Reese Ryan Romance

Colorful characters. Sinfully sweet romance.

#AtoZchallenge

R is for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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Most of us want to do our part to help the environment. But with such a lofty goal in front of us, we’re often at a loss for practical ways to achieve it. So here are three simple ways to live an eco-friendly lifestyle without going Grizzly Adams, or breaking the bank.

Reduce

Looking for an easy, no-fuss way to start living a greener lifestyle?

Start by making simple lifestyle adjustments. Here are a few ways to reduce energy usage that pose minimal inconvenience, but can have a cumulative impact on the environment–and your energy bills:Water faucet photo courtesy of Joe Shlabotnik.

  • Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Do this even when you think you’ll be returning immediately. A quick trip to the kitchen for another cup of coffee can easily turn into doing laundry, straightening the kids’ rooms, or going to get the mail. Suddenly an hour has passed and your energy meter has been ticking the whole time.
  • Unplug phone chargers and other small appliances when not in use. Beware of energy vampires in your home. This refers to plugged in appliances–like toasters and coffee makers–that aren’t in use. Even though they’re not on they’re still sucking energy. To make things easier, try putting your phone, tablet, and other chargers on a power strip. After you’ve charged them overnight, simply turn off the entire strip. Cutting off energy vampires can save as much as $100 per year.
  • Don’t run the water while you brush your teeth. Okay, so maybe this one seems a little inconvenient at first; but you quickly become used to it and the amount of water you’ll conserve is well worth it. Don’t think this is a big deal? Try a little experiment. Plug the sink while you brush your teeth, with the water running as you normally would. Turn it off once you’re done. Surprised by how much water is in the sink? Well, that’s just the beginning. Now multiply that amount times the two or three times you brush each day. Now multiply it by the number of people living in your house. Yep. Totally worth it.

Reuse

  •  Switch to reusable grocery bags. Invest in a few pretty, but inexpensive reusable bags. Keep them in your car and they’ll be ready whenever you go shopping.ReusableBagCantonPublicLibrary
  • Buy reusable rather than disposable goods. Paper cups and dishware certainly have their place, but whenever possible substitute throwaways for reusables. Treat yourself to a special mug and use that for coffee at work, rather than paper or Styrofoam cups. Encourage your workmates to do the same.
  • Repurpose. Before discarding an item, consider whether it could be used in some other way. If it can’t be used in your home, consider donating it and providing the item with a good home elsewhere. Want to save even more? Discover how far your budget will stretch with resale shopping.

Recycle

  • Participate in your local recycling program. Hopefully your city offers curbside recycling. If not, it takes a little more effort, but the environment will love you for it.
  • Donate or recycle phones and other gadgets. Best Buy has a cell phone donation program. But if you’d prefer to get back at least some of the cash you invested in that fancy gadget, try selling it instead.
  • Buy recycled goods. A growing number of products include recycled materials. Purchasing new products which include recycled goods closes the recycling loop. For the most impact, look for goods with the highest percentage of post-consumer recycled content. 

A commitment to helping the environment doesn’t necessarily require drastic changes. Instead, take small steps. Buy a few reusable shopping bags and take them each time you go to the grocery store. Even a small change like that can have a positive impact on the planet while giving us a sense of pride and accomplishment. Plus, stores like Target and Trader Joe offer a savings for each bag you bring. Win. Win. Win.

What do you find most challenging about trying to live a greener lifestyle? What steps have you taken already? Which of the options listed above have you used in the past? Which ones do you plan to use in the future?

Photos courtesy of Joe Shlabotnik and Canton Public Library, respectively. Some rights reserved.

Q is for Question Everything

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Around the age of four children, who are naturally curious, learn one of the most glorious words in the English language–Why? This single word–tiny and unassuming–is the key to knowledge and, more importantly, the development of true understanding. Of ourselves. The people and world around us.

Mother and Daughter Baking TogetherEach time we ask why we are developing our curiosity and gaining additional knowledge. Expanding our minds and discovering new worlds. Such a small word, but it is the key to a magical universe where everything seems twinkly, exciting, and new.

It’s not uncommon for a small child to ask a successive string of whys that exhaust his or her parents, or anyone else who will respond (as is the case for the poor guy in the Hyundai video below). Each why provides new information which, of course, requires additional questions.

