What a day!! Lost my train of thought in middle of scene this morning cuz of my allergy meds. Then my 11yo gets up and he's not feeling well, mostly allergy crap, I think, so we had easy school day. (Yes, we do school on Saturdays, and no, we don't stop for the summer.) I hate it when I can't remember where my brilliance was taking me. Of course, it would have been brilliant. All the lost ideas are fantastic. It's like a rule somewhere. This story just sort of came to me the other day, so the idea is a new shiny and I'm still ironing out the issues :) It's going to be a short/novella. I think. It's SUPPOSED to be anyway. Something to work on whilst I figure out the other things on Search for Sorren.
Roll call for this week: Worked on Search for Sorren (editing AND writing), one of the shorts, a paragraph/idea for the other, and my garden, and crocheted. And where are all those projects?
Search for Sorren: WC 57,737 and 113 pages edited.
Short#1: 6,575 words, and research done on area and some wild animals, and hunting seasons.
Short#2: 94 words, and some ideas, may end up elsewhere as start for novel #3 in the series.
Midwife's Moon: Currently out for edits by CP, staying steady at 20,655, with CP saying first two pages do good job of setting up tension, etc so that's good news :D
Crocheted: Afghan #1: 35%ish (had to redo 1%ish cuz of mistake a few rows back. I probably could have fixed it, but I'm anal retentive when it comes to my arts and crafts.
Afghans 2&3 still at 1%
And, I'm forgetting something... I learned how to do a google document for the style sheet for my The War of the Weres series :) I did said style sheet. More networking/marketing things done as I get reviews, interviews set up. Kinda stalled until my review copies are ready :) Ran invites on my FB author link. Hadn't done that since I set things up.
OH and I ran. And lost weight/inches. *throws confetti*
While running, I had some thoughts. First one, inclines. I have them. Lots. I always kind of thought of it as flat. Well, when I'm in a car, it is mostly flat. I did some magic awesomeness on map my run and saw my inclines. one of them is 16ft over course of about .1 mile, maybe .15ish. Idk. But anyway, 16 ft over .1 isn't that steep, it isn't. Not like my running partner who does a 36 ft hill (and it's apparently not the only hill, or she does it twice or something)
Now, when I first started runnin, I ran to a specific place, then back, then the rest of the run/walk intervals along an actual flat tenth of a mile, back and forth. Well, I got up to 2.7 miles doing that. I had my bits of inclines, but more than half on pure flat. I decided I need to push it harder, get stronger, so I went a bit further up an obvious incline, then back, and again, running on the flat to finish up my time. Well one day, I wanted to really push myself. I ran/walked 2.9 miles, a different route which takes me around an orchard. And guess what? The last .9 miles is all up hill. A gradual hill. But let me tell you, when you're a newbie to running and the last bit is all up hill... yeah.
Now, I go so that one mile of my run is up and down a couple strong inclines, as my everyday run. I'm making 2+ miles so I'm happy. But I got to thinking, as a writer, when we don't know of the bumbs, the problems, the inclines that we face going into writing, it can seem like all flat land, or smooth sailing, to mix my metaphors. But, as we go along, we find out, there's some hard parts in this. You've maybe forgotten grammar you knew, you found out you had to learn to write a query letter, and the days of a writer being a hermit and the publishing house doing the majority of the work (except actually signing the books ;P) are long gone. You have to become a computer guru, internet saavy, instantly understanding the ins and outs, or thought not to be serious in some circles. It's hard work.
What do you do when you come across these inclines? Do you work harder so they become easier? Or do you bypass them, thinking you're doing great, only to find out there's an actual HILL coming up and since you didn't work on the inclines, it's too hard? What can you do?
Writers are a great family of friends. Yes, I said family of friends. It is what we are. Recently, a writer friend, whom I've never met "in person" went into a coma, from toxic shock syndrome. A large number of writers went into a period of grief, all at different levels. Why? Because we are a family. This person was a vibrant, loving, giver, who touched us all. When she went down, we all felt it.
My advice, if you have a sincere wish to be a writer, become a part of our community. Don't do it falsely, be there. Ask questions, offer up encouragement, but don't be fake. Then, when you see that incline, that looks like a mountain, it will only be a mole hill with the help of your writer family. A small bump in the road to becoming a published writer. Conquer those inclines so that when a real hill comes along, you'll be ready.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Roll call of where I'm at
I just finished a really, really good run. For me. I did 2.2 miles in 27:45 minutes. I went a little longer route so I wouldn't have to run back and forth the last tenth of a mile. I normally go for 30 minutes, even though this weeks run ends at 28 minutes. I've been getting 2.0. So glad I was able to step it up. Although, if I hadn't gone that longer route, I'd now be thinking I didn't count right :) LOL
I missed my writing time last night. My boys went to the races with their dad and grandpa and I visited my mother in law while she was babysitting her niece. I ended up with the 3 yo back with me. I didn't get home until 1 am. However, I HAD to get pullups, so I also got the majority of thisweeks checks grocery shopping. So that's one less non-writing thing I've got to find time for this week. I did get a couple rows on my afghan crocheted as well.
