Changing the Past

Stephen King’s long read, 11/22/63, is the writer at his best--and worst. Part-alternative history, part-fantasy, this is the story of one man's attempt to travel back in time to stop the Kennedy assassination. The provocative idea of time travel and changing the past, utilizing the string theory, is intriguing. The research layered into the story rich in details is fascinating. The characters are each fully developed as is the story line. However, in my opinion, the 750-page book goes on far longer than necessary. 

Winner of the 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize, 11/22/63 was definitely worth the read.

Never Swipe a Bully's Bear

Roscoe Riley Rules #2: Never Swipe a Bully's Bear is a funny chapter book for children ages 6-10. Roscoe is a precocious child who can't seem to stay out of trouble.

In book 2 of the series, Roscoe's stuffed pig is "pig-napped" from his backpack one day at school. He's sure Wyatt, the class bully, is to blame so he swipes the bully's stuffed bear. As he mourns the loss of one of his favorite stuffed animals and witnesses Wyatt's reaction to his missing bear (so similar a reaction to Roscoe's own), Roscoe realizes that he and the bully may not be so different after all.

This book is fantastic for children just diving into chapter books (especially boys). Makes a great read-together book for adults, too. The characters are believable and the story is about a real issue that is important to kids. The lesson is obvious but not too preachy and the humor helps keep everything light. I highly recommend this book!

What Can You Do When Someone Spreads Rumors About You

I would guess it's safe to say that all of us at one time or another have been both the bully and the bullied one especially on a smaller scale like spreading gossip or being the subject of said gossip. 

As interesting as it is to share stories about people we know, how do we really know what is true and do we ever stop to think how the person might feel if he/she heard what we were saying? And how do we feel when we hear a rumor that's being spread about us...perhaps it hurts, whether or not there is a small grain of truth to the talk.

Here's what one expert (KidsHealth.org) had to say on the subject:

KidsHealth.org: Someone is Spreading Rumors About Me. What Can I Do?

There is this girl at school, and we don't really get along. She keeps spreading rumors about me and people are turning against me. What should I do?

- Sam*

Some people spread rumors as a way to intimidate others and gain status or popularity. But spreading rumors as a way to turn people against someone is a form of bullying — and it can have serious consequences for the person doing it.

Spreading unkind gossip in person or online is not a decent or mature way to act. It hurts the person being talked about, and it intimidates other people.

Read the entire answer at KidsHealth.org>>

Happy Organize Your Home Office Day!

Did you know that this Saturday (March 9th) is Organize Your Home Office Day? Do you have time to celebrate with me by spending a few hours doing some spring cleaning? Perhaps your home office doesn't need a major overhaul...I've found that just cleaning off my desk and filing away the mass of papers that seem to accumulate over time is often enough to renew my appreciation for my workspace.

And, I do love my home workspace...it's comfortable, cozy, and full of light (a must-have in Seattle). I'm surrounded by many of my favorite things including items that inspire me and my writing.

Ready to tackle the task of organizing your home office? Here are a few articles I found helpful:

• Design a Home Office You'll Actually Work In (Forbes.com) - by DailyMuse
• 20 Home Office Organizing Tricks (RealSimple.com) - One trick that I plan to try: #1 PileSmart binder clips with erasable labels
• 10 Ways to Organize Your Home Office by Monday (HowStuffWorks.com) - by Stephanie Watson - My favorite tip (but least-favorite task) is #1 on how to organize your computer files
• 31 Days of Home Office Organizing Tips (The HomeOfficeOrganizer.com)

And if your bout of organizing has inspired you to tackle other rooms in your house or if you just need a little guidance on the organizing process, check out these useful books:

• Organizing for Your Brain Type: Finding Your Own Solution to Managing Time, Paper, and Stuff by Lanna Nakone (Available at Amazon.com) - Nakone is a professional organizer and the book is full of practical tips and techniques that help you put into practice the newfound knowledge of how your brain wants things organized.
• Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern (Available at Amazon.com) - This is one of my "go to" books on organizing that I skim every time I find myself overwhelmed by an organizing task.