Sheila Roberts's Blog, page 5

I'M A TWINKIE

Another birthday is almost upon me. Time to dig out the party hats and chocolate (M & M caramel, Dove dark, Frangos - bring 'em on!) Time to celebrate with family and friends. The one thing it's not time to do is look in the mirror. What's happening here? What's with this wrinkly "wrapping" and gray hair? My, how I've changed from when I was thirty!
But only on the outside. Inside, in my fertile little mind I'm still thirty and a babe. (Yes, that picture below is little old me in my band chick years in the eighties.)
iI'm not exactly walking into rooms and turning heads these days, but I am walking into rooms and being warmly greeted. I am having fun. I am trying to make a difference in the world. I am living my life.
And I am realizing that the much loved Twinkie and I have a lot in common. We've all heard jokes about the looooong shelf life of Twinkies. Well, that's me on the inside. I may not look like I did when I was thirty, but my spirit is as young as ever.
So, this birthday I'm celebrating the fact that I'm still here, that God has watched over me, taken me through many rough waters and always gotten me to shore. The face may have some dents and cracks but the brain is still working. I'm still living my story and I'm grateful to be here... with my wrinkly wrapping.

OVERLOAD

I LOVE PURSES! AND SHOES. AND SCARVES. AND CANDLES. AND FANCY DISHES. AND TEAPOTS. AND BOOKS. BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS!
But after lo, these many years, my love has gotten out of control. I have too much stuff. My poor kids. I keep telling them, "I apologize in advance for what you guys are going to have to deal with when we're gone. Honestly, how much stuff do I need?
Not nearly as much as I once thought, that's for sure. Which is why this year I'm focusing on getting rid of things we don't use any more, things that have been hanging around taking up space. A lot of those things are very nice. Someone could use them. I need to set them free to go make some other woman happy.
I actually started the process this last Christmas, giving my daughter and daughter-in-law some fun items that came attached with memories. This month I took a trunk full of stuff to Goodwill. Next month, after I've lost that last ten pounds I want to shed, it will be time to clean my closet. And yes, even a purse or two will go away. Sigh.
As for my focus on the future? What's the plan? Give more, take less. Plump up the savings for old age and only buy little things that don't take up much space - diamonds, gold. Hahahah. Seriously, I'm determined to remember that there are people in the world who would consider me very rich and then act accordingly - share those riches.
With that in mind I'm looking forward to a very prosperous year, one of soul prosperity.

TRAVELS WITH SHEILA

Christmas Vacation - National Lampoon has nothing on Gerhardt and Sheila. Of course, we had to have a comic relief moment when I almost got stuck in a bathroom at one of our many destinations which we dubbed Tourist Trap Outpost. Picture little Sheila unable to get the door to unlock, pounding on it, crying, "Help!" while on the other side some of my cruise companions tried to figure out how to release me. I did finally manage to release myself before the tour bus left without me. Hmmm. I got lost coming back from the bathroom to the tour bus in Athens. Maybe potty issues are becoming a trend with me. That's probably why, when I wanted to leave the crowd at the airport in France to go look for the ladies room, my other half begged me to stay put.
But I digress. We had a great time on our holiday Rhine River cruise with my sister and brother in-law, who are great traveling companions. Viking Cruises are the best. In addition to taking us to some wonderful Christmas Markets in Germany (the pictures don't do justice to these - they are magical!) they also made sure we stayed safe during the scary time when the terrorist was loose in Strasbourg. The city, which was one of our destinations, was shut down as police searched for him. Such a sad time. On a happier note, we were taken to some places that were equally beautiful (in fact, the Christmas market at Baden Baden was the best of all!) We also made wonderful new friends on the boat and, after the cruise, got a chance to see Paris. (Every writer should see Paris, right?) We were properly stunned seeing the Eiffel Tower up close and personal and enjoyed a visit with the Mona Lisa. One thing that surprised me was the impact these accomplishments have on you when you see them in person. 
Another thing that left an impression was the memorials that are now being erected around Germany in honor of those who suffered during the Holocaust. What's been done can't be undone and that will forever be a dark time in the county's history. But it was good to see that horror being acknowledged.
There we encountered a team of pickpockets. Three men who'd seen the dumb tourists getting out their money to buy tickets to the train to the airport. When we got on, dragging our carry-on luggage behind us, rat number one, the distractor spoke to my husband in rapid-fire French, man-handling his carry-on, while rat number two hemmed him in. In the midst of the chaos, rat number three was reaching his hand into my hubby's murse (man purse). Fortunately, my husband is no dummy and figured out what was going on. He whacked the intruder's hand away. The head of the gang saw the jig was up, asked, "Are we good?" (No hard feelings, dude?) Then he and his pals bolted off the train just as the doors were closing.
Another man had seen the distractor in action and after they'd bolted said, "You know what they were doing? They were drying to rob you."
No kidding. Really?
He was disgusted and assured us that, "This is not France."
We already knew that. Everyone we met had been kind and friendly. And we were happy to survive the adventure in one piece.
Our trip was wonderful, a true vacation and the first time in years I haven't hauled along some kind of work to do. Of course, I did come back inspired so I suspect I'll get a book out of this.
Now we're home and getting ready to enjoy a merry Christmas with our loved ones. I hope you're getting ready to do the same. Happy holidays!

