Rosetta Stone

To enhance my opportunities for better-paying teaching jobs, I am working on studying my Spanish with the Rosetta Stone series of DVDs. Also, when I travel abroad, I like to speak the language at hand. It's only polite and respectful of the country's culture. These Rosetta Stone products certainly simplify the process of learning a new foreign language, even though I come to Spanish with four years of high school study and one year of college study.

I was going to minor in Spanish at CSUN until I had a Cuban instructor for my Spanish 204 class. I couldn't understand her. She made simple verb tenses complicated. After that semester, with my first C in Spanish, I decided not to minor in the subject. Foolish mistake. Learning language is good for the mind, soul, and job.

iPod Essentials #42: "I Scare Myself"--Thomas Dolby

An often unplayed song on the radio. I had never heard it until I was listening to Fred on XM. I couldn't believe it was Thomas Dolby. (I'm not fond of "She Blinded Me With Science.")

Yes, the lyrics are simplistic, but its music is soft and gorgeous, almost like the piano bar during cocktail hour. If only love were so simple...

The Price of our Craft

Being a professional writer is very expensive. Most authors get no financial support to promote their books, so they must do it on their own.

Right now I'm staring at my fourth-draft, completed manuscript of my newest mystery. I would really like some feedback from my editor in San Diego, but unfortunately, it's $1,600. I can't afford that, not with taxes, health insurance, car insurance, and my upcoming trip to Peru in July.

The craft you love versus financial necessitites--the choice is too painful sometimes. I will get my manuscript to my editor...sometime this year.

iPod Essentials #41: "Photograph"--Def Lepard

Ahhhh, the year of 1983. I was in college, staying busy with classes, dreaming of a relaxing summer and a good tan, and along came this song.

It's commerical rock at it's best. This song is so catchy, you will find yourself thinking about it long after you hear in on the radio.

And while you're at the beach, working on that tan.