Now and then you'll have to write a biography to go along with an article, book, or something else you publish. It's tough to figure out what you want to say about yourself in just a few lines. Of course, you consider what you want to share with the faceless masses as well as what information will show you in the best light. You want to make yourself look like an authority on the subject of your article.

The following is something I almost deleted without re-reading tonight. It's in the stacks of ancient webmail from the years I wrote a newsletter about ASCII art for a website called WZ.com. The site is long gone and I don't think anyone will mind sharing the information which was once shared with me. Thanks to Sissi, wherever you are. Hope you're writing and doing great.

Not only do we want to know who you are, your visitors do, too. They'll be looking for the person behind their interests. A bio that's interesting and catchy will help you to develop loyalty and a personal touch with your subscribers.

To help you develop your bio, I've included a short list of questions, in interview format, below. Answer the ones you think are appropriate, and make sure you include some info on the different Realms you cover.

Oh, and be sure to compile all of the answers to the questions into one flowing bio rather than submitting nine separate answers to me.

Pay special attention to question #9 --

1. You're about to be interviewed by Charlie Rose. In ten seconds or less, how does he introduce you?

2. When did you get interested in your topic? How long ago, how old were you?

3. Was there something going on that led you to it, or were you naturally attracted to it for some reason?

4. What about it grabbed you? What do you find most interesting or appealing about it?

5. What's your favorite story about your hobby or interest?

6. What unusual things have you done in pursuit of it?

7. How have these things led to your becoming an expert in your area of interest?

8. How has it affected your life, or the lives of others?

9. How will being a WZ-ard help you share this with others? How do you hope to affect the lives of your subscribers?

Sissi concluded by telling everyone not to forget to add links to their newsletters. You should do the same, include any relevant URLs you'd like to promote to your readers.

I feel like some kind of spook today, something creepy and possibly scary kept in a secret room, away from the living.

That's what happens when you live in a hole in the ground with a family of elephants, gorillas, etc over your head all day and all night and all weekend. I'm trying hard to like it here. This weekend they are putting in the new floor that was supposed to be done last weekend when I went away so I could escape the noise. They saved it for me, how kind.

They also want, no expect, me to give them a key to my apartment. The power box thing is down here and if they need to shut off a breaker or whatever they would need to get in here. How often does something like that happen? Hmmm? Not bloody often. I said no. Of course, that wasn't the right answer. You're not actually allowed to say no, have you ever noticed that? I'm sticking to my keys though. I'm not giving away something I waited for this long, a place of my own. Even though I don't feel like this is a place of my own. You can't feel that way when the elephants decide to rampage above you day and night. I don't know what they were stomping around for at 2:30 last night. I wanted to go up there and scream at them. I didn't.

I want to scream at them about so many things. They have finished blocking up my only window now. I have one in the bedroom but I don't count that as I only see it at night. In the day I have one window, small and now totally blocked by garbage so almost no light comes in. If I was a bitch I'd probably go out and buy duct tape and carboard sheets and use a ladder to seal off all their windows. I'd like to do that. It makes me feel happy just thinking about their surprise.

I think I am only staying here because they offered to buy the house and as long as I'm here they can't. Graham won't sell if he thinks I'm trying to do here. Though, it hangs over my head all the time that it's up to him. I don't really have any options. He changes his mind frequently. Saying one thing on Tuesday and something else on Wednesday.

If you have never lived in a basement before you don't know what it's like. I always thought the worst thing would be dampness. It's not. I can hear their conversation. I can hear their every step, right over my head. It's dark and I have spiders and wood louse bugs, not a huge lot of them just enough to remind me I'm in the lower realms. I have lights on all the time cause it would be almost fully dark without them. Unless I look at a clock I have no idea what time of day it is, could be morning, afternoon or evening for all I know, they all look the same.

Of course, I'm using this space to rant. Don't think I'm looking for sympathy or violins. I need to tell someone and believe someone is listening, what else are personal blogs for?

What would your most vindictive, bitchy torture be for the people upstairs? Give me your most evil, devious and wicked ideas?

What else would you call the anniversary of your wedding once you have been divorced? If Alice in Wonderland can have an UnBirthday, I can have an UnWedding Anniversary. So today I did. I was married on December 14th, some year or other. It was a snowy day in a small Illinois town.

Today was another December 14th, not a flake of snow to be found in a large Canadian city. Being in a city has it’s perks on a day like today. I had a bus pass in my pocket, a map in my purse and the city at my feet - for as long as I cared to keep moving. I began by doing what I had done years ago: a long hot shower, some time to pamper myself and a little breakfast. I decided not to shave my legs or wear my wedding attire because this is my day and I’m not out to impress anyone.

There were so many things I thought about doing: a luxurious lunch out, a movie, a trip to the museum, even a bit of retail therapy, but I’m on a tight budget and didn’t want to be out too late and come home in the cold and dark. So I had a fancy coffee, bought chocolates and a lottery ticket. On the way home I gave a homeless woman a donation. I thought about buying myself things I don’t really need. But, I was happy having a day out and feeling kind of pampered and pretty. It was a good hair day and just enough wind to enjoy the sport of hair flipping. Maybe next year I’ll have more adventures.

I know a group of useless men who will answer any question you email them. I like to come up with questions for them. Some real, some in fun but I would really like to find a question that just totally stops them in their tracks. That question that even the Useless Men and One Useful Gal finally just can’t dig up an answer for. It’s a challenge.

I’ve sent in relationship puzzles, current events and of course female questions. They handle them all, some better than others. What would you ask? Can you be the one to come up with the show stopping question to beat all questions? Give it a try, send them an email.

Wrapping paper and Christmas cards are part of the tradition but how about being even more creative and environmentally friendly? Sending online Christmas cards isn’t the same but it’s an alternative. If you buy cards get them in a box, buying a single card will cost a lot more. Plus you will have enough cards rather than going out again for anyone you forgot. Of course, look for cards and wrapping paper made with recycled paper.

Wrap presents in fabric: dish cloths, towels, blankets, scarves, pillowcases and clothing. How about giving presents in other containers such as lunch bags, travel cases, laundry baskets, cookie jars, food storage containers, tool boxes, knapsacks and other things people can use again. It’s a present in a present that way. You can also wrap presents in drawings children have made. Pages from comics, magazines, newspapers and books too dog eared to reuse (second hand bookstores) are crafty ideas too.

Skip the bows and ribbons and go with other reusable things like strings of beads, knitting yarn, garden twine and mittens on a string for kids. Decorate the top of the package with Christmas ornaments, fridge magnets, hair clips, seed packages, sample packs of coffee, photos from Christmas past, anything small and useful or just small and pretty.

Furoshiki - a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that were frequently used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods.