tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187996022024-03-14T00:12:20.576-07:00Pointed Squiggle<b>When it comes to creativity, there is no right.</b>Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-77508454875906431862022-12-29T13:44:00.003-08:002022-12-29T13:44:39.425-08:00<p>Okay.</p><p>This is my old blog.</p><p>Which I've been considering posting to again.</p><p>But I don't know. It's all very outdated.</p><p>Plus I was about to upload a photo and there's some sort of glitch....</p><p>Ironically, that has me even more determined to blog.</p><p>My stubborn side does not want to give up!<br /></p><p>Anywho, for now, I'll just say that I'm trying to get myself in gear for the day.</p><p>I have not planned out my day, and that's probably why I'm still bouncing around at 1:42 pm.</p><p>So....</p><p>First things first, I'm going to make a list.</p><p>And my first entry will be:</p><p>Make list</p><p>✔️</p><p><br /></p>Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-2106487659194580972019-08-21T20:27:00.001-07:002019-08-21T20:49:16.250-07:00Borax and the sun and a few sprays of Febreeze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCyVyX9HzPw/XV4K2VKNXZI/AAAAAAAAAV0/hMugRw1s3QgcSxeGzaGUlIqgDnkkVC7QwCLcBGAs/s1600/Borax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCyVyX9HzPw/XV4K2VKNXZI/AAAAAAAAAV0/hMugRw1s3QgcSxeGzaGUlIqgDnkkVC7QwCLcBGAs/s320/Borax.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Add Borax to the washing machine and blast everything dry outside in the sun. This is an advantage to living in a hot, dry climate. And while Borax and the sun and a few sprays of Febreeze all help, nothing works perfectly. That smell lingers... And don't even think about the state of the mouth guard. Really, don't let your thoughts go down that germy rabbit hole at all. Nothing good will come of it. Denial is your friend there, for sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the sound. You never get used to the sound when you hear it: that thwacking sound as they block or put someone on the ground. Thankfully you only hear it if you happen to be standing close to them. Most of the time you aren't. But you still see them collide and remember what it sounds like. And of course there's the sense of relief you feel when everyone hops up and trots back to get ready to do it all over again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then there's the yelling. And the screaming. And the clanging of the cowbells! Since I have to protect my voice, I try to mostly make noise with my enormous cowbell, but sometimes I can't help myself and yell and scream and even jump up and down in the bleachers. It's just all so exciting and so much fun, watching them with my friends, feeling communal anxiety frequently, and then euphoria when the clock ticks down and they've won. There are no bigger fans than us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm a football mom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My son is about to play in the first game of his high school senior season. He's been playing football since he was in 5th grade. He's an offensive lineman. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All of this is surprising in various ways. First of all, I'm not a large person. But my son is. He inherited all of the big genes from my husband's Scandinavian roots. He was over 10 pounds when he was born and has stayed above the growth curve ever since. I hear "How big is his dad?" a lot. And yeah, my husband isn't small, but our son is bigger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's also surprising because I'm a feminist, have a science degree, am not a competitive person, and am a worrier. None of this really goes along with either the long-held stereotypes about football itself, or the important concerns many have about its safety. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm also an overthinker, so let me tell you, I've given all of this a lot of thought. And now I'm going to write about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow along if you'd like. It should be a great season!</span></div>
Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-14602919182594427992017-06-02T08:01:00.002-07:002017-06-02T08:03:10.633-07:00Put to Work in New York<div class="MsoNormal">
Right now I'm sitting across from my dad in a Starbucks on
56th Street in Manhattan. This is the third time we've come to New York
together. He likes to come here because, well, it's a lot of fun to come to New
York. And also because in the late 60s when he was in the army he was stationed
in Brooklyn, and it's fun for him to visit his old stomping grounds.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I also really enjoy New York. The excitement and energy of
this city can be almost felt physically, and I love tapping into that just by
being here in its environment. But my real reason for being here is that this
is APAC week. </div>
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APAC stands for Audiobook Publishers Association Conference:
it's the main professional get-together in the audiobook industry. It's a time
to network with both those that we know and those that we don't know: those
that we've worked with and those that we haven't worked with yet. Anyone who
knows me knows (or could guess) that I'm not the most comfortable in this sort
of setting. I have strategies that work for me that help me successfully
"schmooze" (or somewhat successfully), and I might outline them here
sometime in the future, because who knows? Maybe other people could find them
useful.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyway traveling with my 70-plus-year-old dad and attending
the series of audiobook functions scheduled for this week are two pretty
different states of being. And the contrast was pretty dramatic yesterday, even
though there was a common theme: I was put to work.</div>
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My dad loves connecting with people from his past. He looks
them up, reaches out to them, and then arranges a get-together. Yesterday he
met up with a woman he'd gone to high school with, a woman who is also
the cousin of my Aunt (his sister-in-law), but someone he hadn't seen since
1958. I'll say that again: 1958! 59 years ago! She is a ceramics teacher in the
art department of the City College of New York, and she needed help cleaning
the studio. So my dad and I took the subway uptown and met her there. For the
next hour plus, I labeled containers of glaze with a sharpie<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">—</span>writing
the contents detailed on their labels, on their lids, and listened to my dad
and his old friend reconnect as they reminisced and caught each other up on 59
years of life! </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cy1ji8V_zfI/WTF9d2QsnbI/AAAAAAAAASs/AioLjlX9utY5Uz7W6REqJm0Nn6xJNjspwCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="965" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cy1ji8V_zfI/WTF9d2QsnbI/AAAAAAAAASs/AioLjlX9utY5Uz7W6REqJm0Nn6xJNjspwCLcB/s320/FullSizeRender-7.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
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It was quiet and dusty in the ceramics studio and what I had
to do was very easy and simple. Exactly the sort of task that is so relaxing it
is almost meditative. Don't you love it when you know exactly what to do? That
was the case here. It was also the kind of job where you so easily see the
results of what you're doing. Those containers had nothing on their lids when I
got started, and by the time I was done they were clearly marked. I made a
difference and I could tell I'd made a difference. And as silly as it sounds, I
felt a sense of accomplishment because of it. There will be New York art
students who will be able to quickly grab the glaze they need, because of the
labels I put on those containers. Imagining that makes me smile. But eventually
all of the lids were labeled and it was time for me to shift gears back to audiobooks
and audiobook people. Not only that, it was time to get all glammed up and head
to the Audie Awards!</div>
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I left my dad chatting with his friend, took the subway back
to our hotel, put on eye shadow (that's how you know I was really dressing
up!), a dress, heels, and this suede jacket that I love and headed to the Audie
Awards venue. I was going to be helping out at the event, so again I was put to
work. My job here was a tad more complicated. I was to escort people who'd
checked in to the event at the door, down a pretty long, steep flight of stairs
past the other check-in points, and then show them where the food etc was. This
meant I went up and down those stairs over and over. In heels! I never wear
heels! I was sure I'd fall at some point, but thankfully all went fine. </div>
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I had never attended the Audie Awards and I'm so glad I did
this time. So many amazingly talented people were there. I also loved having
another chance to interact with audiobook people in my quiet way. When you are
a quiet person, in a noisy crowded event, it can be tough to interact with
anyone. But audiobook folks as a group are kind, welcoming, and open and I had
so many terrific conversations with so many amazing people.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now the audiobook events
are over. My dad and I are here for another couple of days, though. We are
taking a circle line tour today and going to a WNBA game tonight at Madison
Square Garden. I won't shift gears here again, except in my mind as I remember
all that's happened in my audiobook world this week. It's been a whirlwind, that's
for sure! And I'm so glad that I was put to work!</span>Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-55021364679802580812017-01-28T18:53:00.001-08:002017-01-28T18:53:16.714-08:00Curie, Calculus, and Please Speak Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ru3LJSl5DY/WI1WByYxctI/AAAAAAAAAR4/MdSfqHaiLvQZGJ7KYsHHnkT1Y74IP-2twCLcB/s1600/IMG_6683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Ru3LJSl5DY/WI1WByYxctI/AAAAAAAAAR4/MdSfqHaiLvQZGJ7KYsHHnkT1Y74IP-2twCLcB/s320/IMG_6683.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have a lot to say about all of everything that's
going on right now. And I will soon. But for now...</div>
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My daughter is a senior in high school. She is currently
taking an online university level Calculus 3 course. Today
she was working away on her Calculus assignments, and when she was done I took
notice of her calculator and graph paper and folder left behind on the table. I also took notice of the decal on her
folder. I hadn't really seen it before but after noticing it, I realized that
this is a message we all need right now in these very disturbing times. I
wanted to share it with you.</div>
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Love, peace, empathy, and strength to all of us right now.
