I had planned a post using my trip, but I struggled to recover from my vacation all week. Although I didn’t think I needed a vacation from my vacation, my body thought otherwise. It wiped me out that I kept going to bed early and allergies took over. I had to modify my schedule to get things done. My body was probably in shock that I took the first real vacation in almost a decade that it didn’t know what to do when I returned.

The short version of the trip: Loved seeing and experiencing Boston while catching up with family in Nashua, NH.

Hope I get back in the swing next week… it may be tricky with holidays on Monday and Thursday. Happy Labor Day to all. And do take the day off. Everyone deserves a break.

Brain food…

• Make the Most of Your Memory: 10 Tips for Writing About Your Life: I ask family to fill in gaps when trying to recall a memory. People writing memoirs won’t get it perfect, but they can take steps to complete the picture.
• a brief guide to life: Trying to declutter and enjoy life more…
• Why & How Freelancers Should Exercise (from Fitness Expert Scott Tousignant): When I returned from Boston and Nashua, I felt out of sorts and had a hard time returning to my routine. While my exercise routine was off — I exercised for at least 40 minutes daily — maybe not what I usually do that day or as hard. The point was to do something and feel like I accomplished something.
• See How They Did It: 104 Social Media Case Studies: Not all 104 are on this page — it links to others elsewhere. Good resource for both B2C and B2B.
• Author Headshots: Also applies to any professional photos. I’m trying to schedule my family’s annual photos and get my professional headshots while at it because mine is from 2005. The hard part — finding the right tops for the family (we wear jeans) and for my professional photos. This part isn’t going well, but I might get some shots in my meryl.net tee (which I happen to be wearing in the photo).

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• 50 Best Websites 2010: According to Time. NO resource can truly name the best websites or best anything online… but at least, you discover a few goodies.
• Stay: From the 50 Best Websites. Wanted to bring this one out so I’ll have it for myself for the next time I travel. (By then, they’ll be 10 newer, better sites.)
• 12 Geekiest Fashion Accessories: Fun stuff, but I wouldn’t wear ‘em all.
• “Set” has the most definitions of any word in the English language: 464! Better make sure we clearly communicate what we mean when we use “set” in our writing.

First, roughly 10 of you are eagerly checking this blog because you want to know if you won a copy of Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids from yesterday’s guest post.

Random.org, do your thang! Presto!

#11!! Congratulations, Jenni!

• 100 Twitter tools sorted logically.
• 7 Tips to Make Sure You Get Paid: Thank goodness, I’ve only had two clients that required extra effort to get their payment for my services.
• 10 Types of Bad Clients and How to Avoid Them
• 47 Twitter Power Users’ Secrets To Getting Many Followers
• What the Flip Is Social Media? (this is a G-rated site, peeps): Link comes from a high school friend on Facebook… wow. Never thought I’d see the day.

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• 100+ Funny Photos Taken At Unusual Angle: Beware, some not appropriate for work or around kids.
• 10 Intense Public Guerrilla Marketing Posters.
• Netdisaster: Destroy a web site. I’ve seen these before, but figure someone needs to burn a web site to feel better.
• Lookitsme 404 Page: Funny! Watch it until white paper shows up. I love a good 404. Used to have one, but haven’t been able to fix it.
• Geek Crafts: Star Wars Cookbooks stars Wookie Cookies. Heh. [Link: Jenn Fowler]
• My Life with Cables: How Simon and I feel about ‘em.

• Liz Strauss on creating a successful blog with community. Long transcript (we deafies thank you), but great conversation. You can download the PDF for reading a bit at a time.
• Fail frequently. Edison didn’t fail 1000 times, he found 1000 steps to creating the light bulb. Also, think about how you deal with mistakes.
• Making Headlines: This takes time, but it will pay off.
• Online Writing: How one teacher uses social media in teaching a writing class.

And for fun because you’re allowed

• Bored people find x-ray machine
• Toddler sings The Beatles’ “Hey, Jude” [Link: Buzz Bishop]
• Traveling to a subway city? Hop to HopStop to get all the bus and subway guides. Washington, DC’s metro system is amazing — complete with information visualization through its maps. New York City? It only confused me. I’m underground, how am I supposed to know which way is north?

Geeky couple’s rings [Link: Chris Kieff] looks almost obscene. Chris and I were joking in Twitter. He said, “… I think it would be a little awkard to have them plugged together… God what a geek I am to think that!”

I replied, “Yeah, just amazing hooking ‘em up and trying to walk together side-by-side… ohhh, carpal tunnel!”

The Geekend Wiktionary from TechRepublic is an “unvarnished glossary of terms for those trying to navigate the corridors of geekdom. No entry is complete until you’ve screwed with…er, improved it!”

Just had to post that for a little weekend laugh. Ha! Paul can relate to HelpDesk.