You might not remember, but before I started blogging about writing, I had a knitting blog called Chappysmom. Like any other knitting blog, I talked about lots of things–my knitting (of course), but also family, friends, vacations, books … and, my dog. The Chappy for whom the blog was named.…
Do You Have Too Many Distractions?
We live in a society that adores multi-tasking. We watch television while we cook. We listen to the radio (or MP3s, or DVDs, or CDs, or whatever) while we drive. We talk on the phone while we iron. We text while walking the dog. We read while we brush our…
Channel Your Inner Royalty
Like many girls, when I was little, I wanted to be a princess. I wanted to wear the floaty skirts.I wanted the jeweled crown–gold, of course, to go with my then-blonde hair. I wanted birds to help me get dressed in the morning, and to go to balls.I wanted to…
Low Tech Living in a High Tech World
It’s so easy to get caught up in the technological marvels of the 21st century. High-speed internet access and wi-fi at every corner. Cordless telephones and cellphones to keep in touch everywhere we go. Computers and email have far eclipsed fax machines and typewriters. We can bring our entire music…
Are You Doing What You Love?
We’ve all heard the platitudes. “Life is too short.” “Live the dream.” “Carpe Diem, Sieze the Day.” But have you really thought about what that means? One of my co-workers at my day job … a woman I’ve worked with for fourteen years … died on Saturday from a sudden…
How to Get Back to Writing
I have a problem. We moved two weeks ago. That might not seem insurmountable to you, but this is the first time (not counting dorm rooms in college) that I’ve moved in 34 years, and I think my system is still in shock. I knew, of course, that the first…
7 Reasons Why A Good Schedule Can Keep you On Track
I am so conflicted about my schedule, it’s not even funny. We’re in the process of moving from our home of 34 years, and time-management has been forefront in my mind for weeks now, as I juggle my full-time job, my freelancing, my novel-writing, blog-writing (not that you would know…
Gold Star Cop Out
I talked the other day about DIPs (Delusionally Important People). You know the ones, the ones who think they can get away with whatever they like because they’re so special. Well, I am not the only one to find these folks annoying. Check out this column from Ruben Navarrette Jr…
Let’s Not Forget Civility
It’s been a while since we talked about manners or civility around here—and considering the blog’s subtitle is as much about manners as writing, that just seems wrong. Maybe the problem is that there seems to be so little civility in the world and I just don’t want the headache…
People Are Analog
Today, in the U.S., all televisions are officially switching from analog to digital transmission, forever turning the page on the tradition of television signals broadcast, for free, through the air.* In many ways, this is a seamless change–most people will never even notice–but the very IDEA is one that I…
Four Reasons to Turn Off Your Computer
Joanna’s theme this month is breathing space, and in this crazy world, what could be more important? I’m sure I’m not the only one who is glued to her computer screen for hours (and hours) every day. Nor am I complaining about that. If I didn’t love writing, twittering, blogging,…
What IS an E-Book?
How do you define an ebook? I’ve been reading a lot about ebooks lately, and it’s made me realize that there are really two, entirely separate meanings to the word. Well, yes, either way, the “e” stands for electronic, as opposed to the “dead tree” edition of books that all…
Spinning Words 2–The Fiber
Last time, we explored words connected with the equipment used for spinning yarn. Today we’re going to look at some of the words involved with the fiber. And, trust me, they’re unique! The Plant Fibers The plant fibers like linen have a long, convoluted process just to get the fiber…
Moral Lesson Part 2
Remember a couple weeks ago, when I told you about a duplicate order I had received in the mail? And used it as a springboard to discuss manners and the benefits of doing the Right Thing? Remember how I emailed them to let them know, and was irritated that they…
Library Card?
So … do you have a library? I mean, shelves in your own home, filled with books? I was just reading this essay from the NY Times about weeding out books from a personal library, and it got me thinking. Where books are concerned, there’s no question. I am a…
MM: Do You Say Thank You?
