I Miss You Mom!

For most of my son's life, I've made every effort to have a flexible work schedule so I could be with him as much as possible.

When he was small, I knew it was tough for him when I had to leave him to go off to work. I remember the "pucker up" face he made and how he'd tell me he missed me, even before I left. That's one of the tough things about being a mom nobody can warn you about. It makes you feel so terrible.

But now he's older, in middle school, and here's the funny part, he still misses me when I have to work out-of-town or be away late when he's home. I should take it as a high compliment, I know, since most teens wish their parents would disappear completely, still I always thought way back then, when I was a mother of a toddler that being a mother of a teen would be easy. Hardly. What you learn over the years is that being a mom of any kid of any age is full of challenges, you just trade one for another.

Micro-hiring In The Molasses Economy

Everyone knows this economy has slowed down to the speed of cold molasses on a cold winter day. And you can't have missed the non-stop discussion in Washington, DC about how to get money into peoples' pockets FAST. You've heard of the miraculous benefits of micro-lending. Well, people don't need a loan, as much as they need some WORK. Try Micro-hiring.

If you're in a position to pay some folks for some contract work -- $500-$1000/month for even a few months -- do it! Micro-hiring is hiring people for small contract jobs just to help them out and help you get projects and initiatives in gear, on track and completed.

If your company has fired, okay, "downsized" a few people, be it 10 to 10,000, those burdensome fixed costs of payroll, are now gone. Perhaps there's still some money floating around in your budget and a lot of work to be done in your company, which you could happily marry with some fast micro-hiring. Try it.

Resting Heart Rate

I like the heartbeat in your wrist and clutch at it
in dark nights or early morning dawns;
It steadies me, my darling, your restful heart rate;
and it dawns on me, what a lovely love you are;
I like to hear your heart beat as we lie together;
I like your front, you're up front with me;
I like your back, you back me up;
I like your sides, and you always take my side.

Your love is hearty and strong,
You've beaten out all the rest.
As you care and cuddle and kind me,
I discover algorithms of love I never could identify
before you came. I yield to you, bend low and salute you,
grant you access, am amazed at your goodness,
desire to be as good as you but never will.

You alone can make my heart skip a beat.
I just plain desire you, you there, yes, you!
In bones and blood, skin and muscle,
a simple human being, so within arm's length.
I appreciate your down-to-earth personable
personness, as our lucky love pulses along,
a pretty paradiddle of coronary constancy.
An upbeat downbeat, my dear,
"And a one, and a two, and a ..."
I love you.

Twitter Silly News

As for "news" and I use the word very loosely, I am more hooked on the gossipy chitter-chat of Twitter than any "real" news source these days. But where can you hear amazing stuff like a live description from a passenger on the plane that landed on the Hudson and other amazingly "intimate news" that's a heartbeat old.

For Whom The Journalism Bell Tolls

Good show this morning on WBUR's On Point about the end of journalism as we know it. Great to hear Jay Rosen and David Folkenflik discuss the stormy seas of journalism.

Welcome To My Happy New Year!

We've all been saying Happy Niu Year to make a pun on the Chinese word for Ox (Niu) as the Chinese Year of the Ox kicked off a week or so ago, but today's MY birthday, so it's kind of my personal Happy New Year.

There's lots good about it being my birthday today, but I have to say, the temperature this morning at -1F is a little daunting. But then that's the secret of February babies, just count back 9 months .... we were dreamed up on a lovely May or June day or night, just imagine what a sweet place we came from, and then delivered into the harsh reality of the coldest time of year. A good life lesson there, for sure. Our sunny personalities help all around us make it through the bleak days, with a promise of warm days to follow.

We can be a bunch of Pollyannas, us wacky Aquarians. We love to look on the bright side. For instance, I have a most excellent cup of real English Breakfast loose tea from Tealuxe (in Harvard Square) brewing in my big tea pot on the counter. I have a great day ahead, full of family, friends, fitness and fun. I might even find a piece of cake at the end of this brand new day ... I'll let you know.