Sharina Smith

Black T-shirts and Blue Jeans

2011-10-05T23:06:00.001-05:00

Steve Jobs 1955-2011. Photo from Apple.com.

If anyone has defined my career and writing life, it has been Steve Jobs' and his black t-shirts, blue jeans, and very cool Apple products. His ingenious inventions have certainly been my favorite tech tools over the years.

From the Apple IIEs in the basement of the Bryn Mawr College library, on which I pecked out my senior thesis on Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Hester Prynne, to the very cool Macintosh personal computer, scanner, and laser printer setup I used to produce advertising for Eagle’s Eye Company and impress my colleagues, my career was born on an Apple.

Moving from an Exacto knife, a bottle of rubber cement, and a roll of waxy borders and type to a state-of-the-art Macintosh was one of the high points of my young adult life. As a newlywed, my very first personal PC was a Macintosh with a huge monitor from my new mother-in-law. I began my first poetry book and completed a master’s degree in business administration on that beautiful machine.

I regretted it when I went to the dark side and joined the IBM-PC world, but my workplace insisted. Ventura Publishing and I did not have the warm relationship I had with PageMaker and my Mac. When I got my first laptop, I stayed in the dark. My IBM ThinkPad was nice, but it was not a Mac. Since then, I have known many a Dell, a Gateway or two, and a few off-brand clunker PCs, but nothing as sweet as my old Mac.

I must admit that at one point in my life I vowed to only wear black t-shirts and blue jeans like Steve Jobs. I think I wanted to tap into his hipness – no, it was more than hipness – he was a man who seemed to know who he was, where he was going, and what he wanted to do when he got there. I admired his creative genius and his practical wardrobe. I still buy mostly solid-colored clothing, and my favorite outfits are black t-shirts and blue jeans.

Twenty years after I turned IBM, I followed the light back into the land of Apple and bought my daughter a MacBook to start her high school education. I was a little edgy that her Mac cost more than three of my laptops, but secretly I envied the sleek lines and user-friendly interface she had with her Apple. Her laptop was much cooler than mine. I made her earn her own iPod, which soon got flushed, but it was still cooler than my Sony Walkman.

I hinted around until my husband bought me an iPod shuffle for the same anniversary I bought him an iPod classic. Our children have since been through several generations of iPod Nanos and iPod Touches. This year, I treated myself to an iPhone. Oh my!

I didn’t realize how much I missed an intuitive machine. My iPhone understands my desire to be a techie, but it loves me even though I am a lowly nerd. My iPhone and I work beautifully together. Efficient and effective – two of my favorite things – are my iPhone and I working and relaxing together. While I have owned a cell phone since 1993, I had never owned an Apple iPhone before. At my fingertips, I have more music and information than even this music and info junkie can peruse in a lifetime.

Now back in the land of Apple, I dream about iPads and MacBooks as future tools to put in my toolbox. While they might not make me a better writer, wife, or mother, they just might make me a cooler nerd.

Steve Jobs, I pray your tired body is at rest, and that your family smiles as many of us remember your refreshing genius. You were so very cool. Your creativity and courage will be missed.

What's in Our Fridge: It's How I Cook

2011-07-22T22:16:00.000-05:00

Let me preface this post with the following disclaimer: I am working full-time, teaching part-time, working on my doctorate, trying to be involved in church and community, committing more time to my own fitness, all while mothering a busy household full of teenagers with my husband. My husband sometimes likes attention, too.

I have decided to start blogging about my cooking, because I am tired of writing about customer relationship management and reading quantitative research for public relations professionals. I also don’t have time to audition to be the next Food Network star.

So, if you are still reading, I am going to tell you about how I cook. IF I were to audition for Food Network, my show would be called “What’s in Our Fridge?”

My husband is very impressed with my ability to cook a meal – a pretty nice meal, he thinks – with whatever’s in our fridge. Cooking in my house is sometimes a lot like Extreme Chef. I do my best to plan meals ahead of time and cook on the weekends and live my life like Hints from Heloise would…. well, no, my life is a lot more like Erma Bombeck’s..

