J.J. Devine's Blog, page 31

No one can write your story but you...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​I guess you could say when I'm super busy my mind is going in a million directions. This is good for my creativity for sure :) However, it is also good for many other deeper thoughts.

​Often times as an author people find out you write stories and automatically you hear something along the lines of, "I have a story for you..."

​This is wonderful and amazing, however, what people do not realize is that their story is just that, 'their' story. I'm not saying this to be mean, I'm saying this because it is true.

​I often hear, "I couldn't write a story." "I have no time to write." "I wouldn't know where to begin."

​Neither did I when I first say down with pen to paper (literally). However, there is one thing I know for certain about 'our' stories, no one can write them and do them justice other than the person who has thought of them.

​Why???

​Because no one could write them with the passion of the artist themselves.

​You say, "But I'm not a writer. I'm not creative. I don't know how."

​I say, "How do you know you're not a writer? How do you know you're not creative? How do you know you don't know how until you try?"

​Being a writer of stories is a wonderfully confusing, aggravating, and blissful life. No one starts out 'knowing' what they're doing. The story just becomes too powerful to ignore any longer and you finally give in and sit down and stare at that blank page, sometimes for days, weeks, and months.

​Then something magical happens, you write your first word. Then your first sentence. Before you know it you have paragraphs, pages, and eventually THE END. The rush is exhilarating. You find it is your own personal heaven and hell. You suddenly realize what all authors already know, no one can write your story because it is the passion within you that makes the story flow. It is your brain child so to speak. Something unique to you and even though someone else might be able to write down the words, those words won't have the same feel, the same excitement, the same passion as if you had written it yourself.

​Sure, writing a story takes time, energy, effort. However, those hours and days, even weeks and months slip by so fast as you pour your soul out into your story. You find a part of yourself you never knew existed before.

​So the next time you run into a writer instead of saying, "I have a story for you." Just say, "Hey, I have this story, how do I get started?"

​One thing about the author community is most of us are willing to lend a hand in helping you find your dream.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

​Blessings to all!!!





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Busy week so far...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​Can you tell it's been a crazy busy week??? Busy weeks also make me less tolerant of excuses. I guess it is because I just don't get them. All I can think is really???

​I've overslept the last two mornings and when I say overslept, I mean got up in time to grab a cup of coffee, drink it down quickly, then prepare for work.

​We have some big wigs coming through today. So of course we want to go the extra mile and make sure everything is in it's place and things look nice. It's like cleaning house for special company :) So on top of our normal things we need to do each day and of course taking care of our customers, we've had a million extra things to do.

​Then on top of this, well, it's my writing world. We have the discussion going on over The Lake House release party, because October will be here before you know it. I've been working on my newsletter, which I am hoping to get done in the next few days. A blog hop I am participating starting this weekend. If that isn't enough, I've been working on Unfinished Business after all of this is done.

​I still have the vacuuming to be done as far as my household chores are concerned along with folding laundry, but hopefully I can get to that tonight. My carpets look like I have a ton of tiny dogs running around. That's the only downfall to my choice in furbies :) But if I sit outside on my back porch I don't see it, so I can actually get some work done on the writing aspect of life :)

​I've taken too much time off over the course of this summer on the writing field that I am no longer putting it on the back burner. So, my days have really gotten a LOT busier :) I'm sure it's not the most popular thing where others are concerned, but I have to do what I have to do and hopefully they understand.

​Yesterday was way too much people time for this old girl. In between going to work and going back to work, I spent time in discussion with writer friends over speakers for the chapter, the up and coming blog hop, and also the release party. Thankfully, two of my author friends also had some wonderful chit chat for me that helped take the pressure off of the day and actually made me laugh. They have no idea how much I needed that :) But as always they were there for me in ways they had no idea and again helped me lighten my overwhelming day.

​Next week I will be doing a couple of third shifts. Which will be a nice change of pace. Then I have two days off which will help me recover from the third shifts before going back to my early morning shifts and help me recover from this week. Something I really need.

​It was back to school yesterday. So I was reminded very quickly of what our mornings are like during this time. Hell, it wasn't just mornings it was  the entire day. I love busy customer days :) That wasn't a pun that was a fact :) We have so many regulars and some of those regulars we see more during the school year :) This also helps us prepare for River Rally, Ducktail Run, and James Dean weekend. Which is something we definitely look forward to and even a little bit of fear rolls in there too LOL.