Keep speaking out. There are more of us.</div>
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Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-78559841945516088382016-12-11T23:35:00.000-08:002016-12-12T08:23:10.154-08:00College Application Time: Yikes!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D2CZAqfrY-A/WE5SKVYxq3I/AAAAAAAAARc/QEmeU_WzemMJDdDVeWHK-MsTIdxRg74CgCLcB/s1600/HerSheIs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D2CZAqfrY-A/WE5SKVYxq3I/AAAAAAAAARc/QEmeU_WzemMJDdDVeWHK-MsTIdxRg74CgCLcB/s320/HerSheIs.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The early days: when college applications <br />
seemed inconceivable to both of us!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
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My daughter is applying to colleges.</div>
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Eh, no big deal. Normal. Not that exciting. Good, but doesn't
really cause a blip when it comes to universal importance.</div>
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Okay, maybe you didn't really grasp what I said.</div>
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MY DAUGHTER IS APPLYING TO COLLEGES!</div>
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Don't you understand what that means? Her departure from her
home, my home, is immanent. She is the person who made me a mom. For her whole
life and for 17+ years of mine, she has lived here. With me. There are only a
handful of people that I've lived 17+ years of my life with. My mom, my dad, my
husband, and my daughter. (My sister is younger so I only lived with her for 16
years, and my son is 15 so well, yeah, that's less than 17+.) The point is all of those people are hugely important to me. Big
parts of my life. This is a big deal! Soon she'll fly away.</div>
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But it's weird. Yes I'm a sap and know I will be sad when
she goes, because I've loved being her mom and raising her and having a front
row seat, watching her grow up. But I'm also incredibly excited for her. I
loved college. It was a highlight of my life. And now she gets to have that
experience. It's so great getting to study all of these fascinating subjects,
surrounded by people who love to learn. It's also so exciting to be away from
home and forging ahead on your own life in a new environment, along with all of
these new, interesting people. So I'm thrilled for her and all that's ahead for
her. That's all a big positive.</div>
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But in the meantime, there are college applications. And
decisions coming back. Stressful stuff, for sure!</div>
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She applied to one school early, and she finds out whether
she'll be accepted, rejected, or deferred from that school in the next few
days. I as her mom, am very interested in the outcome. Of course, as her mom, I
think it should be a no-brainer from their perspective. They should accept her!
Duh! She's awesome! </div>
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I'm trying to play it cool, though. (And that's tough since
I've never exactly been a cool person!) </div>
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So I might have stumbled across an online countdown to when
the decisions are released. And I might check it here and there just to see how
much more of a wait there is until we know. And then I might mentally chastise
myself for checking that online countdown site because, come on, this is just
one school. She's applying to lots of them. It shouldn't be this big of a deal:
the results of this one application.</div>
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But here's the thing. It is a huge deal. Not whether or not
she's accepted to this particular school. That is not so important in the grand
scheme of things. </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
But it is the first decision coming back. And it does
represent what's about to happen. Maybe she'll be accepted and end up attending
this school. Maybe she won't. But one way or another, this time next year she
will be in college, away from home, and life will be different.<br />
<br />
That's a big
deal by any definition.</div>
Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-2345962006346910012016-10-30T10:13:00.000-07:002016-10-30T10:13:21.957-07:00Connecting to our same<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYzy22Afl_M/WBWFxXnfDnI/AAAAAAAAARA/dMTL51Q-ph4z_sqxrwDs8Rivis02A_0uQCLcB/s1600/bliss2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYzy22Afl_M/WBWFxXnfDnI/AAAAAAAAARA/dMTL51Q-ph4z_sqxrwDs8Rivis02A_0uQCLcB/s320/bliss2014.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
Why do we fear other people? </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Don<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>t we long for that connection?</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Being part of a tribe? </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Working together?</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Being a part of something?</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Isn<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>t it interesting and amazing and
phenomenal to meet someone who grew up in such<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>different circumstances, and who came from such a different
background, with different influences, and after meeting this person who is so
different from us, then to find out that we have something in common with them?
That we are more alike than different? </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
What could be better than that?</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
It<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s all about empathy.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Trying to understand someone else<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s point of view.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Why do they think what they think? Why are they the way that they
are? Is there something in their being that we share?</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Of course.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
We are all one.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Meeting and knowing and loving those whose backgrounds and
experiences are different.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
And understanding them. Seeing ourselves in them. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
What could be more powerful than that?</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
It<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s love. It<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s connection. It<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s
what it means to be human.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
We are the same. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
We hurt. We bleed. We love. We want. We hunger. We rejoice.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
When things go wrong for us, we so wish that it was all different
and better. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
We might want to blame someone else for that struggle. It<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s
quick and easy to blame someone else. It validates our pain.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
But does it heal our pain? Does it make things better? </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
No. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
When things go wrong and we blame someone else for that wrong,
the act of blaming does not make anything better. Our situation is still the
same. And maybe we can feel justified in our self-righteousness, because we can
think it<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s not our fault that everything<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s gone to hell. We
did everything right. And that <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">“</span>other<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">”</span>, that someone
else, screwed us. Messed everything up. It<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s their fault.
Because of them, everything is wrong. If they were gone<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">—</span>if they were never
here, then all would be well.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
But would it? </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
No. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
We<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>d still struggle. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Pain is part of life, as much as we wish it wasn<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>t.
Someone else to blame does not take away pain.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Blame adds to pain.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Look at that other. See them. They are like you in every way that
counts. Their background, their experience, their situation might be different.
But inside, they are you. There is absolutely nothing to lose by trying to
understand someone else: trying to see them as someone like you.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
On the contrary. By doing that, you<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>ll feel a peace and
a connection and what<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>s ultimately beautiful about being
human and living this life.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Stop being afraid. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Stop blaming others for the pain.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Be comforted instead.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
See yourself in everyone.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
Rejoice in that connection.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
I<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: Helvetica;">’</span>ll say it again.</div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
We are the same. </div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
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<div class="Body">
In every way that counts.</div>
Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-9882455293184052772016-08-21T20:51:00.000-07:002016-08-21T20:57:41.701-07:00Raising Jane: Mothers + Daughters = Inspiration and Strength!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0ov-HfsYf0/V7p2lLIY9II/AAAAAAAAAPc/FpTJf2VOvggqhKotomk0AV6meAg0IPXVACLcB/s1600/Retreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0ov-HfsYf0/V7p2lLIY9II/AAAAAAAAAPc/FpTJf2VOvggqhKotomk0AV6meAg0IPXVACLcB/s640/Retreat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So grateful! I just spent the weekend at an amazing Mother-Daughter
retreat: <a href="http://raisingjane.net/" target="_blank">Raising Jane</a>!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My heart is full. I feel so touched and inspired. The ironic
thing is that it wasn't really for me. Yes, I'm a mother, and I'm a daughter.
