Madruga Marketing

Author Stephen Kaminski.......by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 7 Nov 2013 16:03:00 -0800

STEPHEN KAMINSKI is my subject for today. He is the author of the Damon Lassard Dabbling Detective series published by Cozy Cat Press. The first two cozy mysteries in the series are "It Takes Two to Strangle" (2012) and "Don't Cry Over Killed Milk" (2013). Stephen is the winner of the 2012 Reader Views Literary Award for the Mid-Atlantic Region. He's a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Law School, has practiced law for over a decade, and currently serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel to a national non-profit organization. Stephen is a lifelong lover of all types of mysteries and lives with his wife and daughter in Arlington, Virginia.

Stephen, you are obviously well-educated and prepared to write. Was there someone, something or an event in your life that set you on the road to being an author?

The most significant impetus for me becoming an author was lazy summer days in Michigan during my youth. I grew up in a rural area and spent countless hours reading – everything from the British spy novels of Ken Follett and Jeffrey Archer to mysteries by Agatha Christie and Lawrence Block. I’ve always read between twenty to fifty books a year. The love of reading set me on a path to becoming an author.

What do you like about writing and what bugs you about it?

I love the escape -- as an author, my characters can live lives filled with excitement and intrigue and they can say things that I’d never have the nerve to say in public. For two hours a night, I can bring my imagination to life. What bugs me? Marketing – it takes a lot of work and isn’t my favorite thing to do.

How long have you been writing books and what other writing do you do?

I’ve been writing books for two and a half years. The only other writing I do is legal in nature (for my position as General Counsel to a national nonprofit organization).

Please tell us about your protagonist. Is he a lot like you? What are his assets and weaknesses?

Damon Lassard is a thirty-one year old ex-Japanese league baseball player who has moved back to the States to be near his widowed mother in the cozy community of Hollydale, Virginia just west of Washington, D.C. Due in large part to a lucrative advertising campaign for a Japanese chewing gum company, Damon spends his days as a volunteer – at the local branch library, as the Hollydale citizens association president, and in the most recent book, with a community crime solvers group. He’s single and involved in a bit of a love snarl with his best friend Rebecca and the breathtaking local weather girl Bethany. His greatest asset is also his greatest weakness – he can’t help getting involved with murder suspects. Of course, this trait helps him solve crimes as an amateur, but it also gets him in trouble with the authorities.

Stephen, what do you like to do when you are not writing?

I enjoy traveling, playing soccer and tennis, and spending time with my wife and seven year-old daughter.

Where can we find your books---and anything else you would like to say--such as a website.

Here are the best links to find my books and a link to my “Damon Lassard” website:

http://www.amazon.com/Takes-Two-Strangle-Detective-ebook/dp/B009F0TE0I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378300308&sr=1-1&keywords=stephen+kaminski

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Over-Killed-Milk-ebook/dp/B00EV45NAS/ref=sr_1_2_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378300322&sr=1-2

www.DamonLassard.com

Here is a typical review of Stephen's "Don't Cry Over Killed Milk"

".... intelligent, powerful, gritty mystery with brilliant prose and an eye for vivid detail. Stephen Kaminski is a murder mystery extraordinaire."

Thank you, Stephen for giving us an inside view of your world. Happy writing!

Beetles in the Boxcar.........by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 3 Nov 2013 16:28:00 -0800

Yippee-yahoo!! My newest mystery novel,

Beetles in the Boxcar, is available on Kindle.

Beetles is more than a murder mystery, it’s an adventure and a love story. Unfortunately, Cozy Cat Press was unable to publish this book in paperback form because it is over 96,000 words--my fault for having too much to say. This newest bombastic exercise in creative writing is as much about Josephine's Aunt Clara as it is about my favorite sleuth and her dog, Solow. Together, they manage to get into twice as much trouble.

I am currently working on a new book in the Josephine Stuart Mystery Series and hope to finish it in a few months. I’m 104 pages into it and having a ball. Like Beetles, it has a lot of action.

The Beetles in the Boxcar project was extra fun for me because I painted the picture for the cover.

Tomi Edmiston not only edited my book, but she finished the cover with the appropriate lettering.

I hope you will enjoy Beetles in the Boxcar, get hooked on the series and go on to read my first four books, Secure the Ranch, Read My Lipstick, Shaking In Her Flip Flops and Cuckoo Clock Caper. Happy reading everyone!!

The handsome fellow on the left is Solow, an important nose--I mean character in every Josephine Stuart mystery.

Pat Hanson--Invisible Grandparenting.......by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 20:13:00 -0700

Today, I am happy to report that Author Pat Hanson is the Dragonfly Gallery Artist of the Month for November 2013

At 68, Pat Hanson, Ph.D. www.invisiblegrandparent.com, is a veteran health educator, new thought spiritual thinker, public speaker, workshop facilitator and writer, who’s been on the faculty of M.P.C and the Osher Life Long Institute (OLLI) @ CSUMB. She is a columnist for the magazine: Crone: Women Coming of Age.

The Dragonfly Gallery at 380 Blohm, Aromas, will celebrate Pat's new book Saturday, November 23rd 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm with a reading at 3:00. Meet the lady behind the book, join the conversation and enjoy the refreshments.

Here is an interview with Pat Hanson:

Pat, please tell us how and why you decided to write a book. Is this your first book?

I was already teaching Human Sexuality in 1974 in NYC when Erica Jong's Fear of Flying first came out and I'd had some of the same experiences she had. I said I can write a bestselling book like that.

How long have you been writing?

Since 5th grade ... and of course in academia for decades, but as a 'final career" studying writing and freelancing professionally? dreaming of the day it could provide a living "ha!" ... about 20 years. I got $25 and a free book for a Christmas story in a Harlequin Anthology last year, and the column I write for the new magazine "Crone: Women Coming of Age" www.cronemagazine.com is only $50 on a a good year.

Who inspired you, Pat, and do you belong to any groups that inspire your writing?

Erica Jong, Henry Miller, Joseph Campbell .. many other classics that I'm too old to remember ..

I've taken and taught writing circles at CSU Monterey Bays Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) .. and have studied with some marvelous teachers: Luis Valdez, and Jack Grapes in LA.
Ellen Bass in Santa Cruz.

Please tell us where you live and what do you like to do in your spare time?

I just moved to Aromas 6 months ago and love it. It's just what we former Fort Ord residents wanted: warmer, lighter, a view and a community. LOVE IT.

I'd love to do stand-up comedy : an unfinished dream.

When I give myself permission to be still, I do tai chi. I also am a member of three Toastmasters clubs. And I love to just hang out with my husband and 'significant equal' of 20 years.

Where can we find your work? (blogs, website, etc.)

www.invisiblegrandparent.com (The About Me section)

www.cronemagazine.com

Facebook PatHansonPhD and Patricia Hanson

AND first memoir: Invisible Grandparenting: Leave a Legacy of Love Whether You

can be There or Not will be available from Amazon after Nov 1st.

There are millions of Invisible Grandparents who because of personality conflicts, custody issues, distance, or consequences of choices made long ago, have no way to pass values and memories to those who mean the most to them. Born of one woman’s quest to become part of the lives of two grandchildren she has been kept from seeing, Invisible Grandparenting provides a blueprint for “virtual grandparenting.” Using letter writing as a primary tool, it is a handbook for communicating tangible and intangible gifts to our young ones, if we could. Discover how to transcend invisibility, heal separation
and transform negative energy to forgiveness.

A booksigning and reception for Pat Hanson’s just released book:

INVISIBLE GRANDPARENTING :

Leave a Legacy of Love

Whether You Can Be There or Not

WHEN: Saturday, November 16^th, 2013

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Refreshments, Music & Book Signing

3:30 p.m. Reading.

WHERE: Vista Room - The Park Lane: An SRG Senior Living Community

200 Glenwood Circle – Monterey, CA 93940

Questions: phanson@csumb.edu 831-601-9195

Thank you Pat and good luck with your book!

Burning the Pajamas........by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 16:16:00 -0700

Today the blog is all about mee, mee, mee. My schedule, actually, and the fact that I have one. No more rolling around in my chair wearing checkered pajamas, not knowing Tuesday from Thursday, or July from January. I have a calendar and I’m going to use it … if I can remember where I put it.

