tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61348992009-11-09T04:24:36.963-05:00My diary about my life as a writer with a day job, reader, motorcycle enthusiast, engineer, student, busy-body, my random thoughts, new discoveries and whatever else that keeps me in the throes of everlasting procrastinationCherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-15743206046909329472009-09-12T06:25:00.008-04:002009-10-05T21:15:33.927-04:00

Integration Has Its Benefits It seems to be a fact that most writers have, and may continue to have, a day job in order to pay the bills while they do the thing that they love most. We straddle two (or rather, multiple) worlds. A world of doing what we have to do to survive physically, so that we can do what we need to do to survive creatively or spiritually. For the most part, these two worlds

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-67786533221401779362009-09-03T19:13:00.005-04:002009-09-03T19:37:23.559-04:00

A GOOD BAD DAY You know you're in a good place when it feels like the ground beneath you feet crumble with each step you take, rain falls on your lenses and fog covers them every time you wipe it away, or when obstacles appear out of nowhere...and through all of this, you feel at peace. Ever have a day or a period of time when incident after incident happens...things that should bring you down

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-56520631090195346452009-08-18T19:34:00.005-04:002009-10-05T21:17:28.582-04:00

AN ENDING AND A NEW BEGINNINGLast night was the mark of a completion of a goal. I submitted my last paper for class, and thus went to bed an MBA graduate. This morning, I woke up to a new beginning and a new challenge. With school a fresh 8 hours in my past, I had already put it off to a distance. I had a fresh goal. I awoke to a writing focus and desire to plan the completion of this new goal.

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-2580144945967325412009-08-16T09:10:00.006-04:002009-08-16T09:41:56.822-04:00

TMII probably shouldn't admit this, but I remember sitting in my AIChE student member meeting for Chemical Engineering students, where the President was trying to get us to sign up to use this thing called the World Wide Web. It was supposed to provide us with a wealth of information and this thing was going to be H-U-G-E. Our response? Yeah, right.Fast forward, uh, a few years later, and here I

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-23375916674252508512009-08-14T05:10:00.011-04:002009-08-14T07:30:14.575-04:00

HOW MANY YOUS ARE THERE?On her latest album, Beyonce talks about her new alter-ego, "Sasha Fierce" and sings about "Ego." Unbeknown to former coach and teammates, 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, Hershel Walker claimed multiple personalities, or "alters" before his 2008 book release of Breaking Free. When the time of your passing has come, how many people would be able to convey a distinct personality

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-10875196308975479602009-08-09T09:42:00.010-04:002009-08-09T10:39:23.148-04:00

WATCH YOUR MOUTH NOWIsn't it ironic? It seems to me, that creative people, the people who express themselves the most--whether visually, musically, or literally--are the ones who must be the most careful about freedom of expression of their own personal thoughts. Oh, the irony.I just thought about this idea when I read blog post by Tess Gerritsen called "Why I Haven't Been Blogging." I can

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-78775517295639135182009-08-07T04:51:00.008-04:002009-08-07T05:19:28.206-04:00

BOOK 7, KINDLE 0Have you been keeping up with the Green Apple Core Series of the Book vs. the Kindle Reader? Hilarious! If not, check out rounds 1 - 7 of the fight on the Green Apple Core blog. I've been watching for the latest updates since round 3.And I get their point. I want an e-reader, but in no way do I expect it to replace real books for me. I cannot imagine my home with 10,000 e-books on

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-16960539965322533142009-08-02T08:47:00.007-04:002009-08-02T09:42:42.346-04:00

THE CHOSEN PATHEver think about the different paths you could have taken in life? The different choices you could have made that may have brought you to a different point than where you are today? Well, I'm a thinker. Sometimes crap just pops into my mind and I sit there for a few moments--or hours--in great ponderance (Yes, ponderance. I'm going to submit that word to Webster, so give it a

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-24730453557724248892009-07-29T05:00:00.007-04:002009-07-29T05:49:32.156-04:00

THE BOOK THIEFSo how would you feel if the seller of your car came to pick it up with his own set of keys, because the person that sold it to him sold it illegally? He left you money in your mailbox. But just didn't tell you. You found out when you decided to make a late night White Castle run. Not feeling that? Well what if the local bookstore just came to your house and picked two books off

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-62472152029525091432009-07-26T08:13:00.004-04:002009-07-26T08:29:19.092-04:00

EBONY MJ COMMEMORATIVE BOOKI've never been one to collect events, however, on my trip to the Barnes & Noble Cafe yesterday, I did pick up a Michael Jackson commemorative book. First of all, they were hard to avoid. I've never seen MJ on so many covers at one time. He had the covers of various mags within the racks, a special MJ section with all of them together in the magazine section, and then

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-1884542988012099232009-07-25T06:54:00.004-04:002009-07-25T07:42:57.714-04:00

A SIMPLE LIFEI'm looking at my empty living room and counting down the days when I will have the time to go sofa shopping. Well, actually, I know the sofa that I want. Found it online months ago. But I want to go see it at the store to be sure that I really do like it and I haven't had the time to do so. My main concern? Size. I want to make sure it's not to big where it will take up a lot of

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-27069072887753544252009-07-24T17:50:00.007-04:002009-07-24T20:43:25.730-04:00

E. LYNN HARRISI'm one of many readers and writers who have been saddened by today's sudden loss of E. Lynn Harris. He was a true literary legend in African American fiction. A great writer who had such a gift at telling untold stories. He will be very much missed.

