I'm Back......

Ok. So I tried to stay out of the blogosphere, but I can't seem to do it. After receiving several very nice, very encouraging emails from folks who've stopped by over the past few months, I've reconsidered my retirement and I'm going to take another stab at blogging. Besides, I have to be honest and say that I've missed communicating with my "cyber friends"!

A quick update on what's been going on in my mundane exciting life. My husband is moving along nicely on the bookshelf project. He has informed me that he'd now like the office to be called the "library" as we plan to fill these shelves with plenty o' books and start selling them a loaner program. Here's what they look like as of right now:

Those are the doors sitting on the floor in front of where they'll eventually hang.

We spent the girls' spring break back east with family in New Jersey. Scott and I left the girls with family and jetted down to Sarasota, Florida for a few days of sleep fun, couple's time. It was our first trip to Sarasota and a beautiful one at that. Here in Ohio and New Jersey it was cold, wet and rainy--blech! What a treat to sit in the sun, play golf and drink like fish sip Cokes by the pool.

Unfortunately, our spring break ended on a sad note as we had to put our beloved Westie, Molly, down upon our return. She lived a good, long 13 1/2 years. She was our first "baby" and we will miss her dearly. My mom shared an old photo of her watching TV with my dad. And she did watch TV. People don't often believe me when I tell them this, but here's proof:

She loved TV, especially animal shows. We've been sad this week, but are grateful for our other dog, Divot, and for the time God allowed Molly into our lives.

As far as writing news...my Six Sentences were published this month in Six Sentences Vol. 2. I'll try to link up to Amazon.com where the book can be purchased. I have a short story out there trying to find a home and I'm still working on the 3rd revision of my book. Now that the sun has reappeared here in northeast Ohio I'm afraid of being distracted from writing. We are so happy to see the sun here!

I hope everyone else is doing well and I look forward to hearing from you all again and visiting your blogs as well!

Hey, I Gave it a Shot

To my loyal followers (i.e., Diane, Dan & my family):

This will be my last blog posting. You all know I've struggled from the outset with this whole blog thing. And while I've met some nice folks along the way, I just can't maintain my blog. I'll post then forget I even have a blog. A week will pass and I'll think, "What can I write about that will be interesting to others?" This takes a lot of time for me, and I know how I appreciate seeing new and frequently updated posts on other blogs. I just don't have it in me right now. I'm really trying to rework my WIP at the moment, and thinking about my blog zaps energy that should go into my actual writing. For me, blogging is not a passion; it's an energy killer and attention diverter. I read somewhere that you should only blog if you love it and have a lot to say about a particular subject. If you blog to add it to your writing resume or to impress agents and publishers then you're doing it for the wrong reasons. I fall into this category. The only reason I started blogging was to gain a "web presence." If/when I get published I'll rethink the web site/blog issue, but until that happens I need to focus my attention on my novel and short stories.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me and my blog attempt, and thanks to all who have stopped by to introduce themselves and comment. I appreciate your time!! I'll still troll around and comment on blogs I've discovered every so often. There are many good ones out there.

Maybe the next time you "see" me in the blogosphere I will have fully emerged from the "writer's closet."

It's been a fun few months!

I thought all my "virtual" writer friends would appreciate this--a birthday gift from my sister. ;o)

This week I'm planning to completely re-outline my WIP. I remind myself that Arthur Golden rewrote Memoirs of a Geisha after 800 pages, so I guess I can rethink my little 'ol novel. What's everyone else doing this week?

I'm also going to celebrate (?) my 42nd birthday. Aiy. I can't believe I'll be 42. The thing I tell myself about getting older is that with every decade, life has improved. In my 20's, I became a nurse, got married, bought our first home. In my 30's we had the girls and became more financially stable. In my 40's.....I've had my first taste of publication and will---I know I will---have my first novel published. Getting older isn't so bad.

Moving Right Along

The bookshelves are coming along nicely!! Thank you, Scott!!!!

In keeping with the fun, Q&A type of lists, my friend sent me one I think benefits us writers. Makes us embrace economical use of words, which for me is always a good thing!