But the retreat was geared for girls ages 10-14 and their moms. My daughter is
17. But she is the reason I was there. She's a math and science whiz, and also
a Sister to Sister mentor for <a href="http://newmoon.com/" target="_blank">New Moon Girls</a> magazine and online community and
she was a presenter at the retreat! I was her assistant and gopher: a role that
was so much fun to play!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was so proud of her. It was amazing to watch her connect
with the younger girls and teach them about math and science: answer their
questions and be a role model. (She also absolutely loved having access to the
Green Room, for the presenters!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I was also so touched just to be there. To see all of
these mother-daughter pairs walking around the retreat center: talking about
what they'd learned, feeling the connection between them. It was amazing. Such
a gift.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The mother-daughter relationship can be incredibly complex,
but it's so important. And us moms, we want to be close to our daughters and
have a strong connection with them. We also want to teach them and help them,
which can be tough when they disagree with our oh-so-true (ha, ha!) input on life and how
things are. This weekend was amazing in how it allowed the mothers and
daughters to learn and grow together and participate in something that was just for them and their beautiful, and sometimes prickly, relationship!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I left so impressed with the strength and beauty and
courage of everyone involved. I left proud to be a women and a mother. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also left full of thoughts and inspiration and a desire to
put more energy into my own creations.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So look for more to come!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Love and peace and strength to everyone!</div>
Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-79239800978386531992016-07-05T21:36:00.001-07:002016-07-06T08:23:46.063-07:00Will it all be okay? The unfathomable loss of Chris Decker.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4Fhc_JNfJA/V3yJBuZIEbI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/6tBk7_q6STkM20hPC7JXA1P9Ckgag_FdACK4B/s1600/ChrisDecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4Fhc_JNfJA/V3yJBuZIEbI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/6tBk7_q6STkM20hPC7JXA1P9Ckgag_FdACK4B/s320/ChrisDecker.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Decker (left) and Chris Ferreria at one of the many PJH games they coached together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2013 my son Kyle started playing youth football. He was
10 and in 5th grade at the time. I didn't know much about football but I knew I
wanted to get involved so I could know what was going on. I like knowing what's
going on. And all of you helicopter parents out there, that is what you need to
do! Get involved with what your kids are doing so you can have an insider's
look at what's going on!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being the rule follower I am, that first year I did all that was required of
me as a parent in a youth sports organization and because of that, not
surprisingly probably, I was asked if I would be on the youth football board
the following year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I mentioned, I like to know what's going on! So I said
sure, I'll be on the Placer Jr Hillmen (PJH) board. Even though the position I was
asked to fill was for the Snack Bar Coordinator and I wasn't sure that was the
best fit for me: still I was willing to learn and try to make it work!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a month or so, I was asked to step up to be the
Treasurer of PJH. The original treasurer had some personal reasons that were
keeping her from truly being able to fulfill the duties of the position. I said
yes, sure: Naively thinking that the treasurer position was a better fit for me
than the snack bar person. And yes, that was probably true. I'm very detail
oriented and I work best by myself. So being alone handling the finances of the
organization sounded better to me than running the snack bar on home game days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can't really do justice in explaining all that's involved
in being the treasurer of an organization like PJH. It would be boring to list
all the duties and you wouldn't really get it. But in a nutshell, it's a huge
job. And being the stress case, overthinking, perfectionist that I am, I
worried so much about how to do it. I wanted to do it well and there was so
much I didn't know, and that made me even more stressed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That's where Chris Decker comes in. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chris was the president of PJH. He was always so helpful, so
supportive, so calming. He trusted me right from the beginning. Even though I
was in charge of the many, many thousands of dollars in assets of the
organization without really knowing much about what was involved. Being the
anxious overthinking worrier that I am, I had tons of questions and
concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he wasn't worried.
He knew it would all work out. And it did. I always wonder why he trusted me
like he did. True, I'd had a background check, but he really didn't know me
when I took on the position. Why was he fine with my complete access to all of
the organization's financial information? Why was he okay with me stepping into
such a huge responsibility for an organization that he was so dedicated to,
without really knowing if I was up to it? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't know. But he was.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For two years from that point forward we worked closely together.
If you've been involved with this sort of organization, you'll know that there
tends to be lots of drama that crops up. There are all kinds of issues that can
emerge. The combination of parents and kids and coaches lead to all sorts of
conflicts and problems that need to be resolved. As the treasurer, I was on the
organization's "executive board" and was privy to much of the drama
and conflicts. Chris was so great at diffusing those problems and cutting to
the chase of what was really important, what was best for the kids. That was
our guiding principle, what was for the best for the kids in the program, and I
agreed wholeheartedly with that approach. I saw firsthand how he was able
to cut through the drama to that ultimate guideline and was always so impressed
with his calm demeanor and laser focus to what was really important regarding
the kids.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chris wasn't much older than I am. He ran his own successful
business. He was vibrant and active and super dedicated. He was the father of 6
kids. And it was only his middle son, another Kyle, like my Kyle, who was
participating in the football program. Chris gave countless hours to make the
program successful, when it was only one of his kids who was involved. So many
parents have kids in sports and don't give that kind of time, but Chris did.
And it's parents like Chris who make youth sports possible. On game days he'd
be the first one there at 6:30 am, would stay all day, and would be the last
one there at 7:30 pm. If I had a question, or an issue that needed to be
resolved, he might give me a smile and a look like "come on, is it really
_that_ important?" but he would give me an answer and guide me on what it
was that needed to be done. He cared. And not only did he care but he let his
actions and his time speak for him and gave so much so that so many kids could
have a great experience participating in youth sports.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our community has suffered a huge loss with Chris's death.
So has his amazingly strong wife, Nancy, and his beautiful family. Personally,
I still can't believe he's gone. How can someone like that, so vibrant, so
dedicated, so giving, be gone? It doesn't make any sense at all. But being the
overthinking worrier that I am, I can't help but remember Chris's smiles and
the looks he would give me when I would stress about all of the silly football
financial details: "it will all be okay", he'd convey with that
smile. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm sure that's what he would want us to think right now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It will all be okay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I must trust that that is the case. Even though he isn't here
anymore and that seems so wrong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though we so wish that he were here to make it so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It will all be okay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let's follow in his footsteps and give our time and our calm
demeanors and our smiles to make it all okay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Let's do that for him.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It will all be okay.</div>
Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-21922375315595506712015-03-09T21:55:00.001-07:002015-03-10T07:32:28.470-07:00Before marathon day 2: Before Sunset<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://filmgrimoire.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/beforerisennejmenasunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://filmgrimoire.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/beforerisennejmenasunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Before Sunset came out in 2004 when I was in the thick of things, mom-wise. My daughter was 5 and my son was 2 going on 3. Life as their mom was busy and all-encompasing. I'd stopped consulting when my daughter was born, and in 2004 I was a full-fledged stay-at-home mom, which is a role that I'm incredibly suited for in lots of ways, and also very inept at, in so many others. I was writing by then, which really helped. I should try to figure out where I was with Dreaming of Deliverance in 2004. Not super far along. A year and a half, maybe?<br />
<br />
Anyway, in 2004 my husband and I had moved to where we live now. He was stressed at being the sole provider, and I was stressed from being on-call 24/7 with kids that I loved tremendously, but who also needed my attention all the freaking time. Of course, right? But that didn't make it easier for me to cope with being available to them all the freaking time! And then feeling guilty about having trouble coping since as I mentioned, I loved them tremendously and so I didn't want to have any negative thoughts concerning them.<br />
<br />