Ok, got the calendar, here is where you can find me for the next two months.

Friday, November 8th and Saturday, November 9^th I will be signing my newest book, “Cuckoo Clock Caper” at the 19^th annual Elk’s Craft Event in the Watsonville Elk’s Lodge on Martinelli Street. I am selling my books for $10.00 instead of the regular $14.95—that way you can afford several books to give as Christmas presents. Seriously, please drop by. There will be 47 booths jammed with handmade hand crafted Christmas goodies, including Laurie Tholen’s wonderful copper jewelry and mermaids. Rosalie Johnson (pretty in pink) is responsible for the size and quality of this wonderful event. Open from 10:00 to 5:00 both days.

Saturday, November 16^thand Sunday November 17^th 10:00 to 4:00, I will be signing books at the AHA Holiday Art Festival in the Aromas Grange—corner of Rose and Blohm. Everyone knows about the beautiful arts and crafts produced by the Aromas Hills Artisans, but did you know they also have a fire in the fireplace and cider and cookies for sale? It’s true, so bring your Christmas list, cruise the aisles for fabulous deals and relax in front of the fire as you watch free demonstrations by various artists. Please look for my table of writers. There will be several of us, including a 12 year-old girl who has just published her first book—85,000-word fantasy. See you there!

Saturday, November 23^rd2:00 to 4:00 you can find me at the Dragonfly Gallery in down town Aromas, celebrating Pat Hanson’s first book, “Invisible Grandparenting” and her title of “Artist of the Month.” She will have a reading at 3:00 pm. We hope you will attend. Enjoy the refreshments and join the conversation. Oh yeah, my books are there too.

Saturday, December 7^th, 2:00 to 5:00 you can find me at the Crossroads Book Store in Watsonville, Main St. near Orchards Supply. Pick up a few things for the chicken coop—then drop by the bookstore. See you there!

Laurie Tholen's Copper Creations

An Interview with Jacob Appel.......by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 14:13:00 -0700

How much "good" can one
lawyer-doctor-author accomplish and still look young? I hope my questions and Jacob's answers will give us a clue. Here is my interview with this amazing author.

Jacob, was there someone, something or an event in your life that set you on the road to being an author?

I remember being a young child in a commuter suburb and watching the men and women – but mostly men – disembarking from the evening train after long days at their offices in New York City. They looked so miserable, so Cheeveresque in their suffering. I determined at that moment that I would never live in a bedroom community and spend my days pushing papers in circles. The only occupations I knew of as a child that didn’t involve the rat race were medicine and writing. I am relieved to say that I am both a physician and a novelist—and I haven’t traveled by commuter train in over fifteen years.

What do you like about writing and what bugs you about it?

Writing is the best job in the world. What other occupation or calling allows you to earn your keep in your bathrobe while nibbling on macaroons? I was told there would also be pretty girls and wine—but I suppose that will have to wait for a Pulitzer.

How long have you been writing books and what other writing do you do?

I do a considerable amount of writing in the fields of bioethics and on issues at the nexus of law and medicine. Some of these subjects are rather unusual: genetic theft, three-parent babies, reproductive cloning. I also write in the field of medical history. My favorite paper is an article I wrote on the history of the “medicinal beer movement” – mainstream American physicians who promoted beer as a cure-all during the 1920s. Their testimony before Congress is, in hindsight, hilarious—but at the time, they were taken very seriously.

I started writing novels in high school and produced a large quantity of truly deplorable work. Then I made another venture into long-form prose during my first year of law school. I wrote three novels between 1997 and 2004—all three of which are finally being published this year. It has been a long time coming….. The lesson I learned is not to give up. If you’re reading this, and you’re thinking of quitting, all I can tell you is DON’T! Your moment will arrive.

Please tell us about your protagonist in Wedding Wipeout. Is he a lot like you? What are his assets and weaknesses?

The protagonist of Wedding Wipeout is a contrarian rabbi who cannot abide illogical thinking. Although I am not religious, my own frustration with muddled reasoning unquestionably provides the basis for Rabbi Kappelmacher. Other parts of his persona are derived from my former mentor at Brown University, the late Professor Edward Beiser, who was an Orthodox Jew with a priceless sense of humor and passion for clarity of thought. Kappelmacher is a good guy, I think – the sort of man I’d want to have over for dinner. He may be a tad hard on his sidekick, Rabbi Steinmetz—but no worse than Poirot is to Hastings or Holmes is to Watson.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I do my best writing when I’m not writing. I believe it was Grace Paley who once said that she did her best writing in the bathtub—and when I share this wisdom with my fiction students, I have to emphasize that Ms. Paley did not carry her typewriter into the bath. Rather, her most productive writing hours were those spent thinking about what she would ultimately compose—as are mine. So whether I’m jogging or seeing patients, the plot of my next story is never far from my mind. That being said, nothing beats a night at the theater for a needed escape from the sorrows of the world.

At this point, I am going to treat you to a typical review of Jacob's cozy mystery, Wedding Wipeout.

"Clearly, this novel was a labor of love for author Jacob M. Appel, who is the subject of great critical acclaim on the basis of some of his other recent works -- namely, *The Biology of Luck* and *The Man Who Wouldn't Stand Up*. It is possible I am missing some substantive literary depth, some prescient social commentary inscribed in this work, but I doubt it. To my eyes, it's a simple but charming whodunit. I wonder what exactly possessed Appel, also well-known as a bioethicist and a holder of pretty much every advanced degree one can imagine (i.e. JD, MD, MFA, WTF, etc.), to write this. My money's on whimsy."

"In any case, I enjoyed it. It should be an interesting read for any fan of Mr. Appel's more literary fiction as well as readers looking for a mystery story that will leave them smiling."

Where can we find your books---and anything else you would like to say--such as a website or blog.

My website is www.jacobmappel.com. Readers are also welcome to contact me directly at jacobmappel@gmail.com. I am always grateful for kind words and I make every effort to respond.

I have one novel out at present, The Man Who Wouldn’t Stand Up, available here: http://www.cargopublishing.com/the-man-who-wouldnt-stand-up/or through Amazon.

My next novel, The Biology of Luck, is available for pre-order through Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Biology-Luck-Jacob-Appel/dp/0975374680/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375731518&sr=8-2&keywords=%22biology+of+luck%3A

And finally, I have a short story collection, Scouting for the Reaper, due out in November:

http://www.amazon.com/Scouting-Reaper-Jacob-M-Appel/dp/1937854957/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375731595&sr=8-1&keywords=scouting+for+the+reaper

Thank you, Jacob, for sharing your views with us. I can't wait to read your books!

Adoption Special......by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 21:06:00 -0700

Are you interested in adopting a little four-legged friend? Please stay focused for this important information.

Every adoptable dog and cat at the Monterey County Animal Shelter is hoping to dress up for Halloween at your house this year! Did you see my Lab holding a butterfly, wearing a gorilla suit? She can't pass up a holiday, especially Halloween.

So did I tell you about the October Adoption Special? Animal Services is offering specially reduced adoption fees for dogs during the month of October - the regular $145 fee has been reduced to just $100 - and this includes spay or neuter surgery, first vaccine series, free microchip, and 1-year license if applicable.

Also, the dogs asked us not to leave out their friends, the cats! So Animal Services is offering cats for adoption this month for half their normal adoption cost - only $50 during the month of October - and this includes spay or neuter surgery, first vaccine series, free microchip, and a cat carrier.

Do you think the cats would be so kind as to include the dogs?

Please contact MCAS directly at 769.8850. Need more info about the animal? Go to MCAS animal search page http://mtyhd.org/manager/animalSearch/

These great photos and others like them may be viewed, commented on, liked and shared at the www.facebook.com/shelterartfoundation page.

Writer Gone Cuckoo.....by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 16:23:00 -0700

I love to write about writers, artists, interesting people and places, but every once in a while I toot my own horn and talk about my latest books. Many of you have already read Cuckoo Clock Caper and I have heard from you--thank you for your kind words.

At this moment I have a 96,000-word story standing by, ready for publication. Unfortunately it does not fit the format regulations at Cozy Cat Press, so I will be publishing "Beetles In the Boxcar" on Kindle in a week or two. In the meantime I am one-third of the way through book number six.

