On a Limb with Claudia

My writing life - a Meme.

I was tagged by Julia at A Piece of My Mind with a Writing Meme.? I thought it might be fun, so here goes.

1. List one of your writing goals for the upcoming month and how likely you are to accomplish it.

My writing goal for September:

• Retrieve all the copies of the novels, do last edits, and approach agents/publishers for partnership purposes.


• Continue care and feeding of Denver Cereal


• Finished promised articles on PTSD and on Brain Dump


• Continue moving forward with new identity project.

2. What genre or subject would you like to write about that you aren't currently?

I don't ever feel like I have a lot of control over this.? I write what comes.? I never would have guessed that I would write thrillers or realistic romances.? If you had asked me even last year about doing a serial fiction? HA!? Maybe I should have more control.? I just don't.

3. What is your writing lifestyle, habits? How do you manage the interruptions with your writing? How do you stay positive? Believe in your writing success?

a. What is your writing lifestyle/habits?

I just do it.? I don't wait.? I don't hesitate. I know there's a delete key and I edit everything - at least once.? I don't talk about writing. I don't take classes, go to conferences, or attend writing circles. I rarely write about writing.? I just write.

b.? How do you manage the interruptions with your writing?

Interruptions?? What interruptions?? When I'm involved in a story, I'm either writing or thinking about the story.? I can cook, go out, have a meal, engage the world, work, and still maintain the story in my mind. This, my friends, is a fringe benefit of having a horrible childhood.

c.? How do you stay positive?

I'm positive by nature.

I also am keenly aware that I am not in control.? I am merely a vessel for any story.? I have to work, and work hard, to make certain that I am a good enough writer for the characters. And I like to work.

d.? How do you believe in your writing success?

What is success? That's a common question in our household.? I am successful in that I am writing.? Maybe I'll never get published. That's possible. Would that mean I'm not a success?

What if I meet my dream and become a best selling author? Will that mean success?

Success and failure are two sides to the same coin.? I feel successful because I am able to create stories; and people are kind enough to give their time to read them.

Would I like to make a lot of money? Be famous? Be on the NYT best seller's list?

Of course.

But I'm not confident that any of those are success.

4. Are you a pantser or plotter?

Yes.

It depends on what I'm doing, when I'm doing it and what's going on. In the six years that I wrote for the Open Grove, and in my newspaper column, I had distinct outlines for the month, each article, and year long schedules.? I've used plans/outlines to finish projects and in editions of the books. (For example: I want to add this piece and this piece from edition 2 but write in between, etc.)

Then, things happen, life happens, and the characters create their own destinies. That happened recently on Denver Cereal.? Something happened that I did not plan, expect or control. But once it was there, it fit.

5. Who are two of your favorite current authors and why?

My father used to say that I was a "decent person" until I read Satre.? I say that now because someone recently told me that my writing reminded them of the 'old existentialists'. And I laughed.

Because I like so many books, so many authors, I don't really have favorites.? Frankly, I admire anyone who is willing to create a story and put it on paper.

6. How does your family feel about your writing?

My biological family never wanted me to write.? My mother was particularly cruel around my writing. She was convinced I was trying to show her up.? She was certain she would be a famous author and make millions.

My husband is incredibly supportive, plus he says he loves my writing.? He is my intended reader.? He reads everything and helps with proof reading.? He has a particular talent at content editing and story continuity.

More than anything, when I get lost in the "I'll never get published", my husband brings me back to the question of success.? That's wonderful.

Rose is my constant companion.? I've been blessed to spend this time with her.

Tagging - Gosh, there are so many people I would love to see their answers to this - but I will save us all by not passing the tag along!? Take it if you'd like!

This week, just smile.

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy" --Thich Nhat Hanh

Happy Monday!

Joyful spirit.

" A joyful spirit is evidence of a grateful heart" --Maya Angelo

When the going get rough, it's time to return to the basics.? Gratitude builds joy even in the worst of times.

Happy Monday!

In my humble opinion.

As you know, I received an email on Friday regarding my post about my experience with Kitchen Resources and the L'Equip RPM Blender.

Please note that the following is my opinion and the basis of my opinion. (For increased clarity, my opinion is written in blue.)

1. Mr. Callom said : "We trust that these actions have resolved your concerns."

In my initial letter (August 2, 2008) to Kitchen Resources owner and president Gary Leavett, I said: "This is a serious and dangerous issue. As one business owner to another, I strongly encourage you to recall all of these blenders before someone dies. At the very least, you need to discontinue carrying these items."