I can't remember how I learned that there was a sequel being made to Before Sunrise. I want to say it was after the movie came out on DVD, even. I know I didn't realize it was happening in time to see it in the theater. Not that it mattered, because I didn't go to movies in the theater in those days! But when I found out that there was a sequel I was so excited! I'd loved Before Sunrise and in 2004 I was 34 and was thrilled at the idea that there could be a second chance at young, early-20s love. Things were stressful for Scott and me back then. We'd been married for 10 years at that point. He was feeling pressure to provide for us, and wanted more from me. I was depleted from being a mom to little kids, a job a loved, as I mentioned, but also a job that exhausted me, and so I couldn't...didn't...give him as much love and support as he wanted.<br />
<br />
So relationship-wise, things were a little tough. I find that such a strange contrast: something that people don't really talk about. That idyllic life of a married couple with small children: so iconic and something that's supposed to be such an ideal, happy time in life, often isn't really. Now that my kids are closing in on leaving the nest, I find it ironic: although I'm so happy where we are now and am not eager to go back to that point where they required so much from me, back then it felt like they'd be with us forever. It was super hard, but there was a weird comfort in how demanding and all-incompassing they were. Now they are much more self-sufficient and I don't feel nearly as depleted and it's clear that they won't be with us forever. And that sucks, even though I know it's what's supposed to happen....<br />
<br />
But back to Before Sunset. I don't remember exactly when I saw it, but I do remember that I was super excited to see it! I had the DVD and was going to watch it finally! I put the kids to bed. Scott went to bed (he's not a fan of movies with a lot of dialogue...). And I stayed up alone to watch it. "Yay!", I thought. I get to immerse myself in a romance--escapism at it's finest! Jesse and Celine will meet up again and reconnect and love each other and move forward in life together!<br />
<br />
And now, after watching it again, I see that's kind of what happened. But back then, when I saw it in my early 30s, I did not feel that way. It was upsetting and too close to home in a strange way... As I said in my last blog post, I wanted Celine and Jesse to stay the same. I wanted them to be sweet and optimistic and hopeful. But they weren't. Life had kicked them around some, as it had kicked me around some, and they weren't sweet and hopeful anymore. But they still had a connection. That was clear. And they still wanted to be together. That was also clear. But how could they? Jesse was married and had a son. He was also desperately unhappy, and that super frighteningly, rang true to me to a degree. I didn't want it to ring true, but it did, somewhat.<br />
<br />
Celine, also, had quite a bit of baggage. She wasn't content. She was stressed and unhappy. There's pressure for women who don't follow the traditional path of marriage and motherhood. I'd seen it with some of my friends. And the fact that I had followed that traditional path and was struggling some, didn't keep me from appreciating the difficulties for women my age who hadn't followed that path.<br />
<br />
After seeing Before Sunset I was depressed. What's the answer, I thought. Are we doomed to be unhappy? If we follow that ideal path of marriage and children but still struggle, what's the point? And if we don't take that path, and instead focus on career and freedom but don't have that safety net of a culturally acceptable role, the "ideal" role for a people in their early 30s, i.e. marriage, kids, how can we be happy? We can't.<br />
<br />
There's no answer, I thought. And the ending to Before Sunset, what I thought at the time was an ambiguous ending, drove me crazy. Does he stay with her or does he go? And either way, how can this end well? Either Jesse leaves his wife and son and goes with Celine, and has to miss being with his little boy, or he goes back to them and has to be without the woman he truly loves. There's no way it can end happily. Talk about depressing!<br />
<br />
So I didn't feel good after watching Before Sunset back in 2004. Instead it bothered me tremendously. Not because I thought it was a bad movie, but because it was too good. Too real. Too true to life.<br />
<br />
But now it's 10 years later. I'm no longer in my 30s, I'm in my 40s. That time of life has passed and I'm stronger and more at peace with the imperfections of life. I appreciate Scott for what he gives me and am trying to relish the time I have with my amazing teenage children, since soon they'll be grown and off and living their own separate lives. So I can watch Before Sunset with compassion and appreciate the truth of it. Life isn't perfect. Our task is to do the best we can with what we have. Make the best of our situation in life. Have compassion for our loved ones and have compassion for ourselves. Nothing's perfect. No one is perfect. I can see that for Jesse and Celine in 2004. And I can see it for myself. And for Scott. If anything, now I think Before Sunset is a better movie than Before Sunrise. Because it is able to capture the messiness and difficulties of life. That is much tougher to do than to capture the sweet ideal romance that we all long for.<br />
<br />
Tonight I will watch Before Midnight. I haven't seen it yet. I'm a little scared to see it. Because once again, I'm the same age as Jesse and Celine. What will it show me about myself and where I am right now? I trust that it will be true and although I'm older and wiser and more appreciative of the truth, I'm still reluctant to clearly see myself and where I am right now....<br />
<br />
I'm afraid of what it will tell me about myself. And that makes me kind of ashamed. Since I should be more confident about this kind of thing, right?<br />
<br />
More soon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-24697940426767364232015-03-08T21:38:00.001-07:002015-03-08T21:38:35.816-07:00Before Sunrise: Part 1 of my "Before" viewing marathon!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://moviemezzanine.com/wp-content/uploads/beforesunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://moviemezzanine.com/wp-content/uploads/beforesunrise.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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In 1995 I was an environmental consultant working for an
amazing consulting firm based in Half Moon Bay, California. I had graduated
from the University of California at San Diego, in December 1992 (can't imagine
a much better place to go to college!) with a degree in biology: specifically
Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, and after several months waiting tables at
Chevy's in Newark, CA (while I lived at home in Fremont), looking for an
environmental consulting position, I was lucky enough to be hired by Essex
Environmental in Half Moon Bay. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Okay. This is all irrelevant, I guess, although I might
write more about my time at Essex at some point, since it has definitely
influenced my approach to my work now, even though my current work at first
glance has nothing to do with environmental consulting... But! The reason I
bring it up is that back in 1995 I was sent to Sacramento to do some
preconstruction mitigation for burrowing owls and fairly shrimp before a
utility line was put in along Florin Road. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Sacramento is far enough from Half Moon Bay that I stayed at
a motel. And one of those evenings away from home, I went to the movies and saw
Before Sunrise.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I absolutely loved it. </div>
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<br /></div>
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As much as I hate to admit it, now that I'm a cynical woman
in her 40s, I'm a romantic. Romantic stories speak to me. I love the idea of
two people finding comfort and strength in each other. So back in 1995, I found
Before Sunrise especially appealing. I loved the dialogue. I loved the setting.
I loved the sort of tragic nature of the story. Celine and Jesse couldn't
expect to have a "happily ever after" kind of story. She lived in
Paris. He lived in the U.S. They didn't really know each other. So for them to
end up together at the end of the movie didn't make much sense to me when I
first saw it at age 24. I liked that it ended with them not being together.
That rang true for me, even as I cried while watching it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now I'm 44. And I have a lot of life experience to jade me.
I've been married for over 20 years. It doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility
that I might be a little annoyed at the insta-relationship Jesse and Celine
fall into. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So I watched Before Sunrise again last night and you would
think that I might roll my eyes at it now and think, come on! You guys (Celine
and Jesse) are so naive and young and unaware of life and its realities.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But I didn't. I still loved it! The only different reaction
I had now, was my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>perspective on
what it's like to fall in love in your 20s versus having a life together
through your 40s.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Jesse and Celine leave each other at the end of the movie:
at that train. They've had an incredible night together and long for the
connection they have found to continue. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But it can't.</div>
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<br /></div>
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They both must move on.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Watching the movie as a jaded 44-year-old, what struck me is
that no matter what, that sweet, optimistic, innocent connection that they had
couldn't have continued. Even if they had been able to stay together somehow.
It couldn't have continued. Our sweet, optimistic selves in our early 20s can't
continue. We grow and change and are bombarded with responsibilities.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We evolve. I've evolved. When I watched Before Sunrise at
age 24, I was a newlywed. My husband, Scott, and I had met on an education
abroad program in Costa Rica not horribly dissimilar from Celine and Jesse's
meeting in the movie. Scott and I had talked and shared and excitedly gotten to
know each other just as they had. </div>
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<br /></div>
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But the difference is that we ended up together. 20+ years
later, we're still together.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But are we still optimistic and naive and hopeful? No. We
have two children. We've changed locations and jobs and focus. We've dealt with
family stresses and layoffs and a shifting in roles.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So what about Jesse and Celine. What struck me last night as
I watched the movie was that it was sad regardless. Even if they'd been able to
stay together, would their love have been able to remain so sweet and pure?