But somewhere along the way we no longer question everything. We accept the status quo and the narratives learned from others…You can’t do this. You should never do that. Don’t say this. Don’t question authority. Don’t rock the boat.

And so we follow the leader and fall in line. People who question everything, yet succeed, are considered renegades. People who question everything, and just annoy the hell out of us are branded rule breakers (or words that are a lot worse). But maybe these folks are onto something.

Let’s clarify. I’m not advocating being a jerk, or questioning things just for the sake of teeing everyone else off. I’m talking about questioning everything we don’t understand, or that doesn’t seem right. Not questioning others  for the sake of demonstrating that we’re smarter, but because we really want to know; need to know.

As a society, we view questioning everything–especially authority–with a negative connotation. But valid questions from our children, spouse, friends, or employees don’t have to be a slight against us. In fact, they might be the impetus for a breakthrough, a new discovery, a better way of doing things. So rather than taking exception with a sincere question, why not view it as a learning opportunity? We should encourage our children to question everything; but teach them to do it appropriately.

Questioning everything isn’t just about questioning others. Some of the most important questions we can ask are those we ask ourselves.

What do I really want? Why do I always do this? Why didn’t I say no? Does this person/thing/habit really serve my purpose?

We can learn a lot about ourselves when we ask these questions, then dig down deep to find the honest answers–even if it reveals some ugly truth we’d rather avoid. We are so much better for having asked–and answered–them.

Writers–a curious lot–often ask this question of their characters. Why is she doing this? Why would he say that? Why wouldn’t he just say he loves her? The answers to these questions often require us to dig deeper into our characters to discover hidden secrets of which even we–their creators–weren’t aware. It also helps us to use that knowledge to shape the character and make him behave in a manner that is believable, true to his character, and moves our story forward.

Why? Such a powerful word. Has asking why helped you reach an epiphany in the past?  Does the thought of questioning the status quo unnerve you? Why or why not?

K is for the Kevin Hayden Trio

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One of the few things I’d say I inherited from my father is his love of music. I fondly remember sitting on the couch in our living room while he played one album after another. He was a big jazz fan so I listened to lots of Grover Washington, The Crusaders, Miles Davis, Joe Sample, and Nina Simone. But he also introduced me to my all-time favorite band–Earth, Wind & Fire–and numerous other musicians.

Illegal Playlist nowAs soon as I was old enough to buy my own records I began to build a collection of 45s. (I had a stack of those little yellow inserts.) Every time I got my allowance I was plotting which record I’d purchase next. But my love for music quickly blossomed and I developed an eclectic musical palate. What am I listening to? Depends on the day or my mood. One day it’s Neo Soul–Maxwell, Jill Scott, Ledisi, Musiq, and India.Aarie. The next it’s adult alternative. Later that day I’m listening to rock, or classical.

The beauty of liking so many genres is that it multiplies your chances of discovering something new. Lately, I’ve been on a serious jazz kick, prompted by another group which we’ll meet when we hit the letter P. But today I’m introducing you to another jazz group I met recently via Twitter–The Kevin Hayden Trio. Kevin Hayden is a drummer/producer/composer and the band is based in Milwaukee. (Shout out to the Midwest!). Love their sound. It’s everything I love about classic jazz, but with a unique contemporary twist. My favorite track is “Ice in the Sun.” Six minutes and nineteen seconds of pure listening pleasure. My dad would love it. I can envision him sitting in his favorite spot on the couch, eyes closed, head nodding to the music. And that makes me happy.

Sample the album below, or visit their website here to get your very own copy of Illegal Playlist. 

What are your favorite music genres? Which artists would you like to introduce us to?

J is for Journal

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When I was in middle school I kept a journal. I didn’t write in my diary every single night, but it was always there, ready to listen, ready to help me work through thoughts and feelings I wasn’t quite ready to share with anyone else.

Journal CollectionI’m not sure what happened to those diaries, or when they stopped being important enough for me to care. But now, more than twenty years later, I often wish I’d held onto those journals.