I've lost my phone. Again. Yes, I know. I can't even begin to find it. If I didn't have too many phone numbers on it, I would just go without a phone for a little while. I'm hoping to get a new phone when this billing cycle is over. I've got a credit that'll show up on the next billing cycle. :) Since my son is also helping to pay for part of the bill now, about 25% of the total cost, that'll give me about 100 dollars toward a new phone, plus it's time for an upgrade. So, I should be able to get the phone I want without a huge issue money wise :) yay me!! LOL just in time for my book release!!
I got two buddies, tech people, who both, separately said they liked x phone. I said, that settles it then. I'm getting x phone. That way, I KNOW it'll do what I need it to do. (Like, I now need one that'll actually keep my appointment schedules for me. Like the due dates of all my edits, etc. the release dates of my books, when I need to have a rough draft finished, and for which publisher!!! I'm no longer going to be able to keep all this straight in my head!!) The phone I have now, I had before, and it lost its memory after 2 months of doctor and work schedule and I was only working 4 days a month at the time!!
Also, I want it to run my couch to 5k program AND tell me how far I've ran, etc. Take notes for me, like verbal notes, when I have an idea and can't stop to write it down, run blue tooth,hands free, etc. So, :D:D:D:D I'm hoping it works...I'm also hoping it has a manual keyboard... one of the issues with my current phone is the screen keeps freezing up and it's driving me crazy. Maybe if I could type my texts on the keyboard? LOL
Writing news: My writing partner, running partner, critique partner, and sister of the heart, (and yes, we fight and love just like real sisters) Anne-Mhairi has become a guest editor for a small imprint, fox spirit started recently by someone who is an editor for another publisher. You can read the founder's details on the webpage. Anne-Mhairi is also in one of the anthologies as a writer. As an editor, she has a wonderful idea and now her own page and I'm writing in her anthology :D It's a lot of fun and I'm excited to be invited and accepted by the head editor.
I'm also starting a couple shorts while I wait for my Critique Partner, *ahem* to finish the early edits of Midwife's Moon. I always have to have more than one project to work on or my writing stalls... Also, I've gotten out of my writing funk :) I was having trouble getting any real word counts in (like, anything over 200 words :P Although, I did add 1k to The Ulfric's Mate last weekend, over course of 4 days of editing. That's still only 250 a day LOL) but I have done a ton of editing, and have a ton more to do. That's the problem with being a prolific writer. You then have to find a way to be a prolific editor LOL
One thing I try to do, is edit the previous day's writing, before starting the new writing. It helps with the flow and other things. And it helps find *duh* moments :D Anyways, I do have quite a few things I'm working on, with main focus of new writing being Search for Sorren, and editing/marketing being anything coming out w/ Breathless Press as I have one coming out in LESS THAN A MONTH *CUE PANIC BUTTON* and the anthology, Ravaged, is coming out IN AUGUST. And I'm writing at least THREE shorts in the next 7 weeks. So, write, plant, water, edit, write, plant, water, edit. OH and crochet. And harvest. I'm going to be a busy girl this summer...
I have 3 commissioned afghans, all HUGE, as in 45"+ is the SHORT side of these, ranging from 58"-62" in lenght. Status: Afghan # 1, chevron, style #1, turquoise, fuschia, and white, 31%. Afghan #2, chevron, style #2, deep purple, orange, and white, 1%. Afghan #3, heart pattern on pattern, deep magenta, 1%.
Roll call for my works in progress: Search for Sorren: 57,464. Midwife's Moon (sequel to Ulfric's Mate) 20,655 (and I'd like to get this finished in next 4 weeks as well). Ghost of Kristen's past, after recent edits (and is a completed MS) 71,275. Trainchoach of Death, which needs some major revision (I tried to make it a short, first of a series, when it needs to be a full length novel, first of a series), 10,109. Untitled for AM's Weird Science anthology, 0. Vampire short, 0. Shifter (other) 0. Other TBD short, 0. Now that may look funny, all those zeros, but those are stories I need to get finished, like yesterday.
I missed my writing time last night. My boys went to the races with their dad and grandpa and I visited my mother in law while she was babysitting her niece. I ended up with the 3 yo back with me. I didn't get home until 1 am. However, I HAD to get pullups, so I also got the majority of this
I've lost my phone. Again. Yes, I know. I can't even begin to find it. If I didn't have too many phone numbers on it, I would just go without a phone for a little while. I'm hoping to get a new phone when this billing cycle is over. I've got a credit that'll show up on the next billing cycle. :) Since my son is also helping to pay for part of the bill now, about 25% of the total cost, that'll give me about 100 dollars toward a new phone, plus it's time for an upgrade. So, I should be able to get the phone I want without a huge issue money wise :) yay me!! LOL just in time for my book release!!
