Tia Silverthorne Bach's Blog, page 104
August 28, 2011
Ready to Refocus: ROW 80 Check In
What a crazy weekend. Irene had her way with much of the East coast, but it could have been so much worse. We lost power for a bit this morning, but my sister and parents in Eastern North Carolina have been without power since yesterday morning. Best guess for restoration: Thursday night. Check out yesterday's post for more Irene musings.
Irene
After a weekend of worry, I'm happy to focus on my A Round of Words in 80 Days update.
Progress this week:
- Finished my sequel chapter. Will send to Mom once she has power for her response chapter.
- Edited 5 pages plus per day, some on sequel.
- Posted daily. So far this month I have posted 24 times. Not bad for a non-challenge month. I'm finally getting into the blog swing.
- Finished one book and almost finished another. No reviews written. :-(
Goals for upcoming week:
- Outline chapter and story ideas while await Mom's response chapter.
- Finish editing project by Friday.
- Finish second book and post two reviews. Start Kathryn Johnson's The Gentleman Poet , my book club book (due Wednesday, 9/7). I am so excited to read this. Kathryn is a local writer, and she's coming to our book club discussion.
- Sign up for SITS Girls 31 Days to Blog Better challenge.
- Complete homework for my online course, due Thursday.
My girls start school tomorrow. I will miss them but am looking forward to having more time to focus on my writing. My goal is to bust it out from 8:30-2:30 (non-kid hours) so I can focus on their needs once they are home. Wish me luck. I'm wary to assume Time will be my friend.
I hope my fellow-ROW80 pals had a great week, especially those in Irene's path. Leave a comment and let me know.
Check out ROW 80 participants here:
Irene
After a weekend of worry, I'm happy to focus on my A Round of Words in 80 Days update.
Progress this week:
- Finished my sequel chapter. Will send to Mom once she has power for her response chapter.
- Edited 5 pages plus per day, some on sequel.
- Posted daily. So far this month I have posted 24 times. Not bad for a non-challenge month. I'm finally getting into the blog swing.
- Finished one book and almost finished another. No reviews written. :-(
Goals for upcoming week:
- Outline chapter and story ideas while await Mom's response chapter.
- Finish editing project by Friday.
- Finish second book and post two reviews. Start Kathryn Johnson's The Gentleman Poet , my book club book (due Wednesday, 9/7). I am so excited to read this. Kathryn is a local writer, and she's coming to our book club discussion.
- Sign up for SITS Girls 31 Days to Blog Better challenge.
- Complete homework for my online course, due Thursday.
My girls start school tomorrow. I will miss them but am looking forward to having more time to focus on my writing. My goal is to bust it out from 8:30-2:30 (non-kid hours) so I can focus on their needs once they are home. Wish me luck. I'm wary to assume Time will be my friend.
I hope my fellow-ROW80 pals had a great week, especially those in Irene's path. Leave a comment and let me know.
Check out ROW 80 participants here:
August 27, 2011
Mother Nature, Mother Teresa & my Mother
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those in Irene's path. She's proving to be quite angry. Mother Nature has been on a roll lately. My parents and middle sister live in Chocowinity, NC on the Pamlico Sound. It's getting spanked.
Mom described their backyard today, "It looks like we are right on the ocean. I've never seen anything like it." Mom is videoing a lot of it, so I hope to share some of that later this week. I'm sure she'll have a post as well. Please keep them in your prayers.
Yesterday was Mother Teresa's birthday. She was an amazing gift to this world, full of grace and dedication. In the wake of Irene and Mother Nature, I wanted to share some Mother Teresa:
"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.Life is a dream, realize it.Life is a challenge, meet it.Life is a duty, complete it.Life is a game, play it.Life is a promise, fulfill it.Life is sorrow, overcome it.Life is a song, sing it.Life is a struggle, accept it.Life is a tragedy, confront it.Life is an adventure, dare it.Life is luck, make it."
"What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight; build it anyway."
"There's nothing more calming in difficult moments that knowing there's some one fighting with you."
My parent's backyard yesterday afternoon, just before Irene
Mom is taking pictures, and I'll post some later. I'm worried sick. My family turns to humor when we are worried or upset, so I have to share a story. I've only evacuated once with my parents. We were living in Wilmington, North Carolina and I was in high school.
