For the record...

...this is my blog with ideas and things I come up with or am interested in. The piece about the "red Fridays" has drawn some very interesting and quite negative responses. I do not appreciate being called the names I was given from the comments, therefore the comments have been deleted from public view.

It is not my intention to purposely offend anyone with anything I say here or write anywhere else. However, it is also no secret I do not support the war itself, but I do support the troops - they are Americans and they are doing a job no one in their right minds should ever be asked to do, but they are doing it for love of country and, quite honestly, a job. They have a lot on their plates and it is not my intention to ever make their job and task seem frivolous or demeaned. I have the utmost respect for the soldiers over there now (actually any soldier) and those who have made it back alive or dead. If I can show one single soldier support through this little blog then I consider it a wonderful task as this is the only way I can support anyone so many miles from me.

And no, I don't just appreciate and respect the soldiers via the Internet - each and every time I see a soldier in uniform, male or female, I make a point of welcoming them home and telling them thank you with a handshake. Each time I have done this the soldier has smiled and brightened just a little. This entire nation is NOT filled with assholes who do a lot of talking but little action.

For those of you who do not find this blog offensive, I thank you heartily from the depths of my heart for reading. For those of you who may find this blog offensive - you know, you don't have to read it.

The Current War and Remembering

The war in Iraq is still going on. It has not been a quick one. I didn't believe it would. It was just a feeling. This still means American lives are being lost and American people are being called to be heroes every day. With hearing of the war so much in the news you almost start to feel de-sensitised to it all.

Today I received one of those "forwarded" emails about passing things along and it made me sit here at the computer and cry. For the life of me I can't figure out why, or at least, I couldn't, until I could just sit for a moment and think about it. I cried because I mourned and I respected what had been lost - an American soldier.

Here is the complete forwarded email. I really do hope some of you copy it and pass it along, and start wearing something red on Fridays, even if it is just a pen or a scarf, or something, even an American flag.

MessageFriends, Pass this along and make sure you read to the end about wearing red.

As passed along: Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.No, he responded.Heading out, I asked?

No. I'm escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do. Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom."Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.signed: Stuart Margel -- Washington, D.C. Also, here are two very touching photos honored at this years International Picture of the Year.

First Place

First Place

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport, Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport, Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: "See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home," he said. "They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."

Second Place

Second Place

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it," she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."

PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING!

"No arsenal, no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women." -- Ronald Reagan

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV, let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like ahomecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is ..."We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON.IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON.IT IS YOUR CHOICE.

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!

Birthdays, brrrr, and braid.

Today is Hubby's birthday! Happy birthday Hubby! In celebration of his birthday he took off work today and since he was off work I decided to cancel my ride to the yarn shop so he could take me later. Mistake. We are still home, but it is far warmer here than it is out there, so I am not rushing out into the cold overly much today. The shopping will get done and the world will keep on spinning, despite it being a little choppier than normal plans. Still, it is a good day already.

Yesterday - this is where the braid comes in - I made my first ever i-cord in knitting! It was amazing to watch as a rope like structure appeared from three knitted stitches on a needle. It was magnificent! It made me feel quite proud and very much like a closer-to-being-accomplished knitter!

Tomorrow Hubby goes back to work and, with luck, there will be more yarn for me to play with and make pretty things with and I can perhaps get some more dishes washed (our water has frozen here and there because of the cold temps). Maybe I will relax and just enjoy being warm.

Fingerless Mittens

There is a knitting project I am really wanting to get my needles into! The pattern is called Fingerless Mittens in Landscapes but it looks, in a finished project, remarkably like the picture above. The picture above is from a site called Knitty.com and has wonderful patterns. The Fingerless Mittens in Landscapes is front the Knitting Pattern a Day 2007 calendar I have and it is much easier to make, as it is a beginner pattern. Still, it makes me want to make them, and it also has interest from a friend for their sister who is working in a very drafty office and needs warm hands, too.

At the moment, my little mittens/gloves will just have to wait until I get a) the pair made for my friend's sister done and b) the sweater promised to my dear husband.

However, this week I have promised myself a trip to Michael's to get yarn and a couple of sets of double pointed needles for the making of the "mittens" so I can do them in time for my friend to have them to the sister before leaving from vacation.

Trying new patterns once upon a time would have made me quite nervous. So nervous, in fact, I probably would have talked myself out of even attempting them. Now I look for new patterns to try and find myself quite happy in doing them. Not everything turns out properly, of course, but this isn't as often as it used to be. Usually I am having gauge problems but am learning how to change the needles and the yarn/thread in order to attain what is needed.

Perhaps this proves, in some way, I am growing up a little as a "textile artist" (which still makes me laugh) and as a person. Actually, I think it just means I am more secure in myself than what I used to be. It shows in my writing, and now is showing itself in other areas of life when it is least expected, as in my knitting.

A night cannot pass now without me knitting something. My hands just need to knit. My mind needs to calm. I need to see the yarn taking on different shape and becoming something that is usually very cool.

Yeah, I am almost to the point of saying I am a knitter for real.

This made me smile, it's from a fortune cookie.

When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.

Preparations, sticks and thread: I'm ready!

Today was going to be one of those mad days of writing so I could get ever closer to the illusive submission deadline date, but, instead, it has turned out to be one of those days where it is more important to relax a little because of all of the stress this week has been.

The stress hasn't been of magnificent proportions or anything. It has merely been the stress of creative work and it has been welcomed. However, I am still continuing to miss sleep. Last night sleep eluded me the entire night. Only when the sun started coming up did I actually sleep for any amount of time. My body rested throughout the night, but my mind was active and pausing here and there on different story ideas, knitting projects currently going on as well as those planned, and ideas for everyone's birthdays which are coming up and just passed. It was a busy night for my head despite taking two melatonin to help me sleep. The melatonin levels in my brain must be very low indeed!

So, today I relax and I try and help my dear husband get over the sinuses. He has it all today: headache, irritability, stuffy nose, slightly swollen forehead, sneezing, and feeling absolutely like crap. Hopefully when he gets home I can get him to drink a nice cup of hot tea and his sinuses will clear a little for him to sleep (no, he likewise didn't sleep last night, but for different reasons). Poor baby. I am quite used to feeling ill in one fashion or another, but when he isn't feeling well it makes me worry and I so want to try and help him to feel better.

Now, I am going to knit. If it turns out nicely I may just post a picture of it for you! If it doesn't, well, you won't see it. :)

This is amazing!

You have probably seen it already, but I had not found a suitable link, without commentary, until today. My heart just thumped loudly to see something moving that should have died out with the dinosaurs, and, at the same time, it made me sad because you tell it was really hurt and just possibly in pain. What drove it up from its depths? Should Godzilla's theme song be playing?

Progress has been made!

I am tired.

I have finged until I am tired and my eyes feel even more tired than before I found my eye drops this afternoon.

I would really like to sleep a few more hours.

Word count for 1/25/07? 22,210!

**********

On today's agenda we have more finging and more writing, and more organization. There are a couple more things to add to this today - one of which is dishes. I need to wash dishes, not because the sink is full (because it is), but washing dishes helps me think through problems in stories. A friend of mine once said it is because of the running water and the instant gratification of getting one task completed (washing dishes is never done because you always end up dirtying up more dishes before the day is through, much like laundry). Whatever it is I am in need of washing dishes.

Now...I fing!

I'm Finging as Fast as I Can!

Several weeks (or was it months) ago, I was talking to a dear writerly friend of mine and was trying to say, "I have typed so much today my fingers cannot type any more." What I said was, "I've finged until I can fing no more!" Yeah, my friend was worried too for a little while.

Since then, each time I have gone to do some typing of stories and material written, it has become "fing." For the past several days I have been finging and writing on Novel #1 with a passion. Thus the absence of posts, for which I apologize.

As of today, before the final word count for today is done, I have a solid 20, 915 words down according to Word. It isn't finished. It is supposed to be mailed out on January 31st. Am I going to make the deadline? Probably not. It doesn't mean I am not going to keep trying, but I am accepting the possibility it may not be out when it is supposed to be and I am making myself OK with that fact.

Let's face it, what else can I do? This is a project of creativity not a paper on the arctic seal or declining environment of the liver colored ditty whopper (and no, there isn't such an animal to my knowledge). So, the creativity comes as it comes.