I got two buddies, tech people, who both, separately said they liked x phone. I said, that settles it then. I'm getting x phone. That way, I KNOW it'll do what I need it to do. (Like, I now need one that'll actually keep my appointment schedules for me. Like the due dates of all my edits, etc. the release dates of my books, when I need to have a rough draft finished, and for which publisher!!! I'm no longer going to be able to keep all this straight in my head!!) The phone I have now, I had before, and it lost its memory after 2 months of doctor and work schedule and I was only working 4 days a month at the time!!
Also, I want it to run my couch to 5k program AND tell me how far I've ran, etc. Take notes for me, like verbal notes, when I have an idea and can't stop to write it down, run blue tooth,hands free, etc. So, :D:D:D:D I'm hoping it works...I'm also hoping it has a manual keyboard... one of the issues with my current phone is the screen keeps freezing up and it's driving me crazy. Maybe if I could type my texts on the keyboard? LOL
Writing news: My writing partner, running partner, critique partner, and sister of the heart, (and yes, we fight and love just like real sisters) Anne-Mhairi has become a guest editor for a small imprint, fox spirit started recently by someone who is an editor for another publisher. You can read the founder's details on the webpage. Anne-Mhairi is also in one of the anthologies as a writer. As an editor, she has a wonderful idea and now her own page and I'm writing in her anthology :D It's a lot of fun and I'm excited to be invited and accepted by the head editor.
I'm also starting a couple shorts while I wait for my Critique Partner, *ahem* to finish the early edits of Midwife's Moon. I always have to have more than one project to work on or my writing stalls... Also, I've gotten out of my writing funk :) I was having trouble getting any real word counts in (like, anything over 200 words :P Although, I did add 1k to The Ulfric's Mate last weekend, over course of 4 days of editing. That's still only 250 a day LOL) but I have done a ton of editing, and have a ton more to do. That's the problem with being a prolific writer. You then have to find a way to be a prolific editor LOL
One thing I try to do, is edit the previous day's writing, before starting the new writing. It helps with the flow and other things. And it helps find *duh* moments :D Anyways, I do have quite a few things I'm working on, with main focus of new writing being Search for Sorren, and editing/marketing being anything coming out w/ Breathless Press as I have one coming out in LESS THAN A MONTH *CUE PANIC BUTTON* and the anthology, Ravaged, is coming out IN AUGUST. And I'm writing at least THREE shorts in the next 7 weeks. So, write, plant, water, edit, write, plant, water, edit. OH and crochet. And harvest. I'm going to be a busy girl this summer...
I have 3 commissioned afghans, all HUGE, as in 45"+ is the SHORT side of these, ranging from 58"-62" in lenght. Status: Afghan # 1, chevron, style #1, turquoise, fuschia, and white, 31%. Afghan #2, chevron, style #2, deep purple, orange, and white, 1%. Afghan #3, heart pattern on pattern, deep magenta, 1%.
Roll call for my works in progress: Search for Sorren: 57,464. Midwife's Moon (sequel to Ulfric's Mate) 20,655 (and I'd like to get this finished in next 4 weeks as well). Ghost of Kristen's past, after recent edits (and is a completed MS) 71,275. Trainchoach of Death, which needs some major revision (I tried to make it a short, first of a series, when it needs to be a full length novel, first of a series), 10,109. Untitled for AM's Weird Science anthology, 0. Vampire short, 0. Shifter (other) 0. Other TBD short, 0. Now that may look funny, all those zeros, but those are stories I need to get finished, like yesterday.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Editing is for May :)
So, I had to get a WP ID in order to make the stats function on my website work. Instead of just getting an ID I got a blog so I could follow some of the WP peeps I've been wanting to follow and can't through google feed anymore. Well, I was unable to. But, I have the blog, it's the same addy as this one, but instead of blogspot.com it's wordpress.com and I'll be doing duplicate blogs on both. I really dislike WordPress, but since Blogger changed, I really dislike it as well. So might as well join up, eh?
I'm very excited about all that's happening in my writer life. I'm feeling so much better after rereading a couple of books. One thing, I'm waiting for editor friend of mine to post her head hopping versus omniscient POV post then I'm going to link the shit crap out of it.
I get frustrated when I see head hopping comments because sometimes, I KNOW it's an omniscient POV book. That makes it hard as a writer. It's like the passive voice thing. Yeah, we want to avoid 'was' but 'was' is not passive verb in a lot of cases. It's context you have to look at for passive voice. Same with omniscient and head hopping. just cuz you can see more than one person's thoughts, doesn't mean they're head hopping. They're telling a full story!
