Emily March Fans discussion
The Clubhouse
>
Random Thoughts & Ideas
Hello Ladies,I had my appointment with the Psychiatrist yesterday. I was so nervous about it and all for not. She was a lovely lady. I came away feeling better about myself and looking for goals to reach for. She has recomended I go to a counseling session every two weeks for a few months to help me continue to make progress.
She also evaluated my work experience and suggested I look for employment elsewhere. After talking for a while she suggested I look for jobs with my sewing and perhaps selling crafts on Etsy. She said she knows of many women from the Seattle area who would pay big bucks for handmade clothing. She even said she would email me with any leads she may find. I feel encouraged for the first time in a long time. She also said I should look into temp work. Not sure about that one but it's an idea. She said I should consider not going back to my current job because it is not a healthy environment for me and there are too many triggers for anxiety for me. So I have a lot to think about.
My heart is heavy today with thoughts of the People of London. They must be reeling, as we were when terrorism touched our shores for the first time. l know they have survived the attack of war in the past, but this is different. I pray for England as a whole. I thought of Lesley and her family this morning and had a special prayer time for them. They have so much to deal with and now this.
I have decided to set goals each day of things to accomplish.
I need to get started on that, so I will say good day for now.
Peace be with you all.
Linda
Hi, Linda - it's wonderful to hear that you had a successful and thought-provoking visit with a therapist. My daughter works from home and does photography for others who sell products on Etsy. She enjoys it and is very talented with product graphics. She also does photos of homes that are on the market or for rent in her local area. Find a way, even very part-time, to do whatever you love and feel passionate about. Then, even if you need another "temp" or other "regular" job, you'll have something else that fulfills you and makes you feel successful. I have also found that setting daily goals - even something as simple as a walk outside - makes me feel stronger and more in control of my choices. For me, today, that means putting my arse in a chair and writing something -- anything -- on my manuscript.
Also, thank you for bringing up the incidents in London. It's a sad day, and such a terrifying turn of events. I have many friends in the UK and my first thought was of those who might be in London for the day. I remember visiting Parliament; chatting with one of the policemen standing guard there; even crossing Westminster Bridge several times, and the images just break my heart.
Let's all join in prayer for peace-loving people all over the world today, but especially those whose lives are forever changed by such tragedies.
Laters, ladies.
Paula
Also, thank you for bringing up the incidents in London. It's a sad day, and such a terrifying turn of events. I have many friends in the UK and my first thought was of those who might be in London for the day. I remember visiting Parliament; chatting with one of the policemen standing guard there; even crossing Westminster Bridge several times, and the images just break my heart.
Let's all join in prayer for peace-loving people all over the world today, but especially those whose lives are forever changed by such tragedies.
Laters, ladies.
Paula
The events in London are terrible, for all those of anyone including visitors to our shores from other countries. Unfortunately it is not the first time London or the UK have been affected by terrorist attacks but we as a Country we will not let them get us down.We must thank all our brave emergency services for their wonderful efforts yesterday & always.
Luckily for us we live in Lincolnshire, which is a long way from London & as far as we know none of our friends or family were affected directly yesterday, but me brother often visits that part of London as part of his job.
Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost or have injured loved ones. xx
I too am so sorry for what happened yesterday in London. We all need to keep praying to help keep the dark cloud that is trying to cover our world at bay ! My big question is WHY? It all seems so senseless! Thank Goodness for all of you my ever bright spots in the darkness ! Love Lola
Lesley, as I watched the news last night, I cried. I've walked across that beautiful bridge. I posed for a photo with a policeman outside Parliament, a delightful man that made me laugh. The American couple on their 25th anniversary trip...so many tragic stories. And our proposed "ban" on refugees and foreigners entering from the Middle East would have been proven useless once again. You can't fight homegrown terrorists, and you can't predict the actions of a fanatic acting alone. To me, the message is just to live freely, fearlessly, respectfully and always in the moment. We can't let fear rob us of our joy, or the villains will win. I will return to the UK for my own anniversary, sometime in the future, and nothing can make me fear for my life while I'm there.
Dear group,First off Id like to add my prayers and concerns for all those effected by the senselessness of the attack in London. It seems there are more and more intolerant people getting bolder and committing these terrible acts. I dont know what the answer is to turn the overwhelming tide of hate this world is seeing these days. A very special friend of mine has such a deep sense of Faith and Hope and she told me that its the small things that will fix this but it will take everyone doing their part to "spread the love" by committing acts of kindness, even if its a smile and saying Hello to a stranger you walk by. Opening the door for someone, giving a helping hand, using positive words and not spreading negative thoughts will hopefully one by one change a persons day, even hour by hour. It will have to be a concentrated effort by many to get back to the days where people waved to each other and took time to check on friends and family. To keep the darkness at bay, we must spread light and hope.
Linda, I was thinking that too, that your old job just isnt where you should return to. You have so much talent and such a caring heart. I was talking with my sister Friday and she happens to work part time for two churches. She gets paid for office work and helping with the computer. You could check with your church to see if they need someone. I also have an idea that you could do at home. Right now my Mom sews Heathers bibs. I could do it and have made a couple but Mom likes to do it. But there is a shortage of bibs available for older kids and adults. Heather has trouble swallowing so she needs a bib to keep her clothes dry. I have an 11 yr old friend who has cerebral palsy who wears a towel around his neck because they cant find bibs in his size. Its an untapped market for which there is a HUGE need. You could make them and sell them on Amazon easily. You'd be doing a huge service to disabled people and their families. It would be a way for you to use your sewing and creativity in such a positive way. Also wheelchair tote bags is another need. It is something that I am going to have to make soon for Heathers wheelchair. It would make it so much easier on my shoulder and back if I had a bag that I could hang on her wheelchair that wouldnt rub or get caught in the wheels. Also small neck pillows that have a pillowcase that can be washed is another need. Heather has 2 such pillows which have cases with a opening in the middle so it can be taken off the pillow and washed and Heather also uses that opening as a pocket when she wants to take it with us to an appointment. The small pillow is a Godsend in the car and in waiting rooms when she has her headaches and is tired. I know I would buy them all from you. (Even though I can sew, and love sewing, there is such a constant need for the items she has it seems I spend my time washing what she's got. ) I cant wait for the material to get here. It should be here sometime this week (I hope). I am so ready to quilt which is my favorite type of sewing. I have to run. My migraine that I have had for 3 days is coming back so I need to get off this and lay down for a bit.
