With this being summer, many of us are looking forward to taking a vacation trip. It’s a great time to pack up the kids and head out on an adventure. Now that my children are grown, I find myself looking back and remembering some of our more memorable (and better planned) trips, and I’d like to share some tips for your vacation trips.
Let’s start with a couple of questions. Do you and your family enjoy taking road trips? Do you ever get bogged down in the details? Well, my first tip is to write a book. Let me explain.
During Christmas week, after the celebration, gift-giving, and wrapping paper are done, most families have a little down time. No formal lessons are being taught, and generally speaking this is a low-stress time. While you’re taking that deep breath, choose a vacation spot for summer. It’s not too early; in fact, it’s the perfect time to choose a destination AND make your reservation.
Over the last several years, magazines have advised people to vacation in national or state parks. The rates are reasonable and the scenery breathtaking. Outdoor activities and historical sites abound. It’s a great idea. It also means that the most popular sites fill up early in the year. So, if you want to get reservations, you need to make them in January.
Now, prepare a one-inch binder for the trip. (This is the book I mentioned above.) You will need a section for maps, reservations, items of interest, and lists. I suggest you use notebook dividers with brightly colored tabs to separate the various sections. They’re cheap, convenient, and reusable.
Stay tuned for Part 2.
Posted in Uncategorized.
Tagged with Book, Travel, Writing.
I don’t know how your winter and spring went, but mine consisted of a “Tour of Area Hospitals.” I began this unplanned adventure at Thanksgiving by knocking a pan of sweet potatoes into the floor, then stepping on glass. Because I’m diabetic, I didn’t know I had glass in my foot. A few days later, it got ugly, and I started my tour. Five weeks of hospital food later, I moved to a rehab center. Bad move, wrong meds, worse food. After three days there, I went to hospital #2 for a week. The next stop was the 2nd rehab center for 5 days. Sunday, January 25, I escaped! Home at last. Christmas, New Year’s and 32nd wedding anniversary had all been spent in the hospital, so getting out was a great blessing.
I enjoyed the next five weeks puttering around the house . . . until I caught a cold and had trouble breathing. Back to the hospital where I flunked an EKG. Flunked a stress test. Transferred to a 3rd hospital where I flunked a heart catheterization. Open heart surgery the following week. One week after that, I went home to do the 8-week recovery.
FINALLY, I think I’m done with all of that foolishness. So, I’m catchin’ up on blogs and writing projects. I plan to write more often, so stay tuned for misadventures and publications.
Posted in News, Writing.
I was recently contacted about copyediting a self-help book. Now, I rarely read this type of book, so I was not particularly enthused about the project. However, God had delivered it into my lap, and I believed there had to be something worthwhile in it. There was.
Early in the book, the author used an approach that made me uncomfortable. But as I continued to read, I realized he had some ideas that were absolutely correct. After a few more pages, I found myself practicing some of the ideas. By the time I had concluded editing, I had begun to consider the various ways I could apply most of his teachings.
I was dragged kicking and screaming to this project, but it may have been one of the most important books I’ve read in years. The lesson learned is not to judge quickly. Bear with the client, and you may find yourself richly rewarded.
Posted in Uncategorized.
Tagged with choosing projects, copyediting.
By admin
December 4, 2008
Did you know that interpreting from one language to another is called directionality? And did you know that it makes a difference in which direction a translator performs? That is the thesis of the project I completed this week. It seems that translations are better or more accurate when an interpreter listens to his/her second language, then translates into the first language. The paper’s author did an excellent job of presenting the research and analysis. And I had the opportunity to learn while working on an interesting topic!
If you have a project I can help with (editing, coaching, checking references, etc.), just drop me a line at cschenkelberg@comcast.net.
Posted in Editing.
Tagged with Editing, thesis, translating.
By admin
November 21, 2008
For the past few years, I’ve had a presence on other websites, but I finally have one of my very own. This new website and blog will be a contact point for editing clients as well as a place where students and parents can see and read about my books.
As I receive questions about grammar and other areas of expertise, I’ll post them, along with the answers, at this site. If you’d like to reach me for editing, writing evaluation, or other services, please contact me through the information on my “Professional Profile” page.
Welcome!
Posted in Editing, Grammar, News, Tutoring, Uncategorized, Writing.
Tagged with mission, purpose.
By admin
November 20, 2008