Sydney Avey
Dynamic Woman — Changing Times
The Turkey and the Princess
For me, prepping and roasting a turkey is always an exercise in faith. This year, royalty appeared and pronounced it good, a sweet moment.
View from the choir pew: Thoughts on Allhallowtide
From where I sit in a choir pew rehearsing the Fauré Requiem, I get a full appreciation of the season. In addition to the fun costume and candy parade, this season comprises many celebrations. Historically, Allhallowtide is a three-day period devoted to the remembrance of the departed faithful. (It corresponds to the Mexican Day of the Dead, a time to remember deceased family and friends.)
A Nice Surprise: Oct. 28 only, Amazon deal on The Sheep Walker’s Daughter $0.99
What a nice surprise to learn that, just for today, Amazon has selected the Kindle eBook version of The Sheep Walker’s Daughter to be part of a one-day Gold Box Deal! Special pricing, $0.99, Sunday, October 28. http://a.co/d/efRe06w
And now that I have your attention, let’s talk about surprises.
Social Media, Choosing How to Engage
At its best, social media is a platform for people to engage with each other. The engagement may be commercial or personal. The experience can be sublime or annoying and downright abusive. I love the relationships I have been able to sustain and deepen because social media allows me to keep in touch.
Spreading the Wealth, a DIY Project
Wealth redistribution is a political hot button but, framed differently, making an effort to spread the wealth is not a bad idea. For example, Amazon.com wants to do it all for you–fill every need on your wish list, tie it up with a ribbon, and set it gently on your doorstep. Whether you consider the big shopping jungle a boon to convenience or the bane of small business “shop local” campaigns, bypassing expedience on occasion for a deeper experience is a DIY project that can pay off. More satisfying experiences enrich our lives.
Reader’s Taste: Why consider literary fiction?
I’m always up for a discussion about reader’s taste. On August 4, 2018 literary critic Adam Kirsch wrote a thoughtful piece titled “The Way We Read Now” in the Wall Street Journal. There he posits that we can educate our literary taste.
Taking a Breather
Written August 1, 2018. Our ashy air blots out most of the charm of summer days in the forest. I’ve fled my mountain community, where the sky is thick with smoke from the Ferguson Fire, and driven to the coast. I’ve made a seascape. Here on Seascape Blvd in Rio Del Mar the weather is cool and breezy with a float of warm sunshine.
Disaster: The day I drowned my MacBook Air
Disaster is the worst kind of distraction. Disasters upend daily routine and reset expectations to a default, anything-could-happen mode. I dumped a drink on my MacBook Air. I tried every resuscitation method I could think of, but machine did not respond. Off to the Genius Bar we went. Then the real drama started.
Dollars and Distractions
Last month after I wrote a blog about distractions I picked up a book, Disruptive Witness: Speaking truth in a distracted age, by Alan Noble. I love a book that triggers ideas for actions I can take to support a deeply-held belief.