Probably not.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Almost certainly not.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I love the movie and still get swept away by the sweetness
and romance of it all. But now my tears at the end aren't only because they
can't be together due to circumstance. Their love can't stay that sweet and
pure because they are in their 20s and life doesn't keep you in your 20s.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You grow and change and life get's richer and you understand
more about what's really important.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You can't stay young and sweet and hopeful forever.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Duh, I know. But I find it relevant because I'd thought that
watching Before Sunrise at my cynical advanced age would make me reject its
fundamental truth. I'd worried that I wouldn't be able to appreciate it now since
I'm so far past the circumstances of the characters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then I watched it last night and that wasn't how I
reacted. I still loved it. Even though I now have a more grown up appreciation
for it. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember what it was like to be in one's early 20s and to
meet someone who you had a connection with, and to hope that you could stay
with that person and make a life with them. I remember. I've lived it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And in your 20s while you feel like an adult and like
someone who knows what you want and who hopes that what you want will pan out
the way you want it, you don't really know. Life and responsibility are more
than what you can imagine back then.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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But that doesn't diminish the truth of wanting and hoping
for it all back then.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember. It still feels true to me, albeit in a different
way now that I have lived more and know more.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And tonight I will watch Before Sunset, which (spoiler
alert) bothered me tremendously when I first saw it in my early 30s! Jesse and
Celine are in their early 30s in the movie and so was I when I first saw it. But I wanted them to
still be hopeful and optimistic 20-year-olds. And they weren't.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Of course they weren't. Life in your 30s is quite different than life in your early 20s.</div>
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<br /></div>
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More soon...</div>
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<br /></div>
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Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-35807217882702818082014-09-02T22:56:00.000-07:002014-09-02T22:56:09.391-07:00 Three More YearsThree more years. Less really. That's all I have with my 15-year-old daughter living at home.<br />
<br />
We moms. We're pathetic in some people's minds. Living though our kids. But isn't that what we're supposed to be doing?<br />
<br />
I adore my two children. I absolutely love being a big part of their lives. I feel privileged that I've been able to spend so much time with them and that I've been their primary caretaker for their whole lives.<br />
<br />
But now they are 15 and 12. My daughter, the 15-year-old, is a sophomore in high school. If she stays on the same track she's been on, she'll be off to college in 3 years. 3 tiny, minuscule years.<br />
<br />
My son is in 7th grade. There's some more time with him, thank goodness. But in three years he'll be almost 16. Almost driving. He won't need me to shuttle him to football and rugby practice, or to his boy scout meetings. He'll be much more self sufficient. That will change so much about my life.<br />
<br />
In three years my daughter will probably be off to college. The girl who made me "mom" will be off on her own starting her life. Without me. Of course without me. We all know kids who are too attached to their moms. Kids who can't grow up. Kids who are weird and are living at home at 40.<br />
<br />
I don't want that for my children. I want them to be healthy, stable, independent adults some day.<br />
<br />
But that doesn't mean I'm not heartbroken at what's to come. That doesn't mean that I won't miss them terribly. That doesn't mean I don't want to cling to them now (even though I don't literally cling to them now) and want them to stay how they are right now. They won't. They can't. It's not natural. They are to grow and change and flourish. That's how you know your kids are thriving. That's what I want for them.<br />
<br />
But right now I love being such a huge part of their lives. I love being their sherpa, their cook, their counselor. I love being such a presence in their lives. I love being their biggest fan. I love seeing them every day and being with them and just knowing that they're happy and healthy and home.<br />
<br />
I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for what's to come. So it isn't so sad and difficult. So I can applaud them as they grow away from their home and forge their own paths.<br />
<br />
But I'm starting to realize that there's no way to prepare for this. My challenge is to love them and applaud them and support them and then to let them go.<br />
<br />
Let them go.<br />
<br />
Right now I'm consumed by my paid job and my mom job. I wash athletic uniforms. I cook healthy meals. I make dr.s appointments. I drive kids to practices and jobs, while getting my own audiobook work done. I'm busy, busy, busy.<br />
<br />
But in three frighteningly short years everything will be different. I won't be so needed. I'll miss my focus. My main time suck will be gone. I'll have more time. Hard to fathom now, that time is such a rare commodity, but it's coming. More time. In three super-short years.<br />
<br />
So what will I do then?<br />
<br />
Three years from now when I'm not as consumed by kid duties as I am now?<br />
<br />
What will I do then?<br />
<br />
I'll write.<br />
<br />
<br />Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-91049516498480458002014-05-10T00:13:00.002-07:002014-05-10T00:13:59.305-07:00Why I don't believe in Lloyd Dobler Part 1<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi, you, who is reading this! Thanks!</div>
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<br /></div>
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It's been forever since I've written. I miss writing. I've
been recording lots of audiobooks, which is so, so, so awesome, but I'm a
writer too, and I need to get back to it. So I'm going to blog about whatever
strikes my fancy.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Tonight it's Lloyd Dobler, John Cusak's character from the classic 80s romantic movie, Say
Anything, </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/VEgu7jdc_fs/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/VEgu7jdc_fs&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/VEgu7jdc_fs&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>There's no way a guy like that exists<b> </b>in real life.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><b><br /></b></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Why I don't believe in Lloyd Dobler</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Part 1</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Say Anything came out in 1989, and when it did, I didn't
like it very much. I was 19 and recovering from the toughest situation of my
life, up to that point. I had grown up the good girl. The smart girl. I wasn't up to Diane Court levels, but I was the
shining star who was a published writer in Jack and Jill Magazine, winning a
national writing contest at age 9. The girl who could run so fast she could
beat everyone, including most of the boys. A girl whose family expected she would do great things
because they knew her and just assumed she would. Is that sort of assumption
helpful? It's great to have a family who believes in you. But those kinds of implicit high
expectations?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No one blatantly said so, but everyone knew what I could
and should do. Something great. It was strongly implied. My sister, to this day, 30 years later,
talks about living up to my example. But I'm someone who also had to live up to
my example. And I was always sure that I would let everyone down eventually.
Could I do what they all, and what I myself, expected of me? Doubtful.</div>
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The other thing that had a big influence on my worldview
back then, was that I was a huge romantic. I guess that's not super surprising,
considering my age and gender, but it was also that I loved to read romantic
stories. I could crank through several teen romances in a day. My dad called them "pre-pubescent love stories". Now that
I'm an adult, I wonder why he called them "pre" pubescent, since they
were mostly about teenagers who'd already passed through adolescence. But I
think he was in denial, and was trying to cope with the fact that I was growing
up and had a strong interest in something that was completely biologically
understandable, but also fundamentally dangerous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believed love conquered all.
I thought that if I could only find my soul mate<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">—s</span>omeone who understood me and
loved and cherished me; someone I could love and cherish<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">—</span>then all would be well. That was
the pinnacle. Something to strive towards. However, I was also quite shy
and did not know how to talk to people I didn't know, especially boys. I grew
up surrounded by strong girls and women, with the exception of my dad, who I
loved and felt comfortable with, but he wasn't a very social guy himself. He
was content to be home with his wife and his daughters. He'd go out running,
and go to work, but other than that, he was a homebody. I didn't understand
boys or know how to talk to them. So I kept to myself and my female friends and
read lots, including teen romances, and dreamed of someone who would one day sweep me off my feet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That foot sweeper found me my junior year of high school. And he certainly wasn't Lloyd Dobler from Say
Anything. My relationship with him was the only consciously autobiographical part of
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Deliverance-R-E-Chambliss/dp/1439241694" target="_blank">Dreaming of Deliverance</a>. That relationship was dangerous and bad for me and it was only by
good luck, really, that my life went on to college, etc. It all could have gone
very differently if I hadn't been able to wrench myself away, after a year and a half of what started as my dream for romance and connection, and ended up as something that by most definitions, would be considered abusive.</div>
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More soon.</div>
Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-37711900727413342452013-10-11T08:25:00.000-07:002013-10-11T08:25:15.807-07:00Dreaming of Deliverance 2: another video excerpt!Hi everyone!<br />
<br />
I posted a second excerpt from the sequel to Dreaming of Deliverance awhile back, but have been a slacker about letting you know where to find it. This one was also recorded on a camping trip up in the mountains this past summer. If you've read or listened to Dreaming of Deliverance, you'll want to check out this video! Believe me! You want to see it. :)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPgiI2Sfcrg" target="_blank">The excerpt for which you've been waiting!</a><br />
