Ah, it’s Labor Day weekend. I’m keeping this short so I can unplug. and I hope you do, too.

Brain food…

• Google + tips for freelancers. A couple of tips that you might not consider.
• 5 Time-Saving Tools to Add to Your Twitter Tool Belt. Ooh, a few interesting ones.
• The Monster Collection of Moleskin Tips, Tricks and Hacks. I never could make it a habit to use something like this, but I know a lot of people who love it — so here you go.
• Best Procrastination Tip Ever. Trying this by doing it as early in the day as possible and feel proud to move on with rest of my day.
• SEO Guide to Creating Viral Linkbait and Infographics. Mega-guide with valuable information.
• Bookboon. Download free ebooks including textbooks, business books and travel guides.

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• Creative Sign-Offs. Most of the time, I use “Best.”
• 15 Funniest LOLcats Ever. Cookie cat looks like Shrek‘s Puss in Boots when he does that pitiful look.
• 10 Products Discovered by Accident. Whoa! Play-Doh was supposed to clean wallpaper?
• How to Revise Your Work (& Awesome Editing Symbols You Should Know). Ha! I like “That’s a good idea, I’m stealing that!”
• How old is your globe? Looks like the family’s black globe is from 1949. It says “Copyright” on it, but no year.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Meryl Evans

I live in Texas and haven’t been to a single high school football game since moving back to Texas in 1995. And, my daughter is a senior at a high school … a giant one (2600 in two grades) compared to mine (less than 2000 in four grades). Oh, I love football, y’all. My dad took me all around Dallas/Fort Worth to meet a few of the Dallas Cowboys and get their autographs.

Photo by Cherie A. Thurby

When the Cowboys won the Super Bowl in 1994, I was nine months pregnant. Although an exciting game, I couldn’t jump — thank goodness. Everyone wondered how I didn’t go into labor that day. (She arrived 10 days later — maybe that explains her disinterest in football.)

I joke that I didn’t graduate from a real college because it didn’t have a football team. Growing up in Fort Worth, I caught a few games at TCU where I went for my freshman year of college. Loved that experience especially when TCU played against Texas A&M. No matter how you feel about the Aggies, they have an incredible and precise band that puts most bands to shame. And no, it wasn’t because my husband had played in the Aggie band.  You just have to watch the Aggie band to understand.

My most memorable football memory has to be the 1986 Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Auburn and Bo Jackson. I have my brother, an A&M graduate, to thank for getting to see the game.

What’s your most memorable football memory? If soccer is your thing — go for it.

Brain food…

• Freelancer’s Guide to SEO – More Visibility, Traffic, and Clients. A well-organized doable guide with simple steps that won’t overwhelm you like others.
• 9 Ways Your Business Needs To Change To Become Social. This is how I try to work with social media. I truly love the interactions. I could spend all day listening and helping people if I could. [Link: Adam Helweh]
• How to Write a Good Freelancer Bio. Suggests various elements to include along with some tips.
• How to understand regret — and 2 ways to avoid it. I don’t think I have any big regrets in my life. Sure, I wish I had done some things differently, but if I had never done them … my path may not have ended up where it has today.
• 10 words worth collecting and how to use them. These aren’t insipid words. Quite the opposite.

For fun because we’re allowed…

• Social Media Explained… in very simple terms. Hilarious.
• Duck Tron. What happens when you throw duct tape into a scene from Tron.
• George Washington Autocorrect. HA!

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Meryl Evans

The 12-year-old son heads to overnight camp for a little over three weeks. First time he’s done that since third grade when he went for nine days. Not a bit worried. The break will be good for all of us. I’m especially looking forward to his living without TV and video games. Can you just see me grinning?

Photo by Cherie A. Thurby

I went to the same camp two summers in a row. It wasn’t my thing. Can’t pinpoint why. Why would I go a second time if I didn’t like it? It took a bribe. My parents were going on a trip overseas and had to ditch … er … put me somewhere. Other option was to stay with my grandparents. Love ‘em, but three weeks would’ve been too much.

My favorite summer camp was going to basketball camp at Texas A&M. It combined two of my loves: sports and A&M. At the time, my brother attended the school and I loved rooting for the Aggies in football. Even got to go to the A&M – Auburn U Cotton Bowl where Bo Jackson played before going pro. While I applied and get accepted at A&M, I opted not to go there because of its size. I needed a smaller school and smaller classes.

What was your favorite thing to do in the summer? Least favorite?

Brain food…

• How to Learn SEO as a Small Business Owner: There are too many resources out there regarding SEO. This should help cut a lot of the noise.
• How To Generate Social Content That Gets Clicked. This article delivers no so common suggestions. Nice job, Arik.
• The Real Secret to Personal Productivity. 10 tips from successful folk that do work. Creating habits is a biggie.
• 9 Tips for Setting Payment Terms for Freelance Writers. Magazines, books and more.

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• 21 Animals Riding Other Animals. Cat on chicken. Rat on frog. There’s even a monkey on a few animals’ backs. [Link: Paul Steele]
• 10 Questions to Ultimately Annoy Your Friends. Funny stuff.
• The Evolution of Smartphones. It’s a kick when I catch a show or movie from the ’90s when someone talks on a cell phone bigger than a brick.

I would’ve had more fun links to share, but they were those “Top X” lists articles. Unfortunately, you had to click through each one. They didn’t appear as a list in one page. I like it when a publisher offers both: list and pages with more info.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Meryl Evans

On the original 9/11, I was in my corporate job in Richardson, TX. I could not believe what people were telling me about airplanes and World Trade Center. Of course, the Internet was overloaded with everyone wondering the same thing. Took hours before we got the full story. I hope the survivors and the families of those who passed are doing OK and carrying on as their loved ones would want them to.

• Reuters Handbook of Journalism: You know… a style guide [Link: Smashing Magazine].
• Writer Unleashed 25 Best Writing Blogs 2009
• How to Develop into a Leader on Twitter
• Case Study: Can You Launch a New Site with Twitter Alone?
• Must See SEO Guide for All WordPress Bloggers: Must find time to ensure this site follows these recommendations.

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• Do you leave your USB drive in your pants and wash them often? Hubby has MANY times (dryer, too) and his Kingston USB still works!
• This Is Photobomb: Hilarious photos.
• Official Seal Generator
• Icon Finder: Search solely focused on icons.

My favorites that I haven’t posted here from CNN 10 Humor Sites…

• My Life Is Average: It only took six days before my first grader forgot his take home folder. Five for my 5th grader.
• My Parents Joined Facebook: My mom did, but I’m cool with that. Daughter not so happy about me on FB.
• Laser Portraits: Think Star Trek light sabers in the background.
• Historical Tweets: Taking famous scenes and tweeting them. Star Trek’s Trouble with Tribbles: “@Spock Would you consider investing in a powder puff export business?” Written by: Heather Turner of Forfeng Designs
• GraphJam: Charts, charts, charts, baby!

* Call Center Blurbs takes you inside the world of call centers.

* SEO Analyzer is a free tool. [ Link: Google Blogoscoped ]

* Writing for Tabloids gives you the inside story on writing for those unbelievable publications… hey, people buy ‘em!

* Worst Jobs in History – Think your job is that bad? Maybe not after you read this.

* Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-dissidents from Reporters without Borders [ Link: Cincom Expert Access ]