The Writer’s Life: Tidbits & Knick Knacks

I have a few tidbits and knick knacks to share with you today instead of a regular post. I have been busy working hard on a few projects and trying to get a paying writing job. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Coffee Break & Tidbits

Anyway, I just wanted to show up to chat and share a few things with you over coffee. I ran out of coffee (frights) and went to Starbucks this morning. I bought Starbucks Decaf Italian Roast instant coffee to try. I learned some great things to do with it, like adding it to a brownie mix and topping ice cream and pudding. I haven’t been able to use espresso powder in recipes because I can’t handle caffeine, so this gives me some yummy possibilities. Here, have a taste – aren’t they good?

#Writers_Life – @Writers_Life

I hope you are enjoying my new hashtag – #Writers_Life. I am posting archive items about 1-2 a day and finding current Tweets in the Twitter stream to share with you. I want all my friends to feel free to use the hashtag! I will be using it on occasion to call everyone over for coffee, and anyone else can do that too. Sometimes we need a break and a jolt.

Thanks to my good friend Sam (@FutureNostalgic) at Future Nostalgic I was included in a poll – 25+ Favorite Twitter Hashtags for Writers (Clickable List)- conducted informally by Nicole (@SimplyWriting) at It’s All About Writing. I missed this poll on Twitter (must have been writing) and I didn’t know about it until I stumbled across her blog page through a tweet. I was shocked to see my #Writers_Life included, and listed as #5, especially since my hashtag is officially two weeks old. Thanks to everyone who voted!

I have been following the Fibromyalgia Awareness Series written by Deanna Schrayer, my good friend. It is a great series – check it out. I also suffer from Fibromyalgia and have learned a few new things. I have encountered more than a few writers with chronic pain, a big part of our Writer’s Life. Deanna mentions,

Each year the month of May is dedicated to Fibromyalgia awareness. This year, May 15th is set aside for events across the nation. This year’s theme is “Make Fibromyalgia Visible”. In an effort to do just that, make fibromyalgia visible, today begins the first in a series on fibromyalgia – part 1: What is Fibromyalgia?

Another good friend of mine, Olivia Tejeda (@SimplyOlivia) has started The Silent Writers Collective. What an excellent idea, living the Writer’s Life together. Here is what they do:

Our standing meeting is Tuesday at 9-10 pm EST (US), but participants are encouraged to “Get Silent” whenever the mood strikes, either alone, with others, online, or in person.

We meet via Twitter using the hashtag #SilentWriters. If you aren’t on Twitter, we have a group on Facebook, or just click the email link to the right, and we’ll get you in on the fun.

Our gatherings start with a few minutes of socializing, sharing info, etc, but after that we all agree to shut up and write.  We’re not a critique group, we’re not limited by genre, education, experience, or skill. We just get together to write.

If you haven’t followed me @Writers_Life yet, head over to Twitter and get on board! The fun is just beginning!

Creativity Gone Mad Videos

I will be Tweeting a video each week that I call, “Creativity Gone Mad.” It is videos that show amazing creative projects and crazy things people have done. They make me smile and boost my inspiration. Many that I post will be part of an excellent collection of YouTube videos assembled by Denny McCorkle (@tweetrightbrain) at I Geek for Creativity. The video I Tweeted this week was Cupcake Canon.

Cat Fun

I love Simon’s Cat videos, but have only seen a few. I really need to get the kids and have a marathon.

Here is one I like – I have a cat who always does this to me. Who says cat’s aren’t affectionate and don’t communicate with us?

Knick Knacks

knick knack shelf from my grandmother

Do you have any knick knacks around the house? I do. I have many antique knick knacks inherited from my mom and grandmother. The shelf in this picture is from my grandmother. I still display some of the original items she had on the shelf. I unpacked it recently and wondered why I keep so many of these things packed away. Then I remembered my wild cats and rambunctious kids (maybe someday soon I can’t stop repeating the line from the Brady Bunch, “Don’t play ball in the house!” I managed to put up this shelf in my bedroom and haven’t had an accident yet. I enjoy looking at these silly little glass figurines and remembering my grandmother. She hung this shelf in her sunroom where she sat and braided rugs when she could no longer walk.

My favorite has always been the bird with the nest of baby birds. I have moved so many times, I’m amazed there aren’t any more broken pieces.

I used to love this green glass shoe as a child. It was probably bought as a cheap travel souvenir, but items seem to take on a higher value when you had a connection to them as a child.