<br />
Hope you all are well. I continue to be busy with the audiobook narration, which is awesome--I've just started recording book 1 of a new series! But I'm struggling to add writing time to my schedule. Feel free to bug me about the Dreaming of Deliverance sequel as much as you'd like. It really helps!<br />
<br />
More eventually...<br />
<br />
<br />Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-35910091859954158202013-07-22T23:16:00.001-07:002013-07-22T23:16:39.492-07:00Video excerpt of Dreaming of Deliverance 2!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iPsbVyzzpdU/Ue4dnznU80I/AAAAAAAAAN0/Rmetj32a5sU/s1600/studiomic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iPsbVyzzpdU/Ue4dnznU80I/AAAAAAAAAN0/Rmetj32a5sU/s320/studiomic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It's late, I'm tired, I need to hit the hay, but super quick before I turn in, I wanted to tell you about my new <a href="http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsHNdHgWzML0B5mi8OR97CA/about" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>!<br />
<br />
Every couple of weeks I will be posting a video. The videos will include footage of me reading from my works-in-progress, short stories, clips in the booth of me recording other writers' audiobooks (with their permission, of course), and anything else that I think might interest people.<br />
<br />
The first video is me reading the beginning of the sequel to Dreaming of Deliverance. I was camping up in the Sierra Nevada mountains and thought it would be a good setting for a video. :)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL8ahOSZzWw" target="_blank">Dreaming of Deliverence 2: Excerpt 1</a><br />
<br />
Check it out, and let me know what you think! I will post another video there soon!Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-67981830882775926652013-06-06T10:59:00.000-07:002013-06-06T11:12:33.392-07:00The Great Balancing Act<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m9gIHn3C7UA/UbDK8hS4sYI/AAAAAAAAANk/5I_Sl88uMIk/s1600/Balancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m9gIHn3C7UA/UbDK8hS4sYI/AAAAAAAAANk/5I_Sl88uMIk/s320/Balancing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 8th-grade graduate/gymnast: <br />
Balancing in Santa Monica</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Last night my daughter graduated from 8th grade. I could go on and on about my ambivalent feelings concerning this. First of all, I'm super proud of her. She's such a smart, kind, hardworking, lovely young lady. But I also can't believe she's as old as she is. Didn't she just start kindergarten? How is it possible that she's starting high school in August?!?<br />
<br />
Anyway, yesterday my mom gave her the book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Oh-Places-Youll-Dr-Seuss/dp/0679805273/" target="_blank">Oh the Places You'll Go</a></i> by Dr. Seuss, which is one of my favorites. And at the ceremony, they read the quote about "having shoes on your feet" and being the one who "decides where you go" from the book. I love that, but my favorite <i>Oh the Places You'll Go </i>quote is:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
So be sure when you step</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Step with care and great tact.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And remember that life's </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Great Balancing Act. </div>
<br />
<br />
For some reason that quote makes me well up every time I read it or hear it or even think of it.<br />
<br />
I love the first part, because care and tact are really important but rarely discussed qualities. I might be a little too careful and too tactful sometimes, but I think too much care and tact is better than not enough.<br />
<br />
However, it's balancing that I wanted to write about today.<br />
<br />
I'm in a phase of life where balancing is necessary, constant, exhausting, and oh-so-worthwhile.<br />
<br />
I came back from my trip to Baltimore and New York feeling so focused and motivated about my creative endeavors. I couldn't wait to write, and record, and edit my writing, and edit my audio, and record YouTube videos of excerpts from DoD 2, and make a YouTube video using writings and photos from my two trips to Tanzania, and set up a Google+ account, and blog more, and tweet more, etc., etc., etc.!<br />
<br />
That fire hasn't dimmed but other pulls on me are now competing for my time and attention:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>My daughter graduating and all the hoopla associated with that plus her busy gymnastics practice schedule. </li>
<li>My son finishing up elementary school and the baseball season. </li>
<li>Simply wanting to hang out with my kids, because I love being with them and the years are zooming, and soon they'll be all grown up and no longer at home. </li>
<li>Wanting to spend some date-like time with my husband, and it's tough to squeeze that in when we're so busy with work and family stuff. </li>
<li>Wishing to just chill and read and rest. (I swear I'm a type B personality trying to live a type A lifestyle!)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Balancing. Constantly balancing everything!<br />
<br />
I love my writing and audiobook work. I love my family and all that's necessary to take care of them. I want to do both wholeheartedly with my best attention.<br />
<br />
And I think I manage pretty well in both areas.<br />
<br />
But it's a "Great Balancing Act," no doubt about it!Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-89433349708189875722013-06-01T21:06:00.002-07:002013-06-01T21:06:52.594-07:00Back from Balticon and APAC!I'm home from an incredible 10-day-trip back east, first to Balticon and then to APAC. I've returned feeling focused and inspired by all of the talented, creative people I came across. And I traveled with my mom, which was so cool. And I got to meet up with my awesome friends Aileen and Carol, which was so, so great!<br />
<br />
But right now while I'm exhausted and ready to collapse, I thought I could quickly blog about the high points and low points of the trip. Here goes!<br />
<br />
High point: Balticon People!<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I got to hang out with awesome, creative people like Abbie Hilton, Bryan Lincoln, Lauren Harris, Hugh O'Donnell, Tim Dodge, and Veronica Giguerre.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I was part of the Metamor City Live cast. So much fun! And I got to meet Chris Lester!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I also got to meet P.C. Haring, Alex White, Doc Coleman, Rosemary Tizeldon, Starla Huchton, Katie Bryski, and Christiana Ellis!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>My favorite part of the weekend was tossing around ideas with other writer/podcaster/voice actor people. We are a unique breed and it was terrific to all be in one place collaborating in person!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
High point: APAC People!<br />
<br />
The sessions at APAC this year were incredibly helpful and worthwhile. I reconnected with some audiobook folks I already knew and met many new extraordinarily talented people.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Hillary Huber was the director I was matched up with for my "Director Diagnostic. She was awesome! I was pretty nervous and she put me right at ease and had some fantastic suggestions for things I can do to bring my narration skills up to the next level.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I had an audition at Audible that was so much fun and allowed me to show my stuff! Audible also hosted a group of us narrators for a day of training where we were treated so well and were able to learn so much about how Audible works.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I socialized at the APA mixer and the Tantor party and what could be more fun than to be in New York attending parties with other narrators and audiobook people!!!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The talent on the panels I attended at APAC was unbelievable. How lucky was I too get to learn tips of the trade from Katherine Kellgren, Tavia Gilbert, Barbara Rosenblat, Dion Graham, Scott Brick, and Jeffery Kafer!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
I feel so energized and focused about the audiobook work and privileged to be part of such a fantastic industry and community.<br />
<br />
<br />
Low point: Ouchy toes.<br />
<br />
But everything can't be 100% positive, right? There was something sucky that happened. I decided to treat myself to a pedicure on my birthday, which was the Saturday I was at Balticon. The pedicurist must not have realized what a princess I am (ha!) and what delicate feet I have (ha, ha!) because she dug into my big toes like she was cutting eyes out of a potato and ouch it hurt! And ouch, 7 days later it still hurts and my big toes are red and inflamed and the opposite of attractive. Yes, I have a pedicure injury. How embarrassing. And ouch. Mostly ouch!<br />
<br />
But it doesn't matter because the rest of the time was so much fun and so worthwhile. So I'm soaking my feet and reconnecting with my family and reminiscing about all the amazing experiences I had on this trip. Yay! (And ouch!)Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-45054606000104544842013-05-22T09:27:00.000-07:002013-05-22T09:27:37.400-07:00My Balticon ScheduleI'm going to my first Balticon this weekend! I plan to attend lots of sessions, but here are the ones I'm officially involved with:<br />
<br />
<b>Friday </b><br />
5 PM: Helping Authors Find and Work Effectively with Narrators<br />
6 PM: Using Comedy to Humanize Characters and Hook Listeners in Audio Fiction<br />
<br />
<b>Saturday</b><br />
1 PM: Live Reading!<br />
I'm going to read excerpts from the in-progress sequel to <i>Dreaming of Deliverance</i>, as well as from my almost finished kids' novel: <i>Rachel Richards Hates Rats</i>. Alex White, author/producer of <a href="http://www.thegearheart.com/" target="_blank">The Gearheart </a>will be reading as well!<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday</b><br />
11 AM: Narrating Podcast Fiction:<br />
This will be an expansion of the panel I coordinated for the New Media Expo last January, but this time, I'll be doing it solo! Using clips from your favorite fiction podcasts, I'll share what I've learned about how to be an excellent audio fiction narrator.<br />
<br />
5 PM Metamor City Live Show! I get to participate in a live reading with other voice actors. Can't wait!<br />
7 PM Fullcast vs. Straight Read<br />
<br />
<b>Monday</b><br />
10 AM: The Introvert's Guide to Social Media<br />
Noon: Multi-Creatives<br />
<br />
Here's a link to the whole <a href="http://www.balticon.org/Balticon_47_Program_by_Program_Tracks.pdf" target="_blank">Balticon Schedule</a> if you'd like to read more about the sessions listed above, as well as all that'll be offered this weekend. I'm looking forward to so much!<br />
<br />
Now to get back to packing...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-2149833949045630702013-05-08T22:56:00.001-07:002013-05-08T22:56:29.234-07:00Trying to tame my gremlinI'm reading this book:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Your-Gremlin-ebook/dp/B001ODEPM6/" target="_blank">Taming Your Gremlin</a> by Rick Carson.<br />
<br />
My gremlin is big and clever and relentless. I'm not sure she can be tamed.<br />
