by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Three reasons I didn’t hesitate to download information on the Pomodoro Technique® via Mary DeMuth’s tweetdeck tonight:
1. I’m a huge Mary DeMuth fan!
2. I need it.
3. It’s FREE! The technique, activity sheets, and even a cheat sheet — all FREE!
The basic unit of work in the Pomodoro Technique® can be split in five simple steps:
- Choose a task to be accomplished
- Set the Pomodoro to 25 minutes (the Pomodoro is the timer)
- Work on the task until the Pomodoro rings, then put a check on your sheet of paper
- Take a short break (5 minutes is OK)
- Every 4 Pomodoros take a longer break
Care to try this time-saving technique with me?
-photo courtesy of rapidrabbit.de
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
I sat in the balcony, eyes fixed on a woman lovingly but firmly speaking truth into a teenager’s life.
The teenager seemed quiet, a bit of a loner, and in need of someone like her who was willing to take the time to sit beside him, get beyond the How are you? surface-type questions and listen. Really listen. How inspiring! But it’s the woman’s identity that serves as the catalyst for today’s post. Remember this story?
It was Dave’s mother who served as the hands and feet of Christ to the young man today. There before me was a woman swimming in her own grief over the recent loss of a son offering a life-vest buoyed by hope to a young man in need. She had not allowed circumstances to immobilize her—or the opportunities given by God to encourage and strengthen others.
I respect the fact that everyone grieves differently, but her depth of faith spoke with such volume today it nearly required headphones.
Photo courtesy of life123.com
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Some may not judge a book by its cover but many judge their choice of dinner by the appearance of the restaurant. Well, maybe not many. Okay, maybe only me—but my exterior snobbery caused me to miss out on one of the best kept secrets in Simpsonville, SC. That is, until last night.
The Pasta House, located on 635 N.E. Main Street (directly across from the Simpsonville Post Office) sits between a dog grooming business and a laundromat so it remained in my peripheral vision for five years. Shame on me!
Friendly faces and a waft of Italian deliciousness greet you at the door. It’s not a fancy place, but it’s clean and very pleasant. The staff is top-notch—we never wanted for anything. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi, and at the risk of sounding like my Aunt Nell (who proclaimed this at every meal) — it WAS the best meal I could remember in a long time. The shrimp was cooked to perfection in garlic, butter, lemon, and a white wine sauce. The portions are large enough for two people (we split our meal and brought half home for lunch).
But the best part? It’s an incredible bargain! Every entree includes: soup or salad (Brian said the creamy chicken soup was amazing), garlic bread, drink, dessert, and coffee. All of this with my Shrimp Scampi was only 13.95! They have great kid’s deals during the week as well as lunch specials.
I can’t close without mentioning the delectable dessert that followed my meal — homemade NY style cheesecake. Enough said.
If you live anywhere in this vicinity, you’ll want to give The Pasta House a try.
It’s simply magnifico!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Why this hot-off-the-press special issue from The Writer is a fave of mine:
- Slick cover (eye candy!)
- Topics helpful to both seasoned and newbie writers
- Such as: grammar (which would’ve come in handy for yesterday’s post when I apparently left a participle dangling…ouch), strategies to bring fiction and non-fiction to life, 7 essential elements to creating suspense, 8 methods to capture a child’s view of the world
- And my favorite so far: 25 ways to tighten, clarify and energize your writing
I pre-ordered my copy (free shipping!), but I’m sure you’ll be able to find this at your local Barnes & Noble as well. Enjoy!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
In a nearby window, she caught the reflection of a woman eating dinner.
The image appeared familiar but unrecognizable at first glance. The once oval-shaped face was now rounded, and a “normal” body now pounds heavier. She glanced away quickly hoping the reflection was a figment of her imagination.
Who was the woman staring back at her in the window?
She was me.
Or was she? I don’t know–it’s hard to tell when your eyes are closed.
That moment of reflection was quickly and conveniently shuffled to the back of my brain, joining the ranks of all those thoughts vying for my attention, but having been denied.
And then this song played in my car:
“This Is Your Life” (partial lyrics)
Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken
Don’t close your eyes,
don’t close your eyes
This is your life and today is all you’ve got now
Yeah, and today is all you’ll ever have
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyes
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be?
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose
By the time I finished my sing-along with Switchfoot, I’d come to these conclusions:
- Today is all I have.
- By “closing my eyes” (feeling sad, refusing to deal with an issue) to those things which I don’t like about myself, I’m also losing sight of the things I do like.
- A life “dreamed about” is only realized with eyes wide open.
- Who I reflect will always be more important than what I reflect.
- Eating inside will always make me feel better about myself. 🙂
“Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…” Ephesians 5:14, 15a
