Susan R. Makin, Ph. D. - Paints, Writes, Motivates—Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Liverpool

Please respect this Blog's copyright.

Questions, comments, or feedback, as well requests to reproduce or publish, are welcome at Blogs@DocSusan.com.

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DocSusan cares and shares with special updates

Life is unpredictable, like this blog. Apologies in advance! Some days and weeks, there'll be several entries. Then, at other times, none. I'm one person wearing many hats, with schedules and routines that change frequently. This blog links to my website, www.DocSusan.com. So, if you view both, you might understand when and why I'm focusing elsewhere. Also, you'll note that the blog covers subject-matter the Website doesn't. Overall, it deals more with personal interests and concerns than professional ones.

I'm not a blog aficionado, but can recommend you to the one who got me going: Sreenath Sreenivasan, from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. He'll be able to tell you a lot more about mechanics, trends, and tricks than I'll ever know!

Re. Blog content: enjoy what you will and ignore the rest. But, whatever you do, think, or say, remember the effort that's been put into these pages, and please respect their copyright. Any questions, comments, or feedback (as well requests to reproduce or publish) are welcome at Blogs@DocSusan.com.

To make this blog easier to navigate, I've chosen to create categories :

Individual entries might actually fit more than one category. Also, some of the categories may have sub-categories. A quick look at the eight main catetories follows.

Art—especially painting—details about workshops, shows, trends, markets, processes, and products you might not find on the DocSusan Website.

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Pet dogs sniff things out in ways humans can't, which can be helpful as well as funny. Sometimes, Lev might write. Other times, Sage. Often, they might both write together. Lev likes going first. She's older and more bossy. Sage doesn't mind going second. He knows he's worth the wait! Lev has a little to say about herself: "I'm a 13 pound black Miniature Poodle, 10 years-old, February 5, 07. Cards and gifts welcome! I like to be the boss, but am also very emotional and sensitive. When I need extra attention, I don't make things easy for myself. However, I have many good friends who adore me—maybe due to the intensity of the feelings I show and share. Also, Sage lets me win every time. Don't you just love those younger men!" Sage has a little to say about himself too: "I'm a five pound champagne-colored Toy Poodle, seven years-old, December 12, 06. No fuss or ceremony necessary! I'm 'happy-go-lucky,' or, at least, I let people think I am. Actually, I'm very clever, ooze with charm, and know how to get what I want. I might let Lev win every time. But, at the end of the day, it's clear what really matters—being nice to others, and having others be nice to me. You get a lot more cuddles that way!" Please note: most of the time DocSusan writes up her own "stuff" in this section and doesn't give Lev and Sage "woof space" at all!

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Entries that don't fit into any particular category that's immediately recognizable.

Matters of the mind (as well as the body)—details about workshops, trends, issues, and resources you might not find on the DocSusan Website.

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For better or worse, setting out on this blog, I described myself as a "renaissance single"—one of a growing breed who didn't imagine this being their status. Close to expiry date for marriage and children (though I never say never), I felt it important to share the tales of those who can relate to such circumstances. Solo's details and dilemmas, even if they're not uplifting or inspirational, should be allowed a forum. With the world becoming increasingly "singular," through divorce and widowhood, there's no point hiding difficult truths any longer.

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Some of us wander physically, others mentally. I do both—usually simultaneously. Reflections gathered on travel adventures are wonderful take-home souvenirs, conjuring up ways to journey with greater ease and comfort. They are the gifts of chance and experience. Travels, near or far and familiar or not, stimulate interesting stories, ideas, and commentaries, worth sharing.

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How "happenstance" influences well-being (healthy, happy living) can't be denied. We can control some things, but not others. So, along the way, if there are opportunities to be kinder and more considerate to those around us (and ourselves), we should take them. Manners and respect might have ceased to be a priority for many people these days. Also, bad luck still strikes frequently and randomly—even those who think they might be immune from it. Entries in this category consider what might be done to help change our options (and impasses) wherever possible. They also reveal opportunities to learn, grow, and take better care of ourselves.

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Writing (for publication)—details about workshops, shows, trends, markets, process, and products that you might not find on the DocSusan Website.

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