It was scary. We were taping windows and glass doors and vacuuming. Yes, vacuuming. Mom decided we weren't leaving the house unless it was clean. My sisters and I were frantically cleaning and hysterically laughing. We knew we'd be on the news: "Wilmington family rescued after storm hits during their hours of cleaning." We thought they were insane.
Mom and Dad chose not to evacuate this time. I asked Mom if she was paying me back for all the teenage years by making me worry! When I checked on them this morning, Mom was cooking. "20 pounds of barbeque for pulled pork," she bragged. She has a gastop stove. She was anticipating all the people who will need to be fed when Irene finally leaves town. That's my mother in a nutshell.
She admitted the cooking was also calming her nerves. Maybe the vacuuming was intended to do the same. Guess my nerves react differently!
Again, please say prayers! Let me know if you have any loved ones in the path, and I'll send good thoughts and prayers their way as well.
Mom described their backyard today, "It looks like we are right on the ocean. I've never seen anything like it." Mom is videoing a lot of it, so I hope to share some of that later this week. I'm sure she'll have a post as well. Please keep them in your prayers.
Yesterday was Mother Teresa's birthday. She was an amazing gift to this world, full of grace and dedication. In the wake of Irene and Mother Nature, I wanted to share some Mother Teresa:
"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.Life is beauty, admire it.Life is a dream, realize it.Life is a challenge, meet it.Life is a duty, complete it.Life is a game, play it.Life is a promise, fulfill it.Life is sorrow, overcome it.Life is a song, sing it.Life is a struggle, accept it.Life is a tragedy, confront it.Life is an adventure, dare it.Life is luck, make it."
"What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight; build it anyway."
"There's nothing more calming in difficult moments that knowing there's some one fighting with you."
My parent's backyard yesterday afternoon, just before Irene
Mom is taking pictures, and I'll post some later. I'm worried sick. My family turns to humor when we are worried or upset, so I have to share a story. I've only evacuated once with my parents. We were living in Wilmington, North Carolina and I was in high school.
It was scary. We were taping windows and glass doors and vacuuming. Yes, vacuuming. Mom decided we weren't leaving the house unless it was clean. My sisters and I were frantically cleaning and hysterically laughing. We knew we'd be on the news: "Wilmington family rescued after storm hits during their hours of cleaning." We thought they were insane.
Mom and Dad chose not to evacuate this time. I asked Mom if she was paying me back for all the teenage years by making me worry! When I checked on them this morning, Mom was cooking. "20 pounds of barbeque for pulled pork," she bragged. She has a gastop stove. She was anticipating all the people who will need to be fed when Irene finally leaves town. That's my mother in a nutshell.
She admitted the cooking was also calming her nerves. Maybe the vacuuming was intended to do the same. Guess my nerves react differently!
Again, please say prayers! Let me know if you have any loved ones in the path, and I'll send good thoughts and prayers their way as well.
August 26, 2011
Money Magazine's Best Places to Live: Friday Feature
On Fridays we discuss the best thing we read this week and why. This week's best left me with mixed emotions.
Yesterday I received Money Magazine's September issue. The front cover tauted the 100 Best Places to Live in America. Inside, #1 was Louisville, Colorado and #20 Superior, Colorado.
My youngest and my parents with me in Boulder, just 15 minutes from Superior/Louisville, Colorado
My initial response was sadness. In November we left Superior, Colorado (Louisville is literally next door, and both towns share the same zip code). It was, and in so many ways still is, home. A piece of my heart will always be there.
Just today, my nine year old was talking about how much she still misses Colorado. I said it was probably time we moved on and embraced our new town. I was trying to convince both of us. "But what if my heart stays there?" she asked. I hugged her, in part needing a hug myself.
I wouldn't give up my time in Colorado, and the wonderful friends I made there, for anything. It was a blessing. I'm a huge believer in all things happening for a reason. The reason isn't clear to me right now, but I trust it.
Don't get me wrong... I'll visit as much as possible. And, yes, my heart is still there and broke a little when we left. Hearts mend, it just takes time. Another thing I know about hearts, they grow and have immeasurable capacity. Just being Mom to three kids has taught me that.