This week, there just wasn’t time to go to the grocery store. So, Monday night’s fare was brats, organic fresh spinach, tomato, and string cheese salad with sea salt, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

I must admit, the salad was ingenious! And, it was tasty. Not a speck of it was left when four of us were finished with it. And, it was pretty. I was proud.

Monday night, in a brilliant move on my part, I put two apple and breadcrumb stuffed pork tenderloins in the crockpot for Tuesday’s supper. I added a can of Dr. Pepper and some sea salt. We ate the pork on hamburger buns with loads of lovely organic Romaine lettuce leaves and fresh spinach leaves. The lettuce tasted like butter and the pork was melt in your mouth yummy good. The lettuce was so beautiful, I wish I had taken a picture. Thank you, Dillon’s, for the bargain-priced stuffed meat that will make at least two more meals!

Wednesday night, well, it started out like a good idea, and it was tasty, but it wasn’t pretty. My husband brought home zucchini and yellow squash from work, and I was going to fry it with a light dusting of flower until he reminded me that he liked it better with cornmeal.

I forgot that the last time I had made cornmeal-fried squash, I had dipped the slices of squash in an egg wash first, and then fried them in small batches. By the time I added the cornmeal this time, the two giant squashes were all sliced and in the big skillet. So, I just dumped a quarter bag of cornmeal in on top of it all and just kept flipping the mixture in the vegetable oil. I did add garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, and a bunch of dehydrated onion flakes.

The squash with cornmeal crumbles tasted interesting – not bad – but pretty good despite being a bit limp. Served with grilled sharp cheddar cheese sandwiches on whole grain, double fiber bread, there were very few leftovers last night. I did take a picture of the leftover squash. Mmmmmmm, tasting even better the second night.

Normally, I don’t bring out the crockpot much in the summer, but with 100+ degree temperatures, not even grilling outside sounds good. So, last night, I got out the crockpot again and added frozen hamburgers, a bag of frozen hash browns, a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, a big can of cream of mushroom soup, a can of milk, and a can of water. I think I added garlic powder, sea salt and onion flakes, but I can’t remember. Whenever I can’t remember exactly how I have made something, especially soup, my husband says it is the best soup I have ever made.

The soup smelled great as it cooked all night. It cooled all day in the fridge today, so I was able to trim the fat before we ate it tonight. It tasted fine to me, but it definitely wasn’t my best soup. It also is not pretty, but once again, there are not many leftovers.

I look forward to the day when I have time to use the many recipes that surround me in my home office and in the kitchen. I have acquired a very nice cookbook and recipe collection from my mother and grandmother as well as from my time before kids when I had more disposable income to spend on cookbooks and disposable time to cut out recipes.

One of my very favorite cookbooks is from my daughter and features recipes from writers. I may have to try one or two and write about them next time for you.

Nostalgia Time

2010-12-31T23:08:00.000-06:00

When I was a sophomore in high school, I began the tradition of writing a letter to myself to be opened in the future. During both my sophomore and junior year, I wrote a letter to be opened January 1, 1982, during my senior year. Opening and reading those letters in January 1982, I realized that I had no idea where I would be going to college or where I would be on January 1, 1983. And so, on January 1, 1983, having returned home to West Plains, Missouri, from my dorm residence at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, I read my last high school letter to myself and began the tradition of writing an annual letter to me.

Over the years, I have read and re-read these missives to myself with amazement at how much could change in my life in just one year’s time. For example, in January 1982, I met the man who is now my husband, and in February 1982, I received the scholarship to Bryn Mawr which took me away from him for 20 years. Had I known I would fall in love with him that spring, I might not have gone to college 1200 miles away from home!

In January 1990, I decided I also would write a letter to be opened in January of 2000. In January 1992, I had no idea that I would meet my first husband in February, or that in January 1993 we would be planning a wedding. In January 1993, I had no idea I would be expecting a baby in January 1994. On January 1, 1998, I was days away from having our second baby. In January 2000, I suspected our marriage was nearing its end, but I had no idea that when I would read the letter I wrote that day a decade later in January 2010, I would be happily married to my high school sweetheart!

