Time out for Tuesday

Tuesday brought me a retro 50's dining room set for my garage sale. Anyone looking for bright yellow? Four chairs and the table.  Things are coming together for that.

Breakfast was returned at the restaurant this morning. I hate hard eggs. They were kind and took it off my bill. I am tired of eating out. (Wait did I say that?)

It was a beautiful breezy day. Most of the top of my refrigerator is cleared off. Making ready for the new one. I can hardly wait. I am ready to start cooking again.

I will be making another baby layette. It's about time I got to make for a girl. Most of the ones I've made this year have been for boys. They are far outnumbering the girls in 2011.

I have all eleven chapters in my current work in progress rewritten. I have no excuse now I have to get back to work. I need at least two more chapters done this week. I am almost done with the book I am reading for review. I'm ready to get that written and sent to the author. I'll post it here, too. Then I have two more awaiting my attention.

Sometimes it's not good to over book. I am overbooked at the moment. I have forgotten to allow time for life. I have lots going on in my life. Never a dull moment.

Thursday I go pick up my granddaughter to help me with the garage sale. She is a big help when she comes. I promised her a trip to see her aunt at the lake cabin and possibly a movie. We'll see how that goes. What ever happens I know the two of us will have fun.

TTFN

Monday Monday

The weather has given us a break in lower humidity. I'll take that. As Monday's go this one has not been too bad.

I found myself at the doctor's this afternoon. I am on blood pressure medication number four. Am praying that this is the magic number. The last one did not bring my pressure down and did not allow me to sleep. I have an aversion to being the energizer bunny 24/7. Even the bunny gets to rest once in a while.

I am getting things ready to set up a garage sale. Thursday I go pick up my garage sale assistant, my granddaughter, Megan is coming up. We will finish the set up that day and be ready to go on Friday morning. We will repeat the process again on Sat. Sunday I will take her back home.

My new refrigerator is also being delivered on Friday. I am looking forward to that. I will not be sad to see this one go. It has had a long life and served me well. It was a hand-me-down when it came to me, so I know we got our money's worth.

Spent yesterday at a baby shower for a cousin. Getting together with family is always fun. The heat did not deter us from having a good time. I picked Mom up so she wouldn't have to drive. We could not believe the round about way my GPS led us to our destination. Just what I wanted was to travel a multitude of dirt roads. I was not out trail riding after all. (Haven't done that in a long time...which is a shame.)

Hope all is well with you.

TTFN

Irate and Irritated

I live in the country. I have almost three acres of land. I don't bother my neighbors. I keep to myself. I expect the same. However it is 2:30 in the morning and my neighbor to the east of me...who has his own two acres I might add...decided that tonight would be a good night to try out his motorcycle on my property. Yes, I called the police. Yes, they came out. No, they did not catch him. Why? I've never done anything to this person. I barely know him.

Those who know me, know I have issues with motorcycles. I hate them. I don't want them around. If you choose to ride them, ride them far away. That's me. I don't make trouble for people who ride them. I don't tailgate them when they are on the roadways, nor do I play chicken with them. In fact, I am more cautious when I see a cyclist.

For one thing it's rude an inconsiderate to be tearing up someone else's property. It's even worse when it's 2 o'clock in the morning. I just wanted to sleep.

When you live in a neighborhood where most of the people are elderly, it's really not very nice to do this kind of stuff. This neighbor doesn't seem to care. He's just one big party boy. For someone pushing forty, he needs to do some serious growing up. I will continue calling the police. If I had his phone number I'd be calling him every time he woke me up. Then I'd call him again at the crack of dawn, to make sure he was awakened from his sleep. Just leave me alone.

Done ranting for the moment.

TTFN

Looking for Women Writers in Michigan

I am the Northeast Michigan Representative for IWWG-International Women's Writing Guild. The Guild has a presence on Facebook.

I am looking for women writers. I don't care if you join the Guild, that is your option. What I am looking for is women who want to network, get together and talk about works in progress, get feedback on your work,  and in general supporting each other as we journey on the path of writing. The only thing required of you is a willingness to meet, possibly host a writing get together, and join in the fun.

Here's what you have to do: Check out The International Women's Writing Guild- IWWG on Facebook, check out NE MI International Women's Writing Guild Meeting Place on Facebook, or post me a message on this blog.  I know you are out there. Give me a holler and let me know where you are. I'll be happy to coordinate the meeting place for the first meeting.

Bring your writing, paper and pen or pencil, and be ready for a good time. I'm waiting to hear from you.

TTFN

Another Steamy Day

Heat advisory ends tonight. While we will still have summer temps, we are losing the humidity. I will not miss that. I prefer cooler nights for sleeping.

