Category: Uncategorized

When I think about my own age, I don’t really care what the number is.  I’m 46 and just getting better with age.  However, every now and again I am surprised by the ages of those around me.  My bother-in-law will be 60 shortly.  I have known this for a while (obviously) but when my niece told me that they were throwing a party for his 60th birthday it surprised me.  He doesn’t seem 60.  He is an amazing man who has been a wonderful addition to our family.  He’s been a part of my life since I was 9.  I respect him a lot and when I think of him I don’t think of his age but of how good he is in our family.

His turning 60 though is sort of the beginning of a cascade of “big” birthdays for our family.  My mom will be 80 next year.  My oldest sister will be 60, husband 50, oldest daughter 30, youngest daughter 25… Lots of mile markers. 

For me – maybe because those numbers don’t mean much – I don’t think of them as being a particular age but just them.  The person I love and enjoy being with.  I know that others struggle with the numbers and how it makes them feel old (or whatever) but I just consider these people to be getting better and better…

I’ve been making leaps and bounds with this one project.  I am thrilled with the progress and think it is a great project.  I can’t wait to see it published.  This project is dear to my heart.  Unfortunately, the editor I was workiing with told me tonight that the publisher has decided to not publish that genre any longer. 

I’m disappointed.  I thought I was headed in the right direction this time around.  I thought I had a chance – a good chance – to actually get this book out in the world for people to read. 

While this downswing has certainly bummed me out, I’m not letting it stop me.  I am in the process of adding information and rewriting parts of it.  Once I’m through that I’m going to hit the market place and find a niche for this book.  All anybody can do is say no… and all that does is make me dig in my heals and work harder…Hopefully my stubbornness and determination will pay off…

I dvr a number of shows and skim through them.  I like talk shows like the View and the Talk.  I was skimming through an episode of the Talk and watched an interview with LL Cool J.  Now the man is a fine looking man and easy on the eyes.  I did not know that he was married (not a big follower of celebs) or that he had four kids.  He was impressive – and I’m not talking about his body or his looks.  He came on the show bringing gifts to each of the hosts.  This was very gentlemanly – even if it was a plug for his wife’s jewelry line.  It put a smile on all of the women’s faces. 

Then he talked about his wife and kids.  He was loving, proud, sweet, and amazingly mushy.  Now that may sound like he was effeminate but he definitely wasn’t.  All of these women were drawn to his quiet strength and his love of family.  It was a turn on in the best way. 

This man was strong enough and confident enough to come on this show and discuss family seriously.  He showed his softer side and it was impressive.  There are many men out there who are willing to love and cherish who don’t care if the world knows it.  These men are the ones women need to embrace. 

I also watch 16 and Pregnant / Teen Mom and have serious issues with the tolerance our teenage girls have for abusive and cheating boys.  The girls get pregnant and have to get serious about taking care of baby but the boys disappear.  Where are the parents of these boys to say – you played now you pay.  Get a job and pay for diapers, formula, clothes, etc.  Be there to take your turn caring for the baby so the mom can study and finish school so she can get a job too.  Where are the parents when it comes to these young men?  If these young men are dead beat dads at 16, 17, 18 – how are they going to be anything but deadbeat all their lives? 

I’ve had wonderful examples of men in my life.  My father and husband have given me amazing examples of loving men.  To see a celeb come out and speak so eloquently and lovingly was a pleasure.  LL Cool J was confident enough to speak from the heart.  I wish more men would express that confidence and have that respect / love for family.

I’m actually out of bed before Ken.  It happens just not too often.  I am clearing out my emails, reading blogs, and getting things out of the way.  Then I’m going to work on the writing things I have to do.  I got an email from the editor for my moon book.  I need to work on the suggestions she has.  I also need to work on the edits for my fiction manuscript.  I also want to pick out poems for another manuscript.  Madison sent me a link for a Wisconsin writing contest so I need to check that out.  Plus I’m behind on all my other newsletters.  Today and this weekend will be about writing …

For other activities (like the writing isn’t enough) I need to go to Earthsong as Vicki has asked me to and I need to go to Verizon to look at phones.  Stephanie is upgrading and I might upgrade as well.  I hate phone shopping.  I just want a phone – it doesn’t have to be fancy and I don’t want a dataplan.  I just want to call and text – that is it. 

On top of my other writing projects I’ve had this story in my head that I want to get down on paper.  I know once I start writing it will flow nicely but at this point I have so many other projects going that I don’t want to start another one – yet.  That’s not true… I really want to start this one but I’m concerned about having too many irons in the fire.  Hopefully if I’m diligent this weekend I’ll get several of these projects moved off my to do list and I’ll be able to work on the new story.

I need a personal assistant but I can’t afford one.  Then I could hand off all these other tasks to her and I could say “Give me a pad of paper and a pen and leave me alone so I can write …”

On the Talk last week, Sharon Osbourne talked about a new medical test which gave all the possible issues with a person medically.  It will give an indicator of whether you will have cancer, diabetes, mental illness, and so on.  She was raving about how her husband and herself had the test done and they were promoting it.  My first question is who will that information be released to?  If it is going to the insurance companies are they going to be able to deny coverage because this test shows something negative?  Will the individual be denied admittance to schools or jobs because it shows the individual isn’t at the intelligence level required? 

I think science is fabulous and has had some amazing advancements but this is one where I think we are opening a can of worms.  I think it puts us one step forward into a situation where people will have this test done and be discriminated against because of the results. 

Did anyone know that all babies DNA is taken and put into a national database?  This has been done since the mid-1980s.  Now I have three girls born in that era and I have no idea whether their information is included in that database but I sure wasn’t asked if I wanted it done.  I don’t believe it is even told to parents that some of the blood taken from their newborn is going to that.  It might be useful to have that information in a database but my question is – how protected is the information?  Who is watching out for the privacy of these children? 

Science is great but how are we protecting our privacy and our rights with each advancement?  I’d rather be proactive about it than reactive…

I’ve had an amazing afternoon.  TJ’s pictures are fabulous.  She is so talented and her work is so beautiful.  I can’t wait to see it in print.  It enhances my words and brings the book to life.  Everytime I look over her work and we meet to discuss I am more excited about the project.  We worked on the book and then discussed three other projects.  I’m so excited for all of them.  I can’t wait to see her ideas on them.  They are all so different.  It is an exciting process.

After the work was done it was relaxing and fun to sit by the fire and talk.  We had an afternoon filled with stimulating conversation and laughter.  It was cozy and comfortable.  The conversation covered a variety of topics (way too many to even list).  TJ is thought provoking, intelligent and entertaining. 

Great day… lots accomplished… and now a bit of play time.. maybe some crocheting and dvr watching…

What does it say when I’m exhausted by 10 am?  Now granted I’ve been pretty busy this morning.  My daughter and I went to the gas station, Sorgs (butcher shop), two libraries, met with a friend to drop off something, and came home.  I’ve been on the phone to talk about the new phones for Stephanie and I – have I mentioned I hate phone shopping?

Now I’m home and planning to go sit by the fireplace until TJ shows up for lunch and work on the book.  I’m hoping for a bit of quiet before more chaos.  This afternoon will hopefully be creative and fun in going over all the amazing pictures TJ has created – I can’t wait to see them.  She is an amazing artist and I love her work. 

We also click when it comes to our vision for our work.  My words inspire her in a way that inspires me.  If that makes any sense at all…

So a little down time before a productive and creative afternoon… care to join me?  The fireplace awaits…