One thing I can honestly say is that the piece is progressing and I am enjoying it, although sometimes I do complain about it because the characters and problems of creating all get caught up somewhere inside my head and a scream invariably escapes me...which helps me to feel better, and I keep on going putting one word after another until sentences come and then paragraphs and images appear and not as many run on sentences as are currently appearing in this particular paragraph.

Any way, Novel #1 is progressing. I feel like I am genuinely Working, and I am. I feel like a writer, which I am. This doesn't make my life any easier at the moment, but it definitely does feel full and pleasant. I wonder if feeling pregnant is anything like this? Man, what a thought!

Have you ever...?

Have you ever noticed that when you are really excited about working on a project something always happens to throw a little glitch into the plan? Mine has been my gall bladder. It decided it did not like some food I ate last night and so I have been very careful with what I've eaten, and drunk today and will keep it up until this most recent bout is over.

The really major bad thing about this is how it affects the flow of words. The words have not been gotten to as of yet because of routines and being a housewife and taking care of said house, and animals. Still, I do expect to put down some good words today and to type in a goodly amount. It would just be so much better if it had been more words and an earlier start.

Yes, I know, we can't have everything we want, but it is still an important thing and I am really glad for it all.

Made It Through and Settling In

The house was blessed yesterday bright and early around nine thirty in the morning. Father wasn't able to stay very long because he was running a little behind on his house blessing schedule for the day. It is probably needless to say, but, the house wasn't in perfect order, it wasn't in good order, but it did make it to fair which pleased me greatly.

I worked on it all day Friday and way into the early morning hours of Saturday. I pushed myself harder than I have pushed myself in quite a while and thus didn't eat on my regular schedule and thus my gall bladder let me know how bad I had been. Dear Hubby even told Father I had over done it and hurt myself a little. Father just nodded and gave me his once over to possibly make sure he did not need his wife, who is a nurse, to call me and double check on my condition. And, much to my great happiness, Father didn't say one bad thing about the house!

About the only other moment of note was when, after the house was blessed, Father looked over to where Cappa was sitting quietly in her chair and he said, "So this is the only remaining cat you have?" Father does not like cats. He is a dog person. The look he gave the cat was not an overly pleasant one and Cappa gave back as good as she got. If Father was ever dismissed by a feline, it was then and there. It took a bit of will for me not to chuckle out loud, but Father wouldn't ever admit cats have expressions, still, it was most funny.

Now the rain has come and so has the ice. Tomorrow is the beginning of a new week. Some time this week it is supposed to snow. Also this week is the big week for finishing up on the novel and then out to the publisher for consideration. I am excited. A little worried. Life, currently, is good.

Moments of Relaxation

Since my gall bladder has been acting up so horribly I have had to learn to eat differently, relieve stress differently, and even stress differently if at all possible. (That last one is the really difficult one.) One of the things Oriental medicine says to do to help your gall bladder regain its energy and health is, of course, drinking tea.

For the past couple of weeks at three o'clock, I have settled myself down with a hot cup of tea -- sometimes it's coffee -- and a cookie of some sort, and just let the day settle away and permitted myself to have a breather for the rest of the day to begin. This has become one of my most favorite times of the day, and it really didn't take long for it to be that way. I look forward to my tea time any more, and when I don't have it, even on the weekends it appears, I miss it. There is just a span of time that seems empty in that bad sort of way. You know the way - when you know there is something you enjoy isn't there: the routine is broken.

Now, as time slips away toward bed, I have made myself a cup of "SleepyTime Tea" from Celestial Seasonings (TM) and am slowly letting myself prepare for bed. I haven't done this before, but I believe it is going to become one of those times I enjoy and look forward to. Letting the day go is difficult for most people, myself included, and if there is something out there that can let us "let go" of the worries of the day, then I believe it is a good thing.

Normally I am not a tea drinker. As you all know, I am a coffee person, but there is something inexorably good about teas and tea time. It was something I never fully noticed before. The truth is, I never let there be moments of the day, or evening, where I gave myself permission to relax and let go of everything, and I do mean everything like arguments, problems, worries. Slowly I have come to accept that these things are always going to be around me, in me merely because I am alive and human. But, if I give myself time to just let them go, they don't become burdens as quickly as they normally might. Instead, they are worked on differently and viewed differently.

Yes, I know, two weeks of doing this is not saying it has become one of those good habits, and I do realize there are a lot of things that can push me past those good feelings and those times of just "letting things go" - the important thing is that I am learning to do it and I am keeping it up. Willingly.

Yeah, I'm surprised, too.

Blossoming Yarn Addiction - or BYA

Since beginning to knit I am becoming more and more addicted to it. When I am stuck on a story or poem point I have begun picking up the yarn and knitting needles and working on whatever project happens to be on them and, in about 30 minutes I have worked a good bit on the knitting as well as gotten passed the problem point currently being thunk about.

Another thing I am slowly beginning to realize is that knitting is truly a form of instant gratification. Other projects have been attempted in the past and they have been completed, but not quite with the same feeling of good well-being and accomplishment knitting is doing for me of late. Beading is a wonder thing, and I dearly enjoy beading, but not the same as settling down with the knitting needles, or crochet hook and just working, usually mindlessly, with my hands. Unless counting is involved (and it is at some point or other), the hands just take over and even though my eyes watch the thread weaving on the needles, it is just as much a wonderful surprise to me something neat comes out of it as it does everyone else!

This leaves only one problem: A continued reason to keep going out and purchasing yarn and knitting needles. This, of course, means coming up with projects to work on. Right now I have two sweaters to do for my dear hubby and Cheyenne, as well as a possible baby blanket for a friend of Hubby's, and some socks and stockings for myself. After that I believe I am going to begin working on Christmas presents for 2007. One of those projects is going to be a knitted afghan which has me quite excited.

This is the first hobby I have attempted that keeps challenging me to progress and improve in very subtle ways. For example, if I can cable well I can do projects such as this. Today I even watched a program on DIY network about simple cabling which I found quite instructive and helpful. After seeing the program I feel more confident in tackling such a thing as cabling in the upcoming afghan project. Cabling requires thought, counting, and still you get to watch as beautiful things just seem to grow out of your hands and needles. Yes, instant gratification at its very highest!

House Blessings and Insomnia

For the past several weeks - three to be exact - I have had problems sleeping. I either could not shut my brain off long enough to fall asleep, or I would go to sleep and wake up an hour later and be completely unable to go back to sleep. Those of you who have insomnia know exactly how this makes you feel: drained, really cranky, and the thought processes begin to break down relatively quickly.

Being a writer it should be quite commonplace for me to not sleep having so many words, worlds and characters running around my brain. Still, sleep is a necessary part of life. Sleep lets the body and mind rest and re-boot for another day. My re-booting process hasn't been what it needed to be in order for a proper re-start for the next day. Now, add to this that my priest is coming this Saturday, the 18th, to bless the house and you get a very real sense of almost panic for yours truly.

No, we haven't just moved into our house, but the Orthodox Christian faith has house blessings every year. If the previous year wasn't so good just like a true New Year, the possibility of the next year - 2007 for us - looks better, and it really begins to look better once we have our houses blessed. It is a good tradition to me. However, as is tradition, this also means the house needs to be relatively clean and in order. This is where I just want to hide under a rock and pretend everything will go away.

Recently I sat down and looked at each room of my house and plotted out on paper exactly what I wanted to do. When I saw that I just sort of felt as if things could indeed change and be better, plus, the way I had it planned out, I should be able to do most of the organizing with my husband having to do only those things his very short wife could not reach.

Last night I slept. It took an entire muscle relaxer and some melatonin to knock my brain out, but I slept all the way until 11:30 this morning! The end result was energy I have not had in many weeks, not to mention days. The energy was so much so that I actually cleaned up around the desk and have planned out exactly how to take care of a few other things I need to do to get the front room taken care of. If this truly works, the house will be in fairly good shape by the time Father comes to bless it!

*insert squeeeeee here*

Tonight I am going to take half a muscle relaxer and a couple of melatonin. Maybe my brain will figure out I'm supposed to sleep when I lay down and re-train it for such a purpose. Either way, I am really looking forward to tomorrow!

Yeah, I'm not one for cleaning, but seeing my goals realized is ten times better, and if it happens to entail some cleaning and house-keeping, well, so be it.

Three cheers for me!

Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah!

Any body got some advice out there?

Today is warm-ish here in the Bluegrass state and horse city. The sky is over-cast and it has been raining off and on. It is one of those quiet days filled with . . . quietness.