The reasoning behind my expressed request and opinion: I was deeply concerned that someone, particularly a child, would gravely injure themselves on these blender blades.

Please note that I have not asked for damages, a refund or any other financial renumeration. I have only asked for something, that in my opinion, is more expensive - integrity.

2. The basis behind my opinion that Kitchen Resources "knew these blades were defective and sold them anyway (from August 15, 2008 email)."

a. I was told by the customer service person that she/he and a number of employees has attempted to speak to the owner about the blade problem with this particular blender. In fact, she/he gave me Gary Leavett's email saying that Mr. Leavett would have to listen to me as I was the customer. I hesitate to mention this as I don't want to cost this person her/his job.

b. I informed the company in early July when the blades broke the first time. At that time, I was informed that I would receive a new "stronger" blade. It's the second set of that shattered into these shards when blending a frozen banana and frozen berries.

c. It's my opinion that it takes about six months to have a product remanufactured in Asia. Remember, I purchased this blender on June 14, 2008 and received it on June 18, 2008. The blades broke in early July. We are talking about a month and a half since purchase and less than two weeks since replacement with the same blades.

From Mr. Callom's August 5, 2008: "Just last week we received a quantity of new blade assemblies from our supplier in Asia and I want to be sure that you got the new one."

Further he states: "We had not been happy with the previous blade, even though I?ve not seen the catastrophic failure that you experienced. This new blade assembly has performed better than the previous ones in the tests that we have done here."

These two statements lead me to the opinion that Kitchen Resources was not "happy" with the blades on or before June 14, 2008 when I purchased the blender. Moreover, they were not "happy" with the blades when they replaced my original broken blades with the same faulty blades in mid-July.

d. Mr. Callom's assertion in his August 15, 2008 email: "There is nothing in my email or any fact of this situation that supports any accusation that we knowingly sell defective products."

This is our differing opinion.

To my knowledge, Kitchen Resources has not recalled this product nor provided what they believe is stronger blades for people who have purchased this blender thus far. In fact, I have no way of knowing if they have replaced the blender blades with each of their distributors. Thus it is my opinion that this product and these blades remain on the market even after my notification to the company in mid-July, at the end of July and in my email to Gary Leavett on August 2, 2008.

Should I learn that this untrue, I will be greatly relieved and happily remove any untruth.

3. Mr Callom: "We respectfully ask that you consider removing from your Internet blog the inflammatory attacks you have made against us and our products. What you experienced is extremely unusual and is not representative of our overall product quality."

In my opinion, the facts are inflammatory. The very fact that these blender blades shattered - twice - in the normal use of this blender (again frozen berries, frozen banana, and soymilk) is inflammatory.

In addition, when I suggested that my experience was unusual, the Kitchen Resources customer service representative indicated that my experience was not abnormal for this product.

In my opinion, there is no attack here. My experience with Kitchen Resources, Mr. Callom and Mr. Leavett speaks for itself

4.? "This blender will kill someone." I hold this opinion because:

a. There is no way to know the blender blades are broken.? I missed it the first time.? I only realized the blade was broken when I heard it clink against the plastic bottle.

b.? I tend to be really lucky in these type of matters.

c.? I know that infants and toddlers drink a lot of smoothies.? While I pray it's not true, I don't trust a harried, overwhelmed mother to notice the blender blade is broken.

d.? Again, there is no, none, nada, nunka way to know there's a metal shard inside a thick, dark colored, opaque smoothie.

e. I was using the blender in an approved, in fact suggested, manner.? (There is a smoothie recipe inside the L'Equip brochure that came with the package.)

I am not a contentious person. I dislike conflict at every level. I did not expect conflict in this case. In fact, I assumed that a business owner, such as Gary Leavett, would be grateful to know of his risk.

Bloggers are under attack everywhere with nuisance lawsuits designed to shut down blogging. With every media outlet owned by corporate conservatives, bloggers are the last little guy capable of speaking to the world.

Personally, I wish Kitchen Resources would put it's money into replacing the blender blades rather than threaten me. My opinion is that the threatened suit would cost a lot more than simply having the integrity to make certain that every single person who purchased the L'Equip RPM Blender had safe blades. Imagine the public relations coop!

I'll keep you posted. I assure you that if I receive evidence that my opinion is faulty, I will remove any and all posts as well as apologize for my mistake.

