Saturday, August 28, 2010
A Substitute Computer!
It's amazing what sorts of things can be accomplished when a computer dies. Now I have another one, and my withdrawal pangs are over.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
On Wednesday, In Utter Words Toastmasters Club Celebrated
We used the second meeting of the month to hold a party in honor of becoming a President's Distinguished Club. Toastmasters dignitaries joined us, and inducted this year's roster of club officers. We also inducted our new members.
I received pins signifying my completion of the Competent Communicator manual, and becoming this year's Vice President of Membership.
I received pins signifying my completion of the Competent Communicator manual, and becoming this year's Vice President of Membership.
On Monday, I was Eleanor Roosevelt
Relax please, it's not a sign of a mental disorder.
I've moved on to working in an Advanced Toastmaster's Interpretive Reading manual, and this was the assignment on interpreting a famous speech. Usually the words famous speech bring up an instant list of Presidents and civil rights leaders. I didn't want to force my audience to listen to their forty-sixth reiteration of anything, so I went looking for something different.
The first one that caught my eye, on collecting books, was too short to fulfill the requirement of using eight to ten minutes of speaking time. The next, by a famous fantasy writer, just didn't "feel" like the right material. Then, I found Eleanor Roosevelt's speech to the District of Columbia Library Association.
I read it, keeping track of the time using the stopwatch on my phone. Then I settled in to do some necessary editing, to fit the time constraints. After several days of cautious trimming, the length was suitable. Toastmasters aren't supposed to act, but I went looking on the web for any video of Mrs. Roosevelt. Maybe I could incorporate a gesture she was likely to use.
Seeing the few existing video clips also gave me ideas of what she might wear. This was one of the assignments that encouraged the presenter to appear in costume. The more I watched, I began to chuckle. I could improvise with items in my own wardrobe.
On Monday, I was a sight in navy blue: a long pleated skirt, shell, and blazer, highlighted only by my approximation of her double-strand pearl choker. I wore a white curly wig I'd originally purchased for another occasion, and a hat atop that. The photos my friend took are not going to appear on the internet.
I'm discovering it's harder to hold an audience's interest when the speaker must break eye contact to read her material. Still, some of them set aside their lunch to listen. Eleanor herself didn't have Toastmasters experience. She always read her speeches, and rarely appeared to make any eye contact with her listeners.
I've moved on to working in an Advanced Toastmaster's Interpretive Reading manual, and this was the assignment on interpreting a famous speech. Usually the words famous speech bring up an instant list of Presidents and civil rights leaders. I didn't want to force my audience to listen to their forty-sixth reiteration of anything, so I went looking for something different.
The first one that caught my eye, on collecting books, was too short to fulfill the requirement of using eight to ten minutes of speaking time. The next, by a famous fantasy writer, just didn't "feel" like the right material. Then, I found Eleanor Roosevelt's speech to the District of Columbia Library Association.
I read it, keeping track of the time using the stopwatch on my phone. Then I settled in to do some necessary editing, to fit the time constraints. After several days of cautious trimming, the length was suitable. Toastmasters aren't supposed to act, but I went looking on the web for any video of Mrs. Roosevelt. Maybe I could incorporate a gesture she was likely to use.
Seeing the few existing video clips also gave me ideas of what she might wear. This was one of the assignments that encouraged the presenter to appear in costume. The more I watched, I began to chuckle. I could improvise with items in my own wardrobe.
On Monday, I was a sight in navy blue: a long pleated skirt, shell, and blazer, highlighted only by my approximation of her double-strand pearl choker. I wore a white curly wig I'd originally purchased for another occasion, and a hat atop that. The photos my friend took are not going to appear on the internet.
I'm discovering it's harder to hold an audience's interest when the speaker must break eye contact to read her material. Still, some of them set aside their lunch to listen. Eleanor herself didn't have Toastmasters experience. She always read her speeches, and rarely appeared to make any eye contact with her listeners.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tonight, my friends gave me a standing ovation
It was generous of them. I've completed giving ten speeches to fulfill the Competent Communicator status in the In Utter Words Toastmasters Club.
I gave two speeches tonight, one between 5 and 7 minutes, and the other between 8 and 10 minutes. In doing so, I've helped the group reach President's Distinguished status for the first time. The longer speech was about how I got started on my first novel manuscript.
I gave two speeches tonight, one between 5 and 7 minutes, and the other between 8 and 10 minutes. In doing so, I've helped the group reach President's Distinguished status for the first time. The longer speech was about how I got started on my first novel manuscript.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tonight, the Kindle arrived.
Just before I left to attend the last session of the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class our church hosted, the UPS driver delivered the box. I pulled the tab to open it as I rode in my friend's van.
As the buyer reviews on Amazon warned, it's a slippery-cased machine. I've ordered a zippered "jacket" to make it easier to hold. Typing on the tiny buttons to search for titles to download needed a bit more patience than usual, but in general it works well. I've downloaded several books, including the newly-released Rooms, by Jim Rubart.
As the buyer reviews on Amazon warned, it's a slippery-cased machine. I've ordered a zippered "jacket" to make it easier to hold. Typing on the tiny buttons to search for titles to download needed a bit more patience than usual, but in general it works well. I've downloaded several books, including the newly-released Rooms, by Jim Rubart.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Surprised and Bemused
Yesterday, just before I went to choir, an e-mail arrived. I'd entered a contest to vote for book video trailers. The random drawing brought up my name, and I'm now waiting for the delivery of a Kindle e-book reader and a gift card. Thank you to KCWC and Misty Taggart!
I'm browsing through Amazon's list of completely free e-books first, and finding several that I've long loved but didn't own, and sequels I didn't know existed.
I'm browsing through Amazon's list of completely free e-books first, and finding several that I've long loved but didn't own, and sequels I didn't know existed.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Today's Thankfulness Triggers
1. Given that I live in frequently cloudy Michigan, the sunshine today was a thrill. The grass is trying to green up in response, and the prisms on my porch cast all sizes of dancing rainbows on my walls and floor. I think Pollyanna had something right.
2. I got to leave my snow boots and leather jacket at home in the closet. (Note to self: Treat that jacket to a fresh waterproofing.)
3. The opportunity to intercede in prayer for a friend who is seeking employment and publication.
4. Terrific news: The fall Toastmaster conference is happening in my home town in November. Having tasted the delights of a conference with writing friends, I've developed an eye and ear for mentions of conferences. Of course, I'm keeping track of every penny, so many things are on a future fun list. Actually, that's a good thing, because hope is as crucial as thankfulness.
5. A carry-over from yesterday: I visited my father. He's growing weary in body and needs the care he gets in a nursing home across town, but some of the things I spoke to him about that afternoon, made him smile.
6. The many good friends who choose to include me on spur-of-the-moment opportunities.
7. The chance to stretch my capabilities, even now.
2. I got to leave my snow boots and leather jacket at home in the closet. (Note to self: Treat that jacket to a fresh waterproofing.)
3. The opportunity to intercede in prayer for a friend who is seeking employment and publication.
4. Terrific news: The fall Toastmaster conference is happening in my home town in November. Having tasted the delights of a conference with writing friends, I've developed an eye and ear for mentions of conferences. Of course, I'm keeping track of every penny, so many things are on a future fun list. Actually, that's a good thing, because hope is as crucial as thankfulness.
5. A carry-over from yesterday: I visited my father. He's growing weary in body and needs the care he gets in a nursing home across town, but some of the things I spoke to him about that afternoon, made him smile.
6. The many good friends who choose to include me on spur-of-the-moment opportunities.
7. The chance to stretch my capabilities, even now.
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