Last night was a night of sleeplessness, again. Insomnia is something writers tend to have in common and usually for different reasons. The one follow-through factor is that our brains just won't shut off. Insomnia isn't just for writers, of course, but it does seem to strike a lot of the creative types I know. For me, my brain hasn't shut down for a good length of time since I have been really pushing to get the novel finished and out on time, as well as finish the short story that is plaguing me. Although, on the short story, I can easily see it being a screenplay or even a novel, but I am having a hard time just putting it down in a short story format.

You want to know the really annoying part about this short story near-disaster? I had plans, serious plans, of getting a short story out before the end of every month this year. The story is done, of course. It isn't perfect. I believe it is well-written. So the question arises of, Do I send it out even though it is probably going to be rejected and even I can see it will probably be rejected? Do I send it off, knowing this, and thus practically guaranteeing my first rejection of the new year?

Part of me really just wants to keep with the plan, submit the story and be done with it. At least, if I do this, I will have taken up a challenge, taken up a goal and actually was working toward it. Should I just let the goal slip to the side? If I do that I am afraid I will not get the habit of writing and submitted embedded in my psyche and, for a writer, the heart.

Yes, there are difficulties in my little world today. They aren't problems, at least. In general, I do believe this is at the very least a productive difficulty or dilemma.

Any advice?

Sitting Down With Cup of Tea

I proclaim this knowledge for the world to hear yet again: Writing is HARD.

Yes, I have said it before, and I will undoubtedly say it again. Why am I saying it this time? Because there is a lovely little story I'd like to actually get finished that friends, and probably editors if they read the current version, wouldn't call "meatless" as far as plot and action are concerned. The story idea is good with characters and ideas, but as far as fleshing out the story, well, it isn't happening right now. It also isn't helping I have an annoying headache, but I just can't give up on this particular story for today.

Today I also realized, besides having screwed up the story I so dearly want to tell, I haven't up-dated here any where near as much as I should have, especially since I am seriously writing again. It would actually be nice to say what I had accomplished so far today and what is expected of the accomplishment tomorrow, as well as a few blurbs and blurgs here and there about other things. I'm sorry, Dear Readers. Sometimes all the words get caught up together and all you can really do is write the ones presenting themselves, even when you know you should also be putting words down elsewhere. Since I do see the error of my ways, I heretofore resolve to correct this matter and post more regularly here in The News. Besides, how can it be called "The News" if there isn't any reporting going on?

Good point, Self.

Why, thank you, Self.

Don't mention it...too often. :)

I you to The Dooce!

Being a dog owner, friend, lover, and over all animal loving person, when I began reading The Dooce's entry I began nodding my head, because my JoJo has done this almost very thing before. However, I did not bring the strange dog into my home, even if it did show me its belly! But, as I said, being a dog person, I loved this little tidbit. Go, enjoy. More later.

A New Year, A New Monday, A New Beginning

This is going to be my year. How do I know this? Because I feel it in every pore of my being. I woke up feeling pretty good about everything and the more I work on the current Works In Progress the more I can see a possibility they will be accepted, somewhere. And, though it is going to be a lot of work, I am feeling really good about it all deep down...really deep down, where it counts.

Not only is the confidence there today, and has been there since 2007 dawned, but the muse is flittering and fluttering her happy little fairy wings (yes, my muse is quite fairy-ish in my head) about me and encouraging me forward with the words and the stories and the ideas.

For those of you in the Lexington/Richmond, Kentucky area, there is going to be a writing class by Michael Garrett who is an editor who has worked with Stephen King and he is having different classes at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky in April. A friend of mine just told me about it today. It is a weekend class schedule so I should be able to go for at least one of the classes offered. You can check it out here. Tuition for the classes is just $59. I'm pretty sure I can save up $59 between now and April if I am a very good girl. Just getting there would be my only problem at the moment.

Now, back to the Ink Mines!

Something good from a fortune cookie

I love Chinese food. Simply because of this it would be silly of this not to like the sweet crunchiness of the fortune cookie. It is fun sitting around the table and letting everyone recite their fortune cookie wisdom. Sometimes it is appropriate and sometimes, well, the laughter echoes with mirth as well as a couple of confused looks here and there. What the heck was that supposed to mean, be, et.c.?

Last night we had Chinese food delivered. Hubby and I were both tired and cooking felt like one big chore. I usually eat my fortune cookie after my meal, but last night I saved it until today. It was consumed just a few minutes ago.

I unfolded my little slip of a fortune. Read it. Re-read it. And read it again. Yeah, it was one of those appropriate ones, especially since I have been wondering if I could tackle one project that is really weighing on my mind. Did I have the strength? Did I have the smarts? Did I have the drive? Did I have the will? So, you get the idea.

Do not underestimate yourself. Human beings have unlimited potential.

It is really nice when God surprises you with something neat. So, just so you know, Sir. Thanks. I really did need that.

The Bears Have Insomnia

According to a report from Spain, the weather has been so warm their bears don't want to take their winter nap. Not only is Spain having a problem, but Alaska is also having problems with their bears not wanting to take Mother Nature's suggested nap! And in Wisconsin the bears are also up in arms and refusing to take their winter slumbers. A lot of people are blaming global warming, but I think the bears may have just gotten together to have a winter long slumber party. Who knows, they may pass out from all of their wild partying ways come next winter. After all, who could blame them? This winter has been extremely warm. Who wants to go to bed when it is warm and sunny outside; or, at the very least, sunny?

*wipes forehead with a gleeful grin*

It appears I have made it through the holidays with some semblance of sanity, much love in my heart, and a relatively good mood still. The computer has new memory which makes it work much better now, and I am back to working on Project 1 and Project 2 will soon be completed as well; however, the imagination may well be hijacked by a short story idea that keeps pulling at me. It sprang to life last night while my brain wouldn't shut off. I really should give myself a break from the big stories and work on this little darling. I really should.

In other news, we are still alive, as you can see. Life isn't always good, but we are still alive which leaves hope for other good things to happen.

Only one thing to say....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

A New Year Advances

Wow, 2007 is almost here! This is both an ending as well as a beginning for everyone, not just myself. In looking back on 2006 I can see a good deal of change in my life, both good and bad. This year there wasn't too much overly bad or good, so it was balanced. The writing has taken off in word flow and people are wanting to see my novels for consideration which is a big jump from 2005.

Goals for 2007
Let my darling Hubby know just how much he is loved by me!

Getting Novel #1 out to the publisher on time.

Getting Novel #2 out to the publisher on its time.

Eat healthier.

Move more.

Just be happy.

Write that fantasy novel I keep promising myself to write.

Knit like the wind and enjoy it. It reallys isn't as hard as I thought it was in my head.

Go to the local knitting club meetings. (Yes, I am seriously considering this.)

Work more on the house.

Cook more.

Enjoy my life with my dear Hubby even more.

Enjoy my life with my friends even more.

This year I am not going to number anything. I am just going to list things I believe I can accomplish and will accomplish.

The Greatest Christmas Poem, a Wonderful Thing to Do for Others, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! All in One!

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash,tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the lustre of midday to objects below, when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

"Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky so up to the house-top the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

* ^ * ^ *

If you would really like to get involved with a wonderful project for the troops, check out The Ships Project. This is a wonderful project where knitted and crocheted caps and slippers are sent to the soldiers overseas, and the sailors. I am going to knit at least one cap for this project, but plan on doing more. There are also projects to do during the hot summer months as well. They are called "cool ties" and helps the soldiers stay cool, or cooler than otherwise they would be. Again, these are made and sent out to the troops. Check out the web site.

* ^ * ^ *

Well, my dear friends, Christmas has almost arrived. So, for me, this is the last post until after Christmas Day unless something absolutely wonderful pops up you all simply MUST know about! So, Merry Christmas! And just in case I don't see some of you until after the first of the new year, "Happy New Year to you and yours!" Be blessed, my friends.

Can't You Just See This?!

I admit, it is Garfield, but can't you just see some kid's face during the very same moment? Oh, how this makes me laugh!

Christmas, All of a Sudden

Today began a little rough. I ate some things last night I should not have eaten, so my gall bladder was not happy with me. This means for the next few days before Christmas I have to be extremely good and careful to stay away from all of the bad-for-me foods and eat only the good-for-me foods. This isn't going to be a really difficult thing to do - the only thing I have to be extremely careful of is to stay away from nuts for a little while longer.

