So If One Thought Thinks of Me

Since November 2008, I have been patiently editing a nonfiction manuscript about my experiences losing my best childhood friend to brain cancer, working with women in prison in Australia, and working with youth homelessness in Iowa.

It has been a long haul. After the nice, long Thanksgiving weekend, when I was able to hide all over my family's house as to escape noise and distraction, however, I have finished editing - at least for now.

I will be submitting it to a publisher today.

I'm not sure where this will take me. For now, I'm simply comfortable knowing I could write the back cover:

"This is a story about figuring out what you want to do, and trusting it can be done.

"Following the death of his best friend, working with imprisoned women, and graduating from college at the beginning of the economic recession, Danny Heggen set out to relearn trust, write, and make a difference in his community. What happened from there continues to grow."

I want to write. I want to help my community. I want to help others figure out what they want to do as well.

Random comment of the day

Less martyr, more barter.

What's up, Word Nerds?

For all my friends who enjoy words, here is a list of common word errors.

Compiled by Washington State University, it pretty much covers everything - even the correct use of fiancé and fiancée (boy and girl respectively).

Thanks, WSU. You do excellent work.

Coffee and Books - in Des Moines?

As I was running late to a soon-to-be canceled meeting this afternoon in Des Moines' East Village, I stumbled upon Plain Talk Books & Coffee. To its name, the store did not stand out. Only a little table and chair on the patio caught my eye.

Inside, the store had an amorous two aisles. I could hardly contain myself - not because of the books or the coffee, but because it's simply a small book store -

in Des Moines -

a rare find.

Even more rare was the fact that it been open for two years.

Since getting home, I've dug around to learn more about it. This book shop provides job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities - how sweet is that?

If you're ever near Hammer Pharmacy, you're near Plain Talk Books & Coffee. Stop in, say hello, and fall in love with one of the only small book shops in Des Moines that's still open.