Funny how I still grin and giggle when I re-read in that letter from 1983 about my young love for Chuck when I was just 18 and he was 21! Although my love for Chuck was dormant for the 20 years we spent apart, it survived the separation and grows stronger each day. As we approach our 8^th wedding anniversary in March, I realize we have known each other for 29 years!

Now as December 2010 comes to a close, I think it is time to write a letter to be read in January 2020. Chuck and I will have been married 17 years by that time, his son Jacob will be 29, my daughter Laura will be 26, his son Adam will be 24, and my son Daniel will be days away from 23! I pray our children will find a love that will last through the years as ours has. I pray we survive their teen years!

Since 1980, I have written nearly 30 letters to myself (I think I missed a year or two when my kids were little). Tomorrow will be a good day to sit with a cup of coffee and do a little re-reading about my rich and full life since I was sweet 16!

from Blogging to MicroBlogging

2010-11-19T22:31:00.000-06:00

My personal writing life is moving from blogging to microblogging...

The short story: follow me on www.Twitter.com/sharinasmith if you care to read what I have to say.

The long story: writing for a living, writing as an adjunct instructor, and writing for my PhD has left me without time to write much more musings than 140 characters. In fact, I more often than not simply reTweet than Tweet, preferring to quote others than to quote myself.

There are days when I long to take pen to paper and be a poet or journal again, but there are not enough hours in most days. I do see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel as my eldest has only one- and a-half-years in the nest and my youngest will be gone in four- and a-half-years. My PhD baby should be done by then, too.

Until then, find me Tweeting on Twitter. (There is a poem in that somewhere!)

Do I love enough?

2010-10-23T15:31:00.001-05:00

I made a decision today. I decided I just want to learn to love more. I’ve been trying to learn how to be a better apologist for Christ. How to be more intellectual in my explanation of my faith. How to convince non-believers to believe. How to show them The Way. The Truth. The Life.

Then it dawned on me today that I just need to learn how to love better.

My intellect isn’t in question. I went to Bryn Mawr and almost have a PhD. My faith isn’t in question. I have read the Bible, Madeleine L’Engle, and C.S. Lewis enough to know Jesus was born, lived, died, rose again, and He loves me.

What is in question is whether I love enough. I think this is why all of my intellectual musings and missions have left me feeling flat.

If I cringe when I pass dirty, appliance- and toy-strewn trailers and look away from people with meth teeth, do I love enough? If I cringe when I see anyone who does not quite look or sound or think like me, do I love enough?

I hate the haters and I judge the judgmental. I have not always loved my neighbor as myself. I have not always loved God with all my heart and soul and mind. I have not loved nearly enough.

I suppose it is time I started learning.

Balancing Gifts and Their Shadows

2010-05-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

Photo shoots always make me contemplative. I enjoy watching photographers work their magic and bring the essence out of a subject. Today our photographer and I were blessed with a lovely day and some wonderful students to photograph. As we walked, talked, and worked together, we discussed one of my favorite topics to ponder: the nature of our gifts and the accompanying shadow side to them.

For example, one who is passionate also can be temperamental; one who is Type A and striving for excellence also can be task-oriented at the risk of alienating people; the very gifted intellectual can be perceived as arrogant; and the very sensitive artist also can be viewed as a high maintenance prima donna.

As I continue the vain attempt to become more Christ-like, the more I realize my shadow side needs to be tamed. While my gifts have gotten me far in life, their shadows have not been so productive. Perhaps it is this shadow side of us that has to die in order for us to freely live as Christ intended: using our gifts to bear fruit for the kingdom of God and His glory rather than for our own glory.

I think I need another sunny day during which to ponder these things.

WWDDD

2010-04-22T08:58:00.001-05:00

What Would Dr. Derryberry Do?

Those of you who knew Dr. D will understand why I think we need a WWDDD bracelet.

If more of us thought to be more loving before we spoke, fewer harsh words would be spoken. If more of us thought to be more encouraging to the young scholars in our lives, fewer young scholars would be discouraged. If more of us thought to treat our colleagues with esteem, fewer colleagues would leave our presence disheartened.

