Monday Moment Musings

No Dancing With The Stars. Withdrawal issues I have. I wonder if my Blue Bell Ice Cream will taste as good without Tom Bergeron's witty words between dances?

Hmm. What to do on a Monday? Where are my sequins and paso doble?

*Sigh*

To reality, tonight was one of those wishful moments to have a man 24/7. Yep, for those really important tasks-killing ugly, gi-normous bugs and to haul the trash to the curb. It's a bit chilly outside. So to carry it from the back to the front-wasn't feeling the joy of home ownership. Plus I had an extra bag or two, since trash didn't get picked up last Friday.

Then a local, best selling author gave me feedback of one of my short stories. She liked it and said it reminded her of a particular author. THRILLED I am--even tho I had NO clue who the author she spoke of was. Ahh..the internet being all knowing and powerful gave me info and now I feel like the unknown author and have already shared coffee. So over to Half Price Books I go--nada. Then across the street to Barnes and Noble

EEKS. I looked at 10 of her more than that novels. Five of them where like the short story I sent the local, best selling author. I wanted all 5, yet 70 bucks didn't want to escape my slim to none bank account. Then I remembered--on this author's site, I could print off a few chapters for FREE.

I am glad the trash now sits on the curb. So very glad of the compliment my writing received. Yet still sad there's no Len or Bruno and no-No Lift Carrie and Dancing With the Stars.

Oh well. Let's just see how the good Blue Bell Ice Cream still tastes...*

And Wrap

Drank my water.

Talked myself into NOT adopting a puppy dog. Yet got info to volunteer for the puppy dog rescue during adoption days.

Ate pumpkin pie. Now tired of pumpkin.

Pondered the thought of writing a brand new story, instead of re-visiting an already written short story. What I oughta do is sit down and just write another book.

In the meantime, I wrap up this Saturday with a big bow and send it off to memory land, for it is about done.

A good day had by all.

Thursday and Almost

Friday.

Call me vain. I like my new profile photo. Always hated getting my picture snapped due to forever having a crooked mouth. That was due to being born with microtia (one ear) and missing some bone and such on the left side of my face. And then when I had the stroke that wasn't a stroke, right before I had the little open-heart surgery adventure-the side of my mouth drooped some. Still kinda does. Paranoid, at times, I am about it.

Then I see my profile pic. I look happy in this photo. As I am flat broke. 100 cats (well, not really). Wish for a new, and better house buying experience--or maybe I just want a clean house? Or a wish for a written and finished finished novel by ME. And a business to call my own. And to tickle a cute kitty's tummy. All good.

And in new profile photo I appear like I have all that and more.

Yep. Call me vain. I like it.

I am blessed.

September 29, 1998 was Tuesday

...and I was out with a guy at a sports bar. I'd brought him a baked potato from Jason's Deli because the sports bar only served peanuts. We'd just had this phone chat how we wanted to know each other better. How he thought I was attractive. I'd recently decided to be more open and let the last two relationship slip out my memory banks---One was a married man and the other became a crossdresser. Yes, another post for another time. And the Texas Rangers were in the play offs for the first time in about ever.

It was also the time I first met Bear. He told how I intrigued him and bought me a couple drinks. I tried to eat my potato from Jason's Deli as I wondered how one man could hit on me while I was supposedly there to be with another. I guess, cause the man I was there to be supposedly with felt his buds were more interesting to talk to than me. Used me for the Jason's Deli potato, I'm sure! Bear did ask for my number, yet I hum and ha'd. Let me just say, we had our first (and kinda last date) 10 days later. OK, all that's another post too.

However, that main reason Bear and I began to chat was because of my book. Yes, you read right. My book. I'd self published and on this day, in 1998, I'd received my first shipment of 30 books. The publisher had made a a mistake and duplicated a couple pages and asked me what I wanted to do. One option was to still take delivery of these 30, while they worked on rest of my order. You see, my goal was to have my books by this date in 1998, because it was the anniversary of my mom's death. The book is primarily the story of a mother-daughter relationship. This book was a tribute to her.

Self publishing my book was an adventure in itself. The internet was far from what it is now. All samples I received from publishers was done through snail mail. Did I get rich? Did Hollywood come callin'? Did I get Whoopi Goldberg to play the mom--in fact, I thought of her playing BOTH parts, then I thought Queen Latifah could be the daughter...anyway, those dreams still float in my head today.

September 29, 1998 was one of those days you remember and still smile about.

Now, on this day in 2009, I've rediscovered my love for writing. Because of my book and the happenings after it, I didn't write anything but e-mail for three years. Felt like a failure. God sends me to Habakkuk 2:2 many times. He's shown me what words can do, even tho at times I may be hesitant to write them.

Stay tuned.

Write Time

Jaunt to my writers' group today. We call our group: Honor the Words, which came from the fiction workshop at a community college we all attended at the same time. Not knowing each other. Our instructor informed us when all is said and done, all we have left are words, so we must honor them.

Once the the class ended, a few of us wanted to stay in contact and continue writing. So our Honor the Words group was born! Our success has been minimal, yet we have experienced some. No JK Rowling or Dan Brown success among us---yet. However, one of the member's work is in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins. We're all very proud of her. Alas, for whatever reason, excuse, we're not writing as we should. We are not following Habakkuk 2:2 as we should. In that sense, a cloud of frustration drapes us.

