I remember when I first discovered blogs. I spent an entire week, nearly 18 hours a day, reading. I was giddy with the discovery that somehow I had tapped into a previously unknown online world of intelligence and talent.  I was hungry for knowledge and expression and it seemed that with the discovery of these new writers, a whole new world opened. It was all quite exhilarating and exhausting.

I always become very excited when I meet someone who has a brilliant mind or an incredible talent. To me the most complimentary thing I can say to a person is “You’re interesting”. And just like in the old days, I’m once again smitten with brilliant interesting minds that I’m discovering in a truly global arena. I’ve circled writers and photographers whose thoughts and visions encourage me to raise my own bar higher. Not only do I like that, but I had forgotten that I need it.

A few months ago, I discovered that writer Erin O’Riordan at Goodkin selected Lisa’s Blog as one of her top choices for Queens of the Blogosphere. Wow! I was, and still am, truly flattered. I don’t know why I didn’t share this news with you all sooner but as I was freshening up my blog this morning I came upon the post once again and the screen capture I had saved of it. O’Riordan places my logo right along with those of (le gasp!) Hoffington Post, The Gawker, Debbie Weil, The Mommy Chronicles and BoingBoing. That’s some impressive company.

Phyllis Theroux’s The Journal Keeper – A Memoir is a delightful read. Like having a relaxing sitdown with an older more experienced writer, like talking with your mom or a beloved friend on a spring morning with a cup of tea. In fact, I find her words to be so inspiring that it’s difficult for me to read the book . . . each time I start, I’m inspired to rush to my laptop to jot down words of my own.

On page 40, Theroux writes about a trip to Charlottesville:

We walked around the University of Virginia quad designed by Jefferson. It is winter now, stacks of wood lie by each student’s door. The ivy on the serpentine brick walls is withering, the garden, laid out in pie-shaped triangles, are bare. Something in me doesn’t like to take the time to describe what I’m looking at: the slender student bent over her book in Starbucks, the little snow-suited baby waiting patiently to be scooped up by its mother in the restaurant, the bundled-up Tibetans downtown sitting before their table of trinkets and prayer flags. But another part of me wants to develop a more physically observing eye. This sabbatical from writing has given me the space and time to cultivate my eye for its own sake.

Awhile ago I wrote about the fun and benefits of keeping a journal. That post was about how keeping an actual handwritten, 3-dimensional notebook can help a gal or guy with creativity and personal insight. At the same time, it become apparent to me that I needed some type of system for keeping all my professional writing assignments organized. While I was using a word processing application for writing articles and reviews, I had photos in one folder, contact names in another, notes in another. This was very inefficient. I wanted everything in one spot . . . one stop shopping, so to speak. So I went in search of some software applications that could help writers organize and sort their blog posts, articles and notes.  I have also included some more robust applications for those of you who might be writing your next novel or e-book.

Do you keep a journal? As a kid, I always had what back in little-girl-world was called a diary. My earliest creative memory was one where I stood in my backyard composing thoughts and ideas on paper pretending to be a news reporter. I think it was that particular moment when I knew I would be a writer when I grew up.

Despite that fact that I did grow up to be a writer, I no longer keep a journal. I’m not entirely sure why that is, but I spend so much time typing on a laptop that the very act of handwriting has become foreign to me.

Next Thursday, November 4th, I’ll be attending the second meeting of the Connecticut Blogger’s Group at Thali’s in New Haven. This start-up group is the brain child of Ed Bartlett who has made it his mission connecting people and businesses in Connecticut. What an honor it is for me to be included in the inaugural group where these good people seek to create a change in their community and in the lives of their readers. Some of the best and brightest, their names include:

This summer, my son Kyler and I created an oasis (what we call the awaysis) in our backyard. It was a spot lovingly chosen under an apple tree and looks back into the woods behind our house. We have a huge variety of birds that visit (hummingbirds, and the Red-Tailed hawk being my favorites). There are flowers, butterflies and dragonflies. Kyler and I hung wind chimes, geraniums, and purchased the best glass top writing table we could find. We set up two chairs for the table and two lounge chairs for relaxed reading. This place is our escape. This place is where we go to do our writing and thinking . . . and a bit of wine drinking.

It seems lately, if you are in public relations, your job might be equated with something along the lines of being a unscrupulous used-car salesman. BP, the government, and even my beloved Apple, have contributed to the notion that PR is the cover-up agency for bad behavior or a poor product line. As Communications and Public Relations Director of AIGA Connecticut, I thought I’d write a few paragraphs on what I believe public relations is and why it’s important for your organization or business.

“There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it.” – Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) American Educator.