Later on one of my really good girlfriends came over with her sister and worked wonders on the front room. I am stunned by how pretty it is now! There is room! Good room! They understood exactly what I wanted to do and just went to it. I love them!

Yeah, it is feeling a lot like Christmas all of a sudden.

Scrapbooking and Coupon Books

OK, I have fallen victim to a desire to do something really cute for Hubby for Christmas. It involves paper, cute stickers, and cute, multi-colored (probably gel) pens!

I have been absolutely dying to get into the flow of scrapbooking and documenting our life together, but now a friend has given me a fantastic idea,so I am going to make sure an follow through with it because, well, it will just be nice to see Hubby smile and know I went a little further and did this for him. When it is finished I will scan it in and show you all.

Remembering a Landmark - Carl Sagan

We humans are ones for anniversaries. We have anniversaries for the day of our birthday, happily (usually) called "birthdays"; first kisses, first dates, wedding days, but What do we do with the dates of deaths? Deathdays is a bit on the morbid side. In the Orthodox faith we have a tradition for this. It is simply called a remembrance, or memorial. So today, we have a memorial of Carl Sagan, gone for ten years now.

In Leslie County, Kentucky where I grew up, there was nothing of advancement in science. My Dad was a coal miner and my Mom was a housewife. My sisters, by the time I could fully remember, had pretty much all married and had lives of their own. This left my Mom and Dad to deal with a very sick child. Me.

The community we lived in was small. Close knit. Paranoid of strangers. It still is one of those rural places where you can still end up being an "outsider" even after living there for twenty years. (Trust me, an "outsider" is better than being labeled a "Northerner" there to this very day.) There was a big danger of growing up to believe there was no other place in the world. Yes, we had television, but we didn't have cable. Whatever was floating about on the air was what we received. There was contact to other worlds, other cultures with the television, but I can still remember hearing my grandmother and older people stating, quite solemnly, "I sure wouldn't want to live there" when seeing New York City or some other place. Those were "heathen" places.

I was pretty much growing up to believe much like this, until I asked my Daddy one night while looking up at the stars, "What's out there, Daddy?" I guess I was about four at the time.

"I don't know, buddy," he said, "but I'm sure there is something." We fell silent and just looked at the night sky, and I wanted to know what was out there, what made up the world itself, and questioned if life could exist on other worlds and, if so, would it be like ours? Like mine?

Time passed with me being in and out of hospitals and fighting this illness. I read voraciously and when I couldn't hold the books in my hands I listened to them on cassettes and even some were on LPs! Each and every time something about space came on PBS I watched it if at all possible. Carl Sagan always made the most sense to me, during these years and times of exploration and growing up, getting better, getting sick.

There were some people who were concerned in the community because, according to them, I was in danger of forgetting about God because I was so into science of many forms from astronomy, astrology, anthropology, archeology, and paleontology. Yet, the more I discovered the more my young mind was convinced there had to be something, someone directing all of this because "happy accidents" on such a scale had to be orchestrated and governed by, for me, God. Even though Carl Sagan never said there was no God, he never said there was one either, so I felt safe in my belief. What was more, I could understand what he spoke about and it related to my life and being. It was magnificent! He was magnificent!

Carl Sagan has left us. But he has left behind a body of work that is truly expansive in the questions it answers as well as the questions it encourages. Throughout my life, when it came to science, Carl Sagan was my landmark, one of the bigger guides to helping me explore a world far larger than the little place I came from.

For more information on Carl sagan visit these check out the blog-a-thon for Carl Sagan, Carl Sagan.com, and his son, Nick Sagan a wonderful SF writer.

Christmas and Sudden Domesticity

Today has turned out to be quite on the chilly side, at least for me. It is 41*F according to the little temperature stamp on my homepage. Yesterday I did not have to turn on but one heater, and, since it was close to the computer it kept me perfectly happy and warm. However, today it is chilly and I have had to light the kerosene heater and turn on the little electric heater that is very close to the computer so as to keep warm and keep the arthritic pain at bay.

Despite the chill, I am moving quite well today and even have plans for adventures in cleaning. It isn't strenuous today, just some dusting with the long handled fuzzy thing. My "long handle" is from the bamboo outside. Since it is extremely long, and I am extremely short, it works splendidly.

The coolness is making me really think more and more about Christmas. It is only FIVE DAYS AWAY! For a moment today I almost panicked because one of my darling Hubby's presents has not arrived yet. Nor has the Swiss Colony things I ordered. They promised - Swiss Colony promise - the packages would arrive in time for Christmas. I am holding them to their word, and if the packages don't arrive, well, there will be some very polite words with the company's shipping department. Yes, Swiss Colony has never failed me, but this year is the first year we have not received the packages at the beginning of the week before Christmas, and there was absolutely nothing done differently this year than last year. Sadly, the Swiss Colony order is not the order I am waiting on for my husband. What the Christmas holiday be without stress of some sort?

Nor, do we have any of the packages wrapped. Still, this is the least of the worries. We have always had quite a number of packages to wrap on Christmas Eve, so this year is no different from any other in that respect. Although I would like to go paper shopping and get different paper to add to the collection from last year.

*sigh* Yes, I guess I am feeling very domestic at the moment. Do you want to know something almost disturbing? I am enjoying it!

Christmas Cards

The Christmas cards have reall been picking up. Day-before-yesterday we received two Christmas cards and yesterday we received two Christmas cards.

I love Christmas!

Computer Problems and Christmas Thoughts

It is hard for me to accept there is just a week left until Christmas. There aren't that many decorations up in the house, and no Christmas tree. In fact, I highly suspect there isn't going to be a Christmas tree. Not because we don't want one. Of course. But because this has been a hard month or two for me physically and dear Hubby has had to go to work, then come home and take care of a very sick wife. Now that I am feeling better it is a wonderful possibility I am going to make it to Christmas and passed it virus and illness free (OK, any more new illnesses). This makes my heart and head very happy, because, as I have forgotten recently, that half the battle of getting better is in your head as well as your body.

So, the Christmas decorations are really not present. No presents are wrapped, as of this date, but that will be corrected within the week, and Christmas music has been playing almost constantly all day, almost from the time I get up until the time Hubby comes from work, and then I shut it off almost sadly. At the same time, it is warm, extremely warm, like Spring, not Christmas. I never ever expected to say this out loud, or even think it, but, it would be nice if the temperatures matched the season and it was cooler. It doesn't have to be horribly cold, but I wouldn't mind seeing just a little snow flake or two the day after Christmas, or perhaps even Christmas Day.

I have actually wanted to write about this all of yesterday and share my music, musings, and just general chat with you all about how the Christmas tide is swelling in this heart of mine and making me look forward to Christmas service which celebrates His birth and is the reason for this season, BUT, the computer had other ideas. Actually, the ISP has had other ideas and decided it was not in the mood to permit me to update Blogger or even my little LJ. So, for most of the day I was fluctuating between remorse at not actually sitting down to write because I was having computer issues, anger at trying to do a bit of research on the internet and being dropped like a hot rock every five minutes or so, and feeling all Christmasy in the good periods before another dropped moment. Yes, yesterday was a bit on the testy side.

So far today everything has been moving quite comfortably and surprisingly it is much cooler than it was for the weekend. I wonder how many children and adults are praying for snow and a white Christmas? And, just so you know, no, I haven't been praying for a white Christmas. I have been praying for people and events far beyond my control and needed to give their problems to God. So, I've been doing the hard prayers for the past few days. Now, everything appears to be looking up.

More Christmasy thoughts later.

A Kind Hearted Giant

The story about the tallest man in the world saving two dolphins almost made me cry, especially since the river dolphins in China are now listed as extinct. There are more pictures of him here. His name is Bao Xishun.

INK! I GOT INK!

Yesterday, when darling Hubby checked the mail, I had a package. No, this isn't so astounding since it is Christmas and most of my shopping this year has been done on-line (a trend I plan on keeping up, by the way). But this wasn't a package for someone else - this was a package for me. It was two bottles of ink. One is blackest black and the other is plum purple. How can you go wrong with those sorts of names. Plum purple just makes me smile every time I see it.

Since writing with dip pens and fountain pens are my preferred means of writing, I use a lot of ink it seems. Yes, I know. I have a bottle of green ink, chocolat ink, rose scented ink, blue ink, and now black and purple. (I had black before, but it go bye-bye.) And, no, I can't use all of that ink up at once, and it takes a while to use ink up as it is. However, does one ever really have too much ink?