Love to all,
Jina
Hi, Jina -- what wonderful ideas for thoughtful projects that could turn a skill into a successful home business. There are so many creative minds in this group.
I've spent the weekend working on writing projects - I'm almost finished with my copy editing course - the exam will be posted at the end of next week. I have to say that I've learned a lot. (Like how much it's worth to have a qualified editor on your book team!).
I got an invitation to an indie author book signing event in Dublin, Ireland, in October 2019. And I have a request pending for a signing in Seattle that summer. Now all I need is a completed book or three between now and then. It's been a great incentive to get the lead out and face the blank screen.
Ray is off this week and we will be doing some home projects; I have to work at my one part-time clinic job, and I have another part-time offer to consider, which is going to complicate things a bit. But we found a new area in our living room that is not "water proof" since we got hit with our latest storm. It's going to involve roof work, and repairs to our ceiling - and that's going to take some serious money.
In two weeks Ray has a conference in Lihue, Kauai - and of course, I will be tagging along, with the intention of deep relaxation and a little writing. Hawaii is one of the few vacation places we go where I don't usually come home with medical bills. LOL.
That's all the news from here. I hope you are all well and will keep in touch this week.
Paula
I've spent the weekend working on writing projects - I'm almost finished with my copy editing course - the exam will be posted at the end of next week. I have to say that I've learned a lot. (Like how much it's worth to have a qualified editor on your book team!).
I got an invitation to an indie author book signing event in Dublin, Ireland, in October 2019. And I have a request pending for a signing in Seattle that summer. Now all I need is a completed book or three between now and then. It's been a great incentive to get the lead out and face the blank screen.
Ray is off this week and we will be doing some home projects; I have to work at my one part-time clinic job, and I have another part-time offer to consider, which is going to complicate things a bit. But we found a new area in our living room that is not "water proof" since we got hit with our latest storm. It's going to involve roof work, and repairs to our ceiling - and that's going to take some serious money.
In two weeks Ray has a conference in Lihue, Kauai - and of course, I will be tagging along, with the intention of deep relaxation and a little writing. Hawaii is one of the few vacation places we go where I don't usually come home with medical bills. LOL.
That's all the news from here. I hope you are all well and will keep in touch this week.
Paula
Hi everyone, hope you all managed to have a good weekend.We spent Saturday (25th), with several other family members travelling & attending the Charity Ball which Mark & Tina had arranged for Pancreatic Cancer Action which is a UK Charity which tries to raise funds & awareness for the treatment of this type of Cancer. We had a lovely time & think that they managed to raise between £3-£3.5 thousand pounds.
It was also lovely to be able spend part of Mothers' Day (in the UK) with Mark before we came home on Sunday. Love to all xx
On the way home we, with my brother & his wife, called in on Judy for a short visit, to take her some flowers from the event & her birthday presents for 29th March, as she wasn't well enough to travel to the Charity Ball, which upset her alot.
Jina, You are so thoughtfulof others. Linda, hope you are feeling a little stronger/happier with yourself.
Paula, hope the exam, house repairs & writing go well & you & Ray enjoy your trip to Hawaii when the time comes. Hawaii always looks so beautiful in films & pictures. xxx
Thank you everyone for your kind words and good wishes. Your input is very comforting and inspirational. I had another panic attack on Saturday and it pretty much put me out of sorts for the weekend. I was feeling better and decided I could go to the store by myself. BIG MISTAKE! I did okay for a short while but began getting shakey and had an overwhelming desire to get out of the store. I had to make my purchase and leave. By the time I made it home I was a mess. I actually sat down in the store trying to calm myself before getting in the car to drive home and it helped some but I progressively got worse on my way home. I will not be doing that again for a while. Now that I know just because I am feeling better at home does not mean I am ready to venture out on my own, not yet anyway.
The therapist suggested putting me on a medication called Propranalol. She said it is a blood pressure medication but is also used by many people before entering a stressful situation to calm them down. I have not heard of this before and I am going to do some research on it. She said I could just take it when I needed it and it is not addictive. I think I have a phobia about taking addictive medications. I have seen the damage they can do and I have expressed concern over taking Ativan for that reason. I'm a mess right now lol.
Jina, thank you for the suggestions for handmade items. I am working on some designs and I will send them to you so you can see what you think.
Lesley, congratulations on the success of your charity event. I am so happy you had a great visit with your family.
Paula, I am sure you will continue with great success in your writing. It sounds like you have your plate full at the moment. It will do you good to get away and bask in the warm sunny shores of Hawaii. I'm envious as we have been in the P.N.W. grey gloom for weeks now. I am praying for a sunny day.
Thanks again for all your support. I am so blessed to have all you ladies who care for me and encourage me to forge ahead. I have learned not to push myself too quickly though. One day at a time, at a steady pace. lol Kind of like the Tortise and the Hare.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Love Linda
Hey Paula you think I could hide in your suitcase lol I have never been to Hawaii. I hope you have a wonderful time ! I do not drink that much, a little wine and not often, so just eat some good fruit and think of me lol. All of us here deserve a good get-a-way , it has been a hell of a year. So here is one of my get away for the summer.I have been listening to a series set here in Montana up in the cherry country near Flathead Lake , oh what a beautiful Lake ,it is huge and crystal clear ,Paula it reminds me of the shots I see watching Hawaii 50 ,the countryside is all cherry trees and mountains. In the book they mention a cherry festival ,so I checked on line and there is a cherry festival in July. I told Wolf about it and we are going to take a few days and go up there. They have the best cherries, maybe there will be some wine and I will drink it and think of you lol . Of course I will have to get a lug of cherries, I didn't know it was a lug of cherries when we moved up here so I ask for a bushel and learned quick it is a lug. lol
I hope everyone is doing better, Linda ,you have been through so much , first getting your home ,now this panic , I know you are strong enough to look it in the eye , spit in it and kick it out of your life! My Little Sister ,Jina astounds me all the time, my own little energizer Bunny for Easter! Could you send me up some the older I get the less I have .
Love Lola
Lola wrote: "Hey Paula you think I could hide in your suitcase lol I have never been to Hawaii. I hope you have a wonderful time ! I do not drink that much, a little wine and not often, so just eat some good fr..."I love you Lola.
You always have just the right words for me. Thank you for being my friend and sounding board. Your inspirational emails are so uplifting.