That's my word, my integrity and my promise to you.

As always, thank you for reading.

Claudia

Blender saga continues.....

Disclaimer: All content of this article are the opinions of the author, please investigate facts on an individual basis.

Ten days after my email, I finally received a response from the company who sold me the faulty blender. But it's not pretty.

"Dear Claudia,

We have received your second email dated August 5, 2008 regarding your experience with our blender. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced. It is our understanding that you have received a replacement set of blades from us and a new blender from the distributor at a discounted price. We trust that these actions have resolved your concerns.

Unfortunately, the second email that you sent to us and then posted on an Internet blog under the title "This Blender Will Kill Someone" amounts to actionable product disparagement. You grossly distorted my initial response to you by claiming that we "knew these blades were defective and sold them anyway," that the blades are "dangerously thin," that the blades form "dangerous shrapnel in the normal course of use," and that we have acted with "criminal negligence." These are outrageous allegations that we categorically deny.

I clearly explained to you that we had never seen the catastrophic failure that you experienced. I told you that we were sending you a new, improved blade assembly, specifically referring to the stainless steel cone and ball bearings of the new assembly. There is nothing in my email or any fact of this situation that supports any accusation that we knowingly sell defective products.

Your Internet website, OpenGrove.com, publishes such articles as "Lost Art of Apology," "Avoiding Conflict," "Forgiveness Meditation," and "Getting Over It." We agree that these are important ideals, and we hope that they could be applied to this very situation. We respectfully ask that you consider removing from your Internet blog the inflammatory attacks you have made against us and our products. What you experienced is extremely unusual and is not representative of our overall product quality.

Sincerely,

Steve Cottam Product Manager Kitchen Resouce, LLC"

My response:

Dear Steve,

Thank you for getting back to me ten days later. I will happily remove the blog if you answer these questions:

1. When did you realize the blades were "disappointing"? 2. Now that you KNOW what these blades can do, have you sent replacement blades to every single person who has purchased this product?

Claudia Hall Christian

Please note, I have not asked for money, replacement or a refund. I have only asked that they remove a faulty product from the market.

I was planning on putting together packets for Consumer Reports, the District Attorney of Salt Lake City, and the Utah Attorney General this weekend.

We'll see how long it takes them to respond this time. Any wagers?

Insomnia, my old friend.

About a month ago, I received an email from a friend that said:

"What if you didn't have insomnia anymore?"

I laughed.? I know all the sleeping tricks. In fact, I am the sleep guru.? Insomnia is my lifelong friend.

"Don't be a jackass," she said.? "Just sign up for this newsletter."

Being the good middle child (who responds resentfully to bossiness), I signed up for the freakin' newsletter.? Day after day, I received email about sleeping.

But I know better.? I have done all of their stupid tricks and tips.? HA!? I even started showering at night so I had a chance to "dump the day" (as recommended by Pete Seigel).

Insomnia is my life long friend.

Then, the woman who gave birth to me started acting up again.? Her sister dead, she unleashed a wave of abject cruelty that left everyone involved stunned.

(Well, except me.? I knew it was only a matter of time.)

And I didn't sleep for three days.

Everything fell apart.? I stopped writing.? I stopped engaging the world.? I shut out D. and Rose to an extent that they started pestering me mercilessly.

And the stupid Insomnia newsletter arrived saying:

"If you are doing all of these things, maybe your brain doesn't know how to sleep."

I read a brain study that said that brain patterns get disrupted. Rather then reseting, the brain continues the disrupted pattern.

This was particularly true for people with insomnia that starts in childhood.

At a weak moment, I purchased the CDs.? When they arrived two days later, I was so exhausted I didn't remember purchasing them.? I made mp3s and stuck them on my mp3 player.

Another round of escalating nastiness and I found myself staring at the ceiling again.? Insomnia, my old friend, returned.

3 AM: I listened to the tape.

3:20 AM: I was sound asleep.

Next night? I slept like a baby - all night.

Go figure.? It's only been a week.? I've had a few more rounds of insomnia.? Put the tape on and wham - asleep.

I don't know if my insomnia is gone forever.

Maybe.

Right now, sleeping even a few hours at a time is sheer bliss.

Thursday Thirteen - Odd but true facts about losing weight.

About a year ago, I decided to learn everything I could about the latest research in diet and weight loss.? I have worked out for over 30 years.? It was time to learn something new.