Although, there is always a ray of sunshine in everything. In our case, it is our senior member who is a year or two from 80 years young. Feisty woman who holds a PhD and has done just about everything except jump from a plane. Devout Catholic who switched from the Republican Party to Democrat. In fact she's the one who gave me the Elect Obama signs for my yard! Our member has been hooked in an adventure with with Stage 4 breast cancer since early this year. When you watch and remain in her presence, you realize how you wanna be when you grow up.

So yea, I'm not happy about my writing endeavors of late. However, I am happy of the endeavor God has put into me for Honor the Words.

I am blessed.

Sunday Moments

Had a couple 'a-ha' moments over the weekend.

First was the untimely passing of my favorite author, E. Lynn Harris at age 54. In 1991, he self published his first novel, while he lived and worked here in Dallas. The rest is history. When even E Lynn would make a book signing stop in Dallas--I was there. He's joked at one signing how he hated the fact he couldn't buy Orange Crush soda in where lived--it may have been Atlanta or New York--I can't remember which. Nonetheless, I found a six bottle carton of Orange Crush and took it to E Lynn's signing the next day. He may not have known my name, but he knew I was the Orange Crush Girl.

Last saw E Lynn was Summer 2008. Informed E Lynn his writing style was the most I wanted to emulate--because it made me turn the pages. After E Lynn thanked me, he asked, "So is your own writing doing?" He stared right though me--no excuse was good enough. There still isn't a good enough excuse. How IS my writing? A-ha moment indeed.

When you speak with someone once loved with all your heart. Spoke marriage once upon a time. Today was the first time we spoke--through our mouths and not text messages. Like receiving a root canal without numbing of the gums. It proved that season is so long gone. Yet another season could always sprout--just takes two to plant and water the seed. A-ha moment indeed.

And weight loss. I'd blogged I'd lost 70 pounds and kept it off for quite while. Then house hunt/purchase and job topsy turvy-ness happened first quarter of 2008 and became my excuse for alot of Tombstone pizzas. I tried to psyche myself out by not putting all my weight on the scale. But I knew. Two months ago, I finally joined the senior rec center in town and got back to how I was fed in the hospital, before and after my open heart surgery. Given alot of food, but lost weight. Fruits and veggies at every meal. Sometimes a couple helpings of both--different items tho. So I knew I ate alot, yet what I ate was good for me--and finally, FINALLY my scale some change. Still a ways to go--however I can tell a difference when I look in the mirror. The exercise helped. No more snacking M & M's when I'm bored. Just a few spoonfuls of Blue Bell ice cream instead of the whole pint--at one sitting. Now I have better nights' sleep, not so much bone creaking--feel better all around. Next month, I'll sign up for aerobics at the center. Is a handful of strawberries as much fun as a handful of onion rings? Of course not--but if you plan just right--you can have both! That's an 'a-ha' moment in itself!

So on this Sunday--gotta do a few more resume send outs, so I can veg the rest of the night.

He didn't bring me this far to leave me. I am blessed.

Sunday Slow Down...

Almost 6pm. 100 Degrees. Just finished a spur of the moment “Let’s Eat” at Chili's with a chum of mine, the CPA. She’s not quite the CPA, yet soon will be. Says she’s gets into balancing her checkbook to zero. Oh, really? Balance checkbooks? Wow—now ain’t that novelty? Good chat. To think this is the same girl who, and another co-worker thought it humorous to put Anbesol on my water jug. I didn’t realize their felony. My lips numbed. I thought I had a stroke symptom not heard before. Yes, I let her live. She’s quite my Little Sister in Christ now. And she’s gonna have a cow when she reads this…..oh well! :)

Other Sunday thoughts-I visited the Inspiring Body of Christ Church today. Even though, I love my church, I visit a few times a year—especially on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Pastor Rickie Rush spoke from Galatians 6:1-7. How we, as Christians. restore each other. That we should not tire of those coming to us for advice and/or to just need us to listen. These folks are drawn to us, yet we better not think we’re all that because they do. For me personally, I’ve realized younger women come to me, because I ‘tell it like it is’ and I become their other mother. I 've not given birth, yet I have about a dozen kids. It’s a role I’m getting use to. Sometimes, it’s a role I’m not sure I quite like. After today’s lesson, I learned it’s really not my say. All in all, Pastor Rush’s sermon hit where I live. I even told him so after service. An added bonus was seeing a friend as a choir member-which for the past few months has been all male. A good (and handsome) 150 voices strong. I didn’t know my friend had joined the choir—nice surprise to see him amongst those who sang Zion's song.

The storms we go though to get where we need to go. For me, I ponder about my writing. I self published a book in 1998. Not written another book since. I even sent a copy, with rose potpourri in the envelope, to Oprah. Never heard back. :) I’ve written a few fiction short stories and some articles. Some even published. Yet not another book. I’ve started a book re-do a time or three, on that self published book. It’s been suggested I consider public speaking, because of the book—being about a motherless daughter who wonder, ‘what if….” Also of being a play write. I wrote a one act play which I’m told needs to be longer. I realize God has blessed me with a gift. It’s up to me if I choose to use it. Habakkuk 2:2 is my mantra. I’d put it here, yet that would be too easy. Take a minute to look it up—especially if you aspire to write.

Sunday thoughts--God is in my house every day. Feels good to go to His.