Elaine L. Orr
Elaine L. Orr writes humorous essays and the Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series ("Appraisal for Murder," "Rekindling Motives," and "When the Carny Comes to Town"). Check out some of my writing on Amazon, BN.com, or other e-book retailers, or www.createspace.com (paperback). My nonfiction includes "Words to Write By: Getting Your Thoughts on Paper," and "Orr, Campbell, Mitchell, and Shirley Families in Ireland and America."
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Education/Experience
MA American University; BA University of DaytonMotto
Always do right -- which was the motto of Harry Truman.Affiliations
Elaine's Books on Amazon, Blogspot for Elaine Orr, LinkedIn Site for Elaine L. Orr, Elaine Orr's Fiction Page, Elaine Orr web siteFavorites
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Displaying Results 1 - 41 (of 41) for All Content
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Top Ten Ways to Get Hit by a Car in a Parking LotSome would say you take your life in your hands when you walk through a busy parking lot. Sometimes you are very careless with that life. Use these tips if you want to get hit.
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Picture Cards of the 1960s and How They Were TradedWhile boys of the 1950s and 1960s traded sports cards, girls had picture cards, and there was a definite order to the collections. Images of horses were most popular.
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The Simon Brothers Baseball Team of Pottawatomie County, KansasTen brothers, one baseball team, and a trip to the 1930 World's Fair in New York.
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Writers and Their CatsAuthor bios are more likely to refer to their cats than dogs. Is this because a cat serves as creative muse, or do cats insert a subconscious thought that requires us to mention them?
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Moving from Fear to a New RealityThe world before September 11th was not carefree, but there were more carefree times. On that day, I did not anticipate that 10 years later I would still wonder about every subway package. -
Elmer B. Staats: Tribute to a Phenomenal Public ServantElmer B. Staats (1914-2011) was the epitome of a dedicated public servant and strong leader. As friends mourn his death, this article celebrates his life.
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Main Street Ottumwa, Iowa, RecognizedOttumwa, Iowa is reinvigorating the downtown one building at a time. At Main Street awards ceremony in Des Moines the building that houses Appanoose Rapids Brewing Company was recognized for best adaptive use of a building. -
Ottumwa, Iowa, Hosts Labor RallyIowa is among several states proposing substantial changes to its collective bargaining processes for public sector workers. A crowd of more than 250 listened to Iowa union leaders and state legislators. -
2011 National Public Service Awards Presented in BaltimoreCol. Joyce A. Adkins and Lester P. Claravall received the 2011 National Public Service Award, which has been given since 1983 to honor public servants at all levels of government. -
Parents of Medal of Honor Recipient Salvatore Giunta Speak to IowansMrs. Rose Giunta talked about her son as a teenager and his transformation in the Army, noting that she knew he was "more than capable" of saving the lives of others. -
Leigh Michaels Gets Hot and Spicy with the Mistress' HouseLeigh Michaels trades sweet traditional romances for hot and spicy trysts set in Regency London. If you are looking for a sexy read, this is it. -
Taking Care of Your Parents when You Live Far AwayIt is a challenge to help your parents from a distance. Making some decisions before their is a crisis will help you be a better long-distance caregiver and will ensure your parents' preferences are adequately considered.
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Honoring Veterans in Wapello County, IowaHundreds of local residents joined veterans to thank those who served their country in the military. -
VA Community Clinic Opens in Ottumwa, IowaAfter almost 10 years of waiting, Southeast Iowans welcomed primary care and other patient services to their part of the state. No longer will veterans have to drive nearly 100 miles for physical therapy and mental health services. -
Senator Harkin and Labor Secretary Solis Join in Groundbreaking for Ottumwa Job Corps CenterOttumwa, Iowa's Federal Job Corps Center will partner with Indian Hills Community College to enable students a smooth transition to college and practical careers. Five hundred youth, aged 16-24, will attend annually. -
The Multi-Functional Hallway: Uses Can Vary with the SeasonWhile hallways in some homes may be too narrow to do more than display photographs, in much older and in newer homes hallways offer opportunities to display floral arrangements, store off-season clothes, or places an unruly child for a time out. -
Theresa Parker and David Smith Win 2008 National Public AwardsThe 2008 National Public Service Awards, presented in Dallas Texas, recognized two people who have made it easier for citizens to interact with their governments. -
Restaurants on the South Side of Ottumwa, IowaThere are literally dozens of restaurants from which to choose, and a couple on the South side of Ottumwa have a water view. You can choose from a number of fast food restaurants, or check out some popular family restaurants.
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Restaurants on the North Side of Ottumwa, IowaThere are many restaurant options, from a hotel dining room to fast food. Some have been in business for decades, and many offer carry-out.
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Snowblower Versus Shovel: Safety Tips and Humorous ResultsPreventive maintenance keeps your snowblower at the ready. A sense of humor enables you to function when the equipment gets the better of you.
