Anne Carter's Blog, page 12

The DeClutterization of Me

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about clutter and its effect on peoples' lives. In a more perfect world, my house would be model-home sparse and dust-free. Two of my best pals are white-glovers (and TG & KH, you know I love you to death;) neither of them can stand to have one iota of extra-anything in their homes. Both routinely purge their rooms of superfluous items. So enamored was I with TG's clean, organized pantry, I took photos of it when she wasn't around. I look at those photos now and then, my own private kitchen porn (see below!)

TG's kitchen cabinet

While I wouldn't exactly qualify for "Hoarders," I do tend to collect stuff beyond what I should. Paperwork is a tough one for me. I keep papers for both practical and sentimental reasons. I still have my very first tax return from when I was like 18. Bank statements and credit card bills from decades ago. I'm sorry, it's true.

So I've been doing a little purging myself. It's slow-and-go, but I'm working through it. It hurts at first, throwing stuff away or bagging it up for charity. Yet I now recognize the joy, the feeling of lightness, of un-encumbered-ness, of not-really-missing-it-ism. I'm learning that the world won't come to a standstill, throwing the population off its sides, if I let go of stuff.

I had to figure out what was standing in my way. I did identify some issues I had that were clogging up the process!  So, I've decided that:

I don't have to place a monetary value on things I get rid of, feeling the guilt of money I could have reaped if I'd taken time to eBay them;
I don't have to make a detailed list for my tax return;
I don't have to consider what the best charity for each item will be, running all over town to drop books at the library "friends," the clothing for the thrift shop, the magazines for the seniors, etc. I can trust one fine non-profit or charity to make those decisions;
I don't have to keep every receipt; the likelihood of my needing to know what that lawnmower cost back in 1982 is pretty slim; don't even get me started about warranties;
I don't have to save every birthday card, every crayon drawing, or twenty-two mini-wallet-sized school photos of my sons; one of each will do.

And that's just a start. This week, I will tackle the under-sink cabinet in the guest bath, where now resides an old lava lamp, a nebulizer that belonged to my dad (who passed away 15 years ago), some near-empty bottles of liquid soap, a rarely used vaporizer I bought around 12 years ago (still in the box!) and Lord knows what else is down there. Putting on the rubber gloves and blinders…wish me luck!

 

 

Let the “Race” Begin!

Today I renewed my vow to raise a bunch of money for the American Cancer Society. I’m ready to hit the ground running! Team Check ‘Em Out is poised to break our record this year by building our team, trying new ways to fundraise, restaurant nights, dessert sales, percentage donations, and good old fashioned bowling-alley-panhandling! Hey, we’re not proud!

Well, actually, we are. We have a great team of dedicated, passionate and motivated members, each with a personal reason to fight this horrendous disease. Sadly, our Reasons to Relay still grow with each coming year, but we remain confident that our efforts will be rewarded someday.

Planning will soon begin for our SIXTH ANNUAL wine tasting,

POP A CORK FOR A CURE!

This awesome event will be held in early May, date TBD — but you can bet we’ll let you know. In the meantime, I’m humbly accepting donations at my Relay page. Donations of $100 or more will get you an autographed copy of my latest book–but I’d take just your Starbuck’s money for a couple of weeks, too!

Who’s with me?

Let the "Race" Begin!

Today I renewed my vow to raise a bunch of money for the American Cancer Society. I'm ready to hit the ground running! Team Check 'Em Out is poised to break our record this year by building our team, trying new ways to fundraise, restaurant nights, dessert sales, percentage donations, and good old fashioned bowling-alley-panhandling! Hey, we're not proud!

Well, actually, we are. We have a great team of dedicated, passionate and motivated members, each with a personal reason to fight this horrendous disease. Sadly, our Reasons to Relay still grow with each coming year, but we remain confident that our efforts will be rewarded someday.

Planning will soon begin for our SIXTH ANNUAL wine tasting,

POP A CORK FOR A CURE!

This awesome event will be held in early May, date TBD — but you can bet we'll let you know. In the meantime, I'm humbly accepting donations at my Relay page. Donations of $100 or more will get you an autographed copy of my latest book–but I'd take just your Starbuck's money for a couple of weeks, too!

Who's with me?

2012 Special Offer – Circle of Hope

Some of you know that besides my passion for serving education through the SCV Education Foundation and supporting the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life, I also serve of the board of Circle of Hope, Inc., a tireless group of warriors who support local breast cancer patients. One tiny way I can help is by donating a portion of my book proceeds to this worthwhile non-profit organization. So from every copy of CAPE SEDUCTION purchased through this website, I'm passing along $3.00 to Circle of Hope.  Just click HERE to take advantage of this special offer. More about…

Circle of Hope, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit breast cancer organization located in Santa Clarita Valley, California.  We are dedicated to making a difference today, for a brighter future tomorrow. Circle of Hope is the only breast cancer organization in the Santa Clarita Valley that provides financial, emotional, and educational support services for uninsured and underinsured individuals with breast cancer, their families, and the local community. We have helped over 130 clients to date, issuing over $100,000 in financial support.

I'm happy to be a part of the Circle of Hope family. I hope you will take advantage of this offer–and don't worry, CAPE SEDUCTION is worth a read even without the donation!

Thank you for your support.

Another New Year

How was 2011?

As they say in the market, it was rather "flat." That being, some good, some bad, all balances out. Certainly business for Valdata Services declined as I saw three clients close their doors, one being my largest long-term customer. Sad, indeed, and I will miss these great people I interacted with on a daily basis. I wish them all much success (and stability) in the coming year.

