Lip-Sticking

7 Things I Would Never Tell My Mother

Toby Bloomberg, she of the outstanding Diva Marketing blog, was tagged recently by non-other than the esteemed B.L. Ochman (can you tell these ladies are among my BBFFs? hey, B.L. ,I grew up in a haunted house, too!) to reveal "7 Things that you don't know about me..." and then tagged me.

Naturally, when tagged, one must keep the meme going and tag others so...pay attention - you may be next. I have renamed this meme a bit, as I could not think of 7 things you don't know about me - instead I'll share 7 Things I Would Never Tell My Mother... Enjoy.

5 Things I Do To Be Successful

My good friend Susan Reid, who is also a book client (GREAT book coming out in the fall), has a blog called Alkamae that says, "We Understand that even Samurai need teddy bears." It's a great place for thoughtful, inspiring content. This week Susan wrote a post titled: 5 Things To Do Every Day To Be Successful.

She said she likes walks in nature, and journaling, and laughing, among other things. Read her post - it's a keeper.

Then, she tagged me and a few others to write about 5 Things We Do To Be Successful, Every Day. That's a hard thing to figure out - when you're going great guns day in and day out, as I am. But, I got to reflecting on my life over the last few years, and how wonderfully successful I've been and I decided that maybe something I do could help others. So, here I go...

5 Things I Do Every Day To Be Successful

1. I get up. That's a smart-ass answer, isn't it? But, I do more than get up. I wake up and I embrace the day. I remind myself of all the great things I have - a nice home, a guy who loves me (even as I get chubbier and chubbier!), three kids that are totally awesome, a dog, a cat, a career that is fun and profitable (well, it will be profitable, soon!). And, even though I have some minor health issues, I'm pretty well off. The world is great big diamond, as far as I can see.

2. I don't expect anything. I especially don't expect anything BAD. I might joke about it - "Oh, look... I'm in the longest line again." Or, "If I take the expressway, there's sure to be a show storm that will make me late." But, that's in fun. I try to keep an open mind about the world, about the weather, about my work, and about people. I let life surprise me.

3. Like Susan, I walk. I walk my dog every day. She likes to blog, too, after all. Walking the dog is more than exercise. It gives me time to think about 'things.' Sometimes I start the walk fretting about the day - too much to do, not enough time to do it - and end the walk having solved that problem. I really like the cold wind in my face, and the sun on my shoulders. On rainy days, I congratulate myself for just getting out the door!

4. Every day - each and every day - I try to help someone with something. I try to be available to answer questions about publishing, writing, blogging, and even, just about life. I don't know it all...nor do I pretend to know it all, but I am happy to share what I do know. Yes, I usually get paid for my expertise and knowledge - but, giving it away once a day, to someone who needs i,t makes me stronger and happier. And, more successful - because the truth is - I always learn something new in the process.

5. The final thing I can share about what I do every day to be successful is that I connect with someone I admire. Someone that I'm not likely to ever meet in person. Someone who wouldn't know me from the lamp post on the corner. I write to this person, or visit their blog, and just say Hi! And I openly admit how much I admire him or her. That has brought me more fortune than anything else. Because many of the people I've written to have become friends. They may be long-distance friends, but, they're friends.

It doesn't get better than that.

So, what do you do to be successful, every day? Eileen? Dave? D-D? Suzanne? Steve? Larry?

I've Been Memed! 5 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me

What's the world coming to? Fun mixed in with business? Who'd a thunk it?

Well, I've been memed. And, before that...I was carnivalized. So to speak. I participate in Carnival of the Capitalists on a regular basis...and this week it was at SamaBlog...which seemed more like a carnival for sure. Hop over to check out all the 'stuff.' Warning: it's hard to read. Red text on dark blue background.  Oh well. It's worth squinting at. I Love Rob's humor - his comment link says, "Gimme Lip." Kewl! [couldn't resist this image of Fred the Pug...it just fits meme's and carnivals, doesn't it?]

Meanwhile, back to the meme. Some of you will already know what that is. For those who don't, here's Patsi's explanation (she memed me, so I rely on her description):

A meme is like a thought virus or a cultural virus that gets passed on, usually organically.  In this case, the meme is getting passed around strategically by bloggers.  It's a good way to introduce you to other blogger friends and for readers to learn more about me and the others already memed.

In true meme fashion, here are 5 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me:

1. I used to be a veterinarian's assistant. More than that, I was in the very first graduating class here in NY State. Boy, if that doesn't age me, nothing will.

2. I hate to travel. No, really. I hate going out of the house. If I had my druthers...I'd never go anywhere. I'm perfectly content to look at the world through a window. In fact, I like to tell people that the out of doors is exactly where it belongs, and it should only stay there.

3. I once swallowed tubes to earn extra money. Yep, I worked in a hospital and they did studies on stomach acid. They paid some good $$$ for volunteers who would swallow rubber tubes and sit around (or recline in a comfy bed) for a few hours so they could collect gastric juice.

4. From the studies done in #3, I found out that I lack an enzyme that aids in digestion. I've always enjoyed baby food - and one day, after one of the tests, someone came up to me and said, "Now I know why you eat baby food and yogurt all the time. You don't have..."

5. I speak cat. Not fluently. But, passingly. I mean, I kind of speak dog, too. But, I'm tuned in to my cat and I think I understand her better. So, we carry on long conversations. Me: "It is not time for you to eat. I just fed you an hour ago." She: "But, I only ate a tiny bite of that. Don't you have anything else?" Me: "The dog doesn't bother me all day about getting fed. She knows she only gets fed at dinnertime." She (with a deep stare that almost speaks for itself): "The dog eats grapes - and popcorn and anything else you throw her way."

'nuff said.

Next... tag...you're memed: Kirsten Osolind, Jill Fallon, Suzanne Falter-Barns, Scott Ginsberg, Benecia and Chloe...