Grrr. I keep running into that as I'm writing cuz of my own omniscient one I'm editing right now. I started trying to fix the back and forth when I realized I'd sent it to an editor and head hopping was not an issue, ie it is omniscient. So, at least until I finish this, I'm going to be angry about all the head hopping comments/blogs etc that I read that made it hard for me to remember the difference between that and omniscient. A lot of well off, bestseller writers, write omniscient. (Kay Hooper for example)
Also, did I mention that my "secret" project was accepted J It's a short, partially inspired by my friend Branli on twitter and a drunken night w/ him and his friend Jon, via twitter! I love my twitter friends!! They really do inspire me more than many people can understand.
On the mother front, had a wonderful time watching my son at baseball practice last night, even if it was across a soccer field. He's improved so much! That was only his fourth practice and he's hitting it really far!! Like to the fences J Now if I could get him to work on his school work as hard…
Edward had a blast walking all over with his dad while they went camping J So I think both boys had a good time the last couple of days. Makes it harder to get them moving on to school though. That's what's happening right now. They've done home ec (a lesson on making tomato soup out of paste and how to whip butter) and had grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch. But now comes the boring work…
Isaac is on a terror this AM. He's getting into EVERYTHING so I think he and I will have to do a round of Old McDonald's Farm and work on his animal recognition. Wish me luck as this is a new song I introduced to him during baseball practice last night.
I have felt icky when waking up these last few mornings, but I still ran on Monday with the boys (they did 1.1, I did 2.0) and today. I'm so glad I went today. I did a personal best of 2.5 miles!! I'm so excited. When I started the couch to 5k (approx 3 miles) I didn't even think I could run a mile, but I did 1.2 miles the first day! Now, I'm consistently 2 or over, so I don't think that going for 5 miles by end of summer is out of the question. I've lost weight, although I have no idea how much, and inches. I know it's inches cuz I can't wear some clothes without them falling off. It was rather distracting this morning, trying to hold my britches up. :P
Yesterday, I had a very productive day on the writing front, editing the short story that's out on Smashwords, then getting it out on kindle with the grammar issues fixed. I also edited 70 pages on another story I'm getting ready for submission. I'm trying to get all these loose ends done so I can concentrate on my novel for Splintered Lands. May do the NaNoWriMo camp in June. That'll help me focus on words again. Anyways, with all I've learned editing The Ulfric's Mate, and Barely There, I've been on a major editing kick. Works great if you have things to edit like I do, but makes it hard for word count as my internal editor is a lot harder to turn off.
I have lots to edit, so I'm kind of making May my edit month here. I'll rerelease Cerisa's Quest (Fantasy) and The Winds of Fire (militaristic romance thriller) by end of June, I think. Hoping to have Cerisa's Quest in next two weeks. It needs the least amount of work. I'm going to go through The Winds of Fire. I'd intended on it being omniscient limited and someone said I was head hopping, so I changed things. Now have to do a little more research into the limited aspect and reread a really good blog, then edit it how I'd intended it to be. Have to find that blog first :P LOL So off to work I go! Hi ho, hi ho…
Monday, May 21, 2012
Just, stuff, as I'm too tired to write more
I know I mentioned a secret project I'd sent in. Well, thank you everyone who crossed they're fingers for me!! I was offered a contract on it, a modern erotica (not a HEA, but a HRN kind of book :) If you're following my FB author page, then you've seen this news, but STILL, there it is. I'll provide the details after I've signed :) SQUEEEEE I think I questioned once, if it ever gets old. Well, three offers of contracts, and another small pub who has some of my fantasy stuff later, the answer is NO! It doesn't LOL I had big squeee! The major change is I no longer have to read it three times to make sure I didn't read it wrong LOL Now I read it three times out of pure excitement!! LOL
Anyways, I'm feeling really really good. Cuz, guess what? I got that news at the end of a long, fun day, spent in the company of my birth family and learning about where my family is from, etc. My adoption is complicated. The state made some mistakes. So my birth family never really wanted to give me up, so I'm kind of the long lost daughter :) Anyways, I got to go w/o my kids, so I got to just worry about me. And boy, let me tell you, we had a freaking blast. Jokes ran wild, involving words like, "poof" and "preparation H" and you kinda had to be there, but OMG I think I hurt a lung laughing so hard.
Today's been a harder day, but still a good one :) I ran this AM even though I felt like crap on a cracker stuck in the microwave to explode. Benadryl, inhaler, and away I went! I have longer legs now, or a shorter behind, whichever way you want to look at it LOL I know I've lost more inches/weight even though I can't find a measuring tape because I fit into pants I couldn't fit into for the last 2 years :)
Anyways, I'll be posting the Ravaged cover again shortly and probably put it on my permanent site to see :) Going to have to figure out how to do a collage!
I had lots more to say, but I'm exhausted!! Going to try to sleep after some light reading. Hope you all had a good one!
