Balding Man: I read all the time. I read a book a night, usually.
Student 1: Oh yeah? That’s cool.
Balding Man: Yeah. Of course, I don’t buy all those books. I get them from the library.
Student 1: You download them?
Balding Man: Huh?
Student 1: You download the books?
Balding Man: Oh. No, I use the library for … never mind.
Student 1: Okay.
Student 2: I have a library card.
Student 1: You do?
Student 2: Yeah.
Student 1: Why?

Yeah… Let’s just hope Student 1 was not representative of her generation.

British toddler coached through Hamlet’s soliloquy by a Shakespearean actor = adorable!

The Pacific Sun just ran my essay on going animal tracking with the Marin County Tracking Club. Excerpt:

You haven’t lived until you see a group of adults eagerly waiting their turn to smell animal poop.

Oh yeah. I went there. Want more? Read it here.

My short story “End of the Line” is in the 2010 issue of So to Speak. Published by George Mason University, So to Speak is a feminist journal of language of art. “End of the Line” is about an old woman, Mrs. Dumas, who accidentally takes the wrong bus and gets lost in the city she has lived in all her life. Here is the beginning of the story:

Mrs. Dumas stood in front of her bedroom mirror admiring her red velour pants and green sweatshirt. Why, she wondered, would anyone want to wear those dreary blacks and grays? She hadn’t worn those colors since Harry Jr. left home, not even at Harry Sr.’s funeral. Bright colors just made everything better.

The cat rubbed against her leg, leaving orange-marbled hairs on the red velour.

“Liebster,” she said, scrubbing the cat with her fingers. Then she looked again. “Oh! You’re not Liebster, are you?” She adjusted her glasses. “Bunchkin?”

“Meow,” said Bunchkin.

If you get a chance, order a copy and take a look!

This is so true. Writers, don’t work for free!

A very dramatic storm around here today. Lightning and thunder and pouring rain.

This is the rainbow that formed in my backyard a few minutes ago.

Here is a TED Talk on how to live to 100. The speaker is Dan Buettner, who studied the “Blue Zones” around the world, “communities whose elders live with vim and vigor to record-setting age.” He found common diet and lifestyle habits that helped these people live past age 100.

Good news: Whether someone lives to an old age is 90% lifestyle choice and only 10% genes. That means we have much control over whether we live to an old age based on how we live our lives.

Bad news: Our bodies aren’t really designed to go past age 90 or so. However, most Americans live to about 78, which means there are 12 years that many people aren’t getting. And it’s important to note that those are healthy, active years, not disease-ridden years. So what can be done to get those extra years?

Well, none of those healthy seniors go to the gym or stuff blueberries into their mouths to get the antioxidants. Instead, they eat a balanced, vegetable-heavy diet and live active, religious, and social lifestyles. Here is the breakdown of what the healthy seniors do:

* They eat lots of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, but also a little meat.

* They don’t overeat.

* They regularly drink a small amount of alcohol.

* They have FRIENDS. In fact, Buettner suggests that this is the most important aspect of living a long life.

* Their friends are healthy, positive, and honorable people.

* They take lots of walks, usually in nature.

* They are active, but not at the gym.

* They all have a garden.

* They put their family and relationships first in life.

* They pray and are a part of a religion.

* They do meaningful activities that they love throughout their lives.

* They are generally active, healthy, and use the life they’ve been given.

* They don’t give up on life just because they are old (i.e. they never retire).

That’s the gist, but watch the video because he explains why these things work and how they affect the body. It is the sanest approach I’ve ever seen to the long life stuff.

I’m glad to see it’s okay to use your fingers and I hate when people bite sushi in half. On the other hand, I am guilty of putting the wasabi in the soy sauce. But I like doing that, so nanner nanner boo boo.

From The World’s Best Ever via Swiss Miss.

Look at the awesome apron I made. It is fancy. Don’t you wish you had such a fancy apron?

For many people I know, 2009 was a dramatic year. People lost their jobs and got new ones. Loved ones passed away. Other people got big promotions or new career opportunities. Oh and babies–there were so many babies born this year, I’ve lost count.

By contrast, 2009 was a rather introspective year for me. I spent most of it focusing on fiction writing and managed to publish several short stories (most of them still forthcoming) and a poem. I also published articles and judged a book contest. I generally wrote and read lots and lots. I spent a lot of time on the computer.

Also, 2009 was the year of Kyle. He turned 30, published a successful book, spoke at many conferences, wrote lots of articles, and had a great year at QuinStreet. I am proud of him!

I started out 2009 saying I wanted to be more active, but then the snow mobiling trip I was planning got canceled, which sort of punctured that ambition. Still, it’s not like I did nothing all year. Here are some of the highlights:

* I went to Puerto Rico with Kyle.

* I went to Portland, Oregon with Kyle and Marcia.

* Kyle published a book with a new publisher called The Official Ubuntu Server Book.

* I played hooky sometimes with Marcia. We went to the King Tut exhibit and a day trip to Monterey and so on.

* Kyle turned 30 years old and we had a 1979 Party to celebrate.

* I went on hikes.

* I saw my friends and had them over to my house.

* Kyle spoke at 6 or 7 conferences, as well as the North Bay Linux Users Group, where he is still president.

* He also got a raise.

* And published articles, mainly for Linux Journal.

* I published articles and short stories, as mentioned above.

* I judged a book contest.

* Several of my photographs are being used in promotional campaigns. For example, the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation is turning one of my photographs into an art postcard.

* We painted our house all by ourselves.

* We also finished our guest bathroom.

* We started composting and planted a big garden.

* Of course, we made a lot of food, like our own homemade sausage, beer, and smoked salmon.

* I turned 33 and we went out for Basque food in San Francisco. I heartily recommend Basque food.

* I went to a few shows and readings, including a comedy club for the first time.

* We rang in the New Year with a Spanish Tapas Party at my house, which was delicious.

* I read 91 books in 2009.

Much to be thankful for. And of course, I have lots of plans for this year that are already making 2010 look better than 2009. Here they are:

* I am taking a photography class at the junior college to get better at using my camera.

* I’m planning a trip to Spain in May.

* I hope to put on a literary reading for the Word Pirates in San Francisco.

* I want to go to a book or writing conference.

* I want to go camping on the Lost Coast.

* Kyle is going to be writing an update to The Official Ubuntu Server Book.

* We will be remodeling the bathroom, an even bigger project than painting the house.

* I want to attend a symphony or opera in the near future.

* I want to go hiking more and maybe try something new, like ice skating.

* I plan to take my mother to some art shows in San Francsico, such as the upcoming birth of Impressionism exhibit.

* I want to start going on walks around the neighborhood in the evening, as part of a routine.

* I will start a new blog called LitTripper–coming soon!

* Maybe I will read 100 books in 2010 … ?

Lots to do. Better get started.

Happy New Year!