Here's the best, all be it odd, facts about losing weight:

1. Calories don't matter that much.
It's not your number of calories but what's in your calories.? You can't over eat, but focusing on calories decreases our focus on quality food.? Further, there's research that suggests that any reduction in calories sends your body into starvation - moment to moment.

2.? Sleep is vital to weight loss.
Sleep deprivation increases your body's tendency to store fat - regardless of your caloric intake.? There's also evidence that you will feel hungrier the less you sleep

3.? Stress makes you fat.
Under stress, your body releases cortisol which is our "fight or flight" hormone. Your body stores fat in direct response to stress. As a therapist, I worked with a woman who took a high stress job and within 30 days she gained 30 pounds. She ate and exercised exactly the same - and still gained 30 pounds right in her stomach.

4.? Hormones rule the world.
No amount of exercise and caloric reduction can over come our hormones.? For example, after you eat something very sweet, your insulin spikes.? When your insulin spikes, your body stores fat.? Period.

5.? Glycemic index is complicated and too often misquoted.
The Glycemic index is the rate at which a food increases your insulin response.? While it's an interesting idea, you never eat one food by itself. For example, bread has a high glycemic index. But if you eat that bread with peanut butter or tuna fish, the sandwich has a low glycemic index.

6.? High intensity circuits strip fat from you.
The original research was done with HIITs and bodybuilders. Currently, trainers such as Jillian Michaels or Valerie Waters, put together exercise circuits that create high intensity workouts, build muscle and get rid of that nasty fat. (Valerie has been doing this super cool body assessment on her blog.? Check it out)

7. Running stairs is cheap and very effective.
Don't waste your time on an eliptical machine!? Run the stairs in your building.? Find a place in your local part and run those. Even a short stairwell will give you better results than an hour slogging away at the treadmill.? Virgil Aponte calls himself the Stairs Guru - he gives away a lot of videos. Check it out if you need inspiration.

8.? Long slow cardio (mostly) doesn't work.
Why do you think that the people at your gym continue to look the same?? Long slow cardio won't help you lose weight.? You've got to do high intensity to lose weight.

9.? Whatever exercise program you are willing to do is the exercise program that works the best.
Let's face it. No matter what the latest study shows, there's a lot of exercise that you simply won't do.? Find something you think is fun and do it. Don't let anyone tell you it's not enough. If walking is your thing, walk. Tennis? Play tennis.? You can increase intensity and do everything you need to do.? Just do what you love.

10.? Everyone's metabolism is a little different.
There's a bulk of research that shows that people can be slip into 3 types of metabolism: vegetable, protein and mixed.? They use these determinations on the Biggest Loser.? For example, I'm a 'protein' also called a 'fast burner'.? I think about food all the time.? My husband is a Veg. He never thinks about food, eats what's in front of him.? I need more protein and fat; he needs more carbs.? (For example, we became vegan - he lost 30 pounds and I gained 40 pounds.) For the test, check out Eat, Move and Be Healthy by Paul Chek.? Here's a free test so you can test your metabolism.

11.? Anything premade with more than 5 ingredients should not be eaten.
Most of human life, people made their own food.? Only through the use of petrochemicals (made from imported oil) has there been premade food including frozen food.? My body cannot metabolise processed food.? Even if I keep calories equal, I gain weight when I eat processed food.? Period.

12.? Artificial sweeteners make you fat.
I haven't found a good reason why this is true, but study after study shows that if you use artificial sweeteners, you will? get fat. Some people say the sweetener is confused by the body and stores as fat.? Some people point to the insulin spike caused by the sweetener.? Either way, if you want to be trim and healthy, don't use this stuff.

13.? What is your favorite diet or weightloss tip?

• "I decided to continue eating pretty much the same food I always ate, but slightly healthier options. Then, instead of 3 large meals a day, I changed to 5 much smaller ones.
  The upshot was, i ate the same food, the same amounts overall, and lost stabilised my weight." Anthony North


• "If you have serious problems losing weight, my advice to anyone is have your thyroid checked immediately." Sue at the Urban Zoo


• "I always have a difficult time with craving sugar every month?at the same time. I?ve found that exercise helps because it not only gets your body moving?but acts as an excellent distraction!!" Jennie


• "I?ll vouch for interval training. And every time I change up the circuits I do at the gym, I see a change. (I just need to change them more often!)" Susan Helene Gottfried


• "I?ve found that eating smaller meals more frequently works for me. Plus, I allow myself one day a week to not thing about diet and satisfy any food cravings I may be having. Knowing I have that one day as a reward helps keep me on track during the week." Nicole Austin


• "I learned from Adelle Davis that you can have a 1,000 calorie day diet and gain weight if you aren?t getting the right mix of fuel that the body needs. Eat 2000 calories and lose weight with the same premise." Colleen at Loose Leaf Notes.