Anyways, I'm feeling really really good. Cuz, guess what? I got that news at the end of a long, fun day, spent in the company of my birth family and learning about where my family is from, etc. My adoption is complicated. The state made some mistakes. So my birth family never really wanted to give me up, so I'm kind of the long lost daughter :) Anyways, I got to go w/o my kids, so I got to just worry about me. And boy, let me tell you, we had a freaking blast. Jokes ran wild, involving words like, "poof" and "preparation H" and you kinda had to be there, but OMG I think I hurt a lung laughing so hard.
Today's been a harder day, but still a good one :) I ran this AM even though I felt like crap on a cracker stuck in the microwave to explode. Benadryl, inhaler, and away I went! I have longer legs now, or a shorter behind, whichever way you want to look at it LOL I know I've lost more inches/weight even though I can't find a measuring tape because I fit into pants I couldn't fit into for the last 2 years :)
Anyways, I'll be posting the Ravaged cover again shortly and probably put it on my permanent site to see :) Going to have to figure out how to do a collage!
I had lots more to say, but I'm exhausted!! Going to try to sleep after some light reading. Hope you all had a good one!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
It's a Wonderful Life
How many remember that movie? The original one? I will never forget that movie. For those completely uneducated, poor souls who have not seen the movie, the gist is this:
One man, grows up, marries his childhood sweatheart, becomes the town's bank manager, has a bunch of kids and lives in an old house that's in constant need of repair. Cue music. Enter THE BAD GUY. He's a money person who has stolen the days money when your family/employee who's a little short on bricks, drops it. There's a run on his bank and everything's falling apart.
His Friends are all moving up in the world, off to fight in wars, be heros, or getting rich in the big city. He begins to feel worthless and like it would have been better if he'd never lived at all. He's sincerely contemplating suicide during an unprecedented drunk, when an angel gives him his wish.
Not only does the angel tell him he has never lived, he shows our hero how different the town would have been without him. What happens? His brother dies in a ice skating accident where previously, the hero had saved him. Another person dies because he wasn't there to stop the chemist from making an accident when the chemist was having a very bad day. No one was there to stop the bad guy and the small town with just a hint of city turns into mobville.
There are no more affordable housing loans, no more mom and pop stores. It's Reno on bad Steroids with the head mobster as the leading man. His wife is a spinster. It goes on. This one man, who felt as if his life didn't matter, had slowly, just by being him, by being nice, caring, changed the outlook of an entire town. The ripple effect.
In the end, he cries for his life back, and even the knob that falls off the staircase railing is precious to him. The whole town pitches in to cover the loss of money stolen by Potter (the bad guy) and saves his Christmas.
Kindness matters. You matter. The little things you did to say, you can do this to someone, or RT a fellow author, or critiqued a work for someone, all those things matter. You'd be surprised at how many people are able to pay it forward.
This post is dedicated to Anne-Mhairi Simpson. She and I have had our differences. Both been mad, scathing, even about something, but like true family, found our way back to each other. She's my CP. But most of all, she allowed me to run with her. She's scads and scads of miles away from me, since she lives in England and I live in Western US, but she still helps me to get moving and we run at the same time.
It's inspired my son to walk/run with me. He's already lost weight and is well on his way to stregthening his lungs so asthma shouldn't be able to him back at all. And last night, my husband says, he may have to quit smoking since the rest of his family is getting healthier...
However long it lasts, each smoke he doesn't have because of the ripple effect, matters. So thank you. Thank you for being there. For mattering.
One man, grows up, marries his childhood sweatheart, becomes the town's bank manager, has a bunch of kids and lives in an old house that's in constant need of repair. Cue music. Enter THE BAD GUY. He's a money person who has stolen the days money when your family/employee who's a little short on bricks, drops it. There's a run on his bank and everything's falling apart.
His Friends are all moving up in the world, off to fight in wars, be heros, or getting rich in the big city. He begins to feel worthless and like it would have been better if he'd never lived at all. He's sincerely contemplating suicide during an unprecedented drunk, when an angel gives him his wish.
Not only does the angel tell him he has never lived, he shows our hero how different the town would have been without him. What happens? His brother dies in a ice skating accident where previously, the hero had saved him. Another person dies because he wasn't there to stop the chemist from making an accident when the chemist was having a very bad day. No one was there to stop the bad guy and the small town with just a hint of city turns into mobville.
There are no more affordable housing loans, no more mom and pop stores. It's Reno on bad Steroids with the head mobster as the leading man. His wife is a spinster. It goes on. This one man, who felt as if his life didn't matter, had slowly, just by being him, by being nice, caring, changed the outlook of an entire town. The ripple effect.
In the end, he cries for his life back, and even the knob that falls off the staircase railing is precious to him. The whole town pitches in to cover the loss of money stolen by Potter (the bad guy) and saves his Christmas.
Kindness matters. You matter. The little things you did to say, you can do this to someone, or RT a fellow author, or critiqued a work for someone, all those things matter. You'd be surprised at how many people are able to pay it forward.