If you would like to read more Josephine adventures just go to Amazon and type in "Joyce Oroz." Thanks for listening!

Book review by Robert Walch at the Salinas Californian

Local connection: A retired muralist and commercial artist, Joyce Oroz lives in Aromas. This is the fourth suspense novel in the Josephine Stuart series. The story is set primarily in Santa Cruz County and Moss Landing.

Content: Fifty-year-old muralist Josie Stuart’s life becomes somewhat complicated when a neighbor’s home mysteriously burns down and he ends up moving in with her. Emmett Hooley’s sister dies in the blaze and the 90-year-old clockmaker has no place to go, so Josie extends a helping hand.

Besides getting the old man back on his feet, Josie is also determined to discover who set Emmett’s house on fire and caused his sister’s death. As she delves into his past and meets his family and friends, the inquisitive artist discovers that her house guest is not only quite wealthy but he has also made a name for himself in the world of cuckoo clocks.

As the novel unfolds, the reader also follows the progress of a commission the artist is working on in Moss Landing. While she and her assistants are re-creating the Parthenon on the sidewall of a new art gallery, Josie encounters some really bad modern art. Josie marvels that anyone would want to hang the bizarre canvasses on their walls, let along pay big bucks for them. This situation, like other seemingly random events in the story, percolates for a while and then becomes an important element in the final solution to what happened the night Emmett’s house went up in flames.

Perhaps the author’s reliance on “coincidence” and how certain pieces of the puzzle finally come together will bother some readers, but those who continue to follow this series won’t mind too much. The number of mysteries in this series now attests to the fact that Josie Stuart has a loyal following of fans willing to overlook a few plot quirks because this Aromas amateur sleuth is such a beguiling lady.

Quote: “I took a deep breath and submerged myself. Murky water stung my eyes as I searched for Solow. I saw movement and swam deeper toward a shadow dog with his leash wrapped up in a submerged bicycle. There was no time to think about how a bicycle ends up in the drink, along with rusted steel bed springs and some other weird stuff. I went straight to my poor sweet dog and unhooked his leash,” (Note: that “other weird stuff” is important as you’ll see as the story races towards its conclusion!)

Here is a quote from my friend and editor, Tomi Edmiston:

"Josephine's unquenchable thirst for the truth leads her on another rollicking trail of adventures, or should I say "misadventures." When one of her neighbor's house explodes and goes up in flames, Josephine, true to her nature, becomes a mole digging beneath the surface to uncover what she suspects are unscrupulous, murderous acts. Her sleuthing takes her far afield from her usual Aromas and Moss Landing, California, terrain into the middle of a desolate Arizona desert to attend a Cuckoo Clock Convention and all the dangers that abound thereof. Josephine has that uncanny ability to bring closure to a seemingly innocent but murderous incident. We can only hope that someday, she can do the same for her love life with that charming, handsome man in her life. A delightful read with lots of adventure; devoid of unnecessary x-rated scenes and vulgar language."

Author Elissa D. Grodin........by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 8 Oct 2013 16:05:00 -0700

Today I want to introduce my friend and author, Elissa Grodin, who writes children's books and cozy mysteries. "Physics Can Be Fatal" is Elissa's newest book published by Copy Cat Press. I love to hear writers tell their life-story because they do it so well.

Here is Elissa in her own words:

My Cozy Cat Press mystery is called Physics Can Be Fatal. The second in this series is nearly finished, in which the movie director, Alfred Hitchcock, figures into the plot. I have a strong background in film studies, and am published on the subject. In my second Edwina Goodman mystery, the plot revolves around the Film Studies Department at the college where Edwina teaches.

My writing history is as follows: I lived in England when I was in my 20s, and wrote for the Times Literary Supplement as a freelance journalist. I later moved on to children's books, and have had six children's books published, the most recent being C Is For Ciao, a picture book about the history and culture of Italy.

My mother introduced me to Agatha Christie when I was a teenager. I am a terrific fan of the Golden Age mystery writers -- Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, et. al., and I aspire to write in this tradition of heavily atmospheric and character-driven cozy mysteries. Mysteries are what I have always wanted to write, and that it took me until now to do so is a mystery in itself.

I have long been interested in physics -- hence, my protagonist is an assistant professor of physics at an Ivy League school. It is her ability to think outside the box, and the sublime imagination it takes to be a theoretical physicist, that allows Edwina Goodman to be such a good amateur sleuth.
But most of all, she is driven by an insatiable curiosity about the workings of the world around her, and this is what fuels her.

All my books are available at amazon.com., and I have a web site, www.elissagrodin.com

Thank you, Elissa for sharing your history and the elements that motivate you. Can't wait to read your next book!

Bigfoot Lives.........By Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 4 Oct 2013 20:39:00 -0700

How many times have we heard of BIGFOOT? We have all heard the rumors. Some people believe Bigfoot exists, some people don't believe in anyone taller than Michael Jordan and some of us sit on the fence waiting to see if Mr. Bigfoot comes out of the tool shed wearing sunglasses and a speedo.

Recent DNA tests prove that Mr. Bigfoot is real. He is a mixture of human and large hairy animal.

Whether you "believe" or not, The Bigfoot Discovery Museum in Felton, California is a great place to go to gather information from it's very knowledgeable owner, Mike Rugg. I prefer to believe in the big people since their dad weighs as much as my truck. I plan to stay on good terms with the whole hairy family. Here are reactions from people who have visited the Bigfoot Discovery Museum in Felton.

"What a ridiculously cool and unexpected find! I was staying at Jaye's to see a show at Don Quixote's and when I was looking something up on my iPhone map, I saw the marker "Bigfoot Discovery Museum". SAY WHAAAAT? Oh, hell yes! I nearly squealed with excitement. I had no idea."

"I loaded the kids in the car and we heading out to see it. What a neat place! The first room has tons of Bigfoot memorabilia from various TV shows, movies, magazines, and newspapers, included a display of Bigfoot articles from my beloved and now defunct Weekly World News. There was also music overhead that was Bigfoot related. Most likely from the 70's."

"The next room had more exhibits and the wonderful and interesting Mike behind the counter. We spoke at great length about the museum and how it is in jeopardy of closing due to lack of funding. So PLEASE make a donation when you visit and buy as much stuff as you can. This place is a gem! A quirky original that needs to remain open. I was looking at some of the art work and found a sketch of Bigfoot playing the dulcimer. I asked Mike, "Is that Bigfoot playing a dulcimer?" and he told me they were his two favorite things. Awesome. He also told me about the five types of Bigfoot (Bigfeet?) which was fascinating. He said he's been studying Bigfoot for over 60 years! HE BELIEVES!"

"Days after we went, there was a piece about the museum on the news. Great timing! If you live in the Bay Area, this is definitely a neat little place to visit. The drive is beautiful and Henry Cowell Park is RIGHT there. So, be sure to drop by and say hi to Sasquatch and Mike!"

"Great place to stop! This place is small but it is packed full of fun and informative info and memorabilia of North America's most elusive primate. The owner/operator is engaging, friendly and well-informed with all of the latest sasquatch info. This is a great place to stop!
Cost: Free with a suggested $2 donation... give more if you can!"

"It's so intimidating walking up to the place that that really sets the mood for the experience. You might be scared to talk to the unassuming yet intense man behind the counter, but that, is the real reason to go here. He's really nice, has some interesting stories and really lays out some plausible theories. The organization also puts on seminars, which I keep trying to get time to go to."

"Let's start off with the admission that I'm a critical skeptic of this topic. But my own feelings about this don't have any bearing on my review. This is a very small, owner-operated museum on Bigfoot, locally and beyond. The proprietor is absolutely delightful to chat with and his belief and passion on the subject are above reproach. It is obvious that the guy is quite knowledgeable about Bigfoot events and topics. My wife was utterly entranced with his stories and I have to admit that my own curiosity was more than a bit piqued by his facts. His tiny museum is run on donations and it shows in the humble but sincere and compelling displays. I highly recommend stopping in and chatting. And don't forget to donate generously! We need more of these interesting and diverse places to see."

"The place is tiny, but then again, the owner keeps his business running off donations. The trinkets are pretty cool and kids would love the place. The man that owns it is informative and very passionate about his discoveries on the mysterious bigfoot."