My in-laws had a home on the Flathead River many years ago when my children were small. When my father in law passed away my mother in law could not keep it up on her own and had to sell, but it was heavenly. Dave and I wanted to buy is so badly but the job market at that time was terrible and we could not have sustained ourselves. It was a circular tower when they bought the land, just a hallow shell of brick. My father in law, Bob, parked their airstream on the land and lived there while finishing the building. Eventually my mother in law, Becky, moved up there from Billings to live as well, when the house sold. It was magnificent. When he finished the tower, he got bored, and started building rooms off to the side. It was not finished when he passed away but he had built a room for each of his four children and when we visited them we had our own little space to stay in. Ours was on the upper level with big ceilng to floor windows and a balcony with seating overlooking the trees. Where their property ended the State Park began so it was a glorious view. I remember one Christmas we went to visit and I was up in our room wrapping presents, and it began to snow and then I saw a deer out in the yard. The thing that sent chills up my spine was Bob was in the room opposite ours finishing up some work and he had the radio playing White Christmas by Bing Crosby. Oh my goodness I felt like I was in a Currier and Ives painting. Such good memories. If I can find a picture of the place I will post it.
And Lola, your are right, the cherries are just wonderful. If you buy a lug what will you do with them? Freeze or preserve them?
I will be so happy when the rain fades away. It will never really stop because of where we live, but I really would like to have some sunshine for a little while. We have already reached record highs for of rainfall for our area and it's not even April yet.
And yes, it is raining today. lol
Paula, Box up some of that sunshine and send it to me will you?
Yes, Jina is remarkable. I don't know how else to put it. I pray for daily. She has such a load to bare and she does with such a giving and loving heart. I am working on a project for Heather's wheelchair. I hope it comes out okay. I really want to do this for her. It will make her life a little easier, I think, when she is out and about for errands.
Well, I have written quite a book here. I will sign off and get busy. I have a Dr.'s appointment today so I need to get going. Praying I do okay because I have to go alone. Dave is taking Friday off to take me to the appointment in Seattle for the L&I insurance company. I would not be going otherwise. I can't go there on a good day, much less with this stress I'm under.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
I like Lola's idea, "look it in the eye, and spit in it, kick it out of my life." Doesn't always work that way, but dog gone it, I'm gonna keep kicking.
Love you all,
Linda
Dear Paula, Linda, Lesley and Lola,Since yall are my friends on facebook I was able to add/invite you to a group named "Tru Figures". Its a wonderful group that shares recipes, workouts, information and encouragement, and support. It is a judgement free zone and the peple I have met there are so kind and so positive that it reminded me of this group here on Goodreads. I sent/added y'all to the group. I think, especially in the world's current state of discord, we all could use any and all positive things/people in our lives. I hope y'all dont mind that I added you.
Love to all,
Jina
Lola wrote: "Hey Paula you think I could hide in your suitcase lol I have never been to Hawaii. I hope you have a wonderful time ! I do not drink that much, a little wine and not often, so just eat some good fr..."Thank You Linda, I Love You Too. I am glad I can do anything to help. How did the Dr. go today? I had to find a new Dr. mine retired. I don't know if I will stay with the one I just saw, I really like going to a Woman Dr. But there isn't one in Townsend, so I may have to find one in Helena, about 30 miles away. Let me know if I can be of any help, even if it is just gardening advice. It always makes me happy to play in the dirt!
Jina, I will have to check out Tru Figures , as I was tell Linda, I just went to a new Dr. and I have lost over 10 pounds , with my clothes and shoes on, so it is probably more like 13-15 # ,in a year without trying. Even Wolf came up behind me and hugged me and said man the belly is almost gone. Now if the boobs could get a little smaller ;D I would be happy! Love Ya! Lola
Lola wrote: "Hey Paula you think I could hide in your suitcase lol I have never been to Hawaii. I hope you have a wonderful time ! I do not drink that much, a little wine and not often, so just eat some good fr..."
Lola, that place in Montana sounds amazing. I'd love to see that lake. Lake Tahoe is clear and blue like that, but you have to drive up in the undeveloped hills to really see it at its best. Montana is one of the most beautiful, unspoiled states I've ever visited, and I would love to live there, surrounded by such rugged beauty. Also, I could eat my weight in fresh cherries!
I will post photos from Kauai on FB (and on Instagram if I remember to use it)! If you can fold yourself into my suitcase, I'll make room. This is the first time I've been to Kauai since the children were school-age. Pierce Brosnan has a home there, so I may do some granny-stalking. LOL. If I grab him -- um, I mean, if I SEE him -- I'll probably faint before I get a fan picture, though.
P
Lola, that place in Montana sounds amazing. I'd love to see that lake. Lake Tahoe is clear and blue like that, but you have to drive up in the undeveloped hills to really see it at its best. Montana is one of the most beautiful, unspoiled states I've ever visited, and I would love to live there, surrounded by such rugged beauty. Also, I could eat my weight in fresh cherries!
I will post photos from Kauai on FB (and on Instagram if I remember to use it)! If you can fold yourself into my suitcase, I'll make room. This is the first time I've been to Kauai since the children were school-age. Pierce Brosnan has a home there, so I may do some granny-stalking. LOL. If I grab him -- um, I mean, if I SEE him -- I'll probably faint before I get a fan picture, though.
P
Jina wrote: "Dear Paula, Linda, Lesley and Lola,
Since yall are my friends on facebook I was able to add/invite you to a group named "Tru Figures". Its a wonderful group that shares recipes, workouts, informati..."
Thank you, Jina - that's so thoughtful! You're right. I could go DAYS without looking at a newscast these days. It's exhausting. I'm focusing on writing at the moment, which is a different kind of stress altogether! I'm experimenting with point of view this week, taking a step back to see if the book "feels" more relatable moving from the past to the present tense. It's more active, and I think I like it, but the jury is still out.... I may send you a beta version of one chapter in each POV and see what you think. First I have to decide what I think, though! LOL
P
Since yall are my friends on facebook I was able to add/invite you to a group named "Tru Figures". Its a wonderful group that shares recipes, workouts, informati..."
