We are honored today to have another guest post from Laura Sherman. Laura discovered this book while on her journey to learn Haiku. Laura  is a freelance writer and chess coach. She ghostwrites fiction and non for clients on a variety of topics. Her blog, www.friendlywriter.com, is designed to encourage writers to write. She has another blog, www.sayyestochess.com which highlights her adventures in teaching chess to children.

 I recently took a big step toward improving my ability to write haiku*. I began a group mentorship project with The Haiku Foundation, online, through their blog. You can watch my adventure unfold here: http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/blog/ (search for Quicksilver). Please feel free to comment and offer your advice. 

Part of my education involves reading established English-language haiku. If one wants to write haiku, it is important to read many well-crafted examples. I also study articles and books on the subject and then, of course, I write and write and write. Once or twice a month I write a new article, looking for feedback, so that I can grow as a haiku artist. 

I discovered Montage: The Book through The Haiku Foundation: http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/publications/montage-the-book/. This book has been an important resource for me - it is the largest anthology of English-language haiku ever assembled. It is really the Who’s Who of English-language haiku. 

Each poem captures a special moment to the author, inviting the reader to share the experience. Each is perfect and rich, fully of vivid imagery. Here are a few examples:

among fallen apples

the stallion

stamps his hoof

- Peter Yovu

river rising . . .

the trees almost touch

their shadows

- Francine Banwarth

Sometimes when I talk to people about haiku they seem to feel that it is only for the elite. Anyone reading Montage cannot possibly have that misconception. It is such down-to-earth poetry. 

If you’re interested in a copy of Montage: The Book, it is only available through membership to The Haiku Foundation – http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/publications/montage-the-book/ However if you go to their site you will find a free online version that is magnificent!

 * Haiku is an art form that spans hundreds of years. In his book, How to Haiku, Jim Kacian, founder of The Haiku Foundation, said, “Haiku is a brief poem, which records an experience of a moment of revelation into the nature of the world, in an effort to share it with others.”

We are delighted to have a book review from Laura Sherman. Laura Sherman is a freelance writer and chess coach. She ghostwrites fiction and non for clients on a variety of topics. Her blog, www.friendlywriter.com, is designed to encourage writers to write. She has another blog, www.sayyestochess.com which highlights her adventures in teaching chess to children.

Why is my steak so tough? Have you ever wondered this? Discovering that the average consumer (let alone meat “expert”) had many misconceptions about beef, Lee O’Hara set out to clarify things in his book, Beef Secrets Straight From The Butcher.

O’Hara first became interested in meat in 1958, when he got an after-school job as a cleanup boy at Green’s Locker Service in Elk Grove, CA. O’Hara was a junior in high school at the time. In 1969, after he graduated from college, he was given the chance to buy the business. Over the next four years he expanded it to the point where he could sell it for a tidy profit. Needless to say, meat is in his blood.

 My knowledge of beef is very limited. I had always been impressed by the stamp that exclaims, “Inspected by the USDA”. That’s got to be good, right? Well, O’Hara explains that this is a legal requirement. If that’s all they can say about their beef, something’s wrong.

It’s a bit like going to a doctor and having him brag to you that he actually graduated from college. I would wonder what his ranking was in his graduating class. 

There are over 150 photographs and diagrams in Beef Secrets. I always wondered what the different cuts of beef were, where they came from on the cow and which should be used for which recipes. The photographs really helped me to understand. 

Sadly, today, you cannot go to your local meat specialist and get answers. If you don’t believe me, as an experiment, try going up to the meat person at your local supermarket. Ask a simple question like, “What part of the cow does the pot roast come from?” Trick question, pot roast is a recipe, not a cut. “Where does the ‘shank’ come from?” The answer is the leg. You may be surprised by what they say. 

If you enjoy beef and would like to learn more about how to shop for beef, pick up Beef Secrets Straight From The Butcher. You can purchase a copy here: www.beefsecretsbook.com. If you’re a vegetarian, O’Hara also has DVDs available about how to grow an amazing organic garden. You can check out a few trailers here: http://www.organichomegardener.com/

 Lee answers all his emails, so feel free to contact him through his website. Folks from around the world consult with him regularly. 

Post By Megan McClain

Megan attends Eastern High School in Louisville, Ky. She is interested in pursuing a career in journalism.

Let’s be honest. When taking a glimpse into one of the rooms of your house, you may come to discover the untamed monster called clutter has taken control of that room. What might have once been a clean, organized space has now become the landing pad for just about anything and everything you happened to be holding at the time. Since when did throwing things at random onto one of the ever shrinking empty spaces become a habit? Author Alison Marks in her book, “The Little Book of Freedom from Clutter,” tackles this exact issue and provides us with the tools and know-how to beat back the clutter and put our lives back onto organized tracks.

In her book, Marks compares decluttering your life to the analogy of strengthening a muscle. She states that the more you use it, the better you’ll get at it. I couldn’t agree more. However, these words are much easier said then done. I myself have developed quite the clutter problem, and getting rid of useless “stuff” seems like a daunting and time consuming task that, frankly, I don’t really feel like tackling. I think, “I’m doing fine with how I go about things now, and even though it may be a little messy I have a good rhythm and I get through”. But why just get through when you could feel clear of troubles and free from the many “things” that overwhelm you? If we just try to change the way we live our life by clearing out all the unnecessary junk, not only will our house feel more like a home, life in general will feel more joyful and you will finally be able to relax and support what really matters to you. 

The intimidating battle of decluttering your life is not going to be effortless. It’s going to be difficult to break habits that have been built up for a good long time. Nevertheless you can do it! Marks give several ways to defeat years of clutter practice, such as going around and picking up items and then asking yourself if it is really something you need. Or finding your clutter spots, and writing down the magnitude at which the decluttering process will take. Another great question she suggests to ask yourself is if your house burned down, what would you miss? All of these and more are provided for you to cross the finish line into an organized way of living.  

Marks reminds us that it is important to remember that decluttering your life is a process, not an event. I’m sure we have all heard that most things worth doing take time. Something as big as decluttering can take awhile, but the results are everlasting and rewarding. She tells us that perfection is an ideal thing to strive for, but being human we have to be patient with ourselves and just keep pushing through to the end. I can personally say that I have set many goals for myself, and I can start out ready for the work and potentially long hours. However, half way through, it seems I get stuck or I have lost sight of the importance of my goal. Marks repeats to us that if we just stick with it, don’t lose your steam, and reach for the finish, then we will be rewarded in a number of ways. 

So take another look around that room again, and imagine that space free from clutter’s messy grip. You don’t have to settle with the way things are, and you can make things better by simply getting rid of the things that clog up your lifestyle. Live the happy, clear, fulfilling life free from the things that tie you down, and breath in that sweet victory.

Any tips on how to keep clutter out of our lives? Please share!