Recently read: Pamela Redmond Satran’s How Not to Act Old

Carl and I both enjoyed this light-hearted book this fall. Gotta love the subtitle: 185 Ways to Pass for Phat, Sick, Hot, Dope, Awesome, or at Least Not Totally Lame. It is a fun read that is full of useful points (like don’t bother leaving voice mail for a young person because they don’t listen to them and for heaven’s sake don’t refer to it as a voice message), puzzlers (like don’t read the Sunday paper), and the what’s-old-about-that suggestions (don’t wear a watch). You don’t need to take every piece of advice seriously (like wearing a thong!), but the book does help give life today a new perspective, and it might help you be able to actually talk to that 25-year-old coworker covered with tattoos you’ve been avoiding in the cafeteria.

Visit to Golden, Colorado—More than a Mile High

I had my first opportunity to fly to Golden this weekend to see Carl, his office, our friend Cathy, the community, and, of course, Carl’s Bachelor Pad (so to speak!). I couldn’t fit both the elegant fireplace and Carl’s new HD TV in the photo. Also, his view off his balcony (shown) is of NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory), which is loosely connected with his job at the U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office. For us “energy conservation” folks (that includes me), a view of NREL is pretty nifty.

Recently read: Jonathan Kellerman’s A Cold Heart

Kellerman is always a good read, although he’s not one of my first choices. In this book in the Alex Delaware series, psychologist Delaware and his buddy, LAPD detective Milo Sturgis seek the killer who has been targeting artists in all fields from painter to musician to dancer. Delaware suspects a serial killer may be at work, but there seems to be nothing tying the deaths—not the age, gender, geography or artistic line. Yet consistencies start to show up. Interesting plot, well-drawn characters (yes, my weak attempt at a pun!) and a satisfying ending.

The Grammar Vandal

If you haven’t checked Kate McCulley’s Grammar Vandal blog at http://thegrammarvandal.wordpress.com/ , it’s always worth a look. I wish she’d post more often. See my class blog for my students’ reactions to this site plus examples of errors they have found at http://ericahansonsblogforbusinessclasses.blogspot.com/2009/10/week-4-grammar-vigilante.html#comments or go to http://ericahansonsblogforbusinessclasses.blogspot.com/ and click on Week 4.

Recently read: Ed McBain’s There Was a Little Girl

First famous for his New York City 87th Precinct novels, McBain has delighted millions of readers for decades with his long list of suspense novels. This one is part of his Mathew Hope, lawyer, books set in Calusa, Florida. Hope is leaving a bar in an end of town not usually frequented by the prosperous when he is gunned down. Now he is fighting for his life in the hospital, while his friends and colleagues try to figure out whom he was meeting and why. The trail leads to a circus and the death years ago of one of the show’s stars: a three-feet tall woman.

Our Mile High Move: Listing our house for sale

Lonnie Larson, ReMax realtor. See his web site and other listings at http://www.lonnielarson.com

This week I met with a realtor, Lonnie Larson, who is a pleasure to work with! After the paperwork, he measured and took photos while I went ahead hiding the most egregious piles of clutter. Sharpie headed the parade, trying to get into the pictures. To see our listing at Lonnie’s web site, visit http://www.lonnielarson.com/homedetail.asp?listing_id=lNaLAKavAKFKBNhjUu//&Page=mylistings.asp&search=72612115&listing=4

Recently read: Barbara Sher’s Refuse to Choose!

I’ve been on a lucky streak of reading life-changing books this year. My latest recommendation is Sher’s Refuse to Choose! Use ALL of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams. That long subtitle says it all. Sher has written numerous books and is well known as a life coach area as well as a motivational speaker. This book examines a type of person Sher has named “Scanners.” When I started reading, it was as if she knew me and Carl! Scanners are people who are curious about many things and can’t settle into a boring routine (all routines are boring to Scanners) year after year for a lifetime. Scanners are fascinated by a diverse range of interests, which can take many forms. Sher has identified a dozen types of Scanners.

I am a Wanderer Scanner. That explains why so far this month, I’ve studied books on Sweden, resumed my interest in photography, pondered once again getting certified as an ELS/ELL instructor (English Language Learner), dabbled in watercolor drawings, wrote two bad poems, taught classes in communications and business writing, studied DaVinci’s notebooks (the original DaVinci, not the movie/book imposter), began designing a line of mixed media dolls, signed up for getting certified as an art/life coach, and am finishing an article for a local magazine on area events for the holidays. If your life looks like a course catalog at Fascinated-by-Life Universiry, you may be a Scanner, too!