Thank you, Jina - that's so thoughtful! You're right. I could go DAYS without looking at a newscast these days. It's exhausting. I'm focusing on writing at the moment, which is a different kind of stress altogether! I'm experimenting with point of view this week, taking a step back to see if the book "feels" more relatable moving from the past to the present tense. It's more active, and I think I like it, but the jury is still out.... I may send you a beta version of one chapter in each POV and see what you think. First I have to decide what I think, though! LOL
P
Hi Ladies, Sorry I've been quiet for a day or two but its been quiet a week. Last weekend, we & 8 other family members attended the Charity Ball that Mark & Tina organised for 'Pancreatic Cancer Action. We had a lovely time & we think that they wil have raised between £3-£3.5 thousand pounds. Apologies if I have already told you all this,On Monday, Judy's medical team decided that there is no further treatment they can give her so she is now on Palliative Care only.
Yesterday, Mark's team told him that his tumours are growing as it appears that the last round of chemo was not successful. Because of his recent infection & weakened state he now has to decide whether he wishes to have any further chemo, which there is no way of knowing whether it will help or not, or just continue with Palliative Care & have some quality of life for as long as is possible. Whilst Judy is happy that the choice has been made for her, & although I think I know in my heart which way he will decide, I don't envy Mark & Tina having to make their decision. I just wish the decision had been made for them as with Judy. Am praying of a small miracle that we can keep them both as long as possible & not in too much pain. Love to all xx
Oh Lesley, I am so sorry !!!! I remember when my Big Sister Sandra got her last diagnosis ,it was so sad, she wanted to keep fighting but there was nothing left to do. The only thing that kept me sane was knowing she was no longer in pain. I hope I am not being rude telling you this, I just wanted you to know you are not alone.Love Lola
Dear Lesley, My heart breaks for you and your family. May you be touched by the hand of God and know His presence as you walk this journey together. May the Love of God sustain you and may Holy Spirit guide you in your decisions and grant you peace and comfort as you make them. I believe God has a purpose for our lives and He will only bring us home to be with Him when our work here on earth is finished. I pray Judy and Mark will continue on their journey in fullness and light for quite some time. Sending you much love and many prayers.
Linda
Thank you Lola & Linda for you kind words. It helps to be able to 'talk' others outside our immediate family.
Linda wrote: "Lola wrote: "Hey Paula you think I could hide in your suitcase lol I have never been to Hawaii. I hope you have a wonderful time ! I do not drink that much, a little wine and not often, so just eat..."Dear Linda,
First off I want to say I am so proud of you! Even though it was tough and you had a bad experience, you still put your big girl panties on and dealt with it! You showed so much courage and strength to even go to the store by yourself. You tried! You didnt get out of your car in the driveway and go back in the house thinking "not going to go today". I say that specific example because its what I did. I will explain. This was just after bringing Heather back home from the hospital. She hadnt been home in 8 months and during that time we moved to a new house to be closer to the hospital and the home was an open design that we needed to accommodate her wheelchair. Anyway, i had to run an errand so I left Heather in the care of Sam and Sarah. By the time I got to where I was meeting my friends I was crying and shaking and told my friends after I dropped off the borrowed items that I needed to get home to Heather. My friend ,Beverly, said "you arent driving yourself home" and she drove me to my house and was picked up by her husband a few minutes later. The next day we needed things from the store. I got dressed, coat on and went out to the car. I couldn't even start the car. I went back in the house and stayed home. I was terrified of something happening when I was not there. It took time and patience and forgiving myself for being anxious. You are my hero! You will get there. Baby steps sister! About medication, I haven't heard of the one you mentioned. I do have experience with other medicines I can recommend. Heather takes Atarax regularly and if thats not enough to settle her she also has Ativan. Atarax is one of the safest medicines on the market. No bad side effects or any lingering drowsiness. Also no brain fog. What I took was celexa for mood stablizer and xanax for anxiety. After Heathers ordeal first happened, I couldnt eat, couldnt sleep, every time I closed my eyes I seen Heather convulsing and me doing CPR yelling at her not to leave me and the EMTs shocking her with an AED. It took weeks before that got better. The medicing helped tremendously. It helped me not fall apart every 10 minutes. Also yoga and a walk helped. I hope your days are getting easier. Be kind to yourself.
Love you,
Jina and the girls.
Lesley wrote: "Hi Ladies, Sorry I've been quiet for a day or two but its been quiet a week. Last weekend, we & 8 other family members attended the Charity Ball that Mark & Tina organised for 'Pancreatic Cancer Ac..."Dear Lesley,
I am so sorry for the lack of good progress for your Mark and Judy. I will always have you all in my prayers, praying for a miracle. Is it even possible for a 2nd opinion? In the USA we have Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Is there an equivelent there. Or Mayo clinics? I have so much Hope for a miracle or 3. On a different subject, do you have anything planned, day trips or get togethers or anything to take all your family to? I was thinking that like the saying says "laughter is the best medicine" maybe being with family and friends sharing a nice day trip, making memories and sharing the love might make their heart, soul and mental state in a better place. It was just an idea. I know they dont feel well but maybe there is a pond or park you can go to nearby that you could feed the ducks, walk on a trail, have a picnic etc.
Take care of yourself. I am always here if you need me.
Love and hugs to you,
Jina and the girls.
Hello, friends,
I've emerged after a long weekend of wining, dining and hosting family. It was a good visit. We went for a sparkling wine tasting at the oldest winery in Sonoma County - and one of the oldest in California. The original buildings have been restored, although one of them is reported to be haunted. We didn't detect any supernatural influences, just some lovely wine on a perfect day.
Lesley, I've been following your posts about Mark & Judy, and my heart goes out to you. Please update us and know you're in our prayers.
Linda, you're doing all the right things to help yourself through this traumatic time. The right opportunity will come along and you will be stronger for it.
My editing course will be over within the month - I just have one writing assignment and the certification exam to go. Meantime, I'm messing with my novel, but enjoying it. I'll be writing again on Wednesday; tomorrow we need to go to Corte Madera, near San Francisco, on a couple of errands. That will take most of the day.
Thinking of all of you.
Paula
I've emerged after a long weekend of wining, dining and hosting family. It was a good visit. We went for a sparkling wine tasting at the oldest winery in Sonoma County - and one of the oldest in California. The original buildings have been restored, although one of them is reported to be haunted. We didn't detect any supernatural influences, just some lovely wine on a perfect day.
Lesley, I've been following your posts about Mark & Judy, and my heart goes out to you. Please update us and know you're in our prayers.
Linda, you're doing all the right things to help yourself through this traumatic time. The right opportunity will come along and you will be stronger for it.
My editing course will be over within the month - I just have one writing assignment and the certification exam to go. Meantime, I'm messing with my novel, but enjoying it. I'll be writing again on Wednesday; tomorrow we need to go to Corte Madera, near San Francisco, on a couple of errands. That will take most of the day.