<br />
Ironically, she's not barking at me much about the audiobook narration. She's given up on that because she knows I'm feeling capable in that department.<br />
<br />
But she's focused all her attention on my idea of myself as a writer. She's almost had me convinced that I'm not one.<br />
<br />
However, a friend just wrote me about how much her 13-year-old loved <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-of-Deliverance-ebook/dp/B002P8MPZ8/" target="_blank">Dreaming of Deliverance</a>. It even inspired him to draw a scene from the novel. My first fan art.<br />
<br />
I told my friend about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Fruit-short-story-ebook/dp/B0069XORLK/" target="_blank">Forbidden Fruit</a> and said her son might like it, and then I read a little bit of it and remembered: I'm a good writer. I tell good stories.<br />
<br />
That stupid gremlin: my viscous, constant, uber-critical inner voice, had me forgetting.<br />
<br />
I will tame my gremlin. I will return to Trae. Finish the rat book.<br />
<br />
I'm a writer.<br />
<br />
I remember.<br />
<br />
Duh!Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-91834825800469519682013-01-18T15:03:00.001-08:002013-01-18T15:03:47.964-08:007-7-7: Renée writing excerpts!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://amandabrice.net/" target="_blank">Amanda Brice</a> tagged me on Facebook for the 7-7-7 meme. Basically you are supposed to go to either page 7 or page 77 of your work in progress, go down 7 lines, and then post the next 7 lines. </span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I opened up my two sadly neglected WIPs: <i>Rachel Richards Hates Rats</i>, my middle-grade novel that I discussed in the <a href="http://www.roundtablepodcast.com/tag/renee-chambliss/" target="_blank">Roundtable Podcast</a>, and the as yet unnamed sequel to <i>Dreaming of Deliverance</i>. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I couldn't decide which page and which WIP to use, so I decided to post all of them here!</span><br />
<div>
<div>
<br />
<b>Rachel Richards Hates Rats p. 7, lines 8-14:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
I took a couple of steps backward, so Ev couldn't grab the phone from my hand and hang up, which he'd been known to do. "I gotta go, Gwennie." <br />
<br />
"Aw, I wish I was there! Your own pool in the backyard. Rachel Richard's dad coming over to your house. You're so lucky!" <br />
<br />
"Come on! Come on! Come on!" Ev was hopping up and down again. "Bye, Gwen." I pushed the phone's off button while Ev pulled at my arm. "Okay! Just let me get my swimsuit on."</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<b>Rachel Richards p. 77, lines 8-14</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
I thought of what it felt like to sit there alone while everyone else seemed to be having such a good time. I looked down at Ringo. He jerked his head to the side in Rachel's direction. "Go to her, Ellen," he said in his quietest voice. "Make this right." <br />
<br />
<i>Why should I?</i> I almost said. <i>This is Rachel Richards we're talking about. She's been terrible to me from the first day I met her.</i> But for some reason, at that moment I couldn't remember all the reasons I didn't like her. </blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />And these are the excerpts that might interest you more...</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<b>Dreaming of Deliverance sequel p. 7, lines 8-14</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
“Barren rock! Yeh’re back!” <br />
<br />
“Oh yes, pet. Our dear friend is right. It’s that little girl!” <br />
<br />
“I see her, love. I see her. Doesn’t she look pathetic? But we can’t stay here. We must flee. They will come now that a jut has been opened.” <br />
<br />
Rough hands pulled me upright. <br />
<br />
“Come on, Lindsay! You have to walk. We can’t carry you.” <br />
<br />
I blinked at the man standing in front of me. It was twilight but I could see him well enough. <br />
<br />
“Michael?” His face was thinner and white tufts streaked his beard, but the restless eyes and gruff voice were the same.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<b>DoD sequel p. 77, lines 8-14</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>
He led me down a short sandy path to the edge of the river while I admired his ability to communicate with the sisters without addressing them directly. The water was quiet and slow-moving, trickling musically through a cluster of smooth-topped rocks, the largest of which stuck up a couple of feet from the surface at an angle and acted as a natural dam. The resulting pool was big enough for skipping stones or wading, but too small to swim. Clumps of bushy willows, their branches swaying in the breeze, surrounded us and blocked out the view of the cave—of everything really, except the rocks and the water and the starry dome overhead. It was like being in a giant nest.</blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there they are! I found it interesting which parts of each story came up: they connect, which is pretty cool. It also made me realize how much I miss these stories. Back at the beginning of this blog, I posted here to motivate myself to keep writing. I need to start that back up again. I love narrating audiobooks, but I'm also a writer and I miss my own stories. I'll get back to it now.<br /><br />Thanks, Amanda!</span><br />
<!--EndFragment--></div>
</div>
</div>
Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-71222604824429059082013-01-07T09:02:00.000-08:002013-01-07T09:02:20.847-08:00Well, this is awkward...and great!Long time, no post. Yes, I say that a lot. Yes, that should probably be the new title of Pointed Sqiuggle, I say it so much. And while this might have been my longest gap between entries, that doesn't change this very familiar sentiment<br />
<br />
But it feels especially awkward today. The difference this time is that I'm at the New Media Expo or NMX (formerly Blog World), surrounded by people who are experts at blogging and new media. Since I break probably all of the rules when it comes to successful blogging, I'm feeling a little sheepish. Tomorrow I'm doing a presentation here, and it occurred to me that some of the attendees could check out my blog, so I should probably post something more current than the hot weather entry from four months ago.<br />
<br />
And lots has happened since August. I'm now narrating audiobooks full time! It's been very exciting, but somewhat stressful since the deadlines have been tight. I've worked on a wide-variety of great books, each of which has had its own joys and challenges. I'll be sure to let you know about them, when they are released.<br />
<br />
And that's what's led me to NMX! My experience with podcast fiction has resulted in a career in audio book narration. It's pretty darn wonderful how things have worked out, and I look forward to sharing what I've learned tomorrow in my session.<br />
<br />
Here's a link:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://newmediaexpo2013.sched.org/event/4c23dd1161e5f382f059f98487256536#.UOr4Mb_-v0A" target="_blank">Tone and Emotion: The keys to compelling podcast fiction narration</a><br />
<br />
The best part of being here is that I'm getting to meet some of my podcast fiction friends in person for the first time! I've loved hanging out with Abbie Hilton, the Dunesteef guys (Big Anklevich and Rish Outfield), Bryan Lincoln (who is doing the presentation with me), and Lauren "Scribe" Harris. Marshal Latham (also doing the Tone and Emotion presentation) arrives today. What a great group! Abbie, Big, Rish, and Lauren's session is also tomorrow and covers comedy in podcast fiction, which is difficult to do successfully, but so effective! Here's a link:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://newmediaexpo2013.sched.org/event/819a79ca82adbf901ae1f3a55d6642c2#.UOr-ZL_-v0A" target="_blank">Using Comedy to Humanize Characters and Hook Listeners </a><br />
<br />
Scott Sigler is here as well! He has a "Super Session" tomorrow called <a href="http://newmediaexpo2013.sched.org/event/addeb410bf08f7e2342c61c414605d70#.UOr_s7_-v0A" target="_blank">The Art of Podcast Storytelling</a>. Unfortunately, it's in the morning before my session, but I'm planning on attending most of it.<br />
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I think it's fabulous that NMX is featuring podcast fiction this year! I feel honored to be a part of it.<br />
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And now my blog isn't so embarrassingly out of date!<br />
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More...okay I won't say "soon"...but <b><i>eventually</i></b>!Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-30145940502436002272012-08-06T23:33:00.004-07:002012-08-06T23:38:43.714-07:00Hooray for a sweltering summer! (My first football practice blog entry)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Last entry I said I would start blogging more and this is what I think I'll do. I spend 2.5 hours most week days sitting at my son Sgzhanke S. Carlo </i><i>(a.k.a. Shanky)'s football practice. I try to use the time wisely and write but today I took a break from working on </i>Rachel Richard's Hates Rats<i> (my new middle grade novel) to write the following in my notebook.</i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the last 12 years I've lived in an area where the summers are hot. I grew up in the SF Bay Area, which has a very mild climate: it never gets too hot or too cold in Fremont. As a kid, I hated the heat. It sapped all of my energy and left me feeling sick and sluggish.</span><br />
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So I never would have thought I'd want to live in a place with hot summers. I'd have thought it would be horrible, and that I'd spend my sunny, sweltering days longing for fall and cooler temps. That's the thing about life, though. There's a lot of truth to the cliché "never say never", because now I absolutely love the heat of the summer.</span><br />
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Today the high was just under 100 degrees Farenheight. Our house was cool in the morning, though: 68 degrees. Evenings here it usually cools down enough that we can leave our windows open and draw in fresh, crisp air with the huge whole house fan in our attic. I like waking up summer mornings as the sun rises, to a cool, quiet house.</span><br />