This post is dedicated to Anne-Mhairi Simpson. She and I have had our differences. Both been mad, scathing, even about something, but like true family, found our way back to each other. She's my CP. But most of all, she allowed me to run with her. She's scads and scads of miles away from me, since she lives in England and I live in Western US, but she still helps me to get moving and we run at the same time.
It's inspired my son to walk/run with me. He's already lost weight and is well on his way to stregthening his lungs so asthma shouldn't be able to him back at all. And last night, my husband says, he may have to quit smoking since the rest of his family is getting healthier...
However long it lasts, each smoke he doesn't have because of the ripple effect, matters. So thank you. Thank you for being there. For mattering.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
So, started running just over two weeks ago. My first run was for 1.2 miles in 32 minutes. I was quite pleased :) I didn't think I could go a mile! It's actually run/walk couch potato to 5k in 8 weeks program. My CP Partner, and now my running partner :D, and I are doing it in 16 weeks. I caught her at the tail end of week one so mine will be 15 weeks. But this gives me time to strengthen my lungs, which is working!
Yesterday, I did 2.4 miles in 30.34 minutes :)) I thought I'd plateaued at 2.2 which I'd done by 3rd run (I've done 7 runs, 3 of them 2.2 miles) Quite pleased. I also dragged my 11yo along. He did about 1.3 miles :) I run about 1/2 mile from house and back, then run the rest on the block next to my house. Drives the dogs crazy :)
I've been supplementing my running with walks, sometimes at places like costco, sometimes at a park with the kids, whatever it takes, to get a little walking in. I'm also doing pretty hard core yard work. I have to move and condition my soil before planting. So, on top of the planting, I have to shovel dirt, carry heavy bags, rototill, etc. After planting, there's the upkeep of weeding, watering, fertilizing, and squeeing over the seedlings popping through :D
I'm digging a fire pit (one of the places I'm getting dirt from for the low areas) and taking ashes off of old fire area which has built up to a hill, which I'm using to help condition the soil as well. In some places in my yard, not even weeds are growing. Sawdust and ash and potting soil :) Wish I could afford peat moss. Sigh. But it's a start and it's what I've been doing and the area that has gotten treatment both years, was rich this year :D I'm getting somewhere YAY!!
My 8yo is my garden partner, although lately, he's more interested in playing games, but he helped plant the garlic :) and he's helped in other areas. It's so much fun seeing all the plants in our yard :) It's the most I've seen in this yard in years. There were some major flooding of the canal near us about 7 years ago? I'm not sure of the exact time, but it destroyed the grass. Ever since, the yard has slowly deterioated. But now, NOW, I've taken it back! LOL with the help of my kids. My husband, with my help and some from Patrick when I'm busy, (and even a little from Josh when it was first started ') is putting up our fence! He did like 50 ft yesterday :) The hardest part is digging holes (which the neighbor helped do one yesterday LOL) which I've been helping with the most. We're over halway done. It's hard cuz we can only do it on Nate's days off. But it looks incredible!!
I just had an epiphany. One of my sick boys called me (yes, this will round it out to all three, the 3yo having passed it along and sharing so nice ;P) as I left the room, one of my almost finished paintings caught my eye. As I was writing the post, I'd intended on mentioning how I'm editing since my writing creativity has been hard to find lately. I don't let that stop me, hence the editing. It's actually a good time to edit for grammar.
However, as I stared at that unfinished painting my brain went, "Doh!" See, I've not been paying attention to the painter in me SCREAMING for release. I've only a few canvases and I'm afraid of being out completely. An artist friend, awesome painter Russ Potak, told me that is the wrong way! Paint, paint, paint. Use paper, etc. I'd listened and thought I would soon as I could. Instead, I need to just do it. It's what's holding up my writing side. I've already discovered that the one suffers if I don't do the other. Today would be good day to paint as I'm not feeling great and the boys aren't feeling great. No hardwork allowed today. We'll see if I can get things set up.
Maybe I'll just draw. Oil paints doesn't lend itself well to paper. At. All. Whatever. I need to do something for that part of me so I can replenish and refuel. I know better. Grrr. Wonder how many thousands of words have been balled up because I didn't release my screaming painter? LOL
How many of you do that? Know you need to do something for best results (ie rest, sleep, etc) but don't cuz you have too much to do? We all need to remember to rest our brains the way they need it or our creativity suffers for it :)
Yesterday, I did 2.4 miles in 30.34 minutes :)) I thought I'd plateaued at 2.2 which I'd done by 3rd run (I've done 7 runs, 3 of them 2.2 miles) Quite pleased. I also dragged my 11yo along. He did about 1.3 miles :) I run about 1/2 mile from house and back, then run the rest on the block next to my house. Drives the dogs crazy :)
I've been supplementing my running with walks, sometimes at places like costco, sometimes at a park with the kids, whatever it takes, to get a little walking in. I'm also doing pretty hard core yard work. I have to move and condition my soil before planting. So, on top of the planting, I have to shovel dirt, carry heavy bags, rototill, etc. After planting, there's the upkeep of weeding, watering, fertilizing, and squeeing over the seedlings popping through :D
I'm digging a fire pit (one of the places I'm getting dirt from for the low areas) and taking ashes off of old fire area which has built up to a hill, which I'm using to help condition the soil as well. In some places in my yard, not even weeds are growing. Sawdust and ash and potting soil :) Wish I could afford peat moss. Sigh. But it's a start and it's what I've been doing and the area that has gotten treatment both years, was rich this year :D I'm getting somewhere YAY!!
