As some of you may know, I recently purchased a video-flip camera and am attempting to become a vlogger.

Last night, my German friend Inge, kindly agreed to record my three-minute DimeStory at a cozy restaurant in Laguna Beach called Picayo’s.

I wrote about DimeStories before, and briefly, it allows writers to share their work in front of an audience, and improve their skills.

Inge did a great job filming, but next time, the camera needs to be a little closer so the built-in microphone can pick up my voice a little better.

Please enjoy and comments are always welcome.

Please visit Rob-bear and his recent post on Christmas (p)resents. You’ll see why?

What do you give your husband after 23 years of marriage?

It seemed so easy when we first got married, but as time goes by, I know what he doesn’t care for, and those are exactly the things I enjoy giving him.

Clothes such as nice jeans, shirts to wear when we go out to friends or for a nice dinner, ties for work, or even new shoes.

I think many husbands become stubborn as they age. They get stuck in their old ways and won’t “modernize” their look. Take gym shorts, my husband has been wearing the same four pairs of gym shorts for the past eight years. He likes them because they’re soft, and they stop above the knee. The problem is they’re so worn, and look old and tired. Last year I bought him some new shorts which he told me to return as, “My old ones are just fine.”

No, this is not my husband but you get the picture.


Most things my husband enjoys, he buys for himself. Stuff on e-bay, like camera parts, for the movie he’s working on every spare second he has. I never seem to find the right component he needs, so I’ve given up.

Last year was hilarious, we ended up buying each other the exact same gift: A Garmin GPS. The only difference was that I bought the better GPS, so we ended up returning his gift, and now we’re both sharing mine.

I just read an article on the Five Gifts That Never Fail. Do you agree with that list?

#1. Pajamas
#2. JC Crew
#3. Magazine Subscriptions
#4. Of the month club (for example, where flowers or a pack of coffee is delivered to you once a month, throughout the year.)
#5. Fudge

What is your favorite gift to give, and what about to receive?

It doesn’t take much to get me excited these days. All I need is a sign that says, YouTube, E-mail, Facebook and EASY, and that’s enough to get me to buy my own Christmas present. “Duke, I just purchased my own flip video camera so now you don’t need to buy me anything,” I said to my husband who has a professional camera, but makes it sound so complicated, I’m scared to touch it. He looked at the Flip box, then Googled it for reviews. Imagine what I felt when it received far more positive than negative reviews. Now I can do my own thing without asking my husband for help.

ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE ORGANIZING CONTEST
My second attempt, shorter and different lighting. I cannot seem to edit the fumble at the end. Anyone know how to? The scissors thing didn’t work.

And the winner of the $15 gift certificate is: You’ll have to listen to my video. Sorry!!!! Do you tend to buy your own presents or let your husband/wife purchase them? Next time I’ll make the video shorter, and edit. I’m still learning.

Some of you may recall a posting I wrote a while back on what does number 11 mean?
I know many see this number and wonder why?

Recently, I quit seeing number 11, and that bothered me more than seeing it all the time. I felt like my friend had abandoned me. During those months, my digital alarm clock flashed bright red numbers that didn’t belong: a 3, 4, 5, 6 etc. “Maybe next time,” I whispered to myself, and quickly shut my eyes.

Then something new and strange happened. I started seeing number 1.

Every peek at the microwave clock, the oven clock, or in my car, I would see: 4:01, 2:21, 7:31, etc.

I found this explanation for # 1 which suits me just fine.

“The number 1 is connected with new starts, independence,
new opportunity, inspiration, originality, standing alone,
concentration, leadership, determination, self-employment,
courage and isolation.
Balanced 1 energy: initiative, energetic, persistent, creative,
confident, ambitious, self-reliant, dynamic, bold,
forward looking, assertive.”

A few days later, my beloved 11 came back to visit. Yes, even the the bunch of  bananas I bought had # 4011. What are they telling me?

The house my husband and I made an offer on in Naples, Florida has the zip code, 34110, the house is number 83, so 8+3=11. Perhaps good news about our offer will arrive on December 11th. At least I’m hoping, and that’s all that I read into number 11. HOPE for things to go well. It seems strange that 9/11 was all related to a horrific terrorist attack, yet so many of us, think of 11 as a lucky number.

So my clock is showing me 9:01, time for me to sign off.

Do you see the same number frequently? Please share.

We are sick and tired of being homeless. Please tell Gutsy Writer that she’s abandoned us on her dining room table for over a month. Whenever she approaches, we get all excited, but that only lasts a few seconds. She shuffles us around, scans a few lucky papers while the rest of us in the middle of the pile shout, “pick me, pick me, my turn,” and then something terrible happens: she gets distracted and boils the kettle for her umpteenth cup of coffee or tea. We think she has ADHD. She clearly has the following symptoms of ADHD:

• difficulty paying attention, 
• inability to sustain attention on tasks or activities, 
• procrastination, 
• fidgeting, 
• squirming when seated, 
• being always on the go. 

We beg you to help her. Perhaps a few suggestions on how to organize us into new homes, clearly labeled so we don’t get evicted. She’s a Virgo, or so she says. Virgos are organized perfectionists, aren’t they? If only we knew where she keeps her birth certificate.

For all you demanding pieces of paper waiting for me to file you, I have two excuses:

1. I’m a modern Virgo. According to my personality trait, “Although Virgos are described as orderly and neat in most personality profiles, the modern day Virgo may not always stand out from the crowd in the neatness department.”
2.  I have caught the Swine Flu, at least that’s what I think it is. My whole body is  achy, my lower vertebrae feel hammered and bruised, my knees don’t function when I’m upright and every time I cough, my brain shakes as though someone is punching it from the inside out.

 I need to shut the files up, once and for all. If you can simplify the process and give me tips on how you organize papers and computer documents related to writing, presentation notes, articles, conference notes, and how to make things easy to find, I have a $15 GIFT CERTIFICATE from amazon.com for the best method. Do I have to read through each paper before I file it?  Depending on how many responses I get, either I shall decide, or I’ll let everyone VOTE. Come on, lets motivate one another to get organized.