Congratulations to all my Colorado friends. I miss you!
Where are pieces of your heart?
Yesterday I received Money Magazine's September issue. The front cover tauted the 100 Best Places to Live in America. Inside, #1 was Louisville, Colorado and #20 Superior, Colorado.
My youngest and my parents with me in Boulder, just 15 minutes from Superior/Louisville, Colorado
My initial response was sadness. In November we left Superior, Colorado (Louisville is literally next door, and both towns share the same zip code). It was, and in so many ways still is, home. A piece of my heart will always be there.
Just today, my nine year old was talking about how much she still misses Colorado. I said it was probably time we moved on and embraced our new town. I was trying to convince both of us. "But what if my heart stays there?" she asked. I hugged her, in part needing a hug myself.
I wouldn't give up my time in Colorado, and the wonderful friends I made there, for anything. It was a blessing. I'm a huge believer in all things happening for a reason. The reason isn't clear to me right now, but I trust it.
Don't get me wrong... I'll visit as much as possible. And, yes, my heart is still there and broke a little when we left. Hearts mend, it just takes time. Another thing I know about hearts, they grow and have immeasurable capacity. Just being Mom to three kids has taught me that.
Congratulations to all my Colorado friends. I miss you!
Where are pieces of your heart?
August 25, 2011
Peepie Pansy's in Danger: Irene's AComin'
An earthquake this week and Irene on her way, we are all reflecting on Mother Nature these days. Today, Mom visits with a post about protecting a sweet friend in Irene's path. Enjoy!
*****
A lone pansy emerged in my yard in February. My rescue nature rushed to its aid, repotting it and lovingly watching it for the last six months. My baby, fondly named Peepie, has flourished in the summer heat and reached its long neck to embrace feedings and watering, loving delivered from my hands. It has grown up and produced babies. Just like any proud Mama, I'm puffed up all over.
This morning, I awoke fearful for Peepie. She's still so young. She's never had to brave extreme elements, having been under my keen inspection. But Irene's acomin'.
I think I'm unnerved. Yesterday Virginia experienced a 5.9 category earthquake, the strongest in over a hundred years. Tia felt it in Damascus, Maryland, and I felt it in Chocowinity, North Carolina. It's absolutely mind boggling to be on the phone hundreds of miles apart, feeling the same thing. It's incredible and unnerving. Of course, I checked on Peepie. In the fall I will release her to Mother Earth, and she will have to fend for herself. The last thing I need is a fearful pansy on my hands.
This morning our local Doppler radar shows we will have a calm before Irene visits. The islands are expecting her shortly. I've been there many times. They brace with rum, the very best rum you've ever had. My mind is wondering how much rum I have on hand. Maybe a few guests over, grilling out, a watermelon... How can I be so insensitive? Peepie's life is on the line.
I rushed into the bedroom in full-out angst, waking my husband with my concerns, "Honey, Irene's coming. I'm concerned about Peepie. She's still so small. Do you think I can set her up in our room? That woman might cause some havoc!"
Well, let me tell you, that man was insulting. Truthfully, I know not to wake up a man at 5:30AM that's hooked up to a CPAP machine and still snoring, but I couldn't help myself. Peepie's life is in danger!!!
After being asked to get a life and leave, I left, but not without a plan. Tracking Irene is a guesstimation. No one knows when she will show up. Women are like that, illusive and naughty, always keeping everyone wondering. In the last hour, she's been upgraded to a category 3 hurricane. Everyone is watching, speculating, tracking and preparing. That woman's got everyone on the run!So what's my plan? Peepie and I've decided to stick it out, plan for the worse and pray for the best. Peepie is in the guest bathroom. No need to upset Hubby. For company, I brought in Toby and Lynus, the ferns. And the guest list is completed. On my way shopping, I'll deliver the invitations. When Irene arrives, I want everything perfect. You never know what that woman will do.
*****
When's the last time you an awesome display by Mother Nature?
*****
A lone pansy emerged in my yard in February. My rescue nature rushed to its aid, repotting it and lovingly watching it for the last six months. My baby, fondly named Peepie, has flourished in the summer heat and reached its long neck to embrace feedings and watering, loving delivered from my hands. It has grown up and produced babies. Just like any proud Mama, I'm puffed up all over.