Where is your cell phone? car

Significant other: Scott

Your hair: poofy

Your mother: loving

Your father: athletic

Your favorite thing: family

Your dream last night: forgettable

Favorite drink: wine

Your dream/goal: publication

Room you are in: office

Your fear: snakes

Where in 6 years? ahead

Where were you last night? home

What you are not: malicious

Muffins: comfort ;o)

One thing on your wish list: agent

Where you grew up: Colorado

The last shopping you did: rollerblades

What are you wearing? sweats

Your TV: reality

Your pet: dogs

Your computer: lifeline

Missing someone: grandfather

Your car: dirty

Something you're not wearing: rings

Favorite store: Nordstrom

Your summer: oceanfront

Favorite color: blue

Last time you laughed: yesterday

Last time you cried: loss

Makes you think!

I am....Procrastinating...Again

I've seen this on a couple of blogs I follow and thought I'd play along....since I'm sure everyone who stops by here really wants to know what's outside my window and what I'm doing at this very moment, which is really procrastinating because I should be writing--make that re-writing my novel--or at the very least, I should be on the treadmill. Although the real reason I'm not on the treadmill is because I'm going to my Pilates class in a short while and on Wednesday morning I did the treadmill before I went to Pilates and that turned out to be a huge mistake. When the class ended I sped home and promptly threw up in my kitchen sink. Yes, the Pilates workout was challenging, but I think the real culprit was the treadmill workout prior to the class. Too much exercise in too short a time. My body can't take it! This is all very funny, too, because if you saw me (and for those of you who see me on a regular basis understand) you wouldn't know I walked on a treadmill or did Pilates or yoga. You'd think I sat on a couch and ate chips all day, which I swear I don't.
Anyway...on to the Q&A procrastination tool. And thanks to Wendy and Janna for sharing their answers!

Outside my window...it's cold and gray, but I can finally see my grass again.

I am thankful for...my family, my health, my dogs.

From the kitchen...the dishes say, "Clean us up! Put us away!"

I am wearing...blue Adidas sweat pants, my gray and black University of Colorado sweatshirt, Asics running shoes.

I am creating...an excuse for not writing.

I am going...to Pilates class.

I am reading...The Zookeepers' Wife, The Friday Night Knitting Club and Saving Fish From Drowning.

I am hoping...I don't throw up after Pilates today.

I am hearing...the hum of my PC tower.

Around the house...piles need to be de-cluttered and the girls' school papers need to be put away.

One of my favorite things...how my daughters' hair smells when it's freshly washed.

Plans for the weekend...dinner with friends tonight, church on Sunday (I swear we're going this week!).

A (small) Light at the End of that thar Tunnel

Received good (and not so good) news yesterday! My Six Sentences were chosen to be published in Rob McEvily's next collection aptly entitled 6SV2 (Six Sentences Vol. 2). It's supposed to be published in March. Then...on the heels of that affirmation, I got an email from the folks at The First Line (Blue Cubicle Press) saying they'd passed on the short story I'd submitted for their spring edition. This bummed me out because I felt the story was well-crafted and strong. My writing group loved it--always a good sign. But, like my husband pointed out, as of the past few months I'm batting 500, which is a good thing! This is what I'm going to focus on!!
So go check out Six Sentences and the hardworking folks at www.thefirstline.com. They've got a neat thing going with their first line series, and they were the first journal to publish one of my short stories, so you know they've got it going on! ;o)
Happy Valentine's Day!!

In Case You're Wondering...No, I Haven't Fallen off the Face of the Earth

This past week has just been busy for me--busier than normal. It just seems I was away from the computer a lot because I was helping out at school, delivering meals for Meals on Wheels, trying out some Pilates classes, taking my daughter and her friend to Family Fun Night at the middle school and hosting sleepovers and sitting in front of the TV with my mouth agape listening to the stories of that woman in California who just had the 8 kids and now has a tribe of 14. Oy. What was she thinking?!?! I hate to sound judgmental, but her house seems small for so many people and she says she's in school trying to better herself, which I appreciate, but how in the world is she going to support all of those children? And how does one single mother devote quality time to each one? I have trouble doing that with two daughters and I have a husband who's loving, supportive, helpful and present in their lives. If I lived in her community, I'd hate to think some of my tax dollars were going to support (what I feel is) her bad decision to add to an already oversized family. What a mess. Why am I (almost) 42 years old and still surprised by what some people do? When will my mouth no longer fall open in amazement? Okay. Enough of that. Anyway...
When I did get a chance to sit at the computer I tried to check out the blogs I follow and just didn't have the time or energy to come up with a post of my own. Thinking about my own blog and trying to comment on others' takes time away from my own writing and that adds to the already insurmountable frustration I feel because my WIP has hit the wall. I really need to get back to that project, so that's what I'm going to do today. Hopefully it will keep my mind where it needs to be and off the crazy news.