Articles written by P J Scanland

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About me - P J Scanland

My youthful ambition was a simple one. I wanted to teach and to write. I graduated from college with a degree in English then took a job as a bank teller. What started out as a means to pay the bills became a long career in various fields of accounting, finance

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Personal Finance > Personal Finance (Other) How to survive (even thrive) in difficult economic times: 2 of 64

Surviving Difficult Financial TimesIf your belt has been tightened so much you look like an hourglass, here are a few ideas to help you loosen it a bit.Leave your car parked and walk or ride your bike to do some errands. You get the added benefit of exercise you didn't pay for at a gym.It might make you feel better and perhap... More..
Relationships & Family > Acquaintances & Co-Workers Healthy acts of kindness: 6 of 127
Change someone else's day for the better and you may improve your own. Mother Theresa's life of devotion to some of the neediest people in the world is an often cited example of kindness and charity. It earned her many admirers and could even have contributed to her long and healthy life. Few of us are able to compete at that... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Childhood: 5 of 100
The Shelter HouseThe fire was perfectly set and the flames consumed the logs in just the right way, at just the right speed and with just the right crackle and snap. Dad was the best fire builder in the world. He stacked up the sticks we gathered from the ground and put them on top of his custom rolled newspaper. Then he'd li... More..
Jobs & Careers > Managing Your Career (Other) How to build a case for telecommuting: 3 of 30
Telecommuting is a potential opportunity to benefit both the employer and employee. Many companies are reluctant to offer this option for fear it will become nothing more than paid play time. Before you approach your employer about telecommuting, make sure you have a thorough understanding of the impact on you. You will work... More..
Autos > Driving & Safety Ways to avoid giving in to road rage: 18 of 107
The best way to avoid road rage is to focus on your driving and not let the actions of other drivers influence you. If you need to be somewhere at a particular time, be sure to leave early enough so that you do not feel rushed. When you are driving in heavy traffic there are bound to be people going too slow or too fast or wh... More..
Health & Fitness > Health Care Should we care for our ailing loved ones at home: 1 of 5
Should we care for ailing loved ones at home? There is no easy answer to this question. Each situation is different and must be evaluated by the family and the loved one if possible. You must find the best balance of care, including consideration of family dynamics, living situations and the physical and mental health of pote... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Broken love: 69 of 277
You loved getting the newspaper.You subscribed to it.You picked it up from the driveway.You read it all with interest.Sometimes you read it out loud to me.Now I hold the thin sheets of printed pulp and feel the rough cement under my bare feet.The birds mock me.Are you reading to her right now? More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Writer's block: 53 of 179

Writer's Block Described Plop, blocked, slop, mop. More coffee. Tap, map, it's crap, nap. More coffee. Write plight. Write right. Ruminate, berate, hesitate. Submit it, sweat it, regret it. More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Spring: 61 of 200
Early SpringA gate post peeked through a snow drift today.The roof dripped steadily, but there's a foot yet to go.A clear night gives me hope for another sunny day.New life waits under the cornmeal snow. More..
Health & Fitness > Medical Concerns & Issues How to help your doctor diagnose a disease: 9 of 24
Help Your Doctor Diagnose DiseasesIf you leave your doctor's office without a correct diagnosis, it could be partly your fault. Unless your doctor has known you since birth and treated every bump and bruise you ever had, she will not be fully apprised of your medical history. Even then, there may be things you know about your... More..