Last week, my pal Linda -- who is Shaunti's project manager -- called me and said Shaunti needed to "dictate" some things to me so I could write the next set of Moody Radio spots for her. Now, Shaunti is in Georgia, and I'm in Pennsylvania, so clearly I was going to need a phone.
Problem!

My husband -- God bless his gentle heart -- decided we could save money if we got rid of our land line, since we both have cell phones. It sounds logical. I mean, after all, being a writer often requires having a phone on your sorry butt at all times, and I always give out my cell number. So I went along with the idea, but I can't get any cell phone reception in my home (we live out in the boonies), so I have to go out on my deck to talk. Not fun in a snowstorm!

Shaunti and I hatched a plan -- I would go to a cafe with my earpiece, and type out what she had to say. She would be "dictating" to me from the road, on her way to a much-needed family vacation. OK great, sounds wonderful. So I planted myself in a comfy chair at Starbucks this morning with my laptop ready to go, and my ear piece firmly planted in my ear. But I had to call her back and switch locations a few times, because a crowd came in JUST as Shaunti called, and then all the grinders and steamers were going full-blast.

Basically, she talked about some of her question & answer sessions at her events, and I typed as she talked. A lot. I typed until my fingers nearly fell off. Her husband, Jeff, was in the background interjecting thoughts and every so often I'd hear Shaunti say, "Julie, did you catch that?" But I never caught ANYTHING between the sound of the highway on her end, the crowds and coffee house noises on my end, and Shaunti's kids chattering away from the backseat.

People like to stare at you, too, when you're typing like a freak on your laptop with your ear piece on. They probably thought I was trying to be all yuppie-ish, or trying to look cool. I KNOW that's what they were thinking. If only they knew I HAD to be there because I didn't have a telephone like a normal person.

Well, that's what I love about being a writer. I never deal with the same thing twice.