I didn’t have an attachement to these cups, I always thought the faces were creepy. Now, they make me laugh trying to imagine why my grandmother looked at these and thought, “Oh how cute, they will look good on my shelves.” Really?

Although fun to look at and reminisce, I prefer my own collections. I have many fun things I keep in, on and around my desk. Here is my toy box, a tin suitcase filled with miniature toys. I collected them before I had kids and try to protect them to keep for myself. That is not always easy.

My most treasured items are my favorite pen, received around the time my kids were born and a Tiffany Diamond my husband gave me on a trip to Chicago. He presented the beautiful blue box and said, “Now you can never say I didn’t get you a diamond from Tiffany’s.” Bet you never knew I had such a treasure!

Do you have strange items, knick knacks or treasured things around your house or on your desk that make you smile, reminisce or entertain you when you are trying to be creative? I would love to hear about them.

Have another cup of coffee and pull up a chair.


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Comments

25 responses to “The Writer’s Life: Tidbits & Knick Knacks”

  1. here by way of Deanna’s;

    I don’t tweet, but I’m sorta thinking about
    I did enjoy the kitty movie, crazy cats own funny people

    1. Hi Paige, so glad you stopped by!

  2. Hi Anne,
    Your antique nick nacks are so neat. Love the green glass shoe.

    Like your thoughts for the week. I’m glad you mentioned Deanna Schrayer’s posts on Fibromyalgia .

    I’ve been terrible about using the writer’s life hashtag, but will try as I’m off and on twitter.

    It would be a dream for you to find a paying job writing! I’m pulling for you girl. <3

  3. Hi dear!

    I’ve left you an award on my blog.

    Psst, there’s a challenge to go with, heh. 😉

    Here’s the link: http://mariblaser.blogspot.com/2010/05/uh-oh-randomities-won-creative-creepy.html

    1. Hi Mari,

      Thanks for the award – I will have to think about what to write!

  4. I just realized I didn’t mention anything about that possible writing-related job Anne. That IS wonderful, and I so hope you get it, as long as it doesn’t start feeling like a “real” job that is.

    I wonder too what it is about saving hair. My family has always saved a portion of each child’s hair from their first haircut. I’ve never thought to ask why. Interesting – is this some tradition started eons ago that we just keep doing without even knowing why? I’d love to know the history behind that.

    I’m going to hijack here for a minute to tell everyone thanks very much for stopping by to read my fibromyalgia awareness series. I can’t tell you all how much I appreciate you. Thanks!

    1. I wondered if anyone else saved hair. Must have been a fad for awhile. I always wondered if there were any interesting genetic tests or experiments we could do with the hair.

      Thanks again for your honest and informative series on Fibromyalgia.

      Yes, I have been doing a lot of research and contemplation about the writing job.

  5. Thanks for the Mention, and the coffee and brownies, Anne. Congrats on the success of #Writers_Life, it reaqlly is an awesome hashtag IMHO.

    I love the pics of your collections, especially your favourite fountsin pen; as you know I have a bit of a soft spot for fountain pens myself, particularly vintage ones.

    They’re about the only things I collect at the moment, and even then only on an ad hoc basis. Depression means I don’t get much enjoyment from them, but I’m hoping one day I will feel better enough to appreciate my pens more fully.

    1. Hi Sam,

      Aw, that is too bad. I hope you do feel better to appreciate your favorite pens. Today I will give you extra brownies and coffee and wish you brighter days ahead!

      1. Thanks Anne, I really appreciate it. 🙂

  6. Woohoo! Congrats on #writers_life being on that list!

    I have one cat in particular that is exactly like the one in the video!

    Collections – chinese teapots, anthropomorphic statues. I’ve NEVER collected anything Egyptian, although I’m fascinated by the civilization. I have fears of it so I must have had a REALLY bad ending in a past life there!

    1. Hi Laura,

      Thanks! Anthropomorphic statues? What do you have? Never heard of that kind of collection.

      I just watched “The Mummy” recently, that is enough to scare anyone about the Egyptians. They can be a spooky lot.

      1. That’s funny because I love “The Mummy” (the 1999 one, not the ’30s one)

        Statues – Easter Island type, tribal, shrunken heads – that sort of thing. 🙂

        1. Whoa, now that is an interesting collection!!!

  7. That’s not Simon’s cat Anne, it’s mine! I mean, almost motion for motion that’s what she does to me, except I’d have a laptop on my lap and she does her best to either sit on it or knock it off of me.