​Since Mimi went on to that big field in the sky, my boys have been so, how shall I put it, clingy. I cannot lay down in bed without having them right there. When I say right there, I mean right there. One is cuddled up to my side, the other is laying across my feet and legs. They have to be touching me in some way. Fortunately, I don't mind. The nights have been cooler and they definitely keep me warm :) Even the cat has been sleeping with us, which if you know Miss Sexy Lexy she isn't one to cuddle with people much less her doggie brothers. But she has :) I love it and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

​Shadow has been more active since Mimi's passing, which tells me he was concerned for her for a lot longer than we knew. I told hubby he may even drop a bit of that 118 pounds from all the playing he's been doing with Baby Bear :) Every time we come outside those two are romping around the backyard like crazy dogs LOL. Between that and the healthier food they've been eating, well, it just may be a good combination.

​Well I guess that is enough of an update. I will be crazy busy today at work through the time the big bosses come through. Then it's home to get my housework finished up, because I'll be damned if I am going to be working on house stuff on my time off. Then it will be time to get some writing in before hitting the sack tonight. I still have that scene to write :) Still haven't decided where it will go, but, it needs written all the same :)

​Everyone have a lovely day!!!

​Blessings to all!!!




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Starting a new week...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​It was so overcast yesterday and I've had one of those couple of weeks where I've just went nonstop, so I decided to take a day off of life. I spent the day taking a nap then watching another season of Bitten. I just wanted to go into a new week rested and ready for whatever it has to bring me.

​I have a few things I need to get done. I am participating in a blog hop this weekend. I want to get some work done on my newsletter. I have a scene in my head that is tormenting me so it needs to get down on paper. Then we have big wigs coming through at work and there is a million things I want to get done around there before they come through.

​So yep, it's going to be another busy week.

​I like busy, but not so busy I lose me in there somewhere.

​My boys have been going through the grieving process the last few days. Even the cat seems to be going through it. The last several nights I've been surrounded by fur when I sleep. The boys laying so close their paws or heads or both are laying across me. The cat lays curled up to my side. They just all want to be close to momma and I am happy to oblige them.

​They've always slept with me, don't get me wrong. But now my queen bed feels more like a twin bed with all of them sleeping so close. I don't mind though, they're my babies and they are truly helping me move forward.

​Well it is almost time to get this day started. I've downed two cups of coffee and almost ready to head out to the day job.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!




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Interview, work, and weekend...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​A blogger friend of mine sent me questions yesterday for an interview. I started answering them then decided to grab a quick nap, LOL. Yeah, it's my early mornings weekend. After I got up, I sat down on the back porch to finish them up. WOW, did they make me think. I love interviews like that :) At the end of this blog I will post a link if you'd like to check it out :)

​I am going to start working on my newsletter this week and hopefully have it ready by the 15th. I am changing up a few things on it and hopefully adding a few things. My game plan was to get a newsletter out each month, I know I haven't managed that one quite yet, but I'm working on getting better at it :)

​I put together another new recipe for my Spoiled Doggie Cookbook yesterday. Of course Baby Bear and Shadow both approved the taste :) I'm hoping to get a few more recipes under my belt before I publish this one for others to enjoy :)

​This is my weekend to work and we are in the process of getting the store ready for a walk through from the higher ups. So I have my work cut out for me this week, LOL. Yes, my overstock area needs a bit of work and so does my backroom. Then we have to begin preparing for River Rally, Ducktail Run, and James Dean weekend. Then after that will be another one of our fund raisers :) So a few busy months ahead of us and of course we're thrilled to be a part of it all :)

​Well it is that time of the morning. I need to get ready to head into the day job and get the books done along with the order for Tuesday.

​Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

​P.S. Don't forget to stop by and say hi at my guest blog:

https://authorsinterviews.wordpress.com/2017/08/06/here-is-my-interview-with-j-j-devine-2/



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Crappy day...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​Yesterday was a hard one. I hate getting up in the morning knowing it will be the last day spent with a beloved furbie. No matter if you believe all dogs go to heaven, or if you feel that one day they'll be reincarnated, it doesn't make the pain any less when their journey comes to an end here and now.

​Our old girl, Mimi, had been suffering from cancer for a little while now. We were told at her yearly vet visit in 2016 she had a cyst on her hip. By her yearly vet visit in 2017 it had burst but was only getting worse. We scheduled her for surgery in April and by July it had come back with vengeance.

