A Quick Update

 I meant to post here last week, but I've been dealing with some minor health issues that have made it harder to get things done.  I'm hoping for a resolution soon.

I also want to take this opportunity to let you know that I will be on the "D&D Live" radio show tomorrow (12/8) at 8:30 am (EST).  If you live in Highlands county, you can listen on am 730 am or 95.3 fm.  If you don't live there, you can still listen online at https://www.newstalk730am.com/.  I'll be talking about the latest column collection and whatever else comes to mind.  

Hope December is treating you well and you are finishing out the year strong.  I'll talk to you again soon.

Random stuff...

 First off, you should know that as I am an honorary groundhog (having been born on Groundhog's Day) and did NOT see my shadow.  Early spring is my prediction.

I have been working on various projects this month, but things seem to be moving slowly for some reason.  I'd developed a cough at the end of January/beginning of February which slowed me down a little but it's pretty much gone.  I'd hoped to have Death on the Air to my copyeditor by now, but no such luck.

But I've still written every day - sometimes not much, but it counts.  My streak is at 962 days right now, which means I'll probably hit 1,000 days sometime in March.

While I catch up on my work, there's still time for you to check out my friend Matt Buchman's Kickstarter for Thrill Ride Magazine..  It ends on the 21st, so don't delay.  Go here and see all the goodies he's offering.

A Milestone Reached

 This is being posted late because I wanted to do my daily writing first.  Why was that important?

Today was a special day.  Today marked the 900th day in a row of writing for me.

That's 900 days of getting at least a few words down.  That's doing it despite fatigue, sickness, and grief.  That's squeezing it in when I've been busy and burning the midnight oil to finish a project.

It feels good to hit it.  For me, a streak is incredibly motivating.  The longer it goes, the harder it is to break.  I can look at the march of stars on my calendar and see that every day, I accomplished this one thing.

Will it last forever?  Who knows?  So far, Covid hasn't stopped it, a death in the family hasn't stopped it, my lack of discipline hasn't stopped it.  I'm not saying it can't be stopped.  But so far, it's healthy.

My next goal?  1,000 days, of course.  

What motivates you in your passion?

Life on the bike path...

 As I type this, I am STILL dealing with an eye infection, though my pressures have gone down.  This meant I needed to get an antibiotic ointment to treat them with and it is not cheap and not covered by insurance.  Such is life...

My short story collection of Bible stories "Seeking Refuge and Other Bible Stories" is available as an ebook and a paperback.  This collection contains five stories from the Bible that I have added some "What if?" things to (For example: "Seeking Refuge" tells of a man going to a City of Refuge for protection.  While the cities are mentioned, someone taking advantage of them is not).  I would love you to read them and tell me what you think (ebook cover image below).

It's hard to believe it's mid-September already.  Hope things are going well for you and yours.  Until next time!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

 ...or in this case, home. 

The last half of August was interesting, but not always in a good way.  I developed an eye infection (boo) and the pressure in my right eye has gone up considerably (double boo).  I already have glaucoma, and the upshot is I'm on 4 different eyedrops that must be administered at various times of the day.  Not fun, but it beats damage to my vision.

One good thing that happened is that I got to order a new couch to replace our current one which is, to be honest, in sad shape.  It comes in tomorrow.

On the writing front I'm still making words and planning what to do on the publishing side between now and December.  I've also started sending short stories to magazine markets again - I currently have six out and I'm trying to add two more to that number each week.

Did you know I have a newsletter I am striving to post 2x a month?  Today I include a cover reveal for my upcoming collection, Seeking Refuge and Other Bible Stories.  If you're not getting the newsletter you can subscribe to it using the link on the left-hand side of the blog here.  When you sign up, you also get a free short story!

Hope September starts out well for you.  Talk to you soon!

How are you doing?

The world has gone sideways since I last posted.  I hope you are doing well and surviving under these circumstances.

I'm in the process of updating the website (yes, it's about time).  The Bibliography is nearly complete, but the ebooks section needs stuff added to it.  Please be patient with me as I work on this. 

If you're looking for something to read, check out the Bibliography - there's a lot there, I'm happy to say.  And stay tuned as I get to updating the ebook section.

And if you want a free short story, don't forget to sign up for my occasional newsletter!

Take care.

A Realization

A couple of weeks ago, something hit me.  It is, in retrospect, a fairly obvious observation.  But for me, it was an epiphany.

In case you are new to this blog, I am a caregiver to my mother-in-law, who requires a lot of hands-on care.  I am also a wife, a mother of grown sons and grandmother to the cutest little girl on the planet.