Like many writers, I’m completely obsessed with writing instruments. I’m admittedly snobbish about which pens I use. (The disposable pens in my possession serve one purpose–to be loaned to other people.) But my true obsession is notebooks and journals. I fall in love with them as easily as a tween falls in love with the teenage heart throb du jour. I collect them the way the eccentric lady up the block collects cats. I write in them with the frequency of rainfall in the Mojave Desert.

Time and again, I start a new journal, determined to maintain it faithfully. But within a few weeks it becomes one more chore, and eventually it falls by the wayside. Still when I run across another journal, I fall in love all over and the process starts again. Maybe this time will be different. 😉

What about you? Did you keep a journal as a kid? Do you keep one now?

I is for Ice, Ice Baby (as in the Polar Caps are melting)

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I’d love to spend this quick post drooling over chocolate-colored diamonds or some other delicious baubles. But today I wanted to address an important topic – global warming. First: YES, it’s real. (Please let’s don’t start that again.) Second: As you can see in the video below, this is no longer about theories and possibilities. The ish just got real.

Some rights reserved by Tatterdemalion!Here in America we’re a bit spoiled and water conversation isn’t something most of us were taught growing up. But making smart use of water and finding other practical ways to reduce our carbon footprint is the least we can do as global citizens. If warming continues at its current rate, the results will be catastrophic for everyone. Even now, our unwillingness to make sacrifices may not affect us, but could have devastating results in other parts of the world.

Living an eco-conscious lifestyle doesn’t have to be traumatic. Start with baby steps. Here’s a list of Three Ways to Live Greener and Reduce Your Water Bill. Then there are simple things we can do like carrying reusable grocery bags to the store with us, and turning off the lights when we aren’t using them. It’s wonderful if we can drive a fuel efficient car, but even when we don’t there are ways to drive smarter. For instance, one of our cars is very fuel efficient, the other isn’t. We drive the least fuel efficient car only when necessary.  Also with a little forethought we can plan our day of running errands so that we’re aren’t wasting gas. Every little bit helps.

Have you started taking baby steps to an eco-conscious lifestyle? How are you reducing your carbon footprint? What other changes do you plan to make?

Photo courtesy of Tatterdemalion! Some rights reserved.

H is for Hindsight (or The 20/20 Experience)

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Life is full of tough decisions and everyday choices that can ultimately change the course of our lives or the lives of others. We ponder some decisions long and hard, yet still make the wrong choice. After the smoke clears, the right choice–the one we should have made–becomes glaringly evident.

Ahh…the beauty of hindsight.

The 20/20 Experience - Justin TimberlakeSo we don’t always make the right choices, and yeah…sometimes we royally eff things up. But the important thing is that we learn the lessons in life that every interaction, every consequence, every relationship is designed to teach us and use that information to make better decisions going forward.

Artists tend to take the lessons of hindsight a bit further, using them as inspiration for fictional tales, to create deliciously-flawed characters, or to write songs with which listeners easily identify. Justin Timberlake’s latest effort, The 20/20 Experience is my current obsession. (My husband and son are this close to staging a hunger strike if I play it aloud again.) There are a myriad of reasons I love this album. Just to name a few:

  • It’s classic JT, but from the more mature perspective of a man who has made some mistakes and learned some lessons.
  • The entire album is pretty much a heart-melting love letter to his wife. (Swoon.)
  • He and producer, Timbaland are a match made in artistic heaven.
  • Several of the songs have a classic funk sound. (Remember when people used actual bands who played actual instruments? People still do that.  Here’s proof.)
  • I love that half the songs on the album are essentially two different songs. (See my post on Fusion to explain this illness.)

Thankfully we’ve moved beyond the little 45s I spun in my room growing up because this the tracks “Pusher Love Girl,” “Spaceship Coupe,” and “That Girl” would be completely worn out by now.  You can listen to the entire album below.

What are some of the best lessons you’ve learned in hindsight? Are there some lessons that can only be learned this way? What do you think?

 

G is for Goals (or Don’t Talk About It Be About It)

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At the end of 2011 I posted my goals for 2012…on my blog. Right there in the open for everyone to see. It was one of the most terrifying and exhilarating things I’d done, in terms of being open and putting myself completely out there. Later in the year I revisited those goals to see where I was.