My answer, of course, is "No, you can't." And, my inclination is that when a bottle of ink gets down to about half, well, it's time to get another bottle. Black is always something I will probably be ordering. It would be really nice to have an ink shop or fine writing instruments store here in Lexington, Kentucky. I don't mind ordering my ink from Columbus, Ohio at the moment. It gives me such a wonderfully warm feeling when I open the box and have wonderful new ink bottles to open!

Rabbits! ... and birds!

This adorable little fellow is Cinnamon the Disapproving Rabbit. As you can tell he is absolutely wild over pumpkin from a can. If you want to see more pictures of Cinnamon, go to Birdchick's blog and check them out, along with some wonderful images of birds, more disapproving rabbits and wonderful info about birds. And rabbits of course.

Some Linkage and a Quick Thought

Did you know Twisted Sister did a video of O Come All Ye Faithful? They did. I had forgotten it, actually, until roaming on Yahoo!'s LAUNCH today and saw it. It made me smile, so, I give you the opportunity to see it likewise. A really cool thing about this video is that the band doesn't change the words of the song. It isn't "politically correct" or "socially polite" - just the song with all of the words rocked up a bit.

Also, Peter Boyle has passed away Tuesday. This makes me extremely sad. I dearly enjoyed his performances and fell in love with Everybody Loves Raymond partially because of Frank Barone (Peter Boyle)who was Ray's dad.

And, just because, there is a rant up at The Rolling Hills about how men have become overly feminine of late. What has caused this trend? Why is it hip for a guy to be all feminine and gay, instead of being a masculine man? This makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. So, my full rant is there.

Hermitage of the Holy Cross

Several weeks ago, as you know, Hubby and I visited the the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in West Virginia. It was my first time to any monastery and Hubby's second to this monastery. Hubby spoke often since his first visit of wanting to return there for another visit and was overjoyed he was getting to go back. For the life of me I could not understand why he wanted to go back to a monastery. Now I do, but it has taken me time to digest everything I have experienced there and, even through this horrible round of sickness, Holy Cross Monastery has been a quiet place of comfort in my heart and soul.

I saw the monastery itself early on Sunday morning of our visit. Several buildings were here and there, and the Church proper and common hall were connected by decks, complete with steps. The first thing that hit me was the absence of any ramps, which made my heart take a few thunderous thuds inside my chest. My chair, with me in it, weighs about 500 pounds and it was going to have to be carried. Brother Mark came from the common hall and directed me, Hubby, and several of our friends to the Church and, with his help, they carried me onto the porch.

As I was lifted (it felt very high) into the air, I glanced up and there was an icon of Christ. "Oh Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner," I prayed. Then I was on the porch and moving forward. Brother Mark crossed himself and said, "Glory be to God." It wasn't a harsh statement as, I realize, I was half expecting, but one of true thanks giving and happiness we had arrived, safely to the Church. I felt humbled. And quite thankful.

Service was Orthodox, which is one of the most wonderful things about Orthodoxy: No matter where you go to an Orthodox service, you will know the service, even if it wasn't in English. It was familiar and loving, warm to my very soul. Holy Cross gives service in English, and, I later discovered, it is the largest English speaking Orthodox monastery in the world.

After service I was expecting to leave, but the friends and another gentleman I was never to know his name, helped carry me up more steps to wait for all of us to be called to breakfast. It was there that our dearest friends introduced us by our Christian names of Mary and Moses. From that point on I was called Mary and Hubby was Moses. It was the most wonderful, and eventually quite normal part of the entire experience.

At breakfast the women were off to the side at a couple of small tables. We ate in silence while a brother read. I am not sure, exactly, how each of us conveyed our needs at the table, but it was done. Jokingly I told another friend it was a mixture of telepathy and mime, but now I am almost convinced it was telepathy. Breakfast consisted of eggs, biscuits, and hash browns and coffee (the best coffee I have ever had!) As I said, we ate in silence, and, much more amazingly, we ate in peace. It was the first meal I had relaxed at in many months.

After the wonderful breakfast, we all sat and talked with Father Seraphim. He is a convert to the faith, just as we were, and he is such a kind and well-spoken, soft spoken gentleman you are either going to fear him immediately, or you are going to adore him. We adored him, and still do. We did talk of spiritual matters, and we learned some very interesting things, but it was almost an aside. There was laughter and a wonderful sense of stillness, and peace on the large deck as we passed the afternoon. Some of us strayed to visit the goats and kittens and some of us stayed to continue talking with Father Seraphim.

There was a point when a helper came and brought out coffee and cookies for an afternoon snack. It was wonderful and calming. I had not expected to be having afternoon coffee at the monastery, and it was wonderful.

Finally the time came for me to be carried down two sets of steps to be leaving to the small store the monastery has. It went smoothly on the first set, but the second set one of the friends lost his grip and I almost tipped, but the most wonderful thing happened. I didn't panic or spazz or feel the least bit threatened or in danger. I even helped right me and the chair and then I stood for a moment while the chair was righted and we proceeded on.

At the store I could not enter, but I was not left outside alone. I was able to speak with Brother Mark for a considerable length of time. He is a novice, not a full monk yet, and he has such a wonderful spirit about him. He has an easy laugh and quiet manner about him. He has become very dear to me and Moses and we pray for him, and for all of those there at Holy Cross every day.

You want to know the strangest thing about the day at the monastery? The monks, everyone who passed by and met me, thanked me for coming and giving them such a blessing. It wasn't false, faked, or mere politeness and something they should say to someone in a wheelchair, but truly genuine. Even the Mother there thanked me for coming and being with them. Being in a wheelchair, I am quite used to the politeness that comes from most people, as well as the very much unwanted pity, but these greetings and departings were genuine. They were real, and they were quite humbling to my fighting spirit. Why? Because there was nothing to fight there. I was accepted happily and lovingly which made it so very easy to let the cares of the world fall from my shoulders, which rarely ever happens with me. Because of going there, being able to rest my soul, body, and mind there for a time has helped me fight this last battle of illness, and still is, while preparing for the celebration of Christ's birth upon earth.

Them Bones, Them Bones....

A complete skeleton of a pleisiosaur has been found! You can read about it here. I love paleontology - the study of ancient bones and remnants. Now they say they have a complete skeleton. Yay! Yes, I know it is dorky and nerdy but I like such things. Have you ever sat down to think what people are going to think about us in, oh, let's say, a thousand years or a million years by now when they are toiling relentlessly through our garbage dumps and trying to make sense out of what we were like? I don't envy them, and, sadly, I sort of hope to leave behind some landmines so they won't have a single clue what the earring on the fish hook means. Heck if I know! But it would be funny for the anthropologists to try and figure out, especially if I can be in Heaven and hear what they say. I wonder if it would make me laugh, or make me sad that, perhaps, human kind has seriously lost its humor.

Thoughtful Saturday

Today I slept late because my dear Hubby let me. I needed it I believe, and even enjoyed it. Before falling asleep last night, however, something important hit me.

This Christmas is important. It has felt important to me for quite a while but I haven't let myself look to see why it is so important. Last night I finally let myself and was startled by what came: It was a simple question of, what if, as in, What if this is the last Christmas Hubby and I ever spent together.

No, I am not saying I am keeling over anytime in the next year, but if you really love each day and you love the people in your life, you really should live each and every day as if it is the last day or year you have with them so they will always know just how much you love them and how important they are in your life. I want to show Hubby just how much I love him, how important he is to me, not just today but for Christmas and for every day we have from here on out. The same goes for my friends, of course, but Hubby is at the top of the list. He rightly should be there, too. So, this Christmas is important, and every day there after. It is almost a pre-New Year's Eve resolution thing. It is that important to me. He is that important to me. My life is that important to me of late.

Sometimes it seems I let myself get all caught up in writing and pushing toward getting things published and the daily grind I forget just how important this life is to me, and, sadly, I forget just how important Hubby is in this life of mine. I don't want to forget or let it slip to some segment in the daily grind I don't give much attention to, or merely glance at throughout any given day. This life of mine is something that is extremely important, even if it is important to no one else but me (and my darling husband).

I am not sure why I thought of this exactly, and, I suppose, it doesn't really matter. Each and every day I should be looking at my life in this manner and not just taking it for granted I am going to wake up the next morning and continue forward with my same old daily routine. Because it just might not happen, and if it doesn't happen I want to leave the people I love with enough of myself left behind for them to know just how much I love(d) them and just how important they are (were) to me.