I'm so rich!

No, I'm not flying around in my own private jet and I don't have millions in the bank. But, like George Bailey in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, I sometimes feel like the richest woman in town.
Coming off Thanksgiving, it's hard not to feel rich. This time of year turns our focus in the directions of our blessings. Yes, Gerhardt and I have possessions and enjoy them. Yes, we both are gainfully employed. But the biggest blessings of all that I'm counting are  - you guessed it - all those non-material things. Here's what I'm most grateful for:
Family, the ones who, growing up, build your character (you know, teach you how to share whether you want to or not, teach you patience, teach you to not take forever in the bathroom cuz someone else wants to use it.) Hopefully, for most of you reading this, you enjoy the blessing of a family that gets along. I sure do. I have a fabulous family! (By the way, if you don't have that kind of super family, I hope this year you can build yourself one. Find some cool grandparent or parent figures and adopt 'em!)
Then there are friends. Our family builds our character. The friends we chose reveal it. Come to think of it, maybe they also help build it. I am so thankful for my friends who are both fun and loyal. And who are not afraid to tell me, "Yes, that does make your butt look big."
And how about health? Oh, my, is it easy to take it for granted... until you don't have it. I am so immensely thankful that I've reached the five year mark of being cancer free. Woohoo!
If I lost family, friends, all my possessions and even my health, I'd still have something to be thankful for, and that's the fact that God loves me. We've finished Thanksgiving and now we're headed for Christmas, the biggest birthday party of them all. I'm going to go into that season with gratitude.
And I hope I'll go into the New Year with the same attitude. Blessings are blessings, whether big or small!
Happy Thanksgiving.

Every day a gift!