• "I do not eat once the kids go to bed?.since they go to bed so early (around 8), it is a good rule for me. The only thing I do have is water." Tommie at Tuesday Update


• "I?ve developed this weird food allergy, am writing down everything I?m eating, all ingredients. No one should be forced to consume all those chemicals that are in packaged food. It is disgusting." SJ Reidhead


• "Cook things from scratch." Puss Reboots


• "The only way to lose weight is to establish a healthy lifestyle like the one you describe." Forgetful One


• "Don?t let exercise routine get better of you. Do different things, and within those different things, add additional variation (eg, different sets when swimming, etc.). And, it?s not the end of the world if you miss a day. Just leave yourself open to getting back into it when you?re ready, NOT out of guilt. Don?t let the fun of exercise get to be another JOB." Edwin


• "If you are stuck on your computer a lot, try sitting on an exercise ball!" Pamela Kramer


• "Drinking water at least 6-8 glasses a day really helps!" Yasmin


• "I read somewhere that when you don't get enough sleep your body craves sugar and other fattening foods." Jehara


• "When you?re eating, make that the ONLY thing you?re doing. No TV, no reading, no blogging. You get the point. Focus on eating, what you?re eating and when you?re full." Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas


• "For me, before taking on any weight loss program one should take consideration of any health issues. And it?s always sound to consult a doctor before jumping in on any of these program. Also, the more natural the process of losing weight, the better. Starving is not the way nor diet pills." Tips and Tricks


• " I vote for your #11 about the amount of ingredients in food. There is a big difference between eating oatmeal made with Quaker Oats (ingredients, oats) and Quaker instant oatmeal with Brown Sugar and maple syrup, (ingredient list too long to post).? Also, if you are having massive sugar cravings try eating protein. You won?t want to but it almost always halts sugar and carb cravings." Valerie Waters

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View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Public Service Announcement: Ways to not fix your scanner.

Last weekend, D went camping so I thought I would start scanning all of our files with my NEW scanner.

Nope. Didn't happen.

The new scanner is broken.

As a public service, I want to share with you things that will not fix your scanner:

1. Yelling and/or cursing out loud will not make the scanner work.

2.? Calling the place you bought it will never work.

3. Nor does expecting a call back from their technical support.

4.? Screaming at the top of your lungs: "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST WORK?!?!?!?" might work in some cases, but did not work in my case.

5.? Turning it on and off does not work.

6.? Re-installing the driver does not work.

7.? Reading the on-line documentation and/or the printed documentation does not work.

8.? Begging the house ghosts, spirit guides, God or other spiritual intervention works for most things, but not when your scanner is broken.

I just thought you needed to know.

Oh, what does work?

Calling the manufacturer and having them send a new one.

Ok, you can return to your regularly scheduled programming.

Thanks for reading.

Where is joy?

?Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself? --Mahatma Ghandi

Happy Monday

Testing... one... two....

While I dance around the room because Tent City is moving to a park with - get this - running water and toilets - not the park by my house, I was tagged by PerpStu.

What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was working as a full-time psychotherapist in private practice.? My office was in the Croke Patterson Mansion, which is one of the most haunted buildings in the west.? My office was just left of the big mirror.

What are five things on my to-do list today?
1. Breakfast with old friend
2. Summary of chapters for Denver Cereal
3. Market for D's trip.
4. Client at 4 p.m.
5. Celebrate the Tent City move to another park!!

Snacks I enjoy:
Peanut butter and carrots, apples, almonds, yoghurt with berries and almonds, tuna salad- Ok, I'm really boring.

Places I?ve lived:
Pacific Palisades; Reno, NV; Claremont, CA; Eagle Rock, CA; Berkeley, CA; Albany, CA; Oakland, CA; Venice Beach, CA

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
This question always confuses me.? If I was a billionaire, I would still be me.? I would do all the things that I do everyday. Because I would be... me.

No tags -it's Friday after all!