Another downer was my inability to get any writing done; that is, if you don't count the nineteen essays I wrote for school. After a negative experience with a neurotic and overtly rude correspondent, I lost some ambition which is finally beginning to return.

I probably gained 13 pounds this year, and my school obligations discouraged me from getting to the gym, which I subtly abandoned in August. (They actually called to see where I was!)

On the upside, school was great and I'm 9 units away from my degree. The tutoring job I took at the college was rewarding and enlightening. I met lots of wonderful people this year, writers, teachers, high school alumnus, cancer warriors, mountain dwellers, and a few brave souls still working in escrow. I moved to Android this year, and my 6 year old Highlander is still running like new. My brother survived a life-threatening illness. My sons are both working, my grandson is happy and healthy, my daughter is a beautiful, talented and resourceful teen, and my husband realized his dream of building a mountain home. I am incredibly blessed and thankful.

What for 2012?

I have plans, nothing earth-shattering. I need to get back to the Y. I'll return to my tutoring job in the spring, along with taking 6 units. I'll complete at least one novel—hopefully the third lighthouse mystery set in Los Angeles. I'm going to try to re-release a couple of my backlist novels soon. Will continue to work with both the SCV Education Foundation and the Circle of Hope*. I hope to do some public presentations similar to one I did on California lighthouses for the library this past January. Three more units in the fall will finish my degree in English.

I also want to cook more,and visit more. Friends. People I keep saying I want to see but never do. And amidst all this activity, I want to stay calm, and healthy, and grateful.

 

 

 

*PS – See one way I'm supporting the Circle of Hope here!

Protected: Lennon: The Little Child Inside the Man

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

A Year in the Garden of Hope

[image error]

That's the theme for this year's Circle of Hope Afternoon Tea and Champagne Reception, being held tomorrow, October 15, 2011. This is my first time going, and I can't wait. Picking up my pal Kath and heading out to a "luxury Sand Canyon estate" where we'll be escorted to our delightfully decorated "Vine to Wine" tea table with eight other guests –and thirty other tables. (Then what do we do? Sip tea whilst holding out our pinkies? Chat with the bourgeoisie? Fiddle with our pearls, smile and nod knowingly?)

All silliness aside, I am thrilled to be a part of this 8th annual event benefiting breast cancer patients of the Santa Clarita Valley. The weather has been ordered up special, too.

Besides sponsoring a table (mine this year is "Snowy Night"), I am donating copies of my first lighthouse mystery, POINT SURRENDER, to all attendees. I'm happy to do it. And should any of my new 300+ fans wish to buy CAPE SEDUCTION, I'm passing along $3.00 from their purchase to Circle of Hope. In fact, I'll make that deal to anyone who happens along here between now and year end. Just click HERE to take advantage of this special offer. (Sounding a little like a TV commercial!)

Breast Cancer Awareness

[image error]It's Breast Cancer Awareness month.

What does that mean, exactly? It's the time of the year when we

renew our commitment to detecting—and fighting—breast cancer;
review the latest information on how to help ourselves stay cancer-free;
remember those who are working through recovery, and those who lost their battle;
support those who work hard to research, to heal and to help those affected by breast cancer.

 

Did you know that >one in 100 breast cancer patients are men?

Did you know that according to the American Cancer Society, the chance for a woman to be diagnosed with breast cancer is 1 in 8?

Did you know that weight control is one way to decrease your risk?

For more information, here are some helpful links:

American Cancer Society

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Circle of Hope

If just one reader acts on this message by scheduling a mammogram, remembering a friend in need or making a donation, my time in writing it will be well spent.

Screening: Affordable and Smart

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I'm jumping the gun because this is something you'll want to get in on early.

Many of us are struggling with lesser or no insurance benefits these days. Preventive medicine is usually the first thing to go when we have to pay for it ourselves. But ladies, your mammogram is not something you should cross off your list. Seriously. I know they can be expensive. But listen up, because here's a deal you can't afford to miss:

"All Providence medical centers now offer screening mammograms at the reduced price of $100. To schedule yours, call 1-888-HEALING" says the Fall, 2011 issue of Providence Health, A Guide to Healthy Living and Quality Care. For you local gals, these centers are located in Mission Hills, Burbank and Tarzana, California.

I wish I'd know about this. For even with my limited PPO insurance with Blue Shield, my copay was way more than $100.00.

Don't put it off, or I might have to unfriend you.

 

 

9th Annual Duarte Festival of Authors!

Some of MURDER WE WROTE, 2010

I really love this event. Very casual, laid-back, beautiful park grounds setting. It was here, a couple of years back, where my author pals and I met the venerable Ray Bradbury! This year, we will be rubbing shoulders with the very popular, best-selling author of SHANGHAI GIRLS, Lisa See. I can't wait.

Just as important, I'll be meeting up with a fine group of mystery authors. Yes, MURDER WE WROTE is getting the band back together! Joel Fox, Jenny Hilborne, Gayle Carline, Jeff Sherratt and Teresa Burrell will be joining Alyssa Montgomery and I for some dark, devious planning that just might involve criminal intent. We might even sell a few books at the same time.

If you're local (or loco) and looking for a really fun afternoon with some really fun people (REALLY fun, I mean it!!) then head on out to Westminster Gardens in Duarte on Saturday, October 8th, from 10 am to 5 pm. It's free to get in, free to park, free to enjoy the fresh air. Yeah, the books cost money, but they are still one of the best entertainment values around (you can buy two of mine for the price of one night at the movies!)

More info can be found here. Come on down!