This morning, I awoke fearful for Peepie. She's still so young. She's never had to brave extreme elements, having been under my keen inspection. But Irene's acomin'. I think I'm unnerved. Yesterday Virginia experienced a 5.9 category earthquake, the strongest in over a hundred years. Tia felt it in Damascus, Maryland, and I felt it in Chocowinity, North Carolina. It's absolutely mind boggling to be on the phone hundreds of miles apart, feeling the same thing. It's incredible and unnerving. Of course, I checked on Peepie. In the fall I will release her to Mother Earth, and she will have to fend for herself. The last thing I need is a fearful pansy on my hands.
This morning our local Doppler radar shows we will have a calm before Irene visits. The islands are expecting her shortly. I've been there many times. They brace with rum, the very best rum you've ever had. My mind is wondering how much rum I have on hand. Maybe a few guests over, grilling out, a watermelon... How can I be so insensitive? Peepie's life is on the line.
I rushed into the bedroom in full-out angst, waking my husband with my concerns, "Honey, Irene's coming. I'm concerned about Peepie. She's still so small. Do you think I can set her up in our room? That woman might cause some havoc!"
Well, let me tell you, that man was insulting. Truthfully, I know not to wake up a man at 5:30AM that's hooked up to a CPAP machine and still snoring, but I couldn't help myself. Peepie's life is in danger!!!
After being asked to get a life and leave, I left, but not without a plan. Tracking Irene is a guesstimation. No one knows when she will show up. Women are like that, illusive and naughty, always keeping everyone wondering. In the last hour, she's been upgraded to a category 3 hurricane. Everyone is watching, speculating, tracking and preparing. That woman's got everyone on the run!So what's my plan? Peepie and I've decided to stick it out, plan for the worse and pray for the best. Peepie is in the guest bathroom. No need to upset Hubby. For company, I brought in Toby and Lynus, the ferns. And the guest list is completed. On my way shopping, I'll deliver the invitations. When Irene arrives, I want everything perfect. You never know what that woman will do.
*****
When's the last time you an awesome display by Mother Nature?
August 24, 2011
Wanted More, Satisfied with Less: ROW 80 Check In
I find myself in an unfamiliar state. I wanted more progress this week, but quite frankly am satisfied with less. It's the last week of summer, kids start back to school Monday. I set realistic writing and reading goals Sunday knowing this, but I assumed I'd far exceed them. I didn't, but I did enjoy the last week of summer!
I can get so caught up in work, I forget to play. Taking the time to enjoy life will only make me a better writer, and I can't create more time. I ran across two quotes this week, both by Eleanor Roosevelt (one smart lady!):
"You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give."
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."
Amen!
Progress:
- Wrote 1/2 a chapter on our sequel. Not a full chapter like a wanted, but a solid half chapter. Quality over quantity. I can handle that.
- Edited 5 pages two of the three days.
- Missed Monday posting. Wasn't inspired, and I didn't want to force it for forcing sake. This is something I'm learning. Normally I'd put up a post for the simple pleasure of marking a check next to yet another to-do. Look, Mom. No hands.
- On target to get two books read and reviewed by Sunday. Wait, I said Friday. Must have been a typo. Sunday it is.
Goals for the rest of the week:
- Finish chapter for sequel and get in edits. Send off to Mom for response chapter.
- Reviews by Sunday!
- Post daily. Focus on entertaining and inspired posts.
- Show the love to this wonderful ROW 80 community as well as other bloggers.
When is the last time you wanted more, but were simply satisfied with less?
I can get so caught up in work, I forget to play. Taking the time to enjoy life will only make me a better writer, and I can't create more time. I ran across two quotes this week, both by Eleanor Roosevelt (one smart lady!):"You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give."
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."
Amen!
Progress:
- Wrote 1/2 a chapter on our sequel. Not a full chapter like a wanted, but a solid half chapter. Quality over quantity. I can handle that.
- Edited 5 pages two of the three days.
- Missed Monday posting. Wasn't inspired, and I didn't want to force it for forcing sake. This is something I'm learning. Normally I'd put up a post for the simple pleasure of marking a check next to yet another to-do. Look, Mom. No hands.