Some people may look at this and say this is a morbid way of thinking, but, it isn't really, not if you seriously give it a thorough examination. I have just examined my life and found several areas lacking. Instead of making me feel depressed or stressed, it has made me take stock enough to say, "I want to change this. I want people to know just how much they matter to me." And, quite honestly, I believe this is good. If we don't examine our lives every so often we, as humans, have the habit of forgetting we even have one, and all we become then is a combination of meetings, paychecks, bills, and taxes, not a lived life. I believe I would much rather have a lived life that than other sort.

Since people have asked...

Since people have asked...no, there aren't going to be any updates about "The Sleepy Hollow Inn" until after the first of the New Year because, well, this is a happy, non-vampire sort of holiday so I am not putting up anything about it until then. I was quite surprised with what happens in the story. I believe you will be, too. So, now you know.

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas...

Today I am feeling better, just as important as feeling better is, something else important happened: it snowed. It wasn't a huge downpouring of white flakes, only my back ramp and part of my back yard had white stuff to speak of having even a slight dusting of snow, but it was enough to give my big, four-legged girls a wonderful romp and roll in as much of the white stuff as they could possibly find. Tails wagging, ears perked, tongues lolling, they went out with a new spring to their step and a new mission it appeared - to get as much of the snow on them as possible. Sadly I did not have a camera available, because I would really have loved getting a picture of them all gleeful and happy with that tiny amount of snow they had.

The temps are quite cold here, too. It is currently 11*F and feels as if it is in the single digits with the wind chill factor added in. There could be a wee bit more of snow tomorrow. The cold combined with the little snow has given me the wonderful boost to the Christmas spirit I needed. After letting the dogs back in from their romp I bundled up with my nice red lap cover and hustled me to the computer where I shopped like a mad woman. I shopped via computer/online and actually had an absolutely wonderful time. Besides it being quite fun, it was also quite successful in the accomplishment of the purchasing of gifts for the giving. It was so successful that, except for one present left for me to get, everything else is in the stocking stuffer areas and, of course, cookies and candies.

Packages have been arriving at the house all week and today there was an absolute plethera of them on the porch when my loving husband went to get the mail. It was wonderful! It felt...well, it felt like Christmas and it felt good.

Since the pain has decreased mightily, and despite the weakness I am still having, I am feeling better and feeling more like it is indeed Christmastime!

So, sing carols and lift that cup of coffee, tea, and cheer in general! It's Christmas and it only comes once a year! It is the time of hope, the true beginning of another year!

Merry Christmas!

The Faith of Every Day

Today has been one of those days when my illness of the past few days has made me give in to the body and just relax and trust and be quiet. I have slept far more today than I feel like I probably should have while at the same time helping me to feel better.

The quietness of the day with the dogs lying beside me and comforting me with their warm, happy brown eyes and gently thumping tails against the bed was the best medicine I could possibly have asked for. Since there was much I could have done around the house, or attempted to do, and nothing was done, I found myself praying often. The prayers were quiet, sincere and genuine. They were prayers for my friends, for my family, for my most beloved husband, for life in general, for my dogs. They were the prayers of constantly asking for this or that, but thankfulness they existed and were part of my life.

Since I have had to be quiet for the past few days, I have noticed just how much I actually do pray throughout the day. It was quite a surprise. It was very humbling.

Another humbling experience I want to write about in a just a couple of days is going to be going to the Hermitage. It was an experience far different than what I expected it to be, and one I hope to have again in the future, whether near or far. Right now I cannot sit quietly for very long and type because, well, it hurts, however, I will write it and then I will post it. Going to the Hermitage of the Holy Cross has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

Betterness and Viruses

I am better!

The pain is better in my chest, but, of course, since I went to the doctor yesterday and had to sit in the doctor's office for a short amount of time, both Hubby and I picked up a nice virus that makes stomachs nasty and heads hurt. What is that line from the old HeeHaw show? "If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all...." So, yeah, I am better in many ways and worse in others.

Oh, and one good thing was discovered at the doctor's visit yesterday. I do not have pericarditis. Instead, I have costrochondritis which is inflammation of the cartilage in the chest. Still most painful.

The gall bladder problem has been resolved. I do not have to have surgery to remove it. Again, really good news for a body weary with the pain.

If all goes well the pain of the body will diminish and yours truly will be singing Christmas carols and shopping mightily before you know it! Right now, I take it easy and life progresses.

There has been some progress made today.

For everyone who has sent me wonderful well-wishes and get wells, I just want to say "Thank you!" If it were possible I would give all of you great big hugs. Since some of you have requested an update about my physical condition here it is:

I am better. I am not much better, but, at this point, any little bit of "better" that can possibly be gained is good. I noticed that today I did not have to take quite as much pain medication as yesterday and I have been able to eat granola bars, but cream of mushroom soup was not a good thing. So, I may leave cream of mushroom soup off of the edibles list for a while, maybe forever.

The chest is still sore to the touch but it is better and the pain has been better in and of itself. Plus - my back has not screamed at me at all today. Usually this means I have been a good girl and gotten the much needed sleep I was supposed to get, the arthritis is better, or the pain in my chest was radiating to my back and that is why it was screaming at me for days.

Thank you, once again, for being concerned and giving me such good thoughts. I truly appreciate it. God bless you all!

And just because it is cute, I thought you might like to see this.

Her bingo habit did it!

According to the news article, the grandmother, aged 61, had the trunk of her car full of pot. It didn't say what she was doing with it - transporting it or selling it. The reason she was in the pot trade was because her bingo habit was out of control. Why does this amuse me so?

*Click on the heading to see the article.

This thing is painful!

Monday I was vomiting and feeling like I had the flu. Tuesday my back started hurting. Not to be undone, my chest began hurting. Badly. It was SO bad I could barely breathe. Just to be on the safe side, especially since this was a pain I could not handle or kick in the head to help ease my misery of it, I called Hubby and we went to the Emergency Room at Central Baptist Hospital here in Lexington. We arrived there at around seven o'clock in the evening and didn't leave there until four o'clock in the morning. The conclusion by the doctor is that my gall bladder is not being nice and I have pericarditis, which is inflammation of the chest wall. I have never had gall bladder problems before and never had pericarditis. Both of those suckers hurt. I mean they really, really hurt.

Quite honestly, according to the CAT scan and ultra-sound, my gall bladder is (was) dilated and there is a sluge thing in it. However, when it comes to pain, there is nothing that can match the pericarditis. I mean, it is horrible. While in the emergency room I was given three shots of morphine, and finally a shot of demerol to get the pain under some type of control. By the time Hubby and I left the hospital I was already hurting again.

Yesterday Hubby and I went to our family doctor and he gave me nice pain pills and some antibiotics for a possibly infected gall bladder. I could have kissed the man for the pain pills. My chest is sore to the touch and it hurts, badly. Right now I am waiting for said pain meds to kick in. When they do, I will be far happier than what I currently am.

Just to make myself smile....

I feel bad. My back is not happy with me and my head and stomach feel as if they have been in bad independent car wrecks. So, just to make myself smile I have The Llama Song.

The Dooce Seems to Understand

Have you ever read something that made you just sit there and giggle or smile ear to ear because there seemed to be someone somewhere who understood something very private and personal about life? You might not understand everything this person is referring to, but you understand, feel a lot of connection with the most of it. For instance, I don't have kids, so don't understand everything the article is speaking of, but I have pets who are my children and this tickled me purple. I mean, I so know about how the dogs and cat can knock themselves wide awake. Go, read. See if you don't understand part of it, even the parts about relatives and gatherings for Thanksgiving or any other holiday.

Sleepy Hollow Inn, Part V

The Sleepy Hollow Inn, Part V
By M. Davenport

When I found out about Veronica's death it was too late for me to inspect the body and see what type of bite it had been, or sense any lingering presence in the room. What was even more disturbing to me was the fact I had not sensed the presence of death's arrival at any point in the night because, after Veronica retired for the night, I had passed by Edward James getting fully inibriated at the bar with Mickey over-seeing. I bade him good night and went to my own quarters for the remainder of the dark where I caught up on some over due paperwork, checked emails, and even wrote a letter for the post the next day. It was quite an oridnary evening for me, yet I did not sense when Veronica passed through the veil, and I should have. Even more disturbing was the worried look Mickey gave me in my chambers upon rising the next evening he had come to rouse me and had been unable to do so. Unlike in the movies, when the coffin lid is raised, we vampires are aware and if we do not move (especially when a wooden steak is heading towards our heart) it is by our own choice. Before Mickey told me the sad news I felt something was wrong in the house, I just could not touch upon what it was, and to make matters worse, Mickey had to tell the police I would be home come seven o'clock.