​Yesterday we did the only thing we had left to do, let her go to sleep and wake up with her friends in heaven. All day all I could think about was her furbie friends who had gone on before her. Lucky who was her best buddy from puppyhood. He was a big boy and growled instead of barked when he wanted to play. She had been so scared of him in the beginning, LOL. Until one day he proved to her he just wanted to play. That was a game changer for them and they were romping friends for the rest of his life.

​Shotzie who was a gentle soul. They were ladies together. As thick as thieves those two were.

​Most of all Mimi was my youngest son's bff. From the moment she came to us she would sleep with my youngest son. Starting out sleeping on his pillow above his head. Then she moved to having her own pillow on his bed while sleeping under the blankets with him. He was her boy all the way up to the end. She worried over him like a mother when he would go away from home. She would lay wherever he was as long as he was home.

​She hated lawn mowers and loud noises and we would make sure she was inside whenever anyone mowed or the fireworks went off.

​She and I were old ladies together. She would have trouble getting down off her feet some days, or getting up. I would tell her I know how you feel old girl, momma's an old girl too.

​Yesterday morning she was having a good deal of trouble finding a way to lay down when she was too tired to stand any longer. The boys ran around the yard barking at who knows what, she was too tired to see what it was, so she just let out a few barks from her position by momma on the porch.

I hate this part of being a furbie momma. But I also hated seeing her so miserable. This is where one is torn between holding on and letting go. The vet's office was very respectful and caring. For that we are very grateful.

​The boys miss her. They curled up with me last night and Shadow laid right next to me the entire night. He would put his paw on my arm and his head on daddy's pillow. Baby Bear curled up around my legs and kept a paw on my leg all night.

​My heart goes out to anyone who has to go through this. Our furbies are more than pets, they are a part of our families. They bring joy to our lives each and every day.

​Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!




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Perspective...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​Over the last few days I've thought a great deal about perspective. Why??? Who knows why things pop into this head of mine, LOL. They just do.

​People are always demanding they are right and someone else is wrong. I'm sure this behavior goes back to the beginning of time because where there is more than one person there is more than one perspective of any given situation.

​This doesn't mean one view is more right than the other it just means two people see the same thing through different eyes.

​I used to be super horrible when it came to my perspective being the right perspective. It took several years to realize my perspective is what is right for me, someone else's perspective of the same situation is right for them.

​During the recent elections this knowledge came in handy for me. It doesn't mean I didn't shake my head a few times here and there (and still do), but it gave me the insight and knowledge that each person has the right to their view. Because frankly, I can't see from their perspective because I haven't lived their life.

​One of my favorite past times as an author is to people watch. Facebook makes this so easy :) Usually when a person gets riled it is because they have strong convictions in the way they see things. Facebook has become that place where people express their thoughts and opinions which gives people watchers like me insight into their personalities :)

​I have to say the hardest aspect of writing just might be changing perspectives when you change characters. To me that is definitely a must when writing. To give the characters that individual quality that the reader requires. If all our characters sounded like the writer who wrote them, well, what would be the point in writing another character?

​Getting to know perspectives and how they work is vital to writing believable characters. When I write a character I think about their history, what has happened in their lives to give them the perspective of life they have. I put myself in their shoes. Think about how that would make me feel if I were them.

​I used to stress over people not seeing things from my perspective. Why can't they see??? Then after writing characters from their unique POVs, really getting into the character's heart and soul, I realized, perspective is one of the things that make us different. It became easier and easier not to judge someone else for their point of view and just learn to sit back and be okay with different points of view on the same subject.

​Today I still see so many arguments begin because of POV. Especially with the recent elections. I do my best not to jump in on these discussions because I know my perspective and theirs do not go together. Back in the day my grandfather would get good-hearted discussions going that riled people's feathers by bringing up a topic he knew would get them going. I remember the day (just like it was yesterday) that I realized what he was doing. We were sitting at the dinner table, I can't remember the topic, just what happened after it dawned on me. I looked at him all lathered from the argument, and he winked at me. LOL, the man sure knew how to help you cement your POV into your soul. Right then and there I knew he may or may not have the POV he took on the subject, for that wasn't his intention in the first place. It was to make for good dinner conversation LOL and to help you know how to bring your point home. He loved a good argument and rejoiced in making one think.