It's been a non-productive day. Some days are just like that. I spent a couple of hours with my sister at her cottage. Spending time with my sister is always good. We have grown closer as we have gotten older. This is a good thing.

Stopped in at Central Office to see if they had any empty boxes. No such luck. It is good to be able to stop in and know that I am not facing getting a classroom ready. While I sometimes miss the kids and the staff, I do not miss the everyday drama, pettiness, and politics that go with education today. Government has sucked all the fun out of it with their foolish mandates.

I will rewrite chapter four before going to bed tonight. While the temps have cooled outside, it has not yet cooled inside. It will be a while before I can sleep.

Hope everyone has a good Friday.

TTFN

Wild and Wacky Wednesday

Are we hot yet?  The day started early because who can sleep when it's hot? That's okay, I got a lot done this morning. A box of books packed for the nursing home. A bag of books delivered to the other nursing home. I located my 2 lb. weights for lifting. All laundry is done. Still finding things for the garage sale. Have a date for the sale.

July 29 and 30 we are selling things from my garage!!!!! Picking up my granddaughter the day before to give me a hand and returning her on Sunday.

Chapter 3 got rewrites done. I am keeping at that. Seven more to go then I can start writing again. Sent chapter 11 off to a writer friend for critique.

I've read the first chapter of Wendy Robbins book, Why Marry a Millionaire? Just Become One. So far I have learned that I am passionate, compassionate, and creative and that's not working for me. I am becoming a courageous, passionate, and take-action-now person. My mantra has become: If it's to be, it's up to me. I will be tackling chapter 2 next.

Had a nice lunch with Mom and Dad today. I am working on getting my kitchen cupboards all cleaned off. That way Dad can install a back splash. The only thing that will be left to do in the kitchen will be to put in a range hood.  I am still packing up things and pitching things. Today I shredded four grocery bags (the plastic ones) of documents that I no longer need. Yeah!!!! Jamie will not have to do this when I'm gone. Downsizing is energizing. The clutter is going.

I mailed off copies of Wendy Robbins' books to my daughter and her best friend. I have delivered the other one to a friend. I am really excited to make the changes that lead to prosperity.

Did a bit of shopping at K-Mart, stopped in at Glen's for groceries. Things just came together today. These are the kinds of days I enjoy.

TTfn

Better Late Than Not at All

Sleep has been slow in coming with the heat. Even when I do sleep it's not restful. I don't mind hot in the day, but I like cool for sleeping. I feel like I've been behind the eight ball all day.

Dishes got done, some laundry got done, I packed up four garbage bags of clothing for the garage sale, did a little grocery shopping, picked up the mail, typical any day. Nothing special.

I ordered the book 'Why Marry a Millionaire? Just Become One' by Wendy Robbins. I am hooked. This is the jump start I need to make positive change in my life. I need to see my own worth before I can expect others to see it. So, my new mantra is: If it's meant to be, it's up to me. I will be repeating that frequently to remind myself that I can do anything I set out to do.

I managed to get one chapter rewritten today. I had hoped to get a second one done, I might yet start it tonight. I find I am not tired.

I am fired up about having a garage sale in the next couple of weeks. I am ready for the stuff I've been amassing to be gone. I need the space for other things. I am trying to reclaim the house for myself as well as potential buyers. I still have projects to finish and have my check list that I cross things off the list every day. That feels good. Each thing done is one thing less to do when it's sold.

I had a friend drop in tonight. She had not seen my new wood floors or my spare room since it was finished. She was impressed. She can see where my house would make a good starter house for a young family. She did not realize how much property I have. Two point eight acres is no small amount. I have just enough to be country, but am close enough to a major freeway and just three miles from downtown. Just enough to be out of town and still be close to shopping, dining, and the cinema.

Hope everyone is staying cool in the heat wave. We are under a heat advisory until Friday. Outside work will not be something I'm doing for the next couple of days. Which is fine, because there is plenty to do inside.

TTFN

Just Another Manic Monday

I'm retired. Monday should just be another day. Why is it that the last two have been awful? Last week it was AT& T and Life Alert. Today it was Life Alert again, and the doctor.

Let's start with the doctor. Okay last month he said I have high blood pressure. I've had it before, so it's possible. Well the two meds we have tried have had bad side effects. So he writes a prescription for a third one. I drop the subscription off at Wal-Mart and go to breakfast. (That was a fiasco I will not take on today). I returned to Wal-Mart, picked up the things I needed for a baby shower on Sunday and went to get my meds. Well, they don't carry it and won't have it in until tomorrow and when it comes in it will cost me $36 over what my insurance will pay...I don't think so. I went home and called the doctor's office. He called in something different. This med was more reasonably priced, however, when I read about it I was afraid to even take it. I did, but I'm no less frightened.