- On target to get two books read and reviewed by Sunday. Wait, I said Friday. Must have been a typo. Sunday it is.
Goals for the rest of the week:
- Finish chapter for sequel and get in edits. Send off to Mom for response chapter.
- Reviews by Sunday!
- Post daily. Focus on entertaining and inspired posts.
- Show the love to this wonderful ROW 80 community as well as other bloggers.
When is the last time you wanted more, but were simply satisfied with less?
August 23, 2011
Appreciation is Rewarding: Tub-full Tuesday
It's Tub-full Tuesday. I must give kudos again to my husband for retrieving all my computer files (take that computer, you messed with the wrong family!), a definite tub-filler this week.
But I'm also grateful to accept The Versatile Blogger award given to Depression Cookies by Lisa at insignificant at best. I'm especially honored because Lisa's blog is so beautiful in design and content. Many thanks, Lisa. I look forward to continuing to follow you. Please stop by her blog and show some love.
The Rules of accepting the Versatile Blogger Award are:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs (contact them to let them know).
Sharing for a writer should be like breathing, right? Wrong. I can create characters and even infuse them with pieces of myself, but I find it so difficult to openly discuss Tia. I'll take on the challenge, if for no other reason than I look forward to reading what all the other bloggers below write about themselves.
1. I hate onions. Hate them. I use onion powder all the time, but one bite into an onion bigger than a grain of sand, and I will throw up. Truly. I tell waiters/waitresses that I'm allergic to make sure onions are never in a dish. It makes Mexican food difficult, sadly.
2. I'm a people-watcher, insanely curious as to why people do what they do. I love open and honest people who own who they are and detail what they do. This is especially true of my fellow mothers. Nobody has the perfect child, so let's love them anyway and be honest about it.
3. I read in the bathtub. This poses a real problem for my Kindle, so paper books will always have a special place in my house. And, yes, I have dropped them in before. They dry and look all the more loved on my shelf.
4. I love to laugh. The quickest way to my heart is a joke or funny story. If you follow it with a brownie, you are golden. Which leads me to #5.
5. I'm a sugar addict. I need to work on this, and I blame my mother. She's an amazing cook and always had baked goods on hand when I was a teenager trying to survive. Nothing says I love you like a warm cookie or brownie.
6. I suck at running, yet I run several times a week. I refuse to let running beat me, but I envy runners who glide past me with grace, dignity and speed. Every foot drop causes a ripple effect when I run. I swear I make more noise on a treadmill than anyone. But I crank up the IPod music and keep going. (confession 6.5: I like to run to good beats, anything from Black Eyed Peas to Salt N Peppa)
7. My favorite sandwich grosses people out. Ready for it... peanut butter, sliced bananas and mayo. Try it before you judge!
Okay, I survived (and anyone reading hopefully survived as well) the list. Now to the best part... recommending other bloggers. My 15, in no particular order, because I love them all:
1. Teaching What is Good
2. Putting Words to Paper
3. Punk Rock Psychic
4. WAHM Solution
5. Imp3rfect Mom
6. The Billiegram
7. Motherlogue
8. Inspired Life
9. ItsAFullNest
10. Kristen Lamb's Blog
11. BooksYALove
12. 100 Smile Challenge
13. Memoir, Writing & Life
14. Intralingo
15. Someday, When I'm Famous
I hope you'll take the time to visit these awesome, and often inspiring, blogs!
Thanks again to Lisa, her appreciation and generosity filled my tub this week.
What filled your tub this week?
But I'm also grateful to accept The Versatile Blogger award given to Depression Cookies by Lisa at insignificant at best. I'm especially honored because Lisa's blog is so beautiful in design and content. Many thanks, Lisa. I look forward to continuing to follow you. Please stop by her blog and show some love.
The Rules of accepting the Versatile Blogger Award are:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs (contact them to let them know).
Sharing for a writer should be like breathing, right? Wrong. I can create characters and even infuse them with pieces of myself, but I find it so difficult to openly discuss Tia. I'll take on the challenge, if for no other reason than I look forward to reading what all the other bloggers below write about themselves.
1. I hate onions. Hate them. I use onion powder all the time, but one bite into an onion bigger than a grain of sand, and I will throw up. Truly. I tell waiters/waitresses that I'm allergic to make sure onions are never in a dish. It makes Mexican food difficult, sadly.