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Hillary Clinton Draws Large Pre-Caucus Crowd in Ottumwa, IowaSenator Clinton addressed a wide range of domestic and international issues in a pre-caucus day stop in Ottumwa, Iowa.
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Sprint to Iowa Caucus Has Presidential Candidates John Edwards, Barak Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson on the RoadCandidates of both parties are on marathon tours around Iowa as the 2008 presidential caucuses are only one day away.
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Iowa Democrats Hear Six Presidential Candidates at J & J DinnerThe annual Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner is a fundraiser for the Iowa Democrat Party, but it is also the premier political event for presidential candidates prior to the January caucuses. Six candidates were cheered by thousands of participants.
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Steak Fry Fun is Off Stage in IowaLoyal staff and volunteers add color and sound to the presidential candidates' speeches.
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Six Presidential Candidates Speak at 2007 Harkin Steak FryThe 2007 Harkin Steak Fry brought six candidates to the stage and they all stayed several hours. Even for Iowa, this was an almost unique event.
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Water Crisis Eases in Ottumwa, IowaMassive rainfall led to an overlowing sewer which spilled into the Ottumwa, IA Water and Hydro Plant purification building. Government officials scrambled and citizens responded to calls to boil water and conserve its use.
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Senator Joe Biden Stops in Ottumwa, IowaSenator Biden visited Ottumwa, Iowa to interact with voters and support State Representative Mary Gaskill in her reelection campaign. He was very critical of the administration's go-it-alone policies and offered alternatives for funds now spent in Iraq.
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Ten Feet From Meeting John Edwards? Only in IowaIn most parts of the U.S. you sit in a large auditorium to see a presidential candidate. In Iowa, home of the first caucuses, you might sit a few feet from them at a picnic.
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If You Can Think, You Can WriteWriting is a learned skill, not something that you either can or cannot do. They key is to be willing to do it poorly so you can learn to do it well. It's never to late to start.
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Building Blocks for Writing: the Outline as a Writing ToolTaking a list of ideas into well-formed paragraphs and a full article is daunting. If you have trouble with transitions, write about each topic separately and so as to see how the ideas can flow together.
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Clear Writing Makes for Easier ReadingYou want your readers to understand what you mean. Two keys to clear writing are using a straightforward vocabulary and using active voice instead of passive voice. Get some tips on avoiding roundabout writing.
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Bridge View Center Opens in Ottumwa, IowaWith almost 3,000 people passing through Bridge View Center in its opening days, the long-awaited civic center opened its doors with a New Year's Eve Celebration and a January 1, 2007 grand opening celebration.
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Caregiving when You're an Only (or Alone) ChildAn only child, or one whose siblings do not help care for aging parents, may feel isolated and lonely. If you ask for help sparingly, your friends or more distant relatives may be able to pitch in.
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Preparing Yourself to Become a Parents' CaregiverWhen there is an emergency there will be 20 things you wish you had done earlier. Rather than have to root through a parent's wallet for their Medicare card or doctor's name, take the time to get prepared.
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How to Help Your Aging Parents: Deciding when to Step InDeciding to become more involved in the lives of aging parents is a choice -- unless you see hints that their actions endanger themselves. This article provides a list of questions to ask yourself about your parents' and your own needs.
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For a Good Consultant, It's All About CommunicationClear verbal presentations and written materials are the hammer and nails of a consultant's tool box. Clients hire consultants to enhance their work, and a key consultant contribution is cogent information, presented as briefly as possible.
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Movie Theaters in Southeast IowaWhile many cities of more than 5,000 in southeast Iowa are likely to have movie theaters, most have only one and it may have one or two screens. However, a 25 mile ride takes 25 minutes, so other screens are just a short drive away. Ottumwa has 8 screens.
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Multiple Sclerosis - More Pieces to the Puzzle Are EmergingMS is a complex illness and data on the web can be equally intricate. Fortunately, there are some key web sites that organize the information. They also guide you to helpful national and local groups and the resources they offer.
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Ottumwa, Iowa Comes Alive for Visitors and LocalsSoutheast Iowa is known for corn, but you miss its best features if you don't visit the lovely towns and cities. Ottumwa, Iowa has something for sports or arts lovers, and most of it's free. If you're addicted to shopping, there's plenty of that, too.
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Coal Palace Replica Commemorates a Structure and IndustryThe Coal Palace Replica is an incredibly accurate reproduction of a structure designed to entertain (with its ballroom and exhibits) while also showcasing Iowa's coal production. The rest of the Wapello County Historical Museum has many period pieces.
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Gender Benders in Writing - Why Words MatterSome think gender neutral language is just a form of political correctness - an annoying one at that. Others know it tells friends and coworkers that you value them equally. Here are some tips to help you be equitable in the words you choose.