That was all I needed: the police asking me questions.

Usually I can avoid being querried about where I work or what I do beyond owning the inn and entertaining my guests. Still, there are moments when my absence must be explained during the day. This time I used the excuse I was out looking for some period antiques for the inn. Luckily I had a contact in Louisville who would back up my story. (Mickey had already emailed Frovey of the need for a cover.)

The detective who arrived prompty at 8:45 in the evening (he was supposed to have been there by 7:30) was a square fellow by the name of John Needers. According to the local papers he was a hometown boy who had done good. The only problem was he couldn't detect his way out of a paper bag and had probably gotten his appointment by knowing someone who knew someone (or knowing something on someone in power). Richmond, Kentucky was indeed a small town and had small town politics. Lucky for me Needers' mind wasn't complicated and easy to read and - sadly - manipulate. John Needers was bull headed but not strong willed, and privy to all kinds of restricted, official information, such as the wounds on Veronica's neck were just pin pricks and were made in a rosette.

A Gray Day, Outside and In

It is gray outside. Rain drips and sometimes there is a very wet mist that falls from the sky. There just isn't any way to get around the gray. It is over every inch of outside and is creeping its cold fingers into my joints and making me feel as if I was in a car wreck yesterday, which means I am suffering from it today. Things could be better, yes; but things could be horribly worse as far as my physical state goes. This means, long and short of it, I will take today for what it is and let the possibility of things being worse go somewhere else. No use putting negative energy into my body and brain. I will take the day's pains and I will find something good from it, although writing, for today, is out. It is quite difficult to type and I am making tons of mistakes, which means I will just take my meds and let the day progress and tomorrow things will be better, or, at least no worse than today. Today is a gray day, outside and in.

An Interesting Writing Prompt

In wandering through my email today I came across the Writer's Digest writing prompt. It made me stop, re-read it a couple of times, and get this big goofy grin on my face. Although I haven't done it yet, I believe I will. In the meantime, here it is for your inspection. If you write something on this I would love to see it, and post it here.

You’re out with some old friends and they’re all rehashing amusing holiday stories. You tell them that you have one to top them all. In telling your story, there are two rules: Your story must begin with, “I remember that Thanksgiving like it was yesterday” and must end with, “And that’s how (fill in the blank) got stuck inside the turkey.”

Cell, by Stephen King

I just looove zombies. Can you tell there is a lot of sarcasm here? Yes, there is if you were in doubt. Zombies give me the creeps. I don't watch zombie movies, I don't listen to Rob Zombie, and if I have my druthers you can all go watch the zombie movie and I will stay home and knit or crochet or play video games. AND I do not play zombie killing video games either (unless it is in Champions of Norath or something of that nature). Despite detesting zombies (*shudder*) I dearly love Stephen King and, because Stephen King wrote it I will read it. And, last night, I finished reading Cell. Cell is Stephen King's zombie story.

There wasn't any doubt from the very beginning this was a zombie novel. Mr. King is quite a polite soul and lets you know right away it is about zombies because he dedicates his book "For Richard Matheson and George Romero." If you ever see the name "George Romero" in something you can just bet it is about zombies.

The premise in the novel is that someone from somewhere sends a pulse out via satellite and everyone who has a cell phone and is on it at that time, or after, well, they become zombies. Our hero, Clay Riddell, is a comic artist on his way back from the most wondrous of meetings. It was a meeting where he sold his first graphic novel. All is right with his world. Then it isn't. This point was most poignant for me because, well, I could see this being me. My first novel being sold! I am officially an established writer (almost). My career has begun, and then zombies have to screw it all up.

Even though we never know who the someone was who sent out the pulse, it doesn't matter by the end of the first day. People, normal, happy, kind people are ripping ears off of dogs, killing people, and just angry beyond belief and killing. They are killing everyone that is not like them. Soon the world becomes boiled down to Phoners (the zombies) and "normies", those not zombies.

The characters are alive and vivid. I know these people, these "normies." I can spot these people on the street even if don't know them. It is every day real life that gets turned upside down. In many of King's novels, there is always a small group of people who must fight the bad things that go bump in the night, and except for The Stand I can't remember a Stephen King novel where the world was brought to its knees. This isn't The Stand. This is something that frightened me on a deep level, that level I don't want to think about because...I have a cell phone and I use it daily. It frightened me because I don't want to see my neighbors turning on their children and knowing that if the children can't run away they are going to die. It frightened me because, even though it is far fetched, it is possible. Or, at least my brain says it is possible.

Clay Riddell and his friends are just surviving. They are making it through one day at a time. They are alive. They are normal, and they decide to fight back. Fighting back gets them in trouble because you then see the zombies aren't like the zombies of the novels and movies. They are scary, telepathic and, crazy.

I don't want to give away too much about this book, but if there is a Stephen King fan on your Christmas list, you can't go wrong by getting them this book for Christmas.

Integrity

Living in this day and age you sometimes wonder if integrity still exists. Recently I was shown it does, and it does in wonderful ways. A dear Driver for Wheels returned a check to me he had not placed in the till and wanted to make sure I had it in order to void it. I was sick as a dog when he came by, but he was a wonderfully honest. Integrity is not dead. It is quite strong in some people. I needed to know that.

Integrity

Living in this day and age you sometimes wonder if integrity still exists. Recently I was shown it does, and it does in wonderful ways. A dear Driver for Wheels returned a check to me he had not placed in the till and wanted to make sure I had it in order to void it. I was sick as a dog when he came by, but he was a wonderfully honest. Integrity is not dead. It is quite strong in some people. I needed to know that.

This is just a test

Strange things are happening on Blogger. Can't post. Confused. Did this work?

I just want to say....

GOD BLESS ALL THE SOLDIERS. PAST. PRESENT. FUTURE. GOD BLESS YOU!

Fridays and Mondays

Click on the title above to see the full difference between Fridays and Mondays. I think it sums everything up quite nicely. In case that doesn't work just CLICK HERE and see for yourself.

Let's Start Today Off with Music

This kid can play!

Pink's new video - don't know why I really like this one but I do.

Have you ever noticed...

...when you really need to be healthy and clear-headed you end up getting sick? Usually it isn't one of those "little" sicknesses either, like, oh a two hour something or you just kind of don't feel well, but those "O my goodness golly I am sick!" feelings. Yeah, I have that right now. It started yesterday and has continued straight through today. It is my hope, wish, and prayer that tomorrow I will feel more normal and can get back working well on Project I which is progressing nicely so far. At least I took the weekend off and it has done quite well to be off. So now I am hoping with Monday, I can work in peace and get everything moving the way it needs to move, or rather, keep it moving the way it is.

One good thing about today has been that I have slept a lot so hopefully my body will have enough energy to get over this last little step of the illness. Tomorrow my dear, sick hubby is going back to work, and so should I, no matter how much the bed tempts me with its warmth and cozy dogs to snuggle with.

For now, I go back to bed and hope for a healthier day tomorrow.

Heard This the Other Day and Enjoyed It

This really made me smile the other day.

And who says Justin Timberlake can't do something?

I'm Back, Baby!

It has been forever since I have been able to update The News or do anything majorly creative with the internet. Now I am no longer from the internet and The News will be updated regularly again.

First things first: I have not forgotten "The Sleepy Hollow Inn" and it will be the first thing posted on Monday or Tuesday at the very latest.

Other things next: Since everything is still jumbled there isn't going to be an actually day for anything to be set on. So, just just have to keep checking to see when things are going to be up and what they are.

I have missed you all!

Much to Tell Much to Do

How can I possibly explain all of the cool things I have been discovering while do the writing thing of late? I mean, I have discovered that when you are seriously hungry and the words are flowing you can actually eat granola bars and things of this nature without having to actually stop the writing process. I have also discovered that each and every time you get to a very good or difficult part, your youngest dog must always, and I mean ALWAYS go outside just at that particular moment, and, about the time you get back into the necessary frame of mind you need said four-legged adorable critter must come inside so as not to miss the next moment this needs to occur. Yes, pets do help, even in their hinderances sometimes. Go figure.