2. I'm a people-watcher, insanely curious as to why people do what they do. I love open and honest people who own who they are and detail what they do. This is especially true of my fellow mothers. Nobody has the perfect child, so let's love them anyway and be honest about it.
3. I read in the bathtub. This poses a real problem for my Kindle, so paper books will always have a special place in my house. And, yes, I have dropped them in before. They dry and look all the more loved on my shelf.
4. I love to laugh. The quickest way to my heart is a joke or funny story. If you follow it with a brownie, you are golden. Which leads me to #5.
5. I'm a sugar addict. I need to work on this, and I blame my mother. She's an amazing cook and always had baked goods on hand when I was a teenager trying to survive. Nothing says I love you like a warm cookie or brownie.
6. I suck at running, yet I run several times a week. I refuse to let running beat me, but I envy runners who glide past me with grace, dignity and speed. Every foot drop causes a ripple effect when I run. I swear I make more noise on a treadmill than anyone. But I crank up the IPod music and keep going. (confession 6.5: I like to run to good beats, anything from Black Eyed Peas to Salt N Peppa)
7. My favorite sandwich grosses people out. Ready for it... peanut butter, sliced bananas and mayo. Try it before you judge!
Okay, I survived (and anyone reading hopefully survived as well) the list. Now to the best part... recommending other bloggers. My 15, in no particular order, because I love them all:
1. Teaching What is Good
2. Putting Words to Paper
3. Punk Rock Psychic
4. WAHM Solution
5. Imp3rfect Mom
6. The Billiegram
7. Motherlogue
8. Inspired Life
9. ItsAFullNest
10. Kristen Lamb's Blog
11. BooksYALove
12. 100 Smile Challenge
13. Memoir, Writing & Life
14. Intralingo
15. Someday, When I'm Famous
I hope you'll take the time to visit these awesome, and often inspiring, blogs!
Thanks again to Lisa, her appreciation and generosity filled my tub this week.
What filled your tub this week?
August 21, 2011
Lemonade: ROW 80 Check In
I came across a lovely blog recently, Jodi Rosenberg's 100 Smile Challenge Blog. It's uplifting and asks the reader to reevaluate setbacks and focus on achievements and positive thinking. Mondays are Mindset Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays are General Smile Generators, Fridays are Fabulous... just to give you an idea.
Last week I seemed to hit wall after wall, starting with the crash of my computer Tuesday. With each day, the stress was building and my shoulders were inching up closer to my ears. I kept forcing them back down, but soon would feel them rise again. Rosenberg's post yesterday about National Lemonade Day turned my week around. Her directive: Today's Simple Smile Igniter is to make lemonade.
During my six hour drive back to Maryland today, and blessed with children happy to watch movies, I kept thinking about making lemonade. Life handed me a basket full of lemons last week, and the sourness ate away at my creativity. I posted on Wednesday that I wasn't going to let it, but I did. Lesson learned, say what you mean and mean what you say!
I accomplished very little, and even had a rousing pity party about it. Actually, two. Mom guided me through the first one and my husband through the second. But today, lemonade. My husband managed to save ALL my files!! Didn't lose a thing.
No updates today. I wouldn't have much to say, although I did keep up with my blog most days. I learned a lot from my setback, so it wasn't a complete wash. And I do have all my files, so I'm ready to go.
Goals this week:
* Review the five chapters of WIP, revise as needed to fit in Mom's chapters, and write chapter six. Figure out how to integrate the three other chapters I wrote ahead (and thought I lost!).
* Blog daily.
* Finish two books by Friday and write two reviews for Mom in Love with Fiction.
* Start Dorothea Brande's Becoming a Writer. Many thanks to Tara at Two Hands and a Roadmap for recommending (and I won the book on her blog giveaway).
* Edit five pages a day.
Thanks for sticking with me through my pity party. Hope everyone else is making lemonade this week!
How do you make lemonade?
Please take a minute to check out my fellow ROW80 participants here:
Last week I seemed to hit wall after wall, starting with the crash of my computer Tuesday. With each day, the stress was building and my shoulders were inching up closer to my ears. I kept forcing them back down, but soon would feel them rise again. Rosenberg's post yesterday about National Lemonade Day turned my week around. Her directive: Today's Simple Smile Igniter is to make lemonade.