     Yesterday was a good, good day. Much better than the week before when, going in for the last of my every six month post uterine cancer check-ups my doctor found something she felt warranted a second opinion. A week of waiting, another boat ride into the city on a gloomy, rainy day.
     All week long I'd stayed calm, told myself that if there was a problem we'd deal with it when it arose. Trust God, I kept telling myself.
     And I did great, kept my hypochondria at bay, stayed calm ... until five minutes before my check up. I went to use the bathroom and for a moment thought, Let's just not come out. Or, better yet, the exit is right around the corner. Run for it!
     A moment of rapid heartbeat, followed by a deep breath and a determined walk back to the exam room. Up onto the exam table. Now I get what people mean when they talk about certain situations and say they felt like they were standing outside themselves, observing. That was me as the doctor and I began talking, as she conducted her examination. An observer.
     Happily, this second doctor couldn't find anything worrisome. I had dodged the bullet. When I came back out to the waiting room, my husband, who had gone with me, and had been assuring me all week that everything would be fine, cried with relief. We practically skipped out of the hospital. And went to a cool Irish restaurant in Seattle to celebrate. (Surrounded by books, no less - how's that for appropriate for a writer?)
      There will, of course, come a day when we get news that isn't so great, when one or the other of us has to face a new disease and, eventually, death. This is not that time. Still, I must say, I came away with the reminder that, no matter how long you live, life is short.      
     I am grateful for this new day, grateful for new opportunities, and determined to be open to whatever God has in store for me. It's so easy to drift. I want to keep my little boat pointed in the direction of worthwhile projects, kindness, selflessness and a closer walk with God. Drifting eats up too many precious days. Yes to living each day to the fullest.
     And now, I'm going to go enjoy some chocolate. Life's too short not to enjoy its simple pleasures, don't you think?

THE DIET TRAIL

     After a summer of partying it's time for Gerhardt and me to get serious about our eating habits. We look like Teletubbies.
     This whole diet thing is new territory for a man who's always been slender and could eat whatever he wanted. I'd dubbed him the two-legged locust. He would devour everything in his path... including my chocolate stash. Ah, but that has come to a screeching halt. The nightly binges on animal cookies and chocolate are at an end. Consuming a loaf of French bread single-handed over a two day span? Also gone.
     So, here's how a recent conversation went.
Me: "Fish and salad for dinner."
Gerhardt: "Yuck. What else can I have? Pretzels?"
Me: "No. Pretzels are carbs."
Gerhardt: "I suppose I can't have crackers."
Me: "No crackers."
But I did give him a little yogurt for dessert, to which he replied sarcastically, "Oh, goody."
Ten minutes later...
Gerhardt: "Where's the chocolate?"
     The diet trail is not for wimps.

SUNNY CALIFORNIA

We have had a busy summer - cruisin', enjoying beach time and getting our little snowbird nest in California set up. Oh, my goodness, you California peeps - how do you survive the heat? Every time I went outside I felt like I was in a microwave. And I am now officially freeway traumatized. (Thank heaven I can get to all my favorite stores thrift shops and Starbucks using surface streets!)
Having said all that, we did enjoy being so near our son and his little family and my cousin, with whom I've never been able to spend much time. We are in a gorgeous little town right across from a college and we have a swimming pool. Yay!
And, best of all, we have a fruit tree. I was so excited when I saw our lime tree. Wow! Those were the biggest limes I'd ever seen. Finally, it was time to harvest my limes. I was going to make limeade for everyone. Oh, yes. But when I picked the lime, I discovered it was hard as a rock. I cut it in half and it was also as dry as a rock - no juice. What kind of lime tree was this?
I soon learned from the former owners exactly what kind of lime tree it was. It was an orange tree and our oranges weren't ripe yet. Well, that explains it.
I don't think I'm going to get the green thumb award. Do you?

CRUISIN'

