Stephen Lawrence Brayton's Blog (200)

“Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.”

Why does this happen to us? Because we're really not paying attention in the first place.

I have a difficult time remembering names. I see familiar faces but names escape me. However, after listening to a short audio book giving tips to landing a second job interview I made a goal that I would endeavor to remember…

Living here in Des Moines, I am able to attend many events. Jazz concerts, comedy shows, and sports. We have the Des Moines Buccaneers and Iowa Wild hockey teams, Iowa Energy basketball, and Iowa Cubs baseball. I’ve attended all but the Bucs. I would like to point out a few things about the games, the arenas, and the other fans.

I thought about discussing just baseball, but realized the points I make, might be relevant to all.

1. Watch the game. This is the…

Every month, I change the theme for class. At the end of each month, students are required to write a one page essay on that particular theme. Here are some essays on Courtesy.

Saleena

Courtesy is a polite remark, polite behavior, a polite action of a person with good manners and consideration of others. A polite speech and action and also civility and respect.

Say polite things when we meet. Someone with consideration and…

Today I'd like to discuss enunciation. Years ago, I was asked to speak at a Lion's Club meeting. I don't remember the topic, maybe my trip to Mexico in 1988. Anyway, I sat in front of the crowd and started mumbling. Somebody told me to stand up and speak up. So I did.

Since then, I've been speaking in public for various reasons. Either to attract people to the martial arts club or discussing my books. Each time is a learning experience and a chance for me to work on my…

No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared.”

Unless there were piranhas in the pool, where do you live where no fish are in the water? Sheesh!

***

At the time of this writing, I'm one week removed from an accident that shook me up worse than I thought one would.

Now, I've had a few accidents in my years. I rear-ended a car while delivering pizza which screwed up my car's steering and lost me my job. I also regretted…

One of the cool things about blogs is to ask a question at the end to entice comments. Well, I want to ask one at the beginning.

What are you reading right now?

Okay, don't be literal and say, “Dude, I'm reading your blog.”

I mean your reading list of books.

Are you like me and have several going at once?

Currently, I am reading:

- A book I'm recording for a friend. I read a chapter or two when I get the chance. I use Audacity to make the…

This week, I finish up the essays my students submitted regarding Attitude. I've enjoyed reading and sharing them. March's theme has been Courtesy and I look forward to reading the essays regarding that subject.

ELIJAH

My paper is on attitude. Attitudes can be good and some can be bad. If you look it up in the dictionary, you will find that attitude means “ a feeling or disposition regarding one’s…

This week, I present more of my taekwondo students' thoughts on Attitude. Some are too young to write, so they have assistance from mom and dad to help them discuss the topic and to put words to paper.

Reece

Negative:

- You have trouble seeing good things

- You don't have fun

- Nobody wants to be around you

- You will have bad things happened because you will not be able to see any good things

Positive:

- You see…

I've written about attitude before, but February's theme was attitude and I thought I'd share some of my students' thoughts on attitude. (Actually, for testing, each student is required to write at least a one page essay on the theme of the month.)

Abigail

To me, attitude means the feeling with which a person does tings, and it is these feelings that affect every aspect of not only the person's actions, but everything around them as well.

First is…

In my taekwondo classes, we emphasize the aspect of focus when learning a technique. Focus on stances. Focus on hand position. We also discuss a broader perspective of focusing on whatever goals have been set.

There is so much to this theme it's difficult to just stay with one point.

When I'm competing in tournaments, I've learned to focus on my performance. I don't look at the judges, except when bowing in and accepting my score. When I start my form, I focus on a…

I know, I know, I missed last Friday's blog. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, it was Christmas and I was away from the computer. Second, I might have written the blog earlier in the week and scheduled a post, but I was busy being frustrated and exasperated with a certain company. So, this week, I think I'd like to write out my frustrations in part to…

So, I'm sitting around the apartment this afternoon and I receive a phone call (which I'm lucky I saw the phone screen light up, because the main speaker is broken) and it's this week's featured author wondering where I am, that I've missed the interview.

After profusely apologizing, I jump in the transporter and…

“I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!”

I wish I could see this done more often.

I didn't need too much time to figure out how this relates to writing. Teamwork. Specifically, support groups in the form of: writers' critique groups, the Posse, and author groups.

Critique…

This week, I don't pick up my featured author, he gives me directions. I start out by transporting to Paris. Then I have to act as if I know how to effect a French accent to tell the cabbie an address (although I could be telling him I'd like to date his sister for all I know) - “sank roo doe noo”.

Fortunately, he doesn't drag me out of the vehicle and pummel me. Instead, in a few minutes I find…

“They should not allow topless sunbathing on the beach. It was very distracting for my husband who just to relax.”

I'll just bet it was.

***

I used to work nights and had, for the most part, since 1999. So many times my 'days off' were nights. Many times, though my body realized it was 11pm and I was not at work so it told me to go to bed.

I enjoyed my time off but…

This morning I'm up early to pick up this week's featured author. Into the transporter and he sets the controls, and soon we're sitting in a lovely French cafe that's just opened. A few other cafes along the boulevard will be opening soon. Next door a young waitress sprays the sidewalk, causing rainbows in the air. A few minutes later i'm enjoying hot tea (sorry, no coffee for me) and I'm ready to talk…

My second author this wants to go to one of my favorite cities - New . So we're sitting with a view of the Mississippi at Cafe Maspero. Mint tea, daiquiris, a bit of voodoo around the next corner. Seafood! Give me more. Forget the interview. I want to stroll the Riverwalk, eat oyster po'boys, buy some hot sauce, take a swamp tour, do some fishing...what? Stop tapping my shoulder. Let me walk…

 I pick up the first of this week's featured authors. She sets the controls and we're off to Ireland. We end up enjoying tea in front of a crackling fire in a little cottage in...

well, somewhere in the wilds of Eire. I'm not sure where we are, but it's a fascinating place to get away from it all. You can smell the grandeur of the country in the air. Enjoy a scruffy dog dozing by the fire.

And…

“How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they say?”

Unfortunately, I have a problem with something very similar: nodding and smiling when I don't care what they are saying.

Both of these pertain to impressions. Of course, you've heard the old adage that…