Support4Change Blog

September 12, 2007

Categories: Commentary on Contemporary Life

By Arlene Harder, MA, MFT

 

For this first blog entry in over a month, I’d like you to know how much fun it was to entertain, and be entertained by, my grandchildren, all of whom live far away. First, though, let me explain why it’s been so long since I’ve written.

Basically, it’s because I’ve been swamped with the writing, and then formatting, of the paperback version of Ask Yourself Questions and Change Your Life. It’s not coming out until spring of next year, but the galleys had to be finished by today. So last night I sent the PDF file to my publisher. Major milestone!

Still have to format the e-book version, available in November, because people will print that on 8.5 x 11 paper, though the book is only 6 x 9 inchs. Since I would resent printing out an online book that wasted so much paper, I’ll have to change the formatting. Fortunately, however, this time it will be worlds easier since I’ve learned how to use InDesign GS3, part of the expensive, and excellent, suite of graphic design products by Adobe. Teaching myself how to use it is a story I won’t bother you with.

Of course, before I got to the formatting phase, I was busy writing and re-writing the book. However, now and then we had the pleasure of seeing our children and grandchildren. And the pictures on this page illustrate a project I did with them that you may want to do with your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, even children of your extended family.

Visits with the grandchildren took place in Boston, MA, Booth Bay Harbor, ME, a cabin near Pittsburgh, PA, and here in our home in Southern California. We did some of the usual grandparenty things, of course, like taking a train ride in Griffith Park in Los Angeles with my grandson, Curtis.

But the other pictures on this page illustrate a new activity we did during their visits in our home. You see, a flare-up of sciatica kept my mobility to a minimum. But I had the energy to sit at the computer and help the kids choose GIFs (graphic drawings from royalty-free pictures I’ve accumulated over the years). When they assembled a dozen or so, I put the pictures into a web page, or helped them do it. Then I typed up their story as they dictated it to me and we all had a great time. Each story seemed to perfectly fit their personalities and interests. Now they can share them with their friends and family.

I highly recommend this as an activity to do with your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, even neighbor children. Even if you don’t have a website or blog, it’s a wonderful way to encourage creativity. Just go to Google and select “image” for any topic the kids might like. [As long as you’re not selling the story, you don’t have to worry about copyrights.] Then paste those pictures into a WORD document and make a “book” they can see on the screen. They’ll get a charge out of viewing their stories on the computer screen. Printing the story can also be fun.

I hope you also had a wonderful time this summer and look forward to a great fall and winter. I do. When the online book is formatted, I’ll share the first chapter with you.