Thinking of all of you.
Paula
Dear group,I have a question for all the "writers" in the group. When I go for a walk by myself when I need to be writing somethingj, I think about what I want to write and it seems I get a good part of what I want to say together in my head. I get home and start to write and it doesnt come to me like it did when I was walking. Has this ever happened to any of you? Its frustrating.
Love,
Jina
Lola wrote: "Oh Lesley, I am so sorry !!!! I remember when my Big Sister Sandra got her last diagnosis ,it was so sad, she wanted to keep fighting but there was nothing left to do. The only thing that kept me s..."My Uncle George hadnt been feeling well for a couple of months. He went to the doctor a few times to get checked out. They treated him for something minor then he had another appointment and they found out he had stage 4 Hodgekins lymphoma. They gave him 6 months. He made it 10 weeks. It all went so fast. His wife, my Aunt Donna (my moms sister) was a wreck the whole time. She couldn't stand seeing him in pain and sick. It was wearing her down as much as it was dragging him down. When he passed, he told her he was ready and she had to let him go. 3 days later he was gone peacfully in his sleep. He was a fabulous person and the family received such an outpouring of love and support that it really touched our hearts and helped with the healing. A couple months later my Aunt was telling my Mom that even though she wanted more time with him, she didnt know if she wouldve been able to handle it for much longer. She was glad he was out of pain and it gave her comfort thinking he was in heaven with their daughter who passed away at 3days old. I hope my story doesnt hurt or offend anyone. Miracles can always happen even in the bleakest of situations. Never give up the faith and hope for a miracle. As Lola said you arent alone.
I hope all is well with you. Thank you for the ecards and all your uplifting advice.
Love you,
Jina
Paula wrote: "Jina wrote: "Dear Paula, Linda, Lesley and Lola,Since yall are my friends on facebook I was able to add/invite you to a group named "Tru Figures". Its a wonderful group that shares recipes, workou..."
Dear Paula,
I had a thought. I was reading your review that spoke of a xharacter that wore shirts with sayings on them. I had a thought for what you could do. You could make a page and out up an exerpt from your book. Be it a couple pages to the first chapter and people could comment their views and opinions. I cant wait to read what you write. I was just thinking it would be a way for anyone who gets on goodreads could read and give you feedback.
BTW, I will be sending you the list of questions that I spoke of a few weeks back. Im talking about the rubric questionere. You can taylor the questions to suit your needs. I am sorry that I am late getting it to you but my scanner/printer has been messing up and I have been plagued with migraines lately. Even my hair hurts and its made seeing touch and go.
Love you,
Jina
I have been checking in but not answering . Things just got busy .Lesley,
Miracles happen. I remember that God answers prayer but the answer is not always what we want. My Aunt Ninette, who you all prayed for and she passed did not know but when they biopsied from the surgery she was full of cancer. God healed her by taking her home. This place is a temporary home.
That being said Judy and Mark s need to have good things around and to make good memories with those they love. I had a 2nd cousin who had a brain aneurysm and she acted like she could not do anything for 20 years. It is a reminder that we al need to enjoy and cherish everyday.
Be good to yourself and make time to enjoy Judy and Mark and keep praying for a miracle. I will.
Jina and Linda
Jina are so right about Linda. It is important to be honest with yourself but to keep trying and picking yourself up. Little steps will get you where you need to go.
Lola,
The lake sounds wonderful.
I better go and finish a couple of things so I can get some sleep.
Paula,
I want a vacation too. Take pictures.
Well Jina,Your North Carolina Tarheels just beat the tar out of our Gonzaga Bulldogs. (Sigh) We are just happy we made it to the championship. It is quite an honor. Gonzaga only lost 2 games all season and thoes were at the end of the season. Congratulations your guys played a great game. We live for March Madness around here. When we lived in Spokane the the whole city practicaly shut down for Gonzaga games. lol
Thank you for your encouraging words. I am doing somewhat better on this new medication. I haven't been to the store alone yet but I will get there.
I have been looking at fabric for Heathers' wheelchair bag. When I was visiting my parents my Mom insisted I bring home some of the arsenal of fabric she has stored in her sewing room. I found some white and pink pinstripe in my closet and some solid pink.
I think I will try making it with the solid pink and use the pink and white stripe for the contrast. We will see how it turns out. There's nothing lost if it flops.
I am trying to get things organized in my house. I bought some glass jars and I am putting my food staples in them on my countertop. I am going to purge this place of the clutter and clean it from top to bottom. I think it will be more relaxing if I do. I am feeling more like doing things so maybe I will be able to follow through with my plans this time. I am not setting a completion date, just taking it one day at a time.
I have my first therapy session this Thursday. I hope it goes well and I can get on track with goals and learn some techniques for managing the anxiety.
I will let you know when I start the sewing project.
Give my love to the girls and please take care of yourself.
I really wish you would have your eyes checked by a opthamologist. Think about it okay?
Love ya Linda
Hi Ladies, thank you all for you prayers & thought, you are all amazing always thinking about & doing things for others. I don't do well with craft projects as I'm more of a practical type of person. Just wish I could motivate myself to get on with something but at the moment I always feel as if I'm in the wrong place but cann't be in the two places I want to be at the same time.In respect of Judy & Mark we keep in touch daily & try & see each other as much as possible but it's a bit difficult to meet regularly as we all live in different parts of the country. I'm hoping to see Judy Easter weekend as it is planned that she will come & stay with her daughter at the coast, about 20 minutes away from us. Our eldest son, John & his family are planning to visit Mark that weekend as well so hopefully there will be some happy moments then. We also have a family event planned for our Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May. Love & hugs to you all xx
Jina wrote: "Dear group,
I have a question for all the "writers" in the group. When I go for a walk by myself when I need to be writing something, I think about what I want to write and it seems I get a good p..."
The inspiration to write hits me every time I go for a relaxing walk. My characters talk in my head; they give me dialogue I need to remember. New plot lines emerge, or problems with the manuscript present themselves in a new light. It's one of the reasons walking is so helpful for creativity. That said, what I do now is to take my phone in my pocket and stop long enough to write things down so that when I get home I can remember them! It works. Even if the ideas seem lame later on, I keep the notes because I never know when I'll be able to use them.
Some writers dictate into their phones, but I don't like the sound of my own voice, plus the dog looks at me strangely....so I make notes!
Hope that helps!
