The Transition

Like most of you, I watched the inauguration today. I'm in awe of our country's ability to accomplish the smooth transition of power. Whatever your politics, you must admit it was an impressive scene and ceremony.

I hope our new president has a fraction of the energy displayed by his younger daughter. She does not walk -- she prances and dances, she bounces with enthusiasm. I hope he has his eye on the ball as often as his older daughter has her eye on the crowds. I love it that she carries her camera to all the festivities, as if there will be no record of this historic time without her personal documentation.

I hope Michell Obama never perfects the political wife standard look of idiotic and mindless devotion. I like it that she seems determined and down to earth. She seems like someone who will not wear a lot of false fronts.

I went to the official website of the white house this morning and viewed several pages. Shortly after noon today, the site changed seamlessly to represent our new president and his administration. The first official blog post was there. (www.whitehouse.gov)

So, here we go. The eyes of the world are upon us. The transition was smooth. Let the real work begin.

Do You Know Who Has Photos of You?

This blog has been a learning experience for me.

I've reconnected with friends.
It allows me to write every day.
I get feedback and I love the good and the bad. I also know who the wimps are that send me an email instead of posting a comment.

Once I started posting a few photos, it became an obsession. I've ripped up tons of albums and I've only just begun. I have boxes and boxes. I love this information age.

Here's a terrifying thought: People let me know that they have photos of my youth and college days. Bad hair days. Cigarette in hand. Me draping myself over other people.

Employers now routinely search Google and MySpace. Jobs have been lost and careers sunk due to some bad choices.

My little blog is not likely to wreck anyone's career. But, I am extremely careful to ask permission before I post a photo. I also try to let someone know if I've floated one out there. I've never had anyone ask me to remove a photo.

My mother used to tell me that a lady does not allow herself to be photographed with a drink or a cigarette in her hand. Ooops!

But, I can say with confidence that no one has photos of me nude. No one has photos of me doing anything illegal.

Sometimes boring pays off.

Do You Google Yourself?

Another confession. Every few months I google myself to see what shows up. (I also google lots of you.) Try as I might, technology is always way ahead of me. But I made the conscious decision to put myself out there with a blog and a website. It's funny to see the key words that pop up.

When I did it this morning, the first thing to pop up was my fierce attachment to the "Riley" name.

It made me smile.

Blatant Self Promotion

Abby Marmion and I travel to NYC any time the opportunity arises. We are writers and Manhattan is the hub of the publishing world. Our favorite weekend is the ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) conference. We get to meet agents and editors. We learn some new technology. We meet other writers who have amazing talents. We nudge each other and say, "Why didn't I think of that?"

A couple of years ago, we met Rosemary O'Brien, an accomplished writer and fellow blogger. We were thrilled to see her again last month. Her writing world continues to evolve, as does ours.

Rosemary has a great website and a very interesting blog about being a military mom. She invited us to be guest bloggers on her site. Mine posted yesterday on www.rosemaryob.com. (In the upper right corner, click on blog.)
It's always an honor when people ask you to write for them, especially when it's a personal site. I hope you'll check it out.

The Next Stop on the Blog Trail

I've run out of oldies but I haven't run out of stories or ideas. Would you please honor me with your opinion? I'm considering closing this blog and starting a new one. Some names I've thought about are:

Reflections and Ramblings
Reflections and Revelations
Life after the Oldies
Thoughts for Today
Thinking Just for Today
Phase Three

I have to see what's available. Will you continue to check in and leave comments? Please let me know your thoughts about these ideas and any others that come to mind.

Writers are Needy People

I've worked as a writer and a marketing person for more than 22 years. If you throw in my time in journalism school and even my time in high school (yearbook staff, etc.) and various other writing pursuits, you've added another 8 years. That's a long time.

It doesn't get any easier. And, I love to write. But there's a point where the paper leaves your hand or you hit "send" on the email and it's terrifying.

Marketing gives you a buffer. There's a team involved. If the client hates it, you can tell yourself that the design needs to be better or the account liaison could have presented it with more enthusiasm. When it's just words and someone has hired you to compose them, it's a little like saying, "Don't you think my baby is cute?" If you're going to continue, some thick skin needs to grow.

Personal writing is equally scary. There's no editor or client. It's throwing caution to the wind -- thoughts, emotions, and opinions are sent out for anyone and everyone to agree/disagree or maybe laugh at you.

I write every single day of my life. I am rarely without a notebook. In that unusual occasion, I have written ideas on ATM receipts, cocktail napkins, deposit slips, etc. Some of my copy is written for clients and a lot shows up on this blog. Other things get tucked in a notebook for future reference. Some items go in a journal that (hopefully) allows me to go back and achieve perspective.

So, I send copy to a client or I send a blog posting into cyberspace. Then I pace around, check email, and hope they thought the baby was cute.

When the oldies first joined us (23 months and two weeks ago,) she would ask me, "What do you do on the computer all day?"

I'm writing. That's who I am.

Do You Ever Get Off the Computer?

The husband asked me this question the other day and I had to really think about it.

I travel. I go many places without access to email or blogs. Unless it's a business trip, I rarely take my laptop. I enjoy downtime as much as anyone.

But ...

Most clients and friends are on to my dirty little secret. I check email compulsively. I read the comments on my blogs and then I check other blogs. If I can't sleep, I get on the computer. If I have a writing thought, I like to go with it.

The parade of people in and out of this house know where to find me. Anyone looking for me comes in the kitchen door, hangs a right and pops their head in my office.

I guess the answer to the husband's question is "No." Even if I'm not sitting in front of the computer, I'm mentally still there.

Internet and The Media

At a recent conference I attended, one of the topics was the impact of the Internet on mainstream media. I was astounded.



I can't quote the statistics but the majority of people (under 60) get their news from the Internet. Blogs were the impetus for the downfall of Don Imus and Dan Rather. They exposed the Rush Limbaugh fiasco. The tradional media outlets are scrambling. Instead of reporting the news, they now need to provide perspective and commentary. We've already read the news. Now, tell us what it means.



As a journalist and writer, I find this fascinating.

I'm addicted to it all. The traditional news, the blogs, Court TV, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and more. When I was in Journalism school, we were required to read 5 newspapers each day. (There was no Internet; there was no cable.) We had a daily quiz about current events and you never knew which news source it would come from. Here's a sick part of my personality -- I loved it! Bring it on! That's probably the only reason I graduated from Journalism school -- I was really good at the current events quizzes.

I'm constantly trying to discuss current events with the oldies. I also make the Baby do little pop quizzes. When Reagan's funeral was on television, I dragged him out of bed and made him watch. With every pan of the camera, I was saying, "Who's that?" He needs to know the leaders of other countries, our cabinet members, past leaders, etc. He yawned a lot.

Do you think he knows who's buried in Grant's tomb?