5497 Hwy 9, Felton, CA

Directions:

On the west side of Hwy 9 just south of town. From the intersection of Graham Hill Rd and Hwy 9, take Hwy 9 left three-quarters of a mile.

Hours:

W-M 11-6 (Call to verify)

Phone:

831-335-4478

Admission:

Free

RA Rates:

Worth a Detour

"Fun location, especially if you're a Bigfoot fan like my boyfriend. The owner/curator is very passionate about his collection and research. Free admission, but small donations ($2-$5) are encouraged and worth it especially if you get to talk to him. If you're lucky, maybe he will show you his own video footage!"

Mary Dezelle's Art.......by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 1 Oct 2013 19:27:00 -0700

Hurrah for Mary Dezelle, Dragonfly Gallery “Artist of the Month” for October.

Mary is the kind of artist who thinks outside the box of art materials. She is a well-educated, industrious and talented lady who has successfully put her artistic hand to many things. She grew up in Sacramento as the daughter of an accomplished artist and teacher, and has been creating art since the age of three. As a fourth generation native Californian, she comes from a long line of artists and educators.

After receiving her B. A. degree in Advertising from San Jose State University in 1978, she became the Advertising Copywriter for Montgomery Ward department stores bay area metro, located in Oakland. Her work covered nine newspapers, direct mail campaigns, finished fashion illustration and photography.

From there, Ms. Dezelle went to work for the Whirlpool Corporation in Sunnyvale and later signed on as Graphics Arts Technician with the Santa Clara County Office of Education. Eventually she became Vice President of Advanced Printing Company, Inc. in Gilroy.

Ms. Dezelle’s repertoire includes batik, three dimensional design, watercolor acrylics, oil pastel, colored pencil, calligraphy, technical illustration, mask making, floral design and event planning for weddings, memorials, fund raisers, etc.

At present, Mary makes hand-crafted jewelry, gourd decoration, free-form crochet, floral design, painting and masks. She specializes in “One of a kind” pieces and welcomes custom orders. Her masks and gourds are presently displayed and sold at the Dragonfly Gallery.

To place a special order or contact her regarding her art work, she can be reached at 831-726-9329.

A special “Meet and Greet” will be held at the Dragonfly Gallery, Saturday, October 12, 2:00 to 4:00 pm, 380 Blohm Ave., Aromas. Please join us for refreshments and conversation with the very talented, Mary Dezelle.

Gluten free pizza!!.......by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 15:45:00 -0700

This recipe is wonderful, and best eaten with a fork.
Gluten-free? Diabetic? No worries!

For when you absolutely want pizza but not all the carbs!!!!!!!

Crust
1 (8 oz) package of full fat cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder and a pinch of crushed oregano
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Topping

1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
toppings - pepperoni, ham, sausage, mushrooms, peppers
Or...chopped onion, spam and olives
Garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350.

Lightly spay a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. With a handheld mixer, mix cream cheese, eggs, pepper, garlic powder and parmesan cheese until combined. Spread into baking dish. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Allow crust to cool for 10 minutes.

Spread pizza sauce on crust. Top with cheese and toppings. Sprinkle pizza with garlic powder. Bake 8-10 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Author Julie Seedorf.......by Joyce oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:36:00 -0700

Introducing, Julie Seedorf
Author, Columnist, Dreamer

Julie Seedorf is a Cozy Cat Press writer and this week, our very own celebrity. Her newest book, Granny Hooks a Crook, is rated number ONE for cozy mysteries at Amazon!!

Never quit dreaming is Julie's motto. Dreams are the gateway to fun, fantasy and the future.
It seems Julie and I have much in common with family and writing, etc., but besides all that, our names are easy to find on the internet because no one else has them.
Now, here is Julie in her own words.

"I always liked to write but life got in the way as an adult. A few years ago I had a bad fall and ended up with surgery and laying flat on my back with my leg up for six weeks. It gave me time to reflect on my life. At that time I sent in a query to an area newspaper in a bigger community along with a mock column to see if they needed a columnist. I call the column "Something About Nothing" There are many somethings in the nothings we talk about every day. Occasionally it is a serious column but mostly it is fluffy so people can have a break from the bad news. That was seven years ago and the column is going strong. Over the years after that I have started books, loved by my friends when they have read excerpts, but never finished them because of many ups and downs in my personal family life. Two years ago I had another serious illness and I knew I had to change my life. I had quit doing the things I loved. So I started writing on my blog about my grandkitties as we were taking care of them at their house. It is in the cats voices, wondering why their parents had left them in the control of two strangers. It was well received on my blog. At the same time I collaborated with my Grandchildren about a book called Whatchamacallit? Thingamajig? with them in it. I published it on Amazon and CreateSpace by myself just so they would have a book to remember me by. It is going to be series about Grandparents and their Grandchildren. Then on a lark I started writing a story about the fictional town Fuchsia, Minnesota and Granny. Every day I woke up with a new chapter in my head. I called it a God thing because it got me more out of my depression about life's circumstances and giving my creative brain a whirl. That is how Granny Hooks A Crook became a reality. This year Cozy Cat Press accepted me as a writer and published Granny Hooks A Crook."

"When I write I lose track of time and I lose track of where I am. The words seem to flow out of my heart. My writing makes me happy and it releases the silly creative part of me that is not always accepted in the public. The hardest part about writing is that here are those that who do not understand the creative process, the need for uninterrupted time and also people who do not take a writing seriously. They treat it as a frivolous pastime. It also bugs me that there never seems to be enough time to write."

"I write for a few area newspapers. I have three blogs; justalittlefluff.com, thankfuljoy.com, sprinklednotes.com. They are each different. I am also going to be doing freelance articles for some So. Minnesota newspapers. They will be human interest stories that focus on people who are often overlooked but have meaningful stories to tell. They will start in September."

"I would love to be more like my character Granny, Hermiony Vidalia Criony Fiddlestadt. She is perky, tough, mischievous, loving, straight to the point, a little bit sneaky and she cares about others around her. She doesn't let age get her down. I think some of Granny is a little like my mother was. She couldn't go to the nursing home because there were old people there. My mother never thought of herself as old. She did her own thing, even crawling up on her roof to repair it at 90 years old and she was cantankerous. Of course Granny (Hermione's) biggest weakness is her love of unhealthy food and her nose for trouble but that is also where her strengths come in. I hope Granny is like me in that she cares deeply for her neighbors and her family even when she is thwarting their attempts to help her."

"My books can be found on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Createspace.com. They can also be found in the Mankato Barnes and Noble Store and they are available for order from there. They are also available at Book World in Albert Lea. My column can be found at albertleatribune.com. My website is julieseedorf.com I am creating t-shirts, mugs etc. that go with my book. I also will have other works of my art available there. This will probably happen in the next month or two.

I would like to thank everyone for all their support especially for Joyce for having me as a guest on her blog."

Thank you, Julie for giving us a colorful picture of your life. I think your “Granny” character is a lot like you—very likable!

Cómo manejarse con un jefe complicado

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 08:44:00 -0700

Lidiar con un jefe complicado hace la tarea laboral más tediosa e insoportable. Pero si no puedes abandonar tu trabajo, deberás adaptarte.

Cómo convivir con un jefe complicado

Tener un jefe simpático, justo, agradable y comprensivo es, quizás, el sueño de muchísimas personas. En especial, es el deseo de quienes deben lidiar a diario con un jefe malhumorado, soberbio y totalmente complicado. Pero hay maneras de llevar a cabo tus actividades sin dejarte amedrentar por esta innegable situación.

El jefe es una persona y, como cualquier otra, tiene su carácter, hábitos de conducta y personalidad; no puedes cambiarlo a gusto. Además, cuando se trata de personas complicadas, no es posible aconsejarles (desde tu papel de empleado suyo) sobre posibles cambios a efectuar: hasta tu puesto de trabajo podría peligrar si lo haces.

Cambia tú en lugar del trabajo

Por ello, el mejor camino para lidiar con un jefe malhumorado y soberbio, es cambiar tú mismo. No, no nos referimos a que te vuelvas soberbio tú también, sino a que debes ser quien aprenda a lidiar con este jefe, dejando de lado las quejas y los dolores de cabeza. Pero, ¿cómo puedes hacerlo?