P
I have a question for all the "writers" in the group. When I go for a walk by myself when I need to be writing something, I think about what I want to write and it seems I get a good p..."
The inspiration to write hits me every time I go for a relaxing walk. My characters talk in my head; they give me dialogue I need to remember. New plot lines emerge, or problems with the manuscript present themselves in a new light. It's one of the reasons walking is so helpful for creativity. That said, what I do now is to take my phone in my pocket and stop long enough to write things down so that when I get home I can remember them! It works. Even if the ideas seem lame later on, I keep the notes because I never know when I'll be able to use them.
Some writers dictate into their phones, but I don't like the sound of my own voice, plus the dog looks at me strangely....so I make notes!
Hope that helps!
P
OK Ladies I have waited 3 weeks to tell you about this body lotion, until I knew it worked and it does! I know I am way older than most of you , I was getting what I call reptile skin , my old body lotion wasn't working . I saw an ad for Gold Bond Ultimate Skin Therapy Lotion, Strength & Resilience ,and thought I would give it a try, it works great . My skin no longer looks like scales ,it is smooth . I couldn't believe it. Now I hope it keeps working. Love, Lola
Lola, thank you!!!! My skin is so dry!! I'll try it!
Linda wrote: "Well Jina,Your North Carolina Tarheels just beat the tar out of our Gonzaga Bulldogs. (Sigh) We are just happy we made it to the championship. It is quite an honor. Gonzaga only lost 2 games all s..."
Hello Linda,
I watched the game too. Both sides showed a lot of talent. They were closely matched and it was a nail biter ending, which is the best. Maybe next year will be Gonzagas year. My Moms bracket had Gonzaga winning it all.
The fabric sounds lovely. We have been super busy tthis week with appointments. We have had 10 appointments since Monday. Somehow during the night Saturday night Heather broke her finger. Its her middle finger on her left hand. Her left hand is contracted since the heart attack and she can only use her thumb, index and middle finger in that hand. I feel so guilty. I dont know how it happened. The doctor called yesterday after reading the xrays and said its a break they see when someone has punched something. But they said they know Heather doesnt have much strength and that we are gentle with her so its their theory that during one of Heathers bad heart rythyms she jolted and her finger may have been bend backwards or something like that. She had 12 bad heart rythyms in the last week. Mostly during the night. They haven't done anything about her finger which is swollen and black and blue. We are to keep icing it and give her ibuprofen for the swelling. They are making her an appointment with orthopedics. They are worried that her bones might be brittle or that her medications is leeching the calcium out of her bones. This is her first broken bone but her sister Sarah has had 8 broken bones so far. The girls Fabrys disease plus their Ehlers Danlos has the dr worried so I see a bone density test in Heathers immediate future. Since her skin is fragile I am trying to sew a "case" for the ice pack. I am sure the wheelchair tote will be perfect and so lovely. Heather adores pink.
I hope your appointment goes well. You are getting stronger all the time. Organizing your space is always like a breath of fresh air. I am not good at decorating or feng shui. People that have that talent are so lucky. Sam is helping me design something for you. It should be finished today so I cant wait to show you. I hope youll like it. :)
Got to run. Heathers needing more medicine. Hugs to you,
Jina
Paula wrote: "Jina wrote: "Dear group,I have a question for all the "writers" in the group. When I go for a walk by myself when I need to be writing something, I think about what I want to write and it seems I ..."
Dear Paula,
I hope you have a fabulous trip! I hope the weather cooperates and you are safe while traveling. My sister Joni got to go "work" in Hawaii for 2 weeks three times a year for 6 years. It was planting and testing seed corn at the test plots for Mycogen and BASF. Her company downsized and she was let go. She enjoyed "working" outside in such a beautiful place. The company always rented her a house to stay in and provided a rental car and per diem money for meals, gas and supplies. Her workday was over between 2-3 in the afternoon so she was always able to go hiking, snorkeling, whale watching or sight seeing. She took tons of pictures and make many friends there. She always took the time to visit the USS Arizona and pay her respects. I am so glad she had that awesome opportunity. Enjoy your trip and keep us updated.
Hugs to you,
Jina and the girls
Lola wrote: "OK Ladies I have waited 3 weeks to tell you about this body lotion, until I knew it worked and it does! I know I am way older than most of you , I was getting what I call reptile skin , my old body..."Hi Big Sis,
I will definitely try it! I have been looking for a good lotion for the last couple of years. Where did you buy it from? Love you. I hope all is going great with you.
Jina and the girls
Lesley wrote: "Hi Ladies, thank you all for you prayers & thought, you are all amazing always thinking about & doing things for others. I don't do well with craft projects as I'm more of a practical type of perso..."Hello Lesley,
I am thinking of you and praying for you and your family. Keep us posted. I wish I could do something. So far I haven't received the fabric I ordered yet but it should be here anytime.
Love and hugs to you,
Jina and the girls
Melinda wrote: "I have been checking in but not answering . Things just got busy .Lesley,
Miracles happen. I remember that God answers prayer but the answer is not always what we want. My Aunt Ninette, who you a..."
Hello Melinda,
So glad you could pop in and post a note. I have been wondering where you have been and what you are up to. I know you keep busy but we miss you when you're away for a long time.
Hows work going? Are you reading anything now? Take care and stop in again soon.
Hugs,
Jina and the girls
Hello everyone!
We are less than 24 hours from departure and I am at DEFCON Yellow. Lol. I get a little crazy before a major trip. I'll be fine once we are safely on the plane and even better after we check in and can relax. I'll post photos on Facebook.
I hope everyone stays safe and well and that this Easter season renews us all. I will be thinking of you. I'm going to try to limit my time online but I will follow discussions when I can.
Hugs to all of you.
x
We are less than 24 hours from departure and I am at DEFCON Yellow. Lol. I get a little crazy before a major trip. I'll be fine once we are safely on the plane and even better after we check in and can relax. I'll post photos on Facebook.
I hope everyone stays safe and well and that this Easter season renews us all. I will be thinking of you. I'm going to try to limit my time online but I will follow discussions when I can.
