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Oh, how easily I am distracted.  I don’t know about you, but it seems, even with filters and blockers, I am facing more and more spam each day.  I dump it into the junk box and the same ad in new format pops up again the next day.  Spammers are becoming increasingly cunning in sneaking through ours walls and eating up our time.  Imagine little demons chuckling as they watch us be diverted.

Unfortunately, spam isn’t limited to computers.  It can be the little trivial, unimportant things that eat up our time and energy on a daily basis.  I’d like to say housework and cooking come under the heading of spam, but that would be stretching the definition.  It’s the things that wouldn’t be missed, but still take time, that strip away my time.  Maybe it’s because I’m getting older that I am noticing!

Here’s my confession of ways I waste time and energy:

            Reading all...

There are all kinds of ways books can be used.  Some people use them to gain knowledge and understanding.  Some use them to escape.  Others line shelves with leather-bound volumes to impress.  Some use them as a door stops or stack them up to reach a high shelf.  Some use them as a sleeping pill.  Some use them to hurl at a yowling cat, or spend a few minutes, hours, or days to be transported into another body, time and place.  Some toss them in the recycling bin or cash them in at the used book store and bring home another bagful. 

One particular phantom sculptor uses them for art.  She cuts, folds, carves and molds bits pages into amazing gifts left in Edinburgh, Scotland libraries and one in the national museum “in support of special places”.   Ten in all, each unique, exquisite, humbly offered in thanksgiving.

If you want to see them, Google images of “book art, Edinburgh”.  A story made into a story,...

I always find it interesting what people collect.  One friend collects perfume bottles, another ceramic pigs, another china and tea services.  One mom passed along an antique button collection to her daughter, another handkerchiefs with handmade lace.  My paternal grandmother collected salt and pepper shakers.  One son collected Star Wars memorabilia and comic books.  My daughter collected ladybugs until she had so many she put out the word:  Stop!  I still tend to pick them up with her in mind.  (I have a little beaded coin purse hidden in my closet just waiting…)

What do I collect?  For a long time, I didn’t think I collected anything except boxes. Not cardboard boxes or shoe boxes, mind you, but little boxes (well, not always little) that represent trips and life experiences and are just plan interesting (like the box made of recycled motherboards). I have tiny delicate boxes brought home from China by my brother and...

Every year about this time I begin to think about my goals for the upcoming year.  Exercise is always high on the list.  I joined the 24-Hour club ten years ago and have yet to see the renovations done on the gym just down the hill from me.  (I paid three years up front and now only have to pay $49 a year for full membership.  How can I give that up?  I may actually go someday.) The 24 Hour Club took over a furniture store next door and doubled in size.  I drive by and wave.  Rick moved a recumbent exercycle into our bedroom two years ago, and I ride it every morning while watching “Match Game” and “Lingo”.  It’s about as close to bicycle riding as I get. 

Oh, I think about riding a bike.  Lots of people do in this area.  Many come to train for the Tour de France.  Up hill, down hill, all around the hills.  I did have a bike at one time, but it was canabalized by my children years ago.  They needed a tire...