Ah, the fun of a cruise. I'd dreamed for years of cruising the Greek isles. It sounded so glamorous. We finally got to do it, and, indeed, it was. We stopped in beautiful ports of call, ate like pigs, made new friends and great memories. And I learned a few things along the way. Next time (hopefully there will be a next time) I'll be even better prepared. Here are some tips I want to share with you if you have a cruise in your future. (Or any big trip for that matter.)
BRING INSECT REPELLENT
Who knew mosquitoes could fine you by the pool on a cruise ship? They can! Every country has bugs and obviously the little pests didn't get the memo about being nice to tourists.
BRING A THERMOS OR PORTABLE WATER BOTTLE
Filling your own container for an excursion is cheaper than buying bottled water on the boat before disembarking. (And every penny you save on bottled water you can spend on souvenirs.)
BRING SMALL GIFTIES FOR NEW FRIENDS
I brought along a few books to share and they were well received. If you make jewelry you might want to bring two or three small bracelets or a couple of pairs of earrings. If you're an artist and you have your work on coasters that will get rave reviews. And who doesn't like hand-made greeting cards? If you happen to have a small business as a crafter bringing along samples is a good ice breaker and good advertising.
PACK LESS THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED
Plan to mix and match and wash panties and socks (get the kind that dry quickly). Packing lightly saves you a ton of hassle at the airport. We took two carry-ons and a backpack and had room to bring home all our souvenirs. When buying those trinkets, for the most part, we thought small. Fridge magnets and tea towels make great gifts and don't take up a lot of space in your luggage.
BRING CHOCOLATE
There were no Dove chocolates on the boat. Can you imagine? A little chocolate bite is a handy thing to have on hand when waiting at the airport.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL FREE OFFERS
Going on a cruise for a birthday or anniversary? If the company is offering complimentary anything, take it. We're not big drinkers, but we took that bottle of free champagne that was offered. It was fun to be able to share it one evening with some of our new friends.
SAVE AHEAD AND THEN GET IT
Start stuffing away a small amount of money as soon as you book your cruise so you'll have plenty on hand for excursions and trinkets. Pre-pay the tips when possible. It's nice to avoid having them show up on your bill at the end of the cruise. And speaking of money and spending, if you see something you really like, get it. There's no guarantee you'll find it in the next port of call. (Learn from our mistakes!)

We had a bon voyage. Whatever your travel plans this summer, I hope you will, too.

COVER MODELS AND KIDS

We have been on the road since May 11th. I think I'm going to forget what my home looks like. Still, Gerhardt and I have been having a great time. We road tripped our way to the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention in Reno, stopping along the way to see friends we hadn't seen in twenty years. What a great time! True friendship never washes away with the years. Ours sure didn't. (Thank you Lynn and Linda for hosting us and still loving us.)
After eating our friends out of house and home it was on to Reno, where we stayed at the Peppermill Resort. Oh, fun! How I enjoyed the "You Should Be So Lucky" party I hosted with Brenda Novak, RaeAnne Thayne and Melinda Curtis. So much fun. Two lucky winners won lunch with three gorgeous male book cover models... with me supervising, of course. And you can tell by the above picture what a good job I was doing of that! So enjoyed meeting and visiting with all the readers. Cover models, two thousand bookaholics - does it get better than that?
Yes, it does, because after the convention we made our way to sunny CA to hang with our son and his family. To my shock, in spite of the weatherman's predictions, it wasn't sunny. Of course, neither was Reno. I seem to be dragging the Pacific Northwest weather with me wherever I go. Ah, well. Our son, a native Western Washingtonian, appreciated the cooler weather. 
As of this writing I'm still here in CA, but we fly home tomorrow. I hope I can remember where my condo is!

Book Party Fun!

Many authors are quiet, internal people, not fond of crowds, not looking for the spotlight. Many would rather have their fingernails pulled off than make a public appearance. Yours truly doesn't happen to fall into that category. I am a ham, come from a family of hams. And I love a good party.
Which is exactly what we had this last week at Liberty Bay Books in beautiful downtown Bremerton as we celebrated the release of the first book in a new series, WELCOME TO MOONLIGHT HARBOR. In addition to a hula contest (you can watch it on my Facebook like page) we also had an interview with Jolly Roger the parrot, one of the characters in the book. (And yes, that's up there, too.) Salt water taffy, games, a drawing for a gift basket - we were busy! It was so much fun and it all went way to fast.
I'm glad I still have a couple more events to look forward to. I'll be at the gigantic book fair Saturday May 19th at the Peppermill Resort in Reno and we'll be having a beach party at Little Book Bug in Lancaster, CA starting at 6 on May 24th. After that, the partying will be over until the next book comes out in fall. Sigh. Cinderella will take off her party clothes and get back to work. Good thing for me I live with Prince Charming.