Pues si la situación se torna demasiado complicada, puedes abandonar tu puesto de trabajo. Recuerda que siempre tienes el poder de presentar la renuncia, con todo lo que ello lleva asociado. Pero “podrías” hacerlo, y esto es una herramienta a tu favor. ¿Sabes cómo?. Al hacerte sentir menos atado, más libre sobre tus propias decisiones. Debes pensar que no estás atado a este trabajo y tu jefe, sino que eres libre de irte, pero eliges quedarte allí y sobreponerte a la situación. Puede sonar simplista, pero una vez que lo pongas en práctica notarás una gran diferencia en tus humores diarios.

Si te enfrentas a tu jefe, simplemente estarías empeorando el problema. Debes enfrentarte cuando obstaculice tu desempeño o tu bienestar, pero no cuando simplemente te cae mal en sus conductas. Por otro lado, tampoco debes someterte y entregarte a sus deseos. Debes hallar el camino medio, entre la desestimación de aquello molesto que no contribuye (pero tampoco resta), y lo que sí merece tu acción.

El consejo de oro es “hacer lo tuyo”. Esto significa realizar tus tareas de la mejor manera posible, y evitar las confrontaciones innecesarias que tampoco serán de utilidad para mejorar la convivencia laboral. Si realmente se trata de una persona complicada, puedes procurar evitar el contacto social. Limítate a charlas sobre tus labores, y se eficiente en tus actividades. Si no dejas espacio a las críticas, mediante un gran trabajo, entonces tu jefe no será un constante problema (u obstáculo) en tu desempeño laboral.

Deja de Pensar y comienza a Hacer..

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 07:37:00 -0700

Es sorprendente cuanta gente se pasa el tiempo pensando en sus “opciones” de negocio, y por el contrario, no toma las acciones necesarias para alcanzar sus metas. La próxima vez que te veas a ti mismo diciendo: “me pregunto, que pasaría si…”, deberías entonces dejar de pensar y hacerlo solamente.

No te preocupes acerca de si tu eBook que estuviste pensando escribir, será un gran éxito, solo escríbelo y comienza a tratar de venderlo. Si es un fracaso, cosecharás la recompensa a largo plazo, y si es una bomba, aprenderás algo que hará tu próximo proyecto más exitoso. ¿Te estás preguntando si deberías empezar esa compañía con la que estuviste soñando por años? Deja de preguntártelo y comienza. En vez de analizar cada pequeño detalle de la web que has estado pensando lanzar, lánzala y preocúpate de la perfección a medida que avanzas. Una vez que comiences a recibir la retroalimentación de tus clientes, puedes comenzar a hacer los cambios y mejoras que les preocupan a ellos.

¿Cómo te sentirías si alcanzas el éxito más allá de tus sueños más locos? Te diré exactamente cómo te sentirías; tendrás el peor caso de sentimientos encontrados que nunca tuviste en tu vida. El Júbilo sobre tu éxito y el remordimiento de no empezar lo antes posible, así es que evita que tus excusas tomen el control de tus acciones y sal allá afuera y persigue tus sueños.

Sculpture at Sierra Azul.........by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 17:58:00 -0700

Sculpture IS 2013

Sculpture is what I’m talking about today because I went for a walk on the WILD side of Sierra Azul. Sierra Azul sounds so normal, restful, unaffected. Not really. True, it is a beautiful, serene place where native and drought resistant plants and trees are sold. Putting it mildly, it’s the pride and joy of Wasonville gardeners and plant-lovers.

Every year dozens of sculptors like Sally Diggory, Sylvia Rios and Marnie Bivetto participate in the Pajaro Valley Arts Council sculpture show by displaying their sculptures at the nursery.

As I tramped along the paths bordered by bushy grasses, luscious ground covers and interesting trees, I discovered amazing artwork—like the twelve-foot tall “Big Blue Fish” made out of steel, by Michael Seymour. It even has movable scales.

The “Screwball Ceramic” caught my eye and made me laugh out loud. Fun to look at and only $800.00, by John Barchi.

Here is a happy piece of steel. How do I know? Every sculpture is labeled. This one is

"Joyous Steel" by Jeff Owen

Here stands "Beegirl" by Carol Gaab. She is wearing a bee outfit and headdress, holding bees in her hands. $3,900.00

Behind "Beegirl" is a bronze/steel

"Shield and Skirt" by Paul Cheney.

Speaking of bees, here is a giant bee sculpture "Bee Sensitive" by

Jennifer Henning. $1,050.00

Here is the happy ending to my little look at sculpture in the garden. Who is happier than "Mother of all Fallen Angels"

by Teresa Garcia......made out of clay, wire, plastic, plaster, jet fuel, chewing gum and Kleenex.

“Sculpture IS 2013” runs from June 1^st to October 31^st. I have only shown you a tiny bit of the show. It is well worth seeing and will go away October 31^st. Sierra Azul is located at 2660 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA. The outdoor sculpture show is presented by Pajaro Valley Arts Council.

Comenzando con tu propio negocio

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 08:37:00 -0700

Ser emprendedor y comenzar tu propio negocio está cargado de valentía, pero no podrás hacerlo solo. Aquí te damos algunas sugerencias para dar los primeros pasos.

Primeros pasos para ser emprendedor

¿Piensas comenzar con tu propio negocio o emprendimiento? Pues no se trata sólo de reunir dinero y comprar la maquinaria. Si tienes un plan desarrollado, bien calculado, listo para ponerse en ejecución puedes adelantar algunos pasos, pero ya sea que lo tengas o no, hay algunos buenos consejos que los grandes emprendedores han querido compartir con los jóvenes y deseosos futuros empresarios.

Lo primero a definir es el tipo de negocio, su producción, sus necesidades (incluyendo costos e inversiones –maquinaria, materia prima, entrenamiento, educación, todo lo que fuera necesario-) y comenzar a esbozar un plan adecuado. Luego, o quizás incluso al mismo tiempo, pero ya con el proyecto al menos pensado, estos son los trucos que hicieron a los grandes millonarios de hoy lo que son:

Buscar un mentor

Hallar un mentor, una fuente de inspiración, un modelo a seguir y del cual aprender no es un paso menor. El mentor es como un buen padre para un hijo: es el que te guía, confía en ti y te anima a seguir adelante en tu camino, con un ojo atento por sobre tu hombro para advertirte de los obstáculos y animarte a sortearlos.

Hallar un mentor puede ser algo complicado, por lo que debe prestar atención a la elección. Puede ser un exitoso referente de la industria, del sector o del rubro de tu interés, e incluso de un rubro distinto, o bien un coach o asesor profesional. Debe ser alguien a quien admires, con buenos conocimientos, y con ganas y disposición para ser tu mentor. Recuerda: se trata de un ejemplo, de un modelo, y no del maestro titiritero que “te dirá qué hacer”.

Los buenos críticos

A menudo solemos ser demasiado indulgentes o demasiado estrictos con nuestras propias ideas y proyectos. Por ello, debes confiar en críticos conocedores para evaluar tu proyecto, o el avance y desempeño del mismo.

Los críticos que elijas (conviene que sean en número impar, tres o cinco, ni más ni menos) han de ser objetivos. Si tienen competencias o fuertes sentimientos hacia ti, ya sean de envidia, odio o ira, o también amor, enamoramiento u otro similar, no podrán juzgar adecuadamente tu labor en las mayores de las probabilidades. Será mejor confiar este análisis crítico a personas recomendadas, pero desconocidas, cuya labor sea la de hacer análisis o bien cuyo oficio nada tenga que ver con el tuyo, pues esto sería una invitación a la envidia profesional que no deseamos encontrar.

Inversores o participantes

Si tienes inversores dispuestos a colaborar en los inicios de tu actividad o negocio, asegúrate de establecer claramente las pautas de su presencia. No es lo mismo si tienes un socio capitalista (es decir, alguien en tu mismo status que ha aportado dinero) que un inversor (alguien que sólo ha aportado dinero).

De igual modo, el inversor regular y el inversor accionista tendrán una participación en la toma de decisiones empresariales, mientras que el inversor silencioso no posee participación (ni opinión) en la actividad de la empresa, sino que funciona como un inversor a plazo fijo: ha depositado tanta cantidad de dinero, tal día se le devolverá X cantidad de dinero.