My 8yo is my garden partner, although lately, he's more interested in playing games, but he helped plant the garlic :) and he's helped in other areas. It's so much fun seeing all the plants in our yard :) It's the most I've seen in this yard in years. There were some major flooding of the canal near us about 7 years ago? I'm not sure of the exact time, but it destroyed the grass. Ever since, the yard has slowly deterioated. But now, NOW, I've taken it back! LOL with the help of my kids. My husband, with my help and some from Patrick when I'm busy, (and even a little from Josh when it was first started ') is putting up our fence! He did like 50 ft yesterday :) The hardest part is digging holes (which the neighbor helped do one yesterday LOL) which I've been helping with the most. We're over halway done. It's hard cuz we can only do it on Nate's days off. But it looks incredible!!
I just had an epiphany. One of my sick boys called me (yes, this will round it out to all three, the 3yo having passed it along and sharing so nice ;P) as I left the room, one of my almost finished paintings caught my eye. As I was writing the post, I'd intended on mentioning how I'm editing since my writing creativity has been hard to find lately. I don't let that stop me, hence the editing. It's actually a good time to edit for grammar.
However, as I stared at that unfinished painting my brain went, "Doh!" See, I've not been paying attention to the painter in me SCREAMING for release. I've only a few canvases and I'm afraid of being out completely. An artist friend, awesome painter Russ Potak, told me that is the wrong way! Paint, paint, paint. Use paper, etc. I'd listened and thought I would soon as I could. Instead, I need to just do it. It's what's holding up my writing side. I've already discovered that the one suffers if I don't do the other. Today would be good day to paint as I'm not feeling great and the boys aren't feeling great. No hardwork allowed today. We'll see if I can get things set up.
Maybe I'll just draw. Oil paints doesn't lend itself well to paper. At. All. Whatever. I need to do something for that part of me so I can replenish and refuel. I know better. Grrr. Wonder how many thousands of words have been balled up because I didn't release my screaming painter? LOL
How many of you do that? Know you need to do something for best results (ie rest, sleep, etc) but don't cuz you have too much to do? We all need to remember to rest our brains the way they need it or our creativity suffers for it :)
Sunday, May 6, 2012
It's Sunday, did ya know?
LOL the title is really just that. A title. Well, did ya know it was Sunday today? Ane yes, I'm going to blog. I know it's not a big blogging day, but, been lax on the blogging last week, so why not?
I discovered something about craigslist this week. There's a place for gigs. Now that might not seem like much, but I can already see how it's going to be helpful to me. I already have an addy of someone looking for a kids book illustrator. Will have to do it under a "pen name" because of people's idiocies re erotic writers. (For some idea of what I mean by that, look at how many school teachers are coming under attack for writing about sex. I've posted about it before, so shall refrain from getting on that soap box--for the moment, anyhow.)
But still, anything to help with money, but also to get to do my art :) yeah, that would be awesome! I'm down to very few/little bits of canvases and I've quite painting. However, I've been told by my artist friend that that is wrong! I need to paint like there's an abundance, not shut it off. Also, to do more painting on paper. I'm not so good at that, but maybe I'll do more charcoals/colored pencil types.
I think I mentioned, but I've started running with my CP partner. Now those of you following along at home may be going back through old posts thinking they remember the location of my CP wrong. Nope. She's in England. It's been a week. We run at the exact same time which means in the evening for her and midmorning for me. We've both ran in the rain, admittedly, mine was a nice drizzle whereas at least one of hers were iced over needle points, I've ran tired, injured, chest hurting, etc. She's running 5-6 times a week. I ran once week before, 3x last week, and I'll do 4x next week.
We've already proven the buddy system works. I think both of us are way better off for being accountable to each other. I know I am. I don't sleep past the time, or get distracted. Believe me, with all that keeps trying to happen at the time I'm supposed to run, that's saying something!!
I may have to walk for part of one of the run times, but I don't care. I'm going to get back in shape before it kills me. I've wanted to for long time. But it takes emotional fortitude to starte a major change and my emotions were being all used up in life. Have let some emotional baggage go these past weeks and the changes inside of me have been incredible.