​So the next time you get riled up over someone else's perspective, think about your own convictions for why you feel the way you do. Then grant them the same honor of feeling their own convictions so deeply. Because that is the spice of life and something that truly makes us individuals.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!




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Welcome to August...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​Well I got my copies of Come Home With Me last evening and realized I forgot a few things, so after a friend of mine reads her copy I will be going on to change a few things. Which is okay, this is a learning curve as she put it :) I guess you could say I was trying to bite off more than I could chew last week. Just know errors will be fixed and republished here soon :)

I finally managed to sleep in this morning. Sure I was up at 8:30 but I went to sleep at 9:30 last evening so I call it a win win :) I do feel rested this morning and more like me.

​Last evening was National Night Out here in our town. Our police and fire departments did an amazing job!!! They had all sorts of free goodies such as hot dogs, chips, snack cakes, raffle tickets, dunk tank, bouncy house, and the likes. They even had a place set up for the newest fade going on Grant County Rocks, where kids paint rocks then hide them for someone else to take a picture of then they hide the rock elsewhere. My grandchildren love this and have been painting rocks for the last couple of days for this little game. We're supposed to do some tonight when they come by :)

​I really enjoyed the show of the police dogs and how many questions the children of our community asked the officers. It proved they really grabbed their attention.

​I was supposed to celebrate Lammas last evening, then I thought about the National Night Out. It was a celebration that I could incorporate into a Lammas celebration because it had to do with my hopes and dreams for our community. I love that our town is working toward more community efforts and I would love to see more of this. So, as I wandered about the little get together I prayed for more community awareness and understanding. I prayed for more children to not only learn about our officers but also look to them as someone who can help them become better people in our community.

​I've always said children are our way to the future. It is their experiences and life's lessons they will bring with them into adulthood. So, if we help them build a strong base of community when they are young, they will bring this lesson into adulthood and changes will happen.

​So my Lammas celebration wasn't a bust, it was spent drawing energy into something I feel strongly about. So to me that was successful all in itself.

​Today is my day off. I plan to get the housework out of the way early and then see what I can get into :) If I can find all the parts to my swing hubby has been staining for me I just may get that out and finish up the staining so when he comes home he can put it up for me :) He ran out of stain so we had to pick up more and of course we ran out of time off to finish it up. I picked up new cushions for my chairs, painted the chairs, and grabbed cushions for the swing since Walmart had them on sale :) Now I just need to find a new table, something smaller than what I have already which I do have a couple of ideas swimming in my head on that one :) By next summer my back porch will be even more of my little hideaway than all the years before :) I have almost finished up my Fairy garden, which I just have to pick up a couple more bags of shiny blue stones and then it will be complete :)

​These are just a few things that having a little time off has helped me to accomplish :)

​I'm spending this day off catching  up on the housework as I said earlier, then hitting some writing. My muse for Unfinished Business if finally talking to me again :) They don't like it when I work myself to the bone on other things and silence them for too long. I guess that's what vacations are for, huh?!?

​I work tomorrow for a few hours then I have to go do something I am dreading. Our Mimi girl was operated on back in April for a tumor. It has come back in full force and we're afraid our old girl is suffering from cancer. The vet and hubby discussed things on Monday and we're pretty sure, pending the vet examination, she will be heading to the rainbow over the heaven's.

​She's had a wonderful 11 years with us. She's been my youngest son's bff for all these years. From the moment she was a pup, she would sleep with him, she even had her own pillow on his bed and slept under the covers with him :) She was the reason I finally gave in and got Shadow, because she'd always been a part of a pack around here and when all the others were gone she seemed all too lonely and needed a fur friend. She would worry over the youngest son when he would go stay at someone else's house for the night. She would pace around the house until he finally came home, LOL. Then as he moved into adulthood, she got used to him being gone some nights so she adjusted to his third shift work schedule easily.

​I will know more tomorrow afternoon.

​Well I guess I should find my way out of this chair and do some work. I'm not sure if I will get out of pjs today, because really there's no need :)

​Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!





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Last day of July...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​Well the weekend is over. My first big signing under my belt. I have tons of ideas on how to keep me from having another week like last week :) and plan to put that into motion as soon as possible :)

​I learned a LOT from this event. I also noticed this morning my rankings for sales are starting to move again :)

​Yes, I remained nervous most of the day, BUT, my tablemates were pretty amazing ladies and so easy to talk to, that it did help ease my nerves.