Hugs to all of you.
x
Jina wrote: "Lola wrote: "OK Ladies I have waited 3 weeks to tell you about this body lotion, until I knew it worked and it does! I know I am way older than most of you , I was getting what I call reptile skin ..."Hi Little Sis,
I got the lotion at Walmart, it was a little more than their others , this is the first time that I have tried Gold Bond . I was really surprised it work so well. Are you getting any of that crazy weather ? All the tornadoes this early in the year is just too much, may be our "political climate " is screwing with the climate, twisting everything around. and we will all end up in OZ. It almost got to 70 today ,even the wind felt good not cold. I am planting my peas tomorrow ,if the weather holds up .There is nothing better than fresh dug baby potatoes and fresh picked peas ,in that great butter I get. Making my mouth water lol. Love Ya & the girls !!!!
I got the sweetest card from Emily today , what an " Angel" ! lol I will treasure it forever ! Love Lola
Jina,you asked what I was reading. I have sent a recommend to yo and a few others because you have talked about motorcycles.
I am currently reading the second book because I am on his readers list. The book is
The Road King Chronicles: Blue Ridge Run
by Harry Harrigan
The first book which that is a little slow in the beginning but it worth reading thru that slow start.
Hello everyone,Lesley, I hope there is good news to share. I have been praying and worrying since you haven't posted in a while.
Linda, I hope your anxiety is getting better and that you are making positive strides everyday. Praying for you as well. I know you can overcome this.
Melinda! So glad you posred. I was wondering where you were hiding. Thanks for the book recommendations too.
Big Sis Lola, I hope you are having fun playing in the dirt and getting outside. Miss you and your posts.
Paula, thank you so much for sharing some fantastic pictures of your trip and sending me that link I asked for. I emailed the reading ruhbric to you. Let me know that you received it and if it opened ok. Also if you want changes I can do that too.
I was going to get on yesterday but I was in a bad car accident. I was rear ended by a dodge 250 pickup pulling a trailer hauling a bobcat. According to the cop, he thinks the man was going 45-50 mph when he hit me. We were lucky to still have the reese hitch on because I would've gotten more damage than we did and I was alone so I am so blessed that the girls werent with me. I had my seat belt on so my shoulder is sore and my right cheek hurts and the bridge of my nosr hurts but the rest of me is ok.
I have a question for whoever wants to answer. Is your childhood mistakes forgiven for being young and foolish or should a person as a grown up seek out the forgiveness or say "do you remember that ball game we went to when I was 6 and you were 4 and I ate most of our popcorn? I am so sorry. " If your thinking this is a trivial mistake and not whats got me concerned you would be partly correct. I have a cousin, Trish, who is 2 years younger than me. When we were little she would do things and blame it on me. My brothers always babied her but if I wanted to tag along they got upset at being my "babysitter". So at the time I didnt want to spend time or play with my cousin. When we got older it was better and now we talk just fine. She really matured and is a lovely person. But sometimes I feel bad that I didnt want to play with her when we were little. I shouldve put my big girl panties on and realized the things she did was just her "mistakes" that we all learn growing up. I started thinking about this stuff when i was reading a friends post on facebook. She was posting about her being sorry about a situation that happened years earlier and she was feeling guilty about how it was handled and she wanted to clear the air. One comment was to not air differences or apologies on Facebook. I agree that thats not the place for many tgings i see on Facebook. But I felt too that being she wasnt blaming anyone and just saying she was sorry about it, I was glad she got it off her chest and that maybe someone who has been upset with her about it or other things , it might open the door for healing. But what do you all think? Are you forgiven or does certain mistakes fall under learning experiences and forgiven or forgotten? Or is it best for everyone to do like my friend and try to clear the air? Thanks for your thoughts. I hope you all have a terrific Easter weekend/spring break.
Love to all,
Jina and the girls
Ps. Whats everyones Easter/spring break traditions?
Dear Little Sis,So sorry to hear about the accident. Glad you were not hurt worse. About the things that happened when you were a child, most of us do not even remember things that happened back then. I had a cousin that was a spoiled brat , her father was the rich one in the family and they never let anyone forget it. None of us wanted to play with her. As life goes she became a truck driver lol. I haven't spoken to her in probably 50 years, and it doesn't bother me a bit. So if it will make You feel better have a conversation with her, about all the things kids do that hurt others and how they feel bad about them when they grow up . And that you are sorry if you did anything to hurt her when you were kids.
We don't do much for Easter since there are no small children in our family, and we do not belong to a Church. I did buy a Ham today and will have it Sunday with Jen and Bill.
I turned the chicken pen into a pea garden , I planted peas around the fence inside the garden ,then I made 2 more rows with tall wire fencing inside the enclosure. I was thinking of painting a sign for it " Welcome to Lola's pea garden ,come on in and take a pea !" ;D lol Love, Lola
Lola - You made me laugh out loud, alone with my laptop, and now the other people on the "lanai" think I'm certifiably nuts. Or possibly Mai Tai High. LOL.
Jina - I'm relieved you aren't hurt - but I bet you're sore today. Those rear-enders have after-effects that can make you feel like the truck ran over you personally. Don't do any heavy lifting for a few days, my friend.
As to your other question: All children and adolescents do things they're not proud of. It's a function of their developing brain. If I remember correctly, our sense of right and wrong, our compassion, and our ability to reason doesn't mature until adolescence. I don't think we can judge our acts as children by our values as adults. I certainly don't believe God does.
Of course, if you are heavily burdened by guilt or regret, that can be damaging to you and to your relationships. So do what your heart tells you. Speaking from personal opinion it might mean more if handled privately. rather than on social media, where everybody in the world can see it, including bullies and trolls.
As for Easter, my father died around Easter and it's always a painful week for me when it falls in mid-April. With mom gone now, and the children grown, I just don't feel the joy of the day the way I once did. I made an Easter basket for Layla and sent it off before we left for our trip, and that was fun. This year, we're traveling home on Easter Sunday so it's going to be a big departure from the quiet day we usually spend together.
The trip continues to be a dream come true. We have three nights left here, so tomorrow we're going to Waimea Canyon. Yesterday we went to the North Shore and drove to the end of the road that leads to the Na Pali coast. It's beautiful here, and much slower paced than the other Hawaiian islands. I've been writing. Being near the water makes me feel alive; being IN the water unleashes something in me that I can't explain. I hope to draw on these memories when reality comes pounding at the door on Monday!
Take care, everyone. I'm off to find Ray and get ready for supper.
P
Jina - I'm relieved you aren't hurt - but I bet you're sore today. Those rear-enders have after-effects that can make you feel like the truck ran over you personally. Don't do any heavy lifting for a few days, my friend.