CrossTheFinishLine

Surprise, surprise! I accomplished, or began making headway, on many of the goals I established for myself and then shared with others. It worked so well, why not do it again? At least, that was the plan. But by the end of the year I was hard at work on many of those goals so I kept putting off setting my goals for 2013.  While I am still busy working on many of the projects I set in motion in 2012, there are several other personal and career goals I want to achieve this year, but have yet to make any real progress. So, it seems it is time to stop tarrying and bring back the goal list. Below is a broad overview of my goals for 2013.

2013 Goals

  1. Adopt a healthier lifestyle – Joined WeightWatchers today.
  2. Make more time for family & friends
  3. Complete two manuscripts
  4. Edit two manuscripts
  5. Search for agent representation
  6. Publish two books  – Already in motion w/ Carina Press
  7. Join or start a group blog – Already in motion. Contemporary Romance Cafe launches May 1st.
  8. Continue progress w/ education – Making excellent progress
  9. Self-publish 1-2 pieces
  10. Submit to at least four contests this year
  11. Pursue freelance magazine writing opportunities
  12. Make time to travel

It sounds like a lot (okay, it is a lot), but I believe it is doable. What about you? What are your goals for the rest of 2013?

F is for Fusion (or How to Make Beautiful Music) #AtoZChallenge

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Fusion–the melding of disparate elements– has always appealed to me. There is fusion cuisine which blends traditional foods from varying cultures to invent a tasty new dish foods, and fusion music which blends differing styles or genre to make a new one.

There is something about marrying two seemingly opposing genres that seems so wrong, and yet when it is done well, the result is a harmonious pairing of two conflicting musical styles. Latin jazz. Hip hip and rock. World fusion. Rock and classical music. When one can make such a pairing work it seems effortless. Like magic. Here’s an example of this type of fusion:  Lindsey Stirling is a violinist, however she incorporates a decidedly rock and roll edge in her style, and then throws in some dance, just because she can. The combination is pure magic.

As a reader and film viewer, I sometimes enjoy a film that blends two seemingly opposing genres with good effect. For instance, I enjoyed the movie Timer which blended science-fiction and a romantic dramedy (which in itself is a fusion of sorts).

 

What is your take on fusion cuisine and fusion music genres? Is there a book or movie you like that does a particularly good job of blending two genres?

E is for Ebert and Elementary #AtoZChallenge

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Farewell Roger Ebert

A quick nod to Pullitzer Prize-winning movie critic, Roger Ebert, who died yesterday. I’ve been watching Roger Ebert share his insightful movie reviews from his balcony since the days of Siskel & Ebert at the Movies. They were magic together and I loved watching them dissect a film–whether they loved it or hated. I’ll admit I got a little thrill out of it when one hated a film as passionately as the other loved it. It taught me that art is truly subjective and that even brilliant minds disagree.

Roger Ebert is as firmly rooted in the history of Hollywood as many actors and directors, and is far more memorable than most of the movies he reviewed. He will be missed. Today both thumbs are at half-mast.

 

Elementary, My Dear Watson

If you’ve been here more than once, you know I have a deep and abiding love for flawed, damaged characters. However, the danger with flawed characters is that they tread a perilous line between likability and utter loathing. In extreme cases the character’s flaws descend into full-scale buffoonery or an intolerable lack of consideration for others.  For instance, I was a fan of the USA series Monk at first. But after awhile I found his treatment of his assistant, Natalie, intolerable, and felt like his countless phobias had become the central theme of the show with each gag going on far too long.

Elementary -- Jonny Lee Miller plays Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu plays Dr. Joan Watson.Enter Jonnie Lee Miller’s portrayal of famed detective Sherlock Holmes in the CBS drama, Elementary. A famous, drug-addicted detective with innumerable quirks and a tendency to be brusque is ripe for treading on the side of utter loathing. Initially I gave the show a shot because I have fond memories of staying up late, as a little girl, to watch Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce portray the brilliant, but socially-inept detective and his affable sidekick, respectively. I also found the idea of Sherlock Holmes being given a modern twist–including making the Watson character a woman–completely intriguing.