Gardening, writing, and even running, have been freed up. When my body gets used to all the extra labor, I'm sure my writing will explode! The ideas are exploding in my head, I'm just too tired to focus on them. But it's a good tired. Not the sick tired of being out of meds. At least I can go outside and see all the work I've accomplished. It's more amazing when you know where I started from and my health conditions to begin with, but even without that, I have three square plots of garden, and now a strip along the fence. Gardening is so amazing and so good for you. At it gives you something back. I'm having to condition the soil and then plant seeds/plants. For me, I feel as if I'm doing something good for the earth and the sky.
I'm not a big super stellar strict person about those things, but we try to recycle most of our cans, reuse boxes/bags, burn the boxes (which some people don't like) but that's to help burn the noxious weeds I pull. Can't even put these in the dump because the seeds spread like wildfire. And these particular weeds choke out all good plants and I'm terribly allergic to them. All good reasons to burn! LOL But also, I use the ashes in conditioning my soil. So, I feel as if I'm reducing garbage, reducing bad, noxious, sick-making weeds, and getting ashes to help grow new, healthy, life giving plants and trees.
Reduse, Reuse, recycle. I think if we all did this, even on a moderate scale, jobs would be saved along with the planet. ;) My biggest is I reuse and reuse whatever I can :) I have a cut down poptart box that holds my character cards, did you know? LOL made out of rubber bands and a broken wire hanger. How's that for reuse/repurpose? LOL
What things do you do that make you feel good? Or that contribute to the environment? You have any tricks you've found to reuse your old items? Or to keep them out of landfills and turn them to good use like planting?
I discovered something about craigslist this week. There's a place for gigs. Now that might not seem like much, but I can already see how it's going to be helpful to me. I already have an addy of someone looking for a kids book illustrator. Will have to do it under a "pen name" because of people's idiocies re erotic writers. (For some idea of what I mean by that, look at how many school teachers are coming under attack for writing about sex. I've posted about it before, so shall refrain from getting on that soap box--for the moment, anyhow.)
But still, anything to help with money, but also to get to do my art :) yeah, that would be awesome! I'm down to very few/little bits of canvases and I've quite painting. However, I've been told by my artist friend that that is wrong! I need to paint like there's an abundance, not shut it off. Also, to do more painting on paper. I'm not so good at that, but maybe I'll do more charcoals/colored pencil types.
I think I mentioned, but I've started running with my CP partner. Now those of you following along at home may be going back through old posts thinking they remember the location of my CP wrong. Nope. She's in England. It's been a week. We run at the exact same time which means in the evening for her and midmorning for me. We've both ran in the rain, admittedly, mine was a nice drizzle whereas at least one of hers were iced over needle points, I've ran tired, injured, chest hurting, etc. She's running 5-6 times a week. I ran once week before, 3x last week, and I'll do 4x next week.
We've already proven the buddy system works. I think both of us are way better off for being accountable to each other. I know I am. I don't sleep past the time, or get distracted. Believe me, with all that keeps trying to happen at the time I'm supposed to run, that's saying something!!
I may have to walk for part of one of the run times, but I don't care. I'm going to get back in shape before it kills me. I've wanted to for long time. But it takes emotional fortitude to starte a major change and my emotions were being all used up in life. Have let some emotional baggage go these past weeks and the changes inside of me have been incredible.
Gardening, writing, and even running, have been freed up. When my body gets used to all the extra labor, I'm sure my writing will explode! The ideas are exploding in my head, I'm just too tired to focus on them. But it's a good tired. Not the sick tired of being out of meds. At least I can go outside and see all the work I've accomplished. It's more amazing when you know where I started from and my health conditions to begin with, but even without that, I have three square plots of garden, and now a strip along the fence. Gardening is so amazing and so good for you. At it gives you something back. I'm having to condition the soil and then plant seeds/plants. For me, I feel as if I'm doing something good for the earth and the sky.
I'm not a big super stellar strict person about those things, but we try to recycle most of our cans, reuse boxes/bags, burn the boxes (which some people don't like) but that's to help burn the noxious weeds I pull. Can't even put these in the dump because the seeds spread like wildfire. And these particular weeds choke out all good plants and I'm terribly allergic to them. All good reasons to burn! LOL But also, I use the ashes in conditioning my soil. So, I feel as if I'm reducing garbage, reducing bad, noxious, sick-making weeds, and getting ashes to help grow new, healthy, life giving plants and trees.
Reduse, Reuse, recycle. I think if we all did this, even on a moderate scale, jobs would be saved along with the planet. ;) My biggest is I reuse and reuse whatever I can :) I have a cut down poptart box that holds my character cards, did you know? LOL made out of rubber bands and a broken wire hanger. How's that for reuse/repurpose? LOL
What things do you do that make you feel good? Or that contribute to the environment? You have any tricks you've found to reuse your old items? Or to keep them out of landfills and turn them to good use like planting?
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