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-76740967146818389882009-07-20T18:54:00.005-04:002009-07-24T20:44:38.234-04:00

GATES ARRESTWow! Got to hurry and finish up an assignment and submit it tonight. But, I just HAD to share the post of Tayari Jones regarding the mistaken arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr.. All I can say is...WOW!

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-64112007892775701282009-07-18T07:52:00.004-04:002009-07-18T08:22:42.077-04:00

Positive ThinkingBefore I knew about positive thinking, I find that I engaged in a lot of positive thinking that has gotten me to where I am today. Before I knew that there was a technique, method, or philosophy surrounding positive thinking, I found myself thinking of major things I wanted to do in my life and focused in on it until I achieved it. What I thought could be described as stubborness

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-4213049447349978142009-07-12T08:05:00.004-04:002009-07-12T08:27:10.384-04:00

I noticed I have a morning routine before I do anything. Whether it be going to work, school work, writing, or just getting up in general. I have a list of things that I do, but not necessarily in the exact same order.Before I start my day, I must relax and reflect. Meditate. It's hard for me to just get up and go. I have to take at least 30 minutes to lay while away, or else, "my ass is grass"

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-40900020543444947412009-07-11T07:12:00.003-04:002009-07-11T07:53:58.831-04:00

In a situation regarding trauma, one advantage a writer may have is the immediate therapy that writing can provide. While this is a tool available to anyone, the writer may feel the most comfortable with this form of therapy and may be able to get to it quickly without worry about how is done. They may be able to just pick up the pen, remove themselves, and just let emotions fill the page.I feel

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-76009684799703241112009-07-06T08:31:00.004-04:002009-07-06T09:07:44.066-04:00

As I'm slowly easing back into writing, I'm slowly getting a look at the big picture ahead of me. Conversations with two authors helped to bring home the point of the larger task that is ahead of me. I'm speaking of that giant monster of marketing and promotion.This weekend, I read the blog of author-friend Peggy Love, who wrote about Social Media's Exploding Frontier. I also had a chat with

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-42583930021871716942009-07-04T12:51:00.005-04:002009-07-04T14:02:12.796-04:00

I'm starting to get excited now. Six more weeks of school and I will have all my classes completed for my Master's Degree. So much has been on hold since I started school last September. I've been taking one class at a time, but the semester long class is squeezed into six weeks. Plus I'm trying to study periodically for a quality certification and a project management certification. When I

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-69991000219662642372009-07-03T05:51:00.005-04:002009-07-03T06:25:16.077-04:00

Six more weeks until school is over and I can go back to focusing on writing. Yay!I never write about stuff like pop culture, fashion, makeup, etc. because I don't find it enjoyable to read or write about. But the passing of MJ has made me look, notice, and reflect on several things. With the passing of a musical icon, I notice the immediate reflection on negativity, gossip and speculation, and

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-75233736070727761942009-05-03T10:33:00.004-04:002009-05-03T19:01:23.895-04:00

I borrowed a dvd from the library: AGAINST ALL ODDS - THE ARTISTS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE. The interesting thing about it was some of the issues amongst black artists at that time. Of course, there was more discrimination and segregation during that time and their struggles surrounded that, as can be expected. There were argument's within the race of whether all arts should be to only show the

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-88945108176982904972009-03-18T18:05:00.006-04:002009-03-18T19:05:49.708-04:00

So right after my post last month about my apparent underlying quest to be busy and innundated with chaos at all times, apparently I decide it's the perfect time to move. (Huh???) And move, like, now. And, of course it's just me and I'm in school so I have to work around all that. So I spend 2 full weeks arranging for a mover, and packing a little each night and on weekends. Move one weekend.

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-87608527111935586012009-02-07T09:18:00.004-05:002009-02-07T09:35:44.083-05:00

So the day after Superbowl weekend, I'm IMing with a friend, and once again, complaining how I don't have time to do everything I want to do. How there just isn't enough time and I can't relax and enjoy myself, even when I schedule the "me time" in. You know, my usual complaint of the last five years or so. Well, then she replies back, "I think you like being busy." She pretty much says that if I

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-33138667503725956042009-01-06T04:54:00.003-05:002009-01-06T05:02:56.675-05:00

Second day back at work. I'm struggling trying to find a routine to balance work, school, writing, working out, AND SLEEP. I have to fit these in and be able to get 7 to 8 hours sleep, else I'm no good. I hear people all the time talking about how they can get by with only 4 or 5 hours of sleep each day. Okay, I do not find this admirable at all. LOL And that's not something that I'm striving to

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-12815411239870028302008-12-30T08:52:00.007-05:002008-12-30T10:35:55.495-05:00

Well, it's that time of the year. Time where we review the current year and decide where we failed or what was lacking and determine what changes we will make for the new year. I've never been big on resolutions, but I do like determining what I will focus on and specific actions to modify. Okay am I word playing here? Is that really the same thing as resolutions? LOL Well, not calling them

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6134899.post-60099698851850500982008-12-29T09:15:00.005-05:002008-12-29T09:58:57.783-05:00

I'm feeling good about the ending of this year. It's been a chaotic one for me, but chaotic good. Like the past four years, I spent the first few months of this year toggling between on and off employment contract assignments. Trying to get on somewhere permanent in my hometown of St. Louis. But frustration set in after the last assignment ended and I decided to open myself up to relocation to

Cherlyn Michaelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17217892263197068733noreply@blogger.com1