I watched the first episode, but wasn’t completely sold. I had serious doubts whether I could tolerate Sherlock’s behavior. Still, I was interested enough to watch the next episode, and the next. Each case was complicated, with unexpected twists. More importantly, I grew fonder of the main characters.

Sherlock Holmes – Portayed by Jonnie Lee Miller

A star consultant for Scotland Yard, Holmes falls out of favor after descending into a drug habit and being forced into rehab. He comes to Manhattan where Captain Gregson (portrayed by Aiden Quinn) is familiar with his work and allows him to serve as a consultant on NYPD cases. Sherlock’s father–a man who is never seen, but is, and has always been, detached from his son–insists that Holmes live with a sober companion following his release from rehab and relocation to New York City.

Dr. Joan Watson – Portrayed by Lucy Liu

Dr. Joan Watson was a brilliant surgeon until she lost her patient, her confidence, and her license to practice medicine three years ago. She finds solace in her new career–serving as a companion to recovering addicts. Still, she is painfully aware that her family and friends disapprove of her choice and believe she is simply hiding out from life.

Both characters have tragic pasts that drive their behavior and thinking in very different ways. However, over the course of this first season we’ve watched the growth and development of both Holmes and Watson, and the evolution of their complex relationship. From the beginning Watson became increasingly invested in her charge as her admiration for his brilliance grew. However, bit by bit Holmes began to recognize Watson’s unique abilities. More importantly, we’ve watched as he reluctantly began to care for her. He demonstrates his concern in subtle ways, but because of the insight we’ve been given into his character each act speaks volumes.

Have you seen Elementary? Do you love it or hate it? Who are your favorite damaged characters and why?

D is for Determination #AtoZChallenge #BasketballTrickShotKid

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TitusBasketballThe video of this amazing little basketball prodigy, Titus,  completely blew my mind. First I wondered if this was a series of camera tricks. When I realized it wasn’t, I wanted to scout this kid for my hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.

Titus is adorable, but he also reminds me of four important ingredients to success. Determination. Passion. Fun. The Right Team.

Determination

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines determination as, “Firm of fixed intention to achieve a desired end.” There’s no doubt that Titus is determined to reach his goal. This determination drives him forward. There’s no way the kid makes these crazy good shots without the hours of practice–which we don’t see— where the ball just won’t go in the basket. It’s on those days our determination to achieve our goals carries us through.

Passion

It’s not hard to spot the difference between an athlete that’s just dialing it in or working for a paycheck versus one who is fired up, completely consumed by her passion for her sport. We see this same difference in people we meet throughout our day–from the barista that made our double tall latte this morning to our doctor or child’s teacher. Having that same passion in our work and allowing it to fuel us on both good days and bad results in an end product that we can be proud of, and that end users–like readers–will truly enjoy.

Fun

It’s pretty obvious that little Titus is getting a kick of shooting the basket. We don’t see stage parents dragging the kid somewhere he doesn’t want to go, or threatening him if he doesn’t try one more time. Rather, we see the pure fun he’s having. He loves what he’s doing and he’s having a ball.

If we’re not careful, even our dream job can become a chore (ask any writer). So making it fun, and keeping it fun contributes to a better overall experience, and again has an impact on our final output.

The Right Team

Little Titus loves playing basketball, and his parents and siblings cheer him on fervently, and happily assist in doing what they can to help him get better. We don’t see his parents complaining because he wants to throw the ball one more time, or his siblings sulking in the corner because Titus is in the spotlight…yet again. Instead, they are there supporting him time and again, and show genuine elation each time he makes another basket.

Having the right people around us makes all the difference as we forge toward our goals. There will be some people in our lives who will always point out the negative or respond to good news with a telling “Hmm…” Distancing ourselves from those people physically isn’t always an option, however we can learn to minimize the impact we allow them to have in our lives and on our psyche. More importantly, we must find people who are supportive of our dreams and gravitate toward them.

Sometimes the right team is built piece by piece. The right coach here. The right trainer there. Then sometimes we’re lucky enough to find an entire group of supportive people–like the right critique group or writers’ association. When we find supportive people who are a joy to be around, and who want to see us achieve our goals as much as we want to see them achieve theirs things don’t get much better than that.

What goals are you determined to reach? What are you most passionate about? How have you built the right team?

Photo above captured from video below.