So, yes, the absence has been quite productive, although I miss having a daily update here and posting of "The Sleepy Hollow Inn" and other nice things. Soon, though, everything will be close to being back to some semblance of normal. I just can't give you an exact date as to when it will be. Yeah, that's life. You know it is going to happen but you sometimes have no clue when it is going to actually take place. Plans. Pft. They really do attract monkeys with wrenches as a dear friend of mine says.

Hmmmmmm

Your Wrath Quotient: 82%

You have the makings of a very evil dictator. If you don't want to go that route, you should consider anger management!

How Much Wrath Do You Have?

A Deep Shock

Have you ever truly considered just how short and unexpected life really is? My niece, Cathy, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, October 10th. She was in her thirties and had finally gotten hold of her life. I don't feel as if it was unfair for her to die. It is just a big shock. She was living her life and loving it; she was discovering new things about herself and others and time was before her. She dropped, collapsed at her parents' home and never regained consciousness. Life is fleeting, Dear Readers. It truly is.

Alexandre Dumas says...

"A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself."


– Alexandre Dumas

Safety Deposit

Joseph Adams carefully lay down the package he had been carrying for the past twenty blocks onto the old kitchen table that had come down to him from countless generations through just as many countries and continents. Joseph let out a long, tired sigh. It was small, but it was heavy.

Joseph leaned back slowly and felt his back creak and crack loudly. Some tight muscle in the depths of his broad back relaxed. Part of him really wanted to forget about the entire business, but he had promised his mother and he wasn't going to go back on it now. You just don't go back on promises made to the dying, especially if it was your mother.

With another heavy sigh, Joseph pulled out a chair and slid his broad frame into it. He pulled the package wrapped in simple brown paper that had come from his mother's private box at the bank to him. Light brown twine had the paper tied onto the item it was hiding. Had his mother tied the paper so tightly? It was carefully done. The twine was equidistant in spaces and the knots were well-practiced butcher's knots. Emily Adams had worked at his father's side in the butcher shop for years.

"Don't leave him in that box, Joey," his mother had whispered. "Take him home. It's time for him to go home. Tell him I'm sorry."

There was a part of Joseph that didn't want to open the package. There was a part of him that was certain he should have left it in the safety deposit box. There was also this little nagging voice in the back of his head telling him he could take it back and not open it, forget it even existed and when he was an old old man he could go back and open it and he still wouldn't be lying to his mom.

"But that isn't what you promised her," Joseph muttered out loud into the still apartment.

Reservedly Joseph reached over to the counter (the kitchen wasn't that large, just ordered and organized) and retrieved a knife. Joseph cut each piece of twine without truly trying to think. Next came the brown paper. It was wrapped around the thing four times and tucked down onto the top and bottom. When it was exposed, Joseph took in a sharp breath through his teeth.

The red stone was just as he remembered. It held the figure of a young man in his late teens. His hair was pulled back into a long ponytail and his face was a mask of anger, hurt and defiance. The kilt he wore looked as if it was blowing in a gale, exposing some thigh, but not too much.

Joseph took the stone and placed it in the center of the doorway of the kitchen, knelt and kissed the top of its head.

A glow of brilliant yellow, like sunshine cascaded down over the statue and then back up again. Little by little it grew until a full grown fellow of rippling muscles, bracers, and a sword was almost wedged into the doorway. Slowly he moved. He relaxed and then, carefully stood. He spoke in the Old Tongue and was asking where Elvera was. Joseph felt his throat tighten. How was he going to tell Olf their mother was dead?

Joseph reached into his pocket and tossed a small stone to Olf, who caught it remarkably quickly despite having been exiled for almost a thousand years in stone.

"Where is Elvera-mother? Why isn't she here?" Olf turned and looked about him, then turned slowly, taking in the wonders. "What year is it?"

"Mother is dead. She died two days ago. It is October 31st, 2006."

"Two thousand and six?" Joseph nodded.

"Do we yet rule?" Joseph shook his head slowly. "Then why have I been released?"

"Because Mother wanted you to come home and begin the line again."

"She wishes me to conquer?" Joseph nodded. Elvera hadn't really said that of course, but that is what she would want. It was time for the Old Ways and the Old Ones to return. The Twenty-first Century was quite boring with its unending wars and its pauses into almost peace without truly attaining it. Joseph felt it was time for Olf to have his chance at bringing back the Old Ways.

Olf laughed then, long and loud. Joseph hadn't heard a laugh like that for centuries.

"Let Ragnarok begin!" Olf laughed. "Let it begin!"

"How?" Joseph asked softly.

"Don't you know, brother?" Joseph shook his head. "We kill Odin and then we go through each tribe and kill their leader, and then all fight and all die, except for those who do not die." Olf flashed his brilliant smile. "It is time the Isles return to their rightful place. Where is Arthur?"

Joseph slipped passed Olf carefully and walked to the other bedroom. He pushed open the door. Arthur had truly fallen from his greatness. There he lay with a whiskey bottle in his hand and a nudy magazine spread open on his chest. Instead of the sleek warrior there was now a pot belly and several months of beard growth upon his face.

"The might Arthur has indeed fallen," Olf said, suddenly beside him. Olf jumped, still very much the warrior, and landed squarely upon the snoring Arthur. He pommeled Arthur playfully, if somewhat roughly until he awoke. Odd how alliances were made and broken and reformed. It was even more odd how things worked out for themselves without too much interference from Mrrlyn. How would Mrrlyn react to all of this, Joseph suddenly wondered.

"Lancelot! Let's go get some food!" Olf rolled from Arthur who was laughing loudly and so hard his belly was jiggling. How long it had been since Joseph had heard himself called by that name.

"Alright, Mordred, let's go, but not like that. People don't dress like that any more, unless for special events."

News of Vitas

According to the website, fans are being asked to request his music through MTV, Music Box, and other places. For myself, I am going to do just that. To check out his music go to his site http://vitas.com.ru/klip_eng.htm and check out the videos there. This is one time when I really wish I could read Russian!

The Sun Shines Brightly...

Sitting inside the library looking out at the bright sunshine and typing an entry for here makes me smile deep down inside even if I am not so much smiling on the outside.

Have finally arranged for rides to the library for three days a week. In that span of time I should be able to update quite a bit if everything goes well. And, honestly, I am working very hard at making everything go well.

Still, to say I "miss" the internet connection at my house is something that is beyond unbelievable and truly unexpressable to me. This is one of my greatest avenues of information and, yes, I miss it. I hurt for it almost, like a long lost lover's touch. I miss it as much...almost as much, as if I had run out of ink (which isn't going to happen for quite some time because of the bottles I currently have). Running out of ink would be horribly bad. Just as painful as if I had run out of paper.

But there sun is out today. It is shining right out that window about 100 feet away from me and it is wonderful. It is warm. It is that perfect autumn day you hear it sung about, read about...right out there. So what am I going to do? I am going to take my pen and notebooks and secure myself a lovely table by one of those windows and I am going to write. I am going to write without fear and without care, and I am going to enjoy the sunshine with as much glee as a giddy schoolgirl with her first crush!

Tomorrow I will be back with stories and poetry. Tomorrow there will be more to post beside just thoughts and ramblings of a sad, stressed out woman.

I Live

'Tis your Editor here. Can you believe it?! I am finally on-line, albeit at the local downtown library, but, seriously, you can't keep a good Editor and writer down for any length of time.

Quick bits o news:

I have the next installment of "The Sleepy Hollow Inn" and cannot use the local CPU to put it into the system or I would do so this very moment! It is good, my friends and readers, beyond good! If all else fails I will send my beloved disk with such wonderful info upon it to work with Hubby and have Hubby email to Cheyenne who can then post it for your apt reading amusement. One of the really interesting things about the story is that I am currently unable to figure out the end or even the bad guy yet, and I am doing the editing! M. Davenport makes sure to send only the most necessary of sections which makes me (yes, we know) chomp at the bit because I want to know what happens! Now!

My own writing progresses. I am going to be using the time spent here at the library past the internet hour (blast that little ticking clock that keeps counting down on me from above the screen!) and do even more writing. The plan is still working. One day I write on Project A and the next day I write on Project B. Repeat. Saturday is a free writing day meaning I write on whatever pops into my head if I have time and Sunday, well, Sunday just isn't a writing day.

Since I have a ride to town tomorrow, I shall update more!

Miss you muchly!
Me