Recently there was a delightful article in the NY Times about one of my favorite topics, e-mail. The article focuses on how you end your e-mails -- the author had used Carpe Diem (see why another parent "yelled" at her). She says that xoxo is not good for business e-mails, but does have suggestions for what is.

Now that I'm reading a lot of my e-mail on my smartphone, it's a good time to repeat my top 3 peeves.

1. When you are sending an e-mail to lots of people, put their e-mail address in "bcc" not in "to". Thunderbird is nice enough to hide all of those e-mail addresses and just show me the e-mail; my smartphone lists all of them -- and I'm tired of scrolling through looking for the message.

2. Do not send chain e-mails to people's business e-mail addresses. If you don't know the person well enough to have their personal e-mail address, you don't know them well enough to send them jokes, dubious warnings, and recipe requests. (Actually, I don't even like to get those on my personal e-mail, but I know how to use the delete button.)

3. Don't forget the subject line! Worst possible thing is to leave it blank. Make it interesting and informative. Give people a reason to open the e-mail.

Although I'm sure we only just finished with October (wasn't it just Election Day?), next week is Thanksgiving. I'm almost ready -- most of the "raw materials" I need for cooking the various sides and dessert I'll bring to my parents' house have been bought.

My thoughts have been turning to what I am thankful for this year. Of course there is my wonderful family (my husband, daughter, son, parents, siblings and their families, in-laws and their families); our two sweet cats; my comfy (but cluttered) home; our jobs; the Japanese maple tree in my front yard which is a brilliant red right now (and can be seen from my office window); and much more.

This is also a good time to say thank you to all of you -- for being a friend, a client, a business provider; for reading my newsletter; for sharing your expertise with me; for helping me and my business to grow; for letting me help you. So -- THANK YOU!!

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