Simple question today: When somebody does something nice for you, do you say, “Thank you?” It seems such a simple thing, but it is so often forgotten or ignored by those people who feel entitled to anything their little hearts desire, and therefore see no need to thank anyone else…
Criticism
Did anybody else read Copyblogger today? Brian Clark collected a fantastic group of quotes demonstrating how even the brightest people can lack foresight in matters of creativity, and reject things that would have made them (more?) famous, rich, or renowned. His point is that you shouldn’t make assumptions, but my…
MM: Confusing Travel Terminology
Since I’m travelling today, I thought I’d address some of those travel-related words that can get confusing. So please, make sure your safety belts are securely fastened and that your hands are safely on your keyboards, and let’s begin! Plane vs Plain: Plane, of course, is short for “Airplane” and…
Appreciation
Did you know that Monday is Blogger Appreciation Day? Well, it’s kind of unofficial, but here’s the idea: We’re in it together, blogging is about collaboration and together going further than we can by ourselves – so why not help another blogger today by shooting them a word of encouragement,…
Handwriting: Improving Legibility
We have talked about the epidemic of bad handwriting. So now that you know that you’re not alone (if you’re one of the many people suffering from poor penmanship), what can you do if you want to improve yours? Number one answer? Practice. Good penmanship is based on muscle memory,…
Handwriting: The Personal Touch
When is the last time you got a hand-written letter in the mail? A personal note? A greeting card? Exactly. It’s a dying art. I have a drawer full of letters I’ve received from friends over the years, but I cannot remember the last time I actually had a letter to add. Maybe…
Clutter
Jan left a comment on my post about getting started writing where she said, “I find that I am much more productive if I have projects and things ready to go (that includes a clean desk, nothing scatters my thinking more than a cluttered desk).” I agreed whole-heartedly and replied,…
Better Than Two Pistols at Dawn
I know. The tone here at Punctuality Rules! is so calm and gracious, it’s hard to believe that I basically started the blog as a place to air a whole series of pet peeves. People who can’t keep its/it’s, your/you’re or they’re/there/their straight. People who can’t be bothered to say thank you.…
Acknowledgement
Let me ask you two simple questions: When somebody pays you a compliment, do you thank them? If somebody sends you a gift, do you send a thank-you note? Thank-you phone call? Thank-you e-mail? Chances are, if your mother raised you well, your answer to these two questions was, “Yes.” Because…
Name and Address?
There’s a line in “You’ve Got Mail,” where Meg Ryan’s character protests, “Joe? Just call me Joe? As though you were one of those stupid 22 year old girls with no last name? Hi, I’m Kimberly. Hi, I’m Janice. Don’t they know you’re supposed to have a last name? It’s…
Homespun
As a knitter, I recently read a couple of articles about the upswing of making things by hand, and also an, um, unique competition for sock knitters, with great interest. “Handmade isn’t a fad… it’s a resurgence, one that is of a piece with the booming interest in organic food,”…
Un-Reality Calling
Are you a Pragmatist or a Dreamer? Do you prefer to spend your time in reality or a world all your own? For whatever reason, this question has been on my mind a lot lately, possibly because there is such a dichotomy staring me in the face every day. Reality…
Perfection
Here’s a tricky question for you: Do you demand perfection? Of yourself? Of others? It’s a hard one, isn’t it? Personally, I feel that I’m about one, short step away from being a perfectionist–I know that perfection is impossible to achieve, and yet my standards of behavior are quite high.…
Not Quite So Holy
This has always been a word that intrigued me. Its root comes from “Holy Day,” of course, but it’s come to mean so much more. It’s used for a day off work or for a religious holy day. The Brits (“We’re going on holiday to the Brighton”) use it the…
Respect
Let’s be clear: Civility and Civilization do not depend on knowing when to shake someone’s hand, or which fork to use at dinner. Decisions about whether the short version of “electronic mail” should be spelled with or without a hyphen are not earth-shaking. You don’t have to look down your…