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“The Dog” Journal

Welcome to the Dog Journal, a blog where I periodically share my best finds for taming those puppies that gnaw at your planner.

Could be a quick time management tip, a smell-the-flowers moment, a comment overheard on the elevator. Whatever the inspiration, I hope you’ll blog right along with me by commenting and sharing your tips and stories for taming an overbooked life.

Reunions Beat Virtual Connection

ManateeI’m lucky to be part of two reunion-going families. This weekend, my mom’s family, the Emersons, has its biennial gathering down on the Homosassa River in Homosassa, Florida. In a time when life is rushed and so many connections are virtual, it’s refreshing to have a few days just to hang out like those manatees the region is famous for, figure out once again who’s descended from whom and reminisce about summer vacations as cousins when we were as young as the grandkids running along the river. There’s something healing about reconnecting with people who once tasted your grandma’s baked beans. In my book, family reunions are an important prescription for life balance.

Viva la Via? Not so fast

hydrangeaI am sitting here holding this little 3 x 4.5 inch book and hold on. In just a minute, I will know how Starbucks Via, described as a “revolutionary instant coffee” can change my life.
Oh, my. I can add it to bottled water. If I am taking the red-eye and there’s no Starbucks, I can shake some in hot water. Who knew? And if Aunt Harriet is boring me with her stories of hydrangeas, I can drink just a cup and not wade through an entire pot.
But what’s this? Aunt Harriet looks suspiciously my age. And I like hydrangeas. And what are those words coming out of Aunt Harriet’s mouth? Looks like “Blah, blah, blah.”
So do I like Via? Not so much. Not so much as hydrangeas, even. On a scale of 1-10, a little better than Sanka, I’d say.

Fun Free-For-All

mash goatWe could all use a little levity in this economy. A good start is doing what a bank teller told me last week that she does: turn off the evening news and watch M*A*S*H*. I like her idea. It’s fun and free. Curious what others might suggest. Let me her from you!

BTW, I know it’s not Sunday afternoon, the regular time for Dog Journal entries.  But hey.  When inspiration strikes, bloggers blog.  Another bit of free fun.

Unintentional mentors

Polly PlayingComing up on the anniversary of my late mom’s birthday tomorrow, I feel compelled to play the CD we made of her piano playing. Reminds me of how, in her eighties, she took the treacherous trip down an open stairwell at a recording studio and played for nearly an hour by heart. Not satisfied with the results, she insisted we return a year later after she’d practiced some more.

The best mentoring, it seems to me, comes unintentionally, when lively people of spirit just do what they do. My mom was that kind of mentor.

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“Balancing Tips” Newsletter Archives

Pat has issued a number of newsletters with tips and resources for getting your overbooked life back in balance. Click here for copies of past issues that you might find helpful.