Or why Bulgarians are always a bit too sexy The ever-certain fashion trend in Bulgaria is called ‘rebellion’. Let me give you some historical background. Until the mid-eighties, communism painted my country in one very peculiar color. It’s called gloominess. Gloomy buildings, gloomy clothes, gloomy hairstyles, gloomy furniture. Don’t get…

Writers are more productive when they have little or no access to the internet. — 1. Writing is a lucrative career choice which brings both fame and fortune. 2. Writing isn’t a particularly time-consuming activity. In fact, writers have more than enough time to solve complex murder investigations that have stumped their local police department for days, if not weeks. 3. Every time a writer…

Spoiler: Not a darned thing — If one could be thin simply by cutting out all sugar, most of us would not be fat. Cutting all sugar isn’t that hard, and I say this as a chocoholic. It’s difficult for about a week, and after that the cravings settle down. I’ve given up sugar for prolonged…

Unbelievable, but it’s true — Did you know there’s a service in the U.K. that will help you get out of things you don’t want to have to do? They will happily send a doppelganger in your place, and this lookalike will even pretend to BE you! …

Here’s what I like for seasoning food — I’m a very sexy cook. The kind you don’t take home to mothah! Okay, truth be known, I’m creative in the kitchen. Recently, I’ve been discarding spices that have aged a bit. They get a bit stale and flavorless if they sit too long. Like me! Spices and herbs are…

Was it the way you forced me to passively smoke your cigarette indoors or the lingering scent of BO that’s kept you at the forefront of my mind? — I’ve read stories about star-crossed lovers, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would happen to me. There I was, minding my own business in the very back row of a concert of a band now so old the only attendees under 30 were the kids of…

Make it the year you read more than you scroll Facebook — Most readers don’t need a specific prompt to motivate them to read, but even the most voracious readers enjoy the occasional reading challenge to spice things up (it also triggers our competitive side, which is great when not taken to extremes). …

Learn from their experiences — I’ve published a number of stories about the perils of using other people’s images on blogs, stressing the importance of adhering to the terms of licences, to avoid legal action and hefty fines for breach of copyright. Some readers told me about problems and legal claims they’ve come across too…

It’s a vicarious treat — Can you remember the last time you wrote someone a letter? Not an e-mail or text message, but a real, handwritten with pen and paper, mailed in a stamped envelope letter. What about one composed on an old Underwood typewriter, or even written in Microsoft Word, then printed and mailed…

My dad told me almost everything to prevent me from finding out one thing — As I wrote the title of my story, I feel his anger from beyond. He did everything he could to keep me from knowing this, let alone the world. The world has changed since you left. The shame you carried with you all your life might not have been why…

One troubling mystery still lingers. — Jeez, Louise, my guardian angels deserve a raise. Three separate bizarre happenings on the road could have wiped me out. I loathe driving from Florida to New Jersey, every single time I do it. For the first time, I spread the dreaded trek out over 3 days averaging 6 to…

A game-changer from the Toddler Whisperer I wish I knew sooner — They called her the Toddler Whisperer. I guarded my excitement carefully. Maybe the other parents have a standard of excellence from a learning center teacher that looks much different from mine. Cautiously optimistic, I would watch. You will see, they said. …

A short selection of songs employing the tune of a Whistle and finding a little Snap crackle in Pop — A long, long time ago I can still remember how I had time to write for me But I knew I’d find the time To pound the keys and maybe earn a dime And maybe my muse would let me be Ok, I’m no Don McLean, I can’t play an…

I thank Seinfeld for my mistakes and successes — Teetering, kicking, and screaming — often tripping toward the ripened age of 60, I am motivated to find my betterish half. God Bless Seinfeld episodes for the catchphrases that help pave my dating journey. I cling to his life lessons with every breath I take. I imagine clutching his little…

Looking to fail? You can’t beat the subtle art of self-sabotage — In a recent Branding Strategy Insider post, Geoffrey Colon writes: “If you listen too much to the voice in your head that “this isn’t going to work,” you’re never going to find out…” This kind of negative thinking is called The Tomato Effect. No, it’s not about acid reflux. …

Forget flying like the eagle, just be the bee — The bee has one job. Flying from flower to flower to gather nectar to feed the queen, so she can lay eggs to grow into more bees whose job it is to feed the queen. There’s no wondering “Why am I here,” or “What is the meaning of life?” The meaning of life for a…

I’m even diving into ice-cold water. — At first, I thought it was a little crazy. Thrusting your hands into the air ninety times. Sending love to everyone on the planet. Jumping into ice-cold water. It sounds like something hyper-intense people who can’t relax do to burn off energy. And let’s be real –– Tony is pretty…

Spoiler: walking the Camino de Santiago helped — No more monthly periods and pain sounded like a great deal! In my late 40s, I couldn’t wait for menopause. Having endometriosis meant that every cycle heralded pain. As a high school teacher, I couldn’t stay home for three days every month when it was at its worst. …

A Writer’s Lift featuring a bundle of women with killer comedy — As sad as it may sound, aside from maybe Hogan Torah and Paul Mansfield, who it seems truly DGAF, I think the rest of us are holding our crap together by the thinnest of threads in this rapidly unraveling world. I could be wrong. Maybe everyone is okay, and it’s…