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And I love wearing summer clothes: shorts, flip-flops<span class="Apple-style-span">—no socks or sweaters. I love not being cold. I love taking the kids to the pool and sitting in the shade, reading and writing and jumping in myself when I get too warm. At night, it's the perfect temperature to sleep with no covers. Did I mention how great it is to never be cold?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">So now I'm sitting in the shade at Shanky's football practice. I've got my notebook, my iced tea, my ipod, and my Kindle. It's 6:30 PM and the temperature in out in the sun where the boys are playing is in the 90s.* And I'm trying to appreciate this lovely warmth because there are only two more months of it to go before the cold and rain of winter arrive.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">*</span><span class="Apple-style-span">Poor Shanky. He probably has very different view about this hot weather. I've got my shade and my tea. He's out in the sun in a helmet doing jumping jacks and pushups!</span></span>Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-79724385344803417022012-01-17T22:31:00.000-08:002012-01-17T23:04:51.461-08:00Stop Censorship No to SOPA/PIPA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yjOY_c3_89U/TxZlkHpfVKI/AAAAAAAAAK8/YjdouAR-r_M/s1600/stopsopapipa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yjOY_c3_89U/TxZlkHpfVKI/AAAAAAAAAK8/YjdouAR-r_M/s1600/stopsopapipa.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll be off line on 1/18/12, to join in the protest of SOPA/PIPA. Here's a video explaining why we should all be very concerned:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31100268?byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/31100268">PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/fightforthefuture">Fight for the Future</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-69016421075822587272011-12-18T22:43:00.000-08:002011-12-18T22:43:45.859-08:00A Christmas Carol: Read by the Podcast Community on Facebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lhq_qGZGPxk/Tu7cn7X_GRI/AAAAAAAAAKs/plLsdq04PtE/s1600/ghost+of+christmas+present.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lhq_qGZGPxk/Tu7cn7X_GRI/AAAAAAAAAKs/plLsdq04PtE/s320/ghost+of+christmas+present.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br />
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I'm so grateful that I fell into podcasting. Aside from the fact that podcasting has led to my fledgling career as an audiobook narrator, it's also allowed me to be a part of a terrific community of similarly creative people. There is now a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000988403082#!/groups/227341777331132/" target="_blank">Podcast Community</a> group on Facebook, and Douglas Welch one of the group's members, offered to produce an audio version of Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol", to be read by various members of the community. Being a basically presumptuous person, I signed up for the last section.<br />
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It was so much fun! I absolutely adore reading gorgeous writing, and this is such an iconic story, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Plus several of my podcasting friends (Rish, Bryan, Scribe, and Tim) participated as well, and that made listening to the finished project, very special.<br />
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Click <a href="http://welchwrite.com/blog/2011/12/14/audio-charles-dickens-a-christmas-carol-read-by-the-podcast-community-on-facebook/" target="_blank">here</a> if you'd like to hear the Podcast Community version of "A Christmas Carol".Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-40658185195082846392011-11-23T07:30:00.000-08:002011-11-23T08:56:10.588-08:00Stories of Trae: Available as e-shorts!Every time I release something I get nervous. It's an anxious, exposed feeling which I detest. So that's probably why I haven't blogged yet about the two new short stories I have up at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords. But I've gathered my courage, and now I can finally write about them here. And you can read them, if you'd like some more insight into the world and the characters of <i>Dreaming of Deliverance</i>. Both stories stand on their own, so you don't need to have read DoD to follow them, but they also provide glimpses of what's happening in Trae and what's made Lindsay who she is at the beginning of the novel.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mg1B_5TycE/Ts0HrX_GBLI/AAAAAAAAAKc/eICyXdl_NLM/s1600/Prestonstakecover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mg1B_5TycE/Ts0HrX_GBLI/AAAAAAAAAKc/eICyXdl_NLM/s320/Prestonstakecover.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>The stories don't need to be read in any particular order, but I'll describe "Preston's Take" first. Preston was Lindsay's boyfriend at the time of her arrest and this is his story<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>where he describes what happened and why. This is one of those stories that I'm reluctant to claim as something I wrote. Do people like Preston really live inside my head? I guess they do!<br />
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I wasn't sure what <i>Dreaming of Deliverance</i> fans would think of it either, because it's quite different from the tone and style of DoD. No journeys to Trae, for example; the whole thing takes place in the real world. But it does tell us a lot about Lindsay herself and how she ended up in prison. And I've had a good response from the beta readers. Some said that they even understood what Lindsay saw in Preston, which pleases me because even jerks have their appealing qualities!<br />
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"Preston's Take" costs 0.99 and you can read it on your ereader, phone, ipad, or computer, and purchase it from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prestons-Take-short-story-ebook/dp/B0069W1LKG/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1036544337?ean=2940013494282&itm=1&usri=preston%27s+take" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, or <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104336" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-kc2srfMW4/Ts0KMhmgjOI/AAAAAAAAAKk/uxFRZcZOUzc/s1600/Forbiddenfruitcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-kc2srfMW4/Ts0KMhmgjOI/AAAAAAAAAKk/uxFRZcZOUzc/s320/Forbiddenfruitcover.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>The second story is more similar to <i>Dreaming of Deliverance</i>, even though Lindsay only appears briefly in it. "Forbidden Fruit" is about Anne right before she becomes a Lead. Anne is one of my favorite characters. Life wasn't easy for her, and she isn't a very nice person in her day-to-day interactions with people, but there are good reasons for that, and you can find a lot of them in "Forbidden Fruit".<br />
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Then there's Reg, whom you'll meet in this story. He's also going to appear in the still unnamed sequel to <i>Dreaming of Deliverance, </i>and getting to know him through writing "Forbidden Fruit" opened up my imagination and helped me figure out a lot of things that happen in that next book.<br />
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This is the story where you can return to Trae: to a new community this time<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">—</span>Stanlo, which I can see as vividly in my mind, as I can Parl and Guin. Forbidden Fruit is also 0.99 and is available at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Fruit-short-story-ebook/dp/B0069XORLK/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1036544345?ean=2940013494350&itm=1&usri=forbidden+fruit%3a+a+short+story+of+trae" target="_blank">B&N</a>, or <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/104347" target="_blank">Smashwords</a>.<br />
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I'm going to produce and sell both stories in audio as well. The audio versions will also be 0.99 each and as soon as they're ready, I'll let you know where you can find them.<br />
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More soon!Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18799602.post-29234839590173416232011-08-29T09:49:00.000-07:002011-08-29T09:49:03.450-07:00Huh! Time management strategies actually help with productivity. Who'd've thought?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vb6B5mGit9E/Tlu9DrMCkMI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/B4S2hYQkNRg/s1600/jarhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vb6B5mGit9E/Tlu9DrMCkMI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/B4S2hYQkNRg/s320/jarhead.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
My boss is still wimpy, but I'm taking matters into my own hands and trying to do some time management, and what do you know, I've been much more productive. But that means I'm not blogging so much. I'm on the fence with how much blogs help, from a productivity standpoint, anyway. I've always blogged for myself mostly. I know there are highly motivated people whose blogs bring in new readers/listeners, but I'm doubtful I could ever be one of them. So I blog sporadically. Thanks to the few who stick with me, despite the lack of regular entries.<br />
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Anyway, I wanted to dash off a quick entry before getting back to writing and audio editing. Why the head in the jar? Aside from the fact that I didn't know which picture to post, I think it's a good example of all of the fun/timewasting options there are out there in the world now. This was made using the "head in a jar" ipod/iphone app. So if you've ever wanted to make a Futurama head in a jar avatar of yourself, now you can! I am trying not to do too much of that kind of thing, however. I'm trying to be productive and efficient. A couple of weeks ago I watched this amazing lecture on Youtube on time management given by Randy Pausch before he died. You should <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTugjssqOT0">check it out</a> if you haven't already. It inspired me to make todo lists and commit to using my time more wisely (or should that be using my time wiser? hmm....). I hate todo lists but I found this ipod app that I'm using and somehow that's making it all more tolerable.<br />
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So really fast, before I get back to work, here are a couple of other links you might want to check out:<br />
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<a href="http://dunesteef.com/2011/08/04/episode-108-catastrophe-baker-and-the-cold-equations-by-mike-resnick/">Catastrophe Baker and the Cold Equations</a> by the great Mike Resnick is the latest <a href="http://dunesteef.com/">Dunesteef</a> story that I produced. I had a lot of fun with it. There was threat of castration and operatic sex. What's not to like? Plus it's really funny!<br />
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Then I had a role in a fullcast podcast of an incredible short story called "The Machine Stops" by E.M. Forster. It was written back in 1909 but is amazingly accurate in some of its predictions for the future. <a href="http://journeyintopodcast.blogspot.com/2011/08/journey-6-machine-stops-by-em-forster.html">Give it a listen.</a><br />
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Finally, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Deliverance-R-Chambliss/dp/1439241694?ie=UTF8&tag=rechacom0c-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Dreaming of Deliverance</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=rechacom0c-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1439241694" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> was reviewed by The Self-Publishing Review. I was worried about what she might say about it, because she has high standards and doesn't finish 90% of the books she's sent, but she read all of DoD in one day and said she missed the characters when it was over. Of course she also had areas she thought could be improved. I want to blog more about that, but for now I'm just going to give you the link: <a href="http://theselfpublishingreview.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/dreaming-of-deliverance-r-e-chambliss/">The Self-Publishing Review</a><br />
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Okay! I will try not to let too much more time pass before I post another entry. If I get it on my todo list next week sometime, I should be all set!Renée (R.E.) Chamblisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03720749036510635602noreply@blogger.com2