In the days since Dr. D’s death on April 13, I have pondered many encounters from our short friendship. During the four years I worked with Dr. D at Southwest Baptist University, he became one of my most valued mentors. His life is one I will hold before me as a shining example of how to be a scholar, wordsmith, teacher, coach, and friend. More importantly, his life is an example of how to love The Word and people.

Dr. D’s love for Christ was never spoken in my presence, but it was so clear in the loving way he spoke to people. Like Christ, Dr. D knew how to encourage people. When Dr. D told me about the song his speech and debate teams were encouraged to sing on the way home from forensics trips, whether they won or lost, I never sang the Doxology the same again. It was fitting that the celebration of his life ended with the congregation tearfully but bravely singing:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

WWDDD? I believe he would first consider WWJD.

Adding and Multiplying

2010-04-10T08:57:00.001-05:00

"Some people add something to life -- we enjoy them. Many people in this world desire to help others. These people are adders. They make the lives of others more pleasant and enjoyable... Some people multiply something in life -- we value them. Anyone who wants to can become an adder. It takes only a desire to lift people up and the intentionality to follow through....But to go to another level in relationships -- to become a multiplier -- one must be intentional, strategic, and skilled." - John C. Maxwell in Encouragement Changes Everything.

I thank you, Lord, for the mentors who have been multipliers in my life and who have helped me along the way. May I move beyond adding to be a multiplier and help others succeed in their life.

Leaning Toward a Topic

2010-03-14T23:33:00.000-05:00

Social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship and women. Social entrepreneurship and women in Sicily. As I seek a dissertation topic that stirs my heart, I think of my father's native country. Long time ago, I read a book about the struggles of peasant women in Sicily. Women of the Shadows was the title, if I remember correctly. I think it would be great to do some field research in his town of Prizzi. I have never traveled there. Time to look for a grant!

Entrepreneurship without a profit motive sounds oxymoronic, but I think the future of our planet and the health of nations depends upon people investing in the lives of the less fortunate. Marketing social entrepreneurship to better the lives of women and children... that is a topic I could sink my teeth into. I really want to make a difference with my research, not just waste lots of paper. Now time to think about narrowing the focus of this broad topic.

Any ideas, readers?

Another Milestone

2009-10-05T22:49:00.004-05:00

Tonight, my daughter drove me home. Surprisingly, I was very calm. I feel somehow that a new era in raising my daughter has begun. We got her learner's permit on Friday, and her first driving experience was with her stepdad that night. She likes his 1994 Suburban better than my 2006 Trailblazer. She calls his rig "The Tank." Funny, so do I, but I do not like driving it!

It was rather amusing to see how excited Laura was when she pulled up to McDonald's drive-through tonight. Our Monday night McDonald's runs with her friend Aralai after orchestra practice are a tradition. And tonight, it was a very delighted Laura who placed the order and drove around to pay (with my debit card, of course) and pick up the girls' food. It also was amusing to me that they called my little girl, ma'am!

As I watched my little girl drive, she had a slight smile on her face as she figured out how it all worked. There were a few odd moments of the windshield wipers coming on and the lights turned on bright, and a brief moment of going 50 mph downhill in a 35 mph zone, but she did very well, overall. I couldn't help but think how very beautiful and competent she is and how proud I am of her.

There have been so many milestones in her 15 years. Many firsts: first teeth, first words, first steps, first potty, first day of kindergarten, first homecoming dance, etc. Somehow, tonight's first seemed sobering. My little girl is soon to drive away into adulthood. Hopefully, she'll take her mother for a few joy rides along the way.

Inspired

2009-09-24T23:48:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had a time in your life during which you were inspired to be a better person?

Three things this week have inspired me in a life-changing way. 1) My friend, Melinda Arnold, biking 150+ miles for MS, 2) Interviewing the founder of Extend Global, John Tucker, and his business partner, Sean Smith, 3) Realizing how selfish I am when I don't take care of myself.

