CONFESSIONS OF A WORRYWART

Getting Things Done

susan fishman orlins — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:24:36 +0000

After the sun slides behind the ash trees in my backyard, my heart thumps with anticipation. It’s finally time for GETTING THINGS DONE. . . . → Read More: Getting Things Done

Susan’s Ashes

susan fishman orlins — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:09:32 +0000

Each of my girls could keep some of me in a gorgeous mosaic urn, personalized with photos under glass beads, like the ones my friend Sybil Sage makes for ashes of your cat or your mother. . . . → Read More: Susan’s Ashes

Connecting With Friends

susan fishman orlins — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:41:06 +0000

I am not part of the walk-and-text culture. I'm barely part of the text culture. But as a writer, who lives alone, my laptop has become one of my best friends. . . . → Read More: Connecting With Friends

Pitchapalooza!

susan fishman orlins — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:35:21 +0000

When your daughter is in Colombia and hasn’t tweeted all day, is it every mother's tweetmare that her kid is locked in the trunk of a sedan? . . . → Read More: Pitchapalooza!

Dick Clark and American Bandstand Memories

susan fishman orlins — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:17:03 +0000

My girlfriend Bev and I formed our own two-member fan club for James Vincent Peatross, a Bandstand regular and frequent dance contest winner. . . . → Read More: Dick Clark and American Bandstand Memories

Stay-at-Home Mom Kerfuffle

susan fishman orlins — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:28:39 +0000

With the kerfuffle about Ann Romney having been a stay-at-home mom, I thought I would put in my two cents about stay-at-home moms. . . . → Read More: Stay-at-Home Mom Kerfuffle

Easter Egg Roll 2012

susan fishman orlins — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:58:13 +0000

Easter Egg Roll 2012 observations: Most children seemed to be having a swell time, the parents were the happiest people there, and President Obama's khakis were a perfect fit. . . . → Read More: Easter Egg Roll 2012

Dear Susan: I’m a Procrastinator

susan fishman orlins — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:40:03 +0000

The To Do List

Dear Susan,

I should be working now but instead I’m writing to you. You see, I’m a procrastinator. Please help me stop putting things off!

Signed,

Puttingthingsoff in Peoria

Dear PiP,

I’m so glad you asked. I am great at procrastination. Here is one thing I do to procrastinate:

I . . . → Read More: Dear Susan: I’m a Procrastinator

Dear Susan from Worried in Wisconsin

susan fishman orlins — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:35:19 +0000

Worry is addictive, plain and simple. It hits the same pleasure center of the brain as alcohol and other addictive substances. If you are able to control your intake of other addictive substances, then you can control worry, now that you know how addictive it is. . . . → Read More: Dear Susan from Worried in Wisconsin

My Ideal Seatmate

susan fishman orlins — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:15:19 +0000

Ever since reading about Dutch Airline KLM's new program that allows passengers to choose seatmates, using Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, I've been contemplating who my ideal seat mate should be. For a worrywart this whole idea is a great thing. . . . → Read More: My Ideal Seatmate

Worrywart Logic

susan fishman orlins — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:15:22 +0000

I was happy that my mind was still logical enough . . . → Read More: Worrywart Logic

BYO

susan fishman orlins — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:39:33 +0000

Early in our relationship, on warm Friday evenings, my boyfriend Steve (who later became my husband) and I frequently squished onto a Long Island Railroad car to spend summer weekends with his parents. On one such trip a muffled siren began to blare. I turned to Steve and shouted, “Sounds like someone’s portable smoke alarm . . . → Read More: BYO

Writing-a-Book Worries

susan fishman orlins — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:33:34 +0000

I'll give you a moment to digest what it is like for a worrywart to write a book. Try to imagine all there is to worry about. . . . → Read More: Writing-a-Book Worries

TIPS DAY: MOMENT OF WORRY

susan fishman orlins — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:00:10 +0000

Recently I wrote a piece called Easy Meditation, in which I shared a method I heard about on NPR. On that NPR segment, the author talked about allowing thoughts to pass through your mind like clouds. . . . → Read More: TIPS DAY: MOMENT OF WORRY

DIZZY: LIVING WITH MY BOYFRIEND, CIRCA 1967

susan fishman orlins — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:52:16 +0000

My starter husband Saul and I began dating the week before I entered college; we married after my sophomore year and divorced during my junior year. I emerged from the husband, the garden apartment and the Impala sedan squinting from the sudden brightness of university life. At age twenty, for the first time ever, I . . . → Read More: DIZZY: LIVING WITH MY BOYFRIEND, CIRCA 1967