As to your other question: All children and adolescents do things they're not proud of. It's a function of their developing brain. If I remember correctly, our sense of right and wrong, our compassion, and our ability to reason doesn't mature until adolescence. I don't think we can judge our acts as children by our values as adults. I certainly don't believe God does.
Of course, if you are heavily burdened by guilt or regret, that can be damaging to you and to your relationships. So do what your heart tells you. Speaking from personal opinion it might mean more if handled privately. rather than on social media, where everybody in the world can see it, including bullies and trolls.
As for Easter, my father died around Easter and it's always a painful week for me when it falls in mid-April. With mom gone now, and the children grown, I just don't feel the joy of the day the way I once did. I made an Easter basket for Layla and sent it off before we left for our trip, and that was fun. This year, we're traveling home on Easter Sunday so it's going to be a big departure from the quiet day we usually spend together.
The trip continues to be a dream come true. We have three nights left here, so tomorrow we're going to Waimea Canyon. Yesterday we went to the North Shore and drove to the end of the road that leads to the Na Pali coast. It's beautiful here, and much slower paced than the other Hawaiian islands. I've been writing. Being near the water makes me feel alive; being IN the water unleashes something in me that I can't explain. I hope to draw on these memories when reality comes pounding at the door on Monday!
Take care, everyone. I'm off to find Ray and get ready for supper.
P
Hope everyone is enjoying Easter as much as possible, unfortunately when we get to our ages so many things, good & bad have happened across the years that it is not always the happy event it should be. Jina, I feel for you, when is your run of bad look going to end.
Paula you look as if you have been having a lovely break.
Judy & Mark update: Unfortunately not particularly good news at present but we are still hanging in there. Judy came to stay with me & her daughter for the Easter weekend, arriving with me on Wednesday but her husband had to come & fetcher her home again today as she started suffering with extreme pain which we couldn't regulate with her pain meds & she needed to be home nearer her medical team in case she needs to be hospitalised. We where up with her all night last night trying to keep her comfortable after trying to regulate pain all day yesterday, so are very tired today. She has arrived back home safely & out of hours Dr on his way to see her so hopefully her pain will soon be under control again.
Mark has been in his local Hospice receiving pain management & yesterday he was back at the hospital having about 8 pints of fluid remved from his stomach. He is sore today but alot more comfortable. His brother John, his wife & three children have gone to visit him this weekend so hopefully that will give him a boost even if it is emotional & tireing.
I personally had a 'melt down' about them both earlier last week but seem to have come through after talking to a Macmillian Cancer Nurse Counsellor for over an hour.
Love to all xx
ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR !!!!!! Why can't my Hubby ever listen to me and do what I ask ????????????????????????He wanted to get the wood for my raised bed garden , I was getting ready to go in the shower , I told him I want cedar only cedar, he comes back with pine. So I guess I am going with pine since he had the guy cut the side pieces . Love You, not so much him right now ,Lola
Lesley wrote: "Hope everyone is enjoying Easter as much as possible, unfortunately when we get to our ages so many things, good & bad have happened across the years that it is not always the happy event it should..."
Lesley, I can imagine that this Easter will be a difficult one for you. My heart goes out to you, Mark and Judy. As a nurse, and as a daughter who lost her father to cancer, I can feel the anguish in your message. God be with you all.
Lola - you made me laugh again. Ray has to write everything down when I ask him to pick something up. And then I have to fight the urge to kill him when he comes home with something less expensive because he compares prices on EVERYTHING. Not that it's a bad thing, but you'd think after 27 years, he'd know better than to do it with the stuff on my list! LOL.
I'm on a breezy patio right now and it's another gorgeous day in paradise. I'm getting ready to write while I can - Ray's session will be out in an hour and it's back to being a wife and not a writer.
Love you guys.
Paula
Lesley, I can imagine that this Easter will be a difficult one for you. My heart goes out to you, Mark and Judy. As a nurse, and as a daughter who lost her father to cancer, I can feel the anguish in your message. God be with you all.
Lola - you made me laugh again. Ray has to write everything down when I ask him to pick something up. And then I have to fight the urge to kill him when he comes home with something less expensive because he compares prices on EVERYTHING. Not that it's a bad thing, but you'd think after 27 years, he'd know better than to do it with the stuff on my list! LOL.
I'm on a breezy patio right now and it's another gorgeous day in paradise. I'm getting ready to write while I can - Ray's session will be out in an hour and it's back to being a wife and not a writer.
Love you guys.
Paula
Lesley ,As someone who has been where you are I feel your pain. My Sister Sandra was the best Big Sis you could have ask for, so funny and always there to help, I was so lucky to have her as long as God desired . Know we are here for you always ! Love Lola
Hello everyone.I'm sorry to have been absent lately. I have been having issues with my medications. I just got home from seeing the doctor and she has changed my dosage to see if it helps. I sure hope it does because I am tired of this roller coaster ride, I want off.
Sounds like I have missed a lot. I will be praying for you all. Lesley I'm sorry to hear about Judy I pray she is able to find comfort from the pain. Jina, praying you heal quickly and thankful you have no serious injuries. Your guardian angel must have been you co-pilot. Lola, I am praying you don't kill Wolf. lol
My husband took me to LaConner, WA yesterday to see the tulips. They have a festival every year when the tulips bloom. They are late in blooming this year but there were a few fields ready to view and they are just gorgeous. I posted some photos on our site here. I will try to post more later, my computer is kind of slow downloading. The town is so quaint. I was thinking of Eternity Springs the whole time we were walking around there. So many little shops, a glass gallery, an art gallery, a bakery, etc. all brought memories of our favorite fictional town. It is coastal so there were no mountain passes but other than that it seemed quite familiar.
Hope tomorrow brings a better day for us all. Paula, we are all living vicariously through you right now, lol, so have a wonderful time and sending prayers for safe journeys.
Love to you all
Linda
I tried talking to Ray about the issues I have with the pending review...just making small-talk. He got that glazed-over look in his eyes that made me laugh out loud. He doesn't enjoy reading, and I do all his writing for him, so it was absurd to even bring it up. I've decided to mention a few things VERY gently in my review and take responsibility for them, recognizing that having an editing background makes me pickier and thus easily distracted by small details that other readers might just as easily overlook. I'll also make mention that 3rd person POV can be a difficult thing to pull off...but emphasize all the good points about the characters and the story.
For some reason, reviews are not coming easily to me right now, so as soon as I can, I think I'll take a break and just read for pure pleasure. If you're reading something you love - or don't - chime in!
Paula