Go On, Squeeze the Charmin Have you ever had to write a speech for a corporate executive? I was tasked with writing not one, but two, for CenturyCo’s upcoming annual meeting. As much writing as I’ve done in my career—everything… Read More ›
writing
Performance Anxiety
I had a bad experience with a performance review once and have been scarred ever since. The year was 2006. My passion may have been writing, but as far as making a career of it went, that was still a… Read More ›
What’s the Benefit of Pigs?
As a writer, I frequently interview people. My methods have evolved over the years, but my goal remains simple: transferring their words as efficiently as possible into a story/article/press release/whatever. For a couple of years, I dragged along a laptop…. Read More ›
Serial and Milk(ing it)
Writers love playing the “what-if?” game. It’s how we get our best ideas. Many years ago, I read a series of articles in The Oregonian about the growing problem of eco-terrorism in the western states. One line in particular grabbed… Read More ›
Don’t Worry, Bee Happy
When most people think of South Dakota, I’d venture to guess they picture lots of cows and cornfields. Which isn’t exactly inaccurate. But did you know we rank as the #2 honey-producing state in the U.S.? That fact doesn’t receive… Read More ›
What Do I Know? I’m Just a City Slicker…
Two Things You Should Never Ask a Rancher I have long said that one of my favorite aspects of my job is talking with interesting people. I interviewed a rancher earlier this week and he definitely qualifies as interesting. That… Read More ›
Knitted a Scarf. My Neck Benefited.
English for Dummies The English language will be the bane of my existence. That’s saying a lot, considering I’m a professional writer.* *By professional, I mean, in job title only. It in no way denotes professionalism. After all, I’m the… Read More ›
Here, Bear, & Everywhere
Irrational(?) Phobia When we moved to South Dakota three years ago, I was relieved to learn there were no bears in the Black Hills. I have a deep-rooted fear—probably irrational—that I might get eaten by a bear. The Cascades were… Read More ›
Dandelions: 1, Mark: 0
Bye-Bye, Arrows I went grocery shopping yesterday without a mask for the first time in over a year. It was both liberating and weird. Funny how something so unnatural becomes the new norm. About half the shoppers were still masked… Read More ›
The Happiness Project
Five years ago, on my birthday, Tara gave me a little blue journal called The Happiness Project. It’s based on a self-help book by Gretchen Rubin, in which the author dedicated a year of her life to focusing on things… Read More ›
