, I’d love to hear about your experiences. If you never play, I’d like to hear about that, too.

Until Friday, and wishing you games that make you smile,

Ann

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Hello October, My Old Friend

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Ann Roth

Happy October!! I happen to love the fall. The crisp, cool days, the turning leaves, the pumpkins and the hints of the coming winter.

Kids are buckled down, learning new stuff and doing their homework. TV shows are back on the air, and new ones are available to check out. Apples are in abundance and so is freshly squeezed cider. Yum!

In a few weeks, the leaves will be ready to rake into piles. Oh, the smell of freshly raked leaves. As a child, I remember spending quite a while cleaning up the lawn. I was supposed to put the leaves into trash bags, but sometimes I couldn’t resist jumping into the pile I had made. What fun that was! Sure, it meant cleaning up after myself, but the fun was worth the extra work.

Until Friday, and wishing you a leaf-pile of fun,

Ann

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And We Have a Winner…

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Ann Roth

Ain’t it the truth….

Speaking for myself, it isn’t possible for me to produce a story I want to share without spending time and care developing the characters and plot and rewriting and polishing numerous times.

Not the best profession for an impatient person, is it? And yet, here I am, loving what I do, no matter how much time it takes.

So now you know.

Until Friday, and wishing you slow, steady progress in whatever you do,

Ann

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Hooked on … StoryCorps

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Ann Roth

Photo from one of the Storycorps stories

If you like stories, and I certainly do, have I got a link for you. StoryCorps has been recording and sharing stories for years now. To quote the website, “StoryCorps is an American non-profit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. StoryCorps grew out of Sound Portraits Productions as a project founded in 2003 by radio producer David Isay.

…is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 50,000 interviews from more than 80,000 participants. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.”

Anyone can record a personal story through StoryCorps, and I have heard some amazing stuff. I never come away from hearing these short stories without feeling enriched. If you have a story to share, check out this link: http://storycorps.org/about/faqs/ . It doesn’t have to be exciting or anything, just something you would like to preserve. You can even record with a family member or friend.

I have been hooked on these stories since they were first aired. How could I not be? After all, I am a writer. I tell stories. Listening these snippets of what ordinary people do or did, what they have experienced, and how they grew from this is like nosing into someone else’s business.

With most stories, my creative juices begin to flow. What would happen if…? Suppose instead, a person…..? You get the gist. Then, a germ of a story I want to tell is born.

For more information or to hear some of the most recent stories, visit http://www.npr.org/series/4516989/storycorps .

Until Friday, and wishing you stories to enrich your life,

Ann
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Stepping Off the Cliff

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Ann Roth

I’m finally taking the plunge–getting ready to self-publish three books from my back list. I’ m also making plans to self-publish more. For some reason, taking this necessary step in my career is scary… And yet at the same time, also very exciting.

That’s all I want to say just now, but I promise to keep you posted.

Watch for a delicious recipe that I’ll post on Friday.

Until then, and wishing you that first little step,

Ann
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Like Houseguests and Fish… A Bad Attitude Stinks After 3 Days

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Ann Roth

Great quote! I happen to be one of those glass half-full people, and my positive attitude has served me well.

There is nothing as difficult to be around as a person with a “woe is me” attitude. You know what I mean–a person who is bound and determined to feel sorry for themselves and their situation, no matter how many positive things are happening in their lives.

Sure, we all have down times. But come on, there is always a silver lining behind that dark cloud. (And there it is, that half-full attitude of mine.)

Even the small stuff. This is why I use the following bit of wisdom as a guide whenever my attitude takes a dip south.

Take the other day, when I was late meeting friends for dinner. Naturally, the driver in front of me was doing 10 miles under the speed limit, for no particular reason that I could see. I was getting upset. Then I thought, will this matter a year from now? Instant attitude shift. I told myself that on the plus side, the driver in front of me was keeping me from speeding and a possible traffic ticket. Instant calm.

Until Friday and wishing you a positive attitude,

Ann

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Thanks for the Memories… and Other Stuff

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Ann Roth

I was having a bad day. Everything seemed to be going wrong. First, I stubbed my toe, hard, on the way to the bathroom. I broke my favorite mug. Then the toilet overflowed. Without warning, my Word program shut down and I lost half a very good scene that I had failed to save. (You can bet I won’t do that again!)

And on and on.

It was enough to make me scream!

Then I thought about all the good things in my life that I was thankful for. The love and support of family and friends. The book I’d started reading and couldn’t wait to get back to. Suddenly I felt a lot better.

There is always something to be grateful for. When I remember that, the challenges of life are easier to bear.

Until Friday, and wishing you a gratitude-filled day,

Ann

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A Cluttered Room is Creativity’s Playground… Or Is It?

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Ann Roth

I don’t know that I agree with this. There are articles in support of clutter and creativity, and articles touting neat and clean in order to be creative. My opinion lies somewhere in the middle.

I don’t mind a little clutter, because let’s face it, life is messy. But too much stuff and mess weights me down and saps my energy. Cleaning isn’t exactly my favorite task, but a good cleaning and either giving away or tossing out “stuff” that has piled up always energizes me.

Yet despite my feelings about too much clutter, when I’m in the middle of a writing project, watch out! In no time, my office fills with hastily scribbled notes from those times when I’m away from the computer and inspiration strikes, and other papers that seem to multiply all by themselves. My writing space slowly fills with paper and research materials, to the point that I would never invite anyone inside. Ugh, I hate that–but as it happens time and again, I’ve come to accept it as a part of my writing process.

But when I finish a project… This is when I toss most of those papers and file away the rest. Ah. Then I can move on and start something new.

Until Friday, and wishing you a life that is minimally bogged down in clutter,

Ann

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