Asegúrate de establecer las pautas, de modo de no tener más opiniones de las necesarias, pero también recuerda que un sabio emprendedor sabe escuchar, valorar y estimar las opiniones de los demás, pues nunca se sabe cuál de ellas, aunque incorrecta, sea la simiente para una nueva y brillante idea de negocios.

¿Como superar el aburrimiento en la oficina?

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:39:00 -0700

Todo ser humano experimenta situaciones de cansancio y aburrimiento ante la exposición continua a la misma actividad. Día con día las personas en Guatemala se presentan a sus lugares de trabajo a emprender actividades y a realizar las labores asignadas según su cargo hasta que termina la jornada laboral. Ahí, cuando está por terminar el día, es donde viene el cansancio físico y mental y, con él, el aburrimiento laboral.

Este último se define como una actitud de indisposición o falta de motivación para realizar las labores diarias. Una persona que experimenta aburrimiento laboral no rinde igual que una entusiasta y enérgica en su trabajo. Muchas veces el aburrimiento laboral es provocado por las empresas porque sus dinámicas son monótonas y provocan que los empleados caigan en monotonía. Por ello es importante que las instituciones se preocupen por motivar a sus empleados, por incentivarlos e involucrarlos en actividades dentro y fuera del trabajo. A la vez, es importante planificar acciones como capacitaciones, convivencias u otros eventos que contribuyan al mejoramiento y superación del aburrimiento por parte del empleado.

Causas que generan el aburrimiento laboral

El aburrimiento en el trabajo puede darse por múltiples factores y de muchas maneras.

•Puede surgir por las razones antes mencionadas: el cansancio y la fatiga por el desarrollo de actividades repetitivas.

•También puede darse por la falta de realización de actividades. Es decir, hay quienes se aburren de no hacer nada. Pasan todo el día en el lugar de trabajo sin realizar mayor labor. En ese sentido, el empleado se cansa y aburre por la inactividad.

•El aburrimiento laboral puede surgir ante la prolongación de años trabajados que una persona dedica a la misma empresa o al mismo cargo laboral. Eso también es causa de aburrimiento, pero sin embargo puede ser superado.

•Las condiciones laborales pueden ocasionar aburrimiento y fatiga laboral como por ejemplo la iluminación de la oficina, la ventilación y el espacio asignado al empleado para trabajar.

•Las malas relaciones interpersonales entre jefes y compañeros de trabajo contribuyen también al aburrimiento laboral

•Los horarios laborales también afectan. Es más probable que quien se distraiga más en su receso, hora de almuerzo y hora de salida se encontrará en menor condición de aburrimiento laboral que quien permanece mayor tiempo trabajando.

•Las tareas complicadas o interminables son factores influyentes de aburrimiento laboral.

•La sobrecarga de trabajo muchas veces desmotiva demasiado a los trabajadores.

•Insatisfacciones laborales, sobre todo ante condiciones de beneficio que no son aprovechadas por el empleado.

¿Cómo superar el aburrimiento en el trabajo?

El aburrimiento laboral es tan perjudicial como el estrés que experimentan las personas fatigadas de tanta actividad profesional. Por ello es relevante que sepas qué hacer para superar el aburrimiento que llega sin que te des cuenta.

•Analiza la situación y descubre qué es lo que te mantiene aburrido: así, detectando el problema, será más fácil encontrarle una solución.

•Sal de la rutina y evita perjudicarte por la monotonía: una buena forma de hacerlo es saltando los pasos de tu agenda diaria, empezar por las actividades más complicadas en la mañana para aprovechar las energías que llevas; y terminar el día con los trabajos más sencillos para sentir menos pesado el cierre de labores.

•Haz cosas nuevas, conoce y aprende a diario: debes motivarte pensando que cada día hay algo nuevo que aprender, que conocer para luego ponerlo en práctica.

•Créate nuevas curiosidades.

•Conversa con las personas de otros temas que no sean de trabajo: eso ayudará a despejar tu mente y a distraerte de las responsabilidades laborales.

•Practica algún deporte o nuevo hobbie: eso contribuirá a salir de la rutina y a despejar tus ideas.

•Ten confianza en ti mismo y en tus capacidades para realizar el trabajo que debes hacer.

Ventajas de superar el aburrimiento laboral

Es importante solucionar y evitar las situaciones de aburrimiento laboral para garantizar el bienestar del trabajador, al mismo tiempo que desempeña un buen rol dentro de la empresa. Algunas de las ventajas que trae superar el aburrimiento laboral son:

•Mejor disposición ante las tareas laborales cotidianas.

•Un buen estado de ánimo del empleado.

•Una mejor condición mental y física.

•Mejor aporte de ideas frescas y creativas producto de la motivación.

•Mejor rendimiento y productividad laboral.

•Una buena imagen proyectada antes los demás en la oficina.

•Reflejo de un buen ejemplo de empleado.

Consejos para mantener el orden en la oficina

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 10:22:00 -0700

Hacer las tareas sobre un escritorio desordenado le quita comodidad, y por ende, productividad a tu trabajo.

El orden y la energía

Mantener la oficina en orden no es sólo conveniente, sino que es, además, una manera de ser más productivos. Los ambientes ordenados nos motivan a realizar las labores, alivian nuestras presiones, y minimizan la sensación de incomodidad general. También, el orden propicia la libre circulación de energías productivas y creativas, indispensables para el buen cumplimiento de nuestras labores.

Para mantener el orden debemos saber dar una guarda conveniente a todos los papeles, elementos y herramientas de trabajo. No se trata de esconder todo dentro de un mueble, para que quede fuera de la vista, sino que se trata de guardar “cada cosa en su lugar”, como buen consejo de abuela.

El espacio clave para mantener el orden

Necesitamos contar con espacio de guarda suficiente para poder colocar dentro cada elemento, y que quede siempre al alcance de la mano. Podemos destinar cajones o estantes para cada tipo de elementos, por ejemplo los lápices, abrochadores, perforadoras, afiladores y demás en un cajón, y en otro los papeles para impresión; podemos dedicar un estante a carpetas, y otro diferente a papeles de uso, etc.

Así, podremos tener siempre a mano todo lo necesario, sin tenerlo permanentemente sobre el escritorio. Recuerda que tan sólo con quitar de la vista los elementos la tarea no estará siendo cumplida, pues demorarás más en hallar lo necesario si no le has dado su lugar de reposo.

Mantén los elementos de uso cotidiano cerca, para evitar interrumpir tus labores cuando los necesites. Por ejemplo, a menudo necesitamos sujetar papeles entre sí. No dejes los sujetadores y abrochadores lejos de tu escritorio, ya que si te pones de pie para ir a buscarlos, demorarás e interrumpirás tu labor.

El orden en la oficina tiene sus ventajas

Del mismo modo, mantener todos nuestros espacios libres y abiertos (en particular la zona de trabajo, como la oficina y el escritorio) permite una mejor concentración, con menos distracciones. Te podrás enfocar en la tarea en marcha, sin dejarte llevar ni interrumpir tu análisis o trabajo mental por la fijación sobre otros asuntos, como sucede cuando vemos de reojo papeles de otras tareas, aún por finalizar.

Finalmente, el orden permite la circulación de energías. Los ambientes desordenados producen la sensación de estanco, de caos y de falta de espacio para avanzar. Esta percepción es nociva para nuestra productividad. En cambio, el espacio ordenado, prolijo y amplio permite la percepción de libertad, de espacio de crecimiento, y facilita la circulación de las energías de ambiente. Es una gran decisión, que podemos aplicar en simples pasos.

Debra's Debut Book.........by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 20:32:00 -0700

Today I would like you to meet a very enthusiastic and creative fiction author, Debra J Smith. Her debut book, Secrets Beyond Scymaria, has just become available in hardback, paperback and e-book forms.

Debra, who or what inspired you to be a writer? Was there an author you admired?

I've always loved to write: where my brothers had to be coerced to sit down to write thank you notes, I gleefully penned my letters for gifts that were pages long-I was teased that my letters to friends were 'novels'...sometimes upward to ten pages (my poor friends), but I think once my 6th grade English teacher gave us a writing assignment (of course, staying with the standard 'write about something you know' premise) I dove into it, relishing every moment of the creative process and created a science fiction story--not exactly what the teacher expected, but I did get an A. From that point forward, I was always writing and coming up with ideas for stories.