From there I moved to the new contract from Life Alert. Ok. It will now cost me $29.95/mo. Hmmm...did they tell me that they were going to bill me quarterly???? NO. So, I called. I'm done with them. I was going to be reasonable as they already had $59.95 and that should have covered July and August so bill me quarterly beginning in Sept. I could live with that. No, they were billing me in August. There is no refund for the extra $30. So, cancel my account. I spoke to four gentlemen in their "retention" department. Each time I told them I wanted to cancel my account they put me on hold for someone else. The fourth guy said, "Just pack up our stuff and send it back and you will be cancelled." I had already done that last week. I want the mobile cancelled. He says there's a penalty for that. "You will be charged 6 times the monthly bill." I very politely told him he was full of shit and hung up. DO NOT EVER GET LIFE ALERT. Their whole game is to rip-off unsuspecting senior citizens. Check into Phillips Lifeline or ADT's service (ADT by the way offers AARP discounts). I'm sure there are other companies, these are just two other options. I have no idea what they cost, but they have to be better.

So, I have fired up my personal taser, watch out come Taser Tuesday. I am armed and dangerous. In the meantime, I will be working on rewrites of the first ten chapters of book two in my series. Then going on to write more.

TTFN

Hot Summer Day

No, I'm not complaining. This is what summer is all about. The heat, humidity, and just plain hot weather.  In spite of that I have accomplished a few things. I've packed up two crates of scrapbook supplies. I've emptied a box that will work for packing a tea pot or two. I've almost emptied a box of junk...not sure why I still had it. It too will make a good packing box.

I am in the process of listing all the books that I will donate to a local nursing home for their library. I am hoping they will get lots of use. It will be the second load of books I have taken to them.

I am slowly getting rid of the things that have taken up residence in my upstairs bedroom. Most will be pitched or  sold in a garage sale. Sometimes I wonder why I wanted to keep these things in the first place. Cleaning out 24 years of accumulation is not an easy task. I have outgrown or lost interest in some of the things. Others, well I just cannot explain. I am so looking forward to a garage sale.

Tomorrow I will begin the rewrites on the first ten chapters of the book I am currently writing. Then I will reread chapter 11 and continue writing. With any luck, I will have it well underway by the time my current book comes out. That will be an accomplishment. I'd like to have this one finished and to the publisher by Christmas for release in the spring. That means I will be working on the third in the series while I'm wintering in warm weather. :)

Not much exciting in my life at the moment.

TTFN

Big Day

Just afternoon and my book submission has been sent to the publisher. I now have to wait for them to decide if I am what they are looking for. I so hate waiting.

To keep myself occupied, I am going to toss in a load of laundry and pack up some things from my upstairs. I have books to get ready to take to one of the nursing homes and scrapbook supplies to pack up. I'm sure there is more around here I can do and I will find it. Getting  a house ready for sale is not a one day job.

I skipped blogging yesterday to finish working on my manuscript. I had some exciting news on Thursday. One of my Facebook friends has gone away for the week-end to work on her memoir. We talked for hours as she has never written anything but a blog before. She was asking me how to get started and the steps she should be taking. I truly enjoy being able to encourage and mentor those who have a desire to write. I think memoirs are one of the hardest things a person can write. They are memories of a childhood or part of a life. Because they involve other people, I think it would be hard to be objective. I admire those people willing to open themselves up and share those parts of their life. I will stick to writing fiction where the characters are not real and no one will step up to say they remembered it differently.

I also have book two in my series to get back to work on. I can do rewrites on the first ten chapters. Chapter eleven is written and I can continue working on the rest. I am as excited about this book as the one I just finished. I've never carried my characters over into other books, mine have always been stand alone.  While each of the books in this series will stand on it's own, they have the same characters in the same town. New experiences for writers are good things. I continue to work on making my work better.

Well, I need to get busy.

TTFN

Less Productive Day

While I have the first 23 chapters of rewrites done on my novel, I did not make as much headway in my home. I was able to get a box of books packed up for my niece. That means she has two here. I have a pile that I need to make a list of before I cart them off to the nursing home.

I will be packing up my scrapbook supplies as soon as I finish this post. I want things done and I know they are not going to do themselves.  I've made a list and am crossing things off as they get done. I am ready to have my garage sale. Once that stuff is gone I can start putting more stuff out to get rid of. I cannot believe some of this stuff even got saved. I will be glad to see it gone.

I've not seen the friendly little ground hog today. That makes me feel better. I'm still avoiding the breezeway. I doubt he came back in, but I cringe at the thought he was even there. Guess he was just curious. I've not seen one around here in years.

Time for me to get busy. It's been a long day.

TTFn