Connections make ‘stars’ accessible

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 26 February 2013 11:49

“Even if what you’re working on doesn’t go anywhere, it will help you with the next thing you’re doing. Make yourself available for something to happen. Give it a shot.” —Cormac McCarthy

 

When I was little, I wrote letters to celebrity fan clubs to collect the glossy 8x10 autographed photos they would send back out. I don’t remember all of them but one that stands out is Nancy McKeon. Remember “Jo” from the TV show “The Facts of Life”? Yeah, that one. Why does that one stick with me? I have no idea.

It was an exciting process though. Writing the perfect letter, addressing the envelopes to “Fan Club” with my name and address in the return spot. And then waiting, waiting, waiting…checking the mail every...

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Yoga comas are worth slipping into

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:52

“Stop torturing yourself, man! ...Live in the now!” —Garth from Wayne’s World

 

Risking ridicule and pointing fingers in my own household (kids can be cruel), I continue to slip into yoga comas regularly.

That may not be a welcome sales pitch for the practice, but trust me when I say I mean that in a good way.

I’m not certain what people envision when they hear the word yoga. Some might imagine a bald creature with big ears and a robe. That would be Yoda. Not the same.

Others might see a bald man with a balloon belly sitting cross-legged. That’s Buddha. Not relevant for my purposes.

Admitting upfront that I do it for fun, flexibility and health excuses me from backing up any kind of medical claims or warnings. But...

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An ode in support of ink and paper

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 22 January 2013 14:20

“We lay aside letters never to read them again, and at last we destroy them out of discretion, and so disappears the most beautiful, the most immediate breath of life, irrecoverable for ourselves and for others.” —John Wolfgang von Goethe

 

The call came 13 years ago, on a predawn Monday morning in April. I don’t remember exactly what my sister told me. She must have said heart attack, but I don’t remember that either. She may have told me if my dad was at the house, in the hospital, or otherwise. I didn’t ask or give her time to tell me if he was alive or dead.

I think my subconscious knew, taking away any reason to stay on the phone for an answer to that question. It must have, because I ended up at my parent’s...

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Penny earned means penny spent

Written by Shelley Plett Tuesday, 08 January 2013 15:41

“The day I get a credit card with a negative real interest rate is the day we can compare government debt to household debt.” —Unknown

 

All those who got a Christmas bonus, raise your hand. All those who hit the holiday sales with your Christmas cash, raise your new iPhone, iPad or Kindle Fire. OK then…all those who stuck that extra money into savings, raise your hand.

Wow, visibility on the ground just shot way up. Nary a hand in sight. Maybe a couple. I’m sure there are a few people disciplined enough to have saved your bonus or Grandma’s $10 bill. You’re smart but not necessarily popular.

But most of us aren’t like you. We like stuff. And we’d like that stuff NOW, thank you very much! Even—especially—at...

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