As a kid -- which was a very long time ago, I hated to read. It was a serious challenge for me--now they call it dyslexia (I was finally diagnosed when I went to a Jr. College as an adult--up until then, I'd always been told I was a "slow learner"). In second grade, after a librarian coaxed me to try Big Red, I fell in love with reading, even if I was a slow reader.
I read two basic genres, but don't think I had any favorites--they were all great: I started with the heart warming fiction stories likeJim Kjelgaard's Big Red, Rudyard Kipling's Rikki Tikki Tavi (notthe Disney version), E.B. White's Charlotte's Web and Eleanor H. Porter's Pollyanna then graduated to science fiction, which remains my mainstay--and I love the stories made for all ages, not just adults. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engleand Forgotten Door by Alexander Key were amongst the first I read.

What do you like to write about and do you have experience in that area?

I guess my favorite thing to write about is science fiction, though one of my writing classes challenged me to write more personal stuff and I found that I enjoy that also. I started out as a storyteller, creating spontaneous stories in the classroom at elementary schools, so from there it was a natural evolution into the personalized written stories I did for individuals and now, this science fiction fantasy series.

The only experience I have is what I've learned through reading (books and on the internet), plus a few college writing courses I've taken as an adult.

Is your protagonist anything like you? What is he-she like?

Hmmm...funny thing, that. I hadn't planned on it, but now that I've read (and re-read oh so many times during the editing process!) the story, I think both--I have two protagonists--have a little bit of me in them. My storytelling has always revolved around two characters...male and female, and this story is no different. In the Secrets Beyond Scymaria series Ty is quiet, loyal, studious but very curious and ready for adventure. Amy is much more outgoing, gets herself into trouble on occasion and usually acts as spokesperson when they are together. I believe both are strong characters, but still finding out about themselves -- after all, they are only 13.

Debra, how long have you been writing?

This is a tricky question. I've been writing since I was a kid -- off and on, but did not seriously begin writing until 1999 when I started this venture which finally became the Secrets Beyond Scymaria series. So far, only one of the books is published, but there are two more in the wings almost ready for their debut and several more waiting to hit the paper. Prior to that, it was more just for the fun of writing.

What do you love about writing and what bugs you about it?

What do I love about writing? Oh, my -- just letting my mind open up and pour out all of the ideas that are bottled up. Sometimes my fingers cannot keep up with all of the ideas! I love how my characters take the storyline and run with it -- even when it's not what I'd actually planned on writing--there have been times where I've tried to re-direct, but the characters wouldn't allow it. I'm simply the spectator, watching the story unfold before my very eyes! It completely captivates me how that can happen.

Hmmm...what bugs me is harder. There are so many things to love about writing, it's hard to think of any negatives. Well, it's not really about the writing--but the other things that intrude on my writing time--like housework, feeding the critters, taking time away from writing to preparingmeals so I have energy to keep writing...little things like that definitelybug me.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Oh, this one is easy. There are basically two sides to me: the writerly side and the painterly side. When not writing, I take time to tromp in the bushes, climb rock or walk along the ocean to take photographs, then create art with them or simply paint something. I split my time between my computer at home and Open Ground Studios in Seaside, where all my other 'painterly' needs are met. I've had a few art exhibitions of my prints, which has been fun and exciting.

Please tell us where we can find your books?

Finally, Secrets Beyond Scymaria can be found -- as of today through my publisher, Xlibris.comas a paperback, hardback and soon (in 3-4 weeks, I believe), as an e-reader. In about 4-6 weeks, it will be available through Amazon.comand Barnesandnoble.com. Anyone interested may place an order through any of these three websites. I'm going to try to get it at some of the brick and mortar stores too. If I succeed, they will be posted on my website.

I have ordered some of both paperback and hardback books to have on hand for book signings. The schedule and locations will be posted (as soon as I get them lined up) within the next few weeks at my website:

http://creationsbydjamesonsmith.com/dj_jameson_smith_author_storyteller

Thank you, Debra for your enthusiastic answers and best of luck with your new series!

Thank you, Joyce for taking the time to interview me. This was fun.

God Inspired
Creations by djamesonsmith

Secrets Beyond Scymaria
Release date: 9.11.13

www.creationsbydjamesonsmith.com/blog

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One More Critter......by Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 17:58:00 -0700

Recently a friend and I were discussing the fact that we had not seen a monarch butterfly in Aromas in a very long time. I remember seeing monarchs throughout Santa Cruz and Monterey counties years ago. Their bright orange color and elaborate markings, like all beautiful creatures, always lifted my mood and made me smile.

Nine or ten years have passed since I last spotted a monarch in my neighborhood.

But hold onto your seat! Yesterday it happened! I saw a monarch butterfly on one of my sunflowers. I looked again to make sure that’s what I saw, dashed into the house, grabbed my camera and thoroughly recorded the grand event.

I am thrilled to be able to share my butterfly with you, and will share again if his family decides to move into the neighborhood. There’s always room for one more critter.

10 técnicas psicológicas que pueden ayudarte a obtener un nuevo empleo

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 12:38:00 -0700

Las decisiones de contratación se basan en algo más que habilidades y experiencia. Se trata también de instintos y reacciones. Todo tipo de factores psicológicos sutiles entran en juego, así que a continuación diez técnicas que pueden ayudar a que usted brinde una mejor impresión.

1. Hacer una charla amena pero sin autopromoción

Actitudes como: elogiar la organización, felicitar a la entrevistadora, mostrar entusiasmo, discutir intereses comunes, sonreír y mantener contacto con los ojos ayudan a mantener una buena entrevista a diferencia de la auto-promoción sin sentido.

A diferencia de la auto-promoción descarada era sorprendentemente ineficaz. Tampoco ayuda mucho tomar las riendas de la entrevista o tener impresionantes resultados universitarios.

Por lo tanto, aunque los empleadores suelen decir que la experiencia laboral y la calificación son los factores más importantes en la elección de la persona adecuada para el trabajo no siempre es así.

2. Mantener el auto-control

Los entrevistadores a menudo hacen preguntas sobre cómo tratar con situaciones difíciles en el pasado. Usted probablemente ha preparado una respuesta, pero ¿Le hace demostrar las cualidades que el entrevistador está buscando?

Se debe destacar cómo controlar estas situaciones difíciles. Los empleadores quieren ver que usted está tomando la iniciativa y control de sí mismo.

3. Hable con usted mismo

Hablar con uno mismo no necesariamente indica un signo de locura si no por el contrario nos puede ayudar en algunos aspectos de nuestra vida, frases como: “Yo puedo entrar en la habitación de una manera segura” y “Puedo sonreír y firmemente estrechar la mano del entrevistador” nos pueden a aumentar nuestra seguridad en la entrevista de trabajo.

4. Las imágenes mentales

Si los atletas pueden utilizar con éxito las imágenes mentales para mejorar su rendimiento, ¿Por qué no las personas que buscan un empleo? Al igual que hablar con uno mismo pre visualizar imágenes de nosotros mismos siendo felicitados por el entrevistador y obteniendo el empleo nos pueden ayudar a ganar más confianza.

5. Evite una sonrisa falsa

El lenguaje corporal es muy importante en una entrevista de trabajo pero cuando no se tiene gestos naturales el resultado puede ser peor ya que una sonrisa falsa puede dar lugar a una serie de interpretaciones negativas antes que un rostro sin emociones.

6. El famoso apretón de manos

Si bien estamos hablando de lenguaje corporal, también podríamos mencionar el apretón de manos. Es difícil creer que un apretón de manos haga gran diferencia pero estudios demuestran que un apretón puede ayudar en la elección de un puesto de trabajo sobre todo en las mujeres.

7 consejos para mejorar su curriculum vitae

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 07:15:00 -0700

Miles de curriculums u hojas de vida se entregan a diario en todo el mundo pero se calcula que basta solo 45 segundos para determinar si es rechazado o no, la competencia aumenta y es necesario buscar la mejor manera de llegar al grupo de seleccionados.