First, Melinda, you rock for taking time to train and bike despite your amazingly busy schedule as Zoo PR Guru, mom, MSU instructor, PRSA board mentor, etc. Read Melinda's blog for more about this awesome woman: http://life-is-serendipity.blogspot.com

Second, John and Sean, I am so blessed to have heard your stories of how Extend Global came to be. Visit their website to see the very cool mission facilitating services they offer: http://www.extendglobal.org The von Zinzendorf quote these guys shared with me blew a breath of fresh air on the spark for missions I had deep in my heart. Lord, send me! The quote: "I have but one passion: It is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ." -Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

Third, I constantly struggle to find time to take care of myself, and this week I learned of several folks in my life who are very ill, some with preventable afflictions and others just because that is how life is sometimes. As a diabetic, I see the high costs of neglecting self-care when it occurs in others, but I have not made a serious commitment to take care of myself. That is so not cool! (as my kids would say!) My parents both died of preventable diseases and died long before I was ready to lose my parents. Dad died when I was 13 and my mom when I was 38. I realized that it was incredibly selfish for me not to take care of myself to prevent future diabetic issues, while I am still relatively healthy and able-bodied.

So, my friends, with renewed mind, I seek to find "where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ," and how I can make time for taking care of this old vessel so that I may better serve others for Christ.

Dr. Mom

2009-04-15T23:01:00.003-05:00

It never ceases to amaze me how fast time flies. Can it really be a year since I last posted on this blog? When I was in high school, I wrote a letter every year to be opened on January 1 of my senior year. When I opened the three letters that last year of high school, I realized I had no idea where I would be the following year, since college acceptances had not yet been mailed! I started a tradition of writing myself a letter each year on Jan. 1 to be read the following Jan. 1. This blog is starting to feel like those letters, since I only seem to write a post once a year! Cool thing is, I wrote a letter in the year 2000 to be opened Jan. 1, 2010. I cannot wait! I am a little scared to read it!

Since you last read a blog post from me, I officially began my PhD. Technically, I started with my master's degree in 1993, since NCU accepted a few transfer credits from that degree! Also, transferred a few SBU MBA classes, such that I am nearly 36 credits into an 84 credit program! I am determined to finish by the time I am 50. I told the kids they would have to call me Dr. Mom when I finish!

By the way, I think I do need to write a book. Another poetry book has been beckoning. I think I have enough material, but I am not sure I have the energy to seek a publisher just now!

Vacation

2008-03-20T12:57:00.004-05:00

I wonder what a real vacation feels like?? So far this spring break I have taken a midterm, written a short paper, finished homework, started next week's homework, done laundry, driven kids back and forth, worked on a pr newsletter, approved Yellow Pages ad copy, worked on a website upgrade with our writing consultant and had a mid-life crisis which involved a bottle of self-tanner. Yes, I am orange!

I finished reading Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love last week and it has been on my mind as I ponder a real vacation. I am not sure one can be accomplished while employed or while one's children are not yet driving. Or maybe it is just me. What would happen if I just went away to Italy, India or Indonesia for a week without my cell phone or laptop? What would it be like to just eat pasta, visit an ashram, or pray with a medicine man? Actualy, no offense to Liz Glibert, but India and Indonesia are not high on my list of places I would like to spend time alone. I am thinking Italy would be nice or London, New Zealand, Hawaii, Jamaica, or a resort in Mexico. Ah, yes, a real tan! None of this orange stuff!

I think the next time I go on vacation, I will go away with the kids and be unavailable. I look forward to the day when my husband's vacation days are not spent in a lawn chair at a dusty little town baseball field. I want to go somewhere with tall buildings, art museums, or warm, sandy beaches.

I must be having a mid-life crisis, because all I really want to do is get a tan and buy some really outrageous colorful clothing! Maybe I just need to write another book! I am tired of MBA homework.