​So the game plan for this week...

​Get back to work. Oh yeah, and get to bed before midnight the rest of the week. Fortunately I have to work only two days before I get two days off. That will help get me back on the right track before my weekend to work. I'm pretty worn out after working on high nervous energy for a week.

​Today after work I am hoping to just chill for awhile then get to bed early tonight. I feel every bit of the lack of sleep, nerves, and excitement that came with last week. It's the crash after the high.

​I discussed after the event with one of my author friends on the way home about doing one of these a year, BUT, being more prepared next time so I am not running on such crazy energy.

​I'm thrilled to have been a part of this event. It was definitely an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. I just need to get into the mode where I am less nervous and more myself. That would be super helpful :)

Well I guess I should get this day underway. Gonna be a long one...

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!




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Ready or not Here I come...

Good morning, everyone!!!

​Well today is the day. Everyone seems to have more faith in me than me. I am nervous as hell and when I get nervous I seem to shutdown. Not good when I need to be social, LOL. So I am sitting here on the back porch this morning, Mimi girl laying beside my chair as willing me encouragement (you have to know this girl hates being outdoors since she's gotten older, so when she voluntarily asks to go outside, well, you know she has a reason, LOL).

​Then there's hubby who has had to deal with my up and down moods, my nervous energy, and who stood in Catos for a half an hour explaining to the grandson that grandma doesn't make him do this very often if ever, when he happened to question why I was back at this rack or that rack for the hundredth time, LOL. I'm truly blessed to have someone who says, Yep, you are being a bitch, but it's okay, I understand. :) God love that man!!!

​Very soon one of my author friend will be arriving to pick me up. Then we will meet with another author friend to ride to the book signing together. I love how relaxed these two ladies are :) I wish I could be so relaxed, but I know one thing about me, I never am when doing something new. I also know once I get there and mentally assess the situation, I will be okay. It is just going into the unknown that does this to my mind.

​I love new adventures though. This is definitely a new adventure. So, yes, I will eventually come around and make this fun and exciting :)

​I am looking forward to next week when I can get back to writing instead of working on writing business and get back to my spiritual studies full force :)

​Would I trade this insane week for anything? Nope, I sure wouldn't. It reminds me of why I love writing and meeting readers. And even though I've been a nervous wreck all week, I've also loved every moment of the excitement building up to this moment :)

​If you haven't gotten your tickets for the event today, follow the link below and grab yours!!! Hope to see you there!!!

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!


https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indies-in-indy-2017-tickets-22069248717




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Sometimes you just got to laugh at yourself...

Good  morning, everyone!!!

​We have this saying at the day job, Just another day at the Circle K. Well...

​I had one of those days yesterday that I could only laugh about.

​First, while changing the creamer and cutting open the valve creamer splattered everywhere on my clean counter. No big deal right??? I cleaned it up, got back to working, and things were going along smoothly until my boss came back from the bank and noticed I had something while in my hair. I mean nice white splatters here and there. Yep, creamer. I got it out of my hair, laughed it off, and went on with my day.

No big deal... then...

​I go back to check and change BIBs (bags in the box). I'm moving right along with this task. No biggie, Mt. Dew was empty... no biggie... I pull the old one down, set it aside, grab the new one, open it, grab it, toss it on the rack, and then it happened...

​A steady stream of Mt Dew was not only pouring out all over the floor but all over me as well. I stand there for seconds, staring at the steady stream, thinking, what the hell do I do with this. It took several seconds before I told myself take the thing back down off the rack.

​Then I no sooner got home after my shift and finished up my shower that I get a call from one of our employees having issues with a customer and needed my assistance. At this point my daughter was here to help me get things done for the signing tomorrow. I just shook my head and said I hope this is the last issue today LOL.

​Yep, it was one of those days where the phrase, Just another day at the Circle K, rang out in my head over and over and over, LOL.

​On a lighter note, we did manage to get all the cloth bookmarks finished. My daughter-in-law brought over the coffee mug and wine glass she made for me. I got all my books and things set out for packing up, and hopefully today will be a better day :)

​This evening I iron the cloth bookmarks, finish cutting out the card stock bookmarks, Do My Dishes, and a quick trip to town for the final touches to my gift baskets.

And...

I still have no idea what I'm wearing ;)

​Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!



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