During my six hour drive back to Maryland today, and blessed with children happy to watch movies, I kept thinking about making lemonade. Life handed me a basket full of lemons last week, and the sourness ate away at my creativity. I posted on Wednesday that I wasn't going to let it, but I did. Lesson learned, say what you mean and mean what you say!I accomplished very little, and even had a rousing pity party about it. Actually, two. Mom guided me through the first one and my husband through the second. But today, lemonade. My husband managed to save ALL my files!! Didn't lose a thing.
No updates today. I wouldn't have much to say, although I did keep up with my blog most days. I learned a lot from my setback, so it wasn't a complete wash. And I do have all my files, so I'm ready to go.
Goals this week:
* Review the five chapters of WIP, revise as needed to fit in Mom's chapters, and write chapter six. Figure out how to integrate the three other chapters I wrote ahead (and thought I lost!).
* Blog daily.
* Finish two books by Friday and write two reviews for Mom in Love with Fiction.
* Start Dorothea Brande's Becoming a Writer. Many thanks to Tara at Two Hands and a Roadmap for recommending (and I won the book on her blog giveaway).
* Edit five pages a day.
Thanks for sticking with me through my pity party. Hope everyone else is making lemonade this week!
How do you make lemonade?
Please take a minute to check out my fellow ROW80 participants here:
August 20, 2011
Why I Blog
During the Ultimate Blog Challenge, Michelle Shaeffer shared many blog post ideas with participants. Since then, she's even started a Daily Blogging Ideas site. Some days it's nice to scroll down a list of topics and see which one grabs you and won't let go.
One of her ideas in July was "Why I Blog". It made me think. That's always a good thing.
My reasons for blogging:
* Exercise: Writing is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Since I began blogging on a more frequent basis, my writing has improved and the ideas flow more regularly. I wrote about this idea in a July post, Writing Fitness: Flexing your Writing Muscles.
* Community: The writing community constantly amazes me. They share and support. Plus the people who read this blog and comment help me feel part of something.
* Service: I have learned a lot and want to pass it along to readers, fellow writers, mothers, and business people. If others didn't pass along their knowledge on these topics, I'd be drowning in a sea of questions on so many fronts.
* Enjoyment: Writing a post can change my whole day. There's nothing better than writing a heartwarming story or going for a good laugh, especially when others appreciate it.
Why do you blog or follow blogs?
One of her ideas in July was "Why I Blog". It made me think. That's always a good thing.
My reasons for blogging:
* Exercise: Writing is a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Since I began blogging on a more frequent basis, my writing has improved and the ideas flow more regularly. I wrote about this idea in a July post, Writing Fitness: Flexing your Writing Muscles.
* Community: The writing community constantly amazes me. They share and support. Plus the people who read this blog and comment help me feel part of something.
* Service: I have learned a lot and want to pass it along to readers, fellow writers, mothers, and business people. If others didn't pass along their knowledge on these topics, I'd be drowning in a sea of questions on so many fronts.
* Enjoyment: Writing a post can change my whole day. There's nothing better than writing a heartwarming story or going for a good laugh, especially when others appreciate it.
Why do you blog or follow blogs?
August 18, 2011
Celebrating Bad Poetry Day
Who knew there was a special day for poets like me. Yes, August 18th is Bad Poetry Day. Mom passed on many wonderful things to me, a love of reading and writing ranking high among them. But the poetry gene missed its mark. Mom is a beautiful poet as is my cousin, Marty Silverthorne. I hope to coerce him into sharing some of his poetry here at a later date.
I attempt poetry in humor or under duress. But in honor of bad poetry, I figured I should let my poetry shine.
Patty the cat rode a train
Heading nowhere with the lame
All on a trip to find a fish
And maybe even a lovely dish.
Finding none she felt alone.
And ended up with nothing but a bone.
With much effort, and as good as it gets:
I wish I was poetically inclined
Gifted with words so intertwined
Readers couldn't help but engage
As images leapt off the page.
Wait, I'm thinking the first try is a children's book, the second a song.
Maybe my bad poetry is coming along.