So Much Work, So Little Time

2008-02-28T23:15:00.002-06:00

I have so much to do and so little time. This truly could be the mantra for our time. I imagine Paul might have felt that way with so many new churches to shepherd and so little time. Travel took a lot longer then, too. There are nights like this when I stare at the two chapters I have to read for International Business, the paper to reasearch and the many discussion questions left to answer. The articles left to edit and write for SBU Life. The press releases that MUST go out tomorrow. The e-mails that must be answered and/or filed. Then I look at the pile of laundry on the couch and the sink full of dirty dishes. Then I feel guilty because I really want to go to work tomorrow and be productive, but my husband is house-bound recovering from surgery. How did the Proverbs 31 woman do it??

I want to be productive and have my people call me blessed. I want a spotless house and a PhD. I want my kids to enjoy being kids and sometimes I long for the day when they can drive themselves to soccer, orchestra, basketball, music lessons and school. Oh, I know when that day comes I will miss the car trips. Those are the best talking times.... when the kids aren't fighting and I am not hormonal. I need to read a book about menopause. I think I am going there, so I better get a travel guide!

I think I need sleep. A 5:30 a.m. walking date is coming too soon!

Time is surreal

2008-02-02T01:30:00.000-06:00

How can it be since November that I have posted? In some ways it seems like a long time ago, and in other ways it seems like just yesterday. I am cursed with the night owlishness of the sterotypical writer and yet my world requires me to awaken early, so here I am in the wee hours of the morning looking back on the day. I want to encourage you mommy writers out there. You can do it! But you might not be able to write the way you want to write. Today, for example was a "snow day" which meant my 10- and 13-year old were home for the day. I had a lot of writing for SBU to do, so I opted to stay home and work. Usually when I stay home and write, I can accomplish much more than when I go to the office. That is, when I am home alone! Ah well, at least I got everything I intended to write done today, but it was in fits and starts with the kids needing my attention and ability to drive. Once the streets melted they convinced me we needed to go to the mall, so lunch hour was spent buying birthday presents and trying to find a coat in the midst of all the spring wear. After finishing SBU work about 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. was spent writing for my MBA class. Somehow today I wrote/edited 65 (a personal record!) press releases, wrote half of my homework assignment for the week, and I also baked four loaves of bread, did four loads of laundry, made a crock pot of stew, provided 3 meals for my family, and got groceries for the week. I am woman! So moms out there, you can write, but your day may not be completely scheduled by your needs! Peace to you!

Madeleine L'Engle

2007-11-24T11:53:00.000-06:00

I was surfing the Net the other night and learned that my favorite author had died. Madeleine L'Engle is now resting with Jesus. I hope she now knows how influential she has been to my writing and to my life. She is one of the reasons I became a believer in Christ. She was such an intellectual and wrote so beautifully about life and faith. Her fiction was so well-done and as compelling as her nonfiction and poetry. When I read her books (fiction, poetry and nonfiction), I knew if she was that smart and a believer, then Christianity was true and real and vital to my life. Ms L'Engle, thank you for your inspiration. I look forward to meeting you in heaven.

If you do not know Madeleine L'Engle's writing, you have been deprived! Here is the official website for her:
http://www.madeleinelengle.com/

new poetry book

2007-11-17T13:28:00.000-06:00

I am longing for time to write more poetry. I have several written that will fit my next book, but I don't have enough to seek a publisher yet. I think I am stumped on the subject matter - being a servant of Christ - so I think I need to set down the idea of writing for the book's title and just write. The Servant Song: poems from the shadows, is the title of the book. I think I am trying too hard to fit the poems to the book instead of just letting the title poem be the title poem. Hmmm...

magazine magic

2007-11-16T11:24:00.001-06:00

Holding proofs of a magazine right before it goes to press is a magical time! When people see a magazine they have no idea the effort it takes to go into story research, interviews, writing, editing, photography or design. Much like when we see a college student and we forget how many hours of diapering, feeding, rocking, reading, and bandaging boo boos went into the student even before they entered kindergarten!

I will post a link to SBU Life magazine once this latest issue is printed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Beginnings of a Blog

2007-11-08T11:36:00.000-06:00

This old girl is learning new tricks. I hope to jumpstart my writing and connect with more readers through this venue. Here's to learning new things!