I suffer from some chronic health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and ADD.  I use a CPAP at night.  And yes, I need to lose weight.

I am also a writer who is struggling right now with getting writing things done.  There never seems to be time or energy for that part of my life.  I have been frustrated with how it is going.

Something hit me a couple of weeks ago, which made me look at things differently.  What was this surprising thought?

My life isn't going to change for me.  At least, not anytime soon.

I am going to continue to be a caregiver for the foreseeable future.  I am going to have family obligations.  My health may improve (indeed, some recent changes have helped), but overall I am going to have issues.

None of that is going to do me the favor of making things easier. 

If I'm going to be the writer I want to be and successful at this, I can't wait for my life to make it easier.  In fact, when you get right down to it, there is only one thing in the equation I can change.

Me.

I can change how I look at things and how I deal with them.  I can change my priorities and put the writing where it belongs.  I can stop looking at things as impossible obstacles and search for workarounds.  I can be creative.

It's time to stop waiting for things to change, and start working on the one thing I can change.  Me.

It's a little scary.  I don't know if I can change.  I'm not by nature a disciplined or organized person, and any changes will require a measure of both.

But something has to change.  Because I want to write.  I want to put my work out there for you to read.  I want to tell stories and make you laugh, cry, or think.

So, I have to change. 

Wish me luck.

Hitting a wall

I hadn't realized how long it's been since I blogged.  December?  Really?

2017 has been...interesting.

So far this year I've sold a couple of short stories, done a little publishing, written a little (not enough).

But in May of this year I hit a wall.

A little bit of explanation.  I am primary caregiver for my mother-in-law.  A family member is going through some serious issues.  Another one hasn't spoken to me in over a year (long story).

At some point in May this all ganged up on me and I found myself physically, mentally, and emotionally worn out.

I am fortunate in that I DO have a support system.  My husband believes in me and my writing, sometimes more than I do and is working with me to find solutions to my stress.  I have brothers and sisters in Christ willing to lend a helping hand or pray for me.  A best friend who listens when I have to vent to SOMEONE.

But I am looking around now as June closes and wondering if things will improve.  I pray that they will, and that I'm through with walls for the year.

And that my NEXT blog post is sooner than 6 months from now.

Tuesday Thoughts: Post colonoscopy

Yesterday there was no Monday Musings because yesterday I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy and was loopy enough from the anesthesia that I didn't think I could come up with anything coherent.

There are a number of people who get nervous about this procedure and think of all kinds of reasons to put it off.  I have to admit I understand their concern.

Preparing for the thing is no fun - I spent Sunday near the bathroom.  And you have to more than likely take a day or two off for it (I gave myself permission to take Sunday and Monday off from the writing due to this).  It's a little unsettling, given what takes place.

The three worst things about it for me?  The prep, certainly.  Yesterday the poor nurse had to try two different spots to find a vein for the IV, and that brought not a little pain.  And whatever device they put on my mouth for the endoscopy bruised my lips - it looks like someone socked me in the mouth.

The procedure itself?  Thanks to anesthesia I slept through it.  No biggie.  And today, other than being a little tired and having puffy lips, I am fine.

And the good news is I have no cancer.

You see, the reason I endure this is because of the simple fact that colon/rectal cancer has no warning signs.  And in the past I've had pre-cancerous polyps in my intestine that were removed.  This latest procedure was to make sure they hadn't come back.

Yes, it's a pain.  Yes, it's not on my list of fun things to do.  I'm glad it's done.

But cancer would be worse.

Check with your doctor and if he/she says you need to have this, get it done.  Believe me, it beats the alternative.

Withdrawal is No Fun

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder.  In order to combat that, I take medication.  This medication is for all intents and purposes an amphetamine.  But instead of making me bounce off the walls, it energizes me and helps me focus.

Because of what it is it is tightly controlled.  My insurance changed slightly recently.  Because of that, even though I've taken this medication for years my doctor is suddenly required to provide pre-authorization before the insurance will pay for it.

Sounds simple, right?  Well, I've been doing without this particular medication since Sunday while my doctor, the pharmacy, and I guess the insurance company all get their act together.

Meanwhile I struggle with the symptoms that come with a sudden withdrawal.  Throw in that I also suffer from depression and anxiety and that my symptoms aren't helping with those conditions and you will understand this hasn't been a great week.

But right now all I can do is take it one step at a time and hope that tomorrow the powers that be will get this straightened out.  Anyway, consider this blog post a getting this off my chest.  Maybe it'll help me feel better.