A quick question... in my search for grammar accuracy, I constantly run across words or phrases with two camps of correctness. Is it leapt or leaped?
I attempt poetry in humor or under duress. But in honor of bad poetry, I figured I should let my poetry shine.
Patty the cat rode a trainHeading nowhere with the lame
All on a trip to find a fish
And maybe even a lovely dish.
Finding none she felt alone.
And ended up with nothing but a bone.
With much effort, and as good as it gets:
I wish I was poetically inclined
Gifted with words so intertwined
Readers couldn't help but engage
As images leapt off the page.
Wait, I'm thinking the first try is a children's book, the second a song.
Maybe my bad poetry is coming along.
A quick question... in my search for grammar accuracy, I constantly run across words or phrases with two camps of correctness. Is it leapt or leaped?
August 17, 2011
Setbacks: ROW 80 Check In
I have a love-hate relationship with technology. It can make my life so much easier until it doesn't. I write directly on a computer and save to Word. Beautiful, until something goes wrong. That something occurred yesterday. My computer is dead. I'm at the beach, so I won't know until Sunday if all my data is lost.
Good luck: Mom and I just printed off the first 5 chapters of our sequel to edit and discuss (Mom's a printer, I don't usually).
Bad luck: The rest is saved on my computer along with the fifty pages of editing I've done for a YA novel. Not to mention other started works. Normally I edit on paper but my printer was broken, so I edited directly on the computer. Go figure.
Please wish me luck for data retrieval. I will kiss the Best Buy guy if he can hand me a flash drive with everything!
My progress was completely stalled by yesterday's computer failure. Until then, I was grooving on the sequel. Still not tallying words, but working on plot, characters, and revisions. I posted daily until yesterday, including a review on Mom in Love with Fiction. I am fortunate to be writing this post from my mother's computer (and I thought my computer was slow!).
I'm determined not to lose anymore time to a machine, so this week I will write out my words on paper. GASP! But I will write. Editing will have to wait until I can retrieve the document. Worst case I'll have to start all over.
So this week my goal is to read, read, read in addition to 500 written words a day. I'll be posting using Mom's antiquated computer or my IPad. I have the same luck with technology that I have with plants, so let's hope I don't manage to kill any other electronics before the week is up.
A major thank you to A Round of Words in 80 Days. Without my commitment to this challenge and all the support from its participants, I would take this defeat and do nothing. I'd sit on my duff and blame Life for handing me a lemon. But not now.
Do you back up your writing immediately to a flash drive? I think I might start backing up at least once a week to avoid this fiasco in the future. Or at least for a few months until I get complacent again (hey, nothing but honesty here!). Hope all my ROW80 cohorts are doing well!
Good luck: Mom and I just printed off the first 5 chapters of our sequel to edit and discuss (Mom's a printer, I don't usually).
Bad luck: The rest is saved on my computer along with the fifty pages of editing I've done for a YA novel. Not to mention other started works. Normally I edit on paper but my printer was broken, so I edited directly on the computer. Go figure.
Please wish me luck for data retrieval. I will kiss the Best Buy guy if he can hand me a flash drive with everything! My progress was completely stalled by yesterday's computer failure. Until then, I was grooving on the sequel. Still not tallying words, but working on plot, characters, and revisions. I posted daily until yesterday, including a review on Mom in Love with Fiction. I am fortunate to be writing this post from my mother's computer (and I thought my computer was slow!).
I'm determined not to lose anymore time to a machine, so this week I will write out my words on paper. GASP! But I will write. Editing will have to wait until I can retrieve the document. Worst case I'll have to start all over.
So this week my goal is to read, read, read in addition to 500 written words a day. I'll be posting using Mom's antiquated computer or my IPad. I have the same luck with technology that I have with plants, so let's hope I don't manage to kill any other electronics before the week is up.
A major thank you to A Round of Words in 80 Days. Without my commitment to this challenge and all the support from its participants, I would take this defeat and do nothing. I'd sit on my duff and blame Life for handing me a lemon. But not now.
Do you back up your writing immediately to a flash drive? I think I might start backing up at least once a week to avoid this fiasco in the future. Or at least for a few months until I get complacent again (hey, nothing but honesty here!). Hope all my ROW80 cohorts are doing well!