Naturalmente llegar al puesto requerirá que analicen tu experiencia, aptitudes y estudios pero aquí van una serie de consejos que pueden ayudar a mejorar tu hoja de vida:

No exagere: Está comprobado que cuando una persona que se encarga de seleccionar personal detecta exageraciones y por ende mentiras no solo rechaza el curriculum sino también tiene un sentimiento de repulsión y este puede bloquear otras áreas de la hoja de vida que pueden ayudar a obtener el puesto de trabajo.

Utilice su mirada: Si es necesario incluir una fotografía utilice una en la que se luzca con naturalidad y confianza, una mirada puede ayudar a ganar confianza con el reclutador en lugar de las clásicas fotos serias y estrictas pero recuerda que debes revisar los requisitos de selección ya que puede que especifiquen sin foto.

Resalte la experiencia: Esta comprobado que antes de los grados obtenidos y la educación recibida la experiencia toma mayor importancia para un reclutador de recursos humanos, resalte y haga notar que la experiencia que tiene le van a ayudar a desenvolverse mejor en el trabajo de ser obtenido.

No utilice papel de color: A menos que busque un puesto en una agencia publicitaria o un puesto muy creativo no se recomiendo utilizar papel que no sea de color blanco por que tiene a llamar demasiado la atención y puede dificultar la lectura del reclutador.

Utilice un diseño clásico: Al igual que el punto anterior se recomienda utilizar un diseño clásico ya que los diseños nuevos y creativos no son del todo amigables para todo reclutador.

Sea breve: Las hojas de vida demasiado extensas lejos de provocar asombro o hacer pensar que se trata de una persona con mucha experiencia tienden a aburrir al reclutador por lo que terminara por dejar de leer el resto de información, tampoco anexe información que no es relevante para el puesto que postula.

Fuente: http://psicologiayempresa.com

Love that Fair!........Joyce Oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 21:31:00 -0700

My favorite time of year is fair season, when the arts and crafts, flowers, food and entertainment call me to the Santa Cruz Fair Grounds in Watsonville. I attend every year, but this year I noticed big differences in the placement of things. Everything seemed bigger, cleaner and easier to find. Just when I thought I couldn’t love the fair more, I love it more.

Dragon made out of duct tape

Today was senior’s day, and all the buzzards made their way over to the Turkey Stampede. A remote-controlled truck the size of a bread box drove round and round the oval track with a dozen turkeys following it. Obviously the truck had grain in the back end, because the turkeys tried desperately to catch up to the truck for a bite to eat. Occasionally a bird would miss the turn and fly over the rails and then find his way back to the truck. Most of the time, it was turkey chaos with goofy birds tripping over each other in every direction.

Where are the turkeys?

From there we hit most of the free entertainment, like the pig races and seal stunts. The rose garden was excellent this year thanks to Tomi Edmiston and the rest of the Rose Society.

One could not ask for a better fair. Where else can you find a live redwood tree to take home and plant—for free! A couple more fairs and I will be living in a virtual redwood forest. What better place for old buzzards to live?

5 pasos para encontrar un trabajo que ames

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 10:06:00 -0700

Si le diste clic a este artículo, probablemente no te guste tu trabajo, y probablemente tienes esperanza de que si las estrellas se alinean, te gustará. Pero encontrar un trabajo gratificante no es algo que debes dejar al azar, sino que se requiere de esfuerzo y acción.

“Encontrar un trabajo que realmente ames empieza y termina con tu alrededor”, dice Scott Dinsmore, fundador de Live Your Legend, un sitio que inspira y prepara a las personas a construir carreras que les apasionen. “Pasa tu tiempo con gente que te inspira y que se niega a dejarte renunciar”, dice.

Y aunque encontrar un empleo que realmente te emocione puede parecer una tarea muy retadora, necesitas seguir pasos concretos para llegar a ello. Y éstos cinco son buenos para iniciar:

1. Rodéate de personas que amen su trabajo. A la miseria le encanta la compañía, pero también genera más miseria. “Si las personas que te rodean no aman su trabajo, eso te deprimirá”, dice Dinsmore. “Limitará tu creatividad e infectará tus ideas”.

Esto no significa que bloquees a tus amigos infelices, sino que hagas un esfuerzo consciente de buscar compañía positiva. Piensa en una persona que conoces que te inspira e intenta pasar más tiempo con ella. “Si te rodeas de personas que están viviendo diferente, cambia tu creencia de lo que es posible”, afirma Dinsmore.

2. Trabaja por mejorar tus fortalezas y talentos. La satisfacción incrementa conforme mejoras tus habilidades, ya que eres capaz de usar tus talentos a su máximo potencial. “Es realmente importante pasar tiempo mejorando en algo”, dice Dinsmore. “Cuanto más tiempo usemos en las cosas para las que somos buenos, haciéndonos mejores, más rápido llegará la satisfacción”.

Identifica tus fortalezas notando qué se te da con facilidad o qué haces porque es divertido, después trabaja duro en esas habilidades. No serás un experto desde el principio, pero si tomas tu talento natural y te esfuerzas lo conseguirás.

3. Define el impacto que quieres tener en el mundo. La gente que ama su trabajo típicamente tiene una sensación de propósito –una sensación de que su trabajo tiene un impacto significativo. “Todos queremos mover la aguja de alguna manera”, comenta Dinsmore. “Eso es lo que realmente motiva a las personas”.

Cuando decidas qué impacto quieres tener, enfócate en lo que te importa y no en lo que te debería importar. “Muchas personas trabajan hacia una definición de éxito que no tiene significado alguno para ellos”, sostiene Dinsmore. “Están escalando rumbo a la nada”. Sé honesto con lo que es importante para ti, y trabaja en torno a ello.

4. Aprende cuanto puedas de la vida que quieres. Cuando consideres una carrera o profesión, investiga cómo es el día a día y qué hace falta para triunfar en ella. “Muchas personas asumen que un trabajo es glamoroso”, dice Dinsmore. “No saben en qué se están metiendo”.

Ve el detrás de cámaras para identificar qué hacían los expertos en tu campo antes de ser conocidos. Encuentra role models que estén dispuestos a hablar de sus carreras a detalle, y aprende de recursos como libros, blogs, foros y TED Talks. Esto no sólo te dirá cómo tener éxito, sino también si lo quieres tener.

5. Intenta e intenta de nuevo
No hay una fórmula mágica para construir una carrera que ames o elegir el tipo de empresa que quieres iniciar. Encontrar la opción perfecta es un proceso de prueba y error. Usa formas de bajo riesgo para evaluar tus opciones.

Mientras buscas un trabajo que realmente ames quizá tengas que sacudir tu vida, salir de tu zona de confort y cometer algunos errores. Está bien. “Trata a la vida como un gran experimento o como una serie de mini experimentos”, recomienda Dinsmore. Si te mantienes curioso y sigues intentando, terminarás donde quieres estar.

Fuente: http://www.soyentrepreneur.com/

Another Mural for Aromas ........by Joyce oroz

superrgvdownloads@hotmail.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 8 Sep 2013 18:11:00 -0700

Thanks to Bill Lenneman, gentleman volunteer supreme, a second mural has been installed on the Blohm side of Aromas'1925 vintage Old Firehouse building. The reports are that it wasn’t easy. The heavy 4'x6' top board had to be lugged up and down sixteen feet on extension ladders several times and trimmed to create a perfect fit. Holes were drilled and bolts tightened as passer-bys gave the picture rave reviews.

Ok, it’s a horse reading a book, but in Aromas that’s fine because we are indoor, outdoor people who love horses and we love to read. Notice the kitten peeking out from under the rug as yellow finches fly into the room.

The mural was created by Aromas Hills Artisans, Linda Bjornson, JoAnne Andrews, Kathy Stutz-Taylor, Louise Coombes, Alia Outrey, Diedra Kmetovic, Evelyn Pogrowski, Frank Romero, Sadie Beason, Jane Brown and Joyce Oroz.

Is Aromas copying the world or is the world copying Aromas? Aromas murals are unique and represent various aspects of the town. Other small towns around the world have also produced murals that reflect their values and life-style.

The Chemainus Murals on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, have inspired communities throughout the world to explore their roots, to beautify their towns, and instill pride in their small town. Using the Chemainus model, some communities have used the mural concept to develop their own revitalization for stronger economic development.