    I love your collections and am so glad you shared those. I’m a big-time junker, one of those people you don’t want to drive behind on a Saturday morning. I have quite a large collection of vases, green and blue glass being my favorite. One of my favorites though are the linens my grandmother made. She passed away in 1990 and she was a big pack-rat, (yes, that’s where I get it from), so my mom, aunts, cousins and sisters spent a whole week going through everything and dividing what we decided to keep among ourselves. We each got a quilt, and I inherited the pillow cases and hankies she made, most of them with intricate knitting.
    Around my desk are practical things though. I have a Hoops and Yoyo card my husband gave me for my 40th birthday last year (if you’ve not heard of Hoops and Yoyo check out Hallmark – they are hilarious). Anyway, when you open the card it’s them singing happy birthday in a non-traditional fashion and then cracking up laughing. Any time I feel aggravated I open it up and am soon giggling. And I have this little toy from McD’s which I think is one of the chipmunk’s girlfriends or something. She has a button on her head; when you push it she tells you “you’re so beautiful.” It’s quite the pick-me-up.

    Love this post – I could go on and on, but I’ll hush now. 🙂

    1. Hi Deanna,

      Isn’t it great to have stuff from the family? I have quilts, dishes, linens, knitted/crocheted items, too. I keep most of them packed away too. I hope to display things someday.

      It sounds like your grandmother was really an artist in her work. I can relate to having to go through parents/grandparents stuff who are pack rats. My parents kept everything! (depression era) I still have their cast iron pans they received when they got married in 1941, and my grandmother’s wedding dress. I used to have her hair, just he pony tail she cut off when going from long to short hair (only done once in her life). But I gave that to my sister as a gift – aren’t we weird? I have a pony tail of my own from my childhood that my mom kept. What is this hair thing?

      I have been over to the Hallmark site listening to Hoops and Yoyo with the kids. We have been laughing hysterically – tears in my eyes – I love these guys.

  8. Ohh, Italian decaf with brownies in it? I’m in!

    I saw the 25 list and I’m still cheering for seeing #Writers_Life in it! 😀

    I’m setting aside some time to read the article on Fibromyalgia. Thanks for reminding me of it. 🙂

    LOL LOL LOL! I laughed throughout the cat video! My dogs do something like that to call my attention, but in a different way. They’re all *very* communicative. ;D

    Nice collection you have there! 🙂

    1. Hi Mari,

      Thanks! Isn’t that video great?! I have laughed at each video I watched – this guy REALLY knows cats!!

  9. Anne, thanks for the mention of my blog, I Geek for Creativity. My blog will be inactive for a few weeks. I am in China where Twitter, Facebook, Posterous, and YouTube are all blocked here. Now I truly feel socially inept. @TweetRightBrain

    1. Hi Denny,

      I really enjoy your site and will be featuring a video from your collection each week – great collection!

      Wow! Have a wonderful time in China! I remember hearing about the Goggle vs. China war recently – China is really cut off from the rest of the world!

  10. What you might not know about me is that at one time I had a huge obsession with Egyptology (still kinda do), so I have a crazy awesome scarab on my desk that was acutally carved out of the same stone used to build the pyramids. I collect hand painted Egyption papyrus as well.

    I also collect comic books, but I am pretty sure you already gathered that 😉
    ~2

    1. Tomara,

      That is so cool that you love Egyptology. I like that stuff too. I would love to see a pic of your scarab.

      I have a little scarab made out of pale orange marble that I got when I went to a huge display of Egyptian artifacts at a museum in Toronto. I was so fascinated and spent hours there.

      Maybe we were both Egyptians in a previous life.

  11. What a cool post! I like hearing about other people’s collections.

    I collect tea things- teapots, teacups, infusers, spoons, etc. None of them are unusual looking but they are really pretty. I’m dying to get a Mad Hatter teapot. 🙂

    I have an unusual ashtray from my grandmother. It’s a woman reclining with one leg exposed while her dress fans around her. The fanned part of the dress is the ashtray. No idea why my grandmother had that, but it’s funky. I also have an autographed photo of Doctor Demento (I’m a fan), and a certified piece of the Berlin wall from when I lived in Germany. I didn’t go to Berlin, but they were selling pieces everywhere, so its my momento.

    1. Hi, thanks for stopping by for a coffee.

      You have some nice treasures! That ashtray sounds like a keeper – hysterical! And, I